New Releases by Margaret Wild

Five monkeys live in a tree that''s just the right size for their family-until one day there''s a knock-knock on the tree trunk. Surprise! Granny and Grandpa have come to stay. Now the monkeys are bunched up like bananas! They need a bigger home. ''We''ll have to move,'' says Mum. And they do. But soon there''s another knock-knock!

Dog and Magpie are friends, but when Fox comes into the bush, everything changes. This breathtaking story has won acclaim around the world: CBCA Picture Book of the Year; two Premiers'' literary awards; honours in Germany, Brazil, Japan; a shortlisting for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in the UK, and more. ''A publishing landmark.'' Magpies ''Magnificent.'' Reading Time ''a stunning book'' Australian Bookseller and Publisher ''The images from this unsettling, provocative story will resonate long after the book has been closed.'' Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) ''A strongly atmospheric psycho-fable--visually striking--an open-ended discussion starter.'' Kirkus Reviews ''Fox is an archetypal drama about friendship, loyalty, risk and betrayal - a story that is as rich for adults as for older children.'' Los Angeles Times

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

A rhyming story about the things babies love to do with familiar activities as playing peek-a-boo, clapping, and banging a drum.

Puffling is a baby—small, white, and very hungry. Every day he waits in the burrow while his parents, Big Stripy Beak and Long Black Feather hunt for food. As he grows, Puffling dreams of the day when he will leave his nest and fly away—but he isn''t ready yet, not until he''s tall and brave enough to fend for himself. Every day Puffling asks his parents, but every day they say he must wait until he has grown bigger. Will he ever be ready to head out into the world on his own? This story about how love makes us strong, brave, and happy, too, is perfect for so many milestones: first times with babysitters, first days of school, and even graduation.

When she was a baby, Ruby liked making popping noises with her dummy. ''Pop! Pop! Pop!'' When she was older, she tried making scary noises instead. ''Scrrr! Screekle! Scrunch!'' But she couldn''t frighten anyone, not a frog, not a fish. ''Shivers!'' thought Ruby. What was the scariest noise she could make? And she opened her mouth wide to find out... ''Beware, this story could provoke a wild rumpus.'' Magpies Both author and illustrator are donating a portion of their royalties to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.

Old Pig and Granddaughter have lived together for a long, long time. They share everything, including the chores, until the day when Old Pig does not get up as usual for breakfast. Calmly she pays her bills and puts her affairs in order. Then she takes Granddaughter on a last, long walk - looking and listening, smelling and tasting. Old Pig and Granddaughter say goodbye to each other in the best way they know. ''One of the truly great picture books.'' Margaret Dunkle, Australian Bookseller and Publisher ''This heartbreaking, gentle, perfectly indirect story about the last days on earth of an elderly pig offers a better introduction to the fact and poetry of mortality than many a more studied attempt.'' Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker ''Wild''s poignant story about the death of Old Pig is full of warmth and, yes, joy.'' Publishers Weekly ''Beautiful in its simplicity, this captures the essence of a life; and children, even little ones, cannot help but feel the love that infuses it.'' Ilene Cooper, Booklist ''A poignant but sidelong look at death - about as far from the didactic tomes as one can get.'' Kirkus Reviews ''A tender meditation on the death and the appreciation of love and life that deserves to become recognised as a modern classic.'' Kevin Mark, Kairos ''This book is about living, not dying.'' Linnet Hunter, The Age

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.

Loneliness is universal but friendship is often close by ... Christopher is feeling lonely because his mother is busy with the new triplets, Jerry, Josh and Jane. He is so lonely he could scream ... and scream ... and SCREAM. His neighbour, Molly MacNamara, is feeling the same way and one Monday morning at exactly ten o''clock, she does just that ...

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 . . .

Big Red Hen is everyone''s baby-sitter. She loves everyone''s babies and they love her. One day Big Red Hen finds a mysterious egg on her doorstep. Who''s egg is it? Who will look after it? Is Big Red Hen ready for the biggest surprise of her life?

Bobbie, an Australian wallaby, can jump, bounce, and skip but cannot do splits until the other animals help her.

A crooked man and his crooked companions finally find a real home.

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?

Mum, Babs the Baby, and Fog the Dog go for a walk every day. But one day Fog the Dog sits on his bottom and won''t move. What can they do?

In this highly original, dreamlike story, a beautiful old house is so obsessed with its glorious reflection in the canal that it can t stand to be distracted by the families who try to live in the house. Again and again, the House of Narcissus drives its residents away, until the sole occupant is only a cat. The house notices nothing but its own external beauty, but when it is finally forced to look inside it sees the terrible decay within, and then sets about to change its ways. Evocative text and sumptuous illustrations make this a haunting and thought-provoking book, for children and adults alike.

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.

Bliss is not the happy place it should be. The home for old bilbies is dominated by Maron''s strict rules and unforgiving attitude. Then the outspoken Nina arrives. By resisting Matron''s rules, Nina shows Biba and the other bilbies that a true home is one in which can live with compassion and dignity.

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.

A playful story about growing up and finding friends.

On Farmer Fred''s farm there were four old animals - Cow, Horse, Pig and Donkey. They had never been anywhere, never seen anything - just the farm, just its fields. Then, on the night Cow died, something extraordinary began to happen. She grew big, beautiful wings. She soared over mountains, over rivers, over the sea. She would go everywhere, she would see everything. For the first time, Farmer Fred and the animals began to imagine life beyond the farm - and it was beautiful. This uplifting story combines sensitivity to an emotional issue with humour and pathos.

When Piglet cannot find her mother, all of the barnyard animals try to make her feel better, but Piglet wants nothing but Mama.

Little lambs, chicks, ducks, and pigs change places and try other ways to delay going to bed.

Baby Brenda and her friends have fun at the Midnight Cafe, enjoying a "wibble wobble" dance, a "jiggly-joggly" treat, and a dip in the sprinklers before going home to bed.

It''s bedtime for the little farm animals but their mums and dads are in for a big surprise when they come to say night night. This is a perfect story for reading together at bedtime.