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Story Stack: Action-packed story starters for ages 6-8 and 9-12
Not sure what to get the kids to read next? Let them decide! Story Stack includes Chapters 1-4 of the following fun, fast-paced and popular illustrated chapter books by Karen Henry Haynes and the Great Escape (for 6-8yrs) | Eeek! The Runaway Alien (for 7-10yrs) | Chapter 1 of 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. Full books available to order in print and/or for Kindle once the kids have had their say :)
Order with one click for free today - we think the kids and preteens will be back for more...!
Order with one click for free today - we think the kids and preteens will be back for more...!
69 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2016
354 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Karen Inglis
23 books87 followersKaren Inglis is a bestselling children’s author based in London, UK, writing for ages 3–12.
She is best known for her time travel mystery The Secret Lake, which has sold over 600,000 print copies worldwide and is in translation in 12 languages. Set in London, it follows siblings Stella (11) and Tom (8), who discover a time tunnel while searching for a neighbour’s missing dog. The tunnel leads them to their own home and the children living there 100 years in the past. First published in 2011, the book hit bestseller lists in 2018–19 (and continues to rank highly on Amazon), proving that children still love a good old-fashioned adventure!
Two long-awaited sequels followed: Return to the Secret Lake (2022) and Beyond the Secret Lake (2024). The latter won the UK Selfies Children’s Book Award, announced at London Book Fair in 2025.
Karen explains:
“There was a long gap after book one as I was busy with other projects — but the best things come to those who wait! Reconnecting with Stella, Tom and friends was such a joy, and the response to the sequels has been wonderful. The Secret Lake was always going to be a hard act to follow!”
Karen’s other books include:
Eeek! The Runaway Alien (ages 7–10): a soccer-mad alien runs away to Earth for the World Cup. Illustrated, fast-paced and funny — a hit with reluctant readers!
Walter Brown and the Magician’s Hat (ages 7–10): magical mayhem ensues when Walter inherits his great-grandpa’s enchanted hat — and discovers his cat Sixpence isn’t quite what he seems...
Henry Haynes and the Great Escape (ages 6–8): Henry falls inside his library book after complaining it’s boring — and meets a smelly gorilla and a bossy boa with a zoo escape plan!
For younger readers:
The Tell-Me Tree (ages 4–8): a gentle, rhyming picture book that helps children talk about feelings through drawing, writing or conversation. Praised by parents, teachers, and charities, it's widely used in UK homes and classrooms. Includes links to free activity sheets.
Ferdinand Fox rhyming stories (ages 3–5):
Ferdinand Fox’s Big Sleep – inspired by a real fox who slept in Karen’s garden!
Ferdinand Fox and the Hedgehog – introduces Hatty and her son Ed, plus facts about how to help hedgehogs.
Ferdinand Fox and the Lost Boy – Ferdinand comes to the rescue in his bravest story yet.
A collected edition of all six rhyming stories is currently in the works for readers aged 6–7, or for parents who enjoy reading rhyme to younger children.
How it all began…
Karen’s writing journey began in 2010 when she took a sabbatical from her career in business writing to revisit story ideas drafted a decade earlier, when her sons George and Nick were small. One was The Secret Lake, which had been tucked away in a drawer after early rejections. This time, she self-published — and never looked back. In fact, she has turned down three traditional publishing deals in the last few years, preferring (for now at least) to retain creative control of her IP.
She eventually left business writing to focus fully on children’s books. Today, she regularly visits schools in person and via Zoom, and has signed books in Waterstones branches across London.
Visit her author website to find out more or to enquire about a school visit.
She is best known for her time travel mystery The Secret Lake, which has sold over 600,000 print copies worldwide and is in translation in 12 languages. Set in London, it follows siblings Stella (11) and Tom (8), who discover a time tunnel while searching for a neighbour’s missing dog. The tunnel leads them to their own home and the children living there 100 years in the past. First published in 2011, the book hit bestseller lists in 2018–19 (and continues to rank highly on Amazon), proving that children still love a good old-fashioned adventure!
