Otter-Barry Books – serie

Gazing at the stars from five storeys up,smelling the bins from five storeys below. Overheard arguments,overheard laughter.A disappearing father and a Mermaid-Queen mother; statues that sing for flesh and blood; bullies who kick you under the table; perfect red trainers – and the things that lurk in the library….Award-winning poet Joseph Coelho’s astonishing new collection is a powerful and moving poetic narrative about growing up in the city.

See that tall, skinny kid with the ball in his handsayin see ya later to his mate?That’s me:Nathan WilderNate. 10 years oldand a week away from the end of Year 5. Life can be tough in your last year of primary school. Tests to take, preparing for the change to high school. Nate is ready for it all, knowing his best friend PS is at his side - they’ve been inseparable since Nursery.But when they are put in two different classes and PS finds a new friend in Turner, the school bully, Nate's world turns upside-down. As he struggles to make sense of this and forge new friendships, he’s dealt another blow when his youngest brother, Dylan is rushed into hospital.His new teacher, Mr Joshua, sees a spark inside of Nate that’s lit by his love of reading and writing and shows him how to use this to process what’s going on. But with so much working against him, and anger rising inside him, will this be enough?A powerful and lyrical story about finding your place in the world and the people that matter within it.

A towering figure in the children’s and YA poetry world, John Agard has chosen favourite poems from eight of his previously published collections:  I Din Do Nuttin; Say it Again, Granny; No Hickory, No Dickory, No Dock;Laughter is an Egg; Grandfather's Old Bruk-a-Down Car; We Animals Would Like a Word With You; Come Back to Me My Boomerang, and Points of View With Professor Peekaboo.Over 80 poems are included, reflecting the genius of Agard through a range of poetic forms and styles and most of all his extraordinary ability to connect with children of all ages through poetry.

One hot day at the edge of the desert, Maryam and Issa know something exciting is going to happen. Mum and Dad bring spades, Uncle Cedric brings lots of plants and seedlings, the neighbours bring water. Everyone works together, digging, planting and watering – and the children all help too. Then they wait… and hope…Set in Mali, this powerful story is about the creation of The Great Green Wall of Africa, an exciting real-life project to bring trees, growth and regeneration across sub-Saharan Africa.

Bring nature to the big city! Cities across the world are doing it – making themselves friendlier places for plants and wildlife – and happier, healthier places for all of us.Find out about Sky Forests and Bird-Friendly Cities, Spongy Spaces and Rain Gardens, Insect Super-Highways, Living Walls, Urban Jungle Food and all the other ways in which cities worldwide are changing.Have fun spotting the birds, insects and other creatures that share our cities. And look out for lots of activities, so that YOU can make YOUR city green!

Ruby the fox and Growl the wolf live deep in the forest. There’s just one problem – they hate each other…!But when a raging storm tears through the forest and the animals have to flee, they must help each other to survive. Can Ruby and Growl overcome their enmity and find friendship in the heart of the storm?An exciting, fast-paced picture book adventure with stunning illustrations, celebrating courage and the importance of helping each other.