EK Books – serie

The award-winning team of Glyn Harper and Jenny Cooper share this poignant story about a Vietnam veteran and his relationship with his granddaughter. While the relationship is a positive one, the young girl senses her grandfather’s pain and is curious to find out the cause of it. As she innocently seeks answers, she unknowingly opens old wounds and discovers her grandfather’s sadness is a legacy of the Vietnam War and his experiences there. This is a sensitive exploration of the lingering cost of war and of the PTSD so many returned servicemen experience. Released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Khe Sanh (the Vietnam War’s longest battle), it also sheds light on a war that is not always remembered in the same way that the world wars and other conflicts are. Many who served experience a sense of betrayal at the treatment they received on their return, as the conflict came to be regarded as the ‘unpopular’ war, and this is covered in a child-friendly way in a note at the back of the book.

Tottie and Dot are two little girls who live side by side. They love all the same things and are the perfect neighbours. Life is lovely and peaceful until, one day, the girls begin competing with each other to create the best house!As the story unfolds, jealousy takes hold and their competitive spirit gets increasingly out of control. Flamingos run around gardens, rollercoasters fly off their tracks, circuses turn into mayhem… until everything collapses in a disastrous heap! Will Tottie and Dot be able to salvage the situation by realising the importance of their friendship?Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully told, the story shines on the page. Each girl’s house is shown over a series of exquisitely illustrated double-page spreads — Tottie on the left and Dot on the right. The detailed illustrations perfectly complement the simple story line and will provide children aged 4–7 with hours of entertainment, as well as a valuable life lesson! Help children learn how to support each other instead of competing to ‘be the best’ with this gorgeous, funny, and thought-provoking book.

Meet Isla, Sophie, Dominik, James and Rashida — Scottish children representing a multicultural blend of culture and race that typifies our beautiful country. They will take you through a year in the life of Scottish kids, from celebrations to traditions to events, to our everyday way of life and the little things that make childhood so memorable. They are our Scottish childhood.A Scottish Year is a picture book bursting with national pride. It is a snapshot of who we are as a nation, blending our modern-day culture and lifestyle with past traditions and strong heritage. Its pages feature meandering text, dates and gorgeous illustrations, showcasing our five Scottish children at play, at school, at home, and enjoying the sights and sites of Scotland — from our heather-strewn Highlands to our historical cities, pristine outer islands and charming rural towns.

A fun, engaging story, perfect for children learning how to do something for the first time.Easy Peasy follows Ruby, who has just received her first pair of roller skates as a present from her dad. She’s convinced it will be easy peasy to learn how to roller skate and dismisses her dad when he offers to help her. But after a few tumbles, Ruby realises it isn’t as easy as she thinks and she might need her dad’s help after all. Author Ky Garvey was initially inspired by her son, who as a little boy loved his skateboard so much that he took it to bed with him every night like a teddy bear. But as she began to write, she remembered the joy of roller skating with her dad at the local rink every Saturday morning. As Ky puts it, ‘It was treasured time together and I wanted to reflect that relationship in my book.’Easy Peasy will delight skating-mad girls and patient parents while providing a lesson in independence and perseverance. And the hilarious, relatable illustrations by Amy Calautti add an extra dash of shiny, sparkly fun!

In these three delightful stories, fairies, ponies and ballerinas come out to play!In Dance with Me, a ballerina in a music box loves nothing more than to dance. But when the little girl who owns the box grows up, who will dance with the ballerina then? A gorgeous story about treasured possessions and the memories they hold.In Patch and Ruby, Patch the pony is lonely. Sometimes it feels as if he doesn't quite fit in on the farm. But one day something happens that changes his life forever. A wonderful tale about friendship and finding out where you belong.In The Great Sock Secret, Sarah's mother is tired of finding odd socks in the laundry basket. Where do all the missing socks go? Sarah knows. But her mother mustn't find out! A fantastical adventure into an imaginative fairy-filled(Warning: these fairies are seriously cool!)

Grumpy old Mrs Gooseberry from next door has lost her love. "I didn't know you could lose love," says Ella. So she begins her quest to find out what love looks like and how she can help Mrs Gooseberry to rediscover it. Her mother says love is like home-cooked pie. Her teacher says it's like lanterns in the night. Perhaps love might look like a little kitten...Ella and Mrs Gooseberry is an inspiring picture book about a child's understanding of love, selfless giving and how it makes you feel.

