Recreation

Children’s New Titles September 2012 (arrived in August)

Audio Visual

Chris Humfrey's wild life. Volume 2 [videorecording (DVD)].
Meet Chris Humfrey a zoologist who lives with his young family and their really big dog in an idyllic bush haven in country Victoria. But the Humfreys also share their home with a few other pets - more than 2000 and each one of them needs care and attention 24/7. This isn't your average family home. It's a private zoo where human and animal sagas unfold on a daily basis. Chris and his wife Nicole work around the clock to keep their very extended family happy and healthy and manage their enthusiastic crew of GenY zookeepers/presenters. Each week Chris will share with us this extraordinary life and his amazing knowledge of Australia's fauna. Follow Chris in this chaotic animal-crazy series that captures the drama the danger the animal antics and the sheer exhilaration of Chris Humfrey's Wild Life. Every day a new saga unfolds at the zoo. Every day there is something new to learn - even for Chris.
Gabe, the cupid dog [videorecording (DVD)], directed by Michael Feifer.
Newly single journalist Eric is offered a trip to London to open a new office for his publisher. But first he must complete an assignment which involves him revealing the identity of the reclusive and bestselling author RL Dutton. Problem is his loyal companion Gabe does not like the idea of six months in quarantine. So influenced by the advice of a TV host, Gabe decides to play cupid and bring Eric together with the neighbour Sarah. Only the plan backfires when it turns out that Sarah is indeed the mysterious RL Dutton. Convinced Eric was using her for a story Gabe must come up with an ingenious plan to get the star-crossed lovers back together.
Shrek the third [videorecording (DVD)], directed by Chris Miller.
Tom and Jerry Volume 2, Fur flying adventures [videorecording (DVD)].
One flustered feline + one resourceful rodent =14 wild and wacky cartoons! Tom, the eternally crabby cat, and Jerry, the hopelessly adorable mouse, find themselves in a fracas once, twice and many times again in this latest bunch of fourteen fast and funny cartoons! This time around the dizzy duo takes their tiffs to the beach (Surf-Bored Cat), to the Alps (The A-Tom-inable-Snowman), and to the orchestra (Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl).
Tooth fairy. 2 [videorecording (DVD)], directed by Alex Zamm.
Larry Guthrie is a fun-loving guy with a serious mission: to win back Brooke, the love of his life. But when Larry upsets a small boy with a loose tooth where Brooke works, he's 'sentenced' to become a real Tooth Fairy. It's tutu times the laughs watching Larry strut his stuff in pink tights and ballet shoes as he tries to restore the boy's faith before Brooke marries the wrong man, and he only has ten days to git-r-done!
Treasure buddies [videorecording (DVD)], directed by Robert Vince.
Disney's irresistible talking puppies are back in an all-new movie that takes them halfway across the world to the ruins of ancient Egypt. With the help of some exotic new friends, this epic adventure is a treasure trove of pure Buddy fun. In a race against a devious cat, the Buddies and their new friends, Cammy and Babi, must avoid booby traps, solve puzzles, and explore a mysterious tomb, all in search of the greatest treasure known to animal kind.
The railway children [videorecording (DVD], directed by Lionel Jeffries.
In 1905 three children, Roberta, Phyllis and Peter find that their lives change completely when their father is escorted away to London by two mysterious gentlemen. Their possessions are sold and their mother takes them away to live in the country.
Hits 4 kids [sound recording], Hey Duby.
Jingle bells [sound recording] : Christmas songs and carols for children.
A fun collection of Christmas songs and carols for children and the whole family to enjoy and join in.
Putumayo kids instrumental dreamland [sound recording]
Putumayo kids presents kids cowboy playground [sound recording].
Putumayo kids presents Sesame Street playground [sound recording]
The wheels on the bus go round the world [sound recording].
Times tables [sound recording].
"Enjoy learning your times tables, with the help of songs! Catchy tunes in different musical styles, such as blues, rock, reggae, folk, funk, soul and country help the times tables to stick in your brain" -- Container insert.
Toddlers top 40 fun songs! [sound recording].
Twinkle twinkle, little star [sound recording] : bedtime songs and lullabies for children.
Canterbury can [sound recording], Chris Williams.
"The title track Canterbury can was written as a creative response to the September 4th earthquake to help uplift the spirit of our people in the face of adversity, and to promote Canterbury to the rest of the world. This is an anthem we can call our own!" -- Container insert.
Pop-up. Imagine with Rufus [videorecording (DVD)]
Imagine With Rufus features over 90 minutes of imaginary fun, and four different ways to stimulate your child's imagination.
The Sarah Jane adventures [videorecording (DVD)] : the complete fifth series.
Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith and her young sidekicks are back in the final ever episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures. The gang soon find themselves up to their necks in alien trouble: discovering an explosive foundling baby; getting drawn into the middle of a war between Fleshkind and Metalkind; being divided by a curse delivered through an ancient totem-pole; coming face-to-face with alien light sculptors, the one-eyed Scullion - and Rani and Clyde getting married - just to save the world?
Tiki tour. Volume 1 [videorecording (DVD)]
"Climb aboard the Tiki Tour bus and join in on all the fun - games, stories, songs, dancing and making stuff! Our two young presenters host the live action segments, interact with a crazy team of animated characters and invite our viewers to participate. This hugely popular TV2 series uses an engaging mix of eye-catching animation and live action. Young viewers will have lots of fun laughing and learning using the three main languages of Aotearoa: English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. A specially selected compilation of episodes takes our viewers to real life NZ locations while learning about maths, language, science, technology, social sciences, the arts and health" -- Container insert.
Little Princess. King of the castle [videorecording (DVD)].
Great classic family favorites [sound recording] : twelve unabridged stories.
This inspiring anthology collects enduring and entertaining stories that have enthralled young and old ever since they were first published. Perfect for the family car trip or at-home listening, these brand new recordings sparkle with the wit and wonder of time-tested storytelling.
The jungle book [sound recording], [adapted by Helga Beringsdorff].
"A tiny, baby boy is rescued by wolves from the hunting tiger, Shere Khan. The wolves name the boy Mowgli and raise him as one of their own cubs in the Indian jungle, with the help of Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. But Shere Khan never forgets his loss and many years later, Mowgli has to face him again" -- Container.
Assassin [sound recording], Tony Bradman.
Can Owen save his tribe by creeping into the Roamn camp and murdering their leader, the Emperor Hadrian?
A box of nothing [sound recording], Peter Dickinson.
When James hid in the Nothing Shop he didn't expect to find anyone there or to buy a box of nothing. But from that his adventure begins.
A greyhound of a girl [sound recording], Roddy Doyle.
12 year old Mary's beloved grandmother is near the end of her life. Letting go is hard - until Granny's long-dead mammy appears at Mary's door, returning to help her dying daughter say goodbye. But first she needs someone to drive them all on a visit to the past.
A greyhound of a girl [sound recording], Roddy Doyle.
12 year old Mary's beloved grandmother is near the end of her life. Letting go is hard - until Granny's long-dead mammy appears at Mary's door, returning to help her dying daughter say goodbye. But first she needs someone to drive them all on a visit to the past.
Venus rocks [sound recording], Fiona Dunbar.
Hey, Kitty Slade here. Just hanging out, doing ordinary things. You know, like seeing ghosts. It's been happening for a while now, but this time is different... When Kitty sees a ghost ship, she knows her spooky powers are growing stronger.
Stormswept [sound recording], Helen Dunmore.
Morveren lives with her parents and twin sister Jenna on an island off the coast of Cornwall. As Morveren and Jenna's relationship shifts and changes, like driftwood on the tide, Morveren finds a beautiful teenage boy in a rock pool after a storm. Going to his rescue, she is shocked to see that he is not human but a Mer boy. With Jenna refusing to face the truth, Morveren finds herself alone at the worst possible time. Because when the worlds of Air and Mer meet, the consequences can be terrible...
The house with no name [sound recording], Pippa Goodhart.
Jamie's new house has hidden secrets. Dark, terrible secrets. Can he find out the truth before anyone else gets hurt?
The witch's revenge [sound recording], Nigel Hinton.
There was a horrible cackling laugh. Philip and Baby B looked up and saw Oyin flying above the trees, her evil face lit by flames. 'Burn! Burn!' she screamed in delight. She clapped her hands and at once a wind began to blow. The flames grew longer and stretched from tree to tree. In every direction that Philip looked the forest was on fire!
One dog and his boy [sound recording], Eva Ibbotson.
When lonely, ten-year-old Hal learns that his wealthy but neglectful parents only rented Fleck, the dog he always wanted, he and new friend Pippa take Fleck and four other dogs from the rental agency on a trek from London to Scotland, where Hal's grandparents live.
The time-travelling cat and the great Victorian stink [sound recording], Julia Jarman.
Topher's amazing cat, Ka, has time-travelled again; she has left him the clue: Following her, Topher finds himself in Victorian London where disease is rife and the Thames is clogged with stinking sewage! Topher discovers a plot to kill Joseph Bazalgette, the man who is trying to save the city. Determined to foil it, Topher must first escape from an arch-criminal and his den of thieves.
Will Gallows and the thunder dragon's roar [sound recording], Derek Keilty.
Sky cowboy, Will Gallows, having fled his home, is soon caught up in a bitter land feud between the cowboy settlers of the eastern arm and the elf 'braves' of Gung-Choux village. With battle looming, Will sets out to save his uncle from the hangman's noose. A quest that leads him to the rock's edge, where deadly thunder-dragons roam, and where he stumbles on a treacherous plot to drive the elf tribes off the eastern arm forever.
The rope school [sound recording], Sam Llewellyn.
Kate's parents have gone to America leaving her with her aunt and uncle. By accident Kate finds herself disguised as a boy, at sea on one of His Majesty's sloops of war. Here she learns the harsh reality of shipboard life but this is nothing to the mystery and adventure which await her on the high seas.
In black and white & other stories [sound recording], Ian Jan Mark.
A collection of short stories which include: how Jenny appears twice in the same school photo ; how Gary becomes strangely moody when he takes the old miser's two shilling coin in change ; and how Jean's compost heap seems to take on a life of it's own.
War horse [sound recording], Michael Morpurgo.
Joey the horse recalls his experiences growing up on an English farm, his struggle for survival as a cavalry horse during World War I, and his reunion with his beloved master.
Pegasus and the fight for Olympus [sound recording], Kate O'Hearn.
Reborn as the Flame, Emily has saved Olympus from destruction. The Olympic flame now burns strong, and peace has been restored. But not for long ... When the gruesome Nirads begin a new invasion, Emily and her friends become entangled in the conflict as old grudges are unearthed and new enemies are discovered. And all the while, Emily yearns for her father, still a prisoner of the sinister CRU, somewhere in New York. Join Emily astride the magnificent winged stallion, Pegasus, as she embarks on a new flight of adventure through worlds both old and new.
Odysseus [sound recording] : the greatest hero of them all, Tony Robinson [and Richard Curtis].
The story of Odysseus from his boyhood in Ithaca to his participation in the Trojan
Magicalamity [sound recording], Kate Saunders.
Tom doesn't know he is a demi-sprite, the child of a fairy and a human, until he meets his three fairy godmothers. They've been summoned to protect him, but they can't stop bickering, and two of them are hardened criminals. Tom must survive their botched magic spells, learn to fly and enter the dangerous Fairy Realm to save his parents.
Down with Stinkyhogs! [sound recording], Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell.
Joe was just trying to build a flat-pack wardrobe when he fell through a portal and landed in Muddle Earth. That might not have been too bad, except that his sulky older sister was with him when it happened. Muddle Earth is crazy enough without her being there too. But Joe doesn't have time to be cross. Muddle Earth needs him - to play broomball. For unless Stinkyhogs School of Wizardry triumphs in the forthcoming tournament, it will be closed! Joe doesn't want to let Randalf the wizard down, so it's time to come up with a plan.
Down with Stinkyhogs! [sound recording], Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell.
Joe was just trying to build a flat-pack wardrobe when he fell through a portal and landed in Muddle Earth. That might not have been too bad, except that his sulky older sister was with him when it happened. Muddle Earth is crazy enough without her being there too. But Joe doesn't have time to be cross. Muddle Earth needs him - to play broomball. For unless Stinkyhogs School of Wizardry triumphs in the forthcoming tournament, it will be closed! Joe doesn't want to let Randalf the wizard down, so it's time to come up with a plan.
The trouble with big sisters [sound recording], Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.
Joe has fallen through a portal & landed in Muddle Earth, along with his sulky older sister. Ella seems to have adjusted to this weird new world quickly, with the help of dreamy barbarian Edward Gorgeous - that is, until they both go AWOL.
The trouble with big sisters [sound recording], Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.
Joe has fallen through a portal & landed in Muddle Earth, along with his sulky older sister. Ella seems to have adjusted to this weird new world quickly, with the help of dreamy barbarian Edward Gorgeous - that is, until they both go AWOL.
The boy in the bubble [sound recording], Ian Strachan.
"How was I supposed to know it was going to be the kind of day when you could get hit by a shooting star, or find an extra strip of gum in the pack?" That is how Anne remembers the day she first met Adam, the boy born with no immune system.
A skull in Shadows Lane [sound recording], Robert Swindells.
The war has just ended in the tiny village of Coney Cley, and Josh and his gang are desperate for some excitement. When they head for the eerie, abandoned Shadows Lane to explore a deserted house, they find more than they bargained for-a human tooth. Then a creepy, skeletal face appears at a dark window. Believing there's a skeleton haunting Shadows Lane, the children are shocked to learn the truth about "Boney" -- he's an escaped prisoner of war. But someone else is also hiding in the village, someone much more dangerous.
How to get the body you want by Peony Pinker [sound recording], Jenny Alexander.
It's winter and the Pinkers are out of shape - so Dad decides to use the whole family to test out his ideas for a new fit-in-four-weeks diet book.
How to get the friends you want by Peony Pinker [sound recording], Jenny Alexander.
Peony Pinker is friends with Abina, Sasha and Tammy (the coolest girls in class) and Pookie the pot-bellied pig. But not with Toby and Jess (her best friends before) ; Becky (from the kennels) and Mum (not getting it). Something has gone wrong with Peony's friendships. Can she find what, and put it right?
The secret life of Ms Wiz [sound recording], Terence Blackler.
For the first time ever, Ms Wiz reveals the unimaginable secrets of her life beyond St Barnabas School. Travelling a million miles outside the known universe, she returns with Jack, Podge and Caroline to the Kingdom of Paranormal Magic.
More about Paddington [sound recording], Michael Bond.
It's a good thing for lots of reasons that bears like Paddington are rare. Whether it is his attempts at home decorating, detective work or photography, the bear from Darkest Peru causes his own special brand of chaos.
Sophia the flame sister [sound recording], Amber Castle.
Gwen and Flora search for Sophia the Flame Sister who Morgana has imprisoned in an enchanted forest. Can the girls save her and help to restore the magic of fire to Avalon?
The sun-snatchers [sound recording], Steve Cole.
Captain Teggs is no ordinary dinosaur - he's an astrosaur! On the incredible spaceship DSS Sauropod, along with his faithful crew Gypsy, Arx and Iggy, Teggs rights wrongs, fights evil and eats a lot of grass.
Puss in boots [sound recording], Chris Emmett.
When young Tom falls in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, he dreams of winning her heart. But Tom is poverty-stricken, and his lady love is Princess Rose Petal. Then a magic sunbeam transforms his cat into clever, cunning Puss in Boots... Can Puss help Tom defeat Baron Skinflint and his greedy ogre and win the princess's heart.
Sleeping beauty [sound recording], Chris Emmett.
The King and Queen are delighted to have Rosebud as their baby daughter. But her christening ceremony is rudely interrupted by the Wicked Fairy Carabosse, who gives the baby a gift she won't forget.
Nonstop nonsense [sound recording], Margaret Mahy.
This is a collection of humorous stories about the Delmonico family. Discover what happens when Mrs Delmonico announces she is feeling a little blue and promptly turns blue, and meet the cat who becomes a poet and the girl who starts a craze for hanging upside down.
The chewing-gum rescue and other stories [sound recording], Margaret Mahy.
This collection contains eleven hilarious tales, full of unforgettable characters and exciting escapades.
Roodica the Rude and the famous flea trick [sound recording], Margaret Ryan.
Long ago, when wolves and bears roamed the land, and before underpants had been invented, the Romans conquered Britain. The Romans built fine houses and straight roads, and encouraged the Celts to take baths. But not everyone liked the Romans. Lots of people fought back, and none more stubbornly than Queen Goodica's youngest daughter Roodica the Rude!
The lost puppy [sound recording], Holly Webb.
Ruby is thrilled when she gets to meet her aunt's dachshund's new puppies for the very first time. Ruby chooses the cheekiest, most adventurous puppy, Toby, and the two have fun playing together.
Meerkat madness flying high [sound recording], Ian Whybrow.
The Really Mad Mob is expanding! With new faces joining familiar ones in Far Burrow, the thrill-seeking meerkat pups have more exciting adventures ahead of them. In the third title in this fantastic series, join Uncle Fearless and the intrepid pups in a brand new, sky-high Kalahari escapade!
The flying save! [sound recording], Ian Whybrow.
When a mysterious set of plastic dinosaur cards appear on his key-ring, Harry discovers he can call on an army of Back-Up Dinosaurs. Just a rub with his finger calls up some MONSTER-sized muscle! Dangerous dogs are worrying sheep near where Harry lives. He calls on Charlie, Siri and Jack to help investigate. But it's going to take a rather special FLYING friend to save the day!
Jeffy, the burglar's cat [sound recording], Ursula Moray Williams.
Nobody who saw Miss Amity and her cat Jeffy walking in the town on a Saturday morning could have believed that in the shopping bag, hidden under the washing powder and cat food, was Miss Amity's burglary kit. It was only Jeffy who knew the terrible truth.

Into Reading

Pippa's painting, Jill Atkins ; illustrated by Anni Axworthy.
Pippa is busy making a painting but her little brother wants to see! They soon get in a mess with all the paints! The Tiddlers series features fun stories with a word count of fewer than 50 words for children who are just starting to read. A word list at the beginning of the story allows for a quick check of the reader's ability to read and understand words before reading, and a puzzle at the end of the story encourages rereading for pleasure.
Pirate picnic, Juliet Clare Bell ; illustrated by Mirella Mariani.
Everyone is excited about going on a picnic dressed as pirates, but then some real ones appear! The Tiddlers series features fun stories with a word count of fewer than 50 words for children who are just starting to read. A word list at the beginning of the story allows for a quick check of the reader's ability to read and understand words before reading, and a puzzle at the end of the story encourages rereading for pleasure.
Mia and the big sister ballet, Robin Farley ; pictures by Aleksey and Olga Ivanov.
Mia's big sister, Ava, is the star of a real ballet and Mia's dance class is going to visit her!
A rainbow shopping day, Vivian French ; illustrated by Selina Young.
Jason and his little sister Daisy B go shopping, help wash the car, and splash about in the bath in this fun and accessible story, perfect for early readers.
The big sticky bun, Vivian French ; illustrated by Selina Young.
Jason and his little sister Daisy B help Mum and Dad with the shopping, the gardening and eating cakes in this fun and accessible story, perfect for early readers.
The trail ride, Catherine Hapka ; pictures by Anne Kennedy.
Meg, Jill, and Annie know how to ride their ponies. But when they decide to go out on the trail alone, will they be able to find their way home?
Splat the Cat : the name of the game, cover art by Rob Scotton ; text by Amy Hsu Lin ; interior illustrations by Robert Eberz.
Looking forward to a fun-filled playdate with his friends Spike and Plank, Splat the Cat is dismayed when things start going wrong, from his fall during a game to his inability to find a good hide-and-seek spot.
Rumpled Stilton-Skin, Daniel Postgate.
In this new twist on the traditional fairy tale a funny little man named Rumpled Stilton Skin appears when the poor cheese-maker's daughter needs his help. He makes her beautiful for a ball, but what will he ask for in return? The carefully controlled text level and beautiful illustrations ensure this is a fantastic read for all children of all reading levels!
Princess Frog, Enid Richemont and Galia Bernstein.
In this new twist on the traditional fairy tale the princess is bored of her princess duties and clothes, she longs for freedom and adventure, in fact she'd prefer to be a frog! But then she falls in love. The carefully controlled text level and beautiful illustrations ensure this is a fantastic read for all children of all reading levels!
Cudweed in outer space, Marcus Sedgwick ; illustrated by Pete Williamson.
Cudweed encounters aliens and a time machine in this funny, quirky story, perfect for beginner readers, from the bestselling Raven Mysteries team, Marcus Sedgwick and Pete Williamson.
Horrid Henry's sports day, Francesca Simon ; illustrated by Tony Ross.
Horrid Henry hates sports day. And he hates the cross-country run more than any other event. But just as he is heaving his weary bones to the starting line, he has a wonderful, spectacular idea of how to win the race.
Snow White sees the light, Karen Wallace and Andy Rowland.
Inventive and amusing new twists on the classic fairy tales told by top authors.

Non-Fiction

Hamda and Fiskaira, Kalthum al-Ghanim ; ilustrated by May al-Mannai ; translated by Anyd Smart.
The Cinderalla story is known across the world in many versions. Retold here is the version known in the Arabian Gulf, in which a fisaikra fish comes to the rescue of Hamda and brings her together with the man of her dreams.
Te marama, words and pictures, Robyn Kahukiwa ; Te reo Maori translation, Kiwa Hammond.
Describes the tikanga and tales surrounding the moon, and its phases. Suggested level: junior, primary.
The tale of the missing tail and other original Singapore stories.
Ocean sunlight : how tiny plants feed the seas, Molly Bang & Penny Chisholm ; illustrated by Molly Bang.
Explains how all life on the Earth depends, directly or indirectly, on light from the sun, and describes how all ocean life, from the tiniest plankton to great whales, including the creatures in the darkest depths, form a web that uses sunshine.
Animals : a visual encyclopedia.
Animals: A Visual Encyclopedia reveals the wonders of the animal kingdom to a younger readership. Structured by animal group with separate entries for every notable type of animal, from ants and aardvarks to wasps and wallabies. Fact files provide key information on behaviour, distribution, diet, and conservation issues. Action photography reveals wild animals interacting in their native habitats and puts natural behaviour in context. Highlights animals most likely to fire the imagination of young minds: the deadliest, the largest, the friendliest, the fastest, and the downright strangest.
Who's like me?, Nicola Davies ; illustrated by Marc Boutavant.
Lift the flaps and find out which animals are alike in this fun-filled, stylish biology book. "Who's Like Me?" is one of the four simple novelty titles in the "Uncover and Discover" series that explores aspects of animal life for very young children. "Who's Like Me?" looks at animal classification in an enjoyable and friendly way with strong text from writer and biologist Nicola Davies accompanied by stunning artwork and simple lift-the-flap spreads. This is a fresh, stylish alternative to other books in the genre. Spreads at the back encourage children to revisit what they have learned throughout the book. Other books in this series are: "What Will I Be?" "What Happens Next?" and "Who Lives Here?".
Step inside! : a look inside animal homes, Catherine Ham.
Using rhyming text, explores the homes of various animals, including spiders, moles, warthogs, and tree frogs, and describes how the animals use these homes for protection or for hunting food.
Awesome snake science : 40 activities for learning about snakes, Cindy Blobaum.
From cobras and copperheads to pythons and boas, all types of snakes are covered in this book of 40 science experiments, art projects, and games that help budding herpetologists gain a greater appreciation for these slithering reptiles. Activities include making foldable fangs to learn how snakes' teeth and jaws work together; simulating cytotoxic snake venom while making a tasty snack using an everyday enzyme found in pineapple; and mimicking the sound a rattlesnake makes using a rubber band, a paper clip, and an envelope. Engaging, simple, and safe experiments teach kids about the biology of snakes, such as how they use their tongues and nostrils to detect smells, how they are cold-blooded and sensitive to subtle changes in temperature, and how they can detect the slightest vibrations or tremors. Kids do not need a snake for any of the activities and will delight in all the strange snake facts and gross-out projects such as Snake Stink where they create their own signature stink and test how well it repels potential predators.
Flamingos, Cecilia Pinto McCarthy ; consulting editor, Gail Saunders-Smith ; consultant, Anne R. Hobbs.
Simple text and full-color photos explain the habitat, range, life cycle, and behaviour of flamingos while emphasizing their bright colour.
Human body factory, written by Dan Green ; illustrated by Edmond Davis.
Human anatomy has never been as entertaining as this look at a day in the busy human body factory. From the CEO sending out orders in the brain to "waste" being sorted and delivered out of the body at the other end, the busy workers who keep everything running smoothly introduce each 'department'. All the major systems are covered, and the ingenious illustrations are packed with humorous details that kids will love to pore over. All of this amazing artwork is backed up with fascinating facts and clear explanations of the body's essential processes. Whether it's toxic signs and workers wearing biohazard suits in the large intestine, lab workers in dinghies mixing gastric juices in the stomach with a giant whisk, or park keepers on the skin keeping things clean among glades of gently swaying hairs and sweat-gland sprinklers, we promise that kids will never think about their bodies in the same way again.
It's raining cats and dogs : an autism spectrum guide to the confusing world of idioms, metaphors, and everyday expressions, written and illustrated by Michael Barton ; foreword by Delia Barton.
The English language can be extremely confusing and illogical, especially for people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who interpret meaning in a very literal way. Why should an announcement that cats and dogs are falling from the sky indicate heavy rain? And what have chickens got to do with being a coward? "It's Raining Cats and Dogs" is a witty and stylish insight into the mind of someone with an ASD. It beautifully illustrates why people with ASDs have problems understanding common phrases and idioms that others accept unquestioningly as part of everyday speech. The quirky drawings will entertain and inspire those on the spectrum, giving them the confidence to recognise figures of speech, feel less alienated and even use idioms themselves. The drawings will form instantly memorable references for those with ASDs to recall whenever they need to and will be helpful for anyone curious to understand the ASD way of thinking. They will enable people on the spectrum and their friends, families, teachers and colleagues to better understand and communicate with each other.
