Literature & Fiction

Nothing ever happens in World's End Close. So when Stevie discovers a runaway girl in her coal shed, the first thing she does is fetch her best friend, Ray. Both are dying for a bit of adventure, and when the girl begs for help, they readily agree. Yet they soon realise they've taken on more than they bargained for. The girl, Anna, reveals she's on the run from people who are trying to poison her. Meanwhile, on the news, the Americans and Russians are arguing over missiles in Cuba. As the threat of war grows, Anna's behaviour becomes more mysterious.

Bedtime stories are beneficial because they aid in the formation of ties, the promotion of reading, the development of speaking and language skills, and the inspiration of creativity. In this book, the kids will listen to different interesting stories that will inspire them and teach them valuable life lessons. In one of the stories, John discovers a "talking" drawing that instructs and guides him to make a drawing, while in the other one, Peter learns a lesson to never tease a dog when his neighbor's pet chases him down.

Swimming is easy for Teensie. Not so much for Melinda and her father. While they discuss the difficulties they are having with their scuba lessons, he must advocate for himself to get out of the plastic baggie and into a proper travel tank. This short story is Season 1 Episode 3 of Tales from the Tank—short stories that take place within the full-size novels. Season 1 matches up with Book 1 of the Melinda series, Melinda and Her Father Go Scuba Diving.

Positive affirmations profoundly affect our children! Affirmations act as verbal gems of positivity for your child and counteract negative messages from society. These verbal gems of positivity instill a growth mindset. This book is a compilation of positive affirmations for Black children...and much more. It is designed to help affirm and build self-esteem in Black children. The affirmations in this book can be used by parents, educators, and caregivers to help Black children develop a positive self-image.

Timir has the hiccups. Nothing seems to stop them. Small bursts of flame keep bursting from his nostrils and causing mayhem everywhere they hit. Luma is sure it has something to do with the flame charm on her bracelet—but has no idea what. It's time to find out! And that's not the only discovery to be made. When practising for a dog show in the garden Timir realises something very unexpected: he can fly.

The Invisible Dog is the story of a girl who tries to satisfy her yearning for a dog by introducing an imaginary Great Dane called Henry to the house. Her wish comes true, and she is allowed a real Henry - but there's more than a hint that old Mrs Garrow, with her cackling laugh and black cat, may have been involved.

Join the super cutes for a super fun time at a very special school! Days at the Adventure School are all about learning to look after the natural world—and in the fantastical world of super cute, this means learning about some very special creatures from the giant hug whales to the cuddly mer-kitties. But there's ONE animal who doesn't want to look after anyone or anything else…Clive the spoilt chihuahua!

Hex never meant for the girl to follow him and his friend Tommo into the woods. He never meant for her to fall off the rope swing and break her arm. When the finger of blame is pointed at him, Hex runs deep into the woods and his fierce sense of injustice leads him to a strange clearing in the woods—a clearing that has never been there before—where an old lady in a cottage offers him a deal. She’ll rid the world of those who wronged him and Hex can carry on his life with them all forgotten and as if nothing ever happened.

When Luma Dewan wakes up on the morning of her seventh birthday, she knows that today will be special. For today is the day she will meet Timir—a real talking dragon. Or at least when Luma is around that's what he is. When anyone else is there, he becomes an ordinary grey puppy with a fluffy tail. It's a big secret to keep—and Luma's clever cousin Arjun is suspicious of this peculiar puppy, who doesn't quite behave like any other dog. Luckily Luma's grandmother is there to help, and Nani might just know a little dragon magic of her own.

Suzie Wen LOVES gadgets and inventing things—but her inventions don’t always turn out how she expects.... And when Suzie invent the Super 3DTV Gizmo, she ends up getting transported into her favourite TV show—Space Blasters! On board the space ship with Captain Jane, Spaceman Jack and alien with attitude Five-Eyed Frank, Suzie is soon exploring new planets—like the smelly Planet Cheddar—and meeting plenty of aliens. But when moons start disappearing, it’s up to Suzie to save the universe. Can she put her inventing skills to use? And will she ever get home?

Copper, Charli, and her six-year-old ghost friend, DJ, are so excited to stay with their Nanna and Pop at their beach house for a few weeks. One day when Charli, DJ, Copper, and their friends decide to swim at a lake, they discover a willow tree that holds an exciting secret. When they decide to climb the tree, a round door suddenly appears. After Charli, DJ, and the others decide to investigate, they are transported to a water park that holds a great adventure with cool sea animals who soon show them how much fun can be had with just a little magic.

OH NO! Kyle the Coyote ventured out of his family's den and got lost in the desert. Kyle's friend, Oliver the Owl, pops in along the way to hoot some facts about the desert and its inhabitants. Hopefully this sneaky coyote pup will make it home in time for dinner. Kyle the Coyote's moral basis itself is around what happens if a child gets lost or separated from his or her parents. A fun book for parents and teachers to listen to with children, this is the perfect bedtime story.

In his signature style, Oliver creates a fabulously diverse and heartfelt duo in Thao and Kadir and their sometimes hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenching dilemmas of culture and belonging in a remote rural community. Throw in some slam poetry, and it might just end in a lifelong friendship and a whole lot more understanding.

After discovering a near-lifeless Eli at the base of the Great Tree, Morgan knows she doesn't have much time to save him. And it will mean asking for help—from friends old and new. Racing against the clock, and with Arik and Emily at her side, Morgan sets off to follow the trail away from the Great Tree to find Eli's soul before it's too late. As they journey deep into the northern woods, a place they've been warned never to enter, they face new challenges and life-threatening attacks from strange and horrifying creatures.

Twelve-year-old homeschooled Olive is tired of being seen as “fragile” just because she has osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease) so she’s thrilled when she finally convinces her parents to let her attend Macklemore Elementary. Olive can’t wait to go to a traditional school and make the friends she’s always longed for, until a disastrous first day dashes her hopes of ever fitting in. Then Olive hears whispers about a magical, wish-granting hummingbird that supposedly lives near Macklemore.