Paddy O’Melon is the endearing story of a young rainforest kangaroo. Separated from his mother as a young joey, Paddy is found and raised by an Irish family who live in the rainforest and often help orphaned or injured animals. But while Paddy loves his new human family, he’s curious to find out what he really is. So, he sets out on a journey into the rainforest where he meets a range of other interesting animals — from musky rat-kangaroos to green tree frogs, from ringtail possums to flying-foxes. But all he really wants is to be reunited with his mother and his own kind. Perhaps the cassowary can tell this little red-legged pademelon who he really is and take him safely home?

Every two seconds, someone in the world suffers a stroke. In Finding Granny, that someone is Edie’s beloved grandmother. When Edie comes to the hospital, she is confronted by the physical changes in her grandmother: muddled words, a crooked face, a woman confined to bed. This isn’t the ‘playtime, bedtime, story-time pantomime Granny’ that Edie knows. "That’s not my Granny," she says, as she waits outside in the corridor during her mother’s visits. But when her mother takes Edie to watch one of Granny’s art therapy sessions, Edie starts to understand that the Granny she loves is still there. Finding Granny is a heart-warming story of changing relationships and the bond between children and grandparents. It’s also a sensitive exploration of coping with illness and disability that will offer children much-needed comfort.

One day, Dad invites Billy into his shed to build something, but Billy soon finds out that he is only allowed to watch. As Dad becomes engrossed in his project, Billy takes Dad’s off-cuts and other items from around the yard and shed and gets to work on his own invention, with Dad blissfully unaware! At the end of the day, they reveal their creations and Dad discovers that Billy has more skills and abilities than his dad had ever imagined!Joining forces, Dad and Billy set out as a team to build a cart together — the best one yet — and enter the upcoming local cart race. Just think what they could do!Up to Something lovingly explores the development of the father–son relationship. Bonding through doing something they both love and encouraging children to take on new challenges are key here, and are illustrated beautifully. The power of inspiration and creativity, and the importance of nurturing them, are also brought to the fore. This is a lovely story of the importance of letting children grow, and the joy of working together.

Liam and Kai are the best of friends. They do everything together. Each day in the park they race around in their box cars, pretending to be everything from policemen chasing down bad guys to chauffeurs driving around movie stars!One day they notice a little girl watching them — she’s keen to join in and they’re happy to be her friends too, but with only two box cars to play with it seems someone’s going to be left out. Watch chaos unfold as the three box car racers try to figure out what to do!The Box Cars is a fun-filled story of friendship, sharing and creative problem-solving, featuring lively illustrations and endearing characters. The imaginative games and fast-paced adventures of Liam, Kai and Eve will appeal to boys and girls everywhere!

Olivia and her dog Barkley are inseparable. He's her sidekick, her partner in crime-fighting - they're the perfect pair. But then, Barkley dies and Olivia is heartbroken. She dreads falling asleep because waking up without Barkley is just too sad. Gradually, however, she realizes that Barkley wouldn't want her to be unhappy for the rest of her life. So she thinks of a way that she cannot only get her own happiness back, but also give happiness to another animal, by adopting a new dog from an animal shelter. And so Spud joins the family. Spud is a terrible sidekick and crime-fighter - she wants to play with the bad guys not catch them! In fact, Spud couldn't be less like Barkley, but Olivia grows to love her very much because she's just as special in her own way.

Children love laughing about body noises. In Grandpa's Noises, a range of sounds and words coming from body and mouth are explained in a warm and funny intergenerational romp. Children look at life with open, honest eyes but sometimes it takes a bit of thinking and code-breaking to work out what's really going on. Fortunately, for this particular grandchild, while Grandpa's noises might be a mystery to many, he knows just what they mean! For example, "Eyenolessgofurawark" is obviously Grandpa-speak for "I know, let’s go for a walk". "Aaaahhh" means the cup of tea is just perfect, and "Pissphusshawertt" is that sinking sound Grandpa makes when he needs a rest in his chair. And once you know that "Eeeawoscreech!" is actually the sound of a misbehaving hearing aid, Grandpa becomes a lot less scary and even more lovable. Of course some sounds - like the "Fffffffft" that sometimes escapes Grandpa’s bottom, and Dad's - need no explanation!

