New Titles Children’s November 2013 (arrived in October)

• Audio Visual
• Into Reading
• Non-Fiction
• Older Fiction
• Picture Books
• Younger Fiction

Audio Visual

Asterix and Obelix in Britain (DVD), directed by Laurent Tirard.

Led by Julius Caesar, Rome has just invaded Britain. Cordelia, the Queen of the Britons, sends her trusty officer Anticlimax to seek help in Gaul, in another little village famed for its dogged resistance to the Romans... When Anticlimax describes the desperate situation facing his people, Asterix and Obelix accompany him back to Britain. It's Asterix and Obelix to the rescue in this rollicking adventure story!

Jack London's Call of the wild (DVD)

The thrilling exploits of Miles Challenger and his loyal canine companion Buck are followed as together they battle nature's toughest elements, stand up against hardened criminals, and rescue people in danger.

Legend of Kung Fu Rabbit (DVD), directed by Sun Lijun.

In order to keep his promise to an aging Kung-Fu Master, Sifu, Fu the Rabbit, a humble chef, must venture out of the comfort of his kitchen and team up with Penny, a Kung-Fu Prodigy, and her sidekick, Biggie, to go on a heroic quest to defeat Sifu's arch nemesis, Slash, and save their Kung-Fu Academy from peril.

Mickey Mouse clubhouse. Minnie's The wizard of Dizz (DVD)

Minnie and Pluto end up in the silly but spectacular land of Dizz. It's an amazing place, with rainbow trees, butterfly bows, and friendly 'Chipmunchkins,' but what Minnie wants most is to get home. Together, Minnie and her new friends Scarecrow Goofy, Mickey the Tin Mouse, and Donald the Lion, set off to ask the wonderful Wizard of Dizz to make their dreams come true. But look out! Bad Witch Pete wants Minnie's magical, sparkly green shoes, and he's got a few tricks up his sleeve.

Mickey Mouse clubhouse. Quest for the crystal Mickey (DVD)

There's no time to lose after greedy Plunderin' Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without this sparkly statue's magic, the Clubhouse will disappear forever! Can the world's most extraordinary hero, Mickey, get the magical statue back in time? Only with your help and the right Mouseketools can Mickey journey across the Sandy Desert, brave the Rushing River and make his way through the Hidden Jungle. But watch out for Pete's trickiest traps!

Moondance Alexander (DVD), directed by Michael Damian.

A sweet family drama about a girl, Moondance Alexander, focusing on a teenager who is longing to fit into a world where she is considered an oddball.

Rock stars (DVD), director, Thomas Borch Nielsen.

It's not easy to be Barry. An earthworm gets no respect. He lives at the bottom of the food chain. He has the most boring job at the composting plant. He's all set for a dull life in the dark. But one day an old disco-record turns his life upside down.

Shiloh (DVD), written for the screen and directed by Dale Rosenbloom.

A boy, Marty, finds a lost beagle in the hills behind his home. He tries to hide it from his family and the dog's real owner, a mean-spirited man known to shoot deer out of season and to mistreat his dogs.

The missing lynx (DVD), directed by Mauel Sicilia and Raul Garcia.

Follow the misadventures of Felix the Lynx and a rag tag bunch of animals as they try to escape from the clutches of an unscrupulous hunter.

The wild stallion (DVD), written and directed by Craig Clyde.

There are those who say that the rare and beautiful Wild Stallion is only a myth. Others whisper that it is a ghost horse, stealing mares away in the night. But for two young girls, the myth of the Wild Stallion is about to change their lives forever.

Thomas & friends. King of the railway (DVD) : the movie

Join Thomas and Friends as they embark on a legendary movie adventure! The steam team's quest begins when a special guest arrives on Sodor with a big surprise and important job for Thomas, Percy and James. Will the engines discover the truth about the island of Sodor's big mystery? It's a crusade of knightly proportion for Thomas and Friends in this epic movie.

The velveteen rabbit (DVD), directed by Michael Landon, Jr.

A courageous velveteen rabbit with dreams of becoming a real rabbit someday helps a young boy to win the affections of his strict grandmother and unapproachable father.

The railway children (DVD), director, Catherine Morshead.

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.

25 favorite travel time songs! (sound recording)

Vacation time, drive time or any time, these 25 Favorite Travel Time Songs!, are the perfect accompaniments to any trip! You'll drive to the beat of Veggie silly favourites like 'Sport Utility Vehicle' and 'Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo' and kid classics like 'Wheels on the Bus' and 'B-I-N-G-O.' Make car time fun time with these great travelin' tunes!

Doc McStuffins. The Doc is in (sound recording)

Furry tales (sound recording), the Wiggles.

Mickey Mouse clubhouse. Minnie's favorites (sound recording)

Monsters university (sound recording)

My first orchestra album (sound recording)

Pumpkin face (sound recording), the Wiggles.

Pumpkin face (DVD), the Wiggles.

Hoo-hoo-who has carved out the funniest Pumpkin Face for Halloween? It's The Wiggles! Anthony, Emma, Lachy and Simon will have your little monsters howling for more when they hear 'A Friendly Little Spider', rattling their funny bones when they 'Do the Skeleton Scat!', and looking "boo-tiful" when they dress up as 'Little Vampires' who just love their cranberry juice!

Putumayo kids presents American playground (sound recording)

Putumayo Kids presents Latin Dreamland (sound recording)

Putumayo kids presents reggae playground (sound recording)

Songs and story (sound recording) : Jake and the Never Land Pirates

The Smurfs. 2 (sound recording) : music from and inspired by

My first Tchaikovsky album (sound recording)

Bananas in pyjamas. Super bear (DVD)

Morgan wants to be like his hero "Super Bear" but discovers being a super hero isn't as easy as it looks. In other episodes, Rat in a Hat dreams of a world where everything is made of cheese, the Teddies host a Halloween party, and the Bananas discover a talking bird in the forest.

Dinosaur train. Dinosaur big city (DVD)

Join Buddy, the Pteranodon family, and all their Theropod friends in a four-part adventure as they travel on the Dinosaur Train to Laramidia for the Theropod Convention. Once they arrive at the convention, the kids reunite with Annie Tyrannosaurus and her parents, Delores and Boris. They all meet the multi-horned, Mayor Kosmoceratops, and then Buddy and Tiny help King Cryolophosaurus overcome his fear of performing in front of his biggest audience ever!

Dora the Explorer. Perrito's big surprise (DVD)

Get ready for big surprises with Dora and Perrito in 3 barking-good adventures! Help Dora bring Perrito to Surprise Hill to see his surprise before Swiper gets there and swipes it - and along the way, meet all of Dora's friends' pets too! Then, take Perrito to the Twins' Day Party to meet his twin and rescue Benny from an island! Vamonos!

Go Diego go! Moonlight rescue (DVD)

The newly hatched baby sea turtles need moonlight to find their way back to the ocean, but when Luna breaks apart, Diego and Tuga the Leatherback Sea Turtle need your help to find the moon's four pieces so she can shine brightly again!

LazyTown. Roboticus (DVD)

SuperHeroes Sportacus and Stephanie join forces to help the LazyTowners foil Robbie Rotten's latest lazy schemes, in more high-tech and SportsCandy-fuelled fashion than ever before. Like a cartoon come to life, LazyTown continues to inspire kids to play, move, dance, sing, and feel good about it!

Max Steel. Origins (DVD)

A high-octane, comic, action-packed superhero series about the epic adventures of 16-year-old Maxwell and Steel, an intergalactic alien war machine who helps Max control his power, together becoming the world's greatest superhero, Max Steel!

Max Steel. Unleashed (DVD)

Defending the planet from mayhem and monsters Max and Steel return in season 2 to battle an Ultralink invasion! But even with their new powerful Turbo Modes will they be able to defeat the Ultralink creator, Makino, the deadliest villain yet?

Mike the Knight. Magical mishaps (DVD)

Mike the Knight combines the day-to-day experiences of modern children with the natural charm of the medieval setting. Mike's world is based around the wonderful Kingdom of Glendragon, and thanks to a sprinkling of magic, it is a place where the ordinary is made extraordinary and where comedy and adventure are central to the shows premise.

Raa Raa the noisy lion. Gone fishing (DVD)

Raa Raa is a loveable little lion who enjoys having lots of noisy fun adventures! He lives in the Jingly Jangly Jungle with his friends, Zebby the zebra, Crocky the crocodile, Huffty the elephant, Ooo Ooo the monkey and Topsy the giraffe.

Sofia the First. Once upon a princess (DVD)

Set in the storybook world of Enchancia, we meet Sofia, an average girl whose life suddenly transforms when her mother marries the king and she becomes a princess. Sofia must learn to navigate the extraordinary life of royalty while holding onto her own hopes and dreams.

Angelina ballerina. Superstar sisters (DVD)

Bill Nighy reads The wonderful Wizard of Oz (sound recording), L. Frank Baum.

