New Releases by Ursula Dubosarsky

Here is the story of the Terrible PLOP, with a bear and a rabbit, and a hop hop hop. But what is the PLOP? And where does it hide? Open the book and look inside . . . ''Hilarious, original and energetic . . . '' The Sunday Age From award-winning author Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrator Andrew Joyner comes an irresistible picture book about a little rabbit who learns that some things in life aren''t as scary as they seem. Based on a Tibetan myth, a sound in the forest sets all the animals running for their lives from the Terrible Plop. Children will be charmed by the wonderful zany energy of the illustrations and the rollicking rhyming story.

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

Becky has reached the point in her swimming lessons when she has stopped being a Frog and has moved up to be a Platypus. She has to go into the deep end, and she''s not at all sure that she''s ready for it. She wishes she could be a Frog for just a little while longer.

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.

Meet the Word Snoop. She?s dashing and daring and witty as can be?and no one knows more about the evolution of the English language than she does. Luckily, she?s spilling her secrets in this gem of a book. From the first alphabet in 4000 BC, to anagrams, palindromes, and modern-day text messages, readers will learn all about the fascinating twists and turns our fair language has taken to become what it is today. With playful black-and-white illustrations, riddles to solve, and codes to break, The Word Snoop is definitive proof that words can spark the imagination and are anything but dull. This is a book for every aspiring writer, and every true reader.

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

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.

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

Dear Readers, You may not know me, but I know you. I am - the WORD SPY. Ever since I can remember, I''ve been listening to, speaking, reading, and yes, spying on words. The time has come for me to share with you some of the many things I have discovered. All you have to do is open this book... the wonderful world of words awaits! Join the Word Spyon an entertaining journey through the English language. Learn more about where the alphabet came from, find out what ATM stands for, make your own palindromes (it''s easy!) and impress your pigs by speaking Pig Latin. There are cartoons, riddles and a special code to solve along the way. Visit the Word Spy blog

For Martha there is something strange and almost magical about a white horse, even an old one like Jerry.

Tibby feels like everything is going wrong. Her big brother Clarence is all grown up, and doesn’t want to play with her any more. If Clarence says there aren’t any pixies except in books, then what exactly did Tibby see in the bush, peering out from behind a leaf? Ursula Dubosarsky has created a charming story inspired by a postcard of gumnut fairies. It is set in Australia at the time of the First World War and touches on the changes that affected most families as the young men went off to fight.

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.

Three sisters growing up in post-World War II Sydney, Australia, deal with their mentally unstable father, their possibly unfaithful mother, and the defecting Russian spy who lives next door.

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.

Becky can''t wait to put on her puppet show. She''s even thought of a surprise ending!

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.

Honey and Bear are good friends. They do lots of things together. Sometimes they feel bored or cross, but they look after each other, always. Five stories for children.

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.

Children''s comic adventure story for younger readers. Isador''s best friend Lulu discovers that she is not really an orphan but that her parents are still alive somewhere. But how will she find them? Together with Isador''s Dad, the adventurers set off on a sea voyage, braving pirates, sharks and strange island-dwellers. Third book in the Isador Brown trilogy, which also includes ''The Strange Adventures of Isador Brown'' and ''The Even Stranger Adventures of Isador Brown''.

Novel for early primary school readers, part of the Aussie Nibbles series. Becky''s two gorillas just sit in the dollhouse and do nothing except growl and look scary - until Becky gives them their first bath. Followed by colouring in the gorillas with textas, covering them with glitter, freezing them, and much more. Illustrated throughout and has large print.

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''.

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''.

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.

On Samuel''s twelfth birthday he disappeared. Neither his opera-singer father, his psychiatrist mother, or his almost-twin half-sister could find him. It was his grandfather, old Elias, who eventually saved his life. A story about the intricate links binding together a family. Ages 10-13.

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!