HarperCollins AustraliaSubsidiary Rights Guide Bologna 2008

children’sIllustration from Cat on the island by Gary Crew, illustrated by Gillian Warden

Sometimes an ordinary girl must go to

extraordinary lengths to sort things out…

Sprite Downberry is in Grade 6, and lives with her parents and five-year-old brother, Mozz. Her mother, Sunny, has moods which swing between frenzied activity and depression. Her father is often absent, which leaves Sprite to look out for herself and Mozz.

Unable to deal with Sunny’s increasingly bizarre behaviour, Sprite’s father leaves home. When Sprite discovers Mozz in a potentially life-threatening situation, she realizes that Sunny is incapable of looking after her family, and starts out to find her father. Along the way she meets Luther, an older boy with his own tragic family

KEY POINTS:

•Award winning author•Fresh package and contemporary, relevant themes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nette Hilton is a well-known writer of children’s literature, which range from early childhood stories to novels for older readers. She has won several awards for her books: The Web was named a Children’s Book Council Honour Book in 1992, and the eternally popular picture book A Proper Little Lady was shortlisted for the CBC Awards in 1991. Living Next to Lulah was a CBCA Notable Book in 2007.

BACKLIST TITLES:

SPRITE DOWNBERRYNette Hilton

YOUNG ADULT

Luther, an older boy with his own tragic family background, who provides assistance when she needs it most, but can’t commit himself to staying around once the police get involved.

Reunited with her father, Sprite realizes that dealing with Sunny’s illness on her own is beyond her capability. She must find a way to overcome potential bullies at her new school and make her own decisions about her future.

BACKLIST TITLES:

Living Next To Lulah

“This assured coming-of-age story compels the reader with suspense and intrigue” Weekend Bulletin

198x128mm 224pp Rights: WorldAges 12+

September 2008 9780732285487240pp, 198 x 128mmWorld RightsAge 12+

Not final cover

Told as a fable, this true story is a timely reminder

of the fragility of our world.

It was raining outside, so I said: 'Gramps, tell me a

story.'

This is a story about David and his father, a lighthousekeeper, who came to an island to build a lighthouse. They chopped down the trees and ferns where the local birds sheltered, and changed forever the haven for these tiny flightless wrens.

But worst of all, they brought their cat with them. The birds on the island had never seen a cat before ... nor could they survive her destructive offspring.

KEY POINTS:

A stunning and topical picture book from award-winning author Gary Crew, featuring avant garde artwork by a contemporary of Shaun Tan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR:

Gary Crew is the author of many books for children and young adults, including First Fight and The Watertower,

both of which were named Children's Book Council of Australia Books of the Year for Children's Illustrated Books.

Gillian Warden is an artist who has been widely exhibited to considerable acclaim. Her work is held in major collections, including the Art Gallery of Western Australia. This is her first picture book.

CAT ON THE ISLANDGary Crew, Illustrated by Gillian Warden

PICTURE BOOK

offspring.

The strikingly beautiful illustrations reinforce the tragedy of the obliteration of this tiny Eden, a timely metaphor for that other paradise known as Earth.

September 2008 9780207200700 32pp, 236 x 256mmFull colour throughoutWorld RightsAge 8+

It’s all about boys and bikes, and the high energy thrill of motocross

racing

Emilio De Luglio (E.D.) is the youngest of four brothers, all of them motocross enthusiasts. As the youngest, he’s always been support crew, fixing up his brothers’ bike, rather than racing. But this time, as a result of losing a bet with his brother Tony, he’s reluctantly competing in a race.

It doesn’t seem as if the race track is a level playing field, though. There are some mysterious riders in lime green bikes who don’t play fair, and there’s a whiff of high tech cheating going on around Proctor’s Powerhouse (suppliers of motorbikes and gadgets) which seems to have developed into a thriving business in a suspiciously short time.

And there’s also a legendary motocross track through the old railway system, including a tunnel. No one’s ever done this dangerous track in

KEY POINTS:

•An exciting adventure series perfect for reluctant boy readers – but also featuring feisty female characters.•An action-packed adventure and mystery series of six books, Clued Up, with a new book to be released every six months

Pam Harvey lives in Central Victoria and works primarily as a physiotherapist. Pam teaches Writing for Children at Bendigo TAFE and is passionate about children’s literature.

THE CLUED-UP SIXMichael Panckridge & Pam Harvey FICTION 10-13 YEARS

system, including a tunnel. No one’s ever done this dangerous track in less than 15 seconds before, but plenty are game to try, including E.D.’s brothers.

When a serious crash puts his older brother Tony in hospital, E.D. must step up to the job and compete on his behalf, even though he knows he doesn’t have much of a chance to get through to the finals. But E.D. proves once again his capacity to surprise everyone –in an unexpected way.

Michael Panckridge has published over 20 books, including the bestselling Toby Jones cricket series

April 2008, 978020720062598x128mm 208pp Rights: WorldAges 10 - 13

Coming in October 2008: Into the Fire

Through the longest, hottest summer on record, Hannah pays little attention to the bushfires in the nearby mountains. Then Teasdale is put on bushfire alert when Hannah and her brother Sean are stuck at home alone. Gabby’s not answering her phone. Why? The kids are told they must evacuate immediately. But how can they go without Gabby?

The children's publishing sensation of the year!

Drabville is a model town, where Milli Klompet lives with her slightly offbeat family and spends her time longing for adventure. Then one day, along with her cautious best friend and amateur geologist, Ernest Perriclof, Milli discovers ‘Hog House’. But the afternoon’s entertainment takes a different turn when they are held prisoner by the wacky Mr and Mrs Mayor and a cohort of evil magicians, led by the sinister Aldor…

Milli and Ernest must evade the Shadow Keepers and outwit the sinister Aldor before the shadows are swallowed and Drabville loses its soul forever.

