New Releases by Ursula Dubosarsky

There were only eleven of them, like eleven sisters all the same age in a large family. Because it was such a very small class, they had a very small classroom, which was perched at the very top of the school. Then in the Gardens they meet a poet. What follows is inexplicable, shocking, a scandal. What really happened that day? And do the little girls know more than they are letting on?

Dear Readers, I'm back again with a brand new book. Yes, it's The Word Spy Activity Book! You might have read The Word Spy and The Return of the Word Spy. This one is different because now YOU get to write and draw in it as well. It's full of new discoveries, crazy games and playful puzzles, which all have one thing in common: WORDS! Inside the pages of this book you'll meet the mad word inventor, put on a shadow puppet play, learn how to solve cryptic crosswords, make up your own bingo lingo, create your own font - oh, there's just so much, you'll just have to open it up and find out for yourself!

One winter''s day my dad and I Went down to see the carousel. We stood and watched as round and round The little horses rose and fell. So begins the magical journey of a small girl and a wooden horse. A journey of music and mirrors, of green hills and sunlit skies, of wishes and freedom. From this much-loved author and brilliant new illustrator comes a glowing, timeless picture book that celebrates the enduring wonder of the carousel.

Have you ever wanted to go on a magical adventure? Do you have an annoying brother or sister? Have you ever been to an unusual party? Do you sometimes feel unsure about sleepovers/ Have you ever dreamt of becoming part of a wonderful story? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then My Best Book of Nibbles is for you! This exciting collection from the much-loved Aussie Nibbles series brings together five favourite stories for girls. Contents The Girl Who Fell Into a Book 3 The Magic Wand 71 When Anna Slept Over 141 The Mermaid's Tail 213 Party Time 281

This beautiful full-colour book is a compilation of Honey and Bear and Special Days with Honey and Bear, reproduced in a B format. The ten short stories are exquisitely illustrated by the talented Ron Brooks, and each capture a small moment in the lives of these animal friends. In Honey and Bear - the silver-eyed bird and the cuddly, rotund bear - Ursula Dubosarsky has created characters that children will love, in the tradition of Winnie the Pooh, and Frog and Toad. The tales are the perfect length for beginner readers to attempt themselves, or to read aloud to younger children.

In this uproarious update of a favorite story, an unexplained noise leads to pandemonium among the animals. The fox, the elephant, even the big brown bear prove no match for the Terrible Plop. Only the littlest bunny learns not to panic when the sky—or something else up there—is falling. Bright, energetic illustrations and a lively rhyming text combine to make this a perfect read-aloud story for little ones needing assurance that plops in the day or bumps in the night aren''t as scary as they might seem.

Thunder is an old white horse who lives in a field in Martha's town. Martha and her mother often stop on the way to school to give him something to eat. Martha knows that Thunder doesn't love her as she loves him, but there is something special about him.

Becky has the best ideas for cubby houses. She can't wait to show the new little girl next door!

A psychological thriller, a desperately moving and ultimately uplifting tale of childhood innocence. . . As small children, growing up at the property called Abyssinia, two sisters played with their dolls house together, side by side, always. Grace loved Mary and Mary loved Grace. But inseparable bonds can be unexpectedly shattered. When this happens to Grace, she is plunged into a dark and mesmerising world, a world full of bells and the ringing sky, of odd little children, strange events and frighteningly bizarre grown ups. ''. . . wonderfully atmospheric. . . brilliantly evokes the often-shadowy place of childhood. . .'' -The Age ''Ursula Dubosarsky is the most graceful, most original writer for young people in Australia - probably in the world.'' - Sonya Hartnett

In her hand was a hinged wooden box with a black clasp. On the lid was a painting of a white bird with a long neck, its wings stretched out in flight. Fred rubbed it with her fingers, wiping away the dust. ''The Game of the Goose,'' she read slowly. ''Open it,'' said Rowley . . . Fred, Rowley and Rabbit hardly knew each other before the game. But the game changed everything. It took each of them on an adventure – a terrifying, wonderful journey that they would remember for ever.

Becky is fed up with her little brother trailing after her. With a swish of her newly discovered magic wand, her brother disappears-and a mysterious black cat appears! Where did he go? And how is Becky going to explain this to her mother? Grades 1-3

Students take turns bringing home the class chameleon and writing about how he spent his visit.

Theodora is fourteen when her father Elkanah has a mysterious vision. Soon after, he leaves his family and goes to live with his first wife Pearl. It is up to Theodora and her half-brother Samuel to bring him back. Meanwhile, Samuel''s grandfather Elias is dying, and Theodora begins to see a black cat that could not possibly be real. As present-day events collide with stories from a distant past, the world begins to seem a more complex place, full of uncertainty, great wonder and inspiration.

She's baaack! Last time, Claudia wrote the hilarious My Father is Not a Comedian! This time, she and her sister Griselda are playing I spy. That's how it all begins, when Griselda spies something beginning with 'B': Blood. Naturally, the first thing Claudia thinks of is murder (she reads a lot of murder mysteries). So, she begins her Quest for Clues. She has to come up with a plan - and quickly! There's a maniac on the loose and maybe even a ghost. And there's bound to be another murder most foul . . . A funny and brilliantly written detective story with a difference - it's all about jumping to conclusions really, which is something Claudia does really well. And who knows? By the end of it, you too can become a great detective.

Humorous novel for 10 to 14 year olds. Someone starts to follow Claudie's father and so she embarks on a mission to protect him. Author's other publications include 'High Hopes' and 'Black Sails, White Sails'.

While on holiday at the old convent where her mother lived as a child, a letter arrives and Phyllis is led back on a frightening journey to 1938, but in so doing she begins to understand more about the past, and in particular her mother's childhood.

Novel for young adults telling of the relationship between two lonely girls. Deals with the themes of deception and the random nature of fate. The author's other publications include 'High Hopes' and 'The White Guinea Pig'.

Novel for children aged 9 to 14. Great Aunt Ilma insists that 12-year-old Bruno learn to play a cumbersome medieval instrument, the crumhorn. Bruno doesn't have the courage to say no, but he finds that his crumhorn lessons lead to unexpected new experiences. The award-winning author's other publications include 'The White Guinea-Pig' and 'High Hopes'.

Literature Circles Year 7.

An eleven-year-old Australian girl feels terribly guilty about something she did three years ago when her English relatives were visiting--and now they are returning!

Julia arranges English lessons for her Argentinian-born father, but doesn't bargain on his falling in love with his teacher.