nzweekend

Monsters At Bedtime - Laura Baker

2024-09-26T12:38:11+01:00

Vendor: Happy Yak
Type: Books
Price: 7.99

Young kids will love this fun picture book packed with hilarious monsters getting ready for bed... well some of them! Follow the monsters as they go through the bedtime routine in their very special monster way!

There is plenty to spot on every page, with playful bright artwork and lots of amusing mishaps. Meet sleepy monsters, weepy monsters, teeth-brushing monsters, toilet-flushing monsters, splashing monsters, crashing monsters… even spot and follow a cheeky little monster who does everything to avoid bedtime! Then settle in with bedtime-story monster, cuddle monster and of course all the loudly snoring monsters in a snuggled-into-bed ending for all.

The simple narrative with fun wordplay and a gentle rhyme is perfect for reading aloud, ideal for preschoolers and early readers as they build up their vocabulary and reading confidence.

I Am A Potato! - Ziggy Hanaor

2024-09-26T12:22:52+01:00

Vendor: Cicada
Type: Books
Price: 12.99

If Creature is not a potato, what could they possibly be??

‘I am a potato’, says Creature. ‘No, you‘re not,’ says Dog. ‘Do you grow underground? Do you have lots of eyes? No? Then you’re not a potato.’ ‘Then WHAT AM I?’ wails Creature. Cat comes along. ‘Do you breathe air? Do you eat and poo? Do you move around? You are an animal!’ But what kind of animal are they? As their identity crisis continues, more animals join the conversation, asking questions and narrowing down the possiblities until they eventually work out the answer.

This is a silly, delightful picture book that nonetheless teaches an important lesson about using the scientific method to draw conclusions by observing, asking questions and eliminating possibilities. Vividly brought to life in Elliot Kruszynski’s punchy, graphic illustrations, taxonomy has never been this fun.

Betty's Birthday - Celine Ka Wing Lau

2024-09-26T12:22:28+01:00

Vendor: Cicada
Type: Books
Price: 12.99

It's Betty's sixth birthday! There will be games and pizza-making and cake. Can you help Betty have the best party ever?

Betty is turning six today. She’s going to have an amazing party, but which of her incredible outfits should she wear? And where has she put her glasses?

This is a delightful, interactive, read-aloud picture book, in which young readers are asked to find, choose, count, discuss and otherwise engage with the silly, hyper-detailed illustrations of party games, dance competitions, pizza-making and goody bags.

Some unexpected narrative twists and turns pack each page with lols that will delight young readers and their grown-ups alike.

Miss Cat: The Gnome's Nightmare - Jean-Luc Fromental & Joëlle Jolivet

2024-09-26T12:22:02+01:00

Vendor: Thames & Hudson
Type: Books
Price: 9.99

Miss Cat: The Case Of The Curious Canary is the second book in a irresistible graphic novel series for readers aged 6-10, featuring a cool detective dressed in her cat-ear hoodie. She's a private eye with ears on her hat and a nose for mystery!

When an unusual visitor asks Miss Cat to stop a terrible dream from coming true, she has a whale of a mystery on her hands. Soon she's on the trail of a secretive author, meeting a mysterious mayor and chasing a pack of peculiar pirates. But with a little help from her friends, no case is too tough for Miss Cat to crack!

If I Had A Dragon - Alex Barrow & Gabby Dawnay

2024-09-26T12:21:18+01:00

Vendor: Thames & Hudson
Type: Books
Price: 11.99

Imagine what it would be like to have a dragon as a pet. Join our funny female protagonist on her latest flight of fancy, but watch out for that burning bad breath!

Dragons are mighty mythical beasts... and perfect pets. Getting to school is a breeze when you can fly, and you would never have to worry about lighting the barbecue. But what exactly do dragons eat? Perhaps a trip to the museum will help, just beware of knights in shining armour!

The latest in the fantastically funny If I Had A… series is full of fantasy fun, wrapping up an exciting day of dragon adventures with a warm and cosy night-time scene. It's the perfect book for bedtime.

The Dragon Atlas - Anna Claybourne

2024-09-25T13:00:27+01:00

Vendor: Laurence King
Type: Books
Price: 16.99

A beautifully illustrated guide to the world's most fearsome and legendary dragons, with magical stories, maps, fascinating dragon facts and tales of close encounters.