KEY POINTS:

•In the bestselling tradition of Christopher Paolini, Sonya Hartnett and Flavia Bujor, the first fantastical book from a talented Melbourne student.•An engaging series full of bizarre characters, unpredictable twists and humour aimed at middle readers. •Received an ‘honorable mention’ in the 2007 AurealisAwards

Alexandra Adornetto wrote The Shadow Thief when she was just thirteen years old. Now fifteen, Alexandra has won various awards for her writing and in 2006 won the State Legacy Public Speaking competition. Her future aspirations are to work full time writing novels and screenplays, while also pursuing a career as an actor. She is currently working on Von Gobstopper's Arcade,

THE SHADOW THIEF:

BOOK ONE OF THE STRANGEST ADVENTURE TRILOGY

Alexandra AdornettoCHILDREN’S FANTASY

‘Fans of Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket’s Series

of Unfortunate Events will delight in a new

…series that offers a similar blend of adventure,

fantasy and humour.’

Magpies #22

‘A fast-moving plot full of menace and thrills,

amply seeded with a magnificently precocious

vocabulary’

The Courier Mail

She is currently working on Von Gobstopper's Arcade, the third novel in the Strangest Adventures trilogy (due November 08)

The Shadow Thief

HB July 2007/PB Aug 2008The Lampo Circus

HB March 2008/ PB March 2009Von Gobstopper’s Arcade

HB Nov 2008 / PB Nov 2009

185 x 130 mm NSHApprox. 45,000 words eachRights: WorldRights Sold: Spain (Espasa Calpe)

Von Gobstoppers Circus (Book 3):

Twice defeated by the ingenuity of children, Aldor has returned, this time driven by a lust for vengeance rather than power. He is about to launch his most pernicious scheme yet: to eradicate childhood.

Gustav Von Gobstopper is an unassuming toymaker from Europe whose passion is inventing new toys to delight children. All this changes when Lord Aldor decides to use magic to exploit the toymaker’s inventive genius to achieve his own ends…

The Shadow Thief

HB July 2007/PB Aug 2008

THE STRANGEST ADVENTURE

TRILOGYAlexandra Adornetto

CHILDREN’S FANTASY

The Lampo Circus (Book 2):

Milli and Ernest are convinced they have seen the last of the power-hungry magician Lord Aldor the Illustrious. But everything changes with the unexpected arrival in Drabville of Federico Lampo and his travelling circus. Duped by the lure of the Big Tent, the children of the town find themselves transported to a grim world where they endure gruelling routines and inedible meals. What’s worse, they soon discover that this world is in turmoil and that Aldor is plotting to conquer the fair province og Mirth.

Milli and Ernest embark on a journey to warn the fairy queen. Along the way the must overcome HB July 2007/PB Aug 2008

The Lampo Circus

HB March 2008/ PB March 2009Von Gobstopper’s Arcade

HB Nov 2008 / PB Nov 2009

185 x 130 mm NSHApprox. 45,000 words eachRights: WorldRights Sold: Spain

fairy queen. Along the way the must overcome numerous challenges including escaping the clutches of the Grin Bandits and winning a life-size game of Monopoly.

Will Aldor succeed in the final battle? Or will Milli and Ernest’s courage and resilience suffice to alterthe course of destiny for children everywhere?

‘The Shadow Thief is a humorous fantasy, with twists and turns and a wonderful cast of characters. From the opening page, where the narrator declares that the reader will need to come up with the opening sentence for him/her self, the reader is taken on an adventure filled with surprises.’ Aussiereviews.com

Celebrate Christmas with friends in Shaggy Gully

this year!

It’s Christmas Day in Shaggy Gully.

The kangaroos are bouncing, the possums are playing about.

Only the Bunyip is gloomy. 'I'm mad and I'm mean! Bunyips don't like Christmas!'

Can Emily Emu possibly make the Bunyip smile this Christmas?

Ages 3–7October 2006

KEY POINTS:

• A stunning return to the bestselling format and warm, funny storytelling of Diary of a Wombat and Josephine

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jackie French is a full-time writer, who lives in the Araluen Valley, near Canberra. Her book, Hitler’s Daughter, was awarded the CBC Younger Readers’ Award in 2000 and the WOW! Award in the UK in 2001.Two of her books, Macbeth and Son, and Josephine

Wants to Dance, were made CBC Notable Books.

Bruce Whatley is one of Australia’s best loved and most respected author/illustrators. He has

EMILY’S CHRISTMAS SMILEJackie French

PICTURE BOOK

October 2006203x235mm 32pp HBRights: World

and most respected author/illustrators. He has illustrated over twenty books, and his collaboration with Jackie French has proved extremely popular.

RIGHTS SOLD TO BACKLIST TITLES: Josephine Wants to Dance: North America (Abrams); UK (HarperCollins); Korea (Bookhouse)Diary of a Wombat: US (Houghton Mifflin), Canada, UK (HarperCollins), Italy (Salani Editore), Germany (Gerstenberg Buchverlag), France (Albin Michel Jeunesse), Korea (Better Books), Japanese (Hyoronsha)Pete the Sheep: US (Houghton Mifflin), UK, Canada (HarperCollins), Indonesian (PT Bhuana Ilmu Populer )

Diary of a Wombat: Here, in the words of one unusually articulate wombat, is the tongue-in-cheek account of a busy week; eating, sleeping, digging holes . . . and training its new neighbors, a family of humans, to produce treats on demand. This entertaining book, with its brief, humorous text and hilarious illustrations, will endear the wombat to young children, who may recognize in this determined furry creature some qualities that they share. Also available in a board edition

Josephine Wants To Dance: Josephine is a kangaroo – who loves to dance. Her little brother, Joey, tells her that kangaroos don’t dance, they hop, but Josephine continues to point her toes and leap through the air.A very funny picture book that looks at the importance of believing in yourself and realising your dreams.