Gifted hands : the Ben Carson story, Gregg Lewis & Deborah Shaw Lewis.
Tells the extraordinary true story of an angry young boy from the inner city who grew to become one of the world's leading pediatric neurosurgeons.
Asperger's rules! : how to make sense of school and friends, Blythe Grossberg.
Fitting in to school and social life can be the single most challenging task when you have Aspergers syndrome. Aspergers Rules! can help. Packed full of information, this book covers common school situations and the uncommon challenges that they can present to a child with Aspergers. Kids will find the how-to for understanding and communicating with peers and teachers, standing up for and taking care of themselves, setting realistic goals, and making friends. Aspergers Rules! belongs in the backpack of every kid with Aspergers and is an essential resource for getting the most out of middle school.
The survival guide for kids with autism spectrum disorders (and their parents), Elizabeth Verdick & Elizabeth Reeve ; illustrated by Nick Kobyluch.
This positive, straightforward book offers kids with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day. Some children with ASDs are gifted; others struggle academically. Some are more introverted, while others try to be social. Some get "stuck" on things, have limited interests, or experience repeated motor movements like flapping or pacing ("stims"). The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders covers all of these areas, with an emphasis on helping children gain new self-understanding and self-acceptance. Meant to be read with a parent, the book addresses questions ("What's an ASD?" "Why me?") and provides strategies for communicating, making and keeping friends, and succeeding in school. Body and brain basics highlight symptom management, exercise, diet, hygiene, relaxation, sleep, and toileting. Emphasis is placed on helping kids handle intense emotions and behaviours and get support from family and their team of helpers when needed. The book includes stories from real kids, fact boxes, helpful checklists, resources, and a glossary. Sections for parents offer more detailed information.
My cookbook of cakes, Laura and Jess Tilli.
Budding chefs can get to grips with the ins and outs of cooking simple but creative recipes with this inspiring cookery series. From tray-bake pizzas to share with friends to decorating cupcakes, each recipe will encourage children to cook and learn.
Cars character encyclopedia, written by Jo Casey ; diecast cars consultant, Ken T. Chang.
"Learn all about your favorite Cars diecast models and their fantastic variations. From Lightning McQueen and Mater to Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell, all your favorites are included, plus little known characters such as Bye Bye Kar and Tamiko." -- Back cover.
1001 monster things to spot, Gillian Doherty ; illustrated and designed by Teri Gower ; additional design by Natacha Goransky and Suzie Harrison ; edited by Anna Milbourne.
Presents a series of picture puzzles in which children are invited to search for monsters and other objects. Suggested level: junior, primary.
I spy 4 picture riddle books, riddles by Jean Marzolo ; photographs by Walter Wick.
Simple text challenges the reader to find objects hidden in the photographs. Four I spy riddle books bound in a single volume.
The EU countries, Rob Bowden.
This book describes each country in the EU, looking at the country's landscape, society, economy and industry and culture with a statistics panel listing population, language, ethnic composition, life expectancy, GDP and natural resources. A topic web shows links with the EU to other subject areas.
The United Kingdom, Tim Atkinson.
This title looks at each country through a variety of themes such as location, landscape and climate, population and health, settlements, family life, religion and beliefs, education and learning, employment and economy, industry and trade, farming and food, transport and communications, leisure and tourism and environment and wildlife. Includes maps, statistics panels and simple graphs and charts; and a topic web showing links with this series to other subject areas.
Italy, Kelly Davis.
This title looks at each country through a variety of themes such as location, landscape and climate, population and health, settlements, family life, religion and beliefs, education and learning, employment and economy, industry and trade, farming and food, transport and communications, leisure and tourism and environment and wildlife. Includes maps, statistics panels and simple graphs and charts; and a topic web showing links with this series to other subject areas.
Egypt, Camilla de la Bedoyere.
This title looks at each country through a variety of themes such as location, landscape and climate, population and health, settlements, family life, religion and beliefs, education and learning, employment and economy, industry and trade, farming and food, transport and communications, leisure and tourism and environment and wildlife. Includes maps, statistics panels and simple graphs and charts; and a topic web showing links with this series to other subject areas.
Somalia, Sonya Newland.
Up-to-date information on countries. Each title looks at each country through a variety of themes such as location, landscape and climate, population and health, settlements, family life, religion and beliefs, education and learning, employment and economy, industry and trade, farming and food, transport and communications, leisure and tourism and environment and wildlife. Includes maps, statistics panels and simple graphs and charts; and a topic web showing links with this series to other subject areas.
New Zealand, Jane Bingham.
"New Zealand is one of the world's most isolated countries, but it is also a highly developed and prosperous nation which attracts large numbers of settlers and tourists. Famous for its dramatic scenery, its agricultural produce and its wines, it has recently become an important centre for the film industry. Packed with photographs, maps and graphs..."
Awesome Aotearoa : Margaret Mahy's history of New Zealand, illustrated by Trace Hodgson.
A readable and witty history of New Zealand for children. It tells the story, matched by cartoons, from Gondwanaland to Gallipoli, whaling to the welfare state, kauri forests to kohanga reo and much more.
Borre is te laat, door Jeroen Aalbers ; met illustraties van Stefan Tijs.
Kruistocht in spijkerbroek, Thea Beckman.
Swing, Paul Biegel ; illustraties van The Tjong-Khing.
Nijntje gaat logeren, Dick Bruna.
Hoera, ik geef een feestje!, [Marianne Busser en Ron Schroder ; met illustraties van Marijke Duffhauss].
Koen en Lot. Een spook in de klas, Marianne Busser en Ron Schroder ; met illustraties van Dagmar Stam.
Een echt paardenmeisje, Nicolle Christiaanse ; geill. door ivan & ilia.
Mzzl meiden en de paparazzi, Marion van de Coolwijk.
Stropers, Lucy Daniels.
Vakantie in Australie, Lucy Daniels ; [ill.: Judith Lawton ; vert. uit het Engels: Andrea Bijl-de Reus].
De brief van papa, [tekst] Michael De Cock ; & [ill.] Judith Vanistendael.
Rosie en Moussa, [tekst] Michael De Cock ; & [ill.] Judith Vanistendael.
Schoolmonsters, Bavo Dhooge ; [eindred.: Marianne Miltenburg].
Mijn grote ruimte ontdekkingsboek, [Jo Douglass].
De vloek van de magier, Stan van Elderen.
Jij bent de liefste, Hans & Monique Hagen ; met tekeningen van Marit Tornqvist.
Vos en Haas, Sylvia Vanden Heede ; met tekeningen van The Tjong-Khing.
Vos en Haas op zoek naar koek, Sylvia Vanden Heede ; met tekeningen van The Tjong-Khing.
Jan, Jans en de kinderen. 10, door Jan Kruis.
Jan, Jans en de kinderen. 13, door Jan Kruis.
Jan, Jans en de kinderen. 34, door Jan Kruis.
Jan, Jans en de kinderen. 7, door Jan Kruis.
Jan, Jans en de kinderen. 9, door Jan Kruis.
Kasper kan niet slapen, Sjoerd Kuyper , Yvonne Jagtenberg.
Gevaarlijke tijden voor katten, Paul van Loon ; tekeningen van Camila Fialkowski.
De schepping, Bart Moeyaert ; met tekeningen van Wolf Erlbruch.
Belly B, Mirjam Oldenhave.
Mees Kees in de gloria, Mirjam Oldenhave ; met tekeningen van Rick de Haas.
Oud-Hollandse spelletjes, [illustraties Cornelis Jetses].
Meester van de zwarte molen, Otfried Preussler ; [vert. uit het Duits door W.I.C. Royer-Bicker].
Vriendinnen voor Isa, Nanda Roep ; [ill. Georgien Overwater].
Kaloeha Dzong, Lydia Rood ; illustraties Kees de Boer.
Otjes kookboek, Annie M.G. Schmidt [tekst] ; & Fiep Westendorp [tekeningen] ; met recepten van Louise Bos en Roos Voorsluis.
Piep, zei de muis, Carry Slee & Dagmar Stam.
Sneeuwwitje en de zeven dwergen.
Tim en de berg van goud, Harmen van Straaten.
Een lied voor de maan, Mance Post [ill.] ; met woorden van Toon Tellegen.
Middenin de nacht, Toon Tellegen ; met prenten van Mance Post.
Post voor iedereen, Toon Tellegen [tekst] ; & Mance Post [ill.].
Agent en boef, Tjibbe Veldkamp & Kees de Boer.
Agent en Boef en de tekenstreken, [tekst] Tjibbe Veldkamp ; & [ill.] Kees de Boer.
Wortels : of De tijd die wachten heet, [tekst en illustraties] Klaas Verplancke.
De vondst van het stiekeme circus, Jacques Vriens ; met illustraties van Annet Schaap.
Nog een nachtje slapen, Jacques Vriens [tekst] ; Dagmar Stam [ill.].