Travel the globe to discover the facts behind this fierce creature of myth and legend. See them in their natural habitats, lurking in the swamps of West Africa or guarding their treasure in a cave-dwelling in Europe. Read exciting tales of dragons good and bad, including the story of the dragon-slaying princess Thanake of Africa and the epic tale of Assipattle and the giant sea dragon.

Beautifully illustrated maps pinpoint the locations of dragons around the globe, whilst special feature spreads take a closer look at dragon features, dwellings and dragon sightings. From the spectacular Chinese dragon with its long snakelike body to the seven-headed Herensuge of the Basque region in Spain, this captivating compendium of dragon facts and exciting tales will take you on a mythical quest to discover all there is to know about these magnificent beasts.

Wherever You Go, My Love Will Follow - Birgitta Sif

2024-09-25T11:39:54+01:00

Vendor: Magic Cat
Type: Books
Price: 16.99

Wherever You Go, My Love Will Follow is a beautiful anthology of eight stories, written as letters of love, for a special person in your life.

This is a stunning, heartfelt collection of short stories told as letters from a parent to a child, encompassing the life lessons they want them to take out into the world.

In Stones, a little bear builds a tower, only to see it come crashing down, but that's okay - it's the chance to start again and dream a new dream. In Sparks, they realise that they don't have to be good at everything all at once - they just have to begin. In Stars, they discover that hope is always there if they're brave enough to look for it.

Beautifully and thoughtfully illustrated, this is a book of wisdom for someone to carry close to their heart, wherever life's journey might take them.

It's a wonderful gift for someone you love, whether that's a child celebrating their graduation or a friend going through a difficult time. The stories cover these themes: love, trying again when at first you don't succeed, having the courage to begin, slowing down and appreciating quieter moments, opening your heart to new experiences, choosing friends that let you be you, knowing that hope can always be found and discovering magic in everyday life.

Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker - Jessica Courtney-Tickle

2024-09-20T09:36:03+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 16.99

Music and story combine in this gorgeous version of the famous ballet, The Nutcracker. Follow Clara on a magical Christmas adventure and press the buttons to hear excerpts of Tchaikovsky's beautiful music. Watch the Nutcracker battle the Mouse King, meet the sugar Plum Fairy and journey to the Land of Sweets, with accompanying music from The Dance Of The Reed Flutes, The Waltz of Flowers and The Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy. This is a wonderful book to read in the run-up to Christmas, or indeed, any time of year!

Deep Space Danger: Spin To Survive - Emily Hawkin

2024-09-19T09:50:56+01:00

Vendor: Wide Eyed Editions
Type: Books
Price: 20.00

This is the fourth instalment of the innovative Spin to Survive game-in-a-book series with pop-out fortune spinner.

As part of a pioneering mission to Mars, you've earned your place as one of Earth's greatest explorers. Now, become its most tenacious hero as you fight for your life and the lives of your crew when your spaceship meets with catastrophe. All systems are down, your crewmates are gone, and you're millions of miles from help.

Armed only with your scientific knowhow, a few scraps of hi-tech gear and, of course, your astronaut's Survival Spinner, it's up to you to avert the impending calamity. Will you abort the mission and set a course for home, try to bring the spaceship back online and complete your journey, or attempt to divert to a nearby asteroid mining station?

On each spread, read the story, make your choice, then use the pop-out spinner to determine if it was the lucky one... or not! With dozens of paths and unexpected disasters along the way, readers aged 8-12 will love embarking on this journey again and again.

Play your way through a host of hazards as you fight to survive, enduring solar flares, asteroid belts, space-walks and more interplanetary challenges. Prepare for adventure... and take to the stars!

Spooky Poems Aloud - Joseph Coelho

2024-09-19T09:46:46+01:00

Vendor: Wide Eyed Editions
Type: Books
Price: 20.00

From Children’s Laureate (2022–2024), Joseph Coelho, comes a giggling and ghoulish compendium of 25 spooky poems to perform. It's the perfect collection of Halloween-themed poems for children to build confidence in reading aloud and nurture their speech and drama skills.

