New Releases by Mary Hoffman

FEATURES A BRAND-NEW JACK REACHER STORY: This crime fiction anthology includes 17 new short stories from bestselling authors Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, and others! “Intellectually outstanding.” —New York Journal of Books Open the files on an anthology of 17 new crime stories to probe the brutal and complex hearts of criminals—and unravel the strangest of mysteries. Watch as a secretive group of intelligence community officers trace Jack Reacher through Heathrow in Lee Child's “Smile”. In Mary Hoffman's “Fallen Woman”, a journalist on the trail of a secretive drug lord gets caught up in the violent suicide of a young woman in Siena. And in Jeffery Deaver’s “Connecting the Dots”, detectives follow the trail of clues in the brutal killing of a homeless man, wherever it may lead . . . Invisible Blood is a gripping collection exploring the compulsions of the criminal mind. Contributors: Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, Denise Mina, R.J. Ellory, Christopher Fowler, Stella Duffy, Ken Bruen, Lauren Henderson, James Grady, Jason Starr, Mary Hoffman, Cathi Unsworth, Bill Beverly, Lavie Tidhar, Johana Gustawsson, A K Benedict, John Harvey

What is a friend? Can a pet be a friend? Are you friends with your brothers and sisters? What if you don't have any friends? A wonderful celebration of all kinds of friendship, from best friends to groups of friends to toys that feel like friends, this truly inclusive book is a great way to start a conversation with children about what makes a good friend. From the author and illustrator team behind The Great Big Book of Families and The Great Big Book of Feelings, this diverse celebration of friendship is perfect for both the home and the classroom.

Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be. Remarkable watercolor illustrations give full expression to Grace's high-flying imagination.

The sixth title in the ever popular Stravaganza series

This fun and fascinating treasury features all kinds of families and their lives together. Each spread showcases one aspect of home life-from houses and holidays, to schools and pets, to feelings and family trees. Ros Asquith's humorous illustrations perfectly complement a charming text from the acclaimed Mary Hoffman; kids will love poring over these pages again and again. A celebration of the diverse fabric of kith and kin the world over, The Great Big Book of Families is a great big treat for every family to share.

During the day, Lucien battles cancer in his modern-age life. At night, he becomes a Stravagante, a time-traveler who finds himself in Bellezza, a city parallel to old Venice.

Astrology, Italian history, and a touch of magic combine in this thrilling sequel to City of Masks

Transported to another world, the Stravagante finds himself in the midst of a deadly feud.

Het is 2003. In Engeland koopt Georgia een prachtig Etruskisch beeldje van een gevleugeld paard. Het beeldje blijkt een talisman te zijn waarmee ze door de tijd kan reizen. Ze komt terecht in Remora, een zestiende-eeuwse stad in de parallelle wereld Talia. In deze stad bereidt men zich voor op de jaarlijkse paardenraces, waarin de twaalf stadsdelen tegen elkaar zullen strijden. In het stadsdeel Ram staat Georgia tot haar verbijstering ineens oog in oog met Lucien, haar voormalige schoolgenoot... Voor Stad van Sterren liet Mary Hoffman zich inspireren door de Corso del Palio, de wereldberoemde paardenraces in Siena. Eerder verscheen in de Stravaganza-trilogie Stad van maskers. Dit boek speelt zich af in de stad Bellezza, een stad die erg veel lijkt op de Italiaanse stad Venetië. Het derde boek zal verschijnen onder de titel Stad van bloemen.

From the different places kids go to school to the things we eat, from what we wear to the holidays we observe, even from modes of transportation and dress to the relatives we live with, children will discover that families come in all shapes and sizes. Each reader is sure to discover his or her situation in this amazing celebration of families.

Living his life as a troubadour, one who travels from land to land to warn people of the arrival of the destructive crusaders, Bertrand meets Elinor, a young girl destined to marry an older man she doesn't love, who quickly leaves everything she has ever known to be with him and become a troubadour herself.

