The bad book

 Warning! This book contains nothing but bad stories, bad drawings, bad poems, bad cartoons, and bad riddles about bad characters doing bad things. It is a very, very, very bad book.

The very bad book

In a very bad wood,
There was a very bad house.
And in that very bad house,
There was a very bad room.
And in that very bad room,
There was a very bad cupboard.
And in that very bad cupboard,
There was a very bad shelf.
And on that very bad shelf,
There was a very bad box.
And in that very bad box,
There was a VERY BAD BOOK...
AND THIS IS IT!!!

The Bakehouse

Bert wants nothing more than to be old enough to fight in the war - to handle weapons, defend his country, and have a life filled with adventure. Little does he know that the secrets and danger of war don’t always stay at the front line, and that one boy’s actions can change everything.

New boy

Summary: Adjusting to a new country and a new school was never going to be easy. The food is strange. And it's the whitest place Herschelle has ever been. Worst of all, no one understands the Aussie slang he's learnt on the web. But it's the similarities to South Africa that make things really hard. Herschelle will have to confront racism, bullying and his own past before Australia can feel like home

Smooch & Rose

 Other Title: Smooch and Rose
Summary: Like Gran always said, 'Things don't have to be big to be special.' When Rose and Gran save a baby koala from a pack of blood-hungry dogs, he's named Smooch because he loves to cuddle. With the help of wildlife carer Carol, Rose and her dog Lizzie look after Smooch until he is old enough to make the trees on their strawberry farm his home. Rose is deliciously happy - caring for bush babies is her dream come true! But things change for the worse when Gran gets a letter from the bank. Does this mean they have to sell the farm? Then Uncle Malcolm mentions bulldozers and Rose realises it's not just her home that's at stake. Rose has a voice and wants to make a difference but what can one girl and her koala do

Robot riot

Summary: It started as a science experiment, but now robots are running amok in Northwest Southeast Central school

The cat on the mat is flat

Another collection of irresistible mirth and madness from those maestros of mayhem: Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. Sure to become an instant family read-aloud classic, these ridiculously illustrated nonsense poem-stories will have guaranteed appeal for kids.

The pirates and the nightmaker

It's 1740 . . .

The Firefly is taken in the night by pirates who sail the Caribbean. The ship's boy and a handful of men are set adrift in a jolly-boat. Without food or water the half-starved men eye up the young boy.

Astonishingly, a mysterious Mr Wicker saves the boy by turning him into an unearthly creature — an invisible flying boy with beautiful emerald-green wings.

When the boy is drawn to a ghost ship sailed by Captain Bass, he learns of the dangerous power of a magical astrolabe which Mr Wicker desperately seeks — and why Wicker must never find it.

The boy cannot trust Wicker . . . but is there anyone he can trust? Captain Bass? Sophie Blade, the pirate's daughter? And who can return him to himself?

Daylight Starlight Wildlife

In amazingly lifelike, luminous paintings, Wendell Minor, one of America’s finest wildlife and landscape painters, reveals the variety of animals that surround us when we are awake and when we are sleeping.
 
Minor’s vivid introduction to diurnal (daytime) and nocturnal (nighttime) creatures invites readers to experience the movements, sounds, colors, and textures of nature. By day a red-tailed hawk soars through sky, and by night a barn owl silently swoops through it. In the daylight a family of fluffy cottontail rabbits hops into a field to forage for food, and under starlight a family of pink-nosed opossums does the same. As day turns to night and night to day, amazing critters large and small come and go. Children will enjoy comparing and contrasting the roaming habits of the wonderful wildlife that surrounds us.

Billy's Booger : a memoir (which is a true story, which this book is)

 Other Title: Billy's booger :
First edition
Cover subtitle: A memoir (sorta)
Summary: Billy's wild imagination gets him into trouble at school, but a creative writing contest could be the perfect opportunity for him to shine 

Brave Dave

Previously published in: The big fat cow that goes kapow
Summary: Meet Dave. He is brave. Really, really, really brave ... well, until the night

Duck in a truck in the muck

Summary: A rhyming story of friendship and fun that will delight Andy fans, especially beginner readers.  (Books in Print)

Frog on a log in a bog

Summary: A rhyming story of hijinks and hilarity that will delight Andy fans, especially beginner readers.  (Books in Print)

The lost twin

On cover: This is the story of how I became my sister
Summary: Set in a creepily atmospheric boarding school. Ivy must uncover the secrets behind her twin sister Scarlet's disappearance before it's too late

The greatest Gatsby : a visual book of grammar

Summary: Introducing a new, visually engaging way of presenting grammar. Appealing to the senses and the emotions with colour, texture, humour and drama, this book seeks to make the subject of grammar not only more intelligible to more people, but more memorable

Tashi

New cover ed
'Well, it was like this. Come and I'll tell you about the time I tricked the last dragon of all.'

