England (UK)

Maisy Goes To The City

It’s another first for Maisy! The intrepid mouse is off to the big city with Charley. A perfect story for young children going on an urban adventure.Broom, vroom, beep! Maisy and Charley are in the city visiting their friend Dotty, and there are many things to get used to – noisy traffic, enormous buildings, and sidewalks so crowded they have to walk very slowly (all the better for looking in store windows). Riding the escalator and elevator – and hanging on tight in the subway – are almost as much fun as exploring the giant toy store and eating pizza in a cafe. Even the playground is busy in the city!

The Cat And The Fiddle

With over forty traditional nursery rhymes, personally chosen by the illustrator and laid out in colour-drenched double spreads. this is a beautiful, painterly collection of rhymes that has the makings of a classic. Included are familiar favourites such as: Hickory Dickory Dock, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Lavender’s Blue, Ride a Cock Horse, Pop Goes the Weasel, To market, To market. And then there are some unusual rhymes to discover, such as Jumping Joan, Gray Goose and Gander, and Hark, Hark, the Dogs Do Bark.The pictures contain lots of detail to pore over, with strong decorative elements and a fine sense of colour and design. The perfect book to share, not only with a baby, but with the whole family.

Haunting Violet

Violet Willoughby doesn’t believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother’s elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose. Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother’s scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she’s known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

The Glass Swallow

Rain has a secret one that risks her whole world if it comes out. She designs exquisite stained glass for the windows of her city. But the law is clear: it is forbidden for girls to be part of the glassmakers’ guild. To keep her secret hidden, Rain leaves home and travels to a strange new country. Her trip becomes a nightmare when bandits attack and she is abandoned in a society on the edge of disaster. To survive, she must discover new strengths in herself and seek out the other people that this society has scorned, including a young falconer who is one of the “untouchables.”

A House In The Woods

This Little Pig has made a lovely little den for herself in the woods, and that Little Pig has built a small hut right next door.  One morning they return from a walk to find that their big friend Bear has moved into the little den and their even larger friend Moose has moved into the little hut. It’s very nice to have friends live with you, but not so nice when both homes collapse!  But what if they find a way to build a house in the woods that all four of them can share? With atmospheric illustrations and a cast of endearing, industrious character, Inga Moore constructs an inviting story of friendship that kids will be happy to visit.

Talk, Talk, Squawk!

Find out what animals say to each other when they think humans aren’t listening! From amorous stink bugs to territorial dogs, from wise old elephants to monkeys with a grudge, “Talk, Talk, Squawk!” has everything you need to know about animals and how and why they communicate. Covering topics of mating, predation, language, territory and looking at all the different ways that animal talk, including smell, touch, colour and sound, “Talk, Talk, Squawk!” is biology made fun and accessible. It comes with hugely entertaining drawings by artist Neal Layton. It is a companion title to “Extreme Animals” (9781406305593) and “Poo” (9781844287512), which has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. It is a fun and appealing introduction to biology for children. It features witty illustrations from an award-winning illustrator.

Crime, Protest, Community and Police in Nineteenth-Century Britain

This study, first published in 1982, is concerned with the nature of crime in nineteenth-century Britain, and explores the response of the community and the police authorities. Each chapter is linked by common themes and questions, and the topics described in detail range from popular forms of rural crime and protest, through crime in industrial and urban communities, to a study of the vagrant. The author pays special attention to the relationship between illegal activities and protest, and emphasizes the context and complexity of official crime rates and of many forms of criminal behaviour. This title will be of interest to students of history and criminology.

Grace at Christmas

When her grandmother takes in a stranded family at Christmas, Grace is reluctant to share her favorite holiday with strangers, even though the visiting family includes a “real live ballerina.”