'Joyce Dunbar is one of the best writers for children today.' (The Guardian) A powerful and personal story from Joyce Dunbar about what it's like to experience hearing difficulties. Dylan can't hear as well as he used to be able to and he doesn't want to be different from his friends - he wants to be able to hear like everyone else. As his hearing gets worse he becomes more and more isolated from his friends. Luckily his dog Pluto is there to keep him down to earth... This heartwarming story from Joyce Dunbar has beautiful black-and-white illustrations by TBC and is perfect for children who are developing as readers. The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with brilliant books to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2, with book-banded stories by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence, covering a wide range of genres and topics. With charming illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for reading both in the classroom and at home. For more information visit www.bloomsburyguidedreading.com. Book Band: Lime Ideal for ages 6+

Meditation and visualisation, if approached in an inventive and appealing manner, bring enormous benefits to children. It can calm their anxieties, build their self-esteem, unlock their imagination, and teach them quietness and thoughtfulness. This book, designed for parents to use with any child between the ages of 4 and 8, is a collection of 20 narrative-based meditations. Reading the stories aloud, we draw the child into adventures which fire their imagination. In this way we help the child focus their minds, release their worries, believe in themselves and trust in the world around them. All the stories sensitively tackle difficult challenges facing small children, such as how to cope with disappointment, how to make good decisions, how to deal with anxieties and how to banish boredom. Each of the meditations is both enjoyable, as a fantasy, and effective, like a gentle hand smoothing wrinkles from tiny furrowed brows.

Nightlights is a book of stories to read to children, but stories with a difference. It's a collection of twenty interactive meditation stories that have bene specially written to calm and relax your child at bedtime, while at the same time engaging and stimulating his or her imagination. These stories also help children in many other important ways. They help them to focus their minds and develop their powers of concentration and visualization, as well as learn more about emotions and feelings. Although not meditations in the strict sense, they do serve as a good preparation for learning real meditation later on. They also foster imagination and creativity, help children deal with their burgeoning anxieties, and help them take their first steps towards developing their own unique identity. In the Introduction, Civardi provides techniques to help parents develop their out-loud reading skills, shows how to create the right mood, and gives practical advice on how to talk with your child about what he or she has just heard. After each story, there is a brief list of affirmations which help to settle the message in the minds of both parent and child.

A lively tale about a fun-loving cat learning to accept change, imaginatively illustrated by the award-winning Petr Horácek.

Mischievous Mister Boo loves to give everyone he meets a surprise. He shocks the baby birds, the baby rabbits and the baby owls. BOO! But one day he wakes up without his usual energy and no one seems to take any notice of him. Will Mister Boo learn to accept change and find joy again? A buoyant second collaboration between the acclaimed writer Joyce Dunbar and world-renowned illustrator Petr Horácek.

Willa can't sleep because she's afraid of bad dreams. "Think of something happy," suggests big brother Willoughby. But Willa needs him to help her. Together they think of all the happy things waiting for Willa in the morning.

Dear Plunkett Please come to my party Theme: Pink Yours oinky, Priscilla "Nothing or no one will make me wear pink!" declares Plunkett the pig. But could there be one shade of pink that is perfect - for a boy or girl pig? And will Plunkett find true love, whatever his color?

A lively tale about a fun-loving cat learning to accept change, imaginatively illustrated by the award-winning Petr Horacek. Mischievous Mister Boo loves to give everyone he meets a surprise. He shocks the baby birds, the baby rabbits and the baby owls. BOO! But one day he wakes up without his usual energy and no one seems to take any notice of him. Will Mister Boo learn to accept change and find joy again? A buoyant second collaboration between the acclaimed writer Joyce Dunbar and world-renowned illustrator Petr Horacek.

Can anyone cheer up Grumpy Duck? A funny farmyard tale illustrated by the award-winning Petr Horacek.

Duck is grumpy. The pond is dry and, even worse, there's a grey cloud following her around. Can any of Duck's friends cheer her up? A funny farmyard tale about friendship from Joyce Dunbar, illustrated by award-winning artist Petr Horacek with his trademark colourful flair.