Swept away from her home in Kansas by a tornado, Dorothy and her dog Toto find themselves stranded in the fantastical Land of Oz. With her companions the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy experiences an adventure full of friendship, enchantment and danger. A much-loved children's classic, The Wizard of Oz continues to delight young and old with its enchanting tale of witches, flying monkeys and magical shoes.

Jenna-Louise Coleman reads The secret garden (sound recording), Frances Hodgson Burnett.

When newly orphaned Mary Lennox is sent to live at Misselthwaite Manor with her uncle, she is determined to be miserable but she finds a lonely house which is full of mystery and a locked and secret garden. As the garden slowly works its magic Mary, Colin, Dickon and even her uncle Archibald, all begin to change.

Gemma Arterton reads Alice's adventures in Wonderland (sound recording), Lewis Carroll.

One sleepy summer's day, Alice sees a white rabbit disappear down a rabbit hole. But this is not an ordinary rabbit, this one wears a waistcoat, has a pocket watch and is talking to himself, so Alice follows him! Alice meets characters like the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat in a story that has delighted and entranced readers for more than a hundred years.

The clock (sound recording), James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier.

In 1810 in Connecticut, trapped in a gruelling job in the local textile mill to help pay her father's debts, fifteen-year-old Annie becomes the victim of the cruel overseer and plots revenge against him.

Darcy Burdock (sound recording), Laura Dockrill.

Ten-year-old Darcy Burdock is one of life's noticers. Curious, smart-as-a-whip, funny and fiercely loyal, she sees the extraordinary in the everyday and the wonder in the world around her. In this first book, Darcy learns that turning into an angrosaurus-rex and causing chaos just gets her in trouble, trying to run away from home with a reluctant lamb in tow leads to sore kneebows, it's best not to throw a massive strop just before your surprise birthday party, Hallowe'en is all about spider costumes and having a pumpkin with a wonky eye, and if she's ever in a situation at home or at school where she's not sure what to do, she should write a story around it and the truth will be illuminated by her imagination.

Young knights of the Round Table (sound recording), Julia Golding.

Rick's been taught to believe that humans are the enemy by the Fey Folk who stole him. Taken to the magical realm of Avalon, he and other kids like him have been trained into an elite force of warriors. When rumours start that a new generation of knights are re-forming the Round Table to attack Avalon, the Fey entrust Rick with a mission: go to Earth, find the knights, and stop them. But training could not prepare him for the shock of being a modern teenager. And when he discovers that the Fey have been lying to him, Rick has to ask: if humans aren't the enemy - who is?

River secrets (sound recording), Shannon Hale.

Mysterious events in the Tiran capital arouse suspicions and anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Enna's friend Razo must find out who is masterminding these events, before it's too late, and they find themselves trapped in the heart of Tira as war breaks out.

Will Gallows and the rock demon's blood (sound recording), Derek Keilty.

Sky cowboy, Will Gallows, is finding life hard on the ranch. Should he follow his heart and join the elf side of his family, learning their magical secrets? Or should he join the Sky Cavalry with his friend Jez? His decision is put on hold when his grandma is kidnapped - by the most terrifying creature Will has ever encountered, a rock demon with a seventy-year-old grudge to avenge ...

Russell Tovey reads Black Beauty (sound recording), Anna Sewell.

'I hope you will grow up gentle and good, and never learn bad ways; do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick...' So says Black Beauty's mother when he is a very young colt, and he never forgets her advice. This is the story of the horse's adventures and the disappointments and joys that surround him, from his carefree early days on an English farm with his mother, to his difficult life pulling cabs in London and finally his happy retirement in the country. Along the way, Beauty meets with many hardships and cruelty, but also with kindness and friendship.

The smug pug (sound recording), Anna Wilson.

There's a new kid in Crumbly-under-Edge. Smug the pug is clever, funny and full of surprises and his owner, Tallulah Foghorn, is just as fantastic. Pippa Peppercorn has fallen head over heels for the devastating duo. Dash the dachshund, on the other paw, is not sure.

Operation Bunny (sound recording), Sally Gardner.

Emily Vole makes headline news in the first weeks of her life, when she is found in an abandoned hatbox in Stansted Airport. Then, only a few years later, her neighbour, Mrs String, dies leaving Emily a mysterious inheritance: an old shop, a small bunch of golden keys and a cat called Fidget. It's the beginning of an adventure of a lifetime as the old Fairy Detective Agency comes back to life.

Horror holiday (sound recording), A.B. Saddlewick.

Maud loves camping and is excited about going on Wilf's family holiday in the woods. Will she be the first camper ever to solve the monstrous mystery of the Beast Of Oddington?

Witch camp (sound recording), Ruth Symes.

Bella Donna is very excited to be going off to her first witchling Summer camp. When she arrives, with her stowaway cat, Pegatha, it seems to be just as magical as she thought it would be but everything changes when someone casts a spell. The camp turns into a camp of nightmares. Bella has to find the spell caster and reverse the spell but who cast it and why?

Into Reading

The rabbit's tale, retold by Lynne Benton ; illustrated by Fred Blunt ; reading consultant, Alison Kelly.

Rabbit's burrow is far too small so he goes to Wise Owl for advice. But is Owl serious when he tells Rabbit to invite all his friends and family to stay?

Cinderella, retold by Susanna Davidson ; illustrated by Lorena Alvarez ; reading consultant, Alison Kelly.

Illustrated with fresh, bright pictures, for beginner readers, this title is part of the Usborne Reading Programme, which includes over 250 titles across seven levels all developed in conjunction with reading experts at Roehampton University.

The ant and the grasshopper, based on a story by Aesop ; retold by Katie Daynes ; illustrated by Merel Eyckerman ; reading consultant, Alison Kelly.

It's the middle of summer and while the grasshopper is enjoying himself, the ant is busy preparing for winter and when winter arrives both the ant and the grasshopper learn something about the merits of hard work.

I am a woolly hat, Salma Koraytem ; retold by Vivian French ; illustrated by Betania Zacarias ; translation by Fatima Sharafeddine.

Basma has been wondering a lot about love. What is it like? Does it have a shape or a colour or a taste? Is it like a coat or a jumper or a shawl? Or is it like a warm woolly hat?

Big machines, Annabelle Lynch.

Get reading all about big, noisy machines, from tractors to tip-up trucks in this new series of non-fiction readers.

Mondays at Monster School, Ruth Louise Symes ; illustrated by Rosie Reeve.

Even little monsters get worried about their first day at school. It's a big step to take. Fred and Ted are two little monsters who aren't at all sure they want to go but once they do, they soon find out it's fun. After a day filled with mud splashing and slime painting, some howling and growling practice and a good stomp and stamp, not to mention big helpings of worms for lunch, they can't wait for Tuesday!

Non-Fiction

The quick expert's guide to building a website, Chris Martin.

Quick Expert's Guides are aimed at teens and 'tweens who are keen to know more about a popular topic but who may be put off the idea of having to read wordy or technical guides. Each title includes features that break down technical/scientific/complex aspects of the subject, inspirational case studies, activities and a final project to test the reader's new skills.

The quick expert's guide to writing a blog, Louisa Plaja.

This series offers a shortcut to instant expertise! Quick Expert's Guides are aimed at teens and 'tweens who are keen to know more about a popular topic but who may be put off the idea of having to read wordy or technical guides. Chapter round-ups offer tips on key words and phrases as well as boosting self esteem and confidence, in order to walk the walk and talk the talk of a true expert.

Francoize Boucher presents For the love of books : a book lover's guide for those who don't much like to read

A tongue-in-cheek paen to books and the joys of reading, written with the reluctant 21st century reader in mind.

Big book of knowledge

Introduces children to a world of learning, from Earth to space and everything in between. This title is packed with colourful pictures and illustrations, all explained with clear notes and fun facts.

We all do something well, Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly ; photographs by Shelley Rotner.

Full-colour photographs and simple text illustrate a variety of skills and abilities people have.

What's love?, Shelley Rotner and Deborah Carlin ; photographs by Shelley Rotner.

Full-colour photographs and simple text illustrate the concept of love in its many forms.

A medieval monastery, written by Fiona Macdonald ; illustrated by Gerald Wood ; series created by David Salariya.

Explore a medieval monastery and discover what happened within its cloistered walls. This is a full-colour illustrated guide to all aspects of medieval monasteries, their construction, the lives of the monks and nuns who lived in them, and the various monastic orders and the disciplines they followed.

Safe social networking, Heather E. Schwartz ; consultant, Frank W. Baker.

Describes safe social networking usage and ways to avoid dangerous situations such as identity theft, cyberbullying, or predators.

Tease monster : a book about teasing vs. bullying, written by Julia Cook ; illustrated by Anita DuFalla.

When "One of a Kind" is laughed at by Purple One and called a name by Green One, is the Tease Monster to blame? This tale teaches readers the difference between friendly teasing and mean teasing, and why some teasing can have a negative bite if it's meant to be hurtful and cause embarrassment.

Cyberbullying, Heather E. Schwartz ; consultant, Frank W. Baker.

Describes cyberbullying and ways to prevent or stop cyberbullying attacks.

Different kinds of good-byes, Shelley Rotner and Sheila Kelly ; photographs by Shelley Rotner.

