Eleven year-old Winnie knows that change isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when it means her best friend, Amanda, might be dropping her for someone else. A lot can change in a year...maybe even Winnie.
When Charm became Queen of Karisma, the Silversmith made her a precious gift. A bracelet. On it are fastened 13 silver amulets, called 'charms' in honour of the new queen. The bracelet is magic with the power to control the forces of nature and keep everything in balance. As long as Queen Charm, and she alone, has possession of the bracelet all will be well. And so it was until Zorgan, the evil magician, stole the bracelet and scattered the charms far and wide. Then there was chaos!
Meanwhile, in our world (the 'Outworld' to Karismans), Sesame Brown is waiting to go shopping with her best friend Maddy. Little does she know she's about to be whisked away on the adventure of a lifetime. She's about to become a Charmseeker. Ses suddenly finds herself in a strange new land with castles and forests, princesses and magicians, the friendly tunganoras, Hob and Fig, and the less friendly gribblers. The race is on to find the charms and Sesame is determined to win.
Read by Kate O'Sullivan
(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
In Norton Juster's brilliant sequel to Caldecott winner The Hello, Goodbye Window, Nanna and Poppy never quite know who will show up for a visit-Sourpuss or Sweetie Pie. In a heartbeat, their precious granddaughter can change from a pure joy to a real grouch. One moment she's kind and cooperative, and the next she's stubborn and mean. And when she lies down to sleep as Sweetie Pie, her grandparents wonder what she'll be like when she wakes up. But Nanna and Poppy will love her, no matter what.
Newbery Medal winner Cynthia Rylant's 100 plus children's books have garnered numerous honors, including the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. One day, Annie and Henry-together with their furry friends Snowball and Mudge-see a beautiful hummingbird. It's darting and hovering near Annie's flowers-especially the pink petunias. They love watching it each day. But they wonder how they can encourage their tiny visitor to return after the sweet-smelling blooms wither and die.
Meet Mouse and Mole. They live together in a little cottage in the country. Mouse is practical and cheerful. Mole gets into scrapes and needs looking after. Their everyday adventures will appeal to adults and children alike, because the charm of the stories lie in the endearing friendship of the two central characters and the humour of their exchanges.
Gary Soto's Too Many Tamales earned critical acclaim from Parents' Choice and Booklist magazines. This endearing story stars Maria, a young girl who is now old enough to help her mother make the traditional Christmas tamales. While kneading the masa, she spots her mom's precious ring lying on the table. Just to see what it feels like, she slips it on and continues her work. The real trouble begins later when she notices the ring is missing. Could it have been cooked into one of the tamales?
Author Patrick Carman has collected dozens of awards for his best-selling children's books. With Saving Mister Nibbles! he begins a delightful new series starring a resourceful squirrel and his furry friends. From his treehouse in a city park, Elliot takes pride in solving problems. But when a squirrel named Mister Nibbles is given to a human as a birthday gift and taken to a house near the park, Elliot isn't sure what to do. Everyone knows squirrels don't belong indoors, but how can Elliot and his friends rescue the trapped rodent?
World-famous zoologist Dian Fossey is remembered for her inspiring work studying the mountain gorillas of central Africa's isolated Virunga Mountains. Her tireless devotion to understanding-and actively protecting-these shy and gentle primates introduced them to an admiring public and promoted values of conservation in the African nations they inhabit. In 1966, Dian Fossey left home for Africa to conduct field research on mountain gorillas. It was her second trip to Africa, but it wouldn't be her last. Ascending through nearly impenetrable mountain jungles, finally she came face-to-face with the majestic creatures she sought. Most people believed gorillas were savage giants, but as Dian's observations proved, that reputation was undeserved. Dian would remain a close friend to the gorillas until her tragic murder in 1985, presumably at the hands of poachers. Narrator Matthew Greer's enthralling reading presents an arresting portrait of Dian Fossey-a strong woman whose life was spent championing a remarkable endangered species. "This fascinating biography will surely snare the attention of young animal lovers and aspiring anthropologists."-Publishers Weekly
Does racing around a track at speeds up to 230 miles per hour sound interesting to you? How about doing it in front of 350,000 screaming fans? If you think that would be a good way to pass the time, then Indy racing is for you. Indy cars are some of the sleekest, fastest, most advanced racing machines in the world. But it hasn't always been that way. When Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911, his average speed was 74.6 miles per hour. Over the years, the cars became lighter, faster, and safer. Legendary drivers emerged, like Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, and Al Unser. Women also got behind Indy car wheels, including 2005 Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick. Today, the sport is as popular as ever. Author Janet Piehl's Indy Race Cars is a great introduction to a dangerous but exciting world of spectacular machines, big prize money, and huge thrills.
This is the story of the first six months in the life of a baby bottle-nosed dolphin. You will see what dolphins eat, and how they protect themselves from sharks, killer whales, and other enemies. Learn about these intelligent mammals who live under the waves.
Horrid Henry helps himself to all the money he needs to win his favourite board game, comes up with another spectacular money-making scheme for launching a newspaper with all the school gossip, vows vengeance on Perfect Peter when Peter nicks his birthday party theme and has his own Pirate Party, and gets it by taking over as Head Teacher when Peter plays school with his goody-goody friends.
Read by Miranda Richardson
(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
A rollicking high seas adventure for beginning readers about two feisty and funny pirates.
Sail the seven seas in this swashbuckling adventure! Together with their faithful parrot, Squawk, Captain and Matey sing and dance, rescue a stranded pirate, and hunt for buried treasure. Though these two feisty pirates rarely agree on anything, in their quest for riches they discover their friendship is worth more than gold. Beginning readers are sure to enjoy the comic interplay between these two silly pirates.
