Bertie Bun was born to be a baker. His mum is a baker. His dad is a baker. Even his grandparents were bakers. But Bertie has a big problem - he's bored of bread! He wants to be a butcher's boy, or a bus-driver's boy or even a balloonist's boy - and his wishes are going to land him in lots of trouble.

Mr Creep the Crook has a fool-proof plan to escape from jail and eat seaside sandwiches on the beach. But he soon realizes that being bad is not such a good idea- and decides to break BACK into jail! A hilarious HAPPY FAMILIES picture book from Allan Ahlberg and André Amstutz.

A luminous family saga from one of Granta's Best Young British Novelists. When the four Essinger children gather in Austin for Christmas, they all bring their news. Nathan wants to become a federal judge. Susie's husband has taken a job in England. Jean has asked her boyfriend and (once-married) boss to meet her family. Paul has broken up with Dana, mother of their son Cal. But their parents have plans, too, and Liesel, the materfamilias, has invited Dana...