Full-color photographs and simple text illustrate a variety of good-bye situations.

World's worst jobs, Tracey Turner ; illustrated by Garry Davies.

Fancy spending your days cleaning sewers with no protective clothing, letting mosquitoes turn you into a human pincushion for medical research, or popping up a chimney with a brush for a spot of cleaning? Then The World's Worst Jobs is the book for you. From Victorian toshers who sifted London's sewage for treasure, to Roman gladiators who fought to the death on a daily basis, find out all about the hardest, most revolting and most hilarious jobs in the world through history.

Collins my first book of transport, [author, Ian Graham ; editor, Jean Coppendale].

Discover about the world's fastest planes, boats and floating trains. There's everything inside: cars of the future, one man space-ships, hot air balloons, submarines and more. This brightly illustrated and engaging book will give hours of pleasure as well as help with school work and projects.

Collins my first book of myths and legends

An introduction to some of the most popular myths and legends from around the world. Written in clear and easy-to-follow language for both parent and child, this book helps the reader to associate popular stories with the regions they came from and reinforces the stories that have always helped people to understand the world around them.

Mixed up nursery rhymes, Hilary Robinson, Liz Pichon.

This ingenious split-page book lets you create your own hilarious versions of the most-loved rhymes. The total number of mix ups is 1728 combinations! What would happen if Little Miss Muffett went up the hill to fetch an army of ten thousand men? Includes: Jack and Jill, Little Miss Muffett, The Grand Old Duke of York, Little Jack Horner, Polly Put the Kettle On, Old Mother Hubbard, Mary, Mary, Yankee Doodle, The Crooked Man, Wee Willie Winkie, The Queen of Hearts and Doctor Foster.

Ko wai ka toa?, na Peti Nohotima.

Designed to support language learning in Māori language immersion schools, and also for general secondary schools for NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 students. Contains a short play designed to support students to improve their Māori language skills.

Explore night science!, Cindy Blobaum ; illustrated by Bryan Stone.

Explore night science!' encourages 6-9 year olds to safely explore and understand what happens around the world when it is dark outside. Readers are led step by step into integrated, active explorations that uncover the science and technology of the natural and physical world that surrounds them.

Perimeter, area, and volume : a monster book of dimensions, David A. Adler ; illustrated by Edward Miller.

Grab your jumbo popcorn and 3-D glasses, because you're invited to the premiere of a 3-D movie! The star-studded cast of monsters will help you calculate the perimeter of the set, the area of the movie screen, and the volume of your popcorn box. Learning about dimensions has never been so entertaining.

Astronomy, written by Kristen Lippincott.

Helps you discover the world of astronomy, from moons and stars to planets and galaxies. This title offers an introduction to children learning about how we have viewed the stars and planets through the ages and how this science is continued today.

Collins my first book of the solar system

My First Book of the Solar System introduces children to the ever-popular topic of space and the amazing worlds that make up our solar system.

Electricity, written by Steve Parker.

Packed with over 200 colourful pictures, as well as diagrams and awesome facts about scientists, electrical power sources and even lightning "Eyewitness Electricity" provides the perfect combination of information and great ideas and the giant wallchart makes it even more suited for school projects.

Earth, written by Susanna Van Rose

You can discover the fascinating science behind the incredible Planet Earth and how we are able to live here. "Eyewitness Earth" is the perfect introduction to children learning about our fascinating planet, Earth. How are we able to live here? What made the mountains? Why do volcanoes exist? Find the answers to these questions and many more in "Eyewitness Earth".

Collins my first book of animals

The animal kingdom's greatest celebrities and weirdest wonders have been herded together inside this book. Apes and anacondas, penguins and parakeets, whales and wallabies, there's amazing photographs and fascinating facts about them all. So come on a journey from the frozen Arctic, through the boiling desert, to the bottom of the deep blue sea and discover about the wonderful creatures we share our planet with.

Amazing giant wild animals, written by Marie Greenwood ; designed by Polly Appleton ; illustrated by Peter Minister.

Get ready for a thrilling adventure into the wild and meet some of the tallest, widest, and longest creatures that roam the Earth! Fold-out pages open to reveal the most amazing wild animals ever!

Shimmer & splash : the sparkling world of sea life, Jim Arnosky.

Acclaimed naturalist Jim Arnosky will bring out your inner explorer as he explains why a puffer swells up like a balloon, how sharks locate prey in the darkness, and why some fish like to swim in the shadow of a manatee.

Ocean counting, Janet Lawler ; photography by Brian Skerry.

Presents young readers with a foundation for learning basic counting skills while discovering some magnificent ocean animals. Fact boxes in the back of the book include information about the animals' homes, sizes, diets, predators, and babies.

Whitebait, Amber McEwan.

Introduces the physical characteristics, habitat and behaviour of different species of New Zealand whitebait.

The tapir scientist, text by Sy Montgomery ; photographs by Nic Bishop.

If you've never seen a lowland tapir, you're not alone. Most of the people who live near tapir habitat in Brazil's vast Pantanal ("the Everglades on steroids") haven't seen the elusive snorkel-snouted mammal, either. In this arresting nonfiction picture book, Sibert winners Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop join a tapir-finding expedition led by the Brazilian field scientist Pati Medici. Aspiring scientists will love the immediate, often humorous "you are there" descriptions of fieldwork, and gadget lovers will revel in the high-tech science at play, from microchips to the camera traps that capture the "soap opera" of tapir life.

Wolves, James Maclaine ; illustrated by John Francis and Kimberley Scott ; designed by Alice Reese ; wolf consultant, David Macdonald ; reading consultant, Alison Kelly.

The association of wolves with superstition and folklore has led to an uneasy and fearful relationship between man and wolf.

The big ideas that changed the world, authors, Julie Ferris ... et al. ; consultant, Roger Bridgman.

Deals with the inventions that don't just change the way we do things but change the world we live in. This title includes some of the ideas such as the Model T Ford, Edison's lightbulb, Catseyes and the first Apple computer.

Collins my first book of the human body, author, Jen Green ; editor, Jean Coppendale.

Let Collins take you on a journey inside your amazing body. Fun and fact-filled, this is the book for you if you want to know everything about how your body works.

Boy files : puberty, growing up and all that stuff, Alex Hooper-Hodson.

A frank, up-to-the-minute guide to boys' growing up issues. The Boy Files offers friendly advice, practical tips and support to help boys navigate the physical and mental rollercoaster of puberty and guide them gently through the potential pitfalls. From willy worries, shaving and body hair, to girls, spots, bullying and staying safe in a cyber world, The Boy Files' chatty, big-brotherly style is a feel-good reference source for 'tweens and young teens.

Can you survive an earthquake? an interactive survival adventure, Rachael Hanel ; consultant, April Kelcy.

Can you survive being lost at sea? an interactive survival adventure, Allison Lassieur ; consultant, Howard Reichert.

You're in the middle of the ocean. The blazing sun beats down on you mercilessly. There's water everywhere but you can't drink it. How will you stay alive until help reaches you?

Can I tell you about Parkinson's disease? a guide for family, friends, and carers, Alan M. Hultquist ; illustrated by Lydia T. Corrow.

Meet Nikolai - a man with Parkinson's disease. Nikolai invites readers to learn about Parkinson's from his perspective, helping them to understand how Parkinson's affects his daily life and why some tasks can be especially challenging for him. He also gives advice on how to help someone with Parkinson's when they have difficulties with physical movements and memory. This illustrated book is full of useful information and will be an ideal introduction for children from the age of 7, as well as older readers.

Can I tell you about stammering? a guide for friends, family and professionals, Sue Cottrell ; illustrated by Sophie Khan.

Meet Harry - a young boy who stammers. Harry invites readers to learn about what it is like to stammer (also known as a stutter) from his perspective and how it affects his daily life and makes him feel. He explains techniques he has learnt that can help reduce his stammering. Harry describes how friends, family and those around him can help him to feel at ease and reduce his stammer further.

Can I tell you about dyslexia? a guide for friends, family, and professionals, Alan M. Hultquist ; illustrated by Bill Tulp.

Meet Zoe - a young girl with dyslexia. Zoe invites readers to learn about dyslexia from her perspective. She helps readers to understand the challenges faced by a child with dyslexia, explaining what dyslexia is and how it affects her at home and at school. Zoe describes exactly why she finds reading, writing and words so difficult, and how other people can help her in these areas. This illustrated book is ideally suited for readers aged 7 and upwards, and will be an excellent way to start a discussion about dyslexia, in the classroom or at home.

Eco cars, written by Penny Worms.

Design and engineering skills are very important to the motor industry in helping to create vehicles that are both fit for purpose and exciting to look at and to drive. Motormania offers an overview of some of the most thrilling vehicles on modern roads and racing tracks. The books are packed with facts, stats and amazing full-colour photography.

Trucks, written by Penny Worms.

Motorbikes, written by Penny Worms.

Racing cars, written by Penny Worms.

Down to earth : how kids help feed the world

Looks at farming and the ways that children from different cultures help in the production and distribution of food around the world, with attention paid to environmental and food supply issues.

