the power of wishing

the power of wishing

This very beautiful picture book is about Rose, who is  “a new face in a new street.”  It's a daunting prospect for anyone, young or old. This is a book that adults will love to look at and read aloud, for the gentle reminders they’ll find as much as the sheer loveliness of it.

ages 2 to grown-up 

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tremendous hope permeates this important story

tremendous hope permeates this important story

Using an imagined conversation between God and Harriet Tubman, this book tells the true story of how Harriet found her way to freedom from slavery - and how she helped so many others to do the same. It’s just lovely to settle into and let the words and pictures swirl about as they do a very important work. 
ages 4 to grownup
 

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empathy, responsibility and trust can change the world

empathy, responsibility and trust can change the world

ages 4 years to grownup
It is not always in our most shining moments that our hearts are changed—sometimes it is in moments of despair or desperation. A young girl's heart is changed in this beautiful story. It's stunning and perfect!

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TERENCE THE TOILET TRAVELS THE WORLD :: a toilet with a yearning for enlightenment :)

TERENCE THE TOILET TRAVELS THE WORLD :: a toilet with a yearning for enlightenment :)

Ages 4 to grown-up
I mentioned to my adult children that I was going to do a top 5 on ‘poo’ books, and Terence the Toilet was the first book they each thought of!

When you’re a ‘bog-standard’ toilet, chances are there are magazines left in the bathroom with you – magazines that show ‘exotic bathrooms in exotic places all over the world’. And that can leave you feeling restless and unsatisfied. 

That’s what happened to Terence – and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that most of us have felt that way too after leafing through the magazines left in the bathroom.

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THE STORY OF THE LITTLE MOLE WHO KNEW IT WAS NONE OF HIS BUSINESS :: spoiler alert, it was Basil the butcher's dog!

THE STORY OF THE LITTLE MOLE WHO KNEW IT WAS NONE OF HIS BUSINESS :: spoiler alert, it was Basil the butcher's dog!

Ages 2 to 12 years
Wanna hear a joke? There was once a family of moles who decided to go for a walk in the sunshine.  First there was Daddy Mole, then Mummy Mole, then Sister Mole, then Brother Mole, then Baby Mole – all walking in a line with their noses to the ground. 

Suddenly Daddy Mole stopped and said, “I smell honey – do you smell honey Mummy Mole?” 
Mummy Mole sniffed the air and said, “I do smell honey – do you smell honey Sister Mole?” 
Sister Mole sniffed the air then said, “I do smell honey – do you smell Brother Mole?”
Brother Mole sniffed the air then said, “I do smell honey – do you smell honey Baby Mole?” 
Baby Mole sniffed the air and said, “I don’t smell honey but I do smell mole-asses!”  (Molasses – get it?)

My kids thought it was the funniest, most risqué joke they’d ever heard when my Dad told it – on the day we bought The Story of the Little Mole 

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a poignant look at growth that follows the storms and trials of a life well lived

a poignant look at growth that follows the storms and trials of a life well lived

ages 8 years to grownup

"Carefully, she unties the string and folds back the brown paper. Inside the parcel is a pine cone."

Based on a true story, Lone Pine tells of a young soldier who is at Lone Pine with his brother while yet another brother is also at war elsewhere. The young soldier survives, but his brother doesn’t. 

This is tough stuff. It’s poignantly told and is full of sadness.  But out of the sadness there is also hope and love. The soldier sends a pine cone from Lone Pine to his mother. She treasures it of course and puts it away where it lies "not quite remembered, not quite forgotten." [The story is set in Australia and Turkey]

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