Het dierenfeest van Fiep Westendorp, met versjes van Frank van Pamelen ; samengesteld door Gioia Smid.
Winnie de Poeh en de honingboom.
L'aventure de Pyros, Emmanuel Aquin ; illustrations de Luc Chamberland.
Le vrai prince Thibault, Evelyne Brisou-Pellen ; illustrations de Pierre Beaucousin.
Le bon gros geant : le BGG, Roald Dahl ; illustrations de Quentin Blake ; traduit de l'anglais par Camille Fabien.
Le chien fantome et autres nouvelles, Marjorie Darke, Mal Lewis Jones, Angela Bull ; illustre par Donald Grant ; traduit de l'anglais par Julie Lopez.
La fabuleuse entraineuse, Dominique Demers.

Older Fiction

Fake mustache : or, how Jodie O'Rodeo and her wonder horse (and some nerdy guy) saved the U.S. Presidential election from a mad genius criminal mastermind, Tom Angleberger ; illustrated by Jen Wang.
Lenny Flem Jr. is the only one standing between his evil-genius best friend, Casper, and world domination as Casper uses a spectacularly convincing fake mustache and the ability to hypnotise to rob banks, amass a vast fortune, and run for president.
Kepler's dream, Juliet Bell.
While her mother undergoes radical cancer treatment, eleven-year-old Ella stays with her father's mother in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she learns about grammar and family history, and helps investigate the theft of an extremely rare book from her grandmother's library.
The terrible thing that happened to Barnaby Brocket, John Boyne ; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.
There's nothing unusual about the Brockets. Normal, respectable, and proud of it, they turn up their noses at anyone strange or different. But from the moment Barnaby Brocket comes into the world, it's clear he's anything but ordinary. To his parents' horror, Barnaby defies the laws of gravity and floats. Desperate to please his parents, Barnaby does his best to keep both feet on the ground but he just can't do it. One fateful day, the Brockets decide enough is enough. They never asked for a weird, abnormal, floating child. Barnaby has to go. Betrayed, frightened and alone, Barnaby floats into the path of a very special hot air balloon and so begins a magical journey around the world, with a cast of extraordinary new friends.
Molly Moon and the monster music, Georgia Byng.
Eleven-year-old Molly Moon is known and loved for her incredible powers hypnotism, time-travelling, mind reading. But now something seems to have power over her. Not only has it made her a brilliant musician, it's given her thousands of new fans, all of whom are mesmerized by her - literally. Only Petula, her pet pug, senses an off-note. Molly-the-Maker-of-Magical-Music is one thing, but Molly-the-Big-Old-Meanie is another and every day Petula sees her kind owner become more and more horrible. What is going on? And can one determined dog sort it out before Molly becomes truly monstrous?
10 little insects, Davide Cali, Vincent Pianina.
10 Little Insects is a hilarious riff on that celebrated whodunnit, Agatha Christie's 10 Little Indians. In this innovative graphic novel for younger readers, ten very different insects, each with something to hide, are brought together to a mysterious house on a secluded island for the weekend. Then, one by one, they start dying in very unusual circumstances. But all is not as it seems, as Cali and Pianina delightfully subvert the whodunnit genre with a story that is at once brilliant, baffling, laugh out loud funny and somewhat surreal.
Artemis Fowl and the last guardian, Eoin Colfer.
It is Armageddon time for Artemis Fowl. Opal Koboi, power-crazed pixie, is plotting to exterminate mankind and become fairy queen.
Trouble in Toadpool, Anne Fine ; illustrated by Kate Aldous.
Bliss! A lovely, quiet, nothing-to-do and nothing-on-the-calendar Sunday. Well, that's until bossy Aunt Susan an unstoppable force is on the phone insisting that Harry and his family come down to help her at a local event she's promised to organise: the Great Toadpool Show. It means swinging from a trapeze. Or walking on stilts. Or riding a unicycle. And that's not counting the fortune-telling tent, the tombola, or the choir singalong. Aunt Susan has no idea of the mayhem she's about to unleash.
Horse camp, Nicole Helget and Nate LeBoutillier.
Told in their separate voices, twelve-year-old twins Percy and Penny are excited to spend a summer riding horses on their Uncle Stretch's Minnesota spread, until they discover it is a pig farm.
The abominables, Eva Ibbotson ; illustrated by Sharon Rentta.
A hundred years ago, in the Himalayan peaks of Nanvi Dar, the daughter of an English earl is kidnapped by a huge hairy monster. In a secret valley Agatha Farley is introduced to a family of motherless yetis and devotes her life to their upbringing. She teaches them to speak, tells them stories and insists on polite manners. But as the decades pass, tourists come to the mountains, a hotel is built and yeti-hunters arrive. Agatha knows that there is one place in the world where they would be protected; her ancestral home at Farley Towers. When a boy and his sister stumble upon her hidden valley, she knows she has found the courageous people who will carry out her plan. This early novel, never submitted for publication, contains all the trademark qualities that made Eva's subsequent books so successful; comedy, loveable and eccentric characters, perfectly-crafted plotting, and inspiring themes of tolerance, kindness to animals, and the defeat of cruelty.
Roger Langridge's Snarked! [Book one, Forks and hope], written and illustrated by Roger Langridge with colors by Rachelle Rosenberg.
The Red Queen's children, Princess Scarlett and her baby brother Rusty, set out in search of the missing Red King with the help of their guides the Walrus and the Carpenter.
Supposing, Alastair Reid ; illustrated by Bob Gill.
A child imagines many silly, impossible, and even naughty things and their possible consequences, from learning unusual languages to building a tiny boat and sailing around the world.
No kiss for mother, Tomi Ungerer.
Piper Paw cannot bear being kissed by his mother all the time, and it takes some painful experiences for them to reach a mutual understanding.
Sammy Keyes and the power of Justice Jack, Wendelin Van Draanen.
When Justice Jack, a self-appointed superhero, begins trying to track down the missing Mrs. Wedgewod and some stolen cash, the older folks in Santa Martina are delighted but Sammy knows it will be up to her to really solve the mystery.
The secret of Zanzibar, Frances Watts with illustrations by David Francis.
Time is running out, as Queen Eugenia prepares to crown herself the absolute ruler of Greater Gerander. And so Alistair and Tibby Rose travel deep into dangerous territory on a daring mission to stop her, while Alice and Alex risk their lives by returning to the enemy stronghold they so recently fled. They must act now to restore Zanzibar to the throne, or lose their homeland forever. But Zanzibar has a secret. And it may cost Alistair his life.

Picture Books

Baby animals.
This book is suitable for children aged up to 2 years old. Children love baby animals and this board book features jaw-droppingly cute photographs. Meet a menagerie of creatures, each with a colourful caption or label, from kitten and puppy to monkey, bunny and koala. What could be sweeter?
Colors.
Red rain boots, a yummy orange popsicle, a beautiful blue butterfly, a big yellow school bus: this colorful book has a rainbow of children's favorites, all displayed in attractive photos and clear captions/labels.
Dinosaurs.
Simple text and photographs with tactile patches introduce dinosaurs to young readers.
First words.
This book is a great aid to teaching children to learn their first words. It is aimed at children aged below 2 years old. Baby, bib, bottle and apple; these are some of the first words every child learns! Big, bright photos show toys, food, clothes and other familiar objects, so preschoolers can learn and practice saying the name of each one.
Jungle animals.
Helps to teach your child all about animal families. This title includes coverage that ranges from a delightfully, dotty jaguar, an iridescent tree frog to a hairy orang-utan and a tough-billed toucan. It helps to encourage your child's early learning and language.
Numbers.
This title is suitable for children aged up to 2 years old. Learning to count is as easy as 1-2-3 with "Say & Play"! Engaging photographs of such everyday objects as buttons and blocks teach preschoolers numbers from one to ten.
Oink, moo, meow.
This title is suitable for children aged up to 2 years old. The donkey says hee-haw, the chick says cheep cheep and children will say I love this! From clucking to roaring, kids will have a blast making the sounds associated with the adorable animals pictured in these 26 photos. Simple sound captions add to the fun.
The bug next door, Beatrice Alemagna.
Little boy bugs and little girl bugs are so completely different, they just can't get along can they? See what happens when Little Speckled Bug meets a mysterious new neighbour bug who has a strange but happy effect on him. Written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna, whose charming style of texture, applique and collage has never before been used in children's books. A simple narrative with lovable characters that celebrates the differences and similarities between girls and boys.
My grandpa, Marta Altes.
A moving and memorable book about the very special relationship between an elderly grandfather and his adoring grandson, this unique look at old age through the eyes of a young bear is big-hearted, poignant and beautifully observed. A stunning picture book debut from Marta Altes, an exciting new writing and illustrating talent.
Wave the flag and blow the whistle, Ronda Armitage, Andrew Gordon.
