New Releases by Kate Saunders

Celebrate The Best Bear in all the World with this 100th Anniversary hardback edition of the official sequel to the beloved classic children''s stories by A.A.Milne. ‘There you are,’ said Pooh to Piglet, ‘didn’t I say all along there was nothing to worry about?''

Nach dem Erfolg von »Das Geheimnis von Wishtide Manor« und »Die Schatten von Freshley Wood«: der dritte Band der Reihe um Laetitia Rodd von der Bestseller-Autorin Kate Saunders London, 1853: Eigentlich sollte Laetitia Rodd lediglich dem berühmten Schauspieler-Ehepaar Transome während seiner Trennung zur Seite stehen – schließlich ist sie in der guten Gesellschaft für ihre Diskretion bekannt. Doch noch während Mrs. Rodd versucht, hinter die intriganten Machenschaften der Familie zu blicken, überschlagen sich die Ereignisse: Im Londoner King''s Theatre wird eine Leiche gefunden und die Transomes geraten unter Verdacht – denn sie waren als letztes im Besitz des Theaters. Haben sie etwas mit dem Toten zu tun? Inmitten von dunklen Geheimnissen, verbotenen Gefühlen und einem verhängnisvollen Brand, der beinahe alle Spuren vernichtet hätte, beginnt Laetitia Rodd zu ermitteln. Ein neuer mitreißender Fall für Laetitia Rodd, die Ermittlerin, die alles sieht und keinem auffällt

''Laetitia Rodd is a warm and engaging heroine'' The Times For readers of The Thursday Murder Club, M.C. Beaton and James Runcie, The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is the charming third mystery in Kate Saunders''s series about Laetitia Rodd, the indomitable Victorian lady detective. In the spring of 1853, private detective Laetitia Rodd receives a delicate request from a retired actor, whose days on the stage were ended by a theatre fire ten years before. His great friend, and the man he rescued from the fire, Thomas Transome, has decided to leave his wife, who now needs assistance in securing a worthy settlement. Though Mrs Rodd is reluctant to get involved with the scandalous world of the theatre, she cannot turn away the woman in need. She agrees to take the case. But what starts out as a simple matter of negotiation becomes complicated when a body is discovered in the burnt husk of the old theatre. Soon Mrs Rodd finds herself embroiled in family politics, rivalries that put the Capulets and Montagues to shame, and betrayals on a Shakespearean scale. Mrs Rodd will need all her investigative powers, not to mention her famous discretion, to solve the case before tragedy strikes once more. Praise for the Laetitia Rodd Mystery series: ''A witty, genteel tale of secrets, lies and hidden gold... Enormous fun'' The Times ''With a well-crafted plot, an engaging protagonist, and astute nods to the literature and theological squabbles of the period, this is a perfect novel for a summer afternoon'' Guardian ''A Dickensian glow pervades this immensely satisfying novel. Hugely enjoyable'' James Runcie, author of the ''Grantchester Mysteries'' ''Pure delight'' Sunday Times

There''s trouble on the planet of Yule-1, the real home of Father Christmas... The Trubshaw family are flown back from Earth to help out! Once again Jake and Sadie are transported to a place where elves and reindeer are their friends and everything is about getting ready for Christmas, the best holiday of the year. Hysterically funny, wonderfully bonkers, it''s Christmas like you''ve never seen it before. With knock-out illustrations throughout from Super Star, Neal Layton.

Kate is a thirty-something-year-old adventurer and single mother who sells her stateside business to go to Kathmandu, Nepal with her young son, Jack. Her intention is to adopt an orphaned toddler named Devi, a little girl she knows only from a photograph. The expedition ends up completely redirecting Kate''s moral compass and forcing her to find peace within chaos. Stand in the Traffic is the story of Kate''s year long journey through culture shock, paperwork delays, and revolution. As the days drift by, Kate struggles to connect with the stoic little girl whose charcoal eyes and visible scars betray her elusive past. In Stand in the Traffic, Kate''s fresh, engaging voice speaks to women''s issues, parenting, politics, and adventure travel. Readers will be captivated by Kate and her family. Unlike other adoption retrospectives, this is not the dry, drawn out account of bureaucracy and childlessness, but rather a heart-pounding journey to the land of rickshaw wallahs and orange-clad saddhus, incense laden temples, and sly street dogs. As the months unfold, Kate finds herself contentedly immersed in Devi''s vibrant culture, in spite of the revolution brewing just down the lane. Kate''s story of immersion in a foreign culture leads readers into an enchanted dreamscape.

