Recreation

New Titles Children’s November 2015 (arrived in October 2015)

Audio Visual

Alpha and Omega, directed by Richard Rich.
Family vacation: Kate and Humphrey take their pups on their first family vacation! The wolves are ready for a relaxing getaway to Alfred Creek Falls; until they discover trappers on their trail. To outwit the trappers and get to safety, Kate and Humphrey will need the help of a wild and wonderful group of animal friends in this unforgettable story of family togetherness.
Barbie in rock 'n royals, directed by Karen J. Lloyd.
Get ready to rock! In this upbeat musical, Barbie stars as Princess Courtney, a modern princess whose world is turned upside down when she switches places with Erika, a famous rockstar. Two very different worlds collide when a mix-up sends Princess Courtney to Camp Pop and Erika, to Camp Royalty. While the leaders of the rival camps try to correct the mix-up, both Courtney and Erika learn to adjust to the different worlds and have fun while making new, unexpected friends. When the girls learn both camps are at risk of shutting down, they must embrace their differences, find their true voices, and come together for an epic sing-off that shows anything is possible when you dare to dream big.
Frog kingdom, directed by Nelson Shin, Melanie Simka.
When the Frog King announces that the winner of the Froglympics will win the hand of his daughter, Princess Froglegs, in marriage, she runs away. Disguised as a commoner, Princess Froglegs befriends street vendor, Freddie, and begins training with him for the games, determined that she will win and thwart her father's plans of marriage. Meanwhile, the villainous Serpent has ideas of his own to ruin the Froglympics and take over the kingdom.
Hocus pocus Alfie Atkins, directed by Torill Kove.
Alfie believes he is big enough to get his own dog since he has started school and is about to turn seven, but his dad still thinks he's too small for such a big responsibility. Alfie does everything he can to convince dad that he is wrong, but it isn't that easy for a little boy who still uses an imaginary friend to solve his problems. Alfie's hope is renewed when he encounters a real-life magician. Maybe he can get a dog through magic, he thinks, and jumps enthusiastically into the fantastic world of magic. But eventually Alfie is forced to acknowledge that real problems can't be solved through magic. When his dream finally comes true in a way he could never have imagined, it almost seems like magic after all.
Paper planes, directed by Robert Connolly.
12 year old Dylan has a passion for everything that flies - and he's about to embark on a quest to make the perfect paper plane. This is a journey that'll take him on adventures far from home and see him competing in the world paper plane championships in Japan.
R.L. Stine's Monsterville. Cabinet of souls, directed by Peter Deluise.
Dare to enter a mysterious realm, where the cost of admission just might be your soul. From the dark imagination of renowned author R.L. Stine. When a travelling Hall of Horrors show arrives in the town of Danvile, the high school friends can't wait to get spooked.
Strange magic, directed by Gary Rydstrom.
A music-filled fairy tale about finding true love in the unlikeliest of places. Features a host of colorful characters, including a princess who has sworn off love, a dubious villain, a slightly nutty Sugar Plum Fairy, a tenacious elf, a mischievous imp, and a knight who is no Prince Charming.
The book of life, directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez.
The journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears.
The hero of Colour City, directed by Frank Gladstone.
Crayons team up to save the day when an unfinished drawing tries to steal all of the world's colour.
Moomins and the comet chase, directed by Maria Lindberg.
One day Moomintroll notices that something strange has happened in the Moomin Valley: everything is grey not just the sky and the river, but the trees, the ground, the Moominhouse, too! This is the way things tend to look like before the earth faces an awful fate coming from the sky a comet! With the help of his father, Moominpappa, Moomintroll and his worried friends build the best raft ever and start on a challenging journey to the observatory. The wise professors there calculate that a ferocious comet will reach the Earth in four days, four hours, four minutes and 44 seconds. Maybe 4 seconds later. It's time to go back home as fast as they can! Will they get everybody back safe in time?
Curious George. 3, Back to the jungle, directed by Phil Weinstein.
Launch into the adventure of a lifetime with everyone's favourite monkey in this all-new movie, Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle! When Curious George is asked to take part in a very important space mission, a little monkeying around forces him to crash-land in Africa.
Lullabies, Petite Music Box.
Splinka Dinka, Janet Channon & Wendy Jensen.
Splinka Dinka diddly dee, dance around the room with me...Join us for more interactive music fun! How does an elephant move differently from a tree frog? Why should we pick up litter? How many penguins are left after four have slipped into the sea? How do you draw a triangle using your shoulder? Through these musical activities children will develop skills in all essential learning areas of physical coordination, language, understanding, visual strength, focused listening, creativity and imagination, socialization and memory.
Emma!, the Wiggles.
Emma's Irish dancing -- Brush your pet's hair -- Ballerina, ballerina -- Galloping ballet -- Emma sings in Italian! -- I've got my glasses on! -- French fun! -- Frere Jacques -- Open, shut them -- I'll tell me Ma when I go home -- The giraffe -- Rock-a-bye your bear ballet -- Michael -- Twinkling star -- I love it when it rains -- ABC -- Stille Nacht -- I like goats -- Emma's country garden -- Emma (with the bow in her hair).
A spring in your step!,
Spring into action with these outdoor adventures from ABC KIDS.
All grown up. Season three.,
Favourite big-kid Rugrats are at it again! Season 3 of All Grown Up is jam-packed with more wacky adventures and even crazier mishaps. Tommy and Dil lose their grandpa at the biggest water park in town, Chuckie becomes obsessed with a role-playing card game, Susie worries about college, the gang faces the curse of Reptar, Lil rises as the star soccer player while Dil copes with being the new mascot, and Angelica must finally learn to treat others kindly. No one is spared from teenage embarrassment, school drama, acne, and worries about the future, but with all the misadventures they encounter while growing up, these friends since diaper days learn that they can't forget their past. Don't suffer the wrath of Reptar, dude! Join Tommy and his best buds on their journey, and learn the ropes of teenage life. Sorta.
Avengers assemble. Bring on the bad guys.,
"And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth's mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Avengers were born - to fight the foes no single super hero could withstand! Avengers Assemble! The Avengers are the most prestigious and powerful Super Hero team in the world, a uniquely hand-picked assemblage of super-beings, adventures and crime fighters devoted to protecting the planet from menaces beyond the scope of conventional authorities".
Avengers assemble. Destroyers.,
And there came a day unlike any other - when Earth's Heroes were united against a common threat! On that day The Avengers were born! To fight the foes no single Hero could withstand! Avengers assemble! They are Marvel's premier Super Heroes, united to battle foes no single Hero could withstand.
Avengers assemble. The cabal.,
And there came a day unlike any other - when Earth's Heroes were united against a common threat! On that day The Avengers were born! To fight the foes no single Hero could withstand! Avengers assemble! They are Marvel's premier Super Heroes, united to battle foes no single Hero could withstand.
Avengers assemble. The new guys.,
"And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth's mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Avengers were born - to fight the foes no single super hero could withstand! Avengers Assemble! The Avengers are the most prestigious and powerful Super Hero team in the world, a uniquely hand-picked assemblage of super-beings, adventures and crime fighters devoted to protecting the planet from menaces beyond the scope of conventional authorities".
Bananas in pyjamas. A bunch of bananas.,
The Bananas start playing with Charlie's new copying machine and end up with more Banana clones then they can count! In other episodes, B1 and B2 look after Rat's shop while Rat is sick, Rat thinks that Space People have landed in Cuddlestown, and the Bananas have something very important to do -- if only they could remember what it is!
Bing. Storytime... and other episodes,
Collection of episodes from the children's animated show following three-year-old bunny Bing and his friends as they experience everyday life. Among his companions are his sidekick Flop, his friends Sula and Pando and his cousins Coco and Charlie.
Bubble Guppies. Animals everywhere!,
The Bubble Guppies are making all kinds of new animal friends - squirrels, ducks, rhinos, elephants and more! Join the class for six fin-tastic field trips that will have you learning about all kinds of animals from around the world!
Dora and friends. Doggie day!,
Dora and her amigos need your help in these 4 magical adventures in Playa Verde! Help them reunite Cusco with his lost puppy brothers in time for Doggie Adoption Day. Plus, save Magic Land, bring music back to Opera Land, and journey to a fairytale puppet world!
Miles from Tomorrowland. Let's rocket!,
Set in outer space, the series is about the adventures of the Callisto family - 7-year-old Miles, big sister Loretta and their scientist parents Phoebe and Leo, who work for the Tomorrowland Transit Authority on a mission to connect the universe.
Mr Bean. Funny faces.,
A hilarious collection of fun celebrating 25 years of Mr Bean's funniest faces in one special package.
PAW patrol. Pups and the pirate treasure.,
It's the pirate pup's life in these six PAW Patrol adventures! Join the pups as they discover a secret pirate cave and emBARK on a treasure hunt! Plus, stop a ghostly pirate ship from sailing away and dive into the bay for more PAWsome water rescues.
Play all day with Elmo!,
Come Play with Elmo! Everyone's favourite furry red friend is joined by all kinds of kids to play Elmo Says, Red Light Green Light, Freeze Dance, Pat-a-cake and more. OK Go mix primary colors into a rainbow and Taye Diggs helps Elmo pretend on this playful DVD featuring singing, dancing, and learning!
Play school. Jemima's big adventure.,
Get swept away with Jemima as she is invited to the ultimate play date, through the red garden doorway and into the imaginations of Australian preschoolers. For the first time children are given access to play with Jemima, transporting her into a fantasy filled Play school world.
SpongeBob SquarePants. Bikini Bottom's most wanted.,
Plankton strikes again (and again and again!) in these eight wickedly hilarious tales featuring Bikini Bottom's resident villain! Witness failed attempts to steal the Krusty Krab formula, including a prison breakout and a sabotaged spatula. Plus, grab a table at the Krusty Krab for even more laugh-out-loud tales!
Thomas & friends. Sodor's legend of the lost treasure.,
Shiver me timbers! Surprises await Thomas and his friends as they dig up their most daring adventure yet. Unearthing an old pirate ship, Thomas is on the hunt for Sodor's lost treasure. When Thomas rocks the boat with some new friends, trouble soon rushes in. Will Thomas track down the treasure in time, or will Sailor John set sail with it? Join Thomas & Friends in this explosive movie adventure!
Stitch Head, Guy Bass.
In the maze-like dungeons of Castle Grotteskew, the frightfully insane Professor Erasmus conducts his bizarre experiments on living things. His very first creation has been long forgotten - a small, almost-human creature, known only as Stitch Head. Poor Stitch Head has spent years vying for attention amongst a menagerie of freakish monsters. When a travelling circus ringmaster, Fulbert Freakfinder, promises to make him a star, Stitch Head wonders whether there is another life for him. But first he has to catch the professor's latest creation - a monstrous three-armed creature that's just smashed its way to freedom...
The name of this book is secret, Pseudonymous Bosch.
Self-described survivalist Cass sees potential disaster everywhere, so no one believes her when a classmate is kidnapped by the dazzling but dangerous Dr L and Ms Mauvais. No one except super-talkative misfit Max-Ernest.
The book of storms, Ruth Hatfield.
Danny's parents are storm chasers - which sounds exciting unless you're the son who has to wait behind at home. And one night, Danny's parents don't come back. Stranger still, the sycamore tree in Danny's yard seems to have been struck by lightning, and when he picks up a fragment of wood, he can hear voices ... including that of next door's cat, Mitzy. The stick is a shard of lightning that gives its bearer unnerving powers and it is very valuable. So valuable that it attracts the attention of a Sammael, an ancient figure of darkness and a buyer of souls. And he will do anything to get his hands on it ...
The yoghurt plot, Fleur Hitchcock.
Humming in the kitchen of Bugg and Dilan's new home is a huge, mysterious fridge. Even when Bugg turns off the power, the light stays on. Plus, it's full of strange-looking yoghurts in glass jars with wax-paper lids. They bravely eat some and the yoghurts take them back to 1974! What follows is a desperate scramble across time and space, as the siblings try and right a 40-year-old time crime.
No true echo, Gareth P. Jones.
Eddie thinks nowhere could be more boring than his home town of the Wellcome Valley. Unfortunately, he is about to be proved spectacularly wrong. Eddie's problems start with the arrival of Scarlett, who seems rather too confident and mysterious for your average schoolgirl.
How Harry Riddles got nearly almost famous, Simon Mayle
"My name is Harry Riddles, and I live with my mum, my dad, my EVIL sister and my twin baby brothers in our house in Cornwall. But if my dad has his way we might not live here much longer. He's got this crazy idea to take us all sailing round the world for like, two years!"
The winter wolf, Holly Webb.
Amelia discovers a diary written by a young boy, Noah, living in Wisconsin in the 1870s. She stays up long into the night, reading how he secretly cared for a wolf cub during the long winter months. But when Amelia finds herself magically transported into the world of the diary, it's up to her to help Noah keep the cub safe.
I'm a chicken, get me out of here!, Anna Wilson.
Titch the chicken is trapped. She arrived at Wilf's house by mistake when one of Mum's Internet orders went wrong (again). Now she is desperate to GET OUT OF THERE! There's a dopey dog to deal with and a very snooty cat and, worse, Wilf has made her share a room with Brian, an EXTREMELY fussy guinea pig. Titch is no birdbrain and plots to escape. But when the other pets are put in danger, Titch realises she has to stay and help her new friends ...
The Cleopatra case, Steve Cole.
One boy. One mummy. One mad, bad mission. Cleopatra's tomb has never been found - until NOW. And you won't BELIEVE what's been hiding inside. Sam the SECRET AGENT MUMMY must take on: a statue that bites; an undead empress with unfinished business; terrifying intergalactic lizard-men; an ancient plot that threatens all life on Earth. Luckily, Sam can call on his best friend and neighbour, Niall Rivers, for help. Together, they'll save the planet for sure ...WON'T THEY?
Storm chaser, Andrew Cope.
It's raining chickens! An unusual storm cloud has been hovering over Brickfield town and LARA knows that something isn't quite right about it - it smells, sort of chicken-y. The people of Brickfield are becoming strangely grumpy so LARA, Spy Dog extraordinaire, must investigate.
Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face and the evilness of pizza, John Dougherty.
Psst! Psst! Psssssst!!! OI, YOU!! Do you want to know a secret? Well? Do you? It's a good one . . . honest. You'll never believe it. It's so unbelievably unbelievable and soooooo secret. You have to promise not to tell ANYONE. Well? Do you? Cross your heart and hope to die (or at least pass out for a few minutes). OK . . . here goes. You know those badgers? You'll never guess what they've been up to this time . . .With more twists and turns than a pizza delivery guy on an oil slick, this amazing adventure will leave you hungry for more (pizza).
A surprise for Princess Ellie, Diana Kimpton.
She always wants to sneak off to the stables and especially when she realizes something's wrong with her pony, Starlight. But Meg the groom won't tell her what it is. To take her mind off it, Ellie goes for a ride on the beach.