The beloved heroine of "Amazing Grace" is back in her first new picture book in more than a decade. Grace hopes to be selected as a princess in the town parade and asks her teacher for help in dressing the part.

In Mary Hoffman'sDracula’s Daughter, when the Battys find a baby on their step, they decide to keep her. Angela grows up like any other child, until her teeth appear, sharp and pointed. At Halloween, more spooky things begin to happen too! Next, in Penelope Lively'sDebbie and the Little Devil, Debbie has no end of trouble with a little red devil who thinks it’s a great joke to cheat in every game they play. But Debbie likes to win as well, so she decides to trick him—using her own secret weapon! Bomber Wilson hates writing, so he’s dreading keeping a nature diary—especially when bossy Harriet makes fun of his ideas. But Bomber’s fantastic discoveries in his garden at night make his diary more interesting than anyone could have imagined, inThe Monster from Undergroundby Gillian Cross. Chilling, full-color illustrations throughout from Chris Riddell, Valeria Petrone, and Chris Priestley add to the terror. Dare you open the cover of this spooky book?

Emily feels that everything about is boring, her name, her looks, her life. The only interesting bit is the fantasy world she creates in her head, the desert kingdom of Krin, where she rules as Queen K'sendra. But Emily is transformed into Emma Leigh when the glamorous Power family come to town and with a change of name comes a whole new life.When the local library is threatened with closure, Emma Leigh and her new friends lead the campaign against the closure. It is very exciting but Emma Leigh begins to suspect that the Power family are not quite who they claim to be.An adventure story of life between two worlds that will carry the reader along with enthusiasm.

The latest story in the Stravaganza series unravels amid ever-more-dangerous politics and intrigue. Sky, a new Stravagante, is whisked away from his dreary life in London to Giglia, the Talian version of Florence. Featuring favorite characters from the first two titles in the series, including Georgia and Falco, as well as a host of exciting new characters, this breathtaking adventure will not disappoint. But beware-in the beautiful City of Flowers, much that seems beautiful is in fact poisonous...

A chapter bookk sequel to New York Times bestseller and finalist Kate Greenaway Medal, Amazing Grace and Boundless Grace. School’s out . . . and of course that means it’s time for fun! Grace and her friends are always ready for a little adventure, and Grace’s backyard is the perfect place to set up headquarters. Suddenly the lawn is transformed into the center ring of a big-top circus, then a rocket launch pad, and then a hospital emergency room! The group’s exploits, both real and imagined, provide all kinds of unexpected rewards—and might even land Grace on an actual stage in a real theater production! “This is sure to be a hit with fans of Amazing Grace and Boundless Grace. . . . [A] fast-paced choice.”—School Library Journal

This sequel to Specially Sarah tells the story of young Lucy's struggle to assert herself as the middle child sandwiched between an older sister and a younger brother.

As Tyler and his family decorate the Christmas tree, he begins to wonder: Why are all the Christmas tree angels blonde-haired, pink-cheeked little girls? Aren't there any black angels? No one can answer his question - not his mom, not his dad, not even Carl, the mall Santa. As Tyler combs the stores looking for a black angel, he discovers there are none to be found. But sometimes Santa has a surprise or two in his sleigh . . . Beautifully written and illustrated, this appealing story tackles the serious issues of race and gender in a way that all children can understand.

Grace is off to visit her father in the Gambia, and she has to come to terms with her step-brother and sister, and pretty young stepmother.

Dual language book - Panjabi and English.

A collection of children's books on the subject of bears.

The first of a family series. Five-year-old Sarah discovers that being the oldest child of the family can be hard work. She's the first to brave the outside world of school, making friends and going to birthday parties, but this difficult year also brings fun and excitement - and a new sister.

Despite a sudden rain shower, a family all set for a picnic carries out its plans, finding adventure and fun on an indoor picnic.

Discusses the behavior patterns of giraffes and shows them in their natural surroundings.

Briefly describes the physical characteristics, habits and behavior of elephants.

Shows the giant panda in its natural surroundings and describes its life and struggles for survival.