Reifrock, Tee und Mord: ein neuer Fall für Laetitia Rodd, die Ermittlerin, die alles sieht und keinem auffällt. Laetitia Rodd ist die Frau für diskrete Ermittlungen in der viktorianischen Gesellschaft. Ihr Auftrag: Sie soll Joshua Welland aufspüren. Einst ein brillanter Oxford-Student, zieht er nun als zerlumpte Gestalt durch die Wälder und macht Andeutungen über ein düsteres Geheimnis. Mrs. Rodd nutzt ihre Verbindungen zum Pfarrer von Freshley Wood, um Joshuas Spur zu finden. Doch dann wird der Pfarrer ermordet. Ist Joshua in die schreckliche Tat verstrickt? "Laetitia Rodd bedeutet Lesevergnügen pur." Sunday Times

The exciting companion to THE WHIZZ POP CHOCOLATE SHOP. A secret government department, once again, needs the magical help of Oz and Lily in a desperate new mission. Along with everyone''s favourite cantankerous cat, Demerara, her ratty companion Spike, and the help of some powerfully magical chocolate, the childrenmust travel back in time to the height of the Blitz. Can they defeat some very dangerous supernatural creatures and save London''s famous cathedral from destruction by fire?

Celebrate 90 years of Winnie-the-Pooh with The Best Bear in all the World, the official sequel to the classic children''s stories by A.A. Milne. With brand-new stories from some of the most beloved children''s authors writing today: Paul Bright, Brian Sibley, Kate Saunders and Jeanne Willis - each will transport you back into the Hundred Acre Wood for more adventures with Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and the rest of the gang. With decorations by Mark Burgess, in the style of the cherished illustrations by E.H. Shepard. This book will delight fans of the classic originals old and new. The short stories are perfect bedtime reading for ages six and up. Do you own all the classic Pooh titles? Winnie-the-Pooh The House at Pooh Corner When We Were Very Young Now We Are Six The nation''s favourite teddy bear has been delighting generations of children for 90 years. Milne''s classic children''s stories - featuring Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin and, of course, Pooh himself - are both heart-warming and funny, teaching lessons of friendship and reflecting the power of a child''s imagination like no other story before or since. Pooh ranks alongside other beloved characters such as Paddington Bear, and Peter Rabbit as an essential part of our literary heritage. Whether you''re 5 or 55, Pooh is the bear for all ages.

For the 90th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, a sequel featuring new stories and a new character from the Hundred Acre Wood. Now a New York Times Bestseller. The Trustees of the Pooh Properties have commissioned four authors to write in the timeless style of A.A. Milne to create a quartet of charming new adventures for Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall: take a trip back to the Hundred Acre Wood with a collection of tales sure to delight year-round. One story finds Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet on a quest to discover the "Sauce of the Nile" (they suspect it''s apple). And in another, all the animals rally around poor Eeyore when he thinks he sees another donkey eyeing his clover. The winter story features a new penguin character, based on a stuffed toy owned by Christopher Robin Milne himself. Readers of all ages will love rediscovering old friends and making new ones in this essential new volume of Pooh stories. The book feature beautiful color artwork in the style of Ernest H. Shepard by Mark Burgess.

Mrs. Laetitia Rodd, aged fifty-two, is the widow of an archdeacon. Living in Hampstead with her confidante and landlady, Mrs. Bentley, who once let rooms to John Keats, Laetitia makes her living as a highly discreet private investigator. Her brother, Frederick Tyson, is a criminal barrister living in the neighboring village of Highgate with his wife and ten children. Frederick finds the cases, and Laetitia solves them using her arch intelligence, her iron discretion, and her immaculate cover as an unsuspecting widow. When Frederick brings to her attention a case involving the son of the well-respected, highly connected Sir James Calderstone, Laetitia sets off for Lincolnshire to take up a position as the family''s new governess--quickly making herself indispensable.But the seemingly simple case--looking into young Charles Calderstone''s “inappropriate” love interest--soon takes a rather unpleasant turn. And as the family''s secrets begin to unfold, Laetitia discovers the Calderstones have more to hide than most. Dickensian in its scope and characters, The Secrets of Wishtide brings nineteenth century society vividly to life and illuminates the effect of Victorian morality on women''s lives. Introducing an irresistible new detective, the first book in the Laetitia Rodd Mystery series will enthrall and delight.

