Tim and the Hidden People by Sheila K. McCullagh is a 1970s and 80's reading scheme, also known as Flightpath to Reading, originally devised for young children and intended for children with a reading age of eight-and-a-half to nine years. It consists of 32 books, each 32 pages long and illustrated by Pat Cook (1974-1979) and later Ray Mutimer (1980), written in a simple vocabulary. Four paperback "novella" books intended for older readers were also published in 1983 by Arnold-Wheaton. The books were cited as an inspiration by the author Victoria Biggs, who used the "Hidden People" as an analogy for those suffering from dyspraxia. Sheila McCullagh also wrote many other books, including Puddle Lane, The Village with Three Corners, Dragon Pirate Stories, and Griffin Pirate Stories. Plot The Tim and the Hidden People books are about a boy called Tim who lives in a house in The Yard. The books begin with Tim finding a key which enables him to see the Hidden People, he befriends Tobias the black cat and has many adventures. Tobias has a son, Sebastian, who also has special power as one of the "strange ones" - those who are half "ordinary folk" and half "Hidden people". Reception Writing for the Times Educational Supplement in July 1980, Anne Barnes described the Tim and the Hidden People stories as "quite adventurous" saying "Tim encounters enough mysteries to keep the reader in suspense to the end". Child Education magazine described the series as "excellent" in an August 1979 review. Books Series A A1. Tim and Tobias A2. All the Fun of the Fair A3. Tim Meets Captain Jory A4. Tim and the Smugglers A5. Tim and the Witches A6. The Highwayman A7. Magic in the Yard A8. The Key Series B B1. The Return of the Key B2. Captain Jory Lends a Hand B3. The Stump People B4. Watchers in the Yard B5. Red for Danger B6. At the House of the Safe Witch B7. Tim in Hiding B8. On the night of the Full Moon Series C C1. The Pool by the Whispering Trees C2. Tim in Trouble C3. On the Road to the North C4. Riding into Danger C5. Mandrake's Castle C6. Escape by Night C7. Three Fires on the Dark Tower C8. Tim Rides on the Ghost Bus Series D D1. News from the North D2. The Cry in the Dark D3. The Shield