Into Reading

About lighthouses, written by Pam Holden.
Looks at what lighthouses are and what they do.
Good things from trees, written by Pam Holden.
Looks at the different products that trees produce.
Learn about birds, written by Pam Holden.
Looks at different birds and what each have in common and what they don't.
Learning to swim, written by Pam Holden.
Follows the different steps involved in learning how to swim.
Look in the mirror, written by Pam Holden.
A mirror is a looking-glass. People use it to see a picture of themselves looking back from the glass. Looks at who else uses mirrors.
Magic stone soup, retold by Pam Holden ; illustrated by Kelvin Hawley.
Our puppet show, written by Pam Holden ; illustrated by Samer Hatam.
Two children decide to hold a puppet show. First they have to make their puppets.
Ringing bells, written by Pam Holden.
Looks at different kinds of bells and why they are needed.
The hungry boy, retold by Pam Holden ; illustrated by Michael Cashmore-Hingley.
This story is about a greedy boy and a jar of nuts. He took so many nuts into his hand that his hand was too big to get back out of the jar! What was he going to do?
The mailbox man, written by Pam Holden ; illustrated by Pauline Whimp.
Jack makes mailboxes for all his friends.
Thirsty baby elephant, written by Pam Holden ; illustrated by Samer Hatam.
A baby elephant drinks from the river every day with devastating results for the other animals who use the river. What will they do to save the river?
Turtle is lost, written by Pam Holden ; illustrated by Lamia Aziz.
A class of school children had a turtle in their classroom. One day the turtle disappeared and all the children were very sad. Everyday they looked everywhere for the turtle but it couldn't be found anywhere, until one day it rained!
Umbrellas go up, written by Pam Holden ; illustrated by Pauline Whimp.
Looks at the different uses, colours and types of umbrellas.
W, Pam Holden ; photographs supplied by Thinkstock.
A reader containing words starting with the letter "w", illustrated using clear text and photographs. Children will learn to write letter forms in both upper and lower case, discover letter names and sounds, learn sound and word associations and picture associations. Also includes a rhyme to share.
Water from rain, written by Pam Holden.
People, animals and plants all need water. Looks at why water is needed and where it comes from.
Tamara the tooth fairy, Daisy Meadows.
Can Kirsty and Rachel help Tamara the Tooth Fairy do her job by getting her magical objects back from Jack Frost?

