New Titles Children’s January 2014 (arrived in December 2013)

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

Audio Visual

Babysitters beware (DVD), written and directed by Douglas Horn.

Danny is the perfect kid; the only problem is that he doesn't have the perfect parents. Desperate to spend more time with his busy mom and dad, Danny and his friend Marco devise a plan to get him placed on the infamous no-sit list, a list of kids that are so bad no babysitter will take them. But the stakes are raised when Danny is babysat by ex-prison guard Santiago. To break Santiago and finally spend more time with his family, Danny is going have to start getting really good at being very bad.

One magic Christmas (DVD), directed by Phillip Borsos.

A young mother rediscovers the joy and beauty of Christmas, thanks to the unshakable faith of her six-year-old daughter, Abbie, and Gideon, the mother's very own guardian angel.

Sophie (DVD), directed by Leif Bristow.

A teenage girl abandons her dreams of becoming a world-renowned ballet dancer in favor of rescuing her best friend - a 5 ton elephant named Sheba - from the circus. Yet despite Sophie's determination to get Sheba back home to the family zoo, the teen begins having second thoughts about her plan when a reporter points out that the elephant might be happier back in Africa. Later, after striking up a romance with a kindhearted young trapeze artist named Blake, Sophie begins to realise that sometimes doing what is best for the ones we love requires making a substantial personal sacrifice.

Super buddies (DVD), director, Robert Vince.

An ordinary day at Fernfield Farms turns extraordinary when Budderball, Mudbud, B-Dawg, Buddha and Rosebud discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power. Before you can say, 'Buddies, assemble,' the pups unleash their amazing abilities and race to the rescue when a shape-shifting bully from outer space threatens the planet. But can they succeed in kicking major tail without revealing their new secret identities?

Margaret Mahy's rumbustifications. 2 (DVD), director, producer Yvonne MacKay.

Horrakapotchkin! It's Margaret Mahy! An entertainer in every sense of the word, her stories are the kind that send giggles around classrooms, and capture the spirit of childhood in a very rare and special way. Titles include enchanting Mahy classics; A Lion in the Meadow, The Great White Man-Eating Shark, The Witch in the Cherry Tree and many of her poems; cautionary tales, upside down/inside out rhymes and fandandical ballads galore!

Dear Dracula (DVD).

Unwilling to wait until Christmas so he can write to Santa, a young horror film fan writes to Count Dracula on Halloween and discovers the Count isn't the scary monster he used to be. The fan makes it his mission to help Dracula regain his mojo and learn to scare again.

101 children's classics [sound recording],

Circus of fleas [sound recording].

Go Santa go! [sound recording], the Wiggles.

Ring the bells, it's Christmas time! The happiest band in the land, The Wiggles, have joined with the happiest man in the land Santa Claus (played by entertainment legend Bert Newton with the dazzling Patti Newton as Mrs. Claus), to deliver The Wiggles' best ever Christmas songs and story. Go Santa Go! has The Wiggles helping Santa get the presents ready for Christmas Eve, but Lachy's invention turns Santa's elves from tiny helpers to football player-sized helpers (Jay Laga'aia, and real football stars Lote Tuqiri and Joel Reddy). With traditional Christmas carols and fun new songs, Go Santa Go! is the most fun you'll have since Santa first grew his beard!

The mighty sky [sound recording], Beth Nielsen Chapman and Rocky Alvey.

Dora the Explorer. Dora's Halloween parade (DVD).

"Happy Halloween. Celebrate with Dora, Boots and Little Monster in two nighttime Halloween adventures and then join Dora for a backback and musical parade too!"--Container insert.

Dragons. Riders of Berk, Part 1 (DVD).

Eleven episodes from the animated adventure series based on the children's novel by Cressida Cowell. Hiccup discovers that the uneasy truce between the Berkians and the dragons is in danger of breaking down. In order to improve matters, Stoic the Vast sets about creating the Berk Dragon Academy, where young Berkians can safely learn everything they need to know about their fire-breathing friends

Elmo's alphabet challenge (DVD).

Are you up for a challenge? An Alphabet Challenge? Join Sesame Street friends Elmo, Abby and Telly on an amazing learning adventure! Abby is excited to show her friends her new Fairy Fly Pad, a magical tablet loaded with cool games. But with a simple tap they get trapped inside the video game world of A. B. C-more, a mischievous elf obsessed with the alphabet. In order to get back to Sesame Street, the friends must defeat A. B. C-more in different video game alphabet challenges. Kids will love to play along and learn letter recognition and sounds in a fun and entertaining way.

iCarly. iGo One Direction (DVD).

The iCarly crew score a special performance by chart-topping boy band One Direction! But when Carly accidentally gets one of them sick, will the show go on? Then, join the gang as they discover the perks of being in a band themselves, reminisce about their time in Bushwell Plaza, celebrate Halfoween, and more!

I'm a monster (DVD),

Meet mermaids, dragons, witches, ogres and more as they introduce us to their world. These monsters will tell us all sorts of facts about themselves - where they came from, how they became famous and how they feel about their fame.

Joe & Jack. Best of friends (DVD).

"Meet Joe and his best friend Jack, who happens to be a cat. When these two are together their imaginations run wild! A bunch of sticks are transformed into a top secret spy headquarters, a cardboard box becomes a space rocket and their garden becomes a jungle. Come and join the fun with Joe and Jack!"--Container.

Rated A for awesome. Club detention (DVD).

What's the one thing that strikes dread in the hearts of kids everywhere? It's BLAH! Caught looking doofy at a school dance? Stuck with the world's most boring teacher? You can bet Blah's behind it. But, hope is not lost! Enter five best buds with a mission: to fight against blah using all their powers of AWESOMISATION! So what AWESOMIZING? Its souping up detention and turning it into Club D the HOTTEST spot in school, building robots to do your yard work, or super-growing a chest hair to attract a cute girl at school. Of course, with Team Awesome chances are incredibly good that the robo-gardeners will become sentient and try to trim down the whole town, or that the chest hair will mutate, go rogue and kidnap the girl in question.

Rated A for awesome. Lazy monkey mornings (DVD).

What's the one thing that strikes dread in the hearts of kids everywhere? It's BLAH! Caught looking doofy at a school dance? Stuck with the world's most boring teacher? You can bet Blah's behind it. But, hope is not lost! Enter five best buds with a mission: to fight against blah using all their powers of AWESOMISATION! So what AWESOMIZING? Its supercharging the towns lame merry-go-round, or slowing down time to make those summer days at the beach longer. Of course, with Team Awesomes chances, its likely the merry-go-rounds hyper-speed mod will cause Thera and Chet - to switch personalities, or they'll realize that best friends can drive you crazy when you spend too much time together.

Shaun the Sheep. Mission inboxible (DVD).

Shaun, the world's favourite Sheep, returns with a brand new series of rollicking misadventures. After a summer of competing in their own sporting extravaganza, Shaun and the Flock return, along with Shaun's best mate, the ever faithful Bitzer, the Farmer, and all the Mossybottom Farm favourites in these all new episodes. In these episodes Shaun and the Flock leap into action to save their barn, Shaun comes up with an ingenious disguise to retrieve his lost ball, and Bitzer's nose for bones leads to a startling discovery!

SpongeBob SquarePants (DVD) : the complete eighth season.

Join SpongeBob, his dimwitted but staunchly loyal best friend Patrick, and all the other Bikini Bottom gang as they go on adventures.

SpongeBob SquarePants. Extreme kah-rah-tay (DVD).

Viewers will join SpongeBob Squarepants and his friends on karate adventures in eight hilarious and action- packed new episodes of the popular Nickelodeon show. Viewers will see Sandy's sensei, an extreme sports team, a frozen competition, world record challenges, SpongeBob's driving skills, and lots of karate!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Ultimate showdown (DVD).

"Prepare for nonstop Ninja action as the Turtles go from escaping the mind control of a parasitic wasp to escaping a Kraang detention facility, leading up to their biggest showdown in a 2-part finale you won't want to miss!"--Container insert.

The Smurfs Halloween special (DVD).

Six spooky episodes from the Smurfs cartoon show.

The Smurfs. The legend of Smurfy Hollow (DVD).

When Brainy Smurf is favoured to win the annual Smurfberry Hunt for the ninth year in a row, Gutsy Smurf sets out to discover how Brainy wins every year. Gutsy's investigation takes him into spooky Smurfy Hollow-and right into Gargamel's trap! Can Brainy and Gutsy, with the help of Smurfette, put aside their rivalry before Gargamel captures them-or worse, they come face-to-face with the legendary ghost, the Headless Horseman?

Tickety toc. The unpoppable bubble (DVD).

"Inside an old clock shop is a wall full of clocks. And right in the middle is one very special clock. This is the Tickety Toc Clock. As every hour passes, it springs in to life to chime in the time. It all happens as regular as clockwork! But chiming the time isn't as easy as it seems! For behind the face of the Tickety Toc Clock lies an extraordinary world where things don't always run so smoothly."--Container.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Best of Daizy! (DVD).

"Join Wubbzy's best friend Daizy in 6 spunky and fun-filled episodes, plus one bonus episode for extra fairy tale fun! Watch Daizy as she moves in next door to Wubbzy, grows her own flower-shaped house from a seed, opens a pet salon, battles leaf-blower windstorms and becomes Wubbzy's sidekick Flower Power. Share in the kooky adventures of Wuzzleburg as Daizy, Wubbzy and friends learn the positive values of honesty, tolerance, fairness and cooperation"--Container insert.

Call me Drog [sound recording], Sue Cowing

Unless eleven-year-old Parker can find a way to remove the sinister puppet that refuses to leave his hand, he will wind up in military school or worse but first he must stand up for himself to his best friend Wren, his mother, and his nearly-absent father.

Spooks. I am Grimalkin [sound recording], Joseph Delaney.

Grimalkin has made it her ambition to destroy the Fiend, avenging the murder of her son. Having grudgingly joined forces with the Spook and his apprentice, Tom, and assisted them in the binding of the Fiend, she is now on the run.

The storm begins [sound recording], Damian Dibben.

Imagine if you lost your parents - not just in place, but in time. Jake Djones' mum and dad have gone missing and they could be anywhere in the world - at any time in history. Because the Djones family have an astonishing secret, which for years they've managed to keep - even from each other. They belong to the History Keepers: a secret society which travels through the centuries to prevent evil enemies from meddling with History itself. In the quest to find his parents, Jake is whisked from 21st Century London to 19th century France, the headquarters of the mysterious History Keepers, where he discovers the truth about his family's disappearance - and the diabolical Prince Zeldt's plan to destroy the world as we know it...

Lilliput [sound recording], Sam Gayton.

'Have you heard of the tale that's short and tall? There's an island in the world where everything is small!' She is a girl three inches tall with eyes like drops of dew. Her clothes are cut from handkerchiefs and stitched with spider silk. For half of her life, she has been trapped in a birdcage while her giant kidnapper sits beside her, writing a leather-bound book the size of a house. Her name is Lily, and tonight she is escaping. She is going home. To Lilliput. Inspired by "Gulliver's Travels", "Lilliput" is an exhilarating adventure filled with cunning escape plans, evil clockmakers and very talkative parrots. Join Lily as she travels over rooftops, down chimneys and into chocolate shops on a journey to find the one place in the world where she belongs. Home.

Mascot madness! [sound recording], Andy Griffiths.

