New Releases by Diana Hendry

In search of the perfect holly with shiny berries to decorate his Christmas tree, Little Mouse begins to make his way home. Suddenly soft white flakes begin falling all around him. "The sky is coming undone!" fears Little Mouse. As he hurries home to tell Big Mouse his imagination overwhelms him. First, he sees a "strange creature" waving its arms at him as he passes the water. Then when he turns around he sees that an invisible monster is leaving footprints right behind him! Finally, after running circles Little Mouse arrives home only to find a giant "white monster" in front of the door. When Big Mouse finds Little Mouse outside he reassures him that the sky is not coming undone, but that it is snowing; after explaining away lIttle Mouse''s fears, he shows Little Mouse that snow makes for a magical Christmas indeed.

When Little Mouse can''t sleep because of all the noises he hears outside, it''s Big Mouse to the rescue in this padded board book featuring a story perfect for calming fears at bedtime. Little Mouse can''t sleep. He can hear huffing and puffing outside the house. Something is tapping on the window, and there''s someone calling "Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo!" out there, too! Little Mouse asks if he can sleep in Big Mouse''s bed. But Big Mouse is determined that Little Mouse should sleep in his own bed. Can Big Mouse help Little Mouse with his fears or will they both be up all night long trying to get to sleep?

A beautiful gift collection of ten favorite Christmas stories. Join Little Rabbit as he builds a magical snowman, Molly Mouse as she decorates the best Christmas tree ever, and Santa's helpers as they rush to deliver all the Christmas presents on time!

In 1953, in a quiet seaside town, thirteen-year-old Lizzie is drawn to wild, dangerous Natalie. Natalie's younger brother, Philip, has second sight and all around them he sees evil people, 'left-over Nazis', hiding out after the war. Natalie and Philip believe they must rout these people out of the town and Lizzie is swept up by what is initially a thrilling game, but quickly spirals into disaster. Suggested level: secondary.

When the story opens, Megan who is a foster mother, has two children in her charge: Anna a 12 year old who is, ''rather given to magical thinking'' and Raymond who is 10 and never speaks to anyone. Both children have sad broken backgrounds; Anna (in her fourth foster home) fantasises that her debt-ridden, alcoholic mother is a famous actress and Raymond''s totally unreliable mother rarely comes to see him. Sam, a frightened rabbit of a child, rejected by his family because of lameness and pebble specs is the next to join the foster family and then Brent arrives dramatically in the middle of the night - a tearaway teenager totally beyond the control of his unimaginative, intellectual father. All four of Megan''s foster children have difficulties to overcome in the house high above the river, where each one of them becomes involved in some way with the mysterious river woman. It is impossible not to be totally drawn into the pattern of Brent, Anna, Raymond and Sam''s lives in this imaginative and compassionate novel.

There''s a mysterious, magical new lodger at gloomy 131 Ballantyre Road: Harvey Angell, whose bright beaming, thousand-watt smile can somehow cheer the most miserable people - even cross, penny-pinching Aunt Agatha! From the moment Harvey walks through the front door, Henry knows there''s something very strange and special about his new friend. But where does he disappear to late at night? And why does he have an unusual clock, that tells the time in centuries and years, rather than hours and minutes? Henry''s determined to find out Harvey Angell''s marvellous secret . . .

Ava and Ben's mom, Mrs. Mungo has a new pasta-making machine. But as soon as Ava and Ben go to school, the pasta maker begins working all by itself. Noodles fill the house, slither down the sidewalk and even show up at Ava and Ben's school. It's up to Ava and Ben to stop the flood of noodles.

After a great storm, Henry finds a baby bundles up in Aunt Agatha''s hollyhocks. But this is no ordinary baby: this one has antennae instead of eyebrows--and Henry suspects his old friend Harvey Angell is responsible.

Orphan Henry''s dream to see the ocean finally comes true when his Aunt Agatha takes him on a seaside vacation. On the first night he hears moaning and groaning coming from inside Sibbald House where they were staying. He calls Harvey Angell to help him uncover the shocking secret of Sibbald House.

Little Mouse has a busy day playing in the garden.

Scully lives with his parents in an ordinary-looking semi. But they're definitely not an ordinary family. Scully's dad mends and sells clocks, but he's actually a wizard and Scully's mum can see into the future. Scully himself is trainee wizard

These two delightful stories tell of how Fiona, indoors a real chatterbox, makes a friend, finds her tongue and is able to talk outside the home. The second tale concerns one day when everything starts to talk to her, even her satchel

Diana Hendry's new novel is full of adventure and fantasy, appealing to readers of 7-12 years. She has created some wonderfully warm, unforgettable characters, and as always there is imaginative food for thought.

Ever since Sam''s mum left home Delilah has been his best friend. His father wants the naughty dog to go and Sam realises that the solution is a noisy warm-hearted collection of foster children, the Dobbles, but some hiccups are to be expected.

The Donovans are afraid of so many things that the family gets a dog from the animal shelter to protect them.

This new Walker Double includes two enchanting stories for young readers by a Whitbread Children''s Novelist. In these books Ida finds her stay with Aunt Madge very dull until she meets Pirate, the stray kitten, and Hetty is excited about her uncle''s party.

Synopsis coming soon.......

Eliza longs to escape from her small English seaside town with a romantic beatnik.

One-Eyed Penguin, Knitted Owl, Albapot and Raggy Christine are abandoned in the attic - uncared for and unloved. One Christmas Eve, Father Christmas decides that they will be the perfect present for Lily Peppermint. But what about the children of Hartlepool? Who is going to deliver THEIR presents when Father Christmas is stuck in a cupboard hiding from the new owners. . . . ?

Opening with a group of poems set in Crete, this book also features poems about Christmas, pianos, family, people (real and imaginary), pigeons and skylarks.

When Kid Kibble, the new seventh-grade biology teacher, moves into their attic room with a skeleton and an assortment of living things, Ned, his sister, and their mother wonder if their bad luck with boarders is continuing.

A kitten does not like it when his mother goes away without him, but after enjoying some time by himself, he understands why she does it.

When the animals in Harry's dreams settle in the park across the street the park gardener finds homes in the zoo for all of them but the stubborn camel. Meanwhile in Carey Street, the communal cat; Jenkins, catches a star. Suggested level: primary.