Pete the Sheep: Sean is a shearer and instead of a sheepdog to

PRAISE FOR DIARY OF A WOMBAT:

‘Hilarious yet realistic...a sublime balance’ School

Library Journal

‘Whatley's acrylic vignettes...provide the perfect

counterpoint to French's deadpan

narration...readers...will laugh out loud at the

wombat's antics.’ Kirkus Reviews

Wombat, Josephine, Pete:

220 x 160 mm 32ppRights: World (see previous page for rights sold)

Shaggy Gully Times:

310 x 260 mm NSH 32ppRights: World

JACKIE FRENCH & BRUCE WHATLEY BACKLIST TITLES PICTURE BOOK

Pete the Sheep: Sean is a shearer and instead of a sheepdog to help him, he’s got a sheep sheep – Pete. After being rejected by the other shearers and their dogs, Sean and Pete set up a sheep salon in town. Sheep from everywhere arrive to have their wool shorn in the latest style and even the shearers’ dogs end up arriving for a cut in order to look gorgeous.Jackie and Bruce have created the perfect combination of words and illustrations in this irreverent look at the world of sheep shearing. Board edition due September 2009

Shaggy Gully Times: Amazing discovery of the punniest newspaper you’ll ever read! Jackie was boiling the billy by Shaggy Gully Creek when Bruce pulled over a log for them to sit on…and there hidden in a hollow was an old swag, tied up with baling twine. And inside the swag was a yellowed newspaper – an old copy of the bestselling Shaggy Gully Times, the local paper of the area that, despite its many spelling errors, to this day still keeps the small community abreast of news.

Rights: World

Diary of a Wombat board book Pete the Sheep board book (September 2008)220 x 159 mm, board, 32ppRights: World

The ‘War to end all Wars’, as seen through the eyes of three

young women.

It is 1915. War is being fought on an horrific scale in the trenches in France, but it might as well be a world away from sixteen-year-old Midge MacPherson, who has been sent to England from New Zealand, to learn to be a young lady. But the war is coming closer: Midge’s brothers are in the army, and she hasn’t heard from the younger one since the devastating defeat Gallipoli earlier that year.

Desperate to avoid their boring school life, and their inevitable destiny of finding suitable husbands, Midge and her friends Ethel and Anne join a growing number of young women determined to do their bit for the war effort. They travel to France and start up a canteen behind the front lines, feeding and caring for the endless flow of sick

KEY POINTS:

• In the bestselling tradition of the successful They Came on Viking Ships, Macbeth and Son, Pharaoh and Hitler’s Daughter comes a World War 1 themed work of historical fiction.

•Widely respected, award-winning author.

Jackie French is a full-time writer who lives in the Araluen Valley, NSW. She writes columns in the print media, and sometimes presents on radio and on TV. Her books for children include Somewhere Around the Corner, an Honour Book in the CBC Awards, 1995. In 2000, Hitler’s Daughter was awarded the CBC Younger Readers’ Award. To the Moon and Back won

A ROSE FOR THE ANAZC BOYSJackie French

HISTORICAL FICTION

front lines, feeding and caring for the endless flow of sick and suffering soldiers returning from battle.

As time passes, the girls start to question the nobility of the cause they’re supporting. Midge is recruited by the over-stretched ambulance service, and is suddenly thrust into carnage - and courage - she could never have imagined. And when the war is over, Midge and her friends discover that going ‘home’ can be an unfamiliar and yet exhilarating experience.

Told through letters from home and from the other fronts, A Rose for the Anzac Boys exposes the wartime roles played by young people as no book has previously done.

Exhaustively researched but written with the lightest of touches, this is Jackie French at her very best.

Readers’ Award. To the Moon and Back won the Eve Pownall Award in 2005. Macbeth and Son, and Josephine Wants to Dance were both shortlisted for the 2007 CBC Awards.

Hitler’s Daughter has sold toUK (HarperCollins), US (HarperCollins), Sweden (Bonnier Carlsen), Denmark (Forlaget Carlsen), Japan (Suzuki), France (Editions Flammarion), Norway (Cappelens Forlag), Greece (Patakis), Thailand (Good Morning Publishing); Korean (BookBank), Czech (Mlada Fronta)

Ages 12+April 2008198 x128mm 288ppRights: World

How far do you have to journey to become a king? The people call Prince Narmer ‘the Golden One’ – a boy with the brightest future ahead of him. Handsome and talented, he is destined to be King of Thinis, the greatest town in Egypt and, for Narmer, the centre of the world. Then his whole life changes overnight, and he will discover what it really means to be a leader, and will find his destiny being fulfilled beyond his wildest expectations …‘The combination of an excellent, stirring plot, sympathetic and well-developed characters, a hint of romance, and a positive, well researched historical context for a critical and surprisingly relevant period in humanity.. makes this a winner.’ Compulsivereader.comRIGHTS SOLD: Germany (Arena)

The story of a Scottish wolfhound called Snarf and his owner, Hekja, whose simple but happy lives change unrecognisably when

their village is raided by Vikings. As a puppy, Snarf is fortuitously rescued by a young girl called Hekja when he is badly injured. Both are then captured by raiding Vikings and transported to 'Vinland' with Freydis Ericsdottir, half-sister of Leif Ericson (who is usually credited with 'discovering' America. Both Freydis and Leif are the children of Eric the Red, who founded the Greenland colony.)

PHARAOHThe Boy Who Conquered the Nile

Jackie French

FICTION 10-14 YEARS

America. Both Freydis and Leif are the children of Eric the Red, who founded the Greenland colony.) RIGHTS SOLD: HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins USA (published as Rover and Slave Girl), HarperCollins Canada, Wahlstroms BokforlagSweden; Orlandó Studió Kft Hungary; Arena Verlag, Germany

Did Hitler’s daughter, Heidi, really exist? – What if she did?

