Recreation

New Titles Children’s February 2016 (arrived in January 2016)

Audio Visual

Ava & Lala, directed by Wang Yunfei.
Ava is a mischievous young girl and martial arts student who really knows how to pack a punch! One day she meets Lala, a cuddly and kind tiger-like creature and they discover they can talk to each other. She runs away from her village to join Lala in a mystical kingdom of wonderful animals, where they befriend a huge bear with a heart of gold."
Ghost squad, directed by Joel Souza.
Three middle-school-aged best friends, struggling with bullies and pressures at school, are dared by a gang of older kids to spend the night in an abandoned mansion. Lying to their parents about their whereabouts for the evening, they camp out together with plenty of gadgetry stake-out gear.
Max, directed by Boaz Yakin.
Military dog Max returns from service in Afghanistan, traumatized by his handler's death. He's adopted by the man's family and helps the grieving family
Napoleon, directed by Mario Andreacchio.
Napoleon, a ten week old puppy, dreams of adventure and fancies himself as a conquering warrior. He hears the call of the wild and yearns to be free and fearless. But he gets more than he bargained for when he is carried aloft in a makeshift air balloon and into unknown territory.
Pups united, directed by Guy Distad.
A ragtag gang of international talking-dog mascots must save the day and foil the plot of villains planning to sabotage the Youth World Cup soccer
The Christmas dragon, directed by John Lyde.
"A young orphan girl, Ayden, receives a magic crystal from a dying elf, with a warning that the North has lost its magic and that she alone can save Christmas. Ayden and her orphan friends begin a perilous journey and must escape dragons, goblins, bandits, ogres and other creatures as they team up with Airk, the wayward son of Father Christmas, to return a stolen Christmas orb to the North".
The Christmas pageant [videorecording (DVD)], directed by David S. Cass, Sr.
Vera Parks, an overly intense and demanding Broadway director gets fired from yet another job, leaving her no choice but to take a gig directing a small town Christmas pageant. Stunned at how basic the production is, Vera attempts to back out, but is convinced by some of the locals to give their town a chance. When Vera discovers her former fiance Jack recommended her for the job, she is outraged. But over time Vera grows close to both Jack and his young daughter.
Happy holidays, Hi-5.
From Christmas elves and Santa workshops to wacky weddings and a tropical pool party, anything goes when it's party time in the Hi-5 house!
Toddlers top 40 animal songs!,
Boj. Boj & the Booms.,
When Boj the bilby pops up in Giggly Park to play with his new buddies he brings all his fun Boj-ey ways with him! Boj loves to help his friends and neighbours with brilliant Boj-a-boom ideas to make stuff from other stuff. In the title episodes, Boj and his buddies form a pop band.
Hey Duggee. The super Squirrel badge & 9 other stories.,
Duggee is a lovable brown dog who runs The Squirrel Club; a place where children take part in all sorts of exciting activities and earn badges for their accomplishments. While the members of The Squirrel Club have lots of fun, Duggee teaches them about responsibility, working as a team, taking acceptable risks and - most importantly - thinking for themselves!
Mike the knight. Glendragon's secret adventures,
Mike is an energetic, cheeky yet bountiful young knight-in-training, driven by his passion to help others and, along the way, be the best knight he can be. Through comedy and adventure with his rallying cry 'Be a knight, do it right' Mike learns the power of responsibility and how to do things the right way. Mike and Evie discover a Hidden Garden in Glendragon, full of special training apparatus for young Knights and Wizards! After arguing over whether it is knightly or magical, they learn to enjoy the garden together, practicing their skills and hosting the first ever 'Hidden Garden Games'. Meanwhile, Evie accidently brings a stone Gargoyle to life. When Gargoyle starts causing chaos around the castle, Evie tries to stop him but accidently turns him into three different gargoyles, creating triple the trouble!
Rabbids invasion. Omelette party.,
We don't know where they came from. We don't know how they got here. But we do know this: they're here to play! Rabbids are curious little creatures that have invaded Earth, and they're on a mission to have fun and leave a giant path of destruction wherever they go. Bwah! Bwah bwaaah bwah bwa.
Sesame Street : Monster manners,
Various Sesame Street characters learn about good manners.
Teletubbies. Animal friends.,
Teletubbies is designed to encourage young children to watch television creatively. Full of fun and exploration, it inspires confidence and curiosity and nurtures childhood development. Everywhere you look there are animals friends in Teletubbyland.
Teletubbies. Sing and dance.,
Teletubbies is designed to encourage young children to watch television creatively. Full of fun and exploration, it inspires confidence and curiosity and nurtures childhood development. The Teletubbies love to dance! Join them as they do the Boom Boom Dance and see lots of children singing and dancing in different ways.
Binny in secret, Hilary McKay.
With her awful secondhand uniform and stuck-up classmates, Binny's new school is horrible. And life gets even worse when a storm damages the roof of her house, forcing Binny and her family to move to the countryside whilst it's being fixed.
Boy in a tutu, Kate Scott.
Joe and Sam put their spy skills to the test against a new villain, in a new mission and in - tutus?! The only way to find out who is scheming to steal the World Cup memorabilia exhibition at the local leisure centre is to sign up for ballet lessons there.
Dara Palmer's major drama, Emma Shevah.
Meet eleven-year-old Dara Palmer. She loves dancing and dreams of being a world-famous actress - which means she has to get the main part in the school play. When she doesn't get any part at all, Dara begins to wonder whether it's because of her looks rather than her acting skills.
The great kitten cake off, Anna Wilson.
Ellie Haines despairs of her family. Her younger brother is so desperate to be on TV he's tried everything from sending films of his hamster to SpringwatchLive to auditioning Mum for Looking Good Naked (urgh!).
Henry Hunter and the cursed pirates, John Matthews.
The parents of a friend of Henry's have gone missing - disappeared from the very deck of their boat in the Caribbean. The only lead Henry and Dolf have is an account of a ghostly galleon seen in the waters, and a huge tentacle of mist.
Precious and the zebra necklace, Alexander McCall Smith.
A photograph, a necklace and a missing family. A new pupil, Nancy, arrives at Precious Ramotswe's school, and the two girls soon become firm friends. When Precious finds out that all Nancy has to remind her of her missing parents is a photograph and a necklace of beautifully carved zebras, she offers to help find them. This is the start of an exciting adventure that leads the two girls deep into the remotest parts of Botswana, where they meet an old lady who recognises the necklace and has some extraordinary news for Nancy.

