Good News Bad News: for the pessimist and for the optimist in each of us

Good News Bad News: for the pessimist and for the optimist in each of us

ages 0 to 8 years—always a fabulous, funny gift!
There are exactly
four words in this book—good, bad, news and very!  But they tell a super story—of a hopelessly optimistic rabbit and an equally hopelessly pessimistic mouse who are about to share a picnic.
 

Read More

for feminist girls and women and boys and men

for feminist girls and women and boys and men

Every once in a while, we each need something to jolt us out of the everyday and remind us that we each have it in us to do and be great. Amazing Babes does that - it's a book that's lovely to touch and to feel, beautiful to look at and simply inspiring to read. 
ages 0 to >100 years

Read More

the perfect book for aspiring guinea pig owners!

the perfect book for aspiring guinea pig owners!

Written by Dick King-Smith (Babe, The Water Horse, the Sophie series), I Love Guinea Pigs is part personal reminiscing, part how-to, part general information, and completely captivating for young guinea-pig owners or aspiring owners.
ages baby to about 12 years

 

Read More

trauma and conflict, love and courage, despair and hope

trauma and conflict, love and courage, despair and hope

Set in Israel, there's an overwhelming sense of 'if only' when you reach the end of this beautiful book .... If only … children really could lead the world to peace. If only … all the walls, real and metaphorical,could come tumbling down. If only … we could heal the wounds of war.
ages 4 years to grownup

Read More

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]

Read More

how ordinary people doing good things led to powerful, enduring wartime bonds

how ordinary people doing good things led to powerful, enduring wartime bonds

ages 4 years to grownup

"They didn't even know us," said Adele. "But they died trying to help us."
Henri thought of his new soldier friends.

Do Not Forget Australia tells a true story through the eyes of a young, fictional French boy, Henri. His village, Villers-Breetonneux, was all but destroyed by the first ever tank battle between the British and the Germans. The Germans won, but Australian brigades followed the British and won the town (on 25 April, 1918 – Anzac Day). 

Read More

difficult life seasons can still be filled with love and joy

difficult life seasons can still be filled with love and joy

‘Tight times’ is the reason the serious little fellow telling this story can’t get a dog. But in spite of the obvious troubles, this is an affirming, reassuring and peaceful book, with a dose of humour thrown in for good measure – as it always should be. (He does get a cat, who turns out to be a great 'dog'!) 
ages about 4 to 12 years and grownups

Read More