It began as part of a game played by Mark and his friends, a storytelling game. But Anna’s story was different: it was not a fairy tale or an adventure story. The story was about a young girl who lived during World War Two. Her name was Heidi, and she was Hitler’s daughter. As Anna’s story unfolds, Mark is haunted by the image of Hitler’s daughter. The intriguing novel poses powerful questions about a frightening period in history and will force readers to examine moral issues in a fresh, compelling light. RIGHTS SOLD: UK (HarperCollins), US (HarperCollins), Sweden (Bonnier Carlsen), Denmark (Forlaget Carlsen), Japan (Suzuki), France (Editions Flammarion), Norway (Cappelens Forlag), Greece (Patakis), Thailand (Good Morning Publishing); Korean (BookBank)

KEY POINTS:

•Perfect for readers 10-14•These page-turning stories are set against accurate historical backdrops and feature child characters young readers can relate to•Both fascinating and historically informative.

198 x128mm Rights: World

Take a closer look at Australia's best-known marsupials.

How High Can a Kangaroo Hop?

Why does Australia have animals that are so different from others anywhere else in the world? Why do ‘roos and wallabies have such big tummies?Who were the kangaroos with fangs that lived 10 million years ago?What’s the best way to become invisible (to kangaroos, at any rate)? Which wallaby is a ‘living fossil’ - the same as the wallabies that grazed 10 million years ago?Why do joeys eat their mother’s droppings?Find out in this fascinating new book!PS: What do you call a kangaroo with a flower behind their ear and a big grin? A happy hippy hoppy.

KEY POINTS:

•Widely respected, award-winning author and illustrator team up again to bring children two fascinating non-fiction books

•Takes readers ‘behind the scenes’ of Josephine Wants To Dance and Diary of A

Wombat

Jackie French is a full-time writer who lives in the Araluen Valley in New South Wales. Her book Hitler’s Daughter won the Children’s Book Council’s Younger Reader Award in 2000 and her bestselling Diary of a Wombat, illustrated by Bruce Whatley, won the Australian Booksellers’ Association/Nielsen BookData Book of the Year Award. She has won

HOW HIGH CAN A KANGAROO HOP?Jackie French

NON-FICTION

Ages 12+210 x 125mm 176pp, b&w illustrationsRights: World

A happy hippy hoppy.The Secret World of Wombats is a companion non-fiction title for the bestselling Diary of a Wombat - a non-fiction book that explores everything you've ever wanted to know about wombats. Jackie French loves wombats. She's been living with and studying them for over 30 years, and they have been featured characters in many of her books. Now her beloved wombats take centre stage, as Jackie reveals everything you have ever wanted to know about them - from their zoological history to habitation and habits. Jackie also shares some personal stories from her experiences living with these wonderful creatures. There are also wombat Q&As and wombat jokes sprinkled throughout the book. RIGHTS SOLD: North America (Houghton Mifflin)

Book of the Year Award. She has won numerous other awards for her books, both in Australia and overseas, and they have been translated into over twenty-one languages.

Humphrey Bogart's got nothing on this rat!

Inspector Octavius O'Malley is on the case.

It started with some missing cobblestones and a bump on the head of one of Rodent City’s young police rats.

And it’s not the mice who are to blame. The Bank Manager’s three saintly children are wrongly suspected and Ocko gets fired. But that doesn’t stop Rodent City’s finest detective (self-confessed) from pursuing the case.

Ocko’s informant Mulligan - a down and out cat - puts him on the scent of a feline cult

KEY POINTS:

•Fun, fresh adventure stories for young readers• Whodunnits filled with humour and excitement - and a story about prejudice and intolerance, and how differences that seem enormous can turn out to be very small in the end.•Ages 9 -13

Alan Sunderland is a Walkley award-winning television reporter.

“You can just about smell the cigarette smoke, Bogie is that close. Fellow gumshoe, Octavius O’Malley, a rodent, owes a lot to him: his laconic narration and introspection, his cynicism, his mistrust of police hierarchy, his shambolic manner, his gut instinct… Detective fiction is normally compulsive reading. But transfer all the usual characters and suspects to Rodent City, ramp up the contest between goodies and baddies and confuse the morality

OCTAVIUS O’MALLEY: THE MYSTERY OF THE

CRIMINAL CATS

Alan Sunderland, illustrated by Ben RedlichYOUNG READER FICTION

cat - puts him on the scent of a feline cult worshipping Basto, a cat/human deity of murky Egyptian origin.

Private Investigator Ocko and his assistant Spencer (formerly of the River Road Mouse Gang of Book 1) take on a case of a missing mouse who just happens to be working at Ocko’s favourite doughnut factory. But when staking out the factory, Ocko and Spencer are rumbled by the local Basto worshippers and taken to their lair, to be used as experiments in a quest to make the ultimate perfume…Can Ocko, with the help of a few friends and several dozen triple fudge doughnuts, find a way to make things stick this time?

contest between goodies and baddies and confuse the morality and motives of their action and the reader will stick to the book with all the tenacity of Ocko pursuing a hunch.” Magpies

Book 1: The Mystery of the Exploding

Cheese: September 2006Book 2: The Mystery of the Missing

Mouse: September 2007Book 3: The Mystery of the Criminal

Cats: August 2008

198 x 128 mm 192 pp, b/w lineillustrations Rights: WorldAges: 9-13

How do you save the world when you’re not sure

how to save yourself?

The first book by well known cartoonist Allan Blomfield, The Pendant of Epoch is a rousing adventure for 8-10 year olds.

Charlie Boggs is a very unlikely hero, so when his eccentric Aunt tells him he is the last remaining hope to save his family from an ancient curse he is terrified. Charlie Boggs is just an ordinary twelve-year-old boy. Slightly podgy and with red hair, he certainly isn’t the kind of stuff heroes are made of. But one day Charlie’s life is tipped upside down when his mysterious aunt tells him that he is the only person who can save their family from a wicked curse. Charlie is terrified.

