New Releases by Margaret Wild

Baby Hippo is in such a rush to play one morning he forgets to kiss his mama, but strangely all the jungle noises seem to remind him.

''Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul''--Emily Dickinson This is a story about hope, kindness and redemption set in a grey dystopian world. When a great feather drifts from the leaden sky, two children recognise its extraordinariness and take it to the village for its protection. The villagers, however, want to encase it, upon which the feather loses its radiance. The children take it home and care for it through the night. In the morning it is again radiant, and when they set it free it leaves behind the first signs of blue sky and colour. The ambiguous ending invites multiple interpretations about the effects of selflessness and kindness.

This arresting and beautiful picture book from Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks is a shimmering encounter with the Tasmanian tiger, a lament for a lost species, and a compelling evocation of the place of animals in Nature.

When the speediest family in the world finds a sweet, slow sloth on their doorstep, they take him in. But, little do they know, their new pet has quite a bit to teach them. For Amy’s family, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Mom rushes through her work. Dad rushes through his chores. Even little Amy rushes through dinner. But Sloth does things slowly. He likes to take long, leisurely baths with lots and lots of bubbles. He plays drawn-out, imaginative games. He eats his food slowly, enjoying one small bite at a time. After a few weeks of caring for their new pet, Amy’s family finds that they actually do have enough time to tell one another stories or go for long walks together after dinner—so long as they stop rushing around so much. The Sloth Who Slowed Us Down is a celebration of slowing down and remembering the important things in life.

Hush! All over the world, little ones everywhere are going to sleep. Sweet dreams!

This little piggy went singing This little piggy stayed home This little piggy had plum pudding This little piggy had none And this little piggy went jingle, jingle, jingle all the way home. Meet five little pigs who are full of life and all the excitement of Christmas! They are either out singing, dancing and playing music, or staying at home making and baking and trimming the tree. The piggies are into everything, even a little star-gazing. Keep your eye on your favourite piggy as it enjoys all sorts of Christmas fun, before hanging up the stockings and singing ho ho ho all the way home. The perfect follow-up to This Little Piggy Goes Dancing: ''filled with warmth, wit and humour. a very special book for grown-ups to share with rumbustious small people'' Magpies

Compassion is a force mightier than stone. Sometimes statues are granted a chance to become warm, breathing creatures. The stone lion has a dream to come alive, but when a baby is abandoned in his paws one snowy night, he is compelled to think differently.

A moment. That''s all it takes. A bewildering moment when the world spins upside-down, and then life can never be the same again. Arrow was just a girl when she saw something no child should have to see. And Marika is living a sister''s worst nightmare. When Arrow and Marika come together in a small seaside town, they meet a mysterious ''magician'' who says he knows how to escape the now and step into a new future. A brilliant and bittersweet story of loss and courage, with a surprising twist.

''My daddy said, On the day you were born, I wrapped you up warm and took you for a walk to see the world . . . ''My daddy said, On the day you were born, I put you back in your mother''s arms, and that night we were the world.'' A celebration of the glories of existence, the world seen afresh on the birth of a new baby.

This arresting and beautiful picture book from Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks is a shimmering encounter with the Tasmanian tiger, a lament for a lost species, and a compelling evocation of the place of animals in Nature.

It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers - his uncle and aunt - in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local townspeople die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock''s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.

Baby Bird loves his blankie. But when it comes to bedtime Baby Bird would rather play than sleep.

Gabe is the best looking guy in school—that’s why his friends send him to get girls to their party. Helen is not much to look at—that’s why her friends want her to come along. But Helen gets under Gabe’s skin in a way no other girl has. It was one night. One night with lasting consequences. Now Helen has to decide if she wants to keep the baby—and if she should tell Gabe, who hasn’t spoken to her since their one night together. Filled with love, fear, and the tough choices born of casual acts, One Night is a passionate and compellingly readable novel about teen life, the hardships of parenthood—and the joy and forgiveness between family and friends.

When the puppy came to live with Harry and Dad, he was as jumpy as a grasshopper. So that''s what Harry called him. Hopper. Harry and Hopper do everything together. Hopper helps Harry with his homework and Harry helps Hopper escape from his weekly bath. At night, Hopper sneaks past Dad and goes to sleep in Harry''s bed. One day, Harry comes home from school and his dog isn''t there to greet him. Harry will never know the feel or the smell of Hopper again. But love is strong, and Hopper will stay with Harry as long as he needs him . . .

While Mum and Dad are working, Grandpa looks after Georgie. They read stories, plant flowers and play dress-ups. One day, Georgie says, ''Today I''m big and you''re a baby. Okay?'' ''Okay,'' says Grandpa Baby. What will Georgie and Grandpa Baby get up to? Ages 2+.

Max''s baby sister, Daisy, is gorgeous! But when is she going to talk? ''Say moo,'' says Mum. ''Say neigh,'' says Dad. ''Say baa,'' says Nana. ''Say quack,'' Says Max. But Daisy just sticks her bottom in the air and says nothing, until one day . . .

Puffling is a baby-small and white and very hungry. Every day he waits in the burrow while Big Stripy Beak and Long Black Feather hunt for food. Puffling dreams of the day when he will leave the burrow and fly away-but he isn''t ready yet, not until he is tall and brave enough to fend for himself. The scary gulls are waiting outside, waiting for the day the baby puffins take their first journey by themselves. Every day Puffling asks his parents, but every day they say he must wait until he has grown taller and stronger. Then he must walk along the cliff top and jump into the water before the gulls can catch him. Will he ever be brave enough?

In a mostly abandoned city, Ben lives in a musty basement room, terrified of the "woolvs" that dwell in the shadows outside, with only an upstairs neighbor, Mrs. Radinski, to help him cope with his fears.

Tanglewood lives on an island far away, visited only by the wind. One day a bird shelters from the storm among its branches and a precious bond is formed. But Seagull belongs to the sky and, too soon, must leave. Will she ever return?

Based on the traditional nursery rhyme, this delightful new picture book comes with a twist. This is an inventive retelling of the crooked house rhyme from award-winning author Margaret Wild.

At midnight, baby Brenda climbs out of her cot, creeps out of the house and joins all the other babies for a wild adventure in the park. As soon as the sun comes up, they toddle home to bed and no-one ever knows what they''ve been up to ... least of all their families.

With the help of her understanding mother and a close friend, Jen eventually outgrows her nickname, Jinx, and deals with the deaths of two boys with whom she had been involved.

A playful story about growing up and finding friends.

There''s only seven more sleeps until the party and Mum, Babs the Baby and Fog the Dog are busy. There are invitations to make, decorations to hang, balloons to be blown up and the cake to be baked. And when the day comes, there''s a big surprise.

Jessie, James and William the cat live on a farm with fifty cattle, twenty chickens, four horses and three dogs. One day their lives are changed, never to be the same again. The combination of Margaret Wild''s loving, poignant story and Julie Vivas''s exquisite illustrations has produced a memorable picture book which will touch the hearts of young, and not-so-young, readers. Winner of the Australian Children''s Book Council''s Picture Book of the Year Award. A 1990 American Library Association Notable Children''s Book, and An American Bookseller "Pick of the List".