Non-Fiction

Ripley's believe it or not! 2016.,
This edition from Ripley's Believe It or Not features 144 pages of awesomely weird information and photos from a life-size gingerbread house in Texas to a real underwater city in China, from a dolphin with an artificial tail to an ex-soldier with a bionic arm!
The maker cookbook : recipes for children's and 'tween library programs, Cindy R. Wall and Lynn M. Pawloski ; foreword by Bill Derry.
Strange but true!, written by Andrea Mills.
Offers a collection of true facts about nature, animals, plants, man-made structures, and the Earth.
The survival guide for school success : use your brain's built-in apps to sharpen attention, battle boredom, and build mental muscle, Ron Shumsky, Susan Islascox, and Rob Bell.
Provides ten tools to help students improve executive functions such as focus, motivation, organization, self-monitoring, and more.
Just for today, Saint John XXIII ; illustrated by Bimba Landmann ; [English language translation, Laura Watkinson].
This decalogue for daily living from a beloved pope and saint offers the perfect reminder of how to make the most of every day.
Sleeping Beauty, [text by Alison Sage], Sarah Gibb.
The classic tale of Sleeping Beauty is brought magically to life through Sarah Gibb's extraordinary artwork. The beautiful Princess Rosebud, the evil curse that sends her into a deep sleep, and her rescue by a charming prince are all represented in stunning silhouettes and intricate details.
Hine Takurua, etita: Nuki Takao raua ko Hana Pomare ; kaihoahoa: Spencer Levine.
"He momonga ke o nga korero he mea tuhi ki te reo Maori hei tautoko i tetahi hotaka panui i nga taumata 2-3 o Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Kei roto i tenei kohinga: he whakatauki a-whakaahua (mo te Takurua me te Koanga); Te Matahi o te Tau (he purakau mo te orokohanga o Matariki); Matariki Huinga Whetu (he mohiohio putaiao me te ahurea mo Matariki); Te Huihui a Matariki (he pakiwaitara mo nga whakanuinga o Matariki ); me Te Kowhai me te Tui (he korero meka e pa ana ki te tui me te kowhai)"--Publisher's website.
Dinosaurs live on! and other fun facts, Laura Lyn DiSiena and Hannah Eliot ; illustrated by Aaron Spurgeon.
A book of fun facts about fossils, pterodactyls, the T. rex, and more!
Toby and the ice giants, Joe Lillington.
Toby the bison makes new friends while exploring the Ice Age Tundra.
In the bush : explore & discover New Zealand's native forests, Gillian Barraud ; illustrated by Ned Barraud.
Introduces young children to the creatures and plants that live in the native forests of New Zealand. It includes insects and other invertebrates, fungi, ferns and mosses, birds, bats, introduced pests, vines, epiphytes and trees.
Discovering New Zealand trees, Sandra Morris.
Introducing 20 of our most interesting native trees to young New Zealand naturalists. Each tree is shown in full with individual watercolour illustrations of the leaves, flower parts, seed heads, and any insects, animals and birds that co-exist with or frequent the tree. In addition there are notes and illustrations to depict early Maori and European uses for each tree. Included are kauri, tree ferns, beeches, cabbage tree, nikau, pohutukawa, manuka, kanuka, rewarewa, puriri, kowhai, lancewood, taraire, karaka, tree daisies, kahikatea, rimu, totara, matai, and miro. Children will learn about different types of forest in 'What is a tree?' at the beginning of the book and an index and bibliography complete an effective natural history resource that is sure to be popular with children and teachers alike.
The wonder garden : [wander through 5 habitats to discover 80 amazing animals], Kristjana S. Williams ; written by Jenny Broom.
Open the gates of the Wonder Garden to explore five of Earth's most extraordinary habitats, each filled with incredible creatures and epic scenery. Trek through the Amazon Rainforest, travel to the Chihuahuan Desert, dive in the Great Barrier Reef, delve deep into the Black Forest and stand on the roof of the world - the Himalayan Mountains - to see nature at its wildest. Breathtaking, engraved illustrations bring to life Earth's spectacular Wonder Garden.
Counting lions : portraits from the wild, words by Katie Cotton ; drawings by Stephen Walton.
An art-inspired gift that makes learning to name and explore wildlife a family adventure. Larger-than-life black and white drawings are paired with poetic texts that reveal the ways in which endangered creatures including lions, elephants, giraffes, tigers, gorillas, penguins, Ethiopian wolves, macaws, turtles and zebras live on Earth. Artworks by wildlife artist Stephen Walton are rendered in charcoal and give little ones the chance to get up close and personal with nature's wildest creatures.
Out of sight till tonight! : [all about nocturnal animals], Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu.
The Cat in the Hat takes Sally and Nick to visit with nocturnal animals and to explore their special adaptations for living in the dark.
The octopus scientists : exploring the mind of a mollusk, written by Sy Montgomery ; photographs by Keith Ellenbogen.
Looks at the work of renowned octopus scientist Jennifer Mather and a team of researchers on the island of Moorea, near Tahiti in the South Pacific, where they work to learn more about octopuses and their behaviour.
Get to know chameleons, Flora Brett.
Discusses chameleons, including their physical features, habitat, range, diet, and life cycle.
Get to know geckos, Flora Brett.
Discusses geckos, including their physical features, habitat, range, diet, and life cycle.
Get to know Gila monsters, Flora Brett.
Gila monsters are known for their bead-like scales and thick tails. But there's more to this reptile than its beady body. Learn more about these rough-skinned reptiles. Discover facts about their life cycle, diet, habitat, and range.
Get to know Komodo dragons, Flora Brett.
Discusses Komodo dragons, including their physical features, habitat, range, diet, and life cycle.
Emu, Claire Saxby ; illustrated by Graham Byrne.
An emu father in Australia's eucalyptus forest watches over his growing hatchlings as they outmaneuver regional dangers, in this illustrated introduction to the emu life cycle.
Oh, the things they invented! : [all about great inventors], Bonnie Worth ; illustrated by Aristides Ruiz and Joe Mathieu.
From the wheel to the World Wide Web the Cat in the Hat looks at inventors and inventions that have changed our lives.
Senseational illusions.,
Packed with tricks and challenges, this volume features optical illusions and mindbenders, graphics, fact-boxes and interactive tricks and experiments.
Pets, written with Jessica Cobb ; illustrated by Del Thorpe.
Tony Robinson takes you on a headlong gallop through time, pointing out all the most important, funny, strange, amazing, entertaining, smelly bits about pets. It's history, but not as we know it!
A kid's guide to keeping chickens, Melissa Caughey.
Chickens make wonderful pets, and Melissa Caughey (author of the award-winning blog Tilly's Nest) provides all the information kids need to raise healthy chickens and have tons of fun doing it! Caughey shares her advice in an engaging way so that kids understand what it means to keep chickens and what kind of housing, food, equipment, and care the chickens will need to thrive. She also suggests lots of creative activities sure to spark enthusiasm and imagination, such as speaking chicken, creating a veggie pinata for the flock, and making a chicken fort in the backyard. She even offers ten egg-centric recipes that kids will love to make and eat, including egg drop soup and Mexican egg pizza.
I love cats and kittens, David Alderton.
The perfect introduction to cats and kittens, this photographic guide explores over 50 popular breeds from all around the world.
Girl's guide to DIY fashion : design & sew 5 complete outfits : mood boards, fashion sketching, choosing fabric, adding style, Rachel Low.
Give your resident young designer all the tools she needs to create five cute outfits that will take her from home to school to hanging out and back again. From the owner of the NYC sewing studio Pins & Needles comes the definitive guide to mood boards, fashion design, and sewing for girls.
The children's interactive story of art, Susie Hodge.
A fascinating introduction to the world's most famous art and artists. This comprehensive guide provides a first look at art for young readers, and focuses on the collection of paintings housed in The National Gallery, London.
How to draw with your funny bone, Elwood H. Smith.
In this drawing guide that is also part memoir, illustrator Elwood H. Smith tutors budding artists in visual expression, encouraging them to tap into their own style and humour.
Furry & feathered friends, Dave Garbot.
Featured sections cover humorous characteristics, silly expressions, and over-the-top gestures that make a cartoon animal come to life on the page, as well as creative ideas and techniques for rendering a favorite animal in an unexpected costume, disguise, or location. Projects include popular animals and quirky pets, including a bunny, penguin, skunk, fox, and more, reinterpreted in a fun and whimsical kid-friendly style!
Creative kids complete photo guide to knitting, Mary Scott Huff.