Tock the toy rabbit finds himself in a box of toys being donated to charity. ‘But it wasn’t always this way,’ he sadly reflects, ‘Once, I was loved.’ Tock has seen decades of love and adventure, and as he sits in his box he looks back on all the lives he has touched.We rewind the clock to 1939 when a girl named Sam receives a toy rabbit for her 5th birthday. Tock sees the outbreak of the second World War from Sam’s arms, and comforts her as she misses her dad. They are inseparable until Sam meets a boy who needs Tock more than she does, and so she lets him go. What follows is an incredible adventure through history and lives.Join Tock as he celebrates V-Day, boogies in the age of Rock ‘n’ Roll, watches the moon landing while pretending to be an astronaut, finds butterflies with a flower child, sails the Seven Seas in a paddling pool, and rescues a prince trapped in a tower. Children will love seeing how other children played throughout history, and meeting all the people who loved Tock. But how will his story end?Once, I was Loved is a tender, heart-warming story of friendship and humanity. It is a celebration of the timeless nature of love, set against the backdrop of iconic moments in 20th-century history. Tock’s beautifully told and illustrated life is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever cherished a childhood toy.

Through the Gate tells the story of a young girl who has just moved house and is struggling to cope with all the changes in her life. Every day she plods to school, then comes home and looks forlornly at the dilapidated house from her garden gate. Life seems grey and quiet. Then, slowly but surely, she begins to notice a change.Each day the girl comes home from school, the house seems a little less dilapidated; a little more bright and colourful. As the story progresses, her spirit begins to lift. Each time the child passes ‘through the gate’, into the world beyond, she notices more of her surroundings and discovers that her new life has some wonderful things in it. Her walk to school becomes full of fun adventures and friends!The messages delivered through this story can be understood at different levels — literal and metaphorical. It teaches valuable lessons about how hard times pass eventually, and our perceptions colour our world. There is also a fun ‘spot the difference’ challenge hidden within the beautiful illustrations that encourages children to develop their observational skills. Part inspirational life lesson, and part adventure story, Through the Gate is sure to engage and charm young readers. Now available in paperback.

Ollie’s Treasure is tale of mindfulness for young, developing minds. Ollie’s grandma sends him a treasure map that promises to lead him to ‘something that will make him happy always’. Join Ollie on this treasure hunt through surroundings he’d never truly appreciated before!By following his grandmother’s treasure map, he is taken on a journey of his senses, encouraged to notice what he can see, hear, touch, smell and taste. It comes as quite a surprise to him to realise that noticing such things makes him feel happy, and that the key to happiness can be found in his own mind, rather than in material possessions. Ollie had thought that the treasure would be a toy, walkie talkies, or maybe even a new game, but he gets a big surprise when it turns out to be him!Now available in paperback, the original hardback edition was shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards. Find out how simply using our senses and noticing the world around us can lead to the best treasure of all in this beautifully illustrated adventure.

Isla isn’t happy that her family is changing, so her mother creates a clever family tree with Isla to teach her how to accept that families always grow. Her mother hands her two new leaves, but Isla doesn’t think they belong. "There’s no room left on our branch — it’s full!" she says. Isla tries to make them fit somewhere, maybe with her cousins, at Aunty Violet and Aunty Jasmine’s house, or at Aunty Daisy and Uncle Doug’s. There’s definitely no room on her branch though!However, once she meets her new brothers she has a change of heart. She falls in love and finds room for them after all — "Our branch grew a little," says Isla. "Our family is never too full." Isla’s Family Tree is the perfect book for any family needing to find a way to introduce new family members, or to show children how they belong in their own family. The book explores important issues surrounding familial change and acceptance, while also providing a glimpse into a diverse family. Including adopted cousins and same-sex couples, it highlights that every family is normal. There are no rules about what a family looks like in a forest full of family trees.