Grow your own tomatoes, Helen Lanz.

It's simple to grow your own tomatoes! In this series find out: what equipment you will need, how to grow a healthy plant, and about the science in growing plants. You can also find useful tips, nutrition facts and a recipe.

Grow your own potatoes, Helen Lanz.

Love your dog, Judith Heneghan.

Find out how to look after a new puppy and what you can do to make it feel safe. Discover the secrets of dog behaviour and learn how to give your dog the best care throughout its life. Become an expert on your perfect pet!

Love your cat, Judith Heneghan.

Cats come in a variety of colors, sizes, and personalities. Easy-to-follow text will help readers understand what they need to prepare for their new feline friend. This is a readers first step to many years of happiness with their pet cat.

Love your rabbit, Judith Heneghan.

Find out how to look after a new rabbit and what you need to do to make it feel safe. Discover the secrets of rabbit behaviour and learn how to give your rabbit the best care throughout its life. Become an expert on your perfect pet!

ChopChop : the kids' guide to cooking real food with your family, Sally Sampson ; photographs by Carl Tremblay.

Simple, healthy, delicious dishes for children and parents to make together.

Cool world cooking : fun and tasty recipes for kids!, Lisa Wagner.

Give up-and-coming chefs a chance to explore the foods of the world! This international cookbook has over 50 recipes from 6 different cultures and introduces readers to world geography and authentic, easy-to-make recipes that taste great.

From mud huts to skyscrapers : architecture for children, Christine Paxmann, Anne Ibelings ; translation, Cynthia Hall.

Children will be utterly absorbed by this journey through the history of architecture, from the earliest mud huts to today's soaring towers. Chronologically arranged, this large-format book gives each iconic building its own double-page spread featuring an exquisite watercolour illustration and clearly written descriptions, facts, and features.

Crafts for kids, Gill Dickinson.

Easy, fun-to-follow activities for 2 to 6 year olds.

Jammin' in the jungle : a musical safari of drumming, singing and moving!, Denise Hollingworth and Carole Searle.

Come on a musical safari into a magical jungle where you can drum with the monkeys, sing with lions, and shake like a rattlesnake! Educationally based, this fun-filled collection of songs is jam-packed with practical ideas for enhancing children's musical development through singing, movement, playing percussion instruments, and other hands-on activities!

Star wars, the clone wars. Episode guide, written by Jason Fry.

A reference to the animated series details every episode in story order and provides coverage of everything from key plot points and characters to spaceships and weapons.

Impressive dance moves, Ellen Labrecque.

Learn how to do the moonwalk, the worm, and even more dance moves that will impress your friends! Step-by-step photos, along with clear instructions, break down even the most complicated tricks so anyone can learn them. Includes safety guidelines and tips from the pros.

Is that a word? from AA to ZZZ, the weird and wonderful language of scrabble?, David Bukszpan.

For lovers of Scrabble, Bananagrams, and Words with Friends, this lively guide helps readers make the most out of word games, packed with new ways to remember the best words alongside tips for improving game play and much more.

The great art treasure hunt : I spy red, yellow, and blue, Doris Kutschbach.

Finding and naming colours and objects is an exciting activity for young children and what better way to teach them than through art? This ingenious book employs great works of art from a variety of genres and periods to ask children engaging questions. Filled with glorious colour, this introduction to important works will set the stage for a greater appreciation of art in later years.

100 people, Masayuki Sebe.

It's time to start playing hide and seek! Are you ready? Find the pirates, the kings, the schoolchildren and more.

Gaming safely, Allyson Valentine Schrier ; consultant, Frank W. Baker.

Describes safe online gaming and ways to avoid dangerous situations, such as identity theft, cyberbullying, or predators.

The ultimate book of family card games, Oliver Ho.

A collection of fifty-six card games.

Cool board tricks, Ellen Labrecque.

What is frontside air? Look inside this book for the answer!

Gymnastics by the numbers, Desiree Bussiere ; consulting editor, Diane Craig.

This book includes number-based facts, a brief introduction to the sport of gymnastics, and diagrams of men's and women's gymnastics floor. Brief story problems are matched with each photo to promote reading comprehension and math practice.

Amazing bike tricks, Ellen Labrecque.

Presents instructions on performing bike tricks, from front hops and bunny hops to spinning the handle bars and drop-ins.

Trick-or-treat! a happy haunter's Halloween, Debbie Leppanen ; illustrated by Tad Carpenter.

In this collection of fifteen poems, young readers will meet hungry ghouls, sneaky ghosts, and frisky skeletons, all who love partying in the moonlight.

Sea star wishes : poems from the coast, Eric Ode ; illustrated by Erik Brooks.

In these coastal poems for kids, children meet sea lions, starfish, jellyfish, and other animals in the ocean, and dream about sandcastles and other beach activities. This fun, lyrical children's poetry collection by award-winning children's singer and songwriter Eric Ode features lively illustrations by Washington State Book Award recipient Erik Brooks.

A flower fairy alphabet : poems and pictures, Cicely Mary Barker.

When the author created the first "Flower Fairies" book in 1923, this unassuming artist could have had little idea of the immense popularity her fairies would enjoy. Suitable for fairy fans young and old, this edition features illustrations of soft pink Apple Blossom Fairies, the jewel-coloured Fuchsia Fairy and the tiny red Strawberry Fairy.

Here come the creatures! poems, Wes Magee.

Here come the creatures, one, two, three a crocodile's holding hands with a flea. A brilliant, varied collection of poems for very young children, suitable for early years and Key Stage One.

Changing guard at Buckingham Palace, A. A. Milne with decorations by E. H. Shepard.

'They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace, Christopher Robin went down with Alice. Alice is marrying one of the guard. "A soldier's life is terrible hard," says Alice.' The poems that make up this collection are steeped in the history and culture of the British Isles and generations of British children have grown up with them.

The monster sale, Brian Moses.

Monsters that moan and groan and wail, buy your monsters at the Monster Sale. Chickens who wear jumpers, all kinds of monsters, a puppy's favourite chews (a lucky dip of forgotten socks), staying awake waiting for your birthday, a bear in his underwear. In his first collection for younger children, well-known poet Brian Moses has provided a funny and witty snapshot of family life, with a bit of fantasy added in.

Even my ears are smiling, Michael Rosen ; illustrated by Babette Cole.

Following the publication of bestselling Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy, Michael Rosen has followed up with a brilliant new book of poems that are funny, thought-provoking and always with Michael's immediately accessible and child-centred voice. The cheeky, full-colour illustrations by much loved Babette Cole make the perfect partnership.

Off by heart, compiled by Roger Stevens ; illustrated by Spike Gerrell.

A wonderful collection of poems that are easy to remember and perfect to recite out loud. New, modern and classic poems, ranging from very short to long. The book also includes tips for readers, teachers and parents on how to memorise poems and on performing them out loud.

The 1990s, Anne Rooney.

The 1990s was a time of big changes, including the end of the Cold War, democratic elections in South Africa, signs of peace in the Middle East and a global agreement to confront climate change. It also saw the arrival of the World Wide Web, the Hubble Space telescope and the first cloned mammal. This book describes these and many other world-changing events that occurred during this decade.

Geography : a children's encyclopedia, written by John Woodward.

This title explores the geographical wonders of Earth, from weather, to water to climates and ecosystems. It explores the wonders of the natural world, from the peak of Everest to the very bottom of the Mariana Trench, learning the whole way. Full of beautiful pictures bringing the natural world to life, this encyclopedia shows Earth at its most amazing.

Anne Frank and her diary, Sarah Ridley.

Anne Frank is famous for her diary, which she wrote during occupied Eurpoe during the Second World War. An inspirational child who's story has touched the hearts and conscience of millions.

Gandhi : a march to the sea, Alice B. McGinty ; illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez.

Recreates Mohandas Gandhi's 24-day March to the Sea, from March 12 to April 5, 1930, which became a pivotal moment in India's quest to become an independent country no longer ruled by Great Britain.

I can jump puddles, Alan Marshall.

This is Alan Marshall's story of his childhood - a happy world in which, despite his crippling poliomyelitis, he plays, climbs, fights, swims, rides and laughs. His world was the Australian countryside early last century: rough-riders, bushmen, farmers and tellers of tall stories a world held precious by the young Alan.

Henri's scissors, Jeanette Winter.

When Henri Matisse was a boy, he drew pictures everywhere. When he grew up, he became a famous artist whose paintings were beloved around the world. Then late in life, a serious illness confined Henri to just his bed and a wheelchair. But amazingly, from there he created some of his finest works, the enormous and breathtaking paper cut-outs.

When I was eight, Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton ; art by Gabrielle Grimard.

This book chronicles the unbreakable spirit of an Inuit girl while attending an Arctic residential school.

When Stravinsky met Nijinsky : two artists, their ballet, and one extraordinary riot, Lauren Stringer.