It's sports day for Henry McThrottle's class, and they're up again at the horrendous, and apparently invincible, Northwest West Academy - How can they possibly stand any chance of winning? But their teacher dons a giant banana suit and starts dancing around like a lunatic, the whole school goes mascot mad! A brilliantly funny story about teamwork and self-belief from the anarchical Andy Griffiths, best-selling author of "The Day My Bum Went Psycho".

Zombie bums from Uranus [sound recording], Andy Griffiths.

Aided by little more than a squeezy bottle of tomato sauce, a rudimentary grasp of the hokey pokey and three of the oldest bum-fighters on the planet, Zack and his bum are fighting to protect the Earth against an invasion of some of the smelliest and most dangerous bums ever to pollute the universe.

Uncovered [sound recording], Paul Jennings.

Nine stories that you would never dream of.

How I survived bullies, broccoli, and Snake Hill [sound recording], James Patterson [and Chris Tebbetts].

When Rafe Khatchadorian is sent to Camp Wannamorra, he teams up with his bunk mates to fend off the more "popular" kids' plans to ruin their summer.

Mariah Mundi and the ghost diamonds [sound recording], G.P. Taylor.

There is never a dull moment for Mariah Mundi living in the Prince Regent Hotel. But catastrophe strikes when three eminent visitors spontaneously combust at a hotel party. Just a freak of nature or a cleverly plotted murder?

The teenage years [sound recording], Jamie Thomson.

Thirteen-year-old schoolboy, Dirk Lloyd, has a dark secret - in fact he is a dark secret. Dirk - according to his own account - is the earthly incarnation of a Dark Lord, supreme ruler of the Darklands and leader of great armies of orcs and warriors, intent on destruction and bloody devastation. Following a colossal final battle between the forces of good and evil, the Dark Lord was defeated and hurled by his arch-foe's spells into the Pit of Uttermost Despair. At the bottom of the Pit lies...a supermarket car park in the municipal town of Whiteshields, somewhere in modern day England. And when he is found, and tries to explain that he is the Dark Lord, people think he means Dirk Lloyd. The fact that he's trapped in the puny body of a schoolboy doesn't help. And so begins Dirk's battle to recover his dignity, his power, and his lands...Along the way he faces the inconvenience of being fostered by a do-gooding family, the Purejoies; the torture of endless hours of drudgery at the Whiteshields Brainwashing Centre (aka school); a vengeful Headmaster; two interfering Psychotic Persecutors (psychotherapists); and constant laughter and disrespect when he attempts to marshall his lackeys and lickspittles (friends) to do what he wants them to. Dirk makes friends with the son of his foster family, Christopher, and the local Goth Girl, Sooz, and together they attempt to cast a spell that will transport Dirk back to his homeland. Inevitably, not everything goes to plan...But that's for book 2.

Demon dentist [sound recording], David Walliams.

Darkness had come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find... a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow. Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it...?

The ice skating wish [sound recording] : &, The swimming gala wish, Phoebe Bright.

Otter chaos! [sound recording], Michael Broad.

The otterly bonkers Brown family are hugely excited, as today's the day they move to their new home. But when they get there they find the beastly Black family have got there first. This riverbank isn't big enough for the both of them, so there's only one thing for it: war. Well, not real war. Otters are more into playing than fighting, so instead they decide to hold a giant sports day - and may the best otters win. Whether that's the Browns or the Blacks, only time will tell, but one thing's for sure, it's bound to be otter chaos!

Three pickled herrings [sound recording], Sally Gardner.

When fairies are suspected of meddling with people's luck, Wings & Co find themselves with three mysteries on their hands.

My super sister and the birthday party [sound recording], Gwyneth Rees.

Emma and Saffie are going to stay with their grandparents for the summer to learn how to use their superpowers. Grandma has powers too, but Grandpa doesn't, and he definitely doesn't like the gnomes doing the gardening, or the washing-up doing itself - he'd rather play with his model aeroplanes. As the summer passes, the girls are having lots of fun - Emma brings a whole doll's house to life (and even learns to bake tiny cakes in the kitchen), but all Saffie wants is to cheer up Grandpa - so she decides to throw him the best party ever. What could possibly go wrong?

Scary show [sound recording], A.B. Saddlewick.

When Maud decides to learn advanced sorcery for the talent show, she can't control her spells. Now Maud has to work out how to do reverse magic - before the whole school guesses her Monstrous secret!

Looking for bear [sound recording], Holly Webb.

Ben and Cassie have just moved into a new home, but it's not quite what they expected as they have to share a room until the builders have finished doing it up. And Dad is very busy too. There's a lot more on his plate now Mum doesn't live with them. But that's OK. Ben and Cassie can make their own fun. Are the builders really pirates? Just working on the house while they wait for the tides to change? And is there really a bear living in the garden? Maybe they could catch him...

The missing kitten [sound recording], Holly Webb.

Scarlett is excited to be moving to the countryside, especially as it means she will finally get a pet. She chooses Bootle, a ginger kitten with four white socks, and the two of them become inseparable. Then Scarlett has to start at her new school... Bootle tries following Scarlett to school each day. But when there's a downpour, he gets lost. How will Scarlett ever be able to find him when she has no idea where he could be?

Into Reading

Even Droids need friends, written by Simon Beecroft.

Get little Star Wars' fans reading with this new Pre-Level 1 DK Reader, Star Wars Even Droids Need Friends! In Star Wars Even Droids Need Friends, you'll learn all about the greatest friendships across the galaxy, from R2-D2 and C-3PO on Tatooine to Han Solo and Chewbacca aboard the Millenium Falcon. Every one needs friends, even in outer space! Star Wars Even Droids Need Friends is a Pre-Level 1 reader from DK. These books are great for children beginning to learn how to read, featuring picture word strips, a picture glossary, and a simple index. The winning combination of popular cult subject Star Wars and an engaging story packed full of exciting images is perfect for getting children hooked on reading.

Twit : the owl who wasn't wise, Steve Cole ; illustrated by Jane Porter.

Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing and reading together. A red Early Reader is the next step on your reading journey. Twit is a raggedy little owl whose brothers love to play tricks on him. It gets him into all sorts of trouble! But that all changes when Twit meets Norma, a clever little vole. All of a sudden, Twit's brothers had better watch out Norma and Twit might just have a trick of their own to play.

Hens go on holiday, Carolyn Collis.

The country hens go looking for a place for a holiday. They find home is the best place.

Hungry mice, Carolyn Collis.

The hungry mice go in search for some cheese.

Ladybird finds a rainbow, Carolyn Collis.

Ladybird searches in the garden for each colour of the rainbow.

Ladybird finds shapes, Carolyn Collis.

Ladybird finds shapes in the garden.

Ladybirds find opposites, Carolyn Collis.

The Ladybirds are finding opposites in the garden.

Ladybirds find two of a kind, Carolyn Collis.

Ladybirds find pairs of objects.

Let's weave a scarf, Carolyn Collis.

The bears look at colours from the beach. What colours will they weave into a scarf?

Mice count, Carolyn Collis.

Count the mice from ten to one and see what they do for fun.

Oscar gets dressed, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar is choosing clothes to go outside on a cold day.

Oscar in autumn, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at changes in autumn.

Oscar in spring, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at changes in Spring.

Oscar in summer, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at changes in summer.

Oscar in winter, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at changes in winter.

Oscar looks at birds, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at birds by the sea, in the bush, on the farm, by the pond and in the garden.

Oscar looks at colours, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at the colour around him.

Oscar looks at the farm, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar visits animals on the farm.

Oscar looks at toys, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at toys to play with.

Oscar looks at weather, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at what is happening in different weather.

Oscar looks in the garden, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar looks at bugs in his garden.

Oscar visits the beach, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar gets what is needed for a sandcastle.

Oscar visits the bees, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar gets all the raw ingredients he needs to make a honey sandwich including honeycomb, cream to make butter, and wheat to make bread.

Oscar's Christmas, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar is busy making ways to celebrate Christmas.

Oscar's story, Carolyn Collis.

The story of an old teddy bear who was about to take on many adventures.

Thank you, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar is thankful for what he sees, hears, smells, tastes and feels.

The trolley, Carolyn Collis.

The bears build a trolley. What tools will they need?

Where is my bone?, Carolyn Collis.

Cat is hiding Pup's bone. Who will help Pup?

Blue ribbon day, Catherine Hapka ; pictures by Anne Kennedy.

Going to the county fair to help Jill's mom prepare the ponies for a driving class competition, Jill, Meg, and Annie enjoy the displays and festivities before running into rival Ben, who makes them doubt their skills.

Pony party, Catherine Hapka ; pictures by Anne Kennedy.

When Jill's mom asks the Pony Scouts to help her run a pony party for a little girl's birthday, Meg, Jill, and Annie can't wait to help! After all, any girl who is having a pony party must share the Pony Scouts' love for all things horses. But when the Pony Scouts arrive at the party, they see that the birthday girl is the only one at the party who is not interested in riding the horses! How could this be? The Pony Scouts will find out!

The new pony, Catherine Hapka ; pictures by Anne Kennedy.

The Pony Scouts are becoming better at riding with every lesson. But just when they think they've seen it all, a new horse arrives on Jill's farm - one who hasn't been ridden before! Taffy is a beautiful palomino pony that needs Jill's help. With a little patience and a lot of love, Jill and the Pony Scouts will make Taffy a member of the family.

Splat the Cat. Blow, snow, blow, based on the bestselling books by Rob Scotton ; cover art by Rick Farley ; text by Amy Hsu Lin ; interior illustrations by Robert Eberz.

Looking forward to having fun in the snow with his friends, Splat the Cat decides he cannot wait for the snow to start falling and takes matters into his own paws with hilarious results, in a story complemented by skill-building phonics components.

Darth Swindle's secrets, written by Scarlett O'Hara.

Introduces readers to the world of Angry Birds and Star Wars.

Path to the pork side, written by Scarlett O'Hara.

Angry Birds' Star Wars' Path to the Pork Side is a brand new book introducing readers to the world of Angry Birds and Star Wars.

Are Ewoks scared of Stormtroopers?, written by Catherine Saunders.

Get little Star Wars' fans reading with this new Level 1 DK Reader, Star Wars Are Ewoks Scared of Stormtroopers? In Star Wars Are Ewoks Scared of Stormtroopers? you'll meet the Ewoks that live on the forest moon of Endor, they may be small, but they have a lot to fight for. Featuring battles and match ups across the galaxy like Yoda vs Dooku, Anakin vs droid control ship, and Ewoks vs stormtroopers, this reader shows you that sometimes, size matters not! Star Wars Are Ewoks Scared of Stormtroopers? is a Level 1 Reader from DK. These books are great for children who are beginning to read - exciting stories with limited vocabulary and lots of word repetition to engage young fans and build their literary skills. The winning combination of popular cult subject Star Wars and an engaging story packed full of exciting images is perfect for getting children hooked on reading.

Secret valentine, Wong Herbert Yee.

After getting a fluttery feeling while helping Mouse make valentines for each of their friends, Mole sends her a series of notes and gifts, signing them "your secret valentine."

Non-Fiction

Ripley's believe it or not! 2014.

Presents a collection of strange facts and coincidences about animals and human beings in the worlds of science, art, and entertainment.

Aliens and UFOs, Lori Hile.

Learn what scientists and other experts think that unidentified flying objects could be.

I'm good at ICT what job can I get?, Richard Spilsbury.

The different careers that lead on from an interest or aptitude in a particular subject are explored. Many occupations are examined looking at what the job involves and the special skills that are needed.

