Story Stack

By Karen Inglis

Action-packed story starters for children ages 6-8 and 9-12

Free stories to try before you buy! Story Stack includes Chapters 1-4 of Karen Inglis's fun and fast-paced illustrated chapter books Henry Haynes and the Great Escape* (for 6-8yrs) | Eeek! The Runaway Alien (for 7-10yrs) | Walter Brown and the Magician's Hat (for 7-9yrs) plus Chapters 1-3 of The Secret Lake (for 8-12 yrs). The Secret Lake is Karen's bestselling time travel mystery adventure story, enjoyed by over 7,000 readers. Karen has been praised by teachers, librarians, parents and reading charities for getting the most reluctant readers turning the pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Well Said Press
• Release date: Jul 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536501445

Karen Inglis

Karen Inglis is children's author living in London in the UK. She's been writing ever since she was little and still has a box of her daily diaries hidden in a cupboard. Karen is a big dreamer and thinker and loves taking young readers into worlds where literally anything can happen... like magical time tunnels that take you to meet children in the past, or soccer-mad aliens zooming down from space to hide in your bedroom and watch the World Cup, or library books that suck you down into the story, or magic hats and talking cats! She also loves going into schools and meeting her fans. Over 7,000 readers have now enjoyed Tom and Stella's magical adventure in The Secret Lake! We hope you are one of them! You can find out more about Karen and sign up for news and special offers at her website kareninglisauthor.com

Book preview

Welcome!

Image of five children’s book covers by Karen Inglis

If you love adventure , fun, magic or mystery there’s something here for you!

Henry Haynes and the Great Escape Henry falls inside his library book and meets a bossy boa constrictor and a very smelly gorilla! (6-8 yrs)

Eeek! The Runaway Alien A football-mad alien comes to Earth for the World Cup! (7-10 yrs)

Walter Brown and the Magician’s Hat A magic hat, a talking cat and escaped video game monsters! (7-10 yrs)

The Secret Lake A lost dog, a hidden time tunnel and a secret lake - an adventure mystery. (8-12 yrs)

Swipe to start Henry Haynes or choose another book from the index.

Henry chasing after Brian the boa constrictor, with Gordon the Gorilla staring at them through the iron bars of his cage

1

The Chattering Book

As Henry Haynes cocked his head sideways, trying to read the titles on the library book spines, he was sure he could hear a faint noise. Like distant voices. Murmuring. Chatter even. Not normal everyday chatter. This was definitely chatter of the most unusual kind – anything but normal as far as Henry was concerned. For a second he thought it was coming from the wall behind the bookshelves, but that was impossible as the wall backed onto the street and he was on the first floor.

He swung round. No-one. Only old Mrs Glyn smiling at him from the checkout desk. ‘Three more minutes, dear,’ she called. Her voice echoed strangely through the gloom.

Henry narrowed his eyes and glanced sideways, left then right, trying to work out where the voices had come from. Then he realised the chatter had stopped. He gave a puzzled frown, shook his head and turned back to the bookshelf where he was surprised to find a book sticking out at a sharp angle in front of him.

Image of library books on a shelf with one book poking out

Henry cocked his head sideways and read out loud: ‘Jeremy James and The Great Escape’. He grinned broadly, grabbed the book between his chubby fingers and made his way to the desk.

As Henry laid the book down in front of Mrs Glyn, for a split second he thought he heard the murmuring again. And, for just the briefest of moments, he thought it was coming from the book! He darted a look up at the old lady. But she was busy typing at her computer. Click, click, click. The keys danced merrily beneath her fingers as she hummed a soft tune. Henry frowned. Was it possible Mrs Glyn had been muttering to herself just now?

Mrs Glyn stopped, picked up the book and swiped it in front of the scanner. ‘Bleep!’

‘There you go, dear,’ she said, gently, twirling round on her chair. And now, as Mrs Glyn handed Henry his book, she gave him the strangest of smiles.

Friendly grey-haired old lady with spectacles - the librarian

At the same time (was Henry imagining this?) her eyes seemed to be twinkling. In fact (no, he definitely wasn’t imagining it), the twinkle in old Mrs Glyn’s eyes that afternoon was quite unlike anything Henry had ever seen before.

‘I think you’ll enjoy this one,’ she said, in a gentle, smiley kind of voice.

‘Thanks,’ said Henry, wide-eyed. And he stuffed the book into his rucksack and hurried towards the exit.

---

‘Supper, Henry!’ His mother was calling up the stairs.

‘Drat!’ said Henry. He’d only just got home and was eager to make a start on The Great Escape. He yanked the book from his rucksack and opened the first page. He pressed his right ear hard against it, and listened. Silence. He shrugged, then put the book on his bedside table and pulled his stopwatch from his shorts pocket. Start! At the press of the button Henry flung himself towards the door, switched off the light and thundered down the stairs.

Precisely 12.68 seconds later (a new bedroom-to-kitchen-table record) Henry Haynes shovelled his first mouthful of warm mashed potato into his mouth. At precisely the same time, unknown to Henry, the crisp white pages of ‘Jeremy James and The Great Escape’ began glimmering, ever so slightly, in the darkness up in his room. Then – just as Henry’s fork pierced his first