New Releases by Joyce Dunbar

Mole wakes happily from a dream where he has discovered the secret of happiness. The problem is, he suddenly can''t remember what it is! Join Mouse and Mole in three delightful, everyday adventures, from sitting down for a good read but unable to settle, to taking a leisurely stroll that turns into errands. Both children and adults can learn from the stories in Mouse & Mole: The Secret of Happiness and will develop an appreciation for friendships. James Mayhew''s charming illustrations alongside Joyce Dunbar''s good-natured stories will captivate readers of all ages.

"Mischievous Mister Boo loves to give everyone he meets a surprise. He shocks the baby birds, the baby rabbits and the baby owls. Boo! But one day he wakes up without his usual energy and no one seems to take any notice of him. Will Mister Boo learn to accept change and find joy again?"--Publisher''s description.

Mouse and Mole try to give their friendship a fresh start but realise they can''t go without seeing each other, even for a day. Mouse and Mole''s charming, gentle and humourous adventures continue in this new addition to the much-loved series, perfect for shared reading with younger children and for older children to read independently.

"Wenn das Wetter schön ist, machen wir ein Picknick im Wald. Wir schmieren Brote mit Käse und Gurke und nehmen unseren neuen Picknickkorb mit", sagte Maus. "Oh ja, das machen wir!", rief Maulwurf. "Aber was ist, wenn das Wetter morgen nicht schön ist?" "Dann setzen wir uns in unsere gemütlichen Lehnstühle vor dem Kamin und rösten Kastanien und toasten Teekuchen. Und dazu trinken wir heißen Kakao." Ganz gleich, wie das Wetter ist: Maus und Maulwurf wissen, wie man den Herbst genießt!

Book Band: Lime, ideal for ages 6+ A powerful and personal story from Joyce Dunbar about what it''s like to experience hearing difficulties. ''Joyce Dunbar is one of the best writers for children today.'' Guardian Dylan can''t hear as well as he used to be able to and he doesn''t want to be different from his friends - he wants things to go back to the way they used to be. As his hearing gets worse he becomes more and more isolated from his friends. Luckily his dog Pluto is there to keep him down to earth... This heartwarming story from Joyce Dunbar has beautiful black-and-white illustrations by John Shelley and is perfect for children who are developing as readers. The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com. ''Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed ... Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.'' Books for Keeps

Mole can''t help but get himself into difficulty, but thankfully he has Mouse to ensure things to smoothly, even when he least expects it!A new edition of this classic story from author illustrator team Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew.''The two cohabiting animals are characters that stand alongside the greats of children''s literature'' Sunday Telegraph

"¡El pato está enfurruñado! El estanque está seco y, lo que es peor, una pequeña nube gris lo sigue por todas partes. ¿Qué pueden hacer los amigos del pato para animarlo?"--Back cover.

When Duck’s grumpiness becomes contagious, what can possibly turn it around? Duck is in a very grumpy mood. The pond is dry, and she doesn’t want to roll in the mud with Pig, sing with Rooster, doze with Tortoise, eat laundry with Goat, or join any of the other animals in their pastimes. To make matters worse, the gray cloud that’s following Duck is growing bigger by the minute, and now her friends are feeling gloomy as well. What will it take to cheer them all up? Two prolific picture-book creators look to the skies for a humorous tale of not-fair-weather friendship.

An enchanting Christmas picture book about the magic and anticipation of Christmas Eve. There''s only one more sleep till Christmas, and Lucas and Willow, the moon and the stars are all waiting... Waiting for Christmas morning, and presents, and mince pies and fun. But, unbeknown to Lucas and Willow, the magic has already begun. As silently and secretly the toys come to life... Perfect for sharing on Christmas Eve, this atmospheric story will soon become a new festive tradition. Written by master storyteller Joyce Dunbar, with stunning, classic illustrations from award-winning artist Victoria Turnbull.

A rollicking, read-aloud rhyme featuring Plunkett, the plucky pink pig.

Meditation and visualization, if approached in an inventive and appealing manner, bring enormous benefits to children. It can calm their anxieties, build their self-esteem, and teach them quietness and thoughtfulness. Consisting of 20 narrative-based meditations, this book, the follow-up to the hugely successful Nightlights, offers even more stories to help your child find inner calm and emotional balance and is designed for parents to use with any child between ages 4 and 8.