So says the daring hero, Tashi, in his first book of adventures. Tashi comes from a place very far away. He escaped from a war lord and flew to this country on the back of a swan. He's as brave as he's clever, and he tells the very best stories...

Tashi books are ideal for young readers, or for reading loud, and they're loved all over the world.

Mr Stink

Summary: Chloe's a bit unpopular, a little lonely and completely overshadowed by her disgustingly talented sister. But then Chloe meets Mr Stink, the local tramp. Yes, he smells a bit. But he's the only person who's ever been nice to her and that includes her awful snob of a mother. So when Chloe's mother stands for election, promising to rid the town of tramps, it looks like Chloe might be about to lose her only friend

Penelope Crumb is mad at the moon

Summary: Penelope Crumb is not having a very good week. First she accidentally comes to school dressed as an elephant. And then in gym class she's forced to dance with a boy who doesn't want to dance with her either! When Grandpa tells Penelope that he sings to the moon when he's having trouble, Penelope grabs onto this plan. But sometimes you need more than the moon to fix things

Penelope Crumb

Summary: Penelope Crumb is no ordinary fourth grader. And when she discovers that she *gasp* has a big nose she's initially devastated. But when her mother lets her know that she has the same nose as her Grandpa, Penelope perks up. And then she perks up even more when she finds out that Grandpa isn't dead like she expected - he's just gone. And she decides that it's her job to find him. (Publisher)

Penelope Crumb finds her luck

Also published as: Penelope Crumb finds her lucky stars
Summary: Blaming The Bad Luck for not being anyone's Favorite, fourth-grader Penelope Crumb hopes to change this situation by becoming the lead artist for the mural her class is painting for the residents of Portwaller's Blessed Home for the Aging

Harbour Bridge : Auckland, 1958-59

New Zealand author
Summary: Auckland in the 1950s: a time of rock'n'roll, milk bars, bodgies and widgies and teenage rebellion. The Auckland Harbour Bridge is under construction. Simon likes watching the bridge being built, and talking to his uncle and his mates about what's happening on site. Meanwhile, Simon's best friend Marty is obsessed with the Space Race and younger sister Jo can't stop worrying about the fate of the dogs and monkeys that are the world's first space travellers. Everyone says that life on the North Shore will change once the bridge is finished ...but what does that mean for Simon and his family? (Publisher)

Spud & Charli

 Other Title: Spud and Charli
Summary: Charli is at riding camp and her dream is about to become true - she will finally learn to ride a real, live horse. But when show-off Mikaela picks the horse Charli wants her heart bungees to her toes. Riding camp isn't turning out the way Charli planned, especially when she finds herself in the middle of a life-threatening disaster. (From back cover)

Treasure fever

First published: 2008
Summary: Suppose you were a pirate and you had a whole heap of treasure, where would you bury it? Somewhere in the grounds of Northwest Southeast Central School, that's where! And once the secret gets out, the race is on to find it -- even if it means digging up the whole school ... but who will get there first

How I alienated my grandma

New Zealand author
Summary: Ever since Michael unearthed a strange object from his back yard and pointed it at his grandma, her behaviour has been off the planet and no one except Michael is noticing it. A spaceship load of trouble has been unleashed from Michael's garden. But his only allies are a bumbling sci-fi geek and a stinky oddball! What hope does he have of saving his grandma a stopping the diabolical plan that threatens them all

Butterfly Park

Summary: When a little girl moves to a new town, she finds a place called Butterfly Park. But when she opens the gate, there are no butterflies. Determined to lure the butterflies in, the girl inspires her entire town to help her. And with their combined efforts, soon the butterflies - and the girl - feel right at home.

This book is a great (read-to).

Frog and Toad together

Summary: Once upon a time there were two good friends, a frog and a toad.  From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other - just as best friends should be. (Publisher)

The beginner's guide to rugby

Other Title: Rugby
Summary: Aaron Cruden shares the highlights of his junior and professional rugby careers along with the skills and tricks you'll need to become a rugby star. (From publisher)

Off loading with Sonny Bill Williams

Off Loading with Sonny Bill Williams is the incredible story of how a determined and humble young man became a champion in three different sports... and one of the most sought after athlete in the world! Learn how Sonny did it and how you can achieve your dreams through hard work too. (back of book)

Jammin' with Steven Adams

 Other Title: Jamming with Steven Adams
 Other Title: Steven Adams
First edition
Summary: Jammin' with Steven Adams is the amazing story of how a troubled young man from small town New Zealand, achieved his dream of playing in the best basketball competition in the world -- the NBA! Learn how you can achieve the impossible through the power of hope

Steppin' with Benji Marshall

Other Title: Stepping with Benji Marshall
First edition
Summary: Story of how a young man overcame huge challenges in life, to become an NRL Premiership winner, a World Champion, the Face of Rugby League, an NRL All Star and one of the best rugby league players in the world! (Back cover)

The Letterbox Cat & other poems

 Other Title: Letterbox cat and other poems
Imagine boogie tails and woogie tails, gargle birds and silver trails, whitecaps and cat naps, fish dogs and climbing Jacks.