KEY POINTS:

•A rousing adventure for 8-10 year olds

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alan Blomfield is a cartoonist and author, who lives in Ngahinapouri in New Zealand. This is his first book.

August 2008 9781869507145198 x 128mm PB 128ppRights: World

PENDANT OF EPOCHAlan Blomfield

FICTION 8-10 YEARS

family from a wicked curse. Charlie is terrified.A strange bolt of green lightning provides him with much needed help in the form of a quirky little robot called Buz, but will that be enough?

The quest to find the missing stones from The Pendant of Epoch will thrust Charlie into frightening worlds he could never dream of and set him against unimaginable dark forces. With time quickly running out, can Charlie and Buz beat the overwhelming odds and break the sinister curse - or will they end up lost for ever in the frightening Sphere of the Spirits?

Ash learns to ride Western-style - and makes friends with Bella,

a girl with a mysterious past and an uncertain future.

Ash feels like she's on an out-of-control carousel ride. There’s her job at Shady Trails Riding Ranch, Riding Club, two horses, three best friends, three mortal enemies and one baby brother to take care of. And if she's going to have any chance of a ribbon at the Annual Pinebark Ridge Western Riding Club show she‘d better learn how to ride Western - and fast.

Then when Ash’s boss at Shady Tails asks Ash if she would take care of her English granddaughters when they come to stay, what can she say but yes. Ash soon discovers the girls are not nearly as sweet as their granny thinks they are and worse, they're staying for two months!

With her parents’ new B & B now up and running there are

KEY POINTS:

• The latest instalment in a wonderful series about horses, riding and friendship, perfect for girls aged 9 – 12.•Horse series never lose their appeal –particularly with young girls, and Horse Mad has the perfect combination of friendship dramas and accurate stories about horses.•Comparison Titles: Saddle Club and The Silver Brumby.

Kathy Helidoniotis has had many books for children published, and divides her time Between reading, writing, teaching

HORSE MAD WESTERNKathy Helidoniotis OLDER READER FICTION

With her parents’ new B & B now up and running there are also guests to look after - and some to avoid! Ash is horrified when her old enemy Nicki King books in for the weekend to compete in a local show, but elated when Jenna announces she's coming to visit.

Meanwhile, there’s a mysterious new girl in town. Bella shows Ash a new way of riding and an understanding of horses she never thought possible. Bella is devastated when her father announces the family is moving - again - and Ash, Becky and Pree embark on a daring plan that will completely change Ash’s outlook on life and loyalty

Totally Horse Mad, June 2006Horse Mad Summer, Sept 2006Horse Mad Academy, Nov 2006Horse Mad Heroes, March 2007Horse Mad Western, June 2008

writing, teaching and riding.

Rights: WorldAges 9 -12198x128mm 200pp Rights sold: Totally Hose Mad & Horse Mad

Summer North America (Whitecap); Germany (DTV)

Echo and Hush are two very different sheepdogs,

and together they’re a team. But when Hush has

puppies Echo must manage on her own - if she

can. Then it’s Show Week, and Echo has to deal

with three unruly sheep who know exactly who’s

boss. And it isn’t Echo . . .

Echo and Hush are sheepdogs, who live on a High Country sheep station, with Terry the farmer and Ngaire, his wife.

Echo is a header dog, with a loud bark that echoes through the hills and brings the sheep together in the muster. Hush is an eye dog, whose silent commands work best in the yard. Together they help Terry manage his flock - until Hush begins to get very fat, and Ngaire starts

KEY POINTS:

•A very special story about friendship and overcoming challenges.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author V M Jones combines her magic touch with words in a creative partnership with Scott Tulloch, whose superb illustrations evoke the stunning beauty of the New Zealand high country

June 2008 9781869506902210 x 278mm, 32pp pbRights: World

ECHO AND HUSHVM Jones, illustrated by Scott Tulloch

PICTURE BOOK

Hush begins to get very fat, and Ngaire starts keeping her in her pen.

Now Terry has to depend on Echo, who finds it hard without her workmate, as she battles with the rebellious sheep. When show day comes, Echo’s humiliation is complete…until she remembers how Hush made the sheep obey and tries something new.

BACKLIST TITLES by VM Jones:

Bikes vs skateboards – can both sides win?

Wheels skate park has been built and is about to be officially opened. It’s meant to be an area for skateboarders, in-line skaters, scooters and BMX bikes to share. But now a decision has been made to ban the bikes on the grounds that they are dangerous and cause destruction to the facilities.

Deciding to campaign against this injustice, the Freewheelers organize a petition, much to the chagrin of the skateboarders who want them out of the park. Undaunted by a series of dirty tricks, the Freewheelers, supported by Mr Lark, go to the local council to appeal the decision, but their efforts are sabotaged by a rowdy protest from

KEY POINTS:

•An urban adventure series with huge appeal for both boy and girl readers, ages 10+ •Contains all the elements that makes great children’s literature: yummy food, kids getting into scrapes and solving problems, animals, an older mentor and outdoor pursuits. The author has successfully updated this mix, so that now instead of the children roaming the countryside they roam an urban landscape on their pushbikes. The characters are fabulous, and their friendships are real: friendly and not-so-friendly banter, jokes, teasing and genuine concern.•TV rights for the first book in the series Unleashed have been bought by Rialto films

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J.A. (Jeni) Mawter is the author of Unleashed! and

eXtreme!FICTION 10-14 YEARS

efforts are sabotaged by a rowdy protest from their rivals.

For Mio, it’s getting increasingly personal. Mr Lark's precious ID dogtags from the Vietnam war have been stolen while in her care. Someone is sending abusive email from her account, and the school wants to expel her. Her parents are ashamed of her and her best friend in Japan doesn't want to know her after seeing the emails.

Mio must take on the skateboarders and ride the course of her life to uncover the truth and win the park back for the BMX riders.