Let's start the music : programming in primary grades, Amy Brown.

Witches, Terry Deary ; illustrated by Mike Phillips.

Witches reveals the truth behind pointy hats and black cats, and other idiotic ideas about witchcraft. Full of foul facts, including which magic word was used to zap zits, why people were paid to prick a witch and much, much more. It's everything you need to know about witches all the gore and more!

Witches and warlocks : a book of monstrous beings from the dark side of myths and legends around the world, illustrated by David West and written by Anita Ganeri.

Discover the mythical world of witches and warlocks: find out how to recognise a witch, know what to expect when you hear a banshee and discover who communicates with the dead!

Chin up, Charlie : be brave, Sarah Eason.

This title explores the story of one child who faces dilemmas about different social situations, the choices he or she makes and the consequences of those choices.

Come clean, Carlos : tell the truth, Sarah Eason.

This title explores the story of one child who faces dilemmas about different social situations, the choices he or she makes and the consequences of those choices.

Don't play dirty, Gertie! : be fair, Sarah Eason ; [illustrations by Ailie Busby].

This title explores the story of one child who faces dilemmas about different social situations, the choices he or she makes and the consequences of those choices.

Hand it over, Harry : don't steal, Sarah Eason.

This title explores the story of one child who faces dilemmas about different social situations, the choices he or she makes and the consequences of those choices.

I'm good at media what job can I get?, Richard Spilsbury.

Do you know what job you want to do? Thinking about what you enjoy most at school can help you work out which career path to follow, as the skills required for media are transferable to many different careers.

Weird jobs, Michael J. Rosen and Ben Kassoy ; illustrations by Pat Sandy.

Sniffing armpits. Scuba diving for golf balls. Building secret passageways. For some lucky people, these strange tasks are all in a day's work. Want to learn about the men and women who destroy old buildings or make movie sound effects? Discover a range of weird jobs from around the world!

Problem solving : supporting problem solving skills in young learners, written by Margaret Martin ; edited by Sally Featherstone.

Problem Solving is one of the key thinking skills and is vital for successful learning. This book will help you to understand the importance of developing a problem solving approach and what you can do to develop young children's problem solving skills. It shows how problem solving activities and discussions can happen everywhere in a setting, helping children to use their critical thinking skills in problems and challenges relevant to their interests and their stage of development.

Singing times tables : songs, raps and games for teaching the times tables. Book 1, Helen MacGregor & Stephen Chadwick.

Singing Times Tables Book 1 by Helen MacGregor and Stephen Chadwick uses rhythmic rapping and vibrant vocals to transform learning the times tables whether it's rote learning, applying calculations or testing them.

Strange foods, Michael J. Rosen and Ben Kassoy ; illustrations by Doug Jones.

Describes unusual foods from around the world, from bird's nest soup to salty licorice to yak butter.

Hans Andersen's fairy tales, translated by Brian Alderson ; illustrated by Michael Foreman.

This splendid collection of best-loved stories from Hans Christian Andersen includes 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Ugly Duckling' and 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier'. Michael Foreman's haunting colour illustrations are charged with Andersen's essential magic.

The blue fairy book, Andrew Lang.

Once upon a time there lived a king who was deeply in love with a princess, but she could not marry anyone, because she was under an enchantment. So the King set out to seek a fairy, and asked what he could do to win the Princess's love. The Blue Fairy Book includes wonderful renditions of the old favourites such as Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel, as well as some intriguing fairy tales that modern audiences have yet to discover such as Why the Sea is Salt, Prince Hyacinth and The Dear Little Princess.

Princess tales : once upon a time in rhyme with seek-and-find pictures, adapted by Grace Maccarone ; illustrated by Gail de Marcken.

Once Upon A Time: A princess danced, a princess dreamed, another found a pea. One kissed a frog, one saved a bird, another crossed the sea. One ate an apple, one tamed a beast, one lost a satin shoe. In this title, ten princess stories are retold ranging from Cinderella to Sleeping Beauty, The Princess and the Pea to Snow White.

Michael Hague's read-to-me book of fairy tales, retold by Allison Grace MacDonald ; illustrated by Michael Hague.

An illustrated treasury of favorite fairy tales, adapted for reading aloud to very young children, includes such classics as "Little Red Riding Hood," "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Frog Prince."

Treasury of Egyptian mythology : classic stories of gods, goddesses, monsters & mortals, Donna Jo Napoli ; illustrations by Christina Balit.

An illustrated tableau of Egyptian myths, combines narrative accounts of the stories of the Sun God Ra, the Sphinx, and numerous pharaohs and queens along with historical, cultural, and geographic facts.

Chinese fables : "The Dragon Slayer" and other timeless tales of wisdom, Shiho S. Nunes ; illustrated by Lak-Khee Tay-Audouard.

An illustrated retelling of nineteen fables and tales from China, each of which features a nugget of ancient folk wisdom and introduces aspects of traditional Chinese culture and lore.

The red fairy book, Andrew Lang.

Be transported to a land full of marvels and magic: a world of enchanted forests and isolated castles; of giants, fairies and trolls; of treasure, music and promise. Andrew Lang's fairy books helped to lay the foundation for our continuing fascination with fairy tales as entertainment and cultural objects. Each fairy book is a veritable treasure trove of stories for children and adults alike. The Red Fairy Book is republished here with a stunning red jacket, accompanied throughout by the original illustrations.

Aesop's fables, adapted by Michael Rosen ; illustrations by Talleen Hacikyan.

In this collection of thirteen classic fables, Michael Rosen passes on the wisdom of Aesop in a unique and appealing way. Modern humorous retellings of such favourites as Town Mouse & Country Mouse, The Fox & the Crow, and The Frog & the Bull are vividly brought to life by Talleen Hacikyan's lively and vibrant artwork.

The Snow Queen : a retelling of the fairy tale, Hans Christian Andersen ; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.

The strength of a little girl's love enables her to overcome many obstacles and free a boy from the Snow Queen's spell.

The three little pigs, illustrated by Emily Bolam.

Retells the story of the three little pigs who leave home to find their fortune, only to meet up with the big bad wolf.

The crocodile and the scorpion, Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley.

Based on the classic fable, a crocodile and a scorpion attempt to cross a river without giving in to their natural instincts.

Marc Brown's playtime rhymes : a treasury for families to learn and play together.

A lively collection of the artist's 20 favorite read-and-play-along finger rhymes complements such entries as "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" and "I'm a Little Teapot" with pictorial instructions for correlating finger movements.

My Mother Goose : a collection of favorite rhymes, songs, and concepts, David McPhail.

An illustrated collection of nursery rhymes and songs, interspersed with concept pages on such themes as "going places" and "colors and shapes".

The silver moon : lullabies and cradle songs, poems by Jack Prelutsky ; illustrated by Jui Ishida.

Twenty original lullabies to hasten children to sleep and inspire readers of all ages to dream dreams of wonder and infinite delight. Features music composed by Jack Prelutsky for four of the lullabies, with music for the rest available online.

I'm good at English what job can I get?, Richard Spilsbury.

The different careers that lead on from an interest or aptitude in a particular subject are explored. Many occupations are examined looking at what the job involves and the special skills that are needed.

Faitau i Samoa, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar is in Samoa. He will find groups of objects and count from one to ten.

I'm good at science what job can I get?, Richard Spilsbury.

The different careers that lead on from an interest or aptitude in a particular subject are explored. Many occupations are examined looking at what the job involves and the special skills that are needed.

Let's do mental maths for ages 10-11, written by Andrew Brodie.

Each book in this exciting new series contains more than 800 mental maths questions specially devised to boost children's confidence by providing plenty of practice of all the key aspects of the national curriculum. The structure of each test follows the same pattern but the questions get progressively more difficult as children work their way through the book. Tips provided by 'Digit' the dog and word puzzles in the form of 'Andrew Brodie Brain Booster' boxes provide extra elements to support children's learning and challenge them further. Fun stickers featuring Digit the dog for every page make sure children are rewarded for their efforts!

Fly Guy presents space, Tedd Arnold.

During a visit to a space museum, Fly Guy and Buzz learn all about planets, space crafts, space suits, and even dirty snowballs.

Things that float and things that don't, David A. Adler ; illustrated by Anna Raff.

An apple floats in a tub of water, but a ball of aluminum foil sinks to the bottom. But wait. If that same ball of foil is flattened out and shaped into a boat, it floats! How can that be? David A. Adler's clear, concise text and Anna Raff's delightful illustrations explain the basic principles of flotation and density in a way that will really sink in.

Volcano rising, Elizabeth Rusch ; illustrated by Susan Swan.

Discusses volcanoes, describing what happens when they erupt, and highlighting eruptions throughout history.

First big book of the ocean, Catherine D. Hughes.

National Geographic Kids First Big Book of the Ocean is an adorable animal reference that includes the sea's high-interest animals, such as dolphins, sharks, sea otters, and penguins, and introduces kids to some of its lesser-known creatures. More than 100 charming animal photos illustrate the profiles, with facts about the creatures' sizes, diets, homes, and more. This book will quickly become a favorite at storytime, bedtime, and any other time.

Tracking Tyrannosaurs : meet T. rex's fascinating family, from tiny terrors to feathered giants, Christopher Sloan ; art by Xing Lida and Liu Yi ; introduction by Xu Xing and Philip Currie.

This book will highlight a newly discovered T. rex relative in China with a coat of downy feathers! This one-ton predator is the largest known animal to ever have walked the Earth. This discovery was made public in April 2012, and is a timely addition that sets this book apart from other dinosaur titles. We'll meet 19 kinds of tyrannosaurs including seven new species discovered in the last two years that came before T. rex. The names are strange, like Bistahieversor and Zhuchengtyrannus. The creatures were strange, too, and many of the newly discovered ones caught scientists by surprise.

The animal book : a collection of the fastest, fiercest, toughest, cleverest, shyest and most surprising animals on earth, Steve Jenkins.

Shares facts on over three hundred animals and offers a brief overview of the history of life on Earth. Dance with a blue-footed booby, or stare down an eyelash viper. But mind your step-- in the animal world, the name of the game is survival.

Best foot forward : exploring feet, flippers, and claws, Ingo Arndt ; translated by J. Alison James.

Whose foot is this? An intriguing close-up of an animal's foot piques curiosity that's satisfied on the following page with a stunning full-size photo of the animal itself and a brief description of how the foot is used. A tiger stalks its prey on velvet paws. A gecko's ribbed feet enable it to climb walls as smooth as glass. The guessing-game format makes learning about natural adaptation fun. Includes an index of all animals illustrated.

Hide-and-seek science : animal camouflage, Emma Stevenson.

Shows how animals use camouflage in seven different ecosystems by asking the reader to find all the animals in each ecosystem.

Lifetime : the amazing numbers in animal lives, Lola M. Schaefer ; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal.

A counting primer that combines contrasting illustrations with animal facts, inviting young children to count a woodpecker's 30 roosting holes, a giraffe's 200 spots, and 1000 baby seahorses.

Ultimate bugopedia : the most complete bug reference ever, Darlyne Murawski & Nancy Honovich.

Welcome to the hidden world of the most popular bugs on Earth. Opening the beautiful and accessible pages of this book is like turning over a series of stones under which you'll find a fascinating array of the world's coolest creepy-crawlies. This fully photographic book profiles bugs, beetles, wasps, bees, ants, caterpillars, butterflies, dragonflies, spiders, flies, crickets and grasshoppers, and centipedes and millipedes. These profiles are accompanied by Did You Know? facts and fast facts including scientific name, size, diet, and habitat.