Taste ice cream lips, marshmallow kisses, cloudyfloss cities and sardine fishes - ewww!

Whatever shape your imagination takes, The Letterbox Cat has a poem for you.

Penelope Crumb follows her nose

Summary: Penelope Crumb has a brother so awful he must be an alien, a mum who draws body parts and a missing grandpa, nobody in the family has seen him since Penelope's father died. So Penelope and her friend Lizzie Maple set off across town to find Grandpa Felix, skipping school, taking trains and calling every F. Crumb in the phonebook. But what is Grandpa Felix doesn't want to be found

The Island of Lost Horses

New Zealand author
Summary: Two girls divided by time, united by their love for some very special horses - an epic Caribbean adventure! On a remote tropical island, twelve year-old Beatriz is about to embark on an epic journey, through hurricanes and across the high seas and back to the time of Christopher Columbus...When Beatriz stumbles across a wild mare with strange markings in the jungle she can't believe it is real. Yet from that moment on the strongest connection grows between them, and she begins to uncover an incredible history. For centuries ago, Felipa and her horse, Cara Blanca, were running for their lives. As the fates of Beatriz, Felipa and their horses become entwined, Beatriz realises that the future of the world's rarest horses depends on her. Based on the extraordinary true story of the Abaco Barb, a real-life mystery that has remained unsolved for over five hundred years. (Publisher)

Just annoying

Is this the right book for you? 
Take the ANNOYING TEST and find out.

1) Do you ask `Are we there yet?' over and over on long car trips?
2) Do you like to drive people mad by copying everything they say and do?
3) Do you hog the shower and use up all the hot water?
4) Do you enjoy asking silly questions that have no real answers?
5) Do you swing on the clothesline whenever you get the chance?
SCORE: One point for each 'yes' answer.
3-5 You are obviously a very annoying person.
You will love this book.
1-2 You are a fairly annoying person.
You will love this book.
You don't realise how much fun being annoying can be.

Teddy One-Eye : the autobiography of a teddy bear

New Zealand author
Summary: A teddy bear comes into a little boy's life in 1950 when his mother is about to have a new baby. The teddy tells the story of his life, being dragged around, inside and out, on bikes, in wheelbarrows, on all sorts of adventures, and always being well loved. He even learns to read with the boy. As Teddy tells his story, he's also telling the boy's story. And the boy, of course, grows up, and Teddy gets left behind sometimes, once even on the beach overnight. Eventually the boy grows up and Teddy is put away in a trunk where he stays, for 17 years, when he is rediscovered by the boy's three daughters

Flying free : stories and where they come from - a book for curious children

Each story is introduced by a letter addressed to the reader. As well as explaining where the story came from, the letters allow the reader to get to know the writer in a more personal way. 

The inspiration for this book came from Adrienne's family who asked that she publish their favourite stories in book form. Before long this truly became a family project as Adrienne's grandchildren and their friends each chose a story to illustrate. 

Some stories are set in Nelson, two in Golden Bay and the rest are from all over. The book is suitable for children between the ages of 7 and 13, though adults have picked it up and kept turning the pages. Titles include: 'Slippery Dipper', 'Anna's Blue Ghost', 'Wriggles,' 'Megabyte', 'Jelly Belly' and 'The Unbirthday Birthday'.

This is a book that will appeal to budding writers as well as readers.

New Zealand author

Red butterfly

Kara never met her birth mother. Abandoned as an infant, she was taken in by an elderly American woman living in China. Now eleven, Kara spends most of her time in their apartment, wondering why she and Mama cannot leave the city of Tianjin and go live with Daddy in Montana. Mama tells Kara to be content with what she has … but what if Kara secretly wants more? 

My dad is a bear

Charlie's dad is tall, round and soft. Sometimes he growls, Could he be a bear? Luckily for Charlie there's one thing bears do best.