Into Reading

Misty, Christine Dencer ; illustrated by Jessica Meserve.
Sophie has to make an important delivery to her best friend Stanley. There is just one problem: Stanley has a dog. And Sophie is afraid of dogs. Find out if the power of friendship will be enough to help Sophie confront her fear.
Charlie the ranch dog : rock star, based on the Charlie the ranch dog books by Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, and Diane de Groat.
Charlie the irrepressible basset hound embarks on the life of famous rock-and-roll star before discovering that he misses the ranch.
New adventures, written by David Fentiman.
The Force Awakens is set approximately 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, and features new leads Finn, Rey, and Poe Dameron alongside characters returning from previous Star Wars films.
Cat got a lot, Steve Henry.
Cat goes out, and comes back with a lot of new things.
Chickens in the hen house, written by Wendy Kissel ; illustrated by Kelly Spencer.
"Through rhythm, rhyme and bold, striking illustrations, 'Chickens in the Hen House' engages children in basic counting and encourages a shared reading experience with elements of discovery and exploration"--Publisher's information.
Pete makes a mistake, Emily Arnold McCully.
Distracted by his friends, Pete the pig forgets to give Gert an invitation to Rose's party.
Big Dog and Little Dog getting in trouble, Dav Pilkey.
Big Dog and Little Dog get in trouble when they play in the house.