The case of the vanishing honey bees : a scientific mystery, Sandra Markle.

Honeybees are a crucial part of our food chain. As they gather nectar from flowers to make sweet honey, these bees also play an important role in pollination, helping some plants produce fruit. But large numbers of honeybees are disappearing every year and no one knows why. In this real-life science mystery,scientists and beekeepers are working to answer these questions and save the world's honeybees before it's too late.

Slithery snakes, Roxie Munro.

The snakes in this book are slithery, and maybe a little scary. But they're also beautiful! Slithery Snakes offers clues about these creepy creatures and gives you an up-close look at their amazing skin patterns. Do you know which kind of snake is named after an article of clothing men once wore to hold up their socks? Or which snake has venom twice as lethal as a rattlesnake's? Guess, and then turn the page to find out!

Eight dolphins of Katrina : a true tale of survival, written by Janet Wyman Coleman ; illustrated by Yan Nascimbene.

Recounts the true story of eight bottlenose dolphins and their trainers who survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Growing up for boys, Alex Frith and Felicity Brooks ; illustrated by Kate Sutton.

This book prepares boys for what to expect from puberty and offers advice on what they can do to cope with the physical, psychological and emotional changes and stay happy and confident as they go through their early teens. Guides young teenagers through this exciting and sometimes daunting stage as they start taking full responsibility for many aspects of their own lives for the first time.

Odd medical cures, Michael J. Rosen and Ben Kassoy ; illustrations by Pat Sandy.

Find out about odd medical cures of past and present!

Bizarre vehicles, Michael J. Rosen and Ben Kassoy ; illustrated by Pat Sandy.

A bicycle-like device with a donut-shaped frame. Combination stilts and pogo sticks. Your own personal jetpack. What do these things have in common? They're all actual vehicles. Read about a variety of strange forms of transportation in this fun and fascinating book.

Machines on the road, Sian Smith.

This book uses simple text and labeled photographs to examine a wide range of cool machines used on the road, revealing how each machine solves a particular problem. Machines covered include bicycles, motorbikes, cars, trucks, fire engines, bin lorries, maintenance vehicles, and more!

Pedal it! : how bicycles are changing the world, Michelle Mulder.

Pedal It! celebrates the humble bicycle from the very first boneshakers to the sleek racing bikes of today, from handlebars to spokes to gear sprockets and shows you why and how bikes can make the world a better place.

All about cats and kittens : fun facts and tips about your pets, written by Anita Ganeri.

Everything you ever wanted to know about cats in a fun and accessible format. Beautifully illustrated and packed with facts including a cat's likes and dislikes, how to care for your very own cat or kitten, famous cats and kittens through the ages, and much more.

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 felinefriend. This is a readers first step to many years of happiness with their pet cat.

All about rabbits and other small animals : fun facts and tips about your pets, written by Anita Ganeri.

Everything you ever wanted to know about small animals in a fun and accessible format. Beautifully illustrated and packed with facts including your pet's likes and dislikes, how to care for your very own pet and much more. The perfect pocket-money purchase for any child who loves animals. Buying this book helps the RSPCA save animal's lives.

Brilliant braids, beads & bows : 25 fantastic hairstyles that you can create yourself, Jacki Wadeson.

Features 25 hairstyles that you can create yourself. Suitable for 7- to 11-year-olds, this book covers everything from a perfect ponytail to bouncy bunches. It shows you how to add wonderful waves and ripples to your hair without the need for hot crimping irons. It also includes simple instructions and over 300 photographs.

LEGO minifigure year by year : a visual history, written by Gregory Farshtey with Daniel Lipkowitz.

The ultimate visual history, packed with fantastic photographs and profiles of more than 2,000 minifigures and other LEGO characters, facts and statistics about villains and heroes, and much, much more.

Cool city, Sean Kenney.

Learn how to make city scenes from LEGOs with the help of Sean Kenney, a LEGO-certified professional.

I'm good at art what job can I get?, Richard Spilsbury.

Do you know what job you want to do? Thinking about what you enjoy most at school can help you work out which career path to follow, as the skills required for art are transferable to many different careers.

Crazy buildings, Michael J. Rosen and Ben Kassoy ; illustrations by Doug Jones.

Learn about the many loopy landmarks that wild builders have put together such as a dog-shaped bed-and-breakfast, a house built like a shoe, and two towers that look like they're dancing.

Go : a Kidd's guide to graphic design, Chip Kidd.

Kids love to express themselves, and are designers by nature - whether making posters for school, deciding what to hang in their rooms, or creating personalized notebook covers. Go, by the award-winning graphic designer Chip Kidd, is a stunning introduction to the ways in which a designer communicates his or her ideas to the world. It's written and designed just for those curious kids, not to mention their savvy parents, who want to learn the secret of how to make things dynamic and interesting.

How to make small things with Violet Mackerel, Anna Branford ; illustrations by Sarah Davis ; photography by Cath Muscat.

Packed full of crafty ideas and lots of thinking outside the square! All of the fun and small things Violet shows you how to make can easily be made with things you have at home!

10 minute crafts for spring, Annalees Lim.

Using readily available, seasonally related materials, this series is an ideal and fun introduction to the season for young children. The crafts are explained in easy to follow step-by-step instructions, and are perfect for teachers looking for original ideas as well as time-poor parents.

Animals, Rita Storey.

Fun and engaging arts and crafts ideas centring on children's interests.

Kids make Christmas : over 40 kids' craft projects for Christmas, Pia Deges.

Pia Deges has used a rainbow of colours to create this fun collection of 40 unique Christmas projects. From tree decorations and games to pretty gifts and delicious cookies, the projects cover a wide range of different crafts.

The wheels on the bus and other songs, Play School.

The perfect addition to every child's library, this delightful picture book features ten popular children's songs, such as The Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald Had a Farm. With bright, colourful pictures of all your favourite Play School toys, this fun collection will have your child happily singing along!

Unbored : the essential field guide to serious fun : indoors, outdoors, online, offline, Joshua Glenn & Elizabeth Foy Larsen ; design by Tony Leone ; illustrations by Mister Reusch & Heather Kasunick ; chapter lettering by Chris Piascik.

What an amazing book. It can pretty much do everything except the washing up! I don't even know where to start it's a book about everything, a compendium of joy and entertainment, teaching kids as well as adults skills, tricks and games, as well as useful life advice. it does exactly what it says on the cover you'll never be bored again. Waterstones.com

Where in the world is Bob? : can you find street cat Bob on his adventures around the world?, James Bowen and Garry Jenkins ; illustrated by Steve Wiltshire.

Find Street Cat Bob and his friend James hidden in the illustrations of all the countries they visit. Look for Bob at a cat temple in Japan or on safari in South Africa, as well as other world destinations in this perfect gift for any of his fans.

Where's Santa around the world?, Louis Shea.

Santa is off on a well-deserved holiday around the world! But he is being followed by Nat, the World's Naughtiest Child, who is trying to steal his naughty-and-nice list. Can you find Santa first or will Naughty Nat manage to track him down and get her hands on the magic list? If she succeeds no one's Christmas presents will be safe! Follow Santa from Australia to New York and everywhere in between on his around-the-world holiday. Each stop has a unique list of extra funny things to find including a pink pony, Egyptian mummies, the three musketeers, dragons, rubber duckies, French poodles, fish and chips, and much more!

The world of Angry birds : official guide, written by Cavan Scott ; illustrations by Ilias Arahovitis.

Welcome to Piggy Island, home to the Angry Birds, Bad Piggies and the mysterious Mighty Eagle. In this Official Guide to the World of Angry Birds, Mighty Eagle takes you on a tour of the magical island, introducing you to all the heroes, villains and places. Featuring interviews with the Birds and the Pigs, a history of famous feud and the stories behind Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Space.

Wacky sports, Michael J. Rosen and Ben Kassoy ; illustrations by Doug Jones.

Introduces a range of entertaining and unusual sports from around the world, such as chess boxing and watermelon skiing.

Dirty Bertie : my joke book, David Roberts ; compiled by Amanda Li.

A compilation of jokes which are favourites of the fictional character, Dirty Bertie.

The night before Christmas, illustrations by Holly Hobbie ; poem by Clement C. Moore.

Presents an interpretation of Clement C. Moore's timeless classic that renders the story in retro-style watercolors while introducing a wide-eyed child character who heightens the wonders of the magical evening.

I am a poetato : an A-Z of poems about people, pets and other creatures, John Hegley.

This is a very funny, witty, zany collection for children, which will also appeal to the author's adult fans. It has all the John Hegley comic hallmarks, including references to wearing glasses, Luton, and dogs (being superior to cats)! The poems are arranged alphabetically by title, with family pets and other animals featuring strongly, from a mos-quito and ants, through wise camels, goldfish and guillemots to Toby the armadillo from Peru and not forgetting the unusual unicorn in school.

Poems from the First World War, selected by Gaby Morgan.

A collection of poetry from the First World War, published in association with Imperial War Museums to mark the centenary of the start of the World War I.

Lanu i Samoa, Carolyn Collis.

What colours can the birds find when they look at the flowers in Samoa?

Foliga o mea i Samoa, Carolyn Collis.

Pup is in Samoa. Find shapes in the market, by the sea and in the villages.

Meaai i Samoa, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar is in Samoa. Oscar looks at food in the villages and markets of Upolu and Savaii.

Tele feau i Samoa, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar is in Samoa. Everyone is busy fishing, carrying, weaving, making music or at school.

I'm good at history what job can I get?, Kelly Davis.

Do you know what job you want to do? Thinking about what you enjoy most at school can help you work out which career path to follow, as the skills required for history are transferable to many different careers.

I'm good at geography what job can I get?, Kelly Davis.

Do you know what job you want to do? Thinking about what you enjoy most at school can help you work out which career path to follow, as the skills required for geography are transferable to many different careers.

Maps, Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski.

Tony Robinson's weird world of wonders. World War I, illustrated by Del Thorpe.

Everything you need to know about World War I!

A photographic view of World War One, [Alex Woolf].

Photographs from The National Archives will show what life was like during World War One. What were conditions like in the trenches, what did they eat and what fighting strategies did they follow.

Brothers at war : a First World War family history, Sarah Ridley with help from Eliza.

At the turn of the 20th century four brothers were born to the Baker family, Lionel, Arthur, Maurice and Harold. Over a hundred years later Eliza, one of Arthur Baker's great-grandchildren, and her mother, Sarah, decided to find out about these ancestors. They delved into the past to uncover for themselves the story of Lionel, Arthur and Maurice during the First World War. Using letters sent from the Western Front, a diary written in a prisoner of war camp and other documentary evidence, Eliza and Sarah uncover their fascinating family history of the First World War.

The story of the Second World War, Paul Dowswell ; designed by Tom Lalonde, Sam Barrett & Will Dawes ; illustrated by Ian McNee ; edited by Jane Chisholm ; managing designer, Stephen Moncrieff ; consultant, Terry Charman.

A fascinating account of the most destructive conflict the world has ever known, published in association with the Imperial War Museums. Looks at the causes of the war, its great battles and catastrophes, as well as how the war affected nations and people all over the world. Pages are brought to life through vivid illustrations and original photographs, as well as timelines, maps and fact boxes.

Holland, Charlotte Dematons.

Holland a land full of surprises, strange traditions, free-spirited people and a rich history.