Rise and fall

Deep in the desert there sits a beautiful oasis, ruled by a monarch unlike any other in Erdas. His name is Cabaro, the Great Lion, and he reigns over a kingdom of animals, jealously guarding his golden talisman. No human has ever set foot in the Great Beast's territory. The journey to his oasis is impossible. As a team, Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan have achieved the impossible before. But now that team is broken--the friends scattered by a devastating betrayal. The young heroes and their spirit animals have already sacrificed much in their quest for the talismans. But with the world crumbling all around them--and a ruthless enemy opposing their every move--their greatest sacrifices are yet to come (Back cover)

Thea Stilton and the missing myth

Reading level: Grade 4
Summary: While on vacation in Greece, the Thea Sisters make friends with a company of actors who are rehearsing for a play that's about to open. When an actress sprains her ankle, Colette ends up standing in for her. But right before the performance, the lead actor goes missing. Can the mouselets find him in time for the show to go on

Rabbitmagic

 Other Title: Rabbit magic
Originally published in 2009
Summary: Lottie discovers an unhappy, magical rabbit at Netherbridge's other pet shop (the non-magical one), and is determined to rescue him. Jealous, her dachshund, Sophie, sulks and runs away from home. Then Lottie has a dream. Her long-lost father is still alive -- and he's headed for Netherbridge

Dog on trial

New Zealand author
Summary: Scrap shows that he has talent when it comes to herding sheep and goes to the dog trials. There, he has an unfortunate encounter with his father and meets his match with the young Kelpie, Jess, and together, they must save the day in their most challenging situation yet! (Publisher)

The Great Galloon

The Great Galloon is an enormous airship, built by Captain Meredith Anstruther and manned by his crew, who might seem like a bit of a motley bunch but who are able to fight off invading marauders whilst drinking tea and sweeping floors! Captain Anstruther is preparing to marry the beautiful Lady Isabella, but disaster strikes when his evil younger brother comes aboard for the wedding and steals Isabella away onto his underwater Sumbaroon. Stanley, a clever boy with a small horn, and Rasmussen, a reluctant countess-to-be, are busy waiting for an adventure to begin. Instead they have to fight off BeheMoths, avoid enormous Seagles, encounter the terrifying (but nice really) Brunt and save the Galloon from sinking. How will they ever find the Captain's bride when nothing's happening

Squishy squashy birds

New Zealand illustrator
Summary: Prepare for laughter and chaos when the endangered birds that are trapped inside Sammy's book are finally set free. As Sammy's favourite New Zealand birds are squashed into the pages of his book, their quirky personalities and colourful plumages are hidden from the world. They perch in awkward positions on the pages, far from their beautiful natural habitats and unable to live in the wild. That is, until Sammy decides to share them with his class during Show and Tell. Next thing you know, he has unleashed unbridled birdy chaos! Once the craziness subsides, could the birds and the children end up being best feathered friends

Pig the pug

Summary:  Pig was a Pug and I'm sorry to say, he was greedy and selfish in most every way. Pig is the greediest Pug in the world. He is ill-tempered, rude and unreasonable. When Pig the Pug is asked to share his toys, something unexpected happens. Hopefully Pig has learned a lesson

Under the ocean : explore & discover the seas around New Zealand

 Other Title: Under the ocean :
Cover subtitle: Explore & discover New Zealand's sea life
New Zealand author. New Zealand illustrator
Contents includes: The ocean -- Reefs & the sea floor -- What lives in reefs -- What lives on the ocean floor -- Open ocean -- What lives out in the open ocean -- The deep, deep ocean -- Animals of land & sea -- Plankton & other small sea creatures -- Squid, octopuses, crayfish & crabs -- Rays & sharks -- More fish -- Whales -- Dolphins -- Seals & penguins -- Seabird

If you're a kiwi and you know it!

 Other Title: If you are a kiwi and you know it
Summary: Kiwi-ised version of 'If You're Happy And You Know It' featuring New Zealand animals. If you're a kiwi and you know it, dig for worms, If you're a spider and you know it, scuttle about, If you're a tui and you know it, sing a song. (Publisher)
If you're happy and you know it

Five children and it

Summary: Cyril, Anthea, Robert and Jane have discovered an enchanted creature in their gravel pit. The grouchy Psammead is able to grant them wishes! Unfortunately, his unpredictable magic often goes hilariously wrong, and the children soon find themselves in all kinds of trouble

First term at Tall Towers

Summary: It's Grace's first term and she can't wait to make friends, meet her unicorn and learn how to be the perfect princess. If only Grace wasn't the clumsiest pupil Tall Towers has ever seen. Can Grace prove that being a real princess is about more than being perfect

The golden door

Summary: The walled city of Weld is under attack from ferocious flying creatures that raid in the night, bringing death and destruction. The Warden calls for Volunteers to find and destroy the Enemy sending the invaders, and the heroes of Weld answer the call one by one, never to return. Rye is officially too young to go, but his brothers are among the lost, and he must help them. What terrors await him beyond the wall