Ready, train, ready? Ready, everyone, ready? Here's the train to Blueberry Hill, the train for Tom and Grandpa. WHO-O-O, WHO-O-O. Who wants to come too? Wave the flag and blow the whistle. This train is ready to go! Wonderfully brought to life by Andrew Gordon, this is a rhythmic and heart-warming railway adventure by the acclaimed author of The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch Ronda Armitage.
Oh no, Little Dragon!, [Jim Averbeck].
When rambunctious Little Dragon's flame goes out, only his mother can fix it.
The yoga ogre, Peter Bently ; illustrated by Simon Rickerty.
Ogden the Ogre was worried one night. "My jim-jams have grown far too short and too tight! How has my tum got so terribly wide? I only eat twelve meals a day," Ogden sighed. The people said, "Jim-jams too tight and too short? Overweight ogres should take up a sport!" So Ogden does take up a sport - and he does it with gusto! But finding the perfect sport for a big, bumbling ogre isn't quite as simple as it may seem.
Go Jojo go! : a little penguin on a big swim, Tessa Bickford & Jennifer Castles ; photographs by Tessa Bickford.
Jojo the gentoo penguin was born on an island in the Southern Ocean halfway between Australia and Antarctica. From her nest she can see the beach, and she just can't wait to go to sea. 'Am I ready yet?' she asks. 'Not yet, little Jojo. You have to learn to swim.' When her down becomes a shiny penguin coat, and she can swim across the biggest rock pool, she is ready at last! Flippa-flap, snippa-snap, go Jojo go! Tessa Bickford spent two summers on Macquarie Island, where great numbers of penguins, seals and seabirds come ashore for breeding.
The magnificent tree, Nick Bland and Stephen Michael King.
Bonny and Pop are bursting with ideas. Pop's ideas are big and brave and Bonny's ideas are simple and clever. When they decide to make something that will attract the birds, they come up with ideas for a tree. A brave tree, a clever tree a magnificent tree.
Crazy Farm, [illustrated by Emily Bolam].
There's hours of fun to be had mixing and matching the animals to create some fantastically crazy creatures! Children will love finding the right and wrong answers in this simple board book with split pages.
Crazy Pets, [illustrated by Emily Bolam.]
There's hours of fun to be had mixing and matching the animals to create some fantastically crazy creatures! Children will love finding the right and wrong, answers in this simple board book with split pages.
Are you a cow?, Sandra Boynton.
Are you a cow? Are you a dog? Are you a duck? Are you a frog? This charming and hilarious story is perfect for Boynton fans new and old. Her clever text and playful illustrations always keep readers coming back for more! Teaching animal recognition to little ones, this quirky board book also gets across the important message that it is great to just be ourselves.
Through my window, Tony Bradman and Eileen Browne.
When Jo is sick and has to stay home from school, her mother promises her a special surprise, and all day long she waits eagerly to see what it might be.
Come to school too, Blue Kangaroo!, Emma Chichester Clark.
Lily and Blue Kangaroo a friendship forever! The eighth title in this hugely popular series featuring Lily and her loveable soft toy sees the inseparable duo starting at a new school with surprising results. When Lily starts at a new school she asks Blue Kangaroo to come too. Lily thinks Blue Kangaroo is worried about going but, secretly, he can't wait to explore and try new things which is just as well, because the fun lasts even longer than he expected! A reassuring story for children starting school.
Homer, Elisha Cooper.
Homer the dog is content to watch from the porch as his family goes out to enjoy the day.
Oink-a-doodle-moo, Jef Czekaj.
In a barnyard, a pig whispers into a rooster's ear, starting a game of "telephone" that goes horribly awry.
Dinosaur zoom!, Penny Dale.
Join the dinosaurs as they rev, roar and race cross country to a secret meeting place in the woods! As they start setting up tables and hanging up balloons it becomes clear that there is a surprise party in the offing but who is it for? A delightful and unashamedly boysy book with a delicious surprise ending!
No more kisses for Bernard!, story & pictures by Niki Daly.
Bernard loves his aunts, but he hates being kissed by them. It's time to take a stand. "No more kissing!" says Bernard, and he means it. How Bernard's aunts come up with the perfect way to show their affection is comically and warmly told in this brilliant picture book by a master of the genre.
Wash-a-bye Bear, Thomas Docherty.
Flora loves her Bear dearly, but her mum says it's time for him to go in the wash. Beautifully imagined scenes show Bear, in the wash, remembering how much fun they had getting grubby in the first place. When Bear is clean, he's just not the same, so Flora sets out to have some fun and get him back to his dirty but loveable self again. Then, at the end of a long day, it's Flora's turn to have a wash and good old Bear still loves clean Flora just the same.
Foxy, Emma Dodd.
Meet Foxy, the fox with a magical tail. It's the night before the first day of school and Emily is worried that she doesn't have all the things she needs. Luckily Foxy comes to the rescue and offers to help (he can produce just about anything that's needed from his amazing tail). But life is full of surprises when Foxy is around, and sometimes his magic doesn't work quite as planned. Whatever will Emily do when Foxy produces a penguin instead of a pencil? Bright and vibrant, this new series is sure to appeal to young children.
The snuggle sandwich, Malachy Doyle, Gwen Millward.
In the early morning hurly-burly of breakfast time, no one notices when little Annie's teddy bear, Ted, falls to the floor. It is only when the morning rush is finally over that Mama and Annie find him. And then comes Annie's favourite time of day when she, Ted and Mama at last have time for a snuggle all together!
The last tiger, Rebecca Elliott.
Similar in style to Rebecca Elliott's highly acclaimed Zoo Girl (nominated for the 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal), this story warns of what the future might hold if we neglect our duty of care to our environment. In a world that has been destroyed by human carelessness, a little boy discovers the last tiger. But where did he come from? Through their adventure together they rediscover a natural way of living, and lead the world to a sustainable future. With striking illustrations crafted in ink line and collage, this thoughtful yet uplifting picture book leaves a lasting impact.
Small Bunny's blue blanket, Tatyana Feeney.
A young bunny who is very attached to his blanket worries when his mother insists the blanket needs to be washed.
In the lion, James Foley.
In the city there's a zoo. And in the zoo there's a lion. And in the lion there's...
Friends, Michael Foreman.
Bubble is a goldfish, who swims round and round unhappily in his tank. Cat is his friend and wishes he could show him the world. One day, Cat has an idea to set Bubble free. But is Bubble ready to swim off into the world and leave behind his friend?
The great Snortle hunt, Claire Freedman ; illustrated by Kate Hindley.
A fabulous new picture book from the bestselling author of Aliens Love Underpants. On a hill bumpy-steepy, there's a house scary-creepy, And it's said that a Snortle lives there, Now nobody's been, so nobody's seen, But Mouse whispers, "Come, if you dare!" Have you seen a Snortle? Would you want to? If you're brave enough, join Mouse and his friends as they go on a night-time Snortle hunt. Aaaaaagh! What's that? A read-along rhyming text that will capture children's imaginations.
Farm animals, [text, Charlie Gardner].
Simple facts and photographs ask young readers to guess which farm animals are hiding behind peepholes.
My first busy home : let's look and learn!, [written by Charlie Gardner ; designed by Susan Calver].
From making a meal to taking a bath, this is the perfect buy home book for parents and toddlers to share. Colorful pictures and fun-filled questions get children thinking and talking!
Dog in charge, K.L. Going ; illustrated by Dan Santat.
When his human family goes to the store, Dog is left in charge of five wiley cats.
Too cold for a tutu, Mini Goss.
'Wake up, Stella, let's go out and play!' said Barry. He put on his new Nanna-knitted cardigan, and Stella put on her new made-by-Nanna tutu. 'It's way too cold for a tutu!' said Barry. 'It's never too cold for a tutu!' said Stella. An irresistible story about creative play and the joy of dressing up.
Matilda's cat, Emily Gravett.
Climbing trees, playing with wool. Matilda is sure her cat will love these things, but he doesn't seem very enthusiastic. Undaunted, she thinks up new ways to amuse her reluctant playmate. Tea parties? Dressing up? Or what about a nice bike ride? As the beleagured cat goes from nonplussed to terrified, Matilda gets more and more frustrated. After all, what use is a pet if it doesn't want to play? An insightful, fond and funny look at the relationship between a little girl and her cat, this is sure to strike a chord with anyone who's ever been a devoted pet owner.
Where's Ted?, Colin and Jacqui Hawkins.
It's ok!, written by Jo Heslop ; illustrated by Annie Roska.
"One day a little boy named Brody starts at a new school. Brody has special needs and this story tells how his classmates come to realise that "It's ok to be different!"" -- Back cover. Suggested level: junior.
A hare, a hound & shy mousey brown, Julia Hubery & Jonathan Bentley.