Pakistan, Andrew Langley.

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. Each title in Countries in our World is a mine of useful information ideal for school and project work.

Sudan, Ali Brownlie Bojang.

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. Each title in Countries in our World is a mine of useful information ideal for school and project work.

Wat de ezel zag : of, De zeven eerste woorden van Jezus, Frank Adam ; illustraties, Klaas Verplancke.

De hele erge Ellie en nare Nellie, Rindert Kromhout ; met illustraties van Annemarie van Haeringen.

Het boek van alle dingen, Guus Kuijer ; met tekeningen van Peter-Paul Rauwerda.

Kleine Sofie en Lange Wapper, Els Pelgrom & The Tjong-Khing.

Alors?, Kitty Crowther.

Poka & Mine au cinema, Kitty Crowther.

Le non, Claude Ponti.

Older Fiction

Because of Mr. Terupt, Rob Buyea.

Seven fifth-graders at Snow Hill School in Connecticut relate how their lives are changed for the better by "rookie teacher" Mr. Terupt.

Magic marks the spot, Caroline Carlson ; illustrations by Dave Phillips.

When Hilary Westfield escapes Miss Pim's finishing school to join a misfit pirate crew, she embarks on an unexpectedly magical swashbuckling, plank-walking, searfaring journey.

Catch your death, Lauren Child.

Everyone's favourite kid detective is back for a third mind-blowing instalment, packed with all the off-the-wall humour, action and friendship of the first two books. This time, tigers are roaming the streets of Twinford, and it looks like someone has deliberately released some very rare and very dangerous animals. Things are going to get wild and Ruby is going to get badly lost in the wilderness. The question is: will she ever make it out alive? Well, as always, you wouldn't want to bet against her.

The lost journals of Benjamin Tooth, Mackenzie Crook.

Presents the recently discovered journals of Benjamin Tooth: alchemist, inventor and discoverer of the Windvale sprites, that chronicle his journey of scientific discovery from pompous boy to mad old man in his pursuit of the sprites on Windvale Moor. The sprites hold the key to eternal life, and Tooth is determined to capture it.

Attack of the cupids : a Muddle & Win mission, John Dickinson.

An uneasy truce is being held between Sally's devil, Muddlespot, and her angel, Windleberry. But then the cupids attack. For once, Muddle and Win are in agreement: cupids mean Trouble. They both know that when True Love is involved, things aren't simply black or white they're horribly, confusingly pink! Sure enough, a heart-tipped golden arrow makes Sally's sister Billie fall for Tony, the hottest, and most off-limits, boy in school. War breaks out at Darlington High, and as usual it's up to Sally to put things right. But can she undo the damage without getting caught in the crossfire?

The ransom of Dond, Siobhan Dowd ; illustrated by Pam Smy.

Siobhan Dowd gave us four extraordinary novels before she died in 2007. This is her last story, a final gift to those who know and love her work, and a glittering invitation to those who have yet to discover it. Siobhan draws us irresistibly into Darra's tiny emerald island world, lashed by white-tipped waves, at the mercy of the dark god, Dond. Only the truth and a mother's kiss can set them free. This is a tale to be treasured, a haunting tale of love and fate and truth. Pam Smy's beautiful two-colour drawings announce her as a leading children's illustrator and the astonishing blend of words and pictures takes us all into that timeless world of story. The Ransom of Dond comes to us like a gift from the past.

The sound of your voice, only really far away, Frances O'Roark Dowell.

Best friends Marylin and Kate compete for limited school resources when Kate helps her boyfriend seek funding for the Audio Lab, while Marylin covers her interest in the student body president by claiming she only wants his support for new cheerleading uniforms.

The Shadowhand covenant, Brian Farrey ; illustrated by Brett Helquist.

Twelve-year-old Jaxter Grimjinx finds himself caught in a conspiracy when he is tapped for a mission by the notorious clan of thieves known as the Shadowhands.

Blackberry Blue and other fairy tales, Jamila Gavin ; illustrated by Richard Collingridge.

Features six magical stories. In this title, you can watch Blackberry Blue rise from the bramble patch; follow Emeka the pathfinder on his mission to save a lost king; join Princess Desire as she gallops across the Milky Way on her jet-black horse. It is suitable for readers of all ages.

The Grimm conclusion : a companion to A tale dark & Grimm, Adam Gidwitz.

Sister and brother Jorinda and Joringel fight to keep their promise to stay together throughout a new series of gruesome, twisted, Grimm-inspired stories.

Words with wings, Nikki Grimes.

Gabby daydreams to tune out her parents' arguments, but when her parents divorce and she begins a new school, daydreaming gets her into trouble. Her mother scolds her for it, her teacher keeps telling her to pay attention, and the other kids tease her until she finds a friend who also daydreams and her teacher decides to work a daydreaming-writing session into every school day. With a notebook "thick with daydreams," Gabby grows more confident about herself and her future. This verse novel poignantly celebrates the power of writing and the inspiration a good teacher can deliver.

The great trouble : a mystery of London, the blue death, and a boy called Eel, Deborah Hopkinson.

Eel, an orphan, and his best friend Florrie must help Dr. John Snow prove that cholera is spread through water, and not poisonous air, when an epidemic sweeps across their London neighborhood in 1854.

Thunder rising, Erin Hunter.

The cats from the mountains completed their journey and have settled in the forest at the end of the sun trail. But tensions have reached a breaking point and a young cat named Thunder is caught helplessly in the middle.

Hard luck, Jeff Kinney.

Greg Heffley's on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg's life destined to be just another hard-luck story?

Duke, Kirby Larson.

In 1944 Hobie Hanson's father is flying B-24s in Europe, so Hobie decides to donate his beloved German shepherd, Duke, to Dogs for Defense in the hope that it will help end the war sooner but when he learns that Duke is being trained for combat he is shocked, frightened and determined to get his dog back.

Sunny Sweet is so not sorry, Jennifer Ann Mann ; illustrated by Jana Christy.

Follows eleven-year-old Masha and her "evil genius" little sister, Sunny, through one very adventurous day, as Masha faces scary situations, meets new people, and gains new insight into life with her hardworking, single mother.

Secrets at the chocolate mansion : a Maggie Brooklyn mystery, Leslie Margolis.

Maggie Brooklyn is distracted from solving the mystery of who is out to sabotage the new sweet shop in the neighborhood because her new dogsitting job has her and her twin brother Finn spending time in what may be a real haunted mansion.

Lucy at sea, Barbara Mariconda.

Lucy travels to Australia in her magical house-turned-ship to find her long-lost Aunt Pru and solve the mystery of the curse on her family.

The long way home : the second generation, Ann M. Martin.

Dana is Abby and Zander's daughter, but growing up in New York City in the late nineteen fifties is not always easy, especially when you would like your own room separate from your twin sister and when your beloved father dies and you are forced to move things just get worse.

Wake up missing, Kate Messner.

After a concussion that effects her balance, memory, and other abilities, twelve-year-old Kat goes to I-Can, the "Miracle Clinic in the Swamp," where she joins forces with other patients to expose plot that endangers them all.

River singers, Tom Moorhouse ; illustrated by Simon Mendez.

Four small water voles are about to embark upon a long and perilous journey along the Great River, but will they ever find a safe place to call home?

Of lions and unicorns : a lifetime of tales from the master storyteller, Michael Morpurgo with illustrations by Peter Bailey ... [et al.].

Divided into five parts covering war, animals, memory, the sea and folk tales this timeless treasury spans the whole of Michael Morpurgo's glittering literary career. Each of the five parts also features a full page illustration by the illustrators Michael has worked most closely with in the course of his writing life: Michael Foreman, Quentin Blake, Christian Birmingham, Emma Chichester-Clark and Peter Bailey.

Behind enemy lines, Jennifer A. Nielsen.

World War II is raging across Europe and the Axis and Allied powers are in a stalemate. Dak, Sera, and Riq can tip the scales in the Allies' favor if they can pull off the most daring spy mission of all time. But even if they succeed, are they playing into the SQ's hands?

The first dragon, written and illustrated by James A. Owen.

To save the world, the new generation of caretakers must find the First Dragon and restore the lost lands of the Archipelago before it's too late.

Extra special treats ( ... not), Liz Pichon.

It's really cold outside and we're all hoping it's going to snow. Yeah! Derek and I could make a snow Rooster and have a snowball fight (look out, Delia!). Granny Mavis has started to knit me a new winter jumper, but by the looks of things I'm not sure it's going to fit.

Phantom horse in danger, Christine Pullein-Thompson ; illustrated by Eric Rowe.

Grail of stars, Katherine Roberts.

Rhianna Pendragon's quest comes to its shattering conclusion in the final instalment of the Pendragon Legacy quartet. Rhianna and her friends must search for the final magical Light the elusive Grail of Stars and harness its power to help return her father's soul to its body.

Precious and the mystery of the missing lion, Alexander McCall Smith ; illustrated by Iain McIntosh.

Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies' Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here, in this delightful, new, enchanting tale for children, we see how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love! Find out as Alexander McCall Smith tells the story of in another adventure featuring Precious Ramotswe.

The dark secret, Tui T. Sutherland.

When Starflight, one of the dragonets of destiny, is kidnapped by the NightWings he finds that the kingdom of his birth is a miserable place, full of terrible secrets and that, with his fellow dragonets too far away to help, the fate of two kingdoms rests in his talons.

Einstein the class hamster, Janet Tashjian ; illustrated by Jake Tashjian.

Einstein, a very knowledgeable hamster, is desperate to help the students in his classroom win an audition for a televised trivia game show but, unfortunately, only one student, Ned, can hear him.

The real boy, Anne Ursu ; drawings by Erin McGuire.

On an island on the edge of an immense sea there is a city, a forest, and a boy. The city is called Asteri, a perfect city that was saved by the magic woven into its walls from a devastating plague that swept through the world over a hundred years before. The forest is called the Barrow, a vast wood of ancient trees that encircles the city and feeds the earth with magic. And the boy is called Oscar, a shop boy for the most powerful magician in the Barrow.

Demon dentist, David Walliams ; illustrated by Tony Ross.

Make your appointment if you dare. Darkness had come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow. Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it? Read this book and find out!

Diamond : from the world of Hetty Feather, Jacqueline Wilson ; illustrated by Nick Sharratt.

Diamond wasn't always a star. Born to penniless parents who longed for a strong, healthy son, she was a dainty, delicate daughter and a bitter disappointment. Discovering she has an extraordinary natural gift for acrobatics, Diamond tries to use her talent to earn a few pennies, but simply brings shame on her family. Then a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing on the street, and makes a deal with her father.

The Swiss family Robinson, Johann David Wyss ; illustrated by Scott McKowen.

Relates the fortunes of a shipwrecked family as they imaginatively adapt to life on an island with abundant animal and plant life.

Picture Books

1000 animals, Jessica Greenwell ; illustrated by Nikki Dyson ; designed by Francesca Allen and Hanri van Wyk ; expert advice from Dr. John Rostron and Dr. Margaret Rostron.

This large board book contains one thousand pictures of animals, with their names. Children need to add lots of words to their spoken vocabularly and this fantastic look-and-talk book will provide them with plenty of opportunities to do so. Each double-page spread shows a wonderful array of birds, fish, mammals, dinosaurs and more.

I completely love winter, characters created by Lauren Child.

This really very good Charlie and Lola book includes two wintery stories: Snow is My Favourite and My Best and I Really Need Actual Ice Skates.

Lift and see animals : my first matching book.