Are you looking for the perfect guide to teach your child to knit? Look no further! Creative Kids Complete Photo Guide to Knitting starts with the absolute basics about knitting, beginning with a discussion about needles and yarn, how to cast stitches onto the needle, then gradually introduces skills and techniques until kids are knitting confidently. Mary Scott Huff, author of Fun and Fantastical Hats to Knit and Fun and Fantastical Slippers to Knit, will guide you and your children through projects. With over 200 photos and clear, concise instructions in language easily understood by grade-school kids, you're going to be creating crafty knit projects with your child in no time! Each project lists the knitting skills that will be exercised in making it and projects are rated for difficulty, so kids can learn and grow as they develop dexterity and coordination. Your children will learn to knit by making simple projects and building skills by practicing the essentials, and this book provides a sound foundation for a lifetime of knitting enjoyment.
Star Wars : absolutely everything you need to know, written by Adam Bray [and 3 others].
Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know is crammed with weird and wonderful Star Wars trivia, strange-but-true facts and fascinating "Did you know?" Q&As. Find out who cleans the floors of the Death Stars and what takes 1,000 years to digest its victims! From movie-making trivia to quirky facts you never knew, this book will excite new and old fans alike of Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars The Clone Wars and the Star Wars movies I-VI.
National Theatre : all about theatre, [written by Marina McIntyre].
An exciting collaboration with the world-famous National Theatre which explores how plays are staged, from first idea to final curtain. Go backstage at the National Theatre and hear from experts on every aspect of stagecraft, from acting and directing to set building, costume design and prop-making.
Haka, Patricia Grace ; illustrated by Andrew Burdan.
Whiti te ra!, Patricia Grace ; na Andrew Burdan nga pikitia ; na Kawata Teepa i whakamaori.
"This is the story of the haka "Ka Mate," composed by Te Rauparaha who was a chief of Ngati Toa Rangatira. Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha is pursued by his enemies and fears for his life. At Lake Rotoaira, he is hidden in a potato pit, and Te Rangikoaea, a woman of great power, sits in front of its entrance. As he listens in the dark, Te Rauparaha hears his enemies, but they cannot find him, and he climbs back to the sunlight. As he recounts this adventure to his people, his words are repeated and the haka rings out, passed down from generation to generation"--Publisher's information.
Pokemon deluxe essential handbook : the need-to-know stats and facts on over 700 Pokemon.,
Gotta read about 'em all! This revised and updated edition of the mega-bestselling Pokemon Essential Handbook includes stats and facts on over 700 Pokemon. It's everything you ever wanted to know about every Pokemon all in one place! This revised and updated edition of the 2012 bestseller has stats and facts on over 700 Pokemon. The book includes 64 new pages focusing on the new Kalos characters that just debuted in the Pokemon X & Y videogames, plus inside info on the new Mega Evolved Pokemon. This book is an absolute must-have for Pokemon fans. It's sure to be a bestseller with kids of all ages.
How to make a kite, Colleen Hord.
Flying a kite on a windy day is something everyone loves to do. Learn how to construct your own in this book with easy to understand instructions and common household items that you can use to make your very own high-flying kite! This title will allow students to analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.
Climbing Everest, Gail Herman ; illustrated by Michele Amatrula.
Voyage, Billy Collins ; illustrated by Karen Romagna.
Voyage is an illustrated poem of fantasy, imagination, and magical transformations. A young boy searching the beach for treasure comes across a sailboat and pushes out to sea. Magically the boat becomes a book, and the little boy finds himself living out its adventure, pirate ship and all, far away in the fantastic world of words until at last, as evening calms the winds, he returns to shore, pulling the boat behind him onto the sand.
Flutter & hum : animal poems = Aleteo y zumbido : poemas de animales, Julie Paschkis.
All sorts of animals flutter and hum, dance and stretch, and slither and leap their way through this joyful collection of poems in English and Spanish. Julie Paschkis's words and art sing in both languages, bringing out the beauty and playfulness of the animal world.
Celebrating Australia : a year in poetry, Lorraine Marwood.
Explores the many ways Australians celebrate Australia.
You tell me, peoms by Roger McGough, Michael Rosen ; drawings by Korky Paul.
Football, first love, teachers and tongue-twisters.
Where's Will, illustrated by Tilly ; written by Anna Claybourne.
Spot Will Shakespeare and a selection of colourful characters from ten of his best loved plays! Can you pick out Puck in the magical midsummer night? Will you spy Cecilia hidden in the Forest of Arden? And can you see Shakespeare making a cameo in every scene? First, get to know each play by reading a snappy synopsis of the plot, and meeting the main characters. Next, hunt for the characters, who are hidden in the detailed and beautifully illustrated pictures of the plays settings.
Beast quest : a to z of beasts.,
This full-colour book is packed with details, statistics and information about all the amazing Beasts from the bestselling series over 100 Beasts, from A to Z
Enormous smallness : a story of E. E. Cummings, Matthew Burgess ; illustrations by Kris Di Giacomo.
Enormous Smallness is a nonfiction picture book about the poet E. E. Cummings. Here E.E.'s life is presented in a way that will make children curious about him and will lead them to play with words and ask plenty of questions as well.
Pope Francis : the story of our pope, Ailis Travers ; illustrated by Lir Mac Carthaigh.
A biography of Pope Francis from his childhood in Argentina to his life as pope.
Nelson Mandela : "it always seems impossible until it's done", Frances Ridley.
Describes the childhood, political activities, imprisonment, family, and presidency of Nelson
Nelson Mandela : South African president and civil rights activist, Kris Woll ; content consultant, Dr. Marcia Chatelain.
Learn who Nelson Mandela was and how he made a difference in the lives of the people of South Africa and around the world.
This side of wild : mutts, mares, and laughing dinosaurs, Gary Paulsen ; illustrated by Tim Jessell.
The Newbery Honor-winning author of Hatchet and Dogsong shares surprising true stories about his relationship with animals, highlighting their compassion, intellect, intuition, and sense of adventure. Gary Paulsen is an adventurer who competed in two Iditarods, survived the Minnesota wilderness, and climbed the Bighorns. None of this would have been possible without his truest companion: his animals. Sled dogs rescued him in Alaska, a sickened poodle guarded his well-being, and a horse led him across a desert. Through his interactions with dogs, horses, birds, and more, Gary has been struck with the belief that animals know more than we may fathom. His understanding and admiration of animals is well known, and in This Side of Wild, which has taken a lifetime to write, he proves the ways in which they have taught him to be a better person.
Swan : the life and dance of Anna Pavlova, Laurel Snyder ; illustrated by Julie Morstad.
The world is big. Anna is small. The snow is everywhere and all around. But one night. One night, her mother takes her to the ballet, and everything is changed. Anna finds a beauty inside herself that she cannot contain.
The inker's shadow, Allen Say.
A follow-up to Drawing From Memory recounts the author's coming-of-age at a military academy, where he endured harsh racism before embarking on a journey to discover himself as a Japanese-American artist.
The white mouse : the story of Nancy Wake, Peter Gouldthorpe.
The Gestapo called her the White Mouse and they wanted her, dead or alive. Nancy Wake was an Australian who joined the French Resistance during World War II and became the most wanted woman in France. Parachuting behind enemy lines, blowing up bridges and smuggling refugees across borders, Nancy fought fiercely against the enemy and became the most decorated Australian woman in any war.
Historium, illustrated by Richard Wilkinson ; written by Jo Nelson.
Welcome to the museum! Here you will find a collection of objects from ancient civilisations. Objects of beauty, functionality, war, life, death and burial. As you wander from room to room, explore the magnificence of what civilisations have left behind over thousands of years of human history!
Explore 360 Pompeii, Peter Chrisp with illustrations by Somchith Vongprachanh.
The archaeological site of Pompeii offers us a tantalizing glimpse into life during the ancient Roman Empire. In Explore 360 Pompeii, readers get to see this remarkable city like never before. They will discover a vivid account of everyday life in Pompeii, with a close-up look at the spectacular buildings and artifacts found there.
South Korea, Barbara A. Somervill.
Discusses the history, geography, and people of South Korea as well as the country's rich culture and traditions and its beautiful natural areas.
Kenya, Michael Burgan.
Discusses the history, geography, and people of Kenya as well as the country's rich culture and traditions and its beautiful natural areas.
Life in Colonial Australia, Marion Littlejohn & Doug Bradby.
What was life like for ordinary people in Colonial Australia? Can it really be called The Good Old Days when the work was backbreaking and the days were long, even for children? Life in colonial Australia shows us exactly how it was.

