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Acidly funny and compulsively readable, Mercedes Helnwein's debut novel Slingshot is a story about two people finding each other and then screwing it all up. See also: soulmate, friendship, stupidity, sex, bad poetry, and all the indignities of being in love for the first time. Grace Welles had resigned herself to the particular loneliness of being fifteen and stuck at a third-tier boarding school in the swamps of Florida, when she accidentally saves the new kid in her class from being beaten up. With a single aim of a slingshot, the monotonous mathematics of her life are obliterated forever... because now there is a boy in it that she never asked for. Wade Scholfield. With Wade, Grace discovers a new way to exist. School rules are optional, life is bizarrely perfect, and conversations about wormholes can lead to make-out sessions that disrupt any logical stream of thought. So why does Grace crush Wade's heart into a million tiny pieces? And what are her options when she finally realizes that 1. The universe doesn't revolve around her, and 2. Wade has been hiding a dark secret? Is Grace the only person unhinged enough to save him? Eleanor and Park meets Ladybird in this outstanding debut novel. Great for Teens and Young Adults. ISBN 9781529058185 -
SNIP SNIP! SNAP SNAP! This brilliant tale is about a cheeky crab, a crocodile, and a spot of mayhem - with shaped pages to turn, giggles galore, and lots of noisy words to say! It's peaceful and quiet by the river bank, where an unsuspecting crocodile watches over her eggs. But when a naughty crab goes SNIP! SNIP! both noise and mayhem follow. SPLISH-SPLASH . . . WOBBLE-WOBBLE . . . CRICK-CRACK - and all from one naughty little nip! Specially developed and tested with his own preschool-aged children SNIP SNAP is based on common animal noises and miming games played by preschoolers everywhere. The lively and rhythmic words in this story are easy to remember and say together, and coupled with the dynamic, colourful illustrations and cut-away pages, this book helps preschoolers develop vital pre-reading skills. Great for Ages 0-6. ISBN 9781529051452 -
I live near a biscuit factory. Sounds like a dream come true, right? But it's not all fun and jammie dodgers. You see, the biscuit factory is really a Super-Secret Science Lab. Everyone pretends it makes biscuits. It just makes life easier. Until today. Because the biscuit factory tore a hole through dimensions, and now HUGE ORANGE MONSTERS are climbing through. Oh, and if we don't do something, the world is going to go KABLOOEY in the next thirty minutes. NOT ON MY WATCH. You coming?... Great for Ages 9-12. ISBN 9781444955590 -
In the aftermath of World War One, everyone is trying to rebuild their lives. If Ben is to avoid being sent back to the orphanage, he needs to find his brother Sam, wounded in action and is now missing. Lotti's horrible aunt and uncle want to send her away to boarding-school (when she has just so successfully managed to get expelled from her last one!). And Clara, their young teacher, is waiting for news of her missing fiance... Just as they think they've found their feet in the new order, disaster strikes, and Lotti and Ben must get away. And so they hatch a plan - to cross the Channel on Ben's narrowboat and find Sam. And there's something in France that Lotti is looking for, too... Buffeted by storms, chased by the police, Lotti, Ben, Clara and a growing number of dogs set out on an epic journey, on the search for lost loved ones and a place to call home. 'Empowering, rollicking, wistful and joyful.' Hilary McKay. 'Fast-paced and fascinating.' BookTrust. Great for Ages 9-12. ISBN 9780571348763 -
On the day Alex was born, crowds surrounded the hospital. On her first day of school, people spied from the gates. And recently, strangers came to watch her perform in her school play ... as the llama. But why? Alex has always been a nobody. Then a mysterious boy named Jasper starts at school and he alone seems to know the answer. But before he can tell Alex, he disappears ... into the year 2100. Can Alex brave traveling into the future to discover what's happened to him and to unravel the secret of her own astonishing destiny ... before time runs out? A wonderful time-travelling adventure with more twists and turns than the hands of a clock on a helter-skelter. Alex and Jasper are a fantastic dynamic duo, and the book has genuine friendship and warmth at the heart of a timey-wimey mystery. I loved it.'- L.D.Lapinksi. 'A joyous, inventive and original rollicking adventure'Liz Hyder. Great for Ages 9-12. ISBN 9781510108370 -
