ICCAL » Fiction

Hooey Higgins And The Shark

Book Importer — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:10:56 +0000

Hooey Higgins is in love– with the massive chocolate egg in Mr. Danson’s shop window, that is. But he and his best friend, Twig, have nowhere near the money they need to buy it. Then a shark is spotted off the coast of Shrimpton-on-Sea, and Hooey and Twig come up with the perfect idea: capture the shark and change people to view it. Brilliant! With Will, Hooey’s older brother, in charge of their foolproof plan to lure the shark to shore, the three set off, equipped with ketchup, a cricket, bat, and some rope. What they find, however, is something so amazing that it will blow the shark plan right out of the water!

Steve Voake introduces Hooey Higgins and his hilarious adventures with his friends and family. With Emma Dodson’s lively illustrations, readers will discover that there’s never a dull moment in this English seaside town!

Circles of Hope

Book Importer — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:36:57 +0000

After many futile attempts to plant a tree in honor of his new baby sister, a young Haitian boy discovers the perfect solution.

You Choose

Book Importer — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:01:59 +0000

If you could do anything, what would you choose? Imagine you could go anywhere, with anyone and do anything. Where would you live? Where would you sleep? Who would be your friends? What games would you play? Go on . . . You choose! With the help of witty illustrations, and a whole range of scenarios to choose from, this highly original book has a different ending every time and makes choosing, and reading, fun.

A Bus Called Heaven

Book Importer — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:00:10 +0000

One morning in front of Stella’s house, an abandoned bus appears, looking sad as a whale on a beach. On its front, held up with packing tape, is a hand-painted sign that says Heaven. Right away, the bus brings change to Stella’s street when people stop to talk about it instead of rushing by. And as Stella looks past all the empty bottles and cans inside, as she sees the sparrows nesting in the engine, she changes, too. “This bus could be ours,” she declares. With a master’s eye for finding the magic in the mundane, Bob Graham creates an encouraging story about community – a whimsical tale about neighbors of all ages and stripes coming together, and about one little girl who comes into her own.

Isabella’s Garden

Book Importer — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:00:10 +0000

In Isabella’s garden, amazing things come from the tiniest of seeds as they bloom and flourish and make way for a whole new season of growth.

Such A Prince

Book Importer — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:27:33 +0000

An opinionated, love-starved princess. Her status-conscious parents. Two muscular, but rude, hunks. Their kind, thoughtful brother. Three not-so-perfect peaches. An impossible challenge. And a whole lot of rabbits! Told from the point of view of a very untraditional fairy, this hilarious version of “The Three Peaches” shines a new light on the traditional tale and features a unique narrative voice and madcap illustrations. As in all good fairy tales, the vain, rude characters get their comeuppance, the fairy works her magic, and the princess gets her prince. So he’s a little on the skinny side–he has a big heart. (The heart is a muscle too, you know.) Everything else is fair game in this side-splitting take on the classic formula.

What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?

Book Importer — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:27:33 +0000

This delightfully illustrated book introduces children to the concept of time through the mishaps and misdaventures of Mr. Wolf. the Story traces the escapades of the bumbling Mr. Wolf as he pursues Mouse and Squirrel through their daily activities. A large clock accompanies each activity, representing the passage of time. Bob Beeson’s vivid pen and marker illustrations captivate the eye and capture the imagination with ever-changing details. With its wonderfully entertaining story and pictures, What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf? is the perfect book for children just beginning to learn about clocks and telling time.

The Wolf Of Gubbio

Book Importer — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:27:33 +0000

At night we lay in bed and listened to the howl of the wolf on the hill. In sleep, we saw his shadow slink along the moonlit wall as the great beast circled the town.No one in Gubbio is safe from the monstrous wolf that stalks them. The townsfolk, armed with pitchforks, travel in groups and never venture out at night.One day a band of strangers comes to town led by the Poverello, the poor one. People say he understands the language of bird and beast. Even so, when he offers to go into the forest and face the wolf, everyone is certain he will never return.What happens between the wolf and the Poverello as they stand face to face, is a matter of trust and understanding. But for the people of Gubbio, and one boy in particular, it is nothing short of a miracle.Based on one of the legends of St. Francis of Assisi, the story may contain some truth. During repairs to a chapel in Gubbio dedicated to the saint, a large wolf_s skull was found underneath the flagstones. The Afterword recounts this amazing fact and provides historical details on the life of St. Francis of Assisi.

A Circle Of Cats

Book Importer — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:27:33 +0000

One a quiet day, when the wind was still, the creek could be heard all the way up to where the old beech stood. Under its branches, cats would come to dream and be dreamed. Black cats and calicos, white cats and marmalade ones, too. But they hadn’t yet gathered the day the orphan girl fell asleep among its roots, nestling in the weeds and long grass like the gangly, tousle-haired girl she was. Her names was Lillian.

Lillian is an orphan who lives with her aunt on a homested miles from anyone, surrounded by uncharted forest. She wanders the woods, chasing after squirrels and rabbits and climbing trees like a possum. Free-spirited and independent, Lillian is kindard soul to the many wild cats who gather around the ancient beech tree. One day, while she is under the beech, Lillian is bitten by a poisonous snake. The cats refuse to let her die, and use their magic to turn her into one of their own. How she becomes a girl again is a lyrical, original folklore that begs to be read aloud. Set in the hill country outside of the author’s fictional city of Newford, A Circle of Cats is the much anticipated first picture book by longtime friends Charles de Lint and Charles Vess, whose art is as magical as the story.

Whoever You Are

Book Importer — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:19:58 +0000

Despite the differences between people around the world, there are similarities that join us together, such as pain, joy, and love.