Two long-awaited sequels followed: Return to the Secret Lake (2022) and Beyond the Secret Lake (2024). The latter won the UK Selfies Children’s Book Award, announced at London Book Fair in 2025.
Karen explains:
“There was a long gap after book one as I was busy with other projects — but the best things come to those who wait! Reconnecting with Stella, Tom and friends was such a joy, and the response to the sequels has been wonderful. The Secret Lake was always going to be a hard act to follow!”
Karen’s other books include:
Eeek! The Runaway Alien (ages 7–10): a soccer-mad alien runs away to Earth for the World Cup. Illustrated, fast-paced and funny — a hit with reluctant readers!
Walter Brown and the Magician’s Hat (ages 7–10): magical mayhem ensues when Walter inherits his great-grandpa’s enchanted hat — and discovers his cat Sixpence isn’t quite what he seems...
Henry Haynes and the Great Escape (ages 6–8): Henry falls inside his library book after complaining it’s boring — and meets a smelly gorilla and a bossy boa with a zoo escape plan!
For younger readers:
The Tell-Me Tree (ages 4–8): a gentle, rhyming picture book that helps children talk about feelings through drawing, writing or conversation. Praised by parents, teachers, and charities, it's widely used in UK homes and classrooms. Includes links to free activity sheets.
Ferdinand Fox rhyming stories (ages 3–5):
Ferdinand Fox’s Big Sleep – inspired by a real fox who slept in Karen’s garden!
Ferdinand Fox and the Hedgehog – introduces Hatty and her son Ed, plus facts about how to help hedgehogs.
Ferdinand Fox and the Lost Boy – Ferdinand comes to the rescue in his bravest story yet.
A collected edition of all six rhyming stories is currently in the works for readers aged 6–7, or for parents who enjoy reading rhyme to younger children.
How it all began…
Karen’s writing journey began in 2010 when she took a sabbatical from her career in business writing to revisit story ideas drafted a decade earlier, when her sons George and Nick were small. One was The Secret Lake, which had been tucked away in a drawer after early rejections. This time, she self-published — and never looked back. In fact, she has turned down three traditional publishing deals in the last few years, preferring (for now at least) to retain creative control of her IP.
She eventually left business writing to focus fully on children’s books. Today, she regularly visits schools in person and via Zoom, and has signed books in Waterstones branches across London.
Visit her author website to find out more or to enquire about a school visit.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 11, 2016
Though I am significantly older than the suggested age range for this book, I found myself fully engaged with these well-written stories each with an unmistakable sense of fun. And I'm now anxious to find out what happens next with this sampling of chapters from previously written books by author Karen Inglis.
In "Story Stack" you'll find . . .
A kid who enters the story-world of his library book.
An alien who shows up at a boy's front door.
A ten year-old who inherits a magician's outfit--or is that a talking cat?
And a secret lake that shouldn't be there.
There's an imaginative playfulness here that would be great for oral storytelling (parents) or--dare I say--for kids reading on their own.
And the illustrations are excellent.
In "Story Stack" you'll find . . .
A kid who enters the story-world of his library book.
An alien who shows up at a boy's front door.
A ten year-old who inherits a magician's outfit--or is that a talking cat?
And a secret lake that shouldn't be there.
There's an imaginative playfulness here that would be great for oral storytelling (parents) or--dare I say--for kids reading on their own.
And the illustrations are excellent.
June 29, 2018
Hate
C if they can d i don't want the h e l u know when we got home a t y not have enough for him at my
C if they can d i don't want the h e l u know when we got home a t y not have enough for him at my
September 23, 2019
nice books and the kids are having fun in one of them
yay. I liked it for that reason. I also liked that it was a fast book to read. Thank you!
yay. I liked it for that reason. I also liked that it was a fast book to read. Thank you!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews