The artists of this circus share a secret: Despite their triumphs in the arena, everyone dreams of doing other acts. The clown would love to get on the trapeze, the trapeze artist dies for juggling, the juggler dreams of being the human cannonball and the human cannonball would like to walk on a rope several…
Picture Books
The Longest Breakfast by Sarah Wilkins & Jenny Bornholdt is amongst the finalists for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults. Congratulations!
A story about finding, holding on, and letting go With pictures that are touching and, in a quiet way, funny The moment Mrs. Trueheart, the piano teacher, walks by the poulterer’s store and lays eyes on the white drake, she doesn’t have to think. She just knows: the name of this bird is Ellington. And…
Contemplating Nature Is nature of equal importance to all people?, asks Antje Damm and places the photograph of three children in India right next to this question. To her, nature is of such great significance that she raises more than 60 questions which can be the basis for a long and deep conversation with children:…
When Digger Dan and his friends work on a new project at the Digger Day Care, every single vehicle has to give a helping hand. Each little vehicle is given a specific task. But how can the new vehicle, Finn Fire Engine, be of use? Is he just getting in the way of everyone else—or…
A Good Night Story from the Construction Site Every morning Digger Dan and his friends go to Digger Day Care. But this morning is very special. The Mice have a building plan and every little vehicle has its very own task to complete. Leo the Wheel Loader lifts a heavy stone. Digger Dan digs and…
The inhabitants at the top of the mountain think their village is the best. Unfortunately, at the foot of the mountain, another village thinks the same of their own. The inhabitants at the top of the mountain live happily in their village, where they enjoy the sun and the cool breeze; they believe their village…
Wearing new clothes doesn’t have to be incompatible with a stroll in the rain. There is no way she will soil her new clothes, her shiny new shoes or white socks. So the girl thinks of all sorts of strategies to avoid the puddles, which in her mind are traps blocking her way. But despite…
Stories about angry clouds, adventurous nights, and thunderstorms in the belly Kristina Andres has come up with new read aloud stories that are beautifully illustrated: They are about going into winter sleep in summer (with ice cream in the tummy to get ready for it); about an adventurous night on the lake (with a hungry…
One normal day, the drawbridge operator is going about his work when he suddenly discovers a bridge troll, who is sleeping under his drawbridge. At first, he is furious. The bridge troll has no business under his bridge, of all places, so why is he here? Gradually, though, the bridge troll and the drawbridge operator…
What is that supposed to mean: The mice are ordered to let a stranger move in with them? This is outrageous! A letter from the mayor changes the quiet subterranean lives of the mice: Someone is going to move in with them, someone, who lost his home. “Where is this person going to sleep? We…
When little Anouk gets lost in the forest she encounters the much dreaded bear. But she quickly realises that contrary to the rumours the big animal is utterly harmless. An exceptional friendship ensues. A modern interpretation of the old Russian fairy tale. Anouk and Mister Bear demonstrates how brave childish innocence can be. by Mascha…
The baby wants breakfast so Malcolm gets out of bed to get started. Then in comes Toby. And Una and Toto, then Alice—they’re hungry too. And Conrad from next door and his sister Ruby! Everyone has a request for breakfast. But who is taking notice of the baby? The Longest Breakfast is a fun stroy…
If you had been born in another land, you could be white, you could be black… The colour of our skin, our languages, food, clothes, games … it could all be different if we had been in another place. Some things would be better, others worse, but what is for sure is that we are…
A strong and simple picture book that perfectly encapsulates the world of a child If I was a banana, I would be that one, so beautifully yellow and full of banana … This boy’s eye-view of the everyday brings alive all the wonder and oddity of the world inside our own heads. It beautifully captures…
It was an ordinary day when God turned up. A place like many others, between the tower blocks, where the bins are placed. The boy on the swings immediately saw that it was God; this bloke in the old jacket and weird hat. When the boy joined God for a walk, he wasn’t afraid of…
Magnificent Story Between Heaven and Hell When Luci joins the class, it quickly becomes apparent that he is no child like the others. The little horn peaks on his head and his hoof leave little room for doubt: Luci is a young devil straight from hell. Devils, even little ones, can do things others are…
Even though bears of various kinds lived in the town—black and white, striped and nicely coiffed—one of them always stood out: Linus. His fur was so scraggy that you could only see the tip of his nose. He didn’t work and danced through the streets like a spinning top. This bear was a hair-raising nuisance….
A deft and delightful tale, packed with word play and madcap energy A class trip to the zoo descents into a chaotic hunt for the missing hippopotamus. Teacher, zookeeper and all the children join the search. The noise and drama reach a pitch, and no one thinks to listen to quiet Liam, who really might…
Eleven and half good night stories with Fox and Rabbit Fox and rabbit lived far away, behind the mole hills, in a small yel-low house. If they can’t sleep, they count the good nights (335 in total). If they wish each other a good night, the rustling pear tree, the raspberries and the stars join…