Something is happening to the source of the dreamers' power. It is blocked. Diminished. Weak. If it goes away entirely, what will happen to the dreamers and those who depend on them? Ronan Lynch isn't planning to wait and find out. Backed by his mentor, Bryde, he is ready to do what needs to be done to save the dreamers and the dreamed... even if it takes him far from his family and the boy he loves. Jordan Hennessy knows she will not survive if the dreaming fails. So she plunges into a dark underworld in order to find an object that may sustain her. Carmen Farooq-Lane is afraid of the dreamers - which is why she's agreed to hunt them down. The closer she gets, though, the more complicated her feelings become. Will the dreamers destroy the world... or will the world be destroyed trying to eliminate the dreamers? In the remarkable second book of The Dreamer Trilogy, Maggie Stiefvater pushes her characters to their limits and shows what happens when they start to break. Great for Teens and Young Adults. ISBN 9781338188363 -
The crayons are back in this board book all about feelings from the creators of the #1 New York Times bestselling The Day Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home! Everyone knows the crayons love to colour, but did you know that crayons have feelings too? Sometimes they are happy and sometimes they feel downright blue. From the creative minds behind The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home, comes a fun board book to help young readers understand and express their feelings. Great for Ages 0-3. ISBN 9780008495329 -
A brand new picture book inspired by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. It's rotten when you're very small,You hardly get a say at all. It's "No!" and "Quiet!" and "That's enough!"By golly, life - it can be tough... Inspired by the work of the world's number 1 storyteller, this picture book is a guide to growing up the Roald Dahl way, with gloriumptious illustrations by Quentin Blake. A celebration of all the tremendous things children have in store - from adventure to inventions, chocolate cakes to rhino poo - along with a reminder that the very best grown ups are those who hold on tight to the kid inside. Great for Ages 0-5. ISBN 9780241423103 -
Explore the farm in this bright, interactive touch-and-feel book for babies. With simple text, bold illustrations and an exciting touch-and-feel on every double page, this playful book engages little ones while they discover the farm and spot all their favourite farm animals. Children will love exploring all the different textures as they stroke the woolly sheep, pet the furry goat and feel the tractor's bumpy wheels! Great for Ages 0-3. ISBN 9780241463093 -
Make getting dressed fun and help your baby learn first words with this bright, interactive playbook. Name and touch the different outfits, from colourful clothes to shiny shoes!With textured patches to touch, feel and explore, this bright and beautiful board book with grabbable tabs will engage young children from birth upwards. High-contrast colours and touch-and-feel areas stimulate a baby's senses, while encouraging interaction and play. A perfect first words book for all babies and toddlers. Great for Ages 0-3. ISBN 9780241427361 -
Introduce your baby to popular pets with this bright, interactive touch-and-feel book. With simple text, bold illustrations and an exciting touch-and-feel on every double page, this playful book engages your baby's senses as they discover lots of adorable pets. Children will love exploring all the different textures as they tickle the sparkly goldfish, touch the scaly lizard and stroke the fluffy dog! Great for Ages 0-3. ISBN 9780241463147 -
Reassuring and nurturing, this book is the perfect way to remind your little one how much you love them whilst you are at work. Emotive and gentle, When Daddy Goes to Work introduces the concept of work to babies and toddlers through rhyming text. It also offers parents the ideal talking point for conveying their own feelings about going to work and routine in a reassuring and nurturing manner. Beautiful artwork reminiscent of bestsellers Guess How Much I Love You and Dogger draws parallels between the activities of the child and parent throughout the day. This is the ideal gift book for anyone who is returning to work after the birth of a new child. Illustrated by: Anna Terreros-Martin Great for Ages 0-3. ISBN 9781787417618 -
Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex's first children's book, The Bench, beautifully captures the special relationship between father and son, as seen through a mother's eyes. The book's storytelling and illustration give us snapshots of shared moments that evoke a deep sense of warmth, connection, and compassion. This is your benchWhere you'll witness great joy. From here you will restSee the growth of our boy. In The Bench, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, touchingly captures the evolving and expanding relationship between father and son and reminds us of the many ways that love can take shape and be expressed in a modern family. Evoking a deep sense of warmth, connection, and compassion, The Bench gives readers a window into shared and enduring moments between a diverse group of fathers and sons - moments of peace and reflection, trust and belief, discovery and learning, and lasting comfort. Working in watercolour for the first time, Caldecott-winning, bestselling illustrator Christian Robinson expands on his signature style to bring joy and softness to the pages, reflecting the beauty of a father's love through a mother's eyes. With a universal message, this thoughtful and heartwarming read-aloud is destined to be treasured by families for generations to come. Illustrated by: Christian Robinson Great for Ages 0-5. ISBN 9780241542217 -
This groundbreaking picture book is a lyrical, inspirational exploration of growing up Black, written by award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola, and brought to life by some of the most exciting Black illustration talents working today. Remember to dream your own dreamsLove your beautiful skinYou always have a choiceThis book addresses - honestly, yet hopefully - the experiences Black children face growing up with systemic racism, as well as providing hope for the future, delivering a powerful message to a new generation of dreamers. It's a message that is both urgent and timeless - and offers a rich and rewarding reading experience for every child. To mirror the rich variety of the Black diaspora, this book showcases artwork from Dapo and 18 incredible Black illustrators in one beautiful, powerful, and cohesive reading experience. Illustrated by: Dapo Adeola, Alyissa Johnson, Sharee Miller, Jade Orlando, Diane Ewen, Reggie Brown, Onyinye Iwu, Chante Timothy, Gladys Josen Great for Ages 0-5. ISBN 9780241521946 -
Peppa Pig is excited to go on holiday in a camper van filled with all the latest gadgets. But will Daddy Pig be able to find the way when they get lost on the way to the campsite?Peppa fans will love to read and reread this hilarious holiday story! Great for Ages 0-5. ISBN 9780241476604 -
he tiny Tindims are like the Borrowers-on-Sea, who turn our everyday rubbish into treasure. Mother-and-daughter duo, prizewinning Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry, create a fun new world of characters and adventures in their empowering new series for 5-8 year olds inspiring conservation and inventive ways to recycle. In their fourth adventure, the Tindims can hardly see each other! A grumpy Gupper fog is swirling all over Rubbish Island and it won't leave the Tindims alone. And now their world has turned upside down as Ethel B Dina thinks the moon has fallen into the sea! Scrunch me a teabag, how are they going to get out of this pickle?Printed in dyslexia-friendly font with pictures on every page and perfect for the reluctant reader, the Tindims show keen young ecologists how to help protect our planet for the future. Great for Ages 7-10. ISBN 9781838935733 -
Spinderella the spider has a passion for football! She tries to play a match with her brothers and sisters but she doesn't know how many spiders should be on each team. Even worse, she can't count the goals! Luckily for Spinderella, her Hairy Godmother has a plan ... Julia Donaldson does it again in this hugely engaging and funny story all about football, spiders and counting - what's not to love! The perfect picture book for children of all ages - boys and girls alike. Great for Ages 0-6 ISBN 9781405282727 -
It's the summer holidays, and thirteen-year-old Luke has just had his life turned upside down. First his older sister Rose moved 'across the road' - where a community of climate rebels are protesting the planned airport expansion - and now his dad's gone too. Dad only went to get Rose back, but he's out there building totem poles out of old furniture and wearing sandals and drinking mead (whatever that is) with the best of them ... Luke is determined to save his dad, his sister AND his summer. So how does he find himself at the top of a tree refusing to leave until the bulldozers stand down? A fresh, funny, heartfelt look at this generation's must-win battle: one earth, one chance. Great for Teens. ISBN 9781526632852