Non-Fiction - World Languages

Beijing de chun jie, Lao She wen ; Yu Dawu tu.
Ni kan wo you shen me!, wen tu Andongni Bulang ; yi Han sheng za zhi.
Xiao xiong zong you hao ban fa, wen, tu: Andongni Bulang ; fan yi: Ajia.
San ge he shang, Cai Gao gai bian, hui hua.
Luo bo hui lai le (jing zhuang), Fang Yiqun zhu.
Ni hao, you er yuan, (Han) Jin Shanying zhu ; (Han) Pei Xianzhu hui ; Xu Meilin yi.
Xue di li kai le duo tai yang hua, Kedeluoyi zhu.
Xiaoqiao tao pao le, wen, tu: Jieke Kente ; yi: Chen Hongshu.
Tan xin de xiao lang, wen/tu Anliang Zhenyouzi ; fan yi Peng Yi.
Cao Chong cheng xiang, Kou Tian wen ; Wu Daxian tu.
Ni hai pa shen me?, Kangtansi Eersibake Niersen wen ; Ajin Duzating tu ; Wang Fang yi.
Hou zi lao yue liang, Ren Mengchen tu.
Mei li de luo xuan = Swirl by swirl : spirals in nature, Qiaoyisi Xideman zhu ; Beisi Keluomusi hui ; Fan Xiaoxing yi.
Ci xiao wai de dan, Gao Qiaoxi (Nozomi Takahashi) zhu ; Zhao Jiaojiao yi.
Lang lai le, gai bian zi Yisuo yu yan ; Xu Jin tu.
Marcel et Andre, texte et illustrations de Pierre Pratt.
Verdi, Janell Cannon. Aus dem Englischen von David Chotjewitz.
Wenn Hexen immer besser hexen, Maeve Friel ; aus dem Englischen von Maja von Vogel ; mit Zeichnungen von Oliver Wenniges.
Die wilden Huhner und die Liebe, Cornelia Funke ; mit Illustrationen der Autorin.
Kein Keks fur Kobolde, Cornelia Funke ; mit Bildern der Autorin ; koloriert von Yvonne Ziegenhals-Mohr.
Mick und Mo im wilden Westen, Cornelia Funke ; [farbige Illustrationen von Cornelia Funke].
Zottelkralle, Cornelia Funke ; mit Illustrationen der Autorin.
Oh, wie schon ist Panama : die Geschichte, wie der kleine Tiger und der kleine Bar nach Panama reisen, Janosch.
Das Uhrwerk der Nacht, Matthew Kirby ; Deutsch von Peter Knecht.
Piratensohn, Klaus Kordon ; mit Bildern von Peter Knorr.
Ein gutes Jahr, Leo Lionni.
Ein Schaf furs Leben, Maritgen Matter ; Deutsch von Sylke Hachmeister ; Bilder von Anke Faust.
Music = Musik : English--German, designed by Hakan San Bortecin.
Vibrant illustrations and clear text help children discover two languages through the concept of music.
Opposites = Gegensatze : English-German, designed by Hakan San Bortecin.
Vibrant illustrations and clear text help children discover two languages through the concept of opposites
Locher : die Geheimnisse von Green Lake ; Roman, Louis Sachar ; aus dem amerikanischen Englisch von Birgitt Kollman.
Wo ist Mami?, [Bilder], Axel Scheffler ; [Text], Julia Donaldson ; [aus dem Englischen von Bernhard Lassahn].
Uchujin ni aitai : tenmon gakusha ga saguru chikyugai seimei no nazo, Hirabayashi Hisashi.
Majo kafe no shiawase menyu, Anbiru Yasuko.
Sekaiichi shiawase na gorira iban, Applegate K.A. ; Okada Yoshie ; Kuma Ayako.
Mayonaka no gyugyu neko, Ashihara Kamo ; Takeda Miho.
Majo no omise, Ruth Chew.
Buru to orenji, Fukuda Takahiro.
Yakiagari gofunmae, Hoshi Hairi ; Taka.
Eki no fushigi na dengonban, Hoshio Sanae.
Watashichan, Ishii Mutsumi ; Hirasawa Tomoko.
Kugu no bikkuribako, Ito Hiroshi.
Obake no Socchi to zobi zobi kyandi, Kadono Eiko saku ; Sasaki Yoko e.
Kaibutsu-banashi : hara hara doki doki 30-wa.,
Harinezumi no ruchika : fushigi na toramu, Kanno Yuko;Kitami Yoko.
Kimyo na keijiban, Nihon jido bungakusha kyokai.
Gakko no kagami wa himitsu no tobira, Mino Seiko ; Takaoka Yumiko.
Obake no urami harashimasu, Murai Kayo.
Shokuinshitsu no nichiyobi, Murakami Shiiko;Tanaka Rokudai.
Kurione no shippo, Nagasaki Natsumi ; Sato Makiko.
Wakanne kuesuto : watashitachi no sutori, Nakamatsu Maruha ; Kitazawa Yuki.
Korokkekun no boken, Ninomiya Yukiko ; Abe Hiroshi.
Komori sakusen hajimemasu, Okabe Rika.
Soko kara nigedasu maho no kotoba, Okada Jun ; Tanaka Rokudai.
Omoide no Mani, Jon G Robinson gensaku ; Yonebayashi Hiromasa kantoku.
Tanabata no tsuki, Sasaki Hitomi ; Koizumi Rumiko.
Bokura no kobura kinenbi, Soda Osamu.
Totteoki no meitantei, Sugiyama Akira ; Nakagawa Daisuke.
Sayonara uchujin, Takashina Masanobu ; Arai Ryoji.
Kin no tsuki no Maya : Maya mensis aureos, saku Tamori Yosuke ; e Fukushima Atsuko.

