The Mzungu Boy


Meja Mwangi - 1995
    And when he meets Nigel life becomes even more interesting. Nigel is from England and he has come to visit his great grandfather, the fearsome Bwana Ruin who owns the farm where all the villagers work. The villagers call Nigel the mzungu boy, and they view him with suspicion and fear.Nevertheless, Kariuki becomes friends with Nigel and the two spend happy days exploring the forest together. Then one day the two boys decide to hunt down Old Moses, the biggest, ugliest, oldest and meanest warthog in the forest. The hunt takes them deeper into the jungle than Kariuki has ever gone, and his beloved forest becomes a frightening place, filled with dangerous creatures, including the Mau-mau, the mysterious men who have guns and are plotting against Bwana Ruin and the white soldiers. And when Nigel suddenly disappears, Kariuki realizes that it is up to him to save his friend.

Seaglass Summer


Anjali Banerjee - 2010
    This summer, she's going to spend a month with her uncle Sanjay, veterinarian and owner of the Furry Friends Animal Clinic on an island off the Washington coast. Poppy is in for big surprises. She loves tending to the dogs, cats, and even a bird, and she discovers the fun of newborn puppies and the satisfaction of doing a good job. But she learns that there's more to caring for animals than the stethoscope and cotton swabs in her Deluxe Veterinarian First-Aid Kit. She's not prepared for quirky pet owners, gross stuff, or scary emergencies. With help from a boy named Hawk, a chunk of seaglass, and a touch of intuition, Poppy gains a deeper understanding of the pain and joy of working with animals. With warmth and humor, Anjali Banerjee tells the story of a resourceful, determined girl who can't wait to grow up, but begins to realize just how much she has left to discover.

The Phantom of the Opera


Shannon Donnelly - 2011
    Her father, a famous musician, dies, and she is raised in the Paris Opera House with his dying promise of a protective angel of music to guide her. After a time at the opera house, she begins hearing a voice, who eventually teaches her how to sing beautifully. All goes well until Christine's childhood friend Raoul comes to visit his parents, who are patrons of the opera, and he sees Christine when she begins successfully singing on the stage. The voice, who is the deformed, murderous 'ghost' of the opera house named Erik, however, grows violent in his terrible jealousy, until Christine suddenly disappears. The phantom is in love, but it can only spell disaster.Retold for a juvenile audience from the Gaston Leroux original.

The Curse of Hera (Camp Hercules #1)


P.J. Hoover - 2018
    . . The last thing Logan wants to do with his entire summer is go to some fake mythology-themed camp, but that’s exactly what he’s stuck doing. When he gets there, it’s even worse than he imagined. Each bunk has to re-enact one of the twelve labors of Hercules, sword fighting and all. The whole thing is ridiculous . . . at least he thinks it is until he finds out that everything is real: Mount Olympus, the three Fates who run the trading post, and . . . oh wait! That can’t really be a Hydra, can it?Worst of all, nothing will ever change because Hera has placed a curse on Hercules, making the labors repeat over and over forever. Logan and his friends decide to break the curse, but everything is going against them: a grouchy old sea god, a dragon with one hundred heads, vampire tree-nymphs, and Hera, the queen of the gods herself. Can Logan, Harper, and Daniel break the curse before it’s too late?Don't miss this first adventure in the Camp Hercules series perfect for Rick Riordan fans!

The Official Pokemon Encyclopedia


Pokemon - 2016
    Become a true Pokemon expert with this ultimate guide to the Pokemon animated series! 272 pages jam-packed with Pokemon stories, lessons, facts and figures, this amazing book features Pokedex references of each explored region, and the Pokemon encountered throughout Ash's incredible journey. The Pokemon Encyclopedia is the definitive reference for key characters, battles and places - it's an absolute must-have for all Pokemon fans. Immerse yourself in the Pokemon universe and learn the highest levels of Pokemon training. Gotta catch 'em all!Author BiographyPokemon is a global phenomenon. As well as celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2016, it also released two brand new games Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon. In November 2018, Pokemon will be releasing two new games on the Nintendo Switch - Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee - and May 2019 sees the release of Detective Pikachu on the big screens. - The Official Pokemon Encyclopedia By Pokemon (Hardback)

Rocky Road


Rose Kent - 2010
    Whenever things get tough, they break out the special heart-shaped bowls and make sundaes. The road has been especially rocky lately for Tess and her deaf little brother, Jordan. Their plucky Texan mother talks big, but her get-rich-quick business schemes have only landed them in serious financial hot water.Ma's newest idea is drastic. She abruptly moves the family to snowy Schenectady, New York, where she will use the last of their savings to open her dream business: an ice cream shop. (Too bad the only place she could find an apartment is in a senior citizens' complex.) Tess wants to be excited about this plan, but life in Schenectady is full of new worries. Who will buy ice cream in their shop's run-down neighborhood? What will happen when their money runs out? Worst of all is Ma herself-she's famous for her boundless energy and grandiose ideas, but only Tess and Jordan know about the dark days when she crashes and can't get out of bed. And Tess can't seem to find the right words to talk to Ma about it.This moving story of family, community, and ice cream proves that with a little help from the people around us, life really can be sweet-and a little nutty-just like Rocky Road.

