Miro and Zia live in Aurora, a fishing town nestled in the shadow of a mysterious castle. Miro lives in the world of books; Zia is never without her camera. The day they meet, they stumble on a secret. With Zia determined to discover more, a reluctant Miro is pulled into a real-life adventure. The…
Gecko Press
Jenny Bornholdt & Sarah Wilkins A Book is a Book Told from a child’s view, this book captures the magic of books felt by voracious readers, and is a perfect gift for book-lovers of all ages. This small-format jacketed hardback has whimsical yet humorous illustrations and words that perfectly define everything that is good about…
The Cook who Cooked for Captain Cook Cook’s Cook follows the 1768 journey of James Cook’s H.M.S. Endeavour with his ship’s cook, the one-handed John Thompson, as story teller. Through real recipes, events on board and the places the ship travelled on its way to the Pacific, the book tells multiple stories. Here are stories…
In this resonant story from Joy Cowley, Cam the mountain boy follows the river from its trickling source in the snow all the way to the sea. The river leads him through forest, farms and towns to the salty wind of the sea. The dramatic landscapes are packed with detail to discover in the world…
Joy Cowley & Gavin Bishop Friends: Snake and Lizard The beguiling pair introduced in Snake and Lizard now share a burrow and are business partners, too! Snake is elegant and calm, and a little self-centred; Lizard is exuberant and irrepressible. Even though they’re opposites, they are good friends. With its wisdom, acceptance and good humour,…
Fairytale, time travel and adventure Harsu has five droplets of god blood and a treasured cloak to remember his father by. Now his father is gone, he lives with his mother, his only friend an old onager donkey. And something is not right with Harsu’s mother. She has started kidnapping children, and sometimes her skin…
A comical story about a very busy bath Pig has been looking forward to a lovely peaceful bath all day… In come Sheep, then Cow and Horse. They are very noisy! But Pig finds a way to make them go away. Oink! by David Elliot White Ravens 2018 Best 50 Kids Books 2018, The…
Five children have 28 days to map a rail route through the mountains in this exciting adventure-race for middle readers. Sal, Joe, Francie and Humphrey misplace their mother as they begin the Great Race to map a rail route through an uncharted wilderness. Their money is gone and their father didn’t come back from his last adventure….
More funny stories and wry observations with the bestselling Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley “There is so much of human nature and good humour in the stories of Helper and Helper. We are very pleased to be back in the company of Snake and Lizard!” Julia Marshall, Publisher “Not a word out of…
Mum said she nearly died. That wasn’t true. But it was a shock for her. She and her sister didn’t get along, and here was Auntie Rosie West, Uncle Leo West and the five West children moving into the next street. Michael’s cousins, the West family, are everything he’s not allowed to be at home….
Two very different creatures learn about the give-and-take of friendship in these warm and funny stories set in the desert. Snake is elegant and calm, and a little self-centred; Lizard is exuberant and irrepressible. With its wisdom, acceptance and good humour, Snake and Lizard captures the essence of friendship. The stories are beautifully illustrated by…
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…
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…
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…
A family of rats is forced to leave their home, so sets out to find the fabled city of Ratenburg. Along the way they outwit vicious dogs, tricky rat traps, and sharp-beaked hawks, and make some very dangerous crossings. The rat family’s adventures test their character and grow bonds between sisters and brothers, father and…
With a father more interested in money than family, a brother in prison, a sister with a secret, and a mother in denial, it’s no wonder Jeff buries himself in the safe world of mathematics. When a storm hits Wellington, a strange old woman is blown into Jeff’s life, challenging everything he thinks is true. by Joy Cowley “A high-drama…
Tales of Fontania – vol. 3 Dorrity is the only child in magic-free Owl Town. When she finds an enchanted book with dire predictions, she must face her enemies. And who is the strange boy who has appeared in the Beastly Dark? This stand-alone pre-teen adventure/fantasy novel is third book in the ‘Tale of Fontania’…
Tales of Fontania – vol. 2 Hodie is the unpaid odd-job boy at the Grand Palace in the Kingdom of Fontania. Fed-up, he decides to leave and better himself. The young Queen, 12-year-old Sibilla, is fed-up too, because of gossip about her lack of magical ability. She decides to run away with Hodie, whether he…
Tales of Fontania – vol. 1 In the reign of Lady Gall (Provisional Monarch of Fontania), the word ‘magic’ is forbidden… When 12 year old Jasper Ludlow’s parents flee the city, he gets left behind and finds refuge on The Travelling Restaurant, a sailing ship captained by old Dr Rocket and crewed by feisty Polly. Jasper…