Non-Fiction

Lift-the-flap computers and coding /c[written by Rosie Dickins ; illustrated by Shaw Nielsen].,
An interactive introduction to information and communication technology, which explains what goes on inside computers and what makes them do what they do. With lots of flaps to lift and look beneath, fact-hungry children will devour the fascinating data contained in this bright and engaging non-fiction book.
The maker cookbook : recipes for children's and 'tween library programs, Cindy R. Wall and Lynn M. Pawloski ; foreword by Bill Derry.
Bounce back : how to be a resilient kid, Wendy L. Moss.
Think of a bouncing ball. When a bouncing ball hits the ground, it bounces back. That's what resilience means the ability to bounce back from tough times. Some people seem to just automatically bounce back. But the truth is that resilience is not something you are born with or not it can be learned. Bounce Back will help you find your bounce using cool quizzes, lots of advice, and practical strategies that build up resiliency skills.
Top 50 villains, Terry Deary ; [illustrations by Geri Ford].
Get ready to meet 50 of history's vilest villains. From gangs of gangsters to maniacs who massacre, come face to face with the biggest baddies in history.
The way to school, Rosemary McCarney with Plan International.
Your way to school might be by yellow bus, bicycle or car, but around the world children are also getting to class by canoe, through tunnels, up ladders, by donkey, water buffalo or ox cart. In Rosemary McCarney's The Way to School, a collection of gorgeous, full-colour photographs of schoolchildren from Myanmar, Ghana, Brazil, China, Canada and beyond, readers will see that the path to school can be "long and hard and even scary" depending on the lay of the land, the weather, even natural disasters.
Christmas trees, Kathryn Stevens.
Describes the origin and significance of using evergreen trees at Christmas time, how they are grown, cut, and shipped, and how to choose a good
Ground sloths, Joyce Frisch-Schmoll ; consulting editor, Gail Sunders-Smith, PhD ; content consultant: Margaret M. Yacobucci, PhD.
Describes the characteristics, food, habitat, behaviour, and extinction of ground sloths.
How to swallow a pig : step-by-step advice from the animal kingdom, Steve Jenkins & Robin Page.
How to Swallow a Pig is a clever and whimsical nonfiction book about animal behavior disguised as a How-to/Advice book by the bestselling team of Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.
Sea life : a close-up photographic look inside your world, [written by Heidi Fiedler].
Transform the ordinary into something extraordinary with exciting micro and macro photography! Sea Life explores our beautiful and curious oceans, pairing extreme, hyper-detailed images of fish, coral, and other magnificent sea creatures with fun facts, activities, and brainteasers.
Spidermania : friends on the web, Alexandra Siy ; photomicrographs by Dennis Kunkel.
Debunking myths about spiders, this book takes an extremely close look at these intriguing creatures that have both fascinated and terrified humans.
Whose beak is this?, Gillian Candler ; illustrated by Fraser Williamson.
"Can you recognise a bird by its beak? From kiwi and tui, to the less well known wrybill and spoonbill, the beaks of New Zealand's native birds come in all different shapes and sizes. Children will have fun guessing which bird they'll see when they turn each page.
Dodos, Melissa Higgins ; consulting editor, Gail Saunders-Smith, PhD, ; content consultant, Margaret M. Yacobucci, PhD.
Describes the characteristics, food, habitat, behaviour, and extinction of dodos.
The amazing true story of how babies are made, Fiona Katauskas.
The new Australian go-to book for parents wanting help with that talk.
Help! I've got an alarm bell going off in my head! : how panic, anxiety and stress affect your body, K.L. Aspden ; foreword by Babette Rothschild ; illustrated by Zita Ra.
Ever wondered what happens inside our bodies when we feel angry, nervous, stressed or anxious? This straightforward, illustrated guide explores just that, explaining what happens to the brain and nervous system when that alarm bell in our heads starts ringing.
What to do when your brain gets stuck : a kid's guide to overcoming OCD, Dawn Huebner ; illustrated by Bonnie Matthews.
This book guides children and parents through the cognitive- behavioural techniques used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. This interactive self-help book turns kids into super-sleuths who can recognize and more appropriately respond to OCD's tricks. With engaging examples, activities, and step-by-step instructions, it helps children master the skills needed to break free from OCD's sticky thoughts and urges, and live happier lives. This What-to-do guide is the complete resource for educating, motivating, and empowering children to work toward change.
Where is autism?, Rowena Monds ; illustrated by Charlotte Giblin ; featuring Isaac Newy.
Uses a story format to explain autism spectrum disorder from a child's perspective. Kahu explains to his friend Danny what autism is and how it affects him. Includes notes for parents and caregivers.
The trike that grew : a true story, [written by] Sue Bramwell ; [photography by] Rob Tucker.
A true story about applying the power of invention and a lifetime of experience to problem- solving to make a little boys dream come true.
Mini horse, Ann Matzke.
Horses come in many colours and sizes. Miniature horses, called minis, are the smallest. They are less than half the size of a regular horse. A mini makes a perfect pet because of its size and temperament, and were once kept as pets for princes and princesses.
Dogs, Kathryn Stevens.
An introduction for young readers on the basics of how to care for a pet dog. Bright photos and clear, simple text lay the foundation for children to take greater responsibility and a more active role in their pets' lives.
Hedgehog, Ann Matzke.
Hedgehogs are not your typical pet. These interesting and unusual nocturnal animals with bright eyes, sweet faces, and prickly backs require special care and hadling. Did you know that hedgehogs are one of the oldest, most primitive animals to roam the Earth since the time of dinosaurs? Lean more about these cute, quirky little pets and see if a hedgehog is the right pet for you!
Belle, Brent Putze.
Jingle bells, as told and illustrated by Iza Trapani.
Presents the words of the Christmas song Jingle Bells, with extra verses and brief descriptions of the Christmas traditions of Mexico, Sweden, the Philippines, Poland, Italy and Kenya. Suggested level: junior, primary.
Word burger, David Astle.
Kids of a certain age become obsessed with crossword puzzles: what are they? how do they work? when can I solve one all on my own? Word wizard David Astle has come up with a sneaky way to introduce children to the mechanics of cryptic crossword puzzles, by taking them through different kinds of wordplay anagrams, pangrams, spoonerisms, tongue-twisters, homophones before presenting them with crossword puzzles to solve using everything learnt so far. 'DA' puns and word plays abound, making this the word nerd's bible of wordy trickery and puzzling.
A life in pictures, Michael Foreman ; [foreword by Michael Morpurgo].
Michael Foreman's work can be found on countless bookshelves across the world and has had a profound impact on illustration. This long-awaited retrospective traces his life as an artist and master storyteller for the first time, through a mix of entertaining anecdotes and stunning images.
A Scottish year : twelve months in the life of Scotland's kids, Tania McCartney + Tina Snerling.
Five little Scotts ready to take you on a journey through twelve months in the life of
An English year : twelve months in the life of England's kids, Tania McCartney + Tina Snerling.
Five little children ready to take you on a journey through twelve months in the life of
Henry Williams : the peacemaker, written by Alison Condon and Gina Taggart ; illustrated by Tania Hassounia ; produced by Dave Mann.
"Sickened by war, Henry Williams turns his back on a career in the English Navy. He dedicates his life to the native people of New Zealand only to find them at war. Now he finds himself standing in defence of his home with his own family at risk. A threat is being made to burn his house down.
Ngakuku, Tarore and the little book, written by Alison Condon and Gina Taggart ; illustrated by Tania Hassounia ; produced by Dave Mann.
"Great changes have come to the heart of the warrior Chief Ngakuku. He has learned the way of peace. But a huge tragedy is about to overwhelm his family. Will he hold fast to this new way of living or will he go back to the old ways?".
Octavius Hadfield : the friend of the tangata whenua, written by Alison Condon and Gina Taggart ; illustrated by Eddie Booth ; produced by Dave Mann.
"Octavius Hadfield clutches his heaving stomach as the ship lurches from side to side. The storm threatens the life of both the livestock and the sailors as they sail towards the South Pacific. Octavius Hadfield doesn't expect to live long because of his ill health, but he doesn't expect to die at sea before he even arrives at his destination - New Zealand".
Te Whiwhi, Katu and Te Wai Pounamu, written by Alison Condon and Gina Taggart ; illustrated by Tania Hassounia ; produced by Dave Mann.
"Many fights are taking place between Maori of different iwi. Many people are being killed and families destroyed. How can the violence end? Can the journey of two brave Maori men make a difference?".
Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi : the king maker, written by Alison Condon and Gina Taggart ; illustrated by Tania Hassounia ; produced by Dave Mann.
"Tarapipipi is a man of peace. He has tried to stand in the gap between Maori and Pakeha, but his land is being taken and armies continue to advance toward him. The screams of his people have been heard rising from the smoke and ashes.
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.

