Llama Stops Teasing offers a gentle introduction to the concept of teasing for young children. This funny, charming story is the perfect way to introduce young children to teasing, and help them find ways to build empathy. Also included are suggestions for activities and ideas to talk through together to help children understand their behaviour. Llama thinks it is funny to tease others. He whispers about them and makes fun of them. But when his friends say they don't want to play with him any more, Llama is upset. Can he start treating others more kindly? The Behaviour Matters series of picture books provide a gentle means of discussing emotions, boosting self-esteem and reinforcing good behaviour. Supports the Personal, Social and Emotional Development Area of Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage, and is also suitable for use with children in KS1 and can be used to discuss values. Suitable for children under 5.

There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this thriller from Natasha Preston, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE CELLAR!

A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can't wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead―murdered.

With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn't telling the truth. And Mackenzie's first mistake? Assuming the killing is over...

Every day Jimmy takes 'Skinny Kid's' lunch at school. No way will he be caught dead standing in that FREE LUNCH line. Even when he's called into the principal's office, Jimmy just shrugs. "Yeah. Whatever." Until a surprising act of kindness stops him in his tracks. For a split second a door cracks open into Jimmy's heart. Who knows? Maybe he'll just kick that door right open.

"The Last Last-Day-of-Summer reminds me that all children deserve to exist in magical spaces where their imaginations and familial bonds will them into heroism. Every single child should have the freedom to be one of The Legendary Alstons. And I, for one, am grateful to Giles, and this brilliant story, for that reminder." -Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning author of Stuntboy, in the Meantime In the first Legendary Alston Boys mystery from Edgar Award nominee Lamar Giles-now in paperback-two adventurous cousins accidentally freeze time on the last day of summer, and the secrets hidden between the seconds, minutes, and hours aren't quite the endless fun they expected! Otto and Sheed are the local sleuths in their zany Virginia town, masters of unraveling mischief using their unmatched powers of deduction. And as the summer winds down and the first day of school looms, the boys are craving just a little bit more time for fun, even as they bicker over what kind of fun they want to have. That is, until a mysterious man appears with a camera that literally freezes time. Now, with the help of some very strange people and even stranger creatures, Otto and Sheed will have to put aside their differences to save their town-and each other-before time stops for good. And don't miss the Legendary Alston Boys in their next adventures: The Last Mirror on the Left and The Last Chance for Logan County!

"90 Miles to Havana" is a 2011 Pura Belpre Honor Book for Narrative and a 2011 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year.
When Julian's parents make the heartbreaking decision to send him and his two brothers away from Cuba to Miami via the Pedro Pan operation, the boys are thrust into a new world where bullies run rampant and it's not always clear how best to protect themselves.

Jamie Kidding finds a semi-automatic handgun in an inner-city dumpster. An aspiring artist, Jamie initially resorts to his notebook to record the reality of his complicated life with his mother, his deadbeat stepfather and the bullies he faces daily at his high school. Gradually, the weapon takes over Jamie's life and his imagination, tantalizing him with deadly solutions to his personal troubles. Seduced by a sense of power, one fateful day he takes the gun to school. Jamie's Got a Gun is a hypbrid of novel, film noir, and comic/graphic novel.

The real world is a hostile place for twelve-year-old Bren, his schooldays stalked by vicious bully, Shaun, and his family life fractured at home. Ever since his sister Evie died in an accident, Bren's only safe space is Furthermoor, an imagined world of mechanised trees and clockwork animals, where Evie is still alive. In Furthermoor, no one can hurt Bren...until the mysterious Featherly arrives. Now Bren is forced to confront his deepest fears and decide if his place in the real world is worth fighting for. Enter a world as vast and dark as your imagination, in this unforgettable coming-of-age story about courage, friendship and finding your voice.

Uncover a riveting story of palace intrigue set in a sumptuous Asian-inspired fantasy world in the breakout YA novel that Publisher's Weekly calls "elegant and adrenaline-soaked." In this richly developed fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards for an unknown fate still haunts her. Now, the guards are back and this time it's Lei they're after -- the girl with the golden eyes whose rumored beauty has piqued the king's interest. Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learns the skills and charm that befit a king's consort. There, she does the unthinkable: she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world's entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

“A truly exceptional book.”—Washington Post

There's bad news and good news about the Cutter High School swim team. The bad news is that they don't have a pool. The good news is that only one of them can swim anyway. Bestselling author Chris Crutcher’s controversial and acclaimed novel follows a group of outcasts as they take on inequality and injustice in their high school.