Mother-daughter team Joyce and Polly Dunbar offer a sweet and whimsical confection for babies, inspired by a nursery rhyme. It’s late at night, and everyone is sleeping—except for pat-a-cake baby! All dressed up in his chef’s coat and hat, baby wants to make a very special cake. Time to wake up Candy baby, Jelly baby, and Allsorts baby—miniature cherubic figures who float through the pages to lend a hand. One by one, they add ingredients, from glitzy sugar to yolky jokey eggs, until it’s time to bake, pat, and decorate the cake. Finally it’s ready for tasting, just in time for a special guest (the man in the moon!) to have a slice. This surreal and colorful treat is just right for sending little ones off to dreamland.

Nightlights is a book of stories to read to children, but stories with a difference. It''s a collection of twenty interactive meditation stories that have bene specially written to calm and relax your child at bedtime, while at the same time engaging and stimulating his or her imagination. These stories also help children in many other important ways. They help them to focus their minds and develop their powers of concentration and visualization, as well as learn more about emotions and feelings. Although not meditations in the strict sense, they do serve as a good preparation for learning real meditation later on. They also foster imagination and creativity, help children deal with their burgeoning anxieties, and help them take their first steps towards developing their own unique identity. In the Introduction, Civardi provides techniques to help parents develop their out-loud reading skills, shows how to create the right mood, and gives practical advice on how to talk with your child about what he or she has just heard. After each story, there is a brief list of affirmations which help to settle the message in the minds of both parent and child.

Does Duck dazzle as much as the peacock? Does he dawdle like the tortoise, or does he dash like the hare? No? Well, what does Duck do? Does Duck . . . dare? A gorgeous new story from the author of TELL ME SOMETHING HAPPY BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP and the illustrator of DADDY IS MY HERO.

Good puss or bad cat?Jekyll or Hyde?One and the same?Who decides?Puss Jekyll is the soft cuddly cat of the house grooming her fur, but at night she becomes Cat Hyde, hunting mice, all fang and claw. Page by page this delightful book explores the two very distinct personalities of the enchanting pet. Sleeping in a cosy spot or prowling in the moonlight, lapping milk from a bowl or stalking a defenceless trembling vole, playing with a ball of wool or savaging her prey, graceful and aristocratic or ruthless street fighter, can this really be the same creature?The beautifully evocative rhythmic and rhyming text is accompanied by luminous coloured-pencil and watercolour drawings that make the reader want to reach out and feel the fur. This treat for cat-lovers of all ages is from the highly acclaimed author of bestselling picture books such as Tell Me Something Before You Go to Sleep, and the illustrator of such classics as Martin Waddell''s The Pig in the Pond and the Boston Globe Horn Book Award winning In the Rain with Baby Duck.

Willa has trouble falling asleep until her brother reminds her of all the happy things that await her in the morning.

In this undersea adventure, Piglet Squid spends all day smiling his big, happy smile, but his friends in the deep are always so woebegone. One day, he embarks on a quest to find something magical to show them all, so that they too will have a reason to smile!Inspired by the real-life sea creature, piglet squids are about the size of an avocado and can be found in the deepwater of almost all the oceans. The unusual pattern of skin pigmentation in the squid shown here, means that he is always smiling.

A bestselling Taiwanese illustrator teams up with a renowned British author to present a fantastical, heartwarming tale. Full color.

Three strange creatures that do not know their purpose find a boy lost in the woods and they help each other find their homes and identities.

Hiding under Jo-Jo''s bed is a tiny monster with a big appetite for darkness who gobbles up the night and grows bigger with every bite until there is no darkness left anywhere, from the earth to the stars.

Where on earth has Pippin''s yellow sock with clocks gone? Pippin is determined to find out. Together with his friend Tog, they embark on the greatest sock hunt ever.

A baby takes a journey in a shoe and after visiting the zoo, flying, and inviting the Queen to tea, he falls asleep and awakens to two very big surprises.

Cubby has lots of wishes and with the help of his big sister Clementine, all of his wishes come true. But Clementine has a wish too.