Older Fiction

Crenshaw, Katherine Applegate.
Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan again. Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary.
The thing about jellyfish, Ali Benjamin.
Twelve-year-old Suzy Swanson wades through her intense grief over the loss of her best friend by investigating the rare jellyfish she is convinced was responsible for her friend's death.
The boy at the top of the mountain, John Boyne.
When Pierrot becomes an orphan, he must leave his home in Paris for a new life with his Aunt Beatrix, a servant in a wealthy household at the top of the German mountains. But this is no ordinary time, for it is 1935 and the Second World War is fast approaching; and this is no ordinary house, for this is the Berghof, the home of Adolf Hitler. Quickly, Pierrot is taken under Hitler's wing, and is thrown into an increasingly dangerous new world: a world of terror, secrets and betrayal, from which he may never be able to escape.
A riddle in Ruby, Kent Davis.
In an era called The Chemystral Age, magically augmented alchemy and chemistry have thrust an alternate version of eighteenth-century colonial America forward into industrialization. Thirteen-year-old Ruby is a smuggler's daughter and picklock prodigy, and she and her mostly faithful servant, Cram, navigate a world filled with cobalt gearbeasts, alchemical automatons, and devilish secret societies.
Dark tide, Jennifer Donnelly.
Six mermaids battle to save their hidden world. Leaders of a resistance to the barbaric new regime, Serafina and Neela, are working hard to destabilise Vallerio, the new ruler of Cerulea. Becca, Ava and Ling are still hunting for their ancestors' talismans; the keys to keeping an ancient evil locked in its icy prison. Astrid finally returns home to Ondalina to find that all is not as she left it, and a sinister human with empty, black eyes offers her power she never dreamed of.
Skink Gully, Des Hunt.
"Central Otago's searing summer has been long and brutal. And yet somehow the sheep and smaller creatures on Stonefields Station have survived. That's until Garth Fischer arrives, along with his gun and plans to change things in a big way... ways that are good for Garth Fischer, but nothing else.
Island of graves, Lisa McMann.
Everything Aaron has worked so hard to build in Quill has crumbled. Fallen from the height of power and influence and left for dead in a foreign place, Aaron has lost everything, and now he must humbly beg for food from those who saved his life.
Upside-down magic, Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins.
With their magic being unpredictable, Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax are sent to the upside-down magic room at Dunwiddle Magic School.
A Shiloh Christmas, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.
Marty and his best friend, Shiloh are on another adventure. Marty learns when a secret is too dangerous to keep, and that hate can spread
Sanitized for your protection, Stephan Pastis.
Shenanigans abound as Timmy Failure finds himself on a road trip with none other than notorious criminal Molly Moskins. Travelling halfway across the country to help your mother's boyfriend settle into his new job would be inconvenient for any detective, let alone the founder, president and CEO of Total Failure Inc, the world's greatest detective agency. Timmy has a case to solve, and nothing can stand in his way. If he is to arrest Corrina Corrina and solve the YIP YAP case, Timmy, his sidekick polar bear Total, and Molly Moskins must go on the run!
Goblins & ghosties : stories of darkness from around the world, Maggie Pearson ; illustrated by Francesca Greenwood.
A stunning selection of folk tales and legends about things that go bump in the night. A wide variety of traditional stories from all over the world, ranging from magical to farcical, unnerving to terrifying. Delightfully illustrated in paper-cut style by Francesca Greenwood.
Goth Girl and the wuthering fright, Chris Riddell.
People are flocking to Ghastly-Gorm Hall from far and wide to compete in Lord Goth's Literary Dog Show. The esteemed judges are in place and the contestants are all ready to win. Sir Walter Splott is preparing his Lanarkshire Lurcher, Plain Austen is preening her Hampshire Hound and Homily Dickinson and her Yankee Poodle are raring to go. But there's something strange going on at Ghastly-Gorm mysterious footprints, howls in the night and some suspiciously chewed shoes. Can Ada, the Attic Club and their new friends the Vicarage sisters work out what's going on before the next full moon?
Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone, J.K. Rowling ; illustrated by Jim Kay.
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle.
The Marvels, Brian Selznick.
The journey begins on a ship at sea in 1766, with a boy named Billy Marvel. After surviving a shipwreck, he finds work in a London theatre. There, his family flourishes for generations as brilliant actors until 1900, when young Leontes Marvel is banished from the stage.
"Why is this night different from all other nights?", Lemony Snicket ; art by Seth.
Train travel! Murder! Librarians! A Series Finale! On all other nights, the train departs from Stain'd Station and travels to the city without stopping. But not tonight. You might ask, why is this night different from all other nights? But that's the wrong question. Instead ask, where is this all heading? And what happens at the end of the line? The final book in Lemony Snicket's series, All The Wrong Questions.
Return to the secret garden, Holly Webb.
Return to Frances Hodgson Burnett's timeless classic, The Secret Garden, in this magical sequel by bestselling author Holly Webb. It's 1939 and a group of children have been evacuated to Misselthwaite Hall. Emmie is far from happy to have been separated from her cat and sent to a huge old mansion. But soon she starts discovering the secrets of the house: a boy crying at night, a diary written by a girl named Mary, and a garden. A very secret garden.

