Best Selling Books by Diana Hendry

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.

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.

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 . . .

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.

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.

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?

Ever since Ned and Jess''s parents split, they''ve had to put up with lodgers in the house, and they''ve all been disasters. So they aren''t exactly thrilled when Mum announces the arrival of Kid Kibble - especially when they learn that he is a teacher at their school. Jess takes against him at once, sure that he''ll be good and clean and boring. But boring is one thing that Kid Kibble is certainly not. He arrives with a skeleton over his shoulder, a variety of animals and a trombone. Biologist, musician and eccentric, Kid Kibble turns the house into one huge laboratory, culminating in an episode when a plague of locusts and a host of bats take up lodgings in the kitchen. In the end even Jess is won over.

It is a hot sunny day and Big Mouse is digging in the garden. He asks Little Mouse to help, but Little Mouse is busy dreaming. The dream involves daisies, clover and two snowy white feathers. What can it be - and will Big Mouse like it?

Christmas brings aunts, uncles, friends, and strangers to the house on Exeter Street, where the holiday gradually becomes a crowded but festive occasion.

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

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

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.

Having just moved to the city from a country cottage, Hannah feels unsettled until she meets Eliza and Jenny and becomes a rainbow watcher for Mrs. Middlesome-Merry, a local artist who paints only flowers.

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. . . . ?

At first Hannah dislikes the idea of moving from Dungee Farm Cottage to a house in the city, but she soon finds the new house friendly and learns how to talk to the big tree outside her window.

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, except the stubborn camel.