Wartime Tails

Written by broadcaster Dermot O’Leary and illustrated by Claire Powell, the Wartime Tails series encompasses two books – Wings of Glory, and Spy Fox and Agent Feathers.

Ideal for readers aged 7 to 12-years-old, find out more about both books here!

Illustration of two mice cooking in a kitchen, one holding a cooking utensil and the other preparing food, both wearing aprons. A tower of labeled bottles and cans is on a counter.

The books

Cover of the children's book titled "Spy Fox and Agent Feathers" by Dermot O'Leary, illustrated by Claire Powell, featuring a fox dressed as a spy and a bird in a forest setting.

Spy Fox and Agent Feathers

Can Charles, a crafty fox, and Gertrude, a genius chicken, complete an epic rescue mission ... without one of them getting eaten?

This thrilling and humorous action-adventure comes from bestselling children’s author Dermot O’Leary. Featuring the cunning French Resistance, a daring castle break-in, and a race against time to stop crucial plans from falling into the wrong hands, Charles and Gertrude’s mission turns out to be even more important than they ever imagined!

Set during the Second World War, this amazing story brings history alive in a brilliantly fun way for readers aged 7 to 12-years-old.

Published by Hachette
ISBN Number: 9781444976472

Buy from:

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Find your local indie

Book cover titled "Wings of Glory" by Dermot O'Leary, illustrated by Claire Powell, depicts a large bird wearing aviator goggles flying over a green landscape with several fighter planes and a battleground scene.

Wings of Glory

The hugely popular presenter delivers a heartwarming and hilarious historical romp about a plucky swift determined to aid the British war effort. Can one tiny bird help win a world war? A funny, action-packed adventure with a feathery twist, featuring daring loop-the-loops, top-secret plans, and more than a smattering of bird poo. This wartime tale will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even teach you a bit of history along the way.

Set during the Second World War, this amazing story brings history alive in a brilliantly fun way for readers aged 7-12.

Published by Hachette
ISBN Number: 9781444961638

Buy from:

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Find your local indie

Meet the characters

Drawing of a bird with a vintage telephone on its head, standing on a patch of ground.
Black and white illustration of a bird bird dressed as a pilot, wearing a pilot hat and scarf, with a monocle, standing on one leg with the other leg drawn up, against a plain background.
Illustration of a hawk wearing pilot goggles and a scarf, with a serious expression, standing with its wings close to its body.
A cartoon bird wearing a pilot helmet and goggles, with a rolled-up paper under its wing, carrying a bag on its shoulder, and standing on one leg.
A black and white watercolor illustration of a bird with a long beak and tired eyes, wearing a winter hat.
Illustration of a falcon wearing a hoodie and jacket, with a yellow beak and feet, depicted in a cartoon style.
Black and white drawing of three anthropomorphic animals dressed in clothing, standing side by side. From left to right: a confident rat with a patched coat and hands on hips, a serious beaver wearing a beret and striped sweater, and a stern fox with

Take a peek inside!

Group of animals dressed in human clothing watching a large crowd and ships on the water from a hillside, with picnic items in the foreground.
An illustration of a vintage car filled with chickens and ducks, with some chickens flying out of it. A sign with 'eggs' is on top of the car. Eggs are also falling from the sky, and some eggs are cracked.
A black and white illustration depicting a progression from two mice dressed as soldiers to a creature with the head of a mouse, body of a bird, and wings, surrounded by other mice also with bird-like features, resembling a transformation or hybridiz
A black and white cartoon scene of a large group of chickens with surprised or alarmed expressions, gathered closely together and looking upwards. There is a hen peeking above a fence in the background, her face showing curiosity or concern.
Black and white illustration of a jungle scene with various animals including elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, crocodile, zebras, and birds, surrounded by trees and foliage.
A humorous black and white drawing of a bird wearing goggles carrying a large bag while also carrying two smaller fish with one perched on its back, all with cartoonish expressions.
Black and white drawing of a decorative window with two uniformed guards and turkeys on the windowsill.

  • “Full of adventure and heart.”

    Cressida Cowell
    Children’s author

  • "I loved this book about Linus who is a very brave tiny bird... [it] is very exciting and made me laugh at the poop bits."

    Reader, aged 7
    Toppsta

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Cover of the children's book 'Marty Mouse First Class Mischief' by Claire Powell, featuring a cartoon mouse in a red uniform surrounded by flying papers, letters, and other mice characters, with a bright yellow background.

Marty Moose

Book cover of 'Murder at the Museum' by Alasdair Beckett-King, illustrated by Claire Powell, with a blue museum entrance background, a character in red with a mustache and shadow, and badges indicating it is an Indie Book of the Month and a Gold Standard JLG.

Montgomery Bonbon