Picture Books

Touch and feel baby animals.,
Babies will love exploring the world of baby animals through this fun 'touch and feel' board book, perfect for very young children. The small, padded book is ideal for little hands to hold and the pages are full of tactile areas to explore.
Bob and Flo, Rebecca Ashdown.
On her first day of preschool, penguin Flo loses her lunch bucket and finds a funny new friend.
Fire engine no. 9, Mike Austin.
Follows a fire engine and its crew through a very busy day, using mainly sound words.
When Sophie's feelings are really, really hurt, Molly Bang.
Sophie's is hurt when the other children laugh at her painting of her favorite tree--but when she explains her painting everybody understands what she was trying to do.
Counting dogs : an Eric Barclay numbers storybox book.,
Follow ten adorable dogs as they learn to count from one to ten using the animals around their neighborhood. A simple counting story brillianty packaged in a unique, hands-on Storybox format with die-cut, tabbed board pages that will keep kids learning and having fun!
Elliot's Arctic surprise, written by Catherine Barr ; illustrated by Francesca Chessa.
A great picture story book with an environmental message, developed in conversation with Greenpeace UK. When one little boy discovers a message from Father Christmas asking for help to save his home from the oil drillers, he hitches a lift from a kind old sailor and together with children from around the world, they set sail to confront the oil men. Elliot desperately wants to save the Arctic and stop Christmas being cancelled, but will the oil drillers back down and what is the old sailor's big surprise?
Eye to eye, Graeme Base.
Imagine you could soar high in the sky with an eagle or dive into the deep with a majestic blue whale. Come eye to eye with some of nature's most impressive creatures as Graeme Base takes you on a richly illustrated journey of imagination and possibility.
Wild about us!, written by Karen Beaumont ; illustrated by Janet Stevens.
From Elephant's long nose to Kangaroo's huge feet to Monkey's stick-out ears, everyone is worth celebrating, no matter what they look like.
Bob to the rescue, James Bowen & Garry Jenkins ; illustrated by Gerald Kelley.
When Bob finds a lost little puppy in the park, he remembers what it's like to be homeless and hungry so he does all he can to help his new friend.
The bath monster, Colin Boyd, Tony Ross.
The bath monster is a fun concept Tony Ross and his son-in-law Colin Boyd came up with for making bath time more fun for kids. It is very child friendly and children will enjoy imagining the secret world of the monster below the floor boards, and the idea of the monster becoming a messy friend at the end.
The lion inside, Rachel Bright, Jim Field.
Follow the journey of one little mouse trying to make himself heard and discovering along the way that even the smallest us has the heart of a lion Stylish art with Jon Klassen appeal and vibrant storytelling from two contemporary stars make this a story to shout about it will make you laugh, cry and read it every bedtime Fans of The Gruffalo and Giraffes Can't Dance will love this feelgood rhyming story portraying a positive message about overcoming your fears and forming friendships.
Humans and other animals : an A to Z in sign language and pictures, Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin.
Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin are photographic artists, best known for the way they merge photojournalism and visual art, producing provocative, ambiguous interpretations of history and current events.
We're in the wrong book!, Richard Byrne.
Bumped off the page and into the wrong book, Bella and Ben peruse the local lollipops and sphinxes as they endeavor to find their way back
Jonathan!, Peter Carnavas ; illustrated by Amanda Francey.
Jonathan loves to dress up and scare his family but they insist that he is just not scary. What happens when Jonathan is too scary?
One thing : featuring Charlie and Lola, Lauren Child.
I have this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny. Sometimes for a treat, Mum says, "We are going to the shops and you may choose one thing." "One thing to share?" says Lola. I say, "One thing for you and one thing for me, which means two actual things.
Bee dance, Rick Chrustowski.
A honeybee searches for nectar, then returns to the hive to tell the other bees. She does a waggle dance, moving in a special figure-eight pattern to share the location of the foodsource with her hivemates.
Imaginary Fred, Eoin Colfer, Oliver Jeffers.
Did you know that if the conditions are just right, and if you add a little electricity, or magic, or luck, that an imaginary friend might appear just when you need one? An imaginary friend like Fred. Fred is the best imaginary friend you could ever hope for, but no matter how hard he tries, the same thing always happens: his friend finds a friend in the real world, and Fred fades away, bit by bit, waiting to be wished for again. Then one day, a boy named Sam wishes for a friend, and Fred appears! For a while everything is perfect. But what about the day when Sam finds a real friend? Could it be that this time, something magical might happen?
Click, clack, ho! ho! ho!, Doreen Cronin ; illustrated by Betsy Lewin.
As Farmer Brown prepares the house for Christmas, Duck tries to play Santa but he gets stuck in the chimney, along with all the other animals who try to help.
The ride-by-nights, Walter de la Mare ; illustrated by Carolina Rabei.
Up on their brooms the witches stream, crooked and black in the crescent's gleam. It's Halloween and a family is preparing to go trick-or-treating. Little do they know that up above them a coven of witches flies unseen through the starry sky.
Pete the cat and the bedtime blues, Kimberly and James Dean.
Pete the Cat wants to go to sleep, but his animal friends want to stay up and play.
One day, the end : short, very short, shorter-than-ever stories, Rebecca Kai Dotlich ; illustrated by Fred Koehler.
Very short stories, averaging three pages each, told by a little girl.
This & that, Mem Fox + Judy Horacek.
The brilliant team that brought you the best-selling Where is the Green Sheep? have a new story to tell. A story of this, and a story of that.
Hector and Hummingbird, Nicholas John Frith.
In the mountains of Peru, friends Hector the bear and Hummingbird the hummingbird spend most of their time together, doing the same things, and Hector has had just about enough of it--or has he? Includes a list of animals hidden in the illustrations.
Imagine a world, Rob Gonsalves.
Illustrations and evocative text show how imagination can reveal the extraordinary in various places, from taking a swim in a salty sky to soaring over submerged lands under the sea.
Norman the slug who saved Christmas, Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet.
When a sack of presents lands THWACK right by Norman's stocking he is overcome with excitement. He really must have been a very good slug this year. But after a frenzy of unwrapping he spots a label and realises that none of the presents were meant for him, but had in fact fallen off Father Christmas's sleigh. Norman knows he has to get the presents to the family they're meant for but how can he manage it on time? Can one little slug save Christmas?
Spot's Christmas, Eric Hill.
It's Christmas! Spot is decorating the tree and wrapping presents, then he hangs up his stocking and waits for Father Christmas. Join Spot and his friends in this lovely festive tale.
I will love you anyway, Mick & Chloe Inkpen.
Dog is very badly behaved he destroys everything, chases cars and won't stop running away! But when he finds himself lost and alone there is one person he can count on.
Toys meet snow : being the wintertime adventures of a curious stuffed buffalo, a sensitive plush stingray, and a book-loving rubber ball, Emily Jenkins ; pictures by Paul O. Zelinsky.
While Little Girl is away on winter vacation, her toys, Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic, decide to go outside and learn more about snow.
There was an old dragon who swallowed a knight, Penny Parker Klostermann ; illustrated by Ben Mantle.
In this variation on the traditional cumulative rhyme, a greedy, hungry dragon eventually learns moderation.
A dog wearing shoes, Sangmi Ko.
Mini finds a dog in the park wearing shoes but no collar and begs to keep him, but soon she realizes that whoever put the shoes on him loves the dog.
The big book of animals of the world, Ole Konnecke.
"From the savannah to the Arctic, animals are everywhere. Some are world-famous like the lion and others are rare, like the uakari monkey and the spectacled bear. Who lives at the bottom of the sea? Who is at home on the ice and who lives in the tropical rainforest? Fly over continents, deserts, plains and oceans to discover which animals live in each habitat. Bon voyage!"--Back cover.
Azizi and the Little Blue Bird, Laila Koubaa & mattias De Leeuw ; translated by David Colmer.
Tour and Ditta are greedy rulers who live in a sumptuous palace and capture all the blue birds in a large cage to keep for themselves. One day, a bird escapes and flies to the cottage of Azizi, who then helps the little blue bird to free all of the others.
My dog Bigsy, Alison Lester.
From Australia's favourite picture-book creator, Alison Lester, comes this energetic story about a little dog who causes a big commotion. Meet my dog Bigsy. He's only small, but everyone knows he's the boss. Each morning he visits the animals on the farm.
The fairytale hairdresser and the Sugar Plum Fairy, Abie Longstaff & Lauren Beard.
On the night of the winter ballet disaster strikes! The Prince of the Land of Sweets has gone missing! Who will help defend the realm from the terrible Mouse King and Queen? With the help of some enchanted toys and some fabulous fairytale fashion, can the Fairytale Hairdresser save the day? The Fairytale Hairdresser: a modern girl in a fairytale world!
Happy in our skin, Fran Manushkin ; illustrated by Lauren Tobia.
Bouquets of babies sweet to hold: cocoa-brown, cinnamon, and honey gold. Ginger-coloured babies, peaches and cream, too splendid skin for me, splendid skin for you! A delightfully rhythmical read-aloud text is paired with bright, bustling art from the award-winning Lauren Tobia, illustrator of Anna Hibiscus, in this joyful exploration of the new skin of babyhood. A wonderful gift book for new mums and toddlers; all children can see themselves, and open their eyes to the world around them, in this sweet, scrumptious celebration of skin in all its many, many, wonderful forms.
James Mayhew presents Ella Bella and A midsummer night's dream.,
Everyone's favourite little dancer, Ella Bella Ballerina, steps out of fairytales and into the world of Shakespeare as she goes on a magical adventure in Fairyland, with Puck, King Oberon and Queen Titania.
Zen socks, Jon J Muth.
Stillwater the giant panda and his friends Leo and Molly teach each other about patience, sharing, and compassion.
Ketzel, the cat who composed, Leslea Newman ; illustrated by Amy June Bates.
A kitten's stroll down a keyboard leads to a celebrated one-minute composition in this charming portrait of a remarkable true friendship. Moshe Cotel was a composer who lived in a noisy building on a noisy street in a noisy city. But Moshe didn't mind. Everything he heard was music to his ears. One day, while out for a walk, he heard a small, sad sound that he'd never heard before. It was a tiny kitten! "Come on, little Ketzel," Moshe said, "I will take you home and we will make beautiful music together." And they did in a most surprising way. Inspired by a true story, Leslea Newman and Amy June Bates craft an engaging tale of a creative man and the beloved cat who brings unexpected sweet notes his way.
Quaky Cat helps out, Diana Noonan ; Gavin Bishop.
Quaky Cat returns to help rebuild the city of Christchurch by helping his homeless cat-friends and taking them in.
Toot : the world's tiniest whale, written by Joy Ramirez ; illustrated by Mike Chapman.
Toot, the world's tiniest whale lives in a fishbowl with his goldfish friend, Henry the Fifth. One day, with Henry's help, Toot leaps out of the fishbowl to go in search of the sea, but Toot must learn to keep on swimming, even when he feels out of his depth.
Nerdy Birdy, story by Aaron Reynolds ; pictures by Matt Davies.
A picture book about a nerdy birdy who just wants to hang out with the cool birds.
The roadman boogie, Nikki Slade Robinson
I'm cold and bored and soggy,' sneezed the Roadman with a sigh. 'All I do is Stop-Go-Stop at traffic sloshing by.' But when a loaded car pulled up, with music playing loud, the Roadman couldn't help himself and danced for all the crowd!
Sleep tight, Anna Banana!, Dominique Roques ; illustrated by Alexis Dormal ; [English translation by Mark Siegel].
Tyrannically subjecting her long-suffering stuffed animals to delays and excuses when she does not want to settle down for the night, a lively Anna Banana finally becomes sleepy only to be given a taste of her own medicine.
I used to be afraid, Laura Vaccaro Seeger.
A novelty picture book exploring the many forms fear can take and the importance of overcoming it.
Lenny & Lucy, written by Philip C. Stead ; illustrated by Erin E. Stead.
A picture book about moving to a new house and making new friends.
Gracie Grabbit and the tiger, Helen Stephens.
Gracie Grabbit is going to the zoo with her dad, who's a cheeky robber. How can Gracie stop him spoiling her day? Luckily, a friendly tiger is on hand to help out.
Mia's thumb, Ljuba Stille ; [English translation by Anja Mundt].
Mia's family members, from her brother to her grandparents, try all they can think of to get her to stop sucking her thumb.

