a harrowing, important, triumphant and inspiring story

a harrowing, important, triumphant and inspiring story

One of the great things about picture books is their ability to help us feel the history as well as know the history, but they can do it in a way that leaves us with a sense of beauty and hope. Half Spoon of Rice does this brilliantly.
ages 10 years and up

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celebrating home as a place, reassuring and stretching, rich with detail

celebrating home as a place, reassuring and stretching, rich with detail

ages 2 to 8 years
Home as any place, as a reflection of who we are, as something that binds us to our community, as something unique and special—all of this is reflected in Ellis’ charming illustrations and simple words. The beauty of one's home as a place to be nurtured and to grow is poignantly on show throughout.

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a bit of spunk and kindness can make a big difference

a bit of spunk and kindness can make a big difference

ages 2 to 8 years
Faith, Rose and Blossom have moved into a new house with their mum and dad. They settle into a delightful routine of watching the sun rise every morning from the roof of their house. But.. “The sun never touched the house next door. Next door, everything bristled. Next door lived Mr Wintergarten.

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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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hooray for a decent prince and a woman with a bit of spunk!

hooray for a decent prince and a woman with a bit of spunk!

ages 2 to 12 years
A brilliant gift book. We have quite a collection of princess-and-the-pea stories, mainly because Alec (our second son) was called Princess for quite a few years after a camp where he slept on a whole pile of mattresses. This one is great. Prince Henrik needs to find a proper princess to be his wife - and he does! 

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A Nice Walk In The Jungle: vindication for every child who has been ignored!

A Nice Walk In The Jungle: vindication for every child who has been ignored!

Age guide: 2 to 8 years & grown-up
With the friendliest looking boa constrictor ever greedily gobbling children on a nature walk with their teacher (it’s pink and green instead of the usual yellow and green or brown) – this is a joyful and funny book. It’s especially funny if you could possibly be one of the people the book is inscribed to: ‘all absent-minded parents and enthusiastic teachers’. 

Which I imagine covers most adults at one time or another.

This is the story of a school nature walk gone horribly wrong, then most satisfyingly redeemed. 

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