In this incredible, heart-wrenching story reminiscent of E. Nesbit’s Five Children and It, Kate Saunders illustrates the power of war but the even greater power of family, and the love that carries us out of the darkness of despair into the light of hope. The sand fairy, also known as the Psammead, is merely a creature from stories Lamb and Edith have heard their older brothers and sisters tell . . . until he suddenly reappears. Lamb and Edith are pleased to have something to take their minds off the war, but this time the Psammead’s magic might have a serious purpose. Before their adventure ends, all will be changed, and the Lamb and Edith will have seen the Great War from every possible viewpoint—that of factory workers, soldiers and sailors, and nurses. But most of all, the war’s impact will be felt by those left behind, at the very heart of their family. Praise for Five Children on the Western Front Winner of the Costas Award for Children’s Fiction ★ “An irresistible read.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “Skillful and deeply moving.” —The Guardian “A rewarding experience.”—Booklist “Saunders strikes a surprisingly successful balance between the mischievous magic of the sand fairy and the harsh realities of wartime England.” —The Bulletin “A dramatic, heartrending look at World War I’s far-reaching consequences for families and individuals.”—SLJ “An emotionally resonant, engaging story of personal growth (the siblings’) and moral education (the Psammead’s). With issues of social and gender inequality and a compassionate take on the ruins of war, it’s historically convincing, thought-provoking, and sensitive.”—The Horn Book Magazine

For fans of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Oz and Lily’s magical chocolate-filled adventure continues in the sequel to The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop. In the wrong hands, chocolate can be very dangerous indeed. . . . Oz and Lily have a top-secret mission. Alba the witch has gotten her hands on a magical chocolate phoenix and is plotting to use it for some serious evil. With the help of an army of rats and an unreliable talking cat, the children must pursue her not only across London but through time itself. This might be their toughest adventure yet. Praise for The Curse of the Chocolate Phoenix “Saunders weaves the supernatural with the ordinary with ease. Readers who enjoyed The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop will not be disappointed.”—Booklist “Clearly, Saunders has honed her deft and breezy comic style while affectionately channeling mild echoes of Harry Potter and The Hobbit....It’s official: more magical chocolate equals even more perceptive and magical fun for all.”—Kirkus Reviews “Saunders’s imagination is out in full force. Hand this to readers who love adventure, fantasy, and Mission Impossible–type adventure.”—SLJ

"Reminiscent of Road Dahl''s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . . . a great read-aloud." --Booklist Welcome to the most magical house in London. The family of eleven-year-old twins Oz and Lily have inherited it, together with the mysterious shop downstairs. Long ago, the shop''s famous chocolate-makers, who also happen to be Oz and Lily''s great uncles, were clever sorcerers. Now evil villians are hunting for the secret of their greatest recipe. The terrifying powers of this magic chocolate have the ability to destroy the world. Soon, Oz and Lily are swept into a thrilling battle, helped by an invisible cat, a talking rat, and the ghost of an elephant. It''s up to them to stop the villians and keep the magical chocolate recipe out of harm''s way. Their family and the world depends on it.

Tom is in shock. He''s just discovered that his dad is an escaped fairy on the run. And that he must trust his life to three dangerous fairy godmothers he''s never met. Two of them are hardened criminals, and one falls out of the window when she tries to fly . . . Will their mad magic be enough to help Tom rescue his dad from the clutches of some killer fairies?

A magic spell has spun Flora into the past. She''s mysteriously swapped lives with a schoolgirl in 1935! No iPod? No cell phone? No hair products? How will she survive? Now Flora''s a new girl at St. Winifred''s, where she has to speak French at breakfast, wear hideous baggy bloomers, and sleep in a freezing dormitory. But lots of adventures in the past are amazing even if they are not forever. How will she find her way back to the 21st century?