Match the animals with the patterns under the flaps on the opposite page. Help to build a child's vocabulary and promote problem-solving skills by matching the pairs.

Lift and see farm : my first matching book.

Enhance hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills by opening the flaps and matching the pairs. Explore the farm animals and learn about farm animal sounds in this interactive board book.

Nga hoa a Eru, na Ross Payne nga pikitia ; na Rangatahi Productions nga korero.

When the bell rings, Eru the dog and his animal friends make their way to the marae.

When I grow up : I want to be, Patrick George.

Your child controls the action in this fun and innovative book! Imagine rummaging in the dressing up box and coming across an eye patch. Put it on and become a pirate. In this book, a simple accessory on the acetate page magically transforms a child into an astronaut, zoo keeper, a superhero. (A boat becomes an eye patch, a paint brush an artist's beret). At such a young age, anything seems possible! Let your imagination flow with this fun, colourful and interactive book. Simple yet deceptively clever!

Little Santa, Jon Agee.

A resident of the North Pole with the ability to slide up and down chimneys meets a flying reindeer and some industrious elves, in this fictional biography of Santa.

Mr. Biff the boxer, Janet & Allan Ahlberg.

Mr Biff and Mr Bop are boxers and deadly rivals too. Mr Bop is fit and lean and Mr Biff... Well, Mr Biff likes a cream cake or two. Will he ever be able to toughen up in time for the annual charity match.

Father Christmas comes up trumps!, Nicholas Allan.

Father Christmas is back, and this time he's had three helping of sprouts! As he tries to deliver the presents, his tummy rumbles, gurgles and groans, but Father Christmas knows he must keep it in he doesn't want to wake anyone up! Will he come up Trumps?

The big-hearted book, Nicholas Allan.

Babette and Bill are joined by a ribbon of hearts. They are always together through thick and thin. But when Babette falls ill, the two friends are parted and they are both broken hearted. Until they discover that even when they can't see the ribbon of hearts it is always there pulling them together.

ABC animal rhymes for you and me, Giles Andreae, David Wojtowycz.

This chunky board book edition of the bestselling ABC Animal Rhymes for You and Me is packed with all your favourite animals. Explore the animal alphabet from angelfish to zebra with these 26 rollicking rhymes from bestselling author Giles Andreae. Award-winning illustrator David Wojtowycz captures each animal in bright, colourful pictures. Learning about the alphabet has never been so much fun!

I love you, Father Christmas, Giles Andreae & Emma Dodd.

I love you, Father Christmas, In your big red suit, With your bright silver buckle And your black shiny boots. The excitement of Christmas is perfectly captured through one little boy's boundless enthusiasm. The joyful rhyme and bold, stylish art make this a must-have book for anyone big or small who can't wait for Father Christmas to set off on his sleigh.

Splat the Cat dreams big, based on the bestselling books by Rob Scotton ; text by Annie Auerbach ; illustrations by Loryn Brantz.

Splat the Cat had a nightmare and is now afraid to go to bed.

Hiding Phil, Eric Barclay.

Three siblings come upon an elephant named Phil and decide to bring him home - and then they have to hide him from their parents.

I can see just fine, Eric Barclay.

Though Paige claims, "I can see just fine," her parents grow concerned and decide it's time for Paige to visit the eye doctor. Paige remains defiant until she finds the perfect frames and more importantly, perfect eyesight.

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs. 3, Planet of the pies, written by Judi Barrett ; drawn by Isidre Mones.

When astronauts land on Mars, their first discovery is a substance not unlike pie filling and Kate and Henry are eager to go taste some, but Grandpa, who may have some inside information, discourages them.

Little big, Jonathan Bentley.

Being little is no good. That's because being big is better. Except when being little is best of all.

A deal's a deal, Stephanie Blake.

Simon and his friend Ferdinand are playing with their cars. Simon has a yellow one, a blue one, and a green one. But when he spots Ferdinand's extraordinary red car, he must have it! And so begin the negotiations... Will someone end up with more than he bargained for?

A, B, sea : a deep sea symphony, Dianna Bonder.

Dianna Bonder's whimsical alphabet picture books have been capturing the hearts and minds of our earliest readers for over 10 years. Now, in this all-new picture book, Dianna illustrates the ocean, capturing the spirit and beauty of sea creatures throughout the world.

Moo! Moo!, illustrations Sebastien Braun.

Five lavishly illustrated spreads, big, recessed flaps and a host of farm animals to spot, name and mimic combine in this delightful little board book for the very young. Who's that in the trees? It's hungry horse! Neigh! Neigh!

Woof! Woof! : with big flaps to lift!, illustrated by Sebastien Braun.

Five lavishly illustrated spreads, big, recessed flaps and a host of farm animals to spot, name and mimic combine in this delightful little board book for the very young.

Walk this world : a celebration of life in a day, illustrations by Lotta Nieminen ; written by Jenny Broom.

A celebration of life in a day. A composite of global cultures, "Walk this World" celebrates the everyday similarities and differences that exist between cultures around the world. Travel to a new country with every turn of the page, each with new surprises to discover: peek through windows, open doors, and delve underground by opening the many flaps on every spread.

Friends, Eric Carle.

This is a new tale of friendship from Eric Carle, author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Once there were two friends who were always together. But one day, the boy was all alone. His friend was gone. The hero of this delightful new story from Eric Carle makes up his mind to find his friend.

Jessica's box, Peter Carnavas.

Jessica's Box is a fabulous first book by Queensland teacher Peter Carnavas. Peter has portrayed with depth the trauma of a child's first day at school and written a witty and warm book about finding new friends.

Mo's mustache, Ben Clanton.

Monster Mo's big, beautiful mustache inspires all of his friends to copy his style by growing fabulous mustaches of their own, leaving Mo to wonder how he will continue to distinguish himself.

Oscar's family is sad : a story about the death of Oscar's aunty, Carolyn Collis.

Oscar's family is sad becuause Mabel has died. Oscar learns everyone has different feelings when someone

Little Red Riding Hood, rewritten by Katie Cotton ; illustrated by Alison Jay.

In this retelling of the ever-popular tale, Little Red Riding Hood goes to visit her grandmother and finds a rather larger, scarier wolf in her bed! After a frightening moment, the wolf is captured by a woodsman and granny is let out of the wardrobe. Young readers can also see the story of Hansel and Gretel being played out solely in pictures in the background, and spot motifs of other fairy tales.

Laika, Owen Davey.

Laika is a homeless stray living on the streets of Moscow when she is picked by the Space Programme to be the first ever animal launched into orbit! But her rocket disappears and everyone thinks Laika is lost forever no one knows what happened to her. Now you'll discover in Owen Davey's imaginative story that Laika was rescued by a loving new owner and found her true home on a planet far, far away.

Colors : think, touch, learn, Xavier Deneux.

This book explores different colours using simple, raised die-cut shapes on a left-hand page mirrored in the scooped-out forms of the right.

Opposites : touch, think, learn, Xavier Deneux.

This book explores the concept of opposites like high-low and day-night using simple, raised die-cut shapes on a left-hand page mirrored in the scooped-out forms of the right.

Animals everywhere : a pop-up adventure, written by Yvonne Deutch ; illustrated by Jonathan Woodward.

From the depths of the ocean to the heart of the jungle, look closely to see more than 100 animals swim, slink, fly, and roam. But, beware the perilous pop-ups.

Foxy in love, Emma Dodd.

Foxy uses his magical tail to help his friend Emily make a Valentine's Day card that reflects all the things she most loves, from birthday cakes and gardens to rainbows and balloons.

Tea party rules, Ame Dyckman ; illustrated by K.G. Campbell.

A bossy little girl makes a bear cub follow all the rules at her tea party before he is allowed to eat any of the

Where is the frog? : a children's book inspired by Claude Monet, Geraldine Elschner, Stephane Girel ; [English translation, Agathe Joly].

A tale inspired by Claude Monet's Water Lilie. A lovely but vain frog, Antoinette engages in increasingly determined antics in her effort to be featured in a famous artist's paintings of a pond in Giverny.

Little Robin's Christmas, Jan Fearnley.

It's a week before Christmas and Little Robin has a warm vest for each frosty day. But he meets seven chilly friends and soon has no vests left for himself. Poor Robin huddles on a roof until Father Christmas comes to the rescue and, as a reward for his kindness, gives Little Robin a red vest to keep forever.

Little Owl's orange scarf : [a warm and witty yarn], Tatyana Feeney.

When Mummy knits a scarf as a surprise Little Owl knows that he definitely doesn't like it. It's itchy, long, and far too orange. After losing his scarf at the zoo, Mummy realises that perhaps Little Owl should be involved in the choice and creation of a replacement. Her instincts are proved absolutely right. But whatever did happen to the orange scarf?

Once Tashi met a dragon, Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg ; pictures by Kim Gamble.

Tashi rides on a white tiger to the top of the mountain to see why the dragon is not sending the rains to his village. No one had ever seen the dragon, but once a year it would send smoke and thunder down the mountain, and soon the rains would follow. Now the skies were always blue, the creeks were drying up and the people were hungry. What was happening up there? When Tashi reaches the dragon's golden palace, he meets an angry young dragon who is upset because his mother is under the spell of a demon sleep and he can't wake her up.

I love you, too!, Michael Foreman.

Little Bear doesn't want to go to sleep, so he tries everything he can think of to distract his father, and in the end it's an exhausted dad who falls

The quayside cat, Toby Forward & Ruth Brown.

Down by the harbour the quayside cat, Jim, comes to talk with Old Tregarn about his days long ago at sea. Inspired by Old Tregarn's tales, Jim longs for his own sea adventure. Before long the two cats have jumped aboard a ship, and so begins Jim's daring adventure at sea.

Alpha block, Christopher Franceschelli ; art by Peskimo.

Alphablock features thick pages cut into the shape of each letter, creating a sort of peek-through guessing game around the letter form itself. As children interact with the pages, they will familiarise themselves not only with the 26 letters and associated words, but also with each letter's physicality angles, holes and curves, both front and back.

Olive and the bad mood, Tor Freeman.

Olive descends into a terrible mood after experiencing a string of back luck and her emotions casts a pall on her friends until something cheers her

Awesome Dawson, Chris Gall.

All his life, Dawson has been inventing things, repairing toys in unusual ways, and helping clean up his neighborhood by reusing discarded objects, but when his Vacu-Maniac malfunctions it is his friend Mooey whose brainpower saves the day.

The first drawing, Mordicai Gerstein.

Thirty thousand years ago, an imaginative child sees the shapes of animals in clouds and on the walls of the cave he shares with his family, but no one else can see them until he makes the world's first drawing. Includes author's note on cave drawings.

Gracie and Josh, Susanne Gervay, Serena Geddes.

Gracie is one of the beautiful characters of this world, as she sings Incy-Wincy dressed in her make-shift spider outfit with its stuffed sausage legs. She works busily finding spider stories for her brother Josh and gets angry at doctors who make Josh take off his beanie. She holds onto her mum as she asks when Josh will come home. Her brother Josh is funny and strong and there for his sister Gracie. Josh is a movie maker and Gracie is a star. Together they make a film that celebrates their relationship and the wonder of every day for every one of us.

I spy pets, Edward Gibbs.

Invites young readers to guess which animal will be revealed using the given clues and a spy hole.

Te mihini iti kowhai, na Betty raua ko Alan Gilderdale ; na Brian Morris i whakamaori.