There's a hare in the air, there's a hound on the ground, and watching them both is shy Mousey Brown. And so begins an enchanting adventure, complete with danger, silliness, bravery and romance. Mouse is tiny but bold, Hound is vast and menacing, Hare doesn't have a clue and, between them, someone has to come out on top.
Bobbo goes to school, Shirley Hughes.
When Lily throws Bobbo onto the top of the school bus, she has no idea what an adventure he has in store. This drama-packed book is a race to reunite Lily and lost Bobbo, as well as learning all about school.
Banjo bounces back, written and illustrated by Lachie Hume.
Banjo is a Hoofball star. He and his friend Bella just love the game. But when Banjo gets injured, it's only too easy to stay in bed and play Haystation and suck on molasses. Can Bella help him get back on track?
Bedtime with Lighty Faust the lion, Anna Hymas.
Lighty Faust goes to bed. It's time to rest his sleepy head. Open the flaps to see him get ready, and tuck him in with his favourite teddy.
Where is Lighty Faust the lion?, Anna Hymas.
Is he behind the sofa? Or is he on the TV? Where is Light Faust? Come and find him with me.
Pants on the moon!, Chloe & Mick Inkpen.
Zoe is hanging her pants out to dry one day, when whoosh! A big gust of wind blows her and Beans up, up, up into space along with the washing line full of pants! When they finally land on the moon, there's a lot of exciting exploring to do. But how on earth are they going to get home again?
Poupou tauawhi, na Sarah Johnson nga korero i tuhi ; na Scott Tulloch nga whakaahua ; na Ngaere Roberts nga korero i whakamaori.
Many years ago, a Māori couple built a little hall where people could gather. It was warm and welcoming, with walls that folded all the way round like wooden arms. Through the years, the hall houses a church, a shoemaker, a doctor, a dressmaker, a dance studio and finally becomes a meeting place for people who had travelled from countries far away. "And within were folded all the words and footsteps, the prayers and music, the dreams and dancing that had passed and were still to come".
Wooden arms, written by Sarah Johnson ; illustrated by Scott Tulloch.
Many years ago, a Māori couple built a little hall where people could gather. It was warm and welcoming, with walls that folded all the way round like wooden arms. Through the years, the hall houses a church, a shoemaker, a doctor, a dressmaker, a dance studio and finally becomes a meeting place for people who had travelled from countries far away. "And within were folded all the words and footsteps, the prayers and music, the dreams and dancing that had passed and were still to come".
Grammy Lamby and the secret handshake, Kate Klise ; illustrated by M. Sarah Klise.
Larry does not like it when his loud, flashy grandmother comes to visit, especially when she talks about taking him to Tanzania or the South Seas one day, but after a huge summer storm damages their home and valley, he sees another side of Grammy Lamby.
Beach feet, Kiyomi Konagaya ; illustrated by Masamitsu Saito.
"The story of a boy's visit to the beach, Beach Feet opens with a small boy feeling the heat of the sand and then running towards the ocean. Free and independent despite his young age and the tube around his waist, the boy gives himself over to the ocean and the pleasures to be had at water's edge. Throughout, the boy's connection to the beach through his feet-the feel of sand, shells, water-is never lost" -- Provided by publisher.
I can do it myself!, Stephen Krensky ; illustrated by Sara Gillingham.
I Can Do it Myself! I can ride, I can hide, I can reach a high shelf. Hey, look at me, I can do it myself! Celebrate the feats of growing out of babyhood and embracing independence! With relevant and charming specifics, Krensky and Gillingham address the "small wins" of growing just a little bit older. Young children and their encouraging parents will revel in the empowering text and retro fresh illustrations.
It's a tiger!, David LaRochelle ; illustrated by Jeremy Tankard.
A child imagines that he is in a story where he encounters a tiger at every turn.
Sophie Scott goes south, Alison Lester.
Sophie Scott is only nine years old, but she's going to Antarctica on an icebreaker with her dad, the ship's captain. During the voyage to Mawson Station and back, Sophie keeps a diary. She sees icebergs, penguins, seals and whales. She makes new friends, wonders at the southern lights and even becomes stranded in a blizzard!
Zelda the Varigoose, Sebastian Loth ; [translated by David Henry Wilson].
Transparent pages transform Zelda into different creatures.
Heather fell in the water, words by Doug MacLeod ; pictures by Craig Smith.
A hilarious story about a little girl who is afraid of the water, but ultimately makes friends with it - and learns to swim.
Apple, Nikki McClure.
Simple words and cut paper illustrations follow an apple as it falls from a tree, becomes part of a school girl's lunch, and is buried through the changing seasons until it sprouts anew.
Melric : the magician who lost his magic, David McKee.
When Melric, the king's magician, mysteriously loses his magic, he sets out on a quest to return it. But with the kingdom under attack, will Melric get his magic back in time to protect it?
Ten tiny things, Meg McKinlay and Kyle Hughes-Odgers.
It was a red thing. It was a sparkly thing. It was a tiny, tiny thing. Tessa and Zachary have a machine that is swift and splendiferous. Every day it carries them from here to there and back again in cool calm comfort. But one morning, the machine breaks down. Tessa and Zachary are forced to venture into the world beyond its metal walls a place of secret somethings and hidden happenings. Getting from here to there may never be the same.
The last dance, Sally Morgan.
Everyone needs a home, but some Australian creatures are losing theirs. From sandstone ridges to tropical beaches, from coastal woodlands to alpine streams, habitats are shrinking and changing. The animals in this book need help, and we are the only ones who can give it.
Quick duck, Mary Murphy.
This little duckling needs to be quick-quack-quick! Trace the mucky duckling's footprints as he leaps, wiggles, runs, hops and splashes into the river, where his mum, brothers and sisters are waiting ready to go! With its fresh, light artwork and tactile finish, babies will be instantly responsive to this beautiful board book. Shiny, interactive fun!
Slow snail, Mary Murphy.
Sloooooooowly snail slides, up and down, over and under, in and out. Snail is soooo slow. It takes her all day to slide, climb, creep and leaf-float her way to the vegetable bed. But it's worth it - she's just in time for dinner! Little fingers will love tracing the shiny snail trail and seeing where Snail's journey takes her next! This is a gorgeous new shiny-touch board book from Mary Murphy. It is perfect for babies and families to share together!
Hickory dickory dog, Alison Murray.
Zac and Rufus, like all best friends, are inseparable. So, when Zac goes to playschool, his pup goes too! Zac's little dog wants to join in with everything painting time, lunchtime, even garden time resulting in one very messy pup at home time! This engaging story, with its warm, retro art style, is an entertaining introduction to playschool.
The best singer in the world, Ulf Nilsson ; [illustrated by] Eva Eriksson.
"A sweet, funny picture book about overcoming stage fright, being brave, and embracing your talents" -- From publisher.
Squid and Octopus : friends for always, Tao Nyeu.
Four separate stories celebrate the many-legged friendship between Squid and Octopus as they disagree over how to stay warm, encourage each other, and fret over the contents of a fortune cookie.
The pirate house, Rebecca Patterson.
No one knows who lives in that house on the corner, but when all those seagulls fly onto the roof, Sam Turner says it must be pirates! In fact, Sam Turner tells his friends all sorts of things: that they mustn't look at the pirate washing or they will turn into jellyfish, that at night the whole house glows like an aquarium, and that if the door ever opens a huge wave will come out. And that's not the half of it. According to Sam, not only are there pirates living on their street, but a family of monsters are moving into Number 2! Surely Sam Turner is just a little boy with a big imagination or is he?
Grandma Bendy, Izy Penguin.
Grandma Bendy is incredibly bendy.
If all the animals came inside, Eric Pinder ; illustrated by Marc Brown.
The walls would tremble. The dishes would break. Oh, what a terrible mess we would make! If all the animals came inside, bears would run down the stairs, kangaroos would bounce on the couch, and hippos would play hide-and-seek through the halls! Join one family's wild romp as animals of all shapes and sizes burst through the front door and make themselves right at home! Extraordinary artwork pairs with Eric Pinder's hilarious rhyming verse to make this the perfect book to read aloud again and again.
Bear in love, Daniel Pinkwater ; illustrated by Will Hillenbrand.
Could the bear have a secret friend? Who is leaving him surprises? The ever-lovable Daniel Pinkwater spins a funny and sweetly off-beat story. One morning, the bear finds something just outside his cave. It is orange and long and pointy and has bushy green leaves at one end. And it's sweet and crunchy! Where did it come from? Did someone leave it for him? Then, the next morning, there are two more of the sweet crunchy things! The bear knows that someone nice is leaving him these treats. If only he could discover who it is! Should he leave something tasty in return? This is a charming little mystery about unexpected kindnesses and finding that extra-special someone.
The ladder, Halfdan Rasmussen ; translated by Marilyn Nelson ; illustrated by Pierre Pratt.