The Russian artists Igor Stravinsky and Vaslav Nijinsky were popular in their time: Stravinsky for music, Nijinsky for dance. When their radically new ballet, The Rite of Spring, was first performed in Paris on May 29, 1913, the reaction was so polarized, there were fistfights and riots! Brilliant or disastrous, the performance marked the birth of modern music and dance. Stringer's rhythmic text and gloriously inventive, colour-rich paintings capture the wild and imaginative collaboration of composer and choreographer.

Collins my first book of world flags

My First Book of World Flags introduces children to the ever-popular topic of flags.

World War II spies : an interactive history adventure, Michael Burgan ; consultant, Michael Burgan.

Describes the role spies played during World War II. Readers' choices reveal various historical details.

France, Camilla de la Bedoyere.

Countries in Our World focuses on the countries that shape and influence our modern world. Each book examines physical features, daily life, industry, media, leisure and much more.

China, Oliver James.

India, Darryl Humble.

Kenya, Alison Brownlie Bojang.

Australia, Aleta Moriarty.

Wan an, wo de xing xing, Bing Bo zhu ; Tong Feifei hui.

Xiao cai feng de shan liang mo fa pai dui, zuo zhe Chen Jingyu ; hui zhe Qin Yi.

Aosika xi huan de yan se = Oscar looks at colours, Carolyn Collis ; fan yi Yang Minyan.

Aosika zai nong chang = Oscar looks at the farm, Carolyn Collis ; fan yi Yang Minyan.

Luoluo dao dong wu yuan qu, Yvonne Jagtenberg wen tu ; Lin Dingding yi.

Yan jing shu, Jin Bo zhu ; Gong Yanling hui.

Bian se long zhuo mi cang, Mijin Youjie.

Wo ba ba ba yang zai yu gang li, peng yi wen ; a lie tu.

Na ke xing xing shi wo de, Pankun Te Yarui wen ; Pacha Dishannan tu ; Lin Dingding bian yi.

Yi ge guan yu tu zi de meng, Daan Remmerts de Vries wen tu ; Xie Yimei yi.

San xiong di, bian zhe An Xiuyan ; yi zhe Yang Guoqun ; hui zhe Ju Runmei.

Dong wu wai tao zhuo mi cang, Shichuan Haoer.

Wen zi da xia, Xue Weimin wen ; Li Rong tu.

Jie jie de cheng ji dan, Liqin Wang.

Ttok katayo, Yu Chin kul, kurim.

Xiao tu An'an tiao gao gao, zuo zhe Yueliangmiaomiao ; hui zhe Huang Zhenglong.

Henshin onsen, Akiyama Tadashi.

Osama no ohikkoshi, Botan Yasuyoshi.

Sanbiki korisu no kekiyasan, Gonda Akie.

Yokai yokocho, Hirose Katsuya.

Urenai yakisobapan, Inunko.

Kaite tsutaete kantan irasutocho : daredemo kawaiku sugu egakeru, Emutike.

Kyo no gohan, Kato Yasumi.

Zuruyasumi ni kanpai, Miyagawa Hiro.

Piano happyokai, Miyakoshi Akiko saku.

Arigato : tada kimi ga suki, Nakamura Ko;Miyao Kazutaka.

Dongurimura no pan'yasan, Nakaya Miwa saku.

Hen na obake, Omori Hiroko.

Kurasu de ichiban Biggu Neto, Peirce Lincoln.

Chiisana chiisana maho no oshiro, Sakai Sachie.

Dobutsuen monogatari, Yamada Yuka.

Animals = Tongmul : English-Korean

Vibrant illustrations and clear text help children discover two languages by learning the English and Korean words for their favorite

Yoja taet'ongnyong i toego sipoyo, Cho Su jin kul, kurim.

Home = Chip : English-Korean

Vibrant illustrations and clear text help children discover two languages by learning the English and Korean words for objects in their homes.

Ch'oe Ki bong ul ch'ajara!, Kim Son jong ; Yi Yong rim kurim.

Kongbu ui put'akhae, Kwon T'ae mun ; Chong Ta un ... [oi] kurim.

Onul to matue gamnida, Yi Chag-un.

Older Fiction

Zombie baseball beatdown, Paolo Bacigalupi.

While practicing for their next baseball game, thirteen-year-old friends Rabi, Miguel, and Joe discover that the nefarious activities of the Delbe, Iowa, meatpacking plant have caused cows to turn into zombies.

Atlantis rising, T.A. Barron.

The young thief Promi and the forest girl Atlanta battle evil and in the process bring about the creation of Atlantis.

Texting the underworld, Ellen Booraem.

Conor O'Neill faces his cowardice and visits the underworld to bargain with the Lady who can prevent the imminent death of a family member, but first Ashling, the banshee who brought the news, wants to visit his middle school.

The field of wacky inventions, Patrick Carman.

Leo and Remi have gotten used to the strangeness of the Whippet Hotel, but when the entire top floor is hoisted into the sky and transported to the field of wacky inventions, they find that they must compete against a number of foes to solve a puzzle or lose their beloved hotel forever.

The ghost prison, Joseph Delaney ; illustrated by Scott M. Fischer.

Fifteen-year-old Billy guards a castle prison. But it isn't just criminals he'll be guarding - the ghosts of executed prisoners haunt the place too.

Flora & Ulysses : the illuminated adventures, Kate DiCamillo ; illustrated by K. G. Campbell.

Rescuing a squirrel after an accident involving a vacuum cleaner, comic-reading cynic Flora Belle Buckman is astonished when the squirrel, Ulysses, demonstrates astonishing powers of strength and flight after being revived.

Creatures of magic, Maree Fenton-Smith ; illustrated by Lilly Piri.

When Violet Brown and her magical family move in next door, Anna's world becomes much more exciting and dangerous. Violet needs her help to fight off the Inquisitors who want to destroy her family. But can Violet be trusted?

Thrice upon a Marigold, Jean Ferris.

When Princess Poppy, the daughter of Queen Marigold and King Christian of Zandelphia-Beaurivage, is kidnapped by the kingdom's former torturer-in-chief and poisoner-in-chief, a ragtag group sets out to rescue her.

Shine, Candy Gourlay.

This is not a ghost story even though there are plenty of ghosts in it. It's not a horror story though some people might be horrified. It's not a monster story either, even though there is a monster in it and that monster happens to be me. Forced to hide herself away from the superstitious island community of Mirasol, thirteen-year-old Rosa seeks solace online. There she meets Ansel95, and as the friendship moves from virtual to real, Rosa discovers that she's not the only one with something to hide.

The power, Michael Grant.

Twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy and a team of other twelve-year-olds travel the globe to find the rest of the Manigica team so they can defeat the Pale Queen and save the world from destruction.

Sure signs of crazy, Karen Harrington.

Twelve-year-old Sarah writes letters to her hero, To Kill a Mockingbird's Atticus Finch, for help understanding her mentally ill mother, her first real crush, and life in her small Texas town, all in the course of one momentous summer.

The year of Billy Miller, Kevin Henkes.

Seven-year-old Billy Miller starts second grade with a bump on his head and a lot of worries, but by the end of the year he has developed good relationships with his teacher, his little sister, and his parents and learned many important lessons.

Darkness falls, Erin Hunter.

The Wild Dogs' fierce Alpha reluctantly agrees to let the Leashed Dogs join their pack but after learning of Lucky's role as a spy, Alpha casts him out of their camp and orders him to never return.

The middle of nowhere, Geraldine McCaughrean.

When Mary Pinny dies from a snakebite, she leaves her young daughter Comity and husband Herbert in the Middle of Nowhere. As Stationmaster of the Kinkindele Repeater Station, Herbert Pinny takes great pride in his job; receiving morse messages and passing them down the Wire to the rest of Australia and beyond. But Comity dreams of a different life - where her mother is alive and she has her own horse and a new piano - and sends letters to her grandmother and her snooty aunt full of colourful tales of her imaginary life. That is, until the new station assistant, Quartz Hogg, arrives and brings Comity and her father sharply back down to earth.

Island of fire, Lisa McMann.

The magical world of Artime is gone and the Unwanteds are looking to Alex Stowe for answers, but while his twin brother Aaron continues to build his army in Quill, a very dangerous common enemy is revealed.

Silver brumby echoing, Elyne Mitchell.

The Silver Brumby Centenary Edition and Silver Brumby Kingdom contain the first eight titles in the Silver Brumby series. This third volume contains the final five titles: Dancing Brumby, Brumbies of the Night, Dancing Brumby's Rainbow, The Thousandth Brumby and Wild Echoes Ringing. Silver Brumby Echoing completes the much-loved Silver Brumby series. Countless numbers of children have enjoyed the story of Thowra, the silver stallion who was king of the brumbies, and now a new generation of horse-lovers will be able to either discover or re-read these treasured classics.

Wild born, Brandon Mull.

Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers and on you.

Treasure hunters, James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, with Mark Shulman ; illustrated by Juliana Neufeld.