When little yellow digger gets stuck in the mud, a range of bigger diggers are sent to finish the

Megumi and the bear, Irma Gold ; illustrated by Craig Phillips.

While out looking for fir cones in the forest one morning, little Megumi meets a bear. They quickly become close friends, dancing and playing together every day. Then one afternoon the bear doesn't appear, and although Megumi goes out day after day to wait for him, still he doesn't come.

Me too!, Valeri Gorbachev.

Chipmunk and Bear spend a snowy day together and discover that they like to do all of the same things.

Little Piggy's got no moves, Phillip Gwynne & Eliza McCann, illustrated by Tom Jellett.

Monkey does the moonwalk. Peacock does the cha-cha-cha. But all Little Piggy does is worry. That's because he can't dance at all! But with a little help from his friends, Piggy discovers that there's nothing wrong with dancing to a different beat.

We want a pet!, Richard Hamilton and Lindsey Gardiner.

'We want a pet! We want a pet!' chant the kids. 'No! We will not let you have a pet. We are dead set against a pet!' say the parents. And so the battle lines are drawn can the kids convince the parents? As they lie in the grass watching bugs and beetles, watching little legs and eyes, watching ladybirds, spiders and flies, suddenly they realise these will be their pets!! Complete mayhem follows as the kids bring their gross, slimy, leggy, hairy 'pets' inside.

Trucks, text by Paula Hannigan ; illustrations by Shannon Chandler.

This toddler-friendly board book is all about different kinds of trucks, and it's just the thing for little ones on the go. "Trucks" is a high-octane adventure especially geared for the preschool crowd. As they turn the pages, little truckers will be thrilled seeing monster trucks romping over hapless cars to fire engines performing daring rescues and dump trucks dropping their loads. It's sure to keep readers entertained over the long haul.

Under construction, written by Paula Hannigan ; illustrated by Heather Brown.

Construction zone ahead! With this rough and tumble board book, toddlers will experience the construction of a new building from the ground up. Under Construction lets kids experience construction from the ground up. This little book is packed to the rafters with all of the most recognizable construction equipment. Read along as bulldozers, diggers, and dump trucks all do their part in transforming a dusty pile of rubble into a shiny new toy store, introducing preschoolers to construction signs along the way.

Animal friends, Jim Helmore and Karen Wall.

The hooves of Stripy Horse's picture books comes a new novelty book for babies and toddlers about one soft toy and the adventures he gets up to with his friends.

Off we go! : a Bear and Mole story, Will Hillenbrand.

Bear teaches his friend, Mole, how to ride his bike with no training wheels. After many bumps along the road, they make it to their final destination: the Storymobile.

Little Red writing, Joan Holub ; pictures by Melissa Sweet.

Once upon a time, in pencil school, a brave little red pencil sets out to write an exciting story with nouns and adverbs and everything but first she has to face the ravenous pencil sharpener, the Wolf 3000.

Alfie's Christmas, Shirley Hughes.

Join Alfie and Annie Rose for Christmas! Alfie opens his advent calendar and makes cards and presents. He sings carols and decorates the tree. And he writes a special letter to Father Christmas. But what will Father Christmas bring on Christmas Day? It's going to be such an exciting day.

Wibbly Pig picks a pet, Mick Inkpen.

If you could have any pet at all, what would you choose? Wibbly Pig and Scruffy Pig are worried that Big Pig's sister's friend will choose a really boring rabbit at the pet shop. Surely an elephant, a bear or a dinosaur would be much more exciting?

Old Mikamba had a farm, Rachel Isadora.

The inhabitants of Old Makimba's farm in Africa, including a baboon, an elephant, and a lion, are described, verse by verse. Includes facts about African animals.

Come back, moon, David Kherdian ; illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian.

A sleepless bear hides the moon, much to the displeasure of his forest animal friends who miss dancing under its

Animal noises, Nicola Killen.

All these creatures make different sounds. Can you make these animal noises too?

Animals, Leonie Lagarde.

The dog says, woof, woof! The cat says, miaow, miaow! Little ones will love all the friendly animals in this book! Research suggests that bold, high-contrast black and white images provide visual stimulation and aid learning in newborn babies particularly while their eyesight is still developing. With soft, padded covers, the Baby can see board books are the perfect first book designed for even the smallest baby.

Things that go, Leonie Lagarde.

It's a car. Vroom, vroom! It's a train. Choo, choo! Little ones will love all the noisy vehicles in this book! Research suggests that bold, high-contrast black and white images provide visual stimulation and aid learning in newborn babies particularly while their eyesight is still developing. With soft, padded covers, the baby can see board books are the perfect first book designed for even the smallest baby.

My toys, Leonie Lagarde.

It's a car. Beep, beep! It's a teddy. Kiss, kiss!! Little ones will love all the fun toys in this book! Research suggests that bold, high-contrast black and white images provide visual stimulation and aid learning in newborn babies particularly while their eyesight is still developing. With soft, padded covers, the Baby can see board books are the perfect first book designed for even the smallest baby.

Diggers go, Steve Light.

Come to the construction site and read about the eight construction vehicles that rumble and boom their way through this book.

Never play music right next to the zoo, John Lithgow ; illustrated by Leeza Hernandez.

A concert gets out of hand when the animals at the neighboring zoo storm the stage and play the instruments themselves. Includes a CD comprising a John Lithgow performance of the song.

The best thing about kindergarten, Jennifer Lloyd ; illustrated by Qin Leng.

It's graduation day, and Mrs. Appleby's class tries to answer the question "What's the best thing about kindergarten?" but Mrs. Appleby has a secret answer of her own.

A letter for bear, David Lucas.

Bear is a postman who never gets letters of his own. That changes when he decides to throw a Christmas party.

Snowflakes fall, Patricia MacLachlan, Steven Kellogg.

In this illustrated poem in honor of the victims of the 2012 shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, falling snowflakes celebrate the uniqueness of life, its precious, simple moments, and the strength of memory.

You were the first, Patricia MacLachlan ; illustrated by Stephanie Graegin.

Reminds firstborn children that they will always special even if another child or children follow because they have been the first to do many things, including teaching their mother and father to be parents.

Colour with splosh! : a Splosh the Duck book, David Melling.

This bright, bold board book from the creator of Hugless Douglas is a wonderfully funny introduction to colours for the very young and great to read aloud. Small children will fall in love with Splosh and his adorable fluffy duck friends as they splish and splash around in colourful paints. Can they paint a rainbow?

Rosie to the rescue, story, Kyle Mewburn.

On a New Zealand dairy farm, there is a big problem when the farmer can't get the milk to town because of all the mud after weeks of rain. But Rosie, with a bit of number eight wire thinking plus teamwork from the herd, comes up with a novel solution that keeps everyone happy and gets the milk to town.

How big could your pumpkin grow?, Wendell Minor.

Playing with concepts of size and scale, giant pumpkins decorate some of America's most famous landmarks.

Helping Little Star, Sally Morgan and Blaze Kwaymullina ; illustrated by Sally Morgan.

This is a sweet, strikingly illustrated story of a lost star finding his way home with a little help from his friends. "Do not go near the edge of Night Sky," warns Moon, "or you will fall off." Does Little Star listen? Of course not! He falls down, down, down, splash right into a creek.

Song of the golden hare, Jackie Morris.

A boy and his family have a special relationship with the hares and try to rescue the hares' queen from a hunter with two hounds.

Maia and what matters, Tine Mortier, Kaatje Vermeire ; translated by David Colmer ; [edited by Frith Williams].

Maia is an impatient little scamp. When something pops into her head, she wants it. Now! Right this minute! Her grandma's just the same and they get along like a house on fire. One day Grandma falls ill and loses her control over words. The grown-ups don't seem to understand her, but Maia never loses sigh t of her strong, wonderful grandma and knows exactly what she means.

A single pearl, Donna Jo Napoli ; illustrated by Jim LaMarche.

A simple grain of sand undergoes an inspiring transformation.

Something big, Sylvie Neeman & Ingrid Godon ; translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick.

A big one and a little one talk together. The little one is upset because he wants to do something big even though he is still small. They go for a walk along the beach. There something both surprising and big happens.

Winter is for snow, Robert Neubecker.

A brother and sister help each other learn to appreciate the joys of winter.

The church mice in action, Graham Oakley.

In a bid to save the leaky vestry roof, the church mice decide to raise some money by entering Sampson into a cat show. He soon wins when the mice invoke havoc by winding up all of the other cat contestants. Sampson continues to win show after show, until he is catnapped and held to ransom. It is up to Arthur and Humphrey to save him and outwit the thieves.

Beetle and Bug and the grissel hunt, written by Hiawyn Oram ; illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura.

Beetle and Bug decide to hunt for something that's never been seen the Green-Spotted Grissel! They board their magic rug and fly off fearlessly in search of it. But will their journey take them to where the incredible Green-Spotted Grissel lurks? Beetle and Bug decide to hunt for something that's never been seen the Green-Spotted Grissel! They board their magic rug and fly off fearlessly in search of it. But will their journey take them to where the incredible Green-Spotted Grissel lurks?

The Christmas show, Rebecca Patterson.

It's Christmas and the children have been practising very hard for their nativity play. The narrators are word-perfect, the Important Angel has brushed her hair and the audience are in their seats. But when the curtain rises, no one's expecting a spare shepherd to steal the show.

Christmas, Chez Picthall.

This delightful baby sees books has been specially designed to appeal to young babies.

My friend is a superhero!, Barbara Pike and Philip Patston ; illustrated by Sam Orchard.

Jack may be in a wheelchair, but he has plenty of superhero powers!

Whale shines : an artistic tale, Fiona Robinson.

Encouraged by his sidekicks, the glow-in-the-dark plankton, a self-doubting whale learns that anyone can be an artist and everyone has something unique to contribute.

Bobo the sailor man!, Eileen Rosenthal ; illustrated by Marc Rosenthal.

Willy finds all sorts of interesting things while he and Bobo are exploring, including a bucket that would be a perfect boat for Bobo, but before he knows it, Bobo and the "boat" have disappeared.

Rabbits in the snow : a book of opposites, Natalie Russell.

Little Rabbit and friends are playing in the snow. Rose Rabbit and Grey Rabbit are skating fast and slow. Honey Rabbit and Rust Rabbit are sledging from top to bottom. And Little Rabbit and Brown Rabbit are busy rolling snowballs, one big and one small, ready to make a snowman. But when the sun goes down it's time to say 'goodbye' cold snow, 'hello' hot carrot soup. Kind Little Rabbit has made enough for everyone!

A little bit of oomph!, Barney Saltzberg.

How do you make something ordinary become extraordinary? Put a little oomph into it! Put your heart into everything you do, and everything you do will turn into something beautiful. Is a triumph of paper-engineering that teaches by way of inspiration and surprise. All you need is to add a little oomph to the things you do and a lot of heart.

Eat like a bear, April Pulley Sayre ; illustrated by Steve Jenkins.

Follows a bear from the time she emerges from her den in April after four months without food, through months of eating fish, ants, and huckleberries, to midwinter when the arrival of two cubs interrupts her long winter's rest. Includes facts about brown (grizzly) bears of the Yellowstone National Park/Glacier National Park region.

Richard Scarry's best lowly worm book ever!

During his busy day, Lowly Worm goes to school, helps Postman Pig deliver the mail, flies his applecopter, plays hide-and seek, then goes to bed.