Hetty Feather Trilogy


Jacqueline Wilson - 2013
    Growing up under the watchful eye of the hateful Matrons is hard for spirited, feisty Hetty, but she lives in hope that she'll find her real family one day, and have a real home.These three inventive, gripping and moving tales from one of our most beloved storytellers have captured the hearts of thousands of young readers. Follow Hetty as she leaves the Hospital, seeks work as a servant girl, searches for her mother and father, and finally decides where her future lies . . .

When The Haboob Sings


Nejoud Al-Yagout - 2019
    Faced with the dissolution of familial ties and the prospective collapse of her marriage, alongside a looming nervous breakdown, Dunya's consequent actions exemplify both the strength and frailty of the human spirit. When the Haboob Sings paints a poignant picture of a woman whose unshakeable resolve to preserve her authenticity costs her more than she ever imagined.Winner Indie Discovery Awards, 2020Gold Winner Reader's Favorite Award in Fiction: Religious Theme

Young Samurai: The Way of Fire


Chris Bradford - 2012
    Shipwrecked and his father murdered by ninjas, Jack Fletcher is rescued by the legendary swordmaster Masamoto Takeshi and taken to his samurai school in Kyoto. Hunted by the ninja Dragon Eye, Jack's only hope is to become a samurai warrior. And so his training begins . . . In order to perfect his fighting skills, Jack goes on a gasshuku. But nothing can prepare him for the punishment of warrior camp - the climax of which is to enter the Way of Fire, a terrifying ritual that burns away evil. Can Jack overcome his fear and walk the Way of Fire? Part of the award-winning Young Samurai series by Chris Bradford. Visit www.youngsamurai.com for competitions and to find out more about the books.Previously published for World Book Day. 'A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end' - Eoin Colfer'Addictive' - Evening Standard

Lucky Button


Michael Morpurgo - 2017
    A lonely boy struggles to cope with school bullies and caring for his mother, until a mysterious encounter reveals life in the Foundling Hospital in the eighteenth century and unravels a touching tale about the power of music. Beautifully illustrated by Kate Greenaway Medal-winning illustrator Michael Foreman.

Under the Persimmon Tree


Suzanne Fisher Staples - 2005
    An American woman, Elaine, whose Islamic name is Nusrat, is also on her own. She waits out the war in Peshawar, Pakistan, teaching refugee children under the persimmon tree in her garden while her Afghan doctor husband runs a clinic in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.Najmah's father had always assured her that the stars would take care of her, just as Nusrat's husband had promised that they would tell Nusrat where he was and that he was safe. As the two look to the skies for answers, their fates entwine. Najmah, seeking refuge and hoping to find her father and brother, begins the perilous journey through the mountains to cross the border into Pakistan. And Nusrat's persimmon-tree school awaits Najmah's arrival. Together, they both seek their way home.Known for her award-winning fiction set in South Asia, Suzanne Fisher Staples revisits that part of the world in this beautifully written, heartrending novel."Under the Persimmon Tree" is a 2006 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

The Tree Is Older Than You Are: A Bilingual Gathering of Poems & Stories from Mexico


Naomi Shihab Nye - 1995
    Richly colored paintings interspersed throughout express not just the meaning of the words, but the magic within them.

Guests


Michael Dorris - 1995
    Moss's turmoil will be universally and intuitively understood...and his feelings are expressed in a language that is simple, sometimes coming close to poetry.

The Hungry Toilet


Jason Hall - 2012
    People are going missing and no one knows how or why. Your will meet some fantastic and hilarious characters on your way to solving the mystery. Includes the bonus story - Going on a Bat Hunt. The Hungry Toilet is a Top 10 Best Selling book with the author being described as the "New Roald Dahl of Rhyming." If your children enjoy Dr Seuss, Roald Dahl and David Walliams they will love this book too! Free to Amazon Prime Members Updated for all devices (Kindle, Paperwhite, Fire, HD, iPad & iPhone)

Featherlight


Peter Bunzl - 2021
    But when an emergency arises and her parents have to travel to the mainland for help, Deryn is left alone to keep watch over the lighthouse, and she finds herself in a terrible situation when the lamp runs out of oil during a wild storm. With a fishing boa t in peril on the sea, and time running out to rescue those on board, Deryn seeks help from an unusual source.