Kady MacDonald Denton – illustratör

From the author of The Arctic Fox and Lily Dragon, a moving and exciting new novel set in Africa about a child with a special relationship with elephants. Roaring Good Reads: For Confident Readers 7 – 10Shola was five when she was found by scientists in the Bakuli National Park in Africa. Exhausted and half-starved, she had been kept safe by a family of elephants who had treated her as one of their young. Shola goes to live with the scientists and their son, Leo, who is thrilled to have an older sister. But when Leo’s parents are killed in a plane crash, Leo is sent back to live in England. Returning to Africa some years later, Leo is shocked to find that Shola hasn’t spoken since the tragic accident and that a growing number of the elephants are being killed for ivory. He and Shola set off to find ‘their’ elephants, despite the danger of the poachers, and along with their favourite elephant Shola also finds her voice.This is Shola’s story, told by Leo , about the idyllic life they lead in Africa surrounded by wildlife – elephants in particular – an idyllic life that is cut short by danger and death . It’s a novel of adventure and family ties crossing two cultures – African and European – and two kingdoms, human and animal. A third novel from Mary Ellis, that is both lyrical and exciting; thrilling and moving.

A comforting, reassuring and sensitive portrayal of divorce.In this award-winning picture book classic about divorce, Alex has two homes – a home where Daddy lives and a home where Mummy lives. Alex has two front doors, two bedrooms and two very different favourite chairs. He has a toothbrush at Mummy's and a toothbrush at Daddy's. But whether Alex is with Mummy or Daddy, one thing stays the same: Alex is loved by them both – always. This gently reassuring story focuses on what is gained rather than what is lost when parents divorce, while the sensitive illustrations, depicting two unique homes in all their small details, firmly establish Alex’s place in both of them. Two Homes will help children – and parents – embrace even the most difficult of changes with an open and optimistic heart.

When the impish Mouse comes to spend the night, Bear is in for a rude – and very funny – awakening in this irresistible bedtime story starring the unlikely pair.Bear must have absolute quiet when he goes to bed. He likes to set out his glass of water, adjust his nightcap, fluff up his favourite pillow and then drift peacefully off to sleep. But the effervescent Mouse, small and grey and bright-eyed, finds it terribly hard to be as quiet as a … well, you know. With masterfully paced slapstick humour, droll repartee and comic visual detail, A Bedtime for Bear sees the curmudgeonly Bear and his irrepressible friend Mouse return in a third wry adventure that will have readers of all ages laughing in recognition.

Bear had never had a real Christmas... Clearly, the most important thing was pickles.Get ready for Christmas and the best kind of surprises as grumpy Bear and eager Mouse return in a funny tale full of festive cheer and friendship. One frosty night, Bear hears a tap, tap, tapping on his front door. “Merry Christmas!” cries Mouse, who has arrived for a Christmas party. Bear has never had one before, but he’s certain that pickles are essential, along with the reading of a long and difficult poem. The problem is, whenever Bear comes back from the kitchen with treats, Mouse has vanished – only to be found, small and grey and guilty-eyed, scurrying under the bed or searching the cupboard. Will there be a present for Mouse? Even just a tiny one?

Thanks to Mouse, grumpy Bear discovers the joy of books in a hilarious story that fans will be eager to add to their own library.Bear and Mouse are back, and Bear does not want to go to the library. He is quite sure he already has all the books he will ever need. Yet the relentlessly cheery Mouse, small and grey and bright-eyed, thinks differently. When Bear reluctantly agrees to go with his friend to the big library, neither rocket ships nor wooden canoes are enough for Bear’s picky tastes. How will Mouse ever find the perfect book for Bear? Children will giggle themselves silly as Bear’s arguments give way to his inevitable curiosity, leading up to a satisfying story hour and a humorously just-right, read-aloud library book.

From the award-winning and bestselling creators of the Bear and Mouse series comes another charming and witty picture book about an unlikely, but loveable, pair of best friends.One autumn day, Bear is all ready to go for a picnic with Mouse. But there is no tap, tap, tapping on Bear's front door... No sign at all of his small and grey and bright-eyed friend. Bear sets out to look for Mouse and finds him sitting on a stump, lamenting the signs of autumn – the leaves falling, the birds leaving, and the flowers going, too. After not too long, Bear agrees that this autumn day really IS the worst day ever.But together, with slippery puddles, wonderfully messy mud, and tea and pickles in front of a crackling fire, Bear and Mouse may find that this preposterous day may not be quite so bad after all.

Many of Canada's best-loved children's book illustrators generously agreed to donate artwork to this collection, each choosing a Mother Goose rhyme to illustrate. The artists were given free rein to respond to these age-old rhymes. Theremarkable inventiveness and rich variety of the art is proof positive of the vast talent of these illustrators.This wonderful collection is a condensed board-book version of Mother Goose: A Canadian Sampler, first published in 1994 for the benefit of the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program. Established in 1986 to introduce mothers and fathers who need support in parenting to the joys of play and language as exemplified by the Mother Goose canon, the program continues to be an exciting and innovative approach to developing parenting skills. Royalties from sales of this book will go to the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program (www.nald.ca/mothergooseprogram/).

Thanks to Mouse, grumpy Bear discovers the joy of books in a hilarious story that fans will be eager to add to their own library.Bear and Mouse are back, and Bear does not want to go to the library. He is quite sure he already has all the books he will ever need. Yet the relentlessly cheery Mouse, small and grey and bright-eyed, thinks differently. When Bear reluctantly agrees to go with his friend to the big library, neither rocket ships nor wooden canoes are enough for Bear’s picky tastes. How will Mouse ever find the perfect book for Bear? Children will giggle themselves silly as Bear’s arguments give way to his inevitable curiosity, leading up to a satisfying story hour and a humorously just-right, read-aloud library book.