J.A. (Jeni) Mawter is the author of Unleashed! and Launched!, the first two books in the Freewheelers series, and also the popular So! series. She has an MA in Children’s Literature and is a tutor at Macquarie University. She lives in Sydney with her family.

BACKLIST

TITLES:

NOT FINAL COVER

July 2008 9780732285319197 x 130mm PB TBCpp

Rights: WorldAge 10 - 14

Fun and adventure with Emily Eyefinger, our heroine

with the eye on the end of her finger

Emily’s parents were shocked when Emily was born with an eye on the end of her finger BUT … Emily has discovered that an extra eye can be very handy.

Follow our heart-warming heroine on many adventures as she rescues her good friend Malcolm Mousefinder from evil bandits and helps her friend Janey Star act in a movie. Sometimes trouble finds her - like the time she’s kidnapped in a hot-air balloon or when she has to solve the mystery of a ‘ghost ship’ sailing all by itself. And she works out solutions to baffling problems, like the mystery of the falling trapeze artist. With Emily Eyefinger, anything can happen.

KEY POINTS:

This bind-up volume includes four great Emily tales -Emily Eyefinger’s Alien Adventure; Emily Eyefinger and the Devil Bones; Emily Eyefinger and the Balloon Bandits; and Emily Eyefinger and the Ghost Ship – and rights are also available to individual titles

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Duncan Ball is one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors. He has won numerous children’s book awards, and his Emily Eyefinger and Selby series remain perennially popular with young readers. Duncan lives in Sydney with his wife, Jill, and their adorable but incomprehensible cat, Jasper.

EYESPY EMILY EYEFINGERDuncan Ball YOUNG READER FICTION

happen.

For the girl with an eye on the end of her finger, an adventure is just around the corner!

QUENTIN’S LUNCH:

This is a story, told in rhyme,Of eating food that's past its time...Quentin loves rotten food. But one day his revolting eating habits become more than his stomach can bear - with explosive results!A truly disgusting story

February 2009 9780207200892198 x 128 mm, 80pp, b&w line illosRights: UK and TranslationAges 8+

Illustrator Craig Smith has been illustrating children’s books for over twenty-five years, and has worked on many award-winning books. Craig grew up in South Australia but now lives in Melbourne.

October 2007 9781869506377198 x 130mm PB 336pp, b&w line illosRights: UK and TranslationAges 6 - 9

Alana dreams of being a pilot, but she might be

going blind like her father.

It’s nearly time to take another eye test and she knows the news won’t be good. But when two strangers move into her neighbourhood, she’s forced to think about more than her own problems.

Tommy is obsessed with his absent father, and the idea of flying – but he’s really struggling to cope with a dysfunctional mother and toying with the idea of suicide. When he’s involved in an accident that almost kills her father’s seeing eye dog, Alana is furious. Then there’s Amira, a political refugee struggling to learn English, who tests Alana’s patience and understanding,. She’s

KEY POINTS:

•A sensitive and beautifully evoked young adult novel about coming to terms with growing up and an unclear future• A light-handed insight into the issue of growing up with a disability

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Janice Marriott is a well-respected children’s author of both fiction and non-fiction, most recently publishing Thor’s Tale (September 2006). Janice lives and works in Wellington and is an acknowledged expert in music and song for children…

October 2007 9781869506377198 x 128mm PB 208pp

TAKING OFFJanice Marriott

YOUNG ADULT

tests Alana’s patience and understanding,. She’s not sure she wants to take these two under her wing.

But when Uncle Brad offers to fly Alana and her father to the dreaded appointment with the eye specialist, her life begins to change, like it or not.

198 x 128mm PB 208ppRights: World

BACKLIST TITLES:

Thor’s Tale, 2006 (FINALIST NZ Post Awards

Author of bestselling adult biographies and Paddy the Wanderer, the huge non-

fiction hit of 2007, Dianne Haworth goes from strength to strength, with another

heartwarming tale that will endear and inspire.

Inspired by a true life story, Dianne Haworth has woven a moving and inspiring story of love and courage, and the bond between a young girl and her pony. When the department of Conservation announced plans to cull the wild Kaimanawa herds, some unlikely bedfellows found themselves locked into a desperate fight to save the horses. When a young girl stood beside the desert road in protest, her inspiring stand moved hearts and changed her own life, when a shy black and white mare looked to her for help - and paid back her debt in love and devotion.September 2008180 x 128mm 174pp (tbc)Rights: World

BACKLIST TITLE: Paddy the Wanderer

The true story of the dog who captured the heart of a city.

Dianne Haworth is an award-winning journalist and author of adult sporting books and biographies, and is a leading local biographer. An experienced editor and journalist, she edits Animal Voice for the SPCA, and is a devoted animal lover. Paddy the Wanderer was her first work for children.

KAIMANAWA PRINCESSDianne Haworth

YOUNG READER FICTION

The true story of the dog who captured the heart of a city.

A well researched and endearing non-fiction account of an amazing Airedale who captured public imagination during the Great Depression. Like Scotland’s Greyfriar’s Bobby, Paddy mourned the loss of his human, in his case a little mistress who died of pneumonia, but instead of haunting a graveyard, Paddy headed for the waterfront. There he became a favourite of the watersiders and seamen. And he certainly got around – taken on board ship and crossing the Tasman, travelling around coastal ports and even flying in a Gypsy Moth – not to mention the dastardly attempt to move him to Auckland by jealous Aucklanders. He was also rumoured to have made it to San Francisco and back. Formally adopted by the Harbour Board, his official title was Assistant Night Watchman responsible for Pirates, Smugglers and Rodents. On his death his funeral procession brought Wellington to a standstill. Not bad for a stray dog.May 2007180 x 128mm 174ppRights: World

A gripping adventure story, entwining the past

and the present in a unique look at New

Zealand’s fascinating history

A young English boy, Tom, has come to settle in contemporary New Zealand with his English family. In the weeks before his mother and younger sister join them, he and his father are alone. Tom gradually makes friends and settles into a completely new environment, but begins to see a mysterious running boy, and with the help of the historical and cultural knowledge of local Maori he discovers a long-lost secret …

Tom unravels the mystery of the other English boy, another Tom, and why he is running through time,

SECRET OF SPIRIT’S BAYStephen Barker

FICTION 10-14 YEARS

another Tom, and why he is running through time, here in Spirit’s Bay.