With a delightful blend of giggles and ghouls, this collection is designed for young readers and budding performers.

Within these pages, you'll discover poems that can be recited loudly, softly, or in a ghostly whisper, offering a diverse range of performances. Some poems are meant to make your audience jump or send shivers down their spine, while others weave spell-poems that can enchant a witch's cat or cast a spell of laughter. There are even poems that will tickle your funny bones.

Joseph Coelho's imaginative words will transport young readers into the world of whimsical and eerie tales, making this book a treasure trove for children of all ages and reading abilities.

A Natural History of Dragons - Emily Hawkins

2024-09-19T09:43:22+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 20.00

Dragons have been the misunderstood subject of folklore for generations . . . but are these stories just legends or is there any truth to these majestic creatures’ fiery reputations?

Featuring a gold-foil-embossed cloth cover, a ribbon marker and sprayed gold edges, this lavishly illustrated volume details the secret lives of dragons making it the perfect gift for all fantasy enthusiasts.

Presented as a handbook from the late 1800s written for the students of the Academie Solomonar: the only school for dragon-riders, this beautiful volume sets out to reveal the hidden world of dragons. Within these pages you will meet mysterious and majestic dragons from around the globe, read about ancient lore and superstitions, learn about their life cycle, anatomy, habits and habitats, and discover the secrets behind dragon flight. This exquisitely illustrated album, that delves deep into the world of dragons, will delight all true-believers and fantasy enthusiasts.

Check out the rest of the Folklore Field Guide series: A Natural History of Fairies, A Natural History of Magick and A Natural History of Mermaids and A Natural History of Magical Beasts.

Little People, Big Dreams: Vincent Van Gogh - Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

2024-09-19T09:39:31+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 9.99

This little biography tells the inspiring story of Vincent van Gogh, one of the world's most influential and best-loved artists.

Little Vincent was a quiet child. He loved spending time in nature and playing with his brother Theo. After leaving school, he began working as an art dealer. Vincent showed promise, but he found it more and more difficult to control his emotions and eventually had to leave. He had a go at many different jobs, including a teacher and a bookseller, but nothing felt right.

When he wasn’t working, he wrote Theo long letters that included beautiful drawings. Theo loved his work and suggested that he try being an artist. Vincent dedicated himself to painting and never looked back! He developed his own style and expressed his emotions through his art: from sorrow to joy, and everything in between.

During his life, Vincent had little success, but today, his paintings are admired and celebrated in galleries across the world.

Little People Big Dreams series portrays the inspiring lives of artists, designers, activists and scientists in a super-accessible way with sweet illustrations and by focusing on when they started out as children with a dream. Each book has a biographical timeline with historical photographs and extra facts, too.

A World Full Of Animal Stories - Angela McAllister

2024-09-18T21:16:36+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 14.99

What a beautiful hardback book! A World Full Of Animal Stories is a beautifully illustrated compendium of 50 well-loved animal tales from around the world. Classic folk tales, myths and fables – including The Three Little Pigs, The Ugly Duckling, Why the Swallow’s Tail is Forked and the story of Ananse and the Python – are retold by award-winning author Angela McAllister.

A gorgeous addition to a child's book collection! Check out the accompanying and equally lovely books, A Year Full Of Stories and A Stage Full Of Shakespeare Stories.

A Bedtime Full Of Stories - Angela McAllister

2024-09-18T21:04:59+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 14.99

Look forward to bedtime with this beautiful hardback compendium of 50 bedtime stories from around the world, each the perfect length to read aloud. Classic folk tales, myths and fables – including The Emperor’s New Clothes (Denmark), The Bag of Winds (Greece), How Cheetah Got His Speed (South Africa) and The Moon Maiden (Japan) – are retold by award-winning author Angela McAllister and beautifully illustrated by Anna Shepeta. This anthology will be treasured by story lovers both young and old.

A gorgeous addition to a child's book collection! Check out the accompanying and equally lovely books, A Year Full Of Stories and A Stage Full Of Shakespeare Stories.

Little People, Big Dreams: Stephen Hawking - Isabel Sanchez Vegara

2024-09-18T21:04:33+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 9.99

This little biography of Stephen Hawking tells the inspiring tale of the little boy who used to stare up at the stars and wonder about the universe. Although never top of the class, his curiosity took him to the best universities in England: Oxford and Cambridge, He became a famed theoretical physicist and made one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century: Hawking radiation, while battling motor neurone disease.