A selection of six animal-themed nursery rhymes.

A vividly drawn contemporary fairy tale—full of invention, adventure, and wonderfully colorful characters.

Tout était si tranquille à Tramper''s End avant l''arrivée de P''tit Boudin et Grande-Greluche. Mais depuis que ces deux sorcières ont élu domicile dans le beffroi de l''église, elles enchaînent les bêtises et chamboulent sans répit la vie des villageois...

The naughtiest witches in the world are back on their broomsticks in this second bumper volume of stories from THE BELFRY WITCHES series. Together they always spell trouble! The village of Tranters End was once a sleepy, peaceful place. That is until Old Noshie and Skirty Marm blew in on their broomsticks and started causing magical mayhem! Now there''s a cauldron of trouble brewing - with some particularly strange ingredients. Throw in snow in summer, Power Hats and a mad mystery tour to the Upright Tower of Pisa, and the result is three fantastically funny stories guaranteed to bewitch young readers.

Cat discovers that the white stone her archaeologist father gave her DOES have amazing powers. Powers to defeat bullying Emily Baines. Powers to turn her into a cat! But the Blessed Sardine, the cats'' holy relic - has gone missing and now only one marmalade cat - called Cat - can help.

Der 6. und letzte Band der Abenteuer der Hexen vom Glockenturm, Petronella und Griseldis, hält noch einmal ein besonders spannendes Abenteuer für die beiden bereit. Obwohl sie in Tanters End, dem kleinen englischen Dorf, wo sie seit ihrer Verbannung von der Hexeninsel leben, eigentlich nicht zaubern dürfen, kann Petronella der Versuchung nicht widerstehen. Nur ein bisschen möchte sie ihrem Kürbis beim Wachsen nachhelfen und schon ist die Katastrophe passiert: Mrs. Abercrombie, die furchtbare ExHexenkönigin, ist voll schrecklicher Pläne und Rachegelüste wieder zum Leben erwacht. Ein Kampf im Weltraum muss das Schicksal des Planeten Erde entscheiden. Gewohnt witzig beispielsweise die Landung auf einem scheußlichen Planeten, der sich als ins Unermessliche gewachsene Mrs. Abercrombie herausstellt bringt Kate Saunders die Hexenabenteuer mit einem echten Showdown zum glücklichen Ende. Dass sie dabei am Schluss nicht ganz aufs Moralisieren verzichtet das Gute besiegt das Böse ist schade, mindert aber das von Axel Scheffler toll illustrierte Lesevergnügen nicht wirklich. Gern empfohlen. Die Hexen Petronella und Griseldis erwartet ein letztes großes Abenteuer mit der ehemaligen Hexenkönigign Mrs Abercrombie, die ihr furchtbares Unwesen treibt. Nur ein Kampf im Weltraum kann dem Spuk ein Ende bereiten. Ab 8.

Les jeunes sorcières P''tit Boudin et Grande Greluche sont chassées de l''île aux sorcières. C''est vrai, elles ne sont pas à leur première bêtise. Mais cette fois, elles se sont moquées ouvertement de la reine des sorcières ! La sentence est rude : elles sont dépouillées de leurs bas rouges et le pire, c''est qu''elles vont devoir vivre avec les humains...

13 Old Noshie and Skirty Marm are the naughtiest witches in the world. A rich and mysterious old lady moves into the cottage in the woods and is buying everyone presents. She looks like a sweet old lady - but she is their worst enemy - Mrs Abercrombie.

Lily-Josephine had a talent for love. Wilful, enchanting and passionate, she was the centre of a charmed universe - until her father married again. One summer evening, in 1941, Lily ran from her jealous stepmother. She escaped to find sanctuary but, in Randalls, she discovered a love far greater than any she had ever known.

British journalist Saunders draws from interviews with former Chinese prisoners, including the celebrity Harry Wu who inspired the book, and from written accounts to recreate the day-to-day experience and engender outrage in readers. Among her chapter titles are No Day or Night, the State as Psychopath, Return from Hell, A Dream of Democracy, Getting Used to Surviving, Sexual Reform and the Pseudo- Boys, the Dream of Gold, and The Earth on the Other Side of the World. Distributed by Books International. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR