New Releases by Frances Watts

Another adventure in the Sword Girl series featuring the feisty Thomasina. Tommy is invited to a tournament, but there''s just one problem: she has never ridden a horse before.

The highly acclaimed Gerander trilogy comes to its thrilling conclusion Ages: 9-12 ''So many secrets ... so many lies ...'' time is running out, as Queen Eugenia prepares to crown herself the absolute ruler of Greater Gerander. And so Alistair and tibby Rose travel deep into dangerous territory on a daring mission to stop her, while Alice and Alex risk their lives by returning to the enemy stronghold they so recently fled. they must act now to restore Zanzibar to the throne, or lose their homeland forever. But Zanzibar has a secret. And it may cost Alistair his life ... Ages:9-12

Kaum haben sich Alex, Alice, Alistair und Tibby Rose von ihrem letzten Abenteuer erholt, stecken sie schon wieder mittendrin im nächsten. Alistair hat eine Entdeckung gemacht: Der Schal, den ihm seine Mutter kurz vor ihrem Verschwinden gegeben hat, scheint ein Geheimnis zu verbergen. In seinem Muster sollen Informationen eingestrickt sein, die für die Zukunft des Landes entscheidend sind. Können die Freunde das Rätsel um den Schal lösen? Und werden sie je ihre verschwundenen Eltern wiederfinden?

Separated from their brother, Alistair, on a summer''s night, mouse siblings Alex and Alice embark on a determined rescue mission and investigate the activities of an elusive underground spy operation; while Alistair, who has encountered ginger-colored mouse Tibby Rose, tries to make sense of what has happened to him. By the award-winning Australian author of Parsley Rabbit''s Book About Books.

The first book in a fun and exciting series by award-winning author Frances Watt and Kate Greenaway Medal winner Gregory Rogers, introducing Tommy - a feisty kitchen hand who longs to be a knight. When Tommy is finally promoted to Keeper of the Blades, will a missing sword ruin everything? Tommy, a kitchen girl at Flamant Castle, dreams of becoming a knight - and when she is made the Keeper of the Blades, caring for all the swords in the castle armoury, it seems like her dream might come true. But then Sir Walter''s most valuable sword goes missing from the sword room. Will Tommy be able to find it before she is sent back to the kitchen in disgrace? Introducing a feisty new character for girls (and their parents and teachers) who love adventure and want an alternative to ''pink'' books. Created by Frances Watts, a CBCA Award Winner and author of the huge bestseller Kisses for Daddy.

From award-winning author Frances Watts comes an uplifting story that shows how happiness can be found in the simplest of things. A book for all ages. A rain-swept day... A heart-lifting flash of colour! A story about the joy to be had in life''s simplest pleasures -especially when they are shared- and finding happiness in the most unexpected places. A book for all ages. ''this is the kind of book that young children can pore and ponder over; the illustrations are simple but vibrant, complementing the text but leaving plenty of detail to ensure the reader will linger over each spread.'' Four Stars, Australian Bookseller & Publisher ''...this picture book is a little gem as the rat imagines the difference his stripy sock will make. the illustrations perfectly capture the emotion of the book. the rat''s facial expressions are priceless and he is so cute. the text is ''heart-lifting,'' to quote a word from the book. It''s a book to make you smile and maybe it''s also saying something a lot of us need to hear about what is important in life. ''this gentle book is sure to become a favourite with children and their parents. It would make a good story for before bedtime as it''s not only short but leaves positive images in the mind. Especially great for 0-3 years but will be enjoyed by those older as well.'' Good Reading

The second adventure in the Sword Girl series featuring the feisty Tommy. Evil plans are stirring and it''s up to Tommy to keep the peace at Flamant Castle! While on an errand to the smith in the town, Tommy overhears a plot to poison Sir Walter during a banquet and make it look like the work of a neighbouring nobleman. Tommy must foil the plot or Flamant Castle will be at war. Introducing a feisty new character for girls (and their parents and teachers) who love adventure and want an alternative to ''pink'' books. Created by Frances Watts, a CBCA Award Winner and author of the huge bestseller Kisses for Daddy.

Extraordinary Ernie and Marvelous Maud, the ten-year-old superhero-in-training and his sidekick sheep, have a good chance of winning the Heroes of the Year award until a pencil-wielding fiend starts to wreak havoc in the town of Baxter.

Winner of the 2012 Prime Minister''s Literary Award for Children''s Fiction, this irresistibly charming picture book is now in paperback! Age 2+ Winner of the 2012 Prime Minister''s Literary Award for Children''s Fiction A CBCA Notable Book Kiss Dad once. Cuddle Mum twice. ''Goodnight, Mum and Dad.'' ''Goodnight, mice.'' It''s time to say goodnight - but the four cheeky mice skittering, scampering and scurrying to bed don''t seem very sleepy! this warm, affectionate story is the perfect bedtime book for the whole family to share. Ages: 2+ Praise for GOODNIGHT, MICE!: ''The perfect bedtime book ... told at a cleverly thought-out pace that should ensure a yawn before the final page ... Illustrator Judy Watson''s detailed expressions on the four mouslings are fun, funny and rewarding upon further visits'' COURIER-MAIL ''An ideal bedtime read for parents keen on winding things down for the sleepy train. Squeak!'' KIDS-BOOKREVIEW.COM ''A story filled with warmth and family love ... this is sure to become a book young children and parents will be happy to read again and again'' AUSSIEREVIEWS.COM ''Utterly flawless use of rich and poetic language ... a bedtime story to read aloud with gusto, to delight in and to savour. Very highly recommended'' SYDNEY''S CHILD ''This is a charming, funny and reassuring story for littlies to follow the going-to-bed ritual ... Recommended'' MAGPIES ''Watts knows how to break up a story''s rhythm by using a refrain, making a story which will be read again and again. Watson''s mice are individuals and the many untold stories in the pictures will be pored over by avid three and four-year-old listeners.'' WEST AUSTRALIAN ''The collaboration of writer and illustrator in this case makes for an almost perfect bedtime book. Watts''s words sing with rhyme and repetition, making them excellent linguistic tools for small children, while Watson''s impish, affectionate illustrations speak to families from every type of background.'' JUDGES'' COMMENTS, 2012 PRIME MINISTER''S LITERARY AWARDS

The first book in an exciting new trilogy, The Song of the Winns is a tale of courage, friendship and adventure.Ages 9-12. ''Alistair has been kidnapped!''Alex, Alice and Alistair think they are just three ordinary mice, until Alistair mysteriously vanishes. then Alex and Alice learn a secret about their family: a secret which means Alistair''s life is in danger - unless Alex and Alice can find him first...So begins a hair-raising journey as Alex and Alice try to outrun enemy agents in a desperate race against time.''Spies!...Rebels!''Meanwhile, Alistair is astonished to find himself in a far-off land where everyone - except his new friend tibby Rose - is his enemy. But why? Pursued at every turn, the pair must try to unravel the mystery. And when they do, they discover that it is not only their own lives which are in peril...the future of an entire country is at stake.Says Frances Watts: ''When I first started writing the Song of the Winns, I set out to write the kind of book that I loved as a child: something fast paced and full of adventure, with characters that I would get to know and love. A book which was funny but could also move me. I wanted it to be a BIG story, too, a story to make the reader think-about power and its exercise, about responsibility, about injustice (the book was fast becoming a trilogy!). As Uncle Ebenezer says, ''All that is necessary for evil to prosper is for good mice to do nothing.''Ages 9-12.''...[Frances Watts] gives readers aged eight-plus a real treat as Alex and Alice follow a trail of treachery and deceit, laced with plenty of adventure, wisdom and humour, in their quest to rescue Alistair. this is a terrific read, delightfully illustrated, with more to come.'' Five stars. Reviewers'' top pick, BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER

Originally published: Australia: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2009.

Originally published: Australia: Australian Broadcasting Corperation, 2008.

Ten-year-old Ernie is thrilled when he wins a contest to be trained as a superhero, and although he is disappointed that his sidekick is a talking sheep, just looking at his costume makes him feel heroic.

Le Livre à propos des livres de Victor le lapin est une excitante introduction au monde merveilleux des... livres, bien entendu ! Informatif et captivant, il met en vedette un lapin remarquablement beau et brillant (moi!) et il est très amusant, avec des rabats à rabattre et des questions à partager. Tu feras même la connaissance de mon petit frère agaçant.

Éste libro es una maravillosa introducción al fascinante mundo de... los libros, ¡por supuesto! Interesante y divertido, este libro tiene como protagonista a un apuesto e inteligente conejo, y está lleno de sorpresas, con solapas para abrir y preguntas para compartir. Un bello libro creado para que los más chicos se diviertan a la vez que descubren el apasionante mundo de los libros.

When a grumbly Baby Bear refuses to give his father a goodnight kiss, their bedtime routine is transformed into a delightful game, as Daddy imagines all the different sorts of kisses that other animal babies give their dads.

Simplified Chinese edition of Kisses for Dad. A heartwarming and fuzzy picture book about the love between little bear cub and papa bear. In Simplified Chinese. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.

Bruce is a boisterous pup who is looking for fun. But no one wants to play with him. Poor Bruce! His friends explain that he’s just too bouncy and rough. Luckily, Bruce thinks of a game they all can play…