The Little People, Big Dreams books series portrays the inspiring lives of artists, designers, activists and scientists in a super-accessible way with sweet illustrations and by focusing on when they started out as children with a dream. Each book has a biographical timeline with historical photographs and extra facts, too.

Little People, Big Dreams: Mother Teresa - Isabel Sanchez Vegara

2024-09-18T21:04:12+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 9.99

This little biography of Mother Teresa tells the inspiring tale of the little girl who dreamt of helping others and grew up to become the Catholic nun and missionary who won a Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work.

Little People, Big Dreams: Andy Warhol - Isabel Sanchez Vegara

2024-09-18T20:50:15+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 9.99

This little biography of Andy Warhol tells the inspiring tale of the iconic pop artist. Little Andy was the tiniest and palest child of the Warholas, a humble couple from Slovakia who lived in Pittsburgh. He loved to draw, but was too shy to show his work to others, even to his family. As an adult he got a chance to publish his first illustration for a glamorous magazine. He turned his attention to the ordinary, like the soup cans he ate from for lunch. He showed the world that the ordinary objects could POP, and founded a cultural movement.

Little People, Big Dreams: Stevie Wonder - Isabel Sanchez Vegara

2024-09-18T20:49:46+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 9.99

This little biography tells the story of Stevie Wonder, the iconic musician. Blind from shortly after his birth, it was clear that at just 8 years old, Steveland Judkins was going to be a star. Renamed Stevie Wonder for his astonishing talent on the piano and other instruments, he wrote and performed some of the biggest hits of the 1970s, including Superstition and Sir Duke. Stevie became known for his inventiveness, soulful voice and the social commentary in his lyrics. He is a UN Messenger of Peace and remains one of the music world’s most iconic figures.

The Little People, Big Dreams books series portrays the inspiring lives of artists, designers, activists and scientists in a super-accessible way with sweet illustrations and by focusing on when they started out as children with a dream and by focusing on when they started out as children with a dream. Each book has a biographical timeline with historical photographs and extra facts, too.

The Story Orchestra: Carnival of the Animals - Katy Flint

2024-09-18T20:40:44+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 16.99

Music and story combine in this beautiful book, Carnival Of The Animals. Push the button on each of the 10 double pages to hear an orchestra playing excerpts of Camille Saint-Saëns' beautiful suite for children.

One day, two brothers discover a magical animal kingdom behind their bookcase. They are greeted by the royal lion with his shaggy mane; ask for directions from an old lonely tortoise; take a ride on some lumbering elephants; topple a skeleton of dinosaur bones; and swim among a school of shimmering fish. If only they could take them all home...

The book includes extracts from 'The Swan', 'Aquarium', 'Fossils', and 'Finale' (From Disney's Fantasia) along with a totally new story to link the pieces together.

At the back of the book, you'll find a short biography of the composer with details about Carnival of the Animals. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.

The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet and music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. Check out the other books: Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

Little People, Big Dreams: RuPaul - Isabel Sanchez Vegara

2024-09-18T20:40:15+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 9.99

This little biography of RuPaul tells the inspiring tale of the performer, supermodel and host of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Even before Ru was born, a fortune teller told his mum that he would be famous... It was only a matter of time before he figured out how. Playing dress-up was his favourite game, and that's where he felt most comfortable. Ru went on to study performing arts and moved to New York to join a punk band. Later, drag was a way to express himself as an artist. He found success, then wanted to help others find theirs. He inspires us to do what feels right and love ourselves.

Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings: 10 mindful stories - Swapna Haddow

2024-09-04T11:40:21+01:00

Vendor: Magic Cat
Type: Books
Price: 14.99

Doctor Diplo is the Jurassic kingdom's best-loved therapist. Meet him and 10 of his Jurassic friends in this cute and funny guide to emotions and feelings for kids aged 5+.

There are 10 read-aloud stories, each about a different emotion, with sweet, colourful illustrations. Each story demonstrates tools to help navigate that feeling along with simple mindfulness exercises from Australian child psychologist, Amber Owen. It's a great for opening up conversations about feelings in a gentle and approachable way. There's also a 'how to use this book' guide for parents and carers at the back of the book.