Richard Scarry's best word book ever.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever with this wonderful, fun picture book edition. Join Kathy Bear, Kenny Bear and their Busytown friends to learn lots of everyday words. Illustrated in Scarry's signature style, the book is packed with hundreds of names for objects both familiar and new, grouped by subject, occasion and theme. From colours and numbers to fruit and vegetables to animals, vehicles and so much more, this is a beautifully entertaining way to expand a child's knowledge of the world.

Dee Dee and me, Amy Schwartz.

Tired of the way she is treated by her big sister, Dee Dee, and Dee Dee's friends, a little girl decides to leave home.

Tane Mahuta : lord of the forest, Dennis Scoles ; illustrated by Helen Applegate.

Splat and the cool school trip, Rob Scotton.

When Splat the Cat and his class take a school trip to the zoo, all Splat wants is to see the penguins.

Do you speak English, moon?, Francesca Simon and Ben Cort.

A little boy getting ready for bed looks up at the moon and wonders whether it can speak English as it shines all over the world. He tells the moon about his day it's not lonely falling asleep when you share your day's adventures with the moon.

How many sleeps till Christmas?, written by Mark Sperring ; illustrated by Sebastien Braun.

How Many Sleeps till Christmas? is the perfect festive countdown! This wonderful story by Mark Sperring, and illustrated by Sebastien Braun, is a follow-up to the adorable How Many Sleeps till my Birthday? It's hard to be patient when you're only a very little bear, and Little Pip cannot wait until Christmas! Every day he wakes up and thinks the day has finally come it's driving Daddy Grizzle nuts! Poor Daddy Grizzle and poor Pip! How will he be able to carry on waiting - there are still so many sleeps to go! This is a hilarious and endearing story about patience that every parent will recognise!

Max and the won't go to bed show, Mark Sperring ; illustrated by Sarah Warburton.

A fabulously funny extravaganza conjured up by dynamic duo Mark Sperring and Sarah Warburton. Perfect for bedtime! Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Roll up, roll up, for Max the Magnificent and his world famous show: putting off bedtime for as long as possible! Cheer as he makes a cookie disappear (very slo-o-o-wly)! Gasp as he asks for ten bedtime stories (ye, ten)! Will the show go on all night, or will Max finally go to sleep?

Octopus's garden, Ringo Starr ; illustrated by Ben Cort.

Based on the lyrics of the world famous Beatles song, this glorious picture book follows five children on a magical journey through the Octopus's garden. The playful Octopus takes them on a wondrous underwater adventure riding on the backs of turtles, playing pirates in a sunken city and sheltering from a storm in the octopus's cave. The book comes with an accompanying CD which includes an exclusive reading by Ringo Starr and a never-before-heard version of the song.

The extraordinary Mr Qwerty, Karla Strambini.

Mr Qwerty worries that his ideas might seem strange so he keeps them under his hat. But extraordinary ideas refuse to stay hidden for long.

Belle & Boo and the very merry Christmas, Mandy Sutcliffe.

It's almost Christmas Day. Time to decorate the tree, hang up stockings and bake delicious treats. Boo the bunny thinks the best thing about Christmas is the presents waiting for him under the tree. But, with a little help from his friend Belle, Boo learns that kindness and sharing will also make for the merriest Christmas of all. This delightful tale with vintage-inspired illustrations is perfect for fans of Beatrix Potter and Winnie-the-Pooh.

Winnie's pirate adventure, Valerie Tomas and Korky Paul.

When Winnie and Wilbur arrive at Cousin Cuthbert's party dressed as a pirate and a parrot, they discover a whole crew in fancy dress, eager for excitement on the high seas! Winnie is ready with her magic to whisk her shipmates aboard, but will they be back with the treasure before the party's over?

One, two, three climb!, Carol Thompson.

Small children celebrate the joy of climbing.

One, two, three crawl!, Carol Thompson.

Run, climb, crawl or jump everybody loves to move! Fast or slow, up or down, alone or with our friends! Carol Thompson's exquisite illustrations allow us to share and explore the struggles, achievements and sheer delight of children learning to manage and explore early movement challenges.

One, two, three jump!, Carol Thompson.

Run, climb, crawl or jump everybody loves to move! Fast or slow, up or down, alone or with our friends! Carol Thompson's exquisite illustrations allow us to share and explore the struggles, achievements and sheer delight of children learning to manage and explore early movement challenges.

One, two, three run!, Carol Thompson.

Run, climb, crawl or jump everybody loves to move! Fast or slow, up or down, alone or with our friends! Carol Thompson's exquisite illustrations allow us to share and explore the struggles, achievements and sheer delight of children learning to manage and explore early movement challenges.

Fossil, Bill Thomson.

When a boy and his dog go for a hike, the boy trips on a fossil, and it comes to life, revealing an ancient plant. The boy is so intrigued that he breaks two more fossils that come to life a dragonfly and a pteranodon. When these prehistoric creatures collide with present reality, the boy must figure out a way to make things go back to normal.

David Walliams presents... The slightly annoying elephant, illustrated by Tony Ross.

Number one bestselling author David Walliams presents his first picture book, illustrated by artistic genius Tony Ross. What's big, blue, bossy, and turns up uninvited? A slightly annoying elephant, of course! Introducing a maginficently warm and funny picture book from two remarkable talents.

Mr. Wuffles!, David Wiesner.

Mr. Wuffles ignores all his cat toys but one, which turns out to be a spaceship piloted by small green aliens. When Mr. Wuffles plays rough with the little ship, the aliens must venture into the cat's territory to make emergency repairs.

Penguin in love, Salina Yoon.

When Penguin finds a single mitten in the snow, he decides to search for it's owner. Unbeknown to him, on the other side of the iceberg, Bootsy the penguin is busily knitting away and dreaming of finding her soulmate. When both Penguin and Bootsy's wool goes missing, they join forces to solve the mystery, and as the story unravels they realise that perhaps they have become more than just friends.

Younger Fiction

Welcome home, Christina Booth.

The story of a young boy and a whale as she swims into the river harbour seeking safety and a resolution to the violent past relationship between whales and man. This prosaic journey reveals how the past can impact our future. Can the boy make amends for the past? Can the whale forgive and return to what was once her ancestors' home?

When you were in my tummy, text, Monica Calaf ; illustrations, Mikel Fuentes.

This delightfully illustrated children's book takes a look what happens to a baby and her mother from conception to birth.

Alice in Wonderland, Emma Chichester Clark ; based on the original story by Lewis Carroll.

Step into the magical world of Wonderland in this gloriously illustrated picture book retelling of Lewis Carroll's enduring classic, from the highly-regarded, prize-winning illustrator of Blue Kangaroo and Melrose and Croc.

Roald Dahl's heroes and villains, illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Enjoy four fabulous full-colour stories featuring some of Roald Dahl's most magnificent heroes and monstrous villains: The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, The Twits, George's Marvellous Medicine. In the good corner find inventive George who stands up to his grizzly, grumpy grandma by mixing a potion unlike any other. And meet Mr Muggle-Wump and his family, whose bravery and quick-thinking lead to extraordinary events. In the bad corner Mr and Mrs Twit are the most terrible twosome you could ever have the misfortune to meet. And beware the crafty, child-guzzling crocodile.

A cautionary tail, Erica Harrison ; illustrations from the film directed by Simon Rippingale and produced by Pauline Piper at Rawr Media.

A Cautionary Tail, illustrated with images from the animated short film, is a beautiful, expressive text about difference and acceptance whoever you are and whatever you are like. Born with a wee nub at the base of the spine, as the little girl grows up, so does the nub; into a beautiful, expressive tail.

Beauty and the beast, Ursula Jones, Sarah Gibb.

Enter a world of enchantment with this magical retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Award-winning author Ursula Jones tells the story with elegance and humour, capturing all the magic and excitement of this timeless fairy tale. Illustrated with exquisite style by Sarah Gibb, this is a beautiful book to pore over and cherish.

Tilly and the trouble in the night, Hilary McKay ; illustrated by Kimberley Scott.

A wonderfully warm story about the irrepressible Tilly, from bestselling author Hilary McKay. Tilly's little brother Timmy used to be as good as gold. But now he makes all sorts of chaos during the night and won't go to sleep. It's the fault of his imaginary friend, Naughty Morgan. He's the boss around here now. Can Tilly find out how to tame Morgan before her parents are forced to sell Timmy on Ebay?.

Meeting Cezanne, Michael Morpurgo ; illustrated by Francois Place.

Yannick feels like he is in heaven when he spends a month with his aunt and uncle at their inn in the South of France, until he accidentally destroys a precious drawing left behind by a famous customer.

The goose is getting fat, Michael Morpurgo ; illustrated by Sophie Allsopp.

Gertrude the goose is getting bigger by the day, and Charlie is proud to look after her. But as Christmas approaches, the thought of the grizzly fate awaiting her fills him with sadness. Can he save Gertrude from the Christmas dinner table?

The worst witch and the wishing star, Jill Murphy.

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy is back in an exciting, very funny adventure. In The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star, Mildred, notoriously the worst witch at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, makes a wish on a shooting star and to her great surprise it comes true! But it also spells trouble. Mildred's wish-come-true is a small dog but she has to keep him a secret from her friends, and especially the formidable Miss Hardbroom. It's a disaster waiting to happen and it does!

The adventures of Captain Underpants : now in full color : the first epic novel, Dav Pilkey with color by Jose Garibaldi.

When George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is the superhero Captain Underpants, he leads them to the lair of the nefarious Dr. Diaper, where they must defeat his evil robot henchmen.

Archie and Archie, Ruth Rendell ; illustrated by Madeleine Floyd.

This is a charming story of a cat and a dog who live on the same street for younger readers, from bestselling author Ruth Rendell. Archie the cat and Archie the dog live next door to each other on a street full of feline friends and foes.

Battle Bunny, Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett and Alex ; pictures by Matthew Myers but mostly Alex.

Alex, whose birthday it is, hijacks a story about Birthday Bunny on his special day and turns it into a battle between a supervillain and his enemies in the forest who, in the original story, are simply planning a surprise party.

The unbelievable top secret diary of Pig, Emer Stamp.

Hello. I is Pig. This is my diary. It's super Top Secret, but Duck and me agrees that you needs to read it so you can help us, because we is in a bit of a pickle. I hopes you will be believing what I has written, because Duck says it is unbelievable. But it isn't. It's my life. You will see. Love, Pig.

The secret of the fairies, Geronimo Stilton, Thea Stilton ; illustrations by Giuseppe Facciotto and Barbara Pellizzari ; translated by Emily Clement.

When Thea Stilton travels to Ireland to search for a missing agent, she finds that the whole fantasy Land of Erin is being threatened by earthquakes, and soon Will Mystery and the Thea sisters follow to help her find the secret of the fairies.

The volcano of fire : the fifth adventure in the Kingdom of Fantasy, text by Geronimo Stilton ; translated by Julia Heim ; illustrations by Danilo Barozzi ... [et al.].

After receiving a mysterious message summoning him to a meeting, Geronimo Stilton finds himself back in the Kingdom of Fantasy, summoned by the Elves, who want him to travel to the Great Explanatorium to find an answer to the earthquakes that are threatening the Kingdom.

Henry 1/8th, Dave Woods, Chris Inns.

Young Henry 1/8 is Prince of the Pitch! Henry 1/8 has a goal to captain England in Ye First Worlde Cup! To win, his team of Young Lion Cubs must tackle the Potent Portuguese, the French Strikers, the Dutch Masters and the Smashing Spaniards. Will the pint-sized prince bring football home?