Turning Cartwheels tells the story of Emma’s desperation to join queen bee Carly’s Cartwheel Club, who show off their acrobatic tricks in the playground at lunchtime. Week after week Emma lines up for a try-out, only to be told by Carly that she hasn’t made the cut. When Emma is finally accepted, she finds that Carly’s rules and requirements take all the joy out of cartwheeling, and that being part of the gang isn’t as awesome as she expected.The book explores themes of determination, persistence and self-confidence, but has a central focus on bullying — in particular, the subtle, underhanded social bullying often experienced by primary school-aged girls. The character of Carly represents the ‘frenemy’ that many young girls encounter — a strong, popular girl who seems to be their friend, but whose behaviour is often actually manipulative and mean.While girls often gravitate towards ‘frenemies’, preferring to stay on their good side and remain part of their social group, Turning Cartwheels introduces the idea that there are alternatives, and that children should choose their friends based on kindness, and having fun together. A sensitive and compassionate guide to finding true friendship, this story will help any young person struggling to find friends who make them feel like they belong.

Hugo the monkey doesn’t like Upside-Down Fridays. The day is the wrong way round; lunchtime is at morning teatime, and all his classmates’ smiles look like frowns. How will Hugo learn to tame the butterflies in his tummy and find the fun to be had in change?Upside-Down Friday tells the story of the day Hugo embraces the unexpected. Walking to school, anxious thoughts swirl in his head. When he arrives, the day and his routine are as upside-down as he had feared. However, Maddie the giraffe knows how to help, and reassures Hugo that things won’t always be this scary. With this small gesture of friendship and understanding, Hugo begins to feel braver, reflecting how making new friendships, helping others, and accepting change can help reduce childhood anxiety and build resilience.With its universal animal-kingdom setting, the story has likable characters who will resonate with all pre-schoolers and lower primary-aged school children who feel nervous about change. The emotive language and unique ‘upside-down’ illustrations make Upside-Down Friday relatable, immersive and accessible; an excellent resource for opening the conversation about anxiety and teaching strategies to cope with it.Young children’s lives are full of big, scary changes like going to school and making new friends. Help them to build emotional resilience, and find the fun in days that don’t go to plan!

Most children would say that the ocean is blue, but when Bowen looks at it he sees white where the waves crash, deep black on the ocean floor, and green when there’s a storm. He wonders whether fireflies are hot, and notices how the brushstrokes of a painting tell a story too. Bowen sees the world differently to other children and struggles to fit in. How will he find his place in the world?The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp follows the life of Bowen through school and beyond. At every stage, he finds that he doesn’t fit in with his peers, but this eventually becomes his greatest strength. Through thinking differently, he is able to solve problems that no one else could. After all, just because something can’t be mended the same as it was, why can’t it be mended differently?A very personal story, Bowen’s tale is sensitively written and full of colourful, lively illustrations. It aims to offer hope to children who haven’t yet found their place in life by showing them that being ‘normal’ might just be overrated, and that to find success in life we should be valuing our differences.Children, carers, teachers and psychologists alike will find inspiration in this tale of embracing diversity and engaging our full potential. It is a vital reminder that the strength and uniqueness of every child should be encouraged to help them find their place in the world and flourish!

For some kids, school is a place full of friends and fun. For others, though, it is a lonely place where bullies pick on them and it feels impossible to be brave. Meet Scott, Buttons and Duncan, otherwise known as A Boy, His Bear and a Bully.Scott takes Buttons to school with him every day to help him feel brave. He has to, because every day, Duncan is mean to him. Just this week, Duncan has called him names, ripped his painting, and stolen his snack from his lunchbox. Then Buttons goes missing. With his one comfort gone, Scott has to look elsewhere to find his brave, and much to his surprise, he does.A Boy, His Bear and a Bully addresses the global issue of bullying in a hopeful, gentle way that will resonate with children who have been on either side of a bullying incident. Seeing Scott learn to stand up for himself will help children who feel afraid of bullies face them in a constructive way. Scott’s bravery also inspires his friend Rosie to report Duncan’s bad behaviour to a teacher, giving children a positive model of assertive behaviour.Scott’s situation is extremely common across the world. His story provides children with clear guidance on what to do if they are also being bullied, and on the role friends should play in such a scenario. It is a sensitive, inspiring conversation starter for children, carers, professionals, and anyone who wishes they could be brave.