"Crutcher's superior gifts as a storyteller and his background as a working therapist combine to make magic in Whale Talk. The thread of truth in his fiction reminds us that heroes can come in any shape, color, ability or size, and friendship can bridge nearly any divide.”—Washington Post

T.J. Jones hates the blatant preferential treatment jocks receive at his high school, and the reverence paid to the varsity lettermen. When he sees a member of the wrestling team threatening an underclassman, T.J. decides he’s had enough. He recruits some of the biggest misfits at Cutter High to form a swim team. They may not have very much talent, but the All-Night Mermen prove to be way more than T.J. anticipated. As the unlikely athletes move closer to their goal, these new friends might learn that the journey is worth more than the reward. For fans of Andrew Smith and Marieke Nijkamp.

'Lizzie has been able to embody the power of hope and compassion in everything she does. Stories like hers keep me inspired every day.' Michelle Obama 'Lizzie is making our culture a kinder one by encouraging people to undermine hate through self-acceptance and everyday acts of empathy. Her heart and humour shine through on every page!' -Lilly Singh, entertainer, comedian and author of How to Be a Bawse Celebrated motivational speaker and YouTube sensation Lizzie Velasquez shows us how we can learn to accept all parts of ourselves and others to create a culture of kindness and a more compassionate world. Born with a rare genetic condition, Lizzie Velasquez always knew she was different, but it wasn't until she was much older that she understood what that meant to others. At seventeen she came across a viral video entitled 'World's Ugliest Woman'- only to discover that it featured her. In response, she decided to stand up on behalf of victims everywhere and created one of YouTube's most popular motivational channels and a TEDx talk that has drawn tens of millions of viewers. In this daring, inspiring book, Lizzie reveals the hidden forces that give rise to self-doubt, shame and cruelty, and empowers us to redirect them to unlock empathy and kindness for ourselves and others. Through her own battles with anxiety and coping with disappointment, she demonstrates how we can overcome obstacles and move forward with greater positivity. Dare to Be Kind presents the path to acceptance, love and tolerance, and offers a blueprint for how to lead a resilient life and, ultimately, forge a radically compassionate world.

An exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2, from the acclaimed author of "Jefferson's Sons" and for fans of "Number the Stars."
Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada's twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn't waste a minute--she sneaks out to join him.
So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan--and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?
This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity--a classic in the making.

Resonant and fiercely authentic. This timely, critically acclaimed and award-winning modern classic is now a powerful graphic novel.

'I said no.'

Melinda is an outcast at Merryweather High. Something happened over the summer - something bad - and now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen. So what's the point in speaking at all?

Through her work on an art project, Melinda is finally able to face what really happened that night. But before she can make peace with the ghosts of the past, she has to confront the reality of the present - and stop someone who still wishes to do her harm. Only words can save her. She can't stay silent. Not any more.

'With the rise of women finding their voices and speaking out about sexual assault in the media, this should be on everyone's radar... Powerful, necessary, and essential.' Kirkus

Lily is having a tricky day at school. She is missing her Mum... and Boris Boreham and Trixie Temperton are being mean. Everything is going wrong, and Lily can't wait to get home for the weekend. But...the weekend goes too fast, and Lily has worries about the new school week. Joe has worries too, but luckily Mum and Dad have a clever way of helping the children feel confident and happier. Lily and Joe's parents share a magical way to manage life's tricky situations, using photos, drawing materials, imagination and LOVE! Together they create a special Bubble of Love, and think about what makes them unique, and all the people who love them. As they draw the 'walls' of their Bubbles, Lily and Joe feel safer and stronger... As they think about their special people, they feel absolutely loved. But things don't always go smoothly, and Lily must practice new ways of thinking and being. Watch as the children grow 'brave muscles'. Learn how Lily and Joe grow confidence and ability to deal with tricky people and situations. But above all, experience how the children carry the love of their family wherever they go!

Debut author Jilly Gagnon bursts onto the scene with a story equal parts bite and romance, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Jennifer E. Smith, about falling for someone in front of everyone. In this modern day love story: Girl likes boy. Girl snaps photo and posts it online. Boy becomes insta-famous. And what starts out as an innocent photo turns into a whirlwind adventure that forces them both to question whether fame-and love-are worth the price...and changes both of their lives forever. Told from alternating points of view, #famous captures the sometimes-crazy thrill ride of social media and the equally messy but wonderful moments of liking someone in real life.