Discover the Something Terrible Series

Sally Barton was at the age of six when she first took a book from the library, from then on words and stories became an important part of her life. She not only spends her days creating fictional worlds for both adults and children, but she also passes this love and knowledge on to her students as a tutor for children with learning differences. Barton previously worked for the police but was happiest at her job in a public library while she finished her degree in Legal Studies. Barton enjoys teaching and travelling but writing is her first love. Barton was honoured to win the Writers Unleashed Picture Book Competition in 2022 with Goodnight Sheep.

Barton has collaborated with Christopher Nielsen, whose illustrations flow forth from a love of vintage design. Tin toys, Mexican wrestlers, Matchboxes, Medical Charts and Indian Goddesses all jostle for attention amongst the flotsam and jetsam of his flip-top head. His images have been adopted by wineries, zoo’s, department stores, radio stations and fish mongers around the globe as well as many books. When he’s not making images or raising a young family he can be found on stage playing guitar with his band The Ramalamas. He was shortlisted in 2018 for the CBCA Crichton Award for best new illustrator in children’s book illustration.

Recommended for ages 6+, the Something Terrible series is all about mayhem, mess and beasties. Collect them all for a wonderful gift to be read, re-read and treasured for years to come. Below, we’ve listed all 4 books so you can see what each one is about! The fourth book, Sam Stop-Your-Frowning, is out now!

Book #1: Tim Tie-Your-Shoelaces

Goosebumps meets The Treehouse in this wonderful first instalment of a hilarious new series, Something Terrible. Tim Mulligan lives at 25 Rufus Street. You might be surprised to know that is his name, because most people think his name is Tim Tie-your-shoelaces. But no matter how many people tell him, or how often, Tim never ties his shoelaces. One morning, just as Tim was leaving for school, his mum called, ‘Tim! Tie your shoelaces. Something terrible could happen!’ This is the story of the something terrible that did. Sally Barton weaves a tale of mayhem, mess and beasties, in this flip-flappin’ street-slappin’ first installment of the terrible things that happen in Rufus Street.

Buy a copy of Tim Tie-Your-Shoelaces here.

Book #2: Becky Brush-your-hair

Paul Jennings meets the Treehouse in this hilarious new series, Something Terrible Becky Culpepper lives at 34 Rufus Street. You might be surprised to know that is her name, because most people think her name is Becky Brush-your-hair. But no matter how many people tell her, or how often, Becky never brushes her hair. One morning, just as Becky was leaving for school, her mum called, ‘Becky! Brush your hair. Something terrible could happen!’ This is the story of the something terrible that did. Sally Barton weaves a brush-with-disaster pony-tale of do’s and do-knots in his tangled mess of a second installment of the terrible things that happen in Rufus Street.

Buy a copy of Becky Brush-your-hair here.

Book #3: Wanda Wear-your-glasses

Wanda Hushberry lives at 4 Rufus Street. You might be surprised to know that is her name, because most people think her name is Wanda Wear-your-glasses. But no matter how many people tell her, or how often, Wanda never wears her glasses. One morning, just as Wanda is leaving for school, her mum called, ‘Wanda! Wear your glasses. Something terrible could happen!’ This is the story of the something terrible that did. Sally Barton weaves a tale of mistakenness, mischance and mess, in this blindingly hilarious third installment of the terrible things that happen in Rufus Street.

Buy a copy of Wanda Wear-your-glasses here.

Book #4: Sam Stop-Your-Frowning

Sam Crisp lives at 6 Rufus Street. You might be surprised to know that is his name, because most people think his name is Sam Stop-your-frowning. But no matter how many people tell him, or how often, Sam never stops his frowning.
One morning, just as Sam was leaving for school, his mum called, ‘Sam! Stop your frowning. Something terrible could happen!’ This is the story of the something terrible that did. Sally Barton weaves a tale of mayhem, mess and moping in this frowningly funny fourth installment of the terrible things that happen in Rufus Street.