World Languages

Lisa s'envole = Lisa flies away, Calouan, Gwenaelle Doumont ; traduction: Donna Kovacs.
Les animaux du Quebec, texte, Francesca Chiapponi, Marina Raffo et Patrick David.
Le loup qui decouvrait le pays des contes, Texte de Orianne Lallemand ; illustrations de Eleonore Thuillier.
I love school! = Vive l'ecole!, une histoire de Mellow ; illustree par Amelie Graux.
Oops and Ohlala have a busy school day, colouring, counting, singing and playing.
Clara a deux pays = Clara has two countries, ecrit par Helene Oldendorf ; illustre par Julie Martin.
Moustache le roi des betises, texte de Armelle Renoult ; illustrations de Melanie Grandgirard.
Tanoshii oyasumi 1001 no sagashimono, saku Heizeru Masukeru ; e Teri Gaua ; yaku Araki Fumie.
Popo-kun no minna de osushi, Accototo.
Doyo ehon, Hagiwara Masayoshi.
Pan dozo, Hikosaka Yuki ; Morito Izumi.
Oishii, Ishizu Chihiro saku ; Kuwazawa Yuko e.
Mojutsukai no muchi ga naru, Ito Hiroshi.
Ruraru san no boenkyo, Ito Hiroshi saku.
14-hiki no mochitsuki, Iwamura Kazuo.
Juyonhiki no kabocha, Iwamura Kazuo.
Kagami no kuni e yokoso!, saku e Uruma Derubi.
Tentsuku sakasu, Koda Tetsuhiro saku ; Tanaka Rokudai e.
Janguru no osama, Kudo Noriko.
Oyasumi hataraku kurumatachi, Lichtenheld Tom ; Rinker Sherri Duskey ; Fukumoto Yumiko.
Otogi ressha shuppatsu shinko, Mase Naokata.
Sora kara miru to, Mineo Mitsu saku e.
Fushigi na taneya-san, Miyanishi Tatsuya saku e.
Henteko hamigakiko, Miyanishi Tatsuya.
Zoboshi pao, Mizuguchi Katsuo ; Konishi Toshiyuki.
Ikoka ikoka, Nakagawa Hirotaka bun ; Sasameya Yuki e.
Tokkyu kazoku, saku Nobumi.
Mizutamaribokko, Okuhara Yume ; Suzuki Hatsue.
Omedeto kumachan, Shirley Parenteau, bun ; David Walker, e ; Fukumoto Yumiko, yaku.
Honto ni nacchaukamo yo, Saito, Takako.
Nopperabo no ojisan, Soma Kohei ; Tamura Fukiko.
Otetsudai no ehon, Tatsumi Nagisa ; Sumimoto Nanami.
Yakizakana no noroi, Tsukamoto Yasushi.
Kaku kaku shikaku, Yonezu Yusuke.
Marumaru manmaru, Yonezu Yusuke.
Oyasumi oyasumi, Sharotto Zorotou bun ; Urajimiru Boburi e ; Fushimi Misao yaku.
Nuriya nuriya, Yang Kwi-cha.