An adventure mystery across times, connected by a love of running and the land, and a long-lost secret.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stephen Barker, is a family GP with a practice north of Auckland. This is his first novel

August 2008 9781869507251198 x 128mm PB 224ppRights: World10-14 years

Willy lives with his sensible mum and his not-so-

sensible dad. While he loves them both,

sometimes Willy wishes Dad could be a bit

more grown-up…

In Willy’s Dad, when Willy’s mum goes away on a business trip, leaving his father to look after Willy, it’s not long before Dad is out of control.

In Willy’s Mum, we find out there’s more to Mum than meets the eye. For example, while she’s very, very sensible she doesn’t have a very good memory – like when she never seems to remember that she already has a wardrobe full of shoes and is always buying new ones. When Willy looks doubtful, Dad pulls out the family photo album and we see a very

KEY POINTS: Charming and endearing books from a very talented new children’s illustrator, fun for mums, dads, gradparents and children to share.Ages 4+210 x 278 mm PB 32ppRights: World

Scott Tulloch is a professional artist and illustrator who lives and works in Martinborough in NZ. This will be his first book. Any resemblance between Willy’s Dad and his brother-in-law is purely coincidental.

WILLY’S DAD & WILLY’S MUMScott Tulloch

PICTURE BOOK

out the family photo album and we see a very different Mum, with a few weak spots!

Finally, coming in November 2008, Willy’s Grandad, the story of Willy’s beloved Grandad, who loves to play with Willy in the garden. Once a great sportsman, nowadays he’s getting very tired. One day he gets sick, and doesn’t get better. In a moving and poignant tribute to Grandads everywhere who leave a lasting impression on young lives, this sensitive treatment of the death of a much loved pop will provide a timely and helpful way for parents to explain the cycle of life to their younger children. Carefully written and illustrated in Tulloch’s now familiar comedic style, Willy’s Grandad will touch every heart.

‘This simple tale of role reversal and

embarrassing behaviour had me in

hysterics, while the small ones had grins

from ear to ear’ – Taranaki Daily News on

Willy’s Dad

A coming-of-age story about an all-girl rock band in search

of love, life and independence.

That’s Why I Wrote This Song is an innovative creative mix of rock music with young adult literature. Susanne Gervay wrote the book, and her musician daughter, Tory, wrote the lyrics.

The book explores the lives of four very different teenage girls – Pip, Karen, Angie and Irina - and their relationships with their fathers, and how that impacts on their relationships with each other and their lives. All this is set against the music scene and the girls’ passion for and involvement with it, from rock concerts, weekend music festivals and the girls’ own rock band – Not Perfect.

The girls’ band will be performing publicly for the first time at

KEY POINTS:

•An innovative mix of narrative, music and lyrics that sits perfectly with teenage girls.•A recording of the songs by Tory is downloadable from the web.

‘Loveable memorable characters… Susanne Gervay has lived youth music culture to good effect in order to write such a convincing novel’ Magpies

Tory Gervay is a young writer of lyrics and musics, as well as a singer who is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts (Music).

August 2007 9780207200861198 x 128mm, 272pp

THAT’S WHY I WROTE THIS SONGSusanne Gervay

YOUNG ADULT

The girls’ band will be performing publicly for the first time at the mid-year school concert. As the girls prepare for the concert, they must also deal with boyfriends, family, school and their own friendships.

Susanne Gervay is a teacher, specialist in child growth and development, and award-winning children’s and young adult author. Her much-loved and bestselling I am Jack is becoming a classic on school bullying, reaching adults and children alike, while Butterflies is recognised as a defining book on youth disability. Susanne’s books have earned awards ranging from the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Notable Books list to the Family Therapy Awards. She is a well known as a mentor, speaker and facilitator in the writing community.

198 x 128mm, 272ppRights: ANZ and translation

‘Gervay writes from the heart…This book has fantastic energy to it…Gervay’s

descriptions…encompass all the senses so evocatively.’ The Sydney Morning Herald

Butterflies (2001): Coping with severe burns, the hospital and doctors is not easy when all you want to do is be a teenage girl.Katherine was severely burnt in an accident when she was two years old. Now 17, she lives with her mother and 22 year-old sister. Their father left the family when they were very young. Katherine still needs regular skin grafts. This is a moving and well-written tale of emotional and physical damage and Katherine's need to overcome her fears. It is a positive story of individual strength and family love. Whether a person is physically damaged or 'perfectly normal' life still has to be lived and the story of Katherine and her friends relates to all teenagers.* Highly Commended for the Older Readers in the Australian Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature 2002Ages 12+World rights available

I am Jack (2000) addresses bullying in schools while remaining accessible and entertaining for younger readers. Jack likes going to school. He enjoys learning new things. George Hamel calls Jack, "Bum Head“. All the kids at school call Jack, "Bum Head." Jack's in Big trouble...school is getting dangerous. Nobody seems to want to listen. Until one day......Ages 10+Super Jack: Instead of having to contend with bullies, Jack must contend with his family in this sequel to the bestselling I Am Jack.It’s the school holidays and Mum announces to Jack and his annoying younger sister, Samantha, that they are all going on a family holiday to the Gold Coast. And family means Nanna, sort—of—stepdad Rob, and his son, Leo, as well as Jack�friend Anna.