The Kidd siblings have grown up diving down to shipwrecks and travelling the world, helping their famous parents recover everything from swords to gold doubloons from the bottom of the ocean. But after their parents disappear on the job, the kids are suddenly thrust into the biggest treasure hunt of their lives. They'll have to work together to defeat dangerous pirates and dodge the hot pursuit of an evil treasure-hunting rival, all while following cryptic clues to unravel the mystery of what really happened to their parents - and find out if they're still alive.

The dead men stood together, Chris Priestley.

In a harbour town long ago, a boy is entranced by his uncle's stories of adventure in lands far away. Ignoring the crazy talk of the harbour pilot's son about the uncle being the Devil, the boy boards a ship with his uncle. But the uncle soon makes enemies of the captain and crew and, in frustration at their superstition, kills an albatross that has befriended the ship. As the ship sails on, madness and death ensue, and the boy and the crew face unimaginable horrors. A superbly gripping and haunting tale for fans of all classic horror.

The lost gods, Francesca Simon.

The Gods' popularity on earth is waning, and without regular worship, their powers are fading fast. Meanwhile, their ancient enemies, the Frost Giants, are stirring. So the Gods hatch a plan - they'll come back down to earth, and they'll pursue a very different kind of popularity. They're going to become celebrities. A rollicking, thrilling and hilarious ride, The Lost Gods takes up where the Sleeping Army left off and takes us back to Simon's brilliantly-imagined modern Norse England.

The screaming staircase, Jonathan Stroud.

When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in. Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive.

The hobbit ; or There and back again, J. R. R. Tolkien ; illustrated by Jemima Catlin.

Artist Jemima Catlin's charming and lively interpretation brings Tolkien's beloved characters to life in a way that will entice and entertain a new generation of readers. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable and quiet life. His contentment is disturbed one day when the wizard, Gandalf, and the dwarves arrive to take him away on an adventure. Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.

Sammy Keyes and the killer cruise, Wendelin Van Draanen.

Teen sleuth Sammy Keyes solves a classic locked-room mystery aboard a cruise ship.

Attack of the ninja frogs, Ursula Vernon.

When Suki the salamander, the new foreign exchange student, is being stalked by ninja frogs, Danny, Wendell the iguana, and Suki travel to Great- grandfather Dragonbreath's home in mythical Japan to find a solution for the problem.

The book of lost things, Cynthia Voigt ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno.

When Max's parents leave the country without him, he must rely on his wits to get by, and before long he is running his own rather unusual business.

Picture Books

Baby animals at the zoo, concept by Rebecca Bondor.

Adorable photos and simple text make it easy for your toddler to learn about zoo animals.

Baby animals on the farm, concept by Rebecca Bondor.

Adorable photos and simple text make it easy for your toddler to learn about farm animals.

Big and little things that go, concept by Rebecca Bondor.

Colourful photos of familiar objects make it easy for your toddler to learn about whats big and whats little.

Ears, eyes, nose, concept by Rebecca Bondor.

Introduces different parts of the human body.

Moomin and the little ghost, based on the original stories by Tove Jansson.

The Moomin Family are relaxing on holiday; with the exception of Moomin. Every night he is being visited by a little ghost and Moomin is getting more and more scared by him. His friends and family don't know what to do to help him. Then one night, Moomin's beloved friend Snorkmaiden, goes missing and Moomin bravely sets off to find her.

Red apple, green pear : a book of colors

Colour photographs of fruit introduce toddlers to basic colours. Includes a tip for reinforcing colour recognition with young children.

Billy the Goat's big breakfast, Jez Alborough.

Nat the Cat makes some lovely homemade bread for her friends to share. But Billy the Goat is too greedy to wait for the bread to bake and he gulps down a sneaky mouthful of the delicious-looking dough. Soon his tummy has swollen up like a fresh loaf of bread. What will Nat the Cat say when she finds out?

Tiny pie, Mark Bailey and Michael Oatman ; illustrated by Edward Hemingway ; recipe by Alice Waters.

Ellie the elephant is the only kid at a party, where the food meant for the grown-ups is out of reach but she spies a tiny chef in his mouse hole baking a small apple pie that is just the right size for her. Includes a recipe by Alice Waters for a child-size apple pie.

My octopus arms, Keith Baker.

Little Crab asks what an octopus can do with his eight arms and gets a surprising, rhyming, reply.

Big snow, Jonathan Bean.

An excited and frustrated boy watches hopefully as wintry weather develops slowly into a 'big snow'.

Diggory Digger and the dinosaurs, Peter Bently ; illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees.

Diggory and his faithful friend Morris the Mole have found a very mysterious tunnel and are itching to investigate. Down, down they go until they come across a rather stubborn boulder blocking their path... then the boulder went Grunt! Then it snorted and growled! Then it opened one eye, then another and Howled! Diggory cried, 'That's no boulder before us!' 'No!' squeaked the Mole. 'It's a - Diggerosaurus!'.

Crankenstein, written by Samantha Berger ; illustrated by Dan Santat.

A boy who looks ordinary transforms into grumbling Crankenstein when faced with a rainy day, a melting popsicle, or bedtime but everything changes when he meets a fellow Crankenstein.

When we go walking, Cari Best ; illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker.

Wendy enjoys walking with her family on Rambling Road and always finds something to add to her collection.

Bruiser and the big snow, Gavin Bishop.

Bruiser and the big snow features the big noisy digger Bruiser dealing with a major snow fall in a city. He works hard, clearing roads and paths and motorways, making the town safe for all. When he settles down to rest at the end, he hears a tiny sound and discovers a trike buried under the snow.

The weather machine, Donovan Bixley.

Once upon a time, in a world not so different to ours, a little blue man decides to create a machine to control the weather. It all goes terribly wrong. The illustrations capture the hopefulness and naivety of human industry in this wordless book.

The school, Dick Bruna.

Describes one day at school. The rhyming introduction to the school day, complete with a birthday party perfect for young children about to enter nursery or day school.

Spot the dot : a surprising search-and-find based on the award-winning app!, David A. Carter.

On every page, young readers are invited to spot a different coloured dot through interactive means.

Aunt Amelia, Rebecca Cobb.

When Mum and Dad go away for the night, Aunt Amelia comes to look after one very cross little girl and boy. They do not want to be looked after and, even worse, Mum has left a list of boring instructions. But Aunt Amelia turns out to be rather different from expected and a lot more fun!

Train, Elisha Cooper.

Board a commuter train in New York, then follow the journey west and see the stations, the scenery, the different types of trains, and all the people who travel and work on the railroad system.

Max and the tag-along moon, Floyd Cooper.

When Max leaves his grandfather's house, the moon follows him all the way home, just as Grandpa promised it would.

Te takaro hitokotoko, na Ani Crawford nga korero ; na Ross Payne nga pikitia.

Introduces the concept of probablility using the example of a hopscotch game.

Te takaro mapere, na Ani Crawford nga korero, na Sam Joseph nga pikitia.

Introduces simple number and probability concepts through the story of a game of marbles.

Te totitoti, na Ani Crawford nga korero ; na Rebecca Kereopa nga pikitia.

Introduces the concept of probablility using the story of a stilt-walking game.

The empty stocking, Richard Curtis ; with illustrations by Rebecca Cobb.

Its Christmas eve and there's one very important question on everyone's lips... have you been good this year? For twins Sam and Charlie this is a big worry because Charlie really is quite bad. And sometimes Santa has to get tough.

Sugarlump and the unicorn, written by Julia Donaldson ; illustrated by Lydia Monks.

When Sugarlump the rocking horse wishes to see the world, a magical unicorn turns him into a real horse. But after trotting around the farm, galloping around a racetrack and even dancing at the circus, Sugarlump learns to be careful what he wishes for and realises how much he misses the children he left behind.

How to train a train, Jason Carter Eaton ; illustrated by John Rocco.

A whimsical guide to training a "pet train" instructs young enthusiasts about important issues including where trains live, what they like to eat, and how to get them to perform the best train tricks.

Morgan, the moreporks and the moon, written by Richard Fairgray, Tara Black and Terry Jones ; illustrated by Richard Fairgray ; colours by Tara Black.

One day Morgan wants to know what the Moon's name is, and he knows the only way to find out is to ask.

Phylys the farm truck, written by Chrissie Fernyhough & Susan Elijas ; illustrations and book design by Susan Elijas & Sam Elijas ; photography by John Bougen.

The folk at Castle Hill high country farm are not too impressed when they first meet Phylys, the new shiny, flash city truck. How will this gleaming new arrival cope with the steep hills, wide rivers and rough tracks? But Phylys has a twinkle in her eye and soon shows she'll give anything a go. She's not put off by a few skids, crunches, sheep poo, high fords, soggy bogs, getting stuck and heaps of hard work.

Baby bedtime, Mem Fox, Emma Quay.

There comes a time for sleeping, and our sleepy time is now. So fall asleep, my angel, with a kiss upon your brow. Written in gentle, rhythmic rhyme, Baby Bedtime is the perfect winding-down story to read aloud before bed.

Spider sandwiches, Claire Freedman ; illustrated by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet.

Monster Max will feast on anything crawly, creepy, hairy, and sticky, but his favorite snack is squirmy spider sandwiches.