Older Fiction

Once upon a place, compiled by Eoin Colfer ; illustrated by P. J. Lynch.
A collection of 11 new short stories and 6 new poems by Ireland's top children's writers, edited by Laureate na nOg Eoin Colfer and illustrated by world renowned artist PJ Lynch. Each of the stories and poems is based around the theme of place, being set or inspired by a particular location within Ireland.
Usborne illustrated ghost stories, illustrated by Jose Emroca Flores.
A collection of illustrated tales of ghosts, ghouls and other unexplainable apparitions.
Usborne magical illustrated stories, Lesley Sims and Louie Stowell ; designed by Helen Lee.
A hardback treasury of stories including traditional fairytales such as 'The Princess and the Pea', 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses' and 'Rapunzel', alongside brand new stories about mermaids, fairies, princesses and dolls.
Usborne thrilling illustrated stories, Lesley Sims and Louie Stowell ; designed by Tom Lalonde.
A hardback treasury of stories including well-known classics such as 'Treasure Island' and 'Sinbad the Sailor', alongside brand new stories about robots, pirates, monsters and knights. This book will last for years as children enjoy having the tales read to them, and then reading them themselves.
On the run, Tristan Bancks.
Twelve-year-old Ben, who aspires to be a police officer, struggles to do the right thing when his parents suddenly take him and his little sister "on vacation," and he learns they took a large amount of money that was mistakenly deposited in their bank account.
VIP : I'm with the band, Jen Calonita ; illustrated by Kristen Gudsnuk.
Twelve-year-old Mackenzie Lowell goes on the road with her favorite boy band when her mom gets a job as the band's tour manager.
One witch at a time, Stacy DeKeyser.
When Rudi Bauer sets out for town one morning to trade, he never dreams that Susanna Louisa will sell his family's cow for magic beans, no less! But that's exactly what she does, and the consequences will be disastrous unless Rudi can return the magic beans to their rightful owner, the evil witch of Petz. The journey to Petz is long and hard, but Rudi and Susanna Louisa soon find a shortcut: a magically sprouted beanstalk leads them straight there and straight into danger because the evil witch of Petz is a terrible giant who has locked away summer and keeps his kingdom a frozen wasteland. In order to defeat him, Rudi is going to need a little magic of his own.
Danger signs : falling on deaf ears, Jenni Francis.
"Sando is deeply resentful of his hearing impaired brother Jordan, begrudging the time and attention given to him ... While on holiday at the beach Sando and Jordan become acquainted with the girls from another family.
My dog is better than your dog, Tommy Greenwald with illustrations by Adam Stower.
Jimmy Bishop likes crime fighters, vampires, and dogs, and he does not care for his new babysitter, so he is delighted when his new dog, Abby who sleeps during the day, and grows huge fangs at night turns out to be a crime-fighting, vampire dog, who also does not like the babysitter.
Smashie McPerter and the mystery of room 11, N. Griffin ; illustrated by Kate Hindley.
When Room Eleven's beloved pet hamster, Patches, goes missing, Smashie and her best friend, Dontel, launch an investigation to bring the thief to justice but they discover that there may be more than one secret to be uncovered.
Max Helsing and the thirteenth curse, Curtis Jobling.
Max van Helsing and a group of friends try to save the world after he discovers he has been cursed by an evil warlock who intends to reclaim the earth for monsters.
20,000 nerds under the sea, Jeff Miller.
Can the nerds handle the high seas? It's anchors aweigh for this motley crew of middle grade, video-gaming heroes. In the exciting third book of the Nerdy Dozen series, Neil Andertol and his friends are in for their toughest mission yet! Neil and his crew have reunited at Reboot Robiski's video-game convention in order to try the brand-new underwater game Captain Jolly's Shark Hunt. Except that their win only leads to trouble. Neil, Sam, and Biggs are captured by the real Captain Jolly, who needs their video-game skills so she can destroy the world. As they embark on an underwater adventure, can the Nerdy Dozen save the day before everything is KO'd?
Once upon a frog, Sarah Mlynowski.
Abby is worried because Jonah has the fairy Maryrose's memories mixed up with his own, but when they try to talk to her they get sucked through the mirror and find themselves in the story of The Frog Prince.
I funny TV : a middle school story, James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein ; [illustrated by Laura Park].
Wheelchair-bound middle school student Jamie Grimm's recent victory in the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic Contest leads to a television sitcom based on his life, but being the star of the show forces him to balance his newfound success with the responsibilities of being a good friend.
Crown of three. Book one, J.D. Rinehart.
Toronia, a kingdom composed of three realms, is wracked with civil war. King Brutan rules with an iron fist. The kingdom's only hope comes in the form of Brutan's illegitimate triplets, prophesied to kill the king and rule together in peace. Separated at birth and scattered throughout the realms, the triplets face a desperate fight to secure their destiny.
Magnus Chase and the gods of Asgard. 1, The sword of summer, Rick Riordan.
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he is tracked down by a man he's never met a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants, and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.
The tale of rescue, Michael J. Rosen ; illustrated by Stan Fellows.
A family a mother, a father, and their ten-year-old son have come all the way from Florida to the Appalachian foothills to experience the wonder of a snowy weekend. At a nearby farm, a cattle dog is working, as she does every day, driving her forty head of cattle from pasture to corral and back again. And then, suddenly, a blizzard descends. The family is trapped outside, disoriented in the whiteout. They are panicked, exhausted, freezing, and stranded in waist-deep drifts. From off in the distance, the cattle dog has heard their faint, snow-drowned cries. Her inexhaustible attention turns to saving them. This stirring tale is both a compelling story of survival and a meditation on the tremendous will of man's best friend.
Precious and the zebra necklace, Alexander McCall Smith ; illustrated by Iain McIntosh.
A photograph, a necklace and a missing family. A new pupil, Nancy, arrives at Precious Ramotswe's school, and the two girls soon become firm friends. When Precious finds out that all Nancy has to remind her of her missing parents is a photograph and a necklace of beautifully carved zebras, she offers to help find them. This is the start of an exciting adventure that leads the two girls deep into the remotest parts of Botswana, where they meet an old lady who recognises the necklace and has some extraordinary news for Nancy.
The hundred and one dalmatians, Dodie Smith with illustrations by Alex T. Smith.
Cruella de Vil is enough to frighten the spots off a Dalmatian pup. But when she steals a whole family of them, the puppies' parents, Pongo and Missus, lose no time in mounting a daring rescue mission.
Webster : tale of an outlaw, Ellen Emerson White.
When Webster the dog arrives at Green Meadows Farm he has already been adopted, mistreated, and given away three times and is done with people, but the other animals of the shelter will not let him give up on the possibility of a special family.

