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📚 This is Book 3 of 5 in the Modern Day Fairytales. Every book is a complete story, so you can read them in any order.
1. The Piper of Puddingham → 2. Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café → 3. Ella and the Midnight Disco → 4. Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk → 5. Little Red and the Very Hungry Wolf
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Paperbacks are printed to order in the UK and delivered in 4–7 working days. Ebooks (EPUB) download instantly after checkout.
Be yourself. Then dance.
Ella Penrose can fix anything: bikes, toasters, even a radio with a paperclip and some chewing gum. But she can’t fix being stuck in the attic at Aunt Griselda’s, doing all the chores while her influencer cousins film themselves.
When the whole town is invited to the Midsummer Midnight Disco except Ella, Nanna Pearl arrives with a magic sewing machine, a pumpkin-orange e-scooter and a pair of light-up trainers.
But the magic ends at midnight, and Ella is about to discover that the best thing she can be is herself.
A read-aloud chapter book for ages 4–8 · 10 bedtime-sized chapters · 7,700 words · Text only, no illustrations
Bedtime tips for grown-ups
- Tiffani and Kaylee talk like they’re always filming. Try “Hiii guys!” in your best influencer voice.
- Nanna Pearl is cosy and twinkly. Aunt Griselda is all sharp edges.
- Ask: what are you brilliant at fixing or making? Ella’s superpower is being handy, not being pretty.
- Put some disco music on after the last chapter. You won’t regret it.
💛 Why kids love it
- Light-up glass-slipper trainers and a pumpkin-orange e-scooter.
- Ella saves the disco by fixing the sound system herself.
- Funny, over-the-top cousins who learn a lesson.
- A fairy godmother who is actually a nanna with a sewing machine.
- A happy ending that’s about friendship and being yourself.
Who is Ella and the Midnight Disco for?
Ella and the Midnight Disco is a funny, warm read-aloud chapter book for children aged 4 to 8. It is a great choice for children who love Cinderella but want a heroine who solves her own problems, and for families who like a story with plenty of voices to do.
Themes in the story
- Being yourself, and being valued for what you can do.
- Kindness and talent shining brighter than glitter.
- Standing up to unfairness at home.
- Friendship and making new friends.
Is Ella and the Midnight Disco right for my child? A parent’s guide
This is a gentle, comic retelling of Cinderella with no frightening content. Aunt Griselda and the cousins are unkind in a pantomime way, and they learn a lesson by the end. The romance of the original is replaced with a friendship with Leo, the shy new boy.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Ella and the Midnight Disco for?
It is written to be read aloud to children aged 4 to 8. Confident readers aged 7 to 9 can also read it on their own.
Is it a romance?
No. Ella’s happy ending is about friendship, confidence and being herself, which makes it ideal for younger listeners.
How long are the chapters?
Each of the ten chapters takes about five to seven minutes to read aloud.
Does the book have pictures?
No. It is a text-only chapter book written to be read aloud.
How much does Ella and the Midnight Disco cost?
The paperback is £6.99, printed to order in the UK, with free UK delivery on orders over £25. The ebook is £2.99 and downloads instantly.