Special Collections

The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams

Welcome to the Shop of Impossible Ice Creams! Step inside to discover a delicious world of magical adventure, from bestselling author Shane Hegarty. First in a comic and heart-warming audio series, for 7+ fans of The Nothing to See Here Hotel and Charlie Changes into a Chicken.

Limpet's mum is opening an ice-cream shop, full of her favourite new flavours: mushroom and tuna ice cream, anyone? Roast parsnip and gravy? Limpet's not sure about this. He likes a nice, safe life. His favourite ice-cream flavour is vanilla.

But when wicked Mr Fluffy arrives with his Mega Emporium of Amazing and Spectacular Ice Creams, Limpet knows he's got to fight back. And there are magic ingredients on his doorstep which can solve all his worries, if only he can get the recipe just right….

Written by the bestselling author of Boot, this story will make you fall in love with reading.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/12/2023

Tariq and the Drowning City

The first story in an action-packed fantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of Dungeons and Dragons aged 9+Time is running out. When crops fail and a new plague spreads across the land of Osha, Tariq has a troubling vision - an ancient prophesy is coming true. He travels to the capital city of Ethrial to warn the leaders of an impending flood, but no one listens. It's up to the seer and his new friends, an elf scientist and a dwarf soldier, to take matters into their own hands. Venturing off on an epic quest, the unlikely trio must find a magical moonstone and use its powers to prevent a tidal wave from wiping out the city. But they aren't the only ones seeking to find the moonstone . . . and not everyone wants to use its ancient powers to save Ethrial . . .This pacy adventure blends themes of classic fantasy, Indian mythology, climate emergency and steampunk imagery to create a richly imagined world.

Date Added: 05/06/2024

The Sky Over Rebecca

Winner of The Bath Children's Novel Award 2019.

There was a single trail of footprints, the first I'd seen all morning. They were fresh tracks, I saw, the edges of the impressions in the snow quite hard. Small feet. Like mine. Someone my age. Then they stopped.

When mysterious footprints appear in the Stockholm snow, ten-year-old Kara must discover where they've come from—and who they belong to. They lead Kara to Rebecca, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl, and her younger brother Samuel. Kara realises they are refugees—from another time, World War Two—and are trying to find their way home.

The grief and loneliness that Rebecca and Samuel have endured is something Kara can relate to—feeling like you're always on the outside looking in—and she finds herself compelled to help them.

Through her eyes, we rediscover the magic that lies in the world around us, if only we have the courage to look for it. Kara is a heroine for modern times: fragile but fierce, in this utterly compelling story from a stellar new voice in children's literature, Matthew Fox.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Date Added: 05/12/2023

Wandi

A young cub is snatched from his family and home by a giant eagle, then dropped, injured and alone, in a suburban garden. This is where he meets his first Human, and begins his long journey to becoming the most famous dingo in the world. He will never see his mountain home again, or his family. But it is his destiny to save alpine dingoes from extinction, and he dreams of a time when all cubs like him can live in the wild in safety, instead of facing poison and bullets and hatred. A children's literary classic in-the-making from one of Australia's most-loved authors is brought to life by Helpmann and AACTA award-winning actress Marta Dusseldorp.

Date Added: 05/25/2022

Horrid Henry and the Secret Club

Includes four hilarious unabridged stories with really horrid music and sound effects :-Horrid Henry's InjectionHorrid Henry and the Secret ClubPerfect Peter's Horrid DayHorrid Henry's Birthday PartyRead by Miranda Richardson(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd

Date Added: 03/30/2022

The Dragon and Her Boy

A story of a the very last living dragon, stuck living in a tunnel under London, and the boy who unintentionally finds himself as her protector. When Stick discovers there is a dragon living underneath the streets of London, he finds himself unintentionally drawn into an epic adventure and a quest -- but how can he find a place for a dragon to live in London when dragons aren't supposed to exist? And with foes at every corner who want to exploit the dragon for themselves, it's going to take a daring plan and a bit of help for Stick to find a safe place for his dragon -- and for himself.

Date Added: 05/23/2022

When I Feel Red

'I feel like I'm always ... last. Like I'm running to try and keep up with everyone but it's no good.'April has always marched to the beat of her own drum, but would life be easier if she learned to fit in? Now that she's in Year 8, things have got even worse. She's much more likely to be trying to rescue an animal in need than worrying about who's dating who at school, which April just finds BORING. Plus, her lessons feel like they're in a foreign language, and it suddenly seems impossible to make it through the week without landing in detention.As family worries and classroom romances ramp up, it feels like everyone around her is pulling away - even her best friend Ben. But when the pressure's on, can she find a way to fit in and still be true to herself? An empowering follow up to When I See Blue about finding your place in the world from the inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for fans of Elle McNicoll.'An authentic and tender look at fitting in when you don't and being true to yourself' - A.M. Dassu'This is a vivid account of being out of step with your peers, not limited to discussions about dyslexia and dyspraxia' - The Guardian

Date Added: 05/06/2024

Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories

'The wonderful Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories collects, for the first time, nine festive stories originally written for annuals and magazines in the 1940s and 1950s . . . As ever, Streatfeild's children always feel utterly real and relatable. A beautifully produced treat' Anna Carey, Irish Times In this captivating collection of stories by the author of Ballet Shoes, there are auditions on stage and antics on ice, trips to the pantomime, holiday adventures, and laughter shared with family and friends. Charming, heartwarming and funny, this collection will bring joy to readers of all ages.Originally written in 1940s-60s for annuals, magazines and the radio, these stories have never been collected before.With enchanting line drawings by by Peter Bailey.Stories include:The AuditionThe Bells Keep Twelfth NightThe Moss RoseThimbleThe PrincessThe ChainChristmas at CollersThe Pantomime GooseSkating to the Stars

Date Added: 05/17/2022