Picture Books

Fairytales for Mr Barker, Jessica Ahlberg.
Peep through the holes in this delightful fairytale adventure. "Once upon a time, there was a troll," says Lucy. But Mr Barker isn't listening. He's off on his own fairytale adventure. Who will he and Lucy meet and will their story end happily ever after?
Daredevil Duck, Charlie Alder.
Although he is afraid of everything, Daredevil Duck dreams of being brave, and then one day, he is given a challenge that might help him prove he has
Bob and Flo : hide and seek, Rebecca Ashdown
When Bob arrives at nursery, half hidden under his umbrella, it gives his friends Flo and Sam an idea. They should all play a game of hide and seek! Bob is first to hide but his hiding skills need a little bit of practice and he needs some help in understanding how to play the game.
Baby's very first play book animal words, [by Stella Baggott].
A brightly coloured, high-contrast, multi-sensory book for babies. Delightful to share, this touchy-feely book will engage even a tiny baby's attention. Books are vital to children's education and introducing them at the first possible opportunity helps babies to understand how books work and to love interacting with them.
When Santa was a baby, written by Linda Bailey ; illustrated by Genevieve Godbout.
Santa's parents think their little one is absolutely wonderful, even though he has a booming voice instead of a baby's gurgle, loves to stand in front of the refrigerator, gives his birthday presents away, trains his hamsters to pull a matchbox sleigh and has an unusual interest in chimneys.
Shine, Trace Balla.
A moving picture book to share with young children, and a catalyst for discussing big questions.
Big bear, little chair, Lizi Boyd.
In pictures and simple text the book presents unexpected opposites, like a big zebra sweeping with a little broom, or a big lion riding in a tiny
Love Monster & the scary something, Rachel Bright.
It's way past bedtime o'clock in Cutesville and Love Monster is the only one who's wide awake. Or is he? As the sounds of the night make his imagination run wild will he be brave enough to stare his fears straight in the googly eye? A heart-poppingly empowering, edge-of the-bed story, about how, sometimes, it's only when we face our fears, that we find out there was nothing to be scared of, after all.
A day of surprises, written by Claire Blunt ; illustrated by Philip Webb.
Follows the excitement of the children in a Solomon Island classroom, when a big ship anchors at sea in front of the school. Parents, teachers and school children rush to unload the surprises from the ship. An excellent insight into another culture.
The green hat that blew away, written by Claire Bunt ; illustrated by Philip Webb.
A delightful tale set in the Solomon Islands. When some visitors come to the school, the children notice the lovely green hat the lady is wearing. When the visitors say goodbye and climb into the boat to leave, a strong wind blows...
Where's teddy? : a search-and-find book, Rod Campbell.
Buster and Teddy go everywhere together. Today Buster is helping around the house, but where's Teddy?
My first busy book, [Eric Carle].
This board book features shapes, colours, numbers, animals, and sounds, all with Eric Carle's classic artwork. It also includes a page with a mirror, textures, and a flap to lift.
Fun in the sun, David Catrow.
Illustrations and easy-to-read text relate a trip to the beach that features a man in a funny hat or hat on a funny man, a sandy lunch and swimsuit, and a high-flying kite.
Is Mommy?, words by Victoria Chang and pictures by Marla Frazee.
In this ode to hardworking mommies everywhere, they may not always be fun or neat, but their toddlers love them no matter what.
Beach babies wear shades, Michelle Sinclair Colman ; illustrations by Nathalie Dion.
Illustrations and simple text reveal the activities of urban babies when they go to the beach, from wearing shades to hanging ten.
Rocker babies wear jeans, Michelle Sinclair Colman ; illustrations by Nathalie Dion.
Meet these rockstar babies who know how to party.
Pee Wee the lonely kiwi finds a new friend, Blair Cooper ; illustrated by Cheryl Smith.
Pee Wee the kiwi is looking for a friend, but takes a while to find just the right one.
Maisy goes on holiday, Lucy Cousins.
In this title, Maisie enjoys packing her suitcase, then meeting Cyril at a busy station where they catch a train to the seaside. They have fun at the beach then write postcards to their friends before returning home.
Scritch scratch scraww plop!, Kitty Crowther.
When Jeremy, a young frog who is afraid of the dark, hears a "scritch scratch scraww plop," he and his father investigate the strange
Nicholas and the Wild Ones, Niki Daly.
How do you deal with a bunch of "wild ones" on your first day at school? Nicholas is faced with a gang of bullies including big Charlie, mean Jake, Wedgie Reggie and, worst of all, their girl leader, Cindy Crocker.
When I grow up, Emma Dodd.
One little bear shares his dreams for the future with his adoring parent.
Reindeer's Christmas surprise, Ursula Dubosarsky & Sue deGennaro.
It's Christmas time in Australia, and Reindeer has great fun giving presents to his friends Cat, Dog and Guinea Pig. But even when it's warm and sunny outside, it's hard to be far from home and family on Christmas Eve. Luckily, Christmas is a time for exciting surprises, and this year Reindeer might just get one of his very own. 'What's inside what can it be? Open it and you will see!'
Ollie's Valentine, Olivier Dunrea.
Ollie searches for the perfect Valentine.
Puddles are for jumping, Kylie Dunstan.
Trees are for climbing, Swings are for flying, And puddles are definitely for jumping!
Nellie Belle, written by Mem Fox ; illustrated by Mike Austin.
At the beach! In the street! Nellie Belle has friends to meet! Wouldnt you like to join her? Meet Nellie Belle, a dog who has fun everywhere! Well mostly.
Sad, the dog, Sandy Fussell ; illustrated by Tull Suwannakit.
Mr and Mrs Cripps feed their dog, wash him, and even clean inside his ears. But they don't give him a name. So the dog names himself Sad. What will it take to make Sad, the dog, happy?
