New Releases by William Mayne

Against a background of local skirmishes between rebel forces and government troops in an unnamed Asian/Indian country, Philip and Shanya meet on the train, travelling to visit their respective scientist fathers in a camp in the desert, below the ruins of a very ancient city. The scientists are bargaining with the authorities to have water piped to the ruined city. But after their first night, the children wake to find the camp deserted. When, after a day, still no one returns, they make for the distant city just visible in the mountain. In fact the city is nothing but ruins, once rich with gardens and fed by streams, but now bleached and dry, and utterly deserted - or are they? There is a sensation of presences, footsteps, a belief they are being watched. They come upon a monkey, toasting a lizard on a fire. It turns and speaks to them - a strange mixture of muddled English, sometimes with the voices and the intonation of their fathers. In fact the ancient city is peopled by a whole tribe of these talking apes - the secret subject of the archaeological camp''s study. But the apes too are in trouble - their city is dying from the drying up of wells and water courses. And children an

Granny Shaftoe tried to warn them. A witch she may have been, but she spoke the truth. Meric, proud and fearless, had no time for soothsayers, ignored her wisdom, and was never seen again. Robin missed his friend and spoke of him often to his son, Alan. Soon he too went into the forest to fish from the well... Ages 11+.

Two young sisters living in the Cornish countryside find a strange boy in the woods who doesn''t seem to speak, eat, or sleep.

Story Books are for newly-confident readers (7-9 yrs) who enjoy well written, slightly more demanding stories with chapters and stunning illustrations.

Who is Hob? The creation of award-winning author William Mayne, Hob is a friendly household spirit, invisible to grownups, although the children know he''s there.

A collection of classic and contemporary stories by such authors as Ray Bradbury, Saki, Rudyard Kipling, and Margaret Mahy, all featuring supernatural themes.

A mouse with a longing to fly, on seeing two young brothers in danger from an owl, "flies" down from a roof to save them.

A tidal wave begins an adventure for three New Zealand children.

Hob, the friendly spirit who lives under the stairs and protects the house, must do battle with a variety of evil beings trying to take control of his family''s home.

When Melinda and Wayne go on holiday to England with their parents, they come across a stranger with a secret, and a long-buried mystery from the past. Suggested level: primary.

While searching for winter quarters, a group of gypsies celebrates the birth of a new chief and discovers why a former chief disappeared.

Rebecca feels her visit to her granny is turning into the Little Red Riding Hood story. Suggested level: junior.

A collection of eight stories combining mystery, intrigue and humour, which tread a fine line between reality and the supernatural.

Twelve-year-old Eva''s chaotic but cheerful family life in a small English town changes when Gideon, her brain-damaged, deaf older brother, gets a job opening bridges and locks for the local canal boat.

Abducted and raised by eagles, a young boy is sent on a mission to rescue a lost egg and, in the process, save the race of eagles.

Parti à la dérive sur un lac, en compagnie de la jeune Tawena, Ralph est recueilli par deux Indiennes. Sa vie est menacée, mais Tawena veille et l''ours rôde. Après les traitements endurés, le garçon sort grandi de cette aventure voisine du cauchemar. L''auteur présente dans ce récit invraisemblable une vision folklorique du Grand Nord, de ses habitants et de sa faune.

Stories relate how courageous children rescue a lonely little girl from an enchanted island, make a dazzling discovery in a snowstorm, and witness the king's wedding

A family of foxes living in a cellar in town must find a new home when their building is torn down, but a pack of dogs makes their journey difficult.

A mouse with a longing to fly, on seeing two young brothers in danger from an owl, "flies" down from a roof to save them.

Shunned by the other crows for his white feathers, Corbie dreams of a better life and is generous to all

When the children leave the schoolroom for the day, Barnabas, a guinea pig, leaves his cage to continue teaching himself to read, only to embark on a perilous adventure with a hungry cat.

Rafe''s mother didn''t like him talking to the ''heathen'' Indian girl. Tawena, who came from the encampment of tents and cabins at the end of the village. But, Rafe longed to know what Tawena meant by ''looking at bear'', and followed her one day on to the headland and into disaster.