Wombat goes to school, written by Jackie French ; illustrated by Bruce Whatley.

She sleeps. She eats. She scratches - and finds a hole. When Mothball discovers a new hole, it unexpectedly leads her to the local school. The children learn that wombats love carrots and grass, while Mothball learns that lunch boxes contain very few carrots, that sports sheds can be a good place to have a nap, and that when you're brown and round, it's not a good idea to get too close to a ball...

The hoppameleon, Paul Geraghty.

When the world is still quite young, there was a sleepy, slurpy swamp. And in it swam a very odd-looking creature. As he makes his way in the world, this very odd-looking creature, with a long sticky tongue, who can hunt like a chameleon and sing like a parrot, isn't quite sure who or what he is. Nor is anyone else. But he does know that he wants to find a friend who is just like himself.

Dragon loves penguin, Debi Gliori.

It's bedtime in the land of ice and snow. "Night, night," says Bib's mummy. "Sleep tight," says Bib's daddy. But Bib has a better plan. "Please," says Bib, "can I have a story? The one about dragons." And so begins the heartwarming tale of a dragon in need of an egg and an abandoned egg in need of a mummy. It seems like the perfect fit, but what happens when that egg hatches and the little baby doesn't look like all the other dragons (in fact, he looks remarkably like a penguin)? Of course, his mummy loves him no matter what. But the other babies aren't so sure. Little do they know that being different can be good and soon their little feathered friend is saving the day.

Peekaboo!, Taro Gomi.

Through one die-cut hole at eye level, the reader can peek through each funny face using the book as a mask.

Louis the Lion : shapes : an Olive & Moss book, Nina Govan.

Have fun in the sun with Louis the Lion, make some music with Michael the Monkey, drop in for tea with Margot and Mo and meet all the animals with Collette the Cow! Join these four characters on an early-learning journey of colours, shapes, numbers and noises which is rewarding for both parent and child.

Michael the Monkey : noises : an Olive & Moss book, Nina Govan.

Have fun in the sun with Louis the Lion, make some music with Michael the Monkey, drop in for tea with Margot and Mo and meet all the animals with Collette the Cow! Join these four characters on an early-learning journey of colours, shapes, numbers and noises which is rewarding for both parent and child.

The fox in the dark, Alison Green ; illustrated by Deborah Allwright.

Rat-a-tat-tat! Who's afraid of the fox in the dark? Rabbit is! So are Duck, Mouse and Lamb. They all squish into Rabbit's house to hide. But is the fox really as scary as they think?

When lions roar, Robie H. Harris ; pictures by Chris Raschka.

Loud, scary noises frighten a child until quiet and calmness return.

The Wombats go on camp, Roland Harvey.

Meet the Wombats. Naucia's a bit posh, Audrey's a literary genius, Hughie's scared of nothing. Ima loves baking, Ollie's small and fast, and Sardinia does magic tricks. Albert knows everything, Dante's never without his ball, Ava wants to win. Freddie has one eye, Alecia hates everything, and Horrie loves his pet rat (or is it an antechinus?). The Wombats are going on their first camp ever, with their teachers Mrs Nott and Ms Annabel. Join them as they explore, build, cook, perform, climb, jump, scare each other silly and have the time of their lives.

Kia Mataara, e Ngata!, he mea tuhi na Gay Hay ; ko nga whakaahua na Margaret Tolland.

In the New Zealand bush, a native Powelliphanta Snail must escape from a variety of predators, including a possum, a hedgehog and a wild pig. Includes factual information on Powelliphanta and New Zealand wildlife, and an English-to-Māori glossary.

Watch out, snail!, written by Gay Hay ; iIllustrated by Margaret Tolland.

In the New Zealand bush, a native Powelliphanta Snail must escape from a variety of predators, including a possum, a hedgehog and a wild pig.

My lucky birthday, Keiko Kasza.

A surprising twist occurs on Alligator Al's birthday when a tasty-looking piglet knocks on Al's door.

Counting kisses, Karen Katz.

How many kisses does a tired baby need to change her from crying into sleeping?

Mog and Bunny and other stories, Judith Kerr.

Mog's antics have entertained generations of children ever since her first appearance in 1970, making this lovable cat one of the most enduringly popular characters in children's books. The stories included are: Mog and Bunny Mog and the V.E.T. Mog and the Granny.

Animal opposites, Nicola Killen.

This tortoise is slow. This cheetah is fast! These creatures are all very different indeed. Have fun with animal opposites!

Kissed by the moon, Alison Lester.

"May you, my baby, sleep softly at night, and when dawn lights the world, may you wake up to birdsong." Part poem, part lullaby, this gentle story celebrates a baby's wonder at our beautiful world.

Toucan can!, Juliette MacIver and illustrated by Sarah Davis.

Toucan is an amazing bird. He can do the cancan while juggling a frying pan and is just the best dancer there is. Toucan invites you to dance with him and his wacky friends that include two panthers, a kangaroo and a panda.

Ah ha!, Jeff Mack.

With simple repeated text the story follows the ups and downs of a frog's day.

Standing in for Lincoln Green, David Mackintosh.

Lincoln Green has a double, someone who looks just like him - Lincoln's own mother can't tell the difference between him and You Know Who. Which is great for Lincoln Green. He has much more important things to do than tidying up, putting away and sorting out, so they're all going on the list for his trusty stand-in. But it's not long before You Know Who has teamed up with Billy the Kid Next Door, which is a lot more fun than doing things for Lincoln Green, that's for sure. And that's when Lincoln Green finds himself in big trouble!

Winter's child, Angela McAllister ; illustrated by Grahame Baker Smith.

When Tom wishes winter would never end, he meets another boy who shares his love of snow and ice. Playing together every day, Tom hardly notices that spring doesn't come until he realises the terrible effect the delay is having on the countryside and his sick grandma. His friend is Winter's child, and for the seasons to go on the friends must say goodbye until next year.

Elmer and the whales, David McKee.

Elmer and his cousin Wilbur decide to go to the coast to see the whales. But their journey becomes far more of an adventure then they expected, when they find themselves lost at sea. Can the whales help them back to shore?

Hugless Douglas finds a hug, David Melling.

Join Douglas as he hunts for a hug, stretching, waving, clapping and then opening his arms really wide. Now everyone can have a Hugless Douglas hug!

Chick's sick, words by Kyle Mewburn ; pictures by Ali Teo & John O'Reilly.

Another hilarious tale from an award-winning team, this sequel to Duck's Stuck features a sneaky snake who comes along to help the farm animals solve the problem of why Chick can't lay an egg - with surprise results. The Chick who thinks he's sick turns out to be a rooster!

Tumble Ted, Kyle Mewburn ; illustrations Mat Russell.

A story about a family of bears who are all incredibly agile and acrobatic, except Ted. But there is a charming twist at the end when Ted's extra-special talent is revealed.

The tiny king, Taro Miura.

Once upon a time there was a tiny king who lived in a big castle guarded by lots of big soldiers. Every day the Tiny King eats an enormous feast at his big dining table (he can never finish it all), he rides on his big horse (he is so tiny that he's thrown off every time), bathes in his big bath (not much fun), and sleeps, not very well, in his big bed all alone. Everything is just too big, and the Tiny King is sad and lonely. Until one day he meets a big princess and asks her to be his queen. Not long after, they are blessed with children lots of children! Now everything is just the right size.

How to, Julie Morstad.

Explores imaginative and whimsical ways of doing things, such as how to wonder, how to see the breeze, and how to be brave.

Blossom Possum and the Christmas quacker, written by Gina Newton ; illustrated by Christina Booth.

'It was Christmas Eve down under. Koala Claws' last stop for the night. "I'm sooo hot and tired," he thought. "A quick nap will see me right." ' Blossom Possum and her friends try everything they can to wake Koala Claws, but he is fast asleep. Can they save Bush Christmas?

The teddy bear's promise, Diana Noonan ; illustrated by Robyn Belton.

A long time ago,' began Dad, 'a bear met a little boy and, right away, it knew it loved him.' When Dad discovers a mysterious, dusty box in Gran's attic, and brings it home to Max, the scene is set for a poignant and intriguing family tale. What could be inside the box, and why is it so important that Max hear Dad's story before he's allowed to open it?

The swap, Jan Ormerod ; pictures by Andrew Joyner.

Caroline Crocodile's baby brother dribbles but all Mama Crocodile ever says is how gorgeous he is. Caroline is very jealous. So she goes to the Baby Shop and tries to swap her dribbly brother for a new baby. The trouble is, there's something not quite right with any of them.

Do dinosaurs play rugby?, Rita Palmer ; illustrated by Stevie Mahardhika.

Do dinosaurs do everything children do? D.T. dinosaur joins his Kiwi friends as they go through their day.

ABC, text by Sarah Powell.

This unique alphabet book will delight children with textured pages, rhymes to read, and wonderful fingerprint creatures.

Mrs Pepperpot and the blueberries, Alf Proysen, Hilda Offen.

The only thing that Mr Pepperpot wants is a pot of blueberry jam to go on his pancakes, so Mrs Pepperpot storms out to pick the blueberries to make it. But when she is out in the woods she shrinks! There are lots of scary animals: a fox, a wolf and a bear. Will her cunning be enough to get her back home in time to make the jam?

Carnivores, written by Aaron Reynolds ; illustrated by Dan Santat.

A lion, a great white shark, and a timber wolf, all meat-eaters who have been hurt by the cruelty of plant-eaters, form a support group which has limited success until their newest member, a great horned owl, shares some advice.

The smallest gift of Christmas, Peter H. Reynolds.

Disappointed when a gift he wished for all year seems quite puny on Christmas morning, young Roland wishes for bigger and bigger gifts before learning a valuable lesson about being careful what you wish for.

Oliver and his alligator, Paul Schmid.

Nervous about the first day of school, Oliver brings an alligator to school for protection.

Santa! a scanimation picture book, Rufus Butler Seder.

Rhyming text follows Santa Claus as he has fun doing everything from hula-hooping to cartwheeling through the snow. Striped acetate overlays on board pages give illustrations the illusion of movement.

Kei reira nga weriweri, na Maurice Sendak nga korero me nga pikitia ; na Te Tumatakuru O'Connell i whakamaori.

When Max wears his wolf suit and makes mischief, he is sent to bed without his supper but in his room a forest grows and Max sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king.

Kei te kihini o te po, Maurice Sendak ; na Brian Morris i whakamaori.

Mickey's dream tumbles him into the night kitchen where three singing bakers mistake him for milk and put him in their cake batter. After explaining their mistake, Mickey flies to the Milky Way and returns with the missing ingredient.

Dusk, Uri Shulevitz.

Boy with dog and grandfather with beard watch holiday lights turn on in the city.

Slow down, Sidney! a lift-the-flap book for busy toddlers, David Sim.

Sidney is always in a rush! At home and at nursery he keeps getting into a muddle, but finally he finds that sometimes it's good to be speedy! This series is all about negotiating the everyday problems that toddlers encounter, and although they don't always get it right, the appealing characters in these books have lots of fun and learn a bit about life along the way.

Happy birthday!, text, Dawn Sirett ; special photography, Dave King.

Baby Touch and Feel Happy Birthday, allows children to touch and learn about this happy day with a sparkly cake, a furry birthday teddy, glittering balloons, and special birthday surprise! Sturdy pages with rounded corners means Baby Touch and Feel Happy Birthday will provide hours of enjoyment.

Numbers, text, Dawn Sirett ; special photography, Dave King.

You can introduce your baby to numbers with touch and feel textures. Get to know how numbers feel with Baby Touch and Feel Numbers, let them touch and learn about numbers one to ten with a cuddly dog, furry cats, shiny fire engines, fuzzy ducklings and more!

My merry Christmas, Rosie Smith & Bruce Whatley.

Whether big or small, feathered or furry, everyone loves coming together at Christmas! When Christmas comes we hang stockings and sing carols, what about you? Beautifully illustrated with delightful animals, My Merry Christmas captures the fun of coming together at Christmas time.

Old truck, text by Jennifer Somervell ; illustrated by Margery Fern.

The old family truck is unreliable, and Dad decides to buy a replacement. The old truck languishes in the shed - until brother John comes home, and decides to do it up so it is as good as new again. Based on a true story, old truck is a 1921 Model 10 Republic which really did spend many happy years carting hay and children on the family farm, Silodale, in Kopua, Hawkes Bay.

Too small for my big bed, Amber Stewart, Layn Marlow.

Piper is a little tiger cub whose daily dilemma will be familiar to toddlers everywhere. During the day he wants to be brave and fearless, he wants to do everything all by himself. But as bedtime approaches, Piper doesn't want to be brave, he wants to feel Mummy by his side. So every night he pads over to Mummy's bed.

Robot rumpus, Sean Taylor, Ross Collins.

When Mum and Dad go out for the evening they think they've left their daughter in safe hands with robots designed to get her to bed! There's Cook-bot to make great spaghetti for dinner, Clean-bot to do the washing-up, Wash-bot for bath time and even Book-bot for a bedtime story. What could possibly go wrong?

Clumsy duck, Britta Teckentrup.

Poor Clumsy Duck! Not a day goes by without her stumbling, tripping, or falling over her huge webbed feet. But with the help of her special friend Little Chick, Clumsy Duck discovers exactly what those big feet are good for and what a fabulous swimmer she is.

Outfoxed, Mike Twohy.

Fox breaks into a henhouse to steal a chicken for dinner but grabs Duck instead, a clever fowl that pretends to be a dog.

The great poo war, Coral Vass, Lee Wildish.

When a bird flying above plops on Little Pukeko's head, he declares war: the ground-dwelling birds against the flying birds. The plovers, the parakeets, the cockatoos, the cuckoos, the blackbirds and the bluebirds and many others join in, and soon every bird is covered in slop! Who can put an end to this poo war?

That's not my duck, written by Fiona Watt ; illustrated by Rachel Wells.

Simple, repetitive text helps children to associate the adjectives with the sensation of touching the tactile patches. Illustrated in Rachel Wells' typical, bold style.

A swim in the sea, Sue Whiting, Meredith Thomas.

Bruno was too excited for his jam toast. Today was his Big Day. Today, Bruno was going for a swim. A swim in the sea the big blue sea. But will he be brave enough?

This little piggy went dancing, Margaret Wild and Deborah Niland.

The little pigs we know so well from the familiar nursery rhyme now do all sorts of unexpected things and the ones who stay home or have none are not forlorn or missing out! Keep your eye on your favourite piggy as it tries out different activities throughout the book.

Upside down babies, Jeanne Willis, Adrian Reynolds.

Once when the world tipped upside down, the earth went blue and the sky went brown. All the baby animals tumbled out of bed and ended up with very funny mums instead.

Baby Bear counts one, Ashley Wolff.

Before curling up with his mother in their cozy den, Baby Bear counts other animals preparing for winter.

Three little owls, illustrated by] Quentin Blake ; story by Emanuele Luzzati ; text by John Yeoman.

Three irrepressible little owls take us on their journey round the world, from one Christmas Day to the next - fishing, dancing, snoozing, and NOT behaving. Blake's delightful drawings combine with this fantastical poetic treat to create a story that young and old will enjoy reading again and again.

How do dinosaurs say I'm mad?, Jane Yolen ; illustrated by Mark Teague.

Illustrations and rhyming text explore some of the things that dinosaurs might do when they are angry - and how they should control their tempers.

Younger Fiction

Puffin New Zealand children's treasury : ten best-loved stories from favourite Kiwi authors

Elsie and Riddle and the search for answers, Janet Slater Bottin.

Elsie is a very unusual chicken who is intensely curious about the world from the moment she hatches. Soon though, she's banished from the chicken run and, with the help of her friend Riddle, sets out on an expedition to find answers to all of her questions.

Year of the jungle, Suzanne Collins ; illustrated by James Proimos.

Suzy spends her year in first grade waiting for her father, who is serving in Vietnam, and when the postcards stop coming she worries that he will never make it home.

Paula Danziger's Amber Brown is on the move, written by Bruce Coville and Elizabeth Levy ; illustrations by Anthony Lewis.

Now that Amber's mom and Max are married, the family is moving to a new house, and Amber is worried about more than just packing. How can she leave the only home she's ever known?

Ling & Ting share a birthday, Grace Lin.

Identical twins Ling and Ting celebrate their birthday by sharing gifts and making wishes.

More stories from the Billabong, retold by James Vance Marshall ; illustrated by Francis Firebrace.

How did turtle get his shell? Why do young koalas cling to their mothers' backs? How was the mighty Murray River created? Ten witty retellings of legends from the Yorta Yorta people to delight readers of all ages.

Amelia Bedelia road trip!, Herman Parish ; pictures by Lynne Avril.

Fun and fiascoes ensue when young Amelia Bedelia and her parents take a road trip through their state.

Mrs. Noodlekugel and four blind mice, Daniel Pinkwater ; illustrated by Adam Stower.

When Mrs. Noodlekugel's four mice make a terrible mess with cookie crumbs at tea, she decides to take them on the bus to visit the eye doctor and invites Nick and Maxine to come along!

Mr. Putter & Tabby drop the ball, Cynthia Rylant ; illustrated by Arthur Howard.

Mr. Putter and his cat Tabby take time off from napping to play on the Yankee Doodle Dandies baseball

The rules of summer, Shaun Tan.

Rules of summer is a deceptively simple story about two boys, one older and one younger, and the kind of rules that might govern any relationship between close friends or siblings, rules that are often so strange or arbitrary they seem impossible to understand from the outside. Through each exquisite illustration of this nearly wordless narrative we can enjoy wandering around an emotional landscape that is oddly familiar to us all.

The selfish giant, Oscar Wilde ; illustrated and abridged by Alexis Deacon.

The Selfish Giant has a beautiful garden, but he won't let any of the children play in it. Winter comes and never leaves, until the power of love brings Spring and joy into the Giant's garden and his heart.