Younger Fiction

The not-a-pig, Polly Faber, Clara Vulliamy.
A charming collection of four beautifully illustrated stories about the unlikely friendship between Mango, a little girl, and Bambang, a Malaysian tapir. Mango Allsorts is good at all sorts of things, not just karate and chess. Bambang is most definitely not-a-pig and is now lost in a very busy city.
Mister Cleghorn's seal, Judith Kerr.
An exquisite new story to delight readers young and old, from a much-loved writer and illustrator. What do you do if you find an abandoned seal pup on a rock in the middle of the sea? Well, take it home with you to your flat, of course.
Dragons!, Kyle Mewburn & Donovan Bixley.
"The terrifying cyclorgs want their gold back, NOW! If Merek can't outwit the evil Lord Crumble, the village is doomed"--Back cover.
Last-but-not-least Lola and the cupcake queens, Christine Pakkala ; pictures by Paul Hoppe.
Lola's mom is home but not home, because she's frantically working all the time. Lola's friends are here but not here as allegiances among the foursome change faster than you can forget your lines for a school play. Lola means well but can't help acting on her emotions and getting into trouble. She'll need to dig for bravery as she deals with a possible ghost next door, stage fright, and, hardest of all, making amends with her friends. Lola is braver than she thinks and her friendships are stronger than she realizes in this funny, heartwarming tale.
Monsters on the run, Kevin Sherry.
Yeti Blizz Richards and his gang of cryptids set out to find a friend for Vanessa, the Loch Ness Monster, even though it means traveling back in time to the dangerous age of the Cretaceous looking for plesiosaurs--unfortunately Vanessa proves to be rather timid about meeting other dinosaurs.
The cloud castle, Thea Stilton ; [illustrations by Danilo Barozzi [and 4 others] ; translated by Emily Clement].
Thea Stilton and her sisters travel to the magical land of clouds to discover why the clouds are disappearing.
The Polar Express, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg.
A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus.
The storm leopards, Holly Webb.
The countdown to Christmas has begun, and Isabelle is enjoying a family day out at the zoo. As her sister watches the penguins, Isabelle is the only one to catch a glimpse of a snow leopard, with its beautiful spotted silver-grey coat and long fluffy tail.