A ladder, long forgotten on a lonely lane, sets out to see the world, but finds that people and animals keep using it to climb into the sky and disappear.
Don't squish the sasquatch!, Kent Redeker ; illustrated by Bob Staake.
When Senor Sasquatch boards the bus, he makes one thing perfectly clear to driver: he doesn't like to be squished. But as the bus travels along its route, other passengers get on - like Miss Elephant Shark, Mr. Octo-Rhino and Miss Whale Goat! Soon senor Sasquatch finds himself at risk of being squished!
Hamsters holding hands, written and illustrated by Kass Reich.
A fun counting board book with loveable hamsters that lead young children from numbers one through ten.
A year with Marmalade, Alison Reynolds, Heath McKenzie.
This is a story about friendship. It's about losing old friends and making new ones. It's about change, which isn't always a bad thing. When Maddy's family relocate for a year, she must leave behind her cat, Marmalade, and her best friend Ella. The story of the growing friendship between Marmalade and Ella is set against a backdrop of the changing seasons.
The monster machine, Nicola L. Robinson.
When a boy and his Dad build an amazing monster-making machine, all sorts of monsters come tumbling out big ones, small ones, funny ones and even ever-so-slightly scary ones. The monsters love to have fun and spend the days playing until they discover that other monsters live in an amazing land far away. Once again it is time to make an amazing machine, this time a flying one to take them to the land of the monsters.
Blue, Michael Rosen ; illustrated by Michael Foreman.
This is a lyrical story about a little boy's life-changing journey through the sky with a magical cat. Raffi's brother Jake can do everything. He can run very fast, jump very high, dance and draw elephants. If only Raffi were good at something too. One evening when Raffi can't sleep, a magical flying cat called Blue appears and takes him on an adventure through the night sky. They fly off together into the darkness and as they fly, Blue points at shop signs and street lamps and they light up. They fly higher and higher, spreading light, until they even light up the stars! The next day, thoughtful little Raffi feels just a little bit different. He is happier after his wonderful dream, and has more confidence. He even finds himself reassuring his brother that walking home in the dark is no problem at all it's fun! This is an unusual and beautiful picture book created by two major picture book talents.
Happy Harry's cafe, Michael Rosen ; illustrated by Richard Holland.
This is a good-natured joke about a forgetful bear told with wit and humour. Happy Harry serves great soup at his cafe. It's so good that his friends Matt the Cat, Jo the Crow, Ryan the Lion and Robin the Robin all rush to get there before it runs out. But today something's wrong with Matt - he says the soup's no good. Harry's shocked until he finds out the soup's no good because Matt has no spoon to eat it with! An old joke is brilliantly brought to life for very young children by Michael Rosen and Richard Holland.
I didn't do it! : a Little Princess story, Tony Ross.
When things start going wrong around the castle everyone blames the Little Princess. No matter how much she cries, "I didn't do it!", no one believes her. Upset, the Little Princess goes off to hide and finds out who really is to blame!
Dragons love tacos, Adam Rubin ; illustrated by Daniel Salmieri.
Explores the love dragons have for tacos, and the dangers of feeding them them anything with spicy salsa.
My snake Blake, Randy Siegel, Serge Bloch.
The extremely long, bright green snake a boy receives from his father as an early birthday present proves to be incredibly smart and talented.
Wild about you!, Judy Sierra ; pictures by Marc Brown.
Joining the new baby animals at the zoo are the much-loved pengaroo and the pandacat.
A home for Bird, Philip C. Stead.
Vernon the toad takes the silent Bird on a journey in hopes of finding Bird's home.
Trains, [text by David Stewart].
Padded board book features high contrast black and white images of trains to help develop baby's eyesight and awareness. Also includes glittery train on the last page.
Red Knit Cap Girl, Naoko Stoop.
In the forest, there is time to wonder about everything. Red Knit Cap Girl wonders about flowers, butterflies, leaves and clouds. But most of all, she wonders about the Moon. In this gentle, heartwarming story, debut author Naoko Stoop introduces readers to Red Knit Cap Girl and her friend White Bunny on their quest to find a way to talk to the Moon. Though the two search and search the forest, they just can't seem to get close enough to reach the Moon. At long last, with the help of their forest friends and the advice of wise Mr. Owl, Red Knit Cap Girl and White Bunny learn that they need only to wait and listen quietly to make their wish come true. Gorgeously illustrated on wood grain, Red Knit Cap Girl's curiosity, imagination, and joy will captivate the hearts of readers young and old as her journey offers a gentle reminder to appreciate the beauty of the natural world around us.
The magical life of Mr. Renny, Leo Timmers ; translated by Bill Nagelkerke.
"A colourful picture book about Mr. Renny, an artist who suddenly finds his paintings coming to life" -- Publisher's website.
Moon dreams : a book of moon magic, Gleb Toropov.
The moon is as mysterious to an animal as it is to a young child. A fish looking up at a new moon through rippling water thinks it's a wriggly worm. To a monkey, the crescent moon looks like a delicious banana. To the mice, the half-moon looks like cheese. In this picture book, with die-cuts throughout, the moon takes on many guises, getting bigger and bigger until a full moon shines on a little boy. Only he knows that the glowing orb in the sky is the Moon and it's telling him something: time to go to sleep.
Can you see Sassoon?, Sam Usher.
This is Sassoon. He likes to hide. Can you find him? Look inside! Meet Sassoon the snake as he plays hide-and-seek with his friends. Filled with fun and silly things to spot, this colourful book from exciting new talent, Sam Usher, is guaranteed to delight!

Younger Fiction

The more the merrier, Stephanie Barden ; illustrations by Diane Goode.
Cinderella and Erin are hard at work learning to spell real words, because whoever wins first place in the spelling bee gets to pick the theme of the class party!
Milly-Molly-Mandy's summer, Joyce Lankester Brisley.
Milly-Molly-Mandy has lots of friends, but her favourite companions are Little-Friend-Susan and Billy Blunt. Together they have lots of exciting adventures and even get into trouble sometimes! Read about Milly-Molly-Mandy and her friends as they run races, pay visits, rescue little rabbits and play tricks on one another. These classic tales are as fresh and lively as when they were first written. Young readers will love discovering Milly-Molly-Mandy for the first time in a dainty, accessible format and they're sure to want to collect other titles in this charming series.
Runaway Ralph, Beverly Cleary ; illustrated by Tracy Dockray.
Ralph runs away looking for freedom but winds up a prisoner at a summer camp.
Figaro and Rumba and the Crocodile Cafe, Anna Fienberg & Stephen Michael King.
Figaro and Rumba are best friends. Figaro is a dog who loved to run like the wind. And Rumba is a cat who once sang and danced in Cuba. When they catch the very fast train that goes all the way to the beach, they meet a cunning crocodile with conga drums and an elegant satin waistcoat. Surely such a musical creature couldn't be a villain?
Azzi in between, written and illustrated by Sarah Garland.
Azzi and her parents are in danger. They have to leave their home and escape to another country on a frightening journey by car and boat. In the new country they must learn to speak a new language, find a new home and Azzi must start a new school. With a kind helper at the school, Azzi begins to learn English and understand that she is not the only one who has had to flee her home. She makes a new friend, and with courage and resourcefulness, begins to adapt to her new life. But Grandma has been left behind and Azzi misses her more than anything. Will Azzi ever see her grandma again? Drawing on her own experience of working among refugee families, renowned author and illustrator Sarah Garland tells, with tenderness and humour, an exciting adventure story to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
King Arthur's very great grandson, Kenneth Kraegel.
On his sixth birthday, Henry Alfred Grummorson, a descendant of King Arthur and would-be knight, sets out for adventure but neither dragon, nor cyclops, nor griffin, nor leviathan is willing to engage in a real battle.
My happy life, written by Rose Lagercrantz ; illustrated by Eva Eriksson.
Story of a young girl with a lot of optimism, even though events in her life sometimes make it hard for her to be happy.
The great piratical rumbustification, Margaret Mahy ; with pictures by Quentin Blake.
All across the city, the pirates are getting restless and long for a party. So when a retired pirate comes to babysit for the Terrapin family, they are in for quite a surprise.
Dingo's tree, written and illustrated by Gladys Millroy and Jill Millroy.
This is the story of Dingo, Wombat, Crow and their friends as they struggle to exist alongside the devastation of mining that is tearing up their beautiful homeland. This powerful children's parable/cautionary tale on the destruction and havoc that mining causes to the land and to community is both touching and hard-hitting. The book consists of four chapters: Dingo's Tree, The Raindrop, The Tree that Walked and The Last Tree.
Diary of a bat, Sally Sutton ; illustrations by Dave Gunson.
A funny little story describing the daily life of a regular young bat, his run-ins with Mr Forster the mean maths teacher, and other adventures including Vamp's dares, the Festival of Exploding Stars (Guy Fawkes), the Shining (Sun) and meeting his dad.