The Sporty Bridesmaid

By Diane Redmond

A fifth title in the popular Bridesmaids series, aimed at 6 – 8 year old girls [but not including the boys, of course!]

Jess is a talented young athlete. When her athletics teacher asks her to be a bridesmaid at their wedding, she jumps at the chance! But this is a wedding with a difference – the bride and groom are to run in a marathon and Jess has to run part of the way with them! But when a traffic jam threatens to stop her getting to the reception, she puts on her trainers again and jogs all the way there!

[The young model on the cover of this title – Ruwa Murapa-Foster – is herself a buddling gymnast and was about to be in her Hertfordshire regional finals a couple of days after the photo shoot!]

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Feb 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9780007571741

Diane Redmond

Diane was born and educated in Lancashire. Her interest in children's books began when she used them to teach English in language schools in Italy.She returned to live in Cambridge, where she taught multi-cultural education before working as a radio and TV presenter.Diane has also been involved in script writing for TV and the stage. She was asked to write The Journey of Odysseus for a Children's Theatre, which gave her the inspiration to delve deeper into the world of the Ancient Greeks.

Book preview

Chapter One

Jessie Coles loved athletics. The two things in the world she most wanted was to win an Olympic gold medal and to be a bridesmaid. When her athletics teacher, Debs, asked her to be a bridesmaid at her wedding Jessie was thrilled.

I can’t give you an Olympic gold medal but I can make you a bridesmaid, said Debs with a smile.

"There’s one big condition, added Jack the groom. We’re all running to the registry office!"

Jessie laughed. She thought Debs and Jack were teasing.

Running to a wedding? That would be funny!

We’re serious, said Debs. "On Saturday April 14th Jack and I want to do three things. One, get married. Two, run in the local half marathon and three, raise money for the children’s new hospital."

Jessie stared at Jack and Debs.

"How are you going to do all of those things in one day" she gasped.

We’re having a sponsored wedding run! laughed Jack.

We plan to run to the registry office, Debs explained. We’ll ask our guests to sponsor us and all the money we make will go to the children’s new hospital!

Jessie couldn’t believe her ears. She desperately wanted to be a bridesmaid and wear a floaty silk dress with satin slippers and flowers in her hair. She couldn’t run a half marathon in fancy, frilly clothes!

What will you wear? she asked.

My running kit of course, laughed Debs.

"What will