Grandad’s Pink Trousers

The grandfather of our story isn’t like other grandparents. He wears pink trousers! And that’s not all that’s strange about him. People say that he’s a strange old codger altogether. Some even think that he’s grumpy. But as his grandson grows up, he comes to understand why Grandad does strange things like refusing to give up his silly trousers. The child reader of this thought-provoking story will learn that quiet heroism can be more effective than a thousand grand gestures.

The Family Tree

When her teacher gives her class a simple family tree assignment, Ada is stumped. How can she make her family fit into this simple template?

Ada is adopted. She can see where to put her parents on the tree, but what about her birth mom? Ada has a biological sister, but her sister has different adoptive parents — where do they go on the tree?

With the help of her friends and family, Ada figures it out. She creates her family tree . . . and so much more.

Night Lunch

Noses sniff the air as mouthwatering smells waft down city streets, luring growling bellies to the Night Owl. Inside this elegant, horse-drawn establishment, a feathery cook works the grill, serving up tasty dishes for shift-workers and operagoers alike: a mince pie for Fox, a ham sandwich for Badger and puddings for little Possums. Mouse, a poor street sweeper, watches as the line of customers swells, ever hopeful that someone will drop a morsel of food — but Owl’s cooking is far too delicious for more than a crumb to be found. As the evening’s service winds down, weary Owl spots trembling Mouse. Has he found his own night lunch, or will he invite this small sweeper inside for a midnight feast for two?

Bandoola

“When World War II comes to Myanmar, one special elephant becomes a hero. As people are forced to leave their home in the Burmese jungle, Bandoola, his keeper and war veteran James Howard Williams (Aka Elephant Bill), undertake a journey that will test their courage, and take their trust, understanding and bravery to the very limit. Together, they lead a group of 53 elephants and over 200 refugees to safety, scaling 6000ft mountains as they trek from Myanmar to northern India.”–Back cover.

Why Humans Build Up: The Rise Of Towers, Temples And Skyscrapers (Orca Timeline, 1)

“Part of the nonfiction Orca Timeline series, with photographs and illustrations throughout. This book explores why and how people have constructed taller and taller buildings over the course of human history”–

A Perfect Wonderful Day With Friends

Raccoon decides to bake an apple cake. But he has no eggs, so visits his friend Fox, who needs a ladder to mend the roof. Badger will have one, but he needs help too, so they set off to find Bear. They stroll through meadows, meet up with Crow, nibble blackberries and find Bear fishing at the river. Soon the five friends are having the best day out–the sun shining on their fur, fishing, swimming, picnic and finally home to bake the cake–two cakes, because bears have big appetites.

My Life At The Bottom

“From award-winning Nordic author and illustrator Linda Bondestam comes a new kind of climate change story, narrated by an adorable axolotl who is-possibly-the last of its kind. In a forest of seaweed there was ME, a rare and beautiful little axolotl, going for my first-ever swim. So graceful, and yet so lonesome-out of 987 eggs, mine was the only one that hatched. Who knows, maybe I was the last axolotl in these waters? At the bottom of a lake in a busy city, our axolotl narrator goes to underwater school, collects treasures tossed away by the big lugs on land, and has dance parties with tiger salamander friends. Life is good! But as the world gets hotter and hotter, the water gets murkier. Friends become harder to find, and the lonesome axolotl grows even lonelier. Until one day when, out of the blue, a colossal wave carries the axolotl into a surprising new future…. Bittersweet, funny, existential, and hopeful, My Life at the Bottom is a tale of the climate crisis unlike any other. Combining her irresistible visual wit with exquisite aquatic art and rare empathy, Linda Bondestam brings us a story of catastrophe that bursts with life”–