Meet: Steggie the Angry Dinosaur; Rex the Scared Dinosaur; Bruno the Sad Dinosaur; Minka the Happy Dinosaur; Poppy the Lonely Dinosaur; Percy the Shy Dinosaur; Terrie the Excited Dinosaur; Trev the Overwhelmed Dinosaur; Iggy the Bored Dinosaur and Nino the Content Dinosaur.

The Story Orchestra: The Planets - Katy Flint

2024-08-16T13:51:26+01:00

Vendor: Frances Lincoln
Type: Books
Price: 16.99

Music and story combine in this gorgeous book, The Planets. Push the button on each of the 10 double pages to hear an orchestra playing excerpts of Holst's famous suite.

This tale is about a brother and sister who adventure deep into our solar system. Helen and Tim get ready for bed in their new space rocket bunk beds... but sleep will have to wait as they magically blast up, up, up into the glittering night sky, leaving planet Earth far below them.

Helen and Tim journey here, there and everywhere through our majestic solar system. They soar past the cold rocky surface of Mars as it rises into towering peaks and plunges into deep canyons and glide through a bumpy asteroid belt made of icy rocks. They blast deeper into our solar system, exploring the dazzling stars and astounding planets along the way. But now it's time to head home! As the rocket speeds towards Earth, Tim and Helen watch the sun rise over their planet.

At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Gustav Holst, with details about his composition of The Planets. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.

The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet and music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. Check out the other books: Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker

The Baby-Sitters Club #3: Mary Anne Saves The Day - Raina Telgemeier

2024-07-12T19:22:37+01:00

Vendor: Scholastic
Type: Books
Price: 7.99

Mary Anne Saves The Day is the third in The Baby-Sitters Club series of full-colour graphic novels – perfect for age 9+.

Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey are best friends and founding members of The Babysitters Club. Whatever comes up - cranky toddlers, huge dogs, scary neighbours, prank calls - you can count on them to save the day.

Who would have guessed that when the BSC girls get in a huge fight, it's shy and quiet Mary Anne who manages to save their friendship? When a terrible fight breaks out among the four Baby-Sitters Club friends, Mary Anne is left to her own devices. She has to sit by herself at lunch, make new friends, and deal with her overprotective father without advice from the BSC gang. But the worst part is when she faces a terrible baby-sitting predicament, and she can't find any help. Luckily, Mary Anne rises to the occasion. Not only does she handle all her problems with aplomb, she also manages to get the BSC back together again.

Raina Telgemeier, using the signature style featured in her acclaimed graphic novels Smile and Sisters, perfectly captures all the drama and humour of the original novel by Ann M. Martin.

The Baby-Sitters Club #2: The Truth About Stacey - Raina Telgemeier

2024-07-12T19:22:25+01:00

Vendor: Scholastic
Type: Books
Price: 8.99

The Truth About Stacey is the third in The Baby-Sitters Club series of full-colour graphic novels – perfect for age 9+.

Poor Stacey. She just moved to a new town, is still coming to terms with her diabetes, and is facing baby-sitting problems left and right. Fortunately, Stacey has three new friends - Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Anne. Together they're the BSC, and they will deal with whatever's thrown their way, even if it's a rival baby-sitting club!

Raina Telgemeier, using the signature style featured in her acclaimed graphic novels Smile and Sisters, perfectly captures all the drama and humour of the original novel by Ann M. Martin.

The Baby-Sitters Club #1: Kristy's Great Idea - Raina Telgemeier

2024-07-12T19:15:42+01:00

Vendor: Scholastic
Type: Books
Price: 7.99

Kristy's Great Idea is the first in The Baby-Sitters Club series of full-colour graphic novels – perfect for age 9+.

Babysitting isn't always easy though, and neither is dealing with strict parents, new families, fashion emergencies, and mysterious secrets. But no matter what, the BSC have what they need most: friendship.

Raina Telgemeier, using the signature style featured in her acclaimed graphic novels Smile and Sisters, perfectly captures all the drama and humour of the original novel by Ann M. Martin.