Fairytale Frankie and the tricky witch, Greg Gormley, Steven Lenton.
Fairytale Frankie is a fearless tomboy who wakes up one morning to find a princess hiding under her bed and a frog in the cornflakes all the characters appear to be hiding from a baddie and Frankie is determined to keep them safe.
Socks for Santa, Adam & Charlotte Guillain, Lee Wildish.
A boy called George had a magical plan One Christmas Eve, frosty and bright. As Santa brought presents to him every year, He'd take gifts to Santa that night.
Kitten's first full moon, Kevin Henkes.
When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it.
Angelina's Cinderella, story by Katharine Holabird ; illustrations by Helen Craig.
Angelina and the other mouselings at Miss Lilly's Ballet School perform Cinderella on tour, battling homesickness and bad luck to ensure the show will go on.
I love you already!, Jory John ; illustrated by Benji Davies.
All Bear wants is to spend a pleasant day alone, but Duck really wants to hang out.
Alphabet school, Stephen T. Johnson.
Explore the alphabet in everyday objects found at school in this dazzling picture book. A classroom companion to celebrated artist Stephen Johnson's Caldecott Honor book Alphabet City, this alphabet book is a tour de force in the genre.
Zig and the magic umbrella, Sylvie Kantorovitz.
Zig, a small, blue creature who lives in a rainy, gray world, grabs hold of a red umbrella and is carried away to a colorful forest where he becomes a hero and a friend.
My hand, Satoshi Kitamura.
This is my hand. It can do all sorts of things. Most of the time it does good things, but sometimes. Kitamura introduces us to the wonders of something as simple as your hand it can push, it can pull. It can paint, it can pat.
We all sleep, Ezekiel Kwaymullina & Sally Morgan.
Beneath the stars we all sleep.
Little, Brown presents The Nuts : bedtime at the Nut house, Eric Litwin ; illustrated by Scott Magoon.
Mama Nut says it's bedtime, but Hazel Nut and Wally Nut just aren't quite ready to stop the fun and go to bed.
Little, Brown presents The Nuts : sing and dance in your polka-dot pants, Eric Litwin ; illustrated by Scott Magoon.
Hazel Nut wants to sing and dance, but Mama, Papa, and Wally Nut are too busy, so Hazel calls in a special family member to get everyone moving.
Who needs a bath?, written and illustrated by Jeff Mack.
Bear tries to convince Skunk to take a bath.
The last book before bedtime, Nicola O'Byrne.
Everyone knows that the very last story before bed is the best story of all. But the problem is, everyone wants to be in that very last story! A familiar fairy tale is turned topsy-turvy when Cinderella hijacks the story of The Three Little Pigs, then Little Red Riding Hood jumps in, adamant that her story is better because it's full of danger. And then the Big Bad Wolf turns up too! But disaster strikes! Uh-oh! What will they do? The reader is still awake and needs a story! The characters make up their own story, of course, and one with enough funniness, romance, danger and cake (obviously) to keep everyone happy.
Kiss it better, Smriti Prasadam-Halls & Sarah Massini.
Every day has its ups and downs Sometimes you giggle, sometimes you frown. But the thing to remember, the secret, is this. Everything feels better with the help of a kiss. If you've scraped your knee, or fallen out with your best friend, a kiss can make everything better.
A day in the life of Murphy, Alice Provensen.
Murphy, a farm terrier, describes a day in his life as he gets fed in the kitchen, hunts mice, goes to the vet, returns to the house for dinner, investigates a noise outside, and retires to the barn for sleep.
Goodnight, good dog, written by Mary Lyn Ray and illustrated by Rebecca Malone.
For one restless pup the waking world is too full of wonder to leave behind at bedtime, until he closes his eyes and finds comfort in his dreams.
At the supermarket, Anne Rockwell.
A mother and child fill a cart at the supermarket with everything from grapes to paper towels, finishing off with some very special items.
Zoo zoom!, Candace Ryan ; illustrated by Macky Pamintuan.
The animals at the zoo have a great idea to take a rocket into outer space! But this flight of fancy goes awry when the hippo falls asleep on the job. Will they be able to return safely to Earth? Zoo Zoom, Zoo Moon!
How to find gold, Viviane Schwarz.
"Let's find gold," said Anna. "That would be dangerous and difficult," said Crocodile. "Good!" said Anna. "Let's go!"
My first day at school, Rosie Smith & Bruce Whatley.
On my first day, I will meet new friends and learn new things. What about you? Whether big or small, feathered or furry, the first day of school can be a lot of fun! Beautifully illustrated with delightful animals, My First Day at School captures the fun of learning and making new friends at school.
Your hand in my hand, Mark Sperring & Britta Teckentrup.
A beautiful and lyrical celebration of love, step by step, through the seasons. The heartwarming words are matched by stylish and contemporary art making this a book to treasure and read time and time again.
Thankful, Eileen Spinelli ; illustrated by Simon James.
Combines rhymes and illustrations to convey the importance of being thankful for everyday blessings.
The red hat, David Teague ; illustrated by Antoinette Portis.
Once upon a time, high atop the world, there lived a boy named Billy Hightower and the wind. When a new neighbour appears a girl in a red hat Billy Hightower can hardly wait to meet her and introduce himself. But the wind has other ideas.
Where is Jumper?, Ellen Stoll Walsh.
Jumper is missing, and his mouse friends look for him inside the cave and outside, up among the branches and down into mole's tunnel, but still they cannot find him.
Very first book of things to spot out and about, written by Fiona Watt ; designed by Erica Harrison ; illustrated by Stephen Barker.
A look-and-talk book for very young children, with simple, bright illustrations and lots to see and talk about on every page.

Younger Fiction

The most precious present in the world, Becky Edwards ; illustrated by Louise Comfort.
Taking the form of a dialogue between a little girl called Mia and her adoptive mother, this book explores questions that might preoccupy an adopted child. Mia wants to know why she looks different to her adoptive parents and why her birth parents didn't want to keep her.
A boy called Christmas, Matt Haig with illustrations by Chris Mould.
You are about to read the true story of Father Christmas. It is a story that proves that nothing is impossible. A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow, and a boy called Nikolas, who isn't afraid to believe in magic.
My mom and dad, Claudia Harrington ; illustrated by Zoe Persico.
Lenny follows Kan for a school project and learns what it's like to have a multicultural family.
My two dads, Claudia Harrington ; illustrated by Zoe Persico.
Lenny follows Jasmine for a school project and learns about her life with her two dads.
My two homes, Claudia Harrington ; illustrated by Zoe Persico.
Lenny follows Skye for a school project and learns about her life with two homes.
My two moms, Claudia Harrington ; illustrated by Zoe Persico.
Lenny, the class reporter, follows Elsie for a school project and learns about her life with her two moms.
The fairy dancers. Volume one, written by Natalie Jane Prior ; illustrated by Cheryl Orsini.
Every Saturday, with a hop, a skip and a magical twirl, Mia, Emma and Grace turn into fairy dancers! Enter their enchanted world of fun, friendship, fairy wings and dancing.
A safe place for Rufus, Jill Seeney ; illustrated by Rachel Fuller.
Rufus the cat lives with a family who looks after him, feeds him his favourite foods and gives him lots of cuddles. He feels happy and safe, especially when he is lying on his favourite blue cushion. But he didn't always feel this way.
Uncle Shelby's story of Lafcadio : the lion who shot back, Shel Silverstein.
"You don't have to shoot me," says the young lion. "I will be your rug and I will lie in front of your fireplace and I won't move a muscle and you can sit on me and toast all the marshmallows you want. I love marshmallows." But the hunter will not listen to reason, so what is there for a young lion to do? After eating up the hunter, Lafcadio takes the gun home and practices and practices until he becomes the world's greatest sharpshooter. Now dressed in starched collars and fancy suits, and enjoying all the marshmallows he wants, Lafcadio is pampered and admired wherever he goes. But is a famous, successful, and admired lion a happy lion? Or is he a lion at all? Told and drawn with wit and gusto, Shel Silverstein's modern fable speaks not only to children but to us all!
Cody and the fountain of happiness, Tricia Springstubb ; illustrated by Eliza Wheeler.
A girl named Cody is looking forward to a great summer vacation, but dealing with her mopey older brother, busy mother, and a father away on a long distance truck delivery don't promise a good start, until she meets a new friend in search of a lost cat.
Pig dude : he can do anything!, Michael Wagner & Adam Nickel.
Pig Dude: He Can Do Anything! has something for everyone. Its playful tone, colourful and hilarious illustrations, and loveable main character will make this a family favourite. The young (and the young at heart) will squeal with delight as Pig Dude attempts to fly by almost any means, often resulting in a bruised ego and a bare bottom. And reader's hearts will be warmed as it slowly, awkwardly dawns on Pig Dude that you can do just about anything when someone truly believes in you.
Migaloo, the white whale, Mark Wilson.
In the warm tropical waters off the north Australian coast, a very special whale is born, Migaloo, the only all white humpback whale in the world. As he and his pod make their annual migration to Antarctica, Migaloo discovers the beauty, wonder and danger of a whale's journey.