SUSANNE GERVAY BACKLIST YOUNG ADULT/CHILDRENS FICTION

holiday to the Gold Coast. And family means Nanna, sort—of—stepdad Rob, and his son, Leo, as well as Jack�friend Anna. Families are made up in all sorts of ways nowadays and it takes this holiday for Jack and Leo to work out their differences and for Jack to realise just how lucky he is to have such a great family. Ages 9+ World rights available, excl N America, Korea (Jinsun)

The Cave (2002): A compelling and confronting book that examines what it means to be young and male in the 21st century. An important book that is guaranteed to stimulate debate and discussion.For Sam and his schoolfriends the compulsory school camp is a time of great testing and endurance. Not only do the boys have to struggle with tough mountain climbs and canoeing trips, but there is the final descent into the cave - the ultimate test of all. And all of these physical challenges are accompanied by hot days, freezing cold nights, inadequate and badly cooked food, no washing facilities and plenty of flies. It's no wonder this experience is a living hell for most of the boys, especially since there is a lot of bullying and nastiness to contend with as well. For Sam this particular camp becomes a personal journey of growth as he grieves for his beloved dead grandfather and searches for his own masculine identity. The Cave is a young adult novel that questions the traditional forms of masculine rites of passage and challenges the reader to consider alternatives. As the boys endure the seemingly endless hardships of the camp, they question who they are and what they hope to become.World rights available

The fossilised dinosaur lay undisturbed for millions of years

. . . until the boy found it and the trouble began . . .

Tim Thomas is searching for dinosaur fossils in the hills above his grandparent’s sheep station. His mum drowned when he was four, leaving Tim with only a vague memory of her — and of a large tooth embedded in rock. But time is against him as he races to find the exact spot where the tooth lies, before the river gully is dammed and the rising waters cover the site.

He also has to deal with Sam Mason, the school bully, and when Tim’s horse is stolen his attempts to get her back bring him up against a gang of horse thieves. And then when it starts to rain, the waters begin to rise, and Tim is in trouble. Deep trouble.

KEY POINTS:

•Ecologically based adventure stories for readers 9-12, with lashings of suspense and excitement!•Ever-popular dinosaurs and fossils theme

Praise for The Moa Cave:‘…a real page-turner avoiding obvious plotlines and neatly capturing modern-day ‘tween’ sensibilities’ NorthSouth

January 2008198mm x 128mm PB 176ppRights: World

THE TOOTHDes Hunt

OLDER READER FICTION

Des Hunt specialises in exciting action-packed adventures set in the natural landscapes of New Zealand. This is his sixth novel since A Friend in Paradise, a 2003 finalist in the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards, and follows the success of The Moa Cave, 2007 finalist Frog Whistle Mine, Where Cuckoos Call and Shadows in the Ice. Des lives on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Previous titles:

A restless spirit roams the slopes of the snow-capped

volcanoes and the harsh tussock landscape — a wild,

white Kaimanawa stallion who cannot be tamed.

A moving and exciting adventure story for 9-12 year olds, set against the sweeping landscape of the North Island’s volcanic plateau and Desert Road. Restless Spirit tells the story of a wild white Kaimanawa stallion who cannot be tamed and the two young troubled teens who come to love him.

Lara is new to the town beneath the mountains and hates it; Kahu is one of her classmates - a talented carver, outwardly cocky and confident but riddled with self doubt and fear.

Hunters slaughter the young stallion’s family and he learns

KEY POINTS:

•In the tradition of Silver Brumby.•Perfect for both boy and girl readers, and makes a great cross-over to the classroom

Susan Brocker lives in Tauranga on a small farm with her husband, foster children and many pets. She is an experienced children’s writer whose stories have been published extensively by educational publishers. This is her first novel for children.

March 2007180 x 128mm PB 172pp

RESTLESS SPIRITSusan Brocker

OLDER READER FICTION

Hunters slaughter the young stallion’s family and he learns to fear and distrust humans When a brutish trainer targets the white stallion during the annual DOC muster, he must learn to trust Lara and Kahu if they are to have any chance of saving him.

Before they can help the white stallion, Lara and Kahu must reach out – Lara to her peers and her estranged mother, and Kahu must find the courage to reveal his hidden talent. Hardest of all, they must both face the reality that to help the stallion, they may ultimately have to lose him.

Parallel to their journey, the white stallion must overcome his fears. He must call on the strength and wisdom of his ancestors and place his trust in Lara and Kahu.

180 x 128mm PB 172ppRights: World

Each book in the Animal Stars series is a factual narrative

about a real animal associated with an important person in

history.

The Dog Who Loved a Queen: To the world outside her luxurious prison, Mary Queen of Scots was either a shameless beauty who killed her husband, or the rightful queen of England and Scotland, tragically held captive by Elizabeth the First. But to the dog who loved her, Mary was simply his mistress, and the centre of his world.

Based on the true story of the dog who was with Mary when she died, The Dog Who Loved a Queen is a fascinating tale of religious bigotry and terrorism, plots and passion, and the unquestioning loyalty of a small Scottish terrier.

The Goat that Sailed the World: Captain Cook’s goat had

Praise for The Dog Who Loved

a Queen:

‘In Jackie French’s inimitable style this is a very readable account of the last years of one of the most romantic figures in English history… I applaud the skill with which Jackie evokes the time.’ Magpies

KEY POINTS:

• A new series from a popular and award-winning author.• The books in this series will

ANIMAL STARSJackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley

OLDER READER FICTION

The Goat that Sailed the World: Captain Cook’s goat had already sailed around the world before it went on its first voyage with Cook, and helped save everyone on board the ship from scurvy.

As well as telling the story of this less-than-famous goat, the book looks at the great sea explorations of the eighteenth century, including Cook’s voyage to Australia.

The Camel Who Crossed Australia (August 2008)The humans called him Bell Sing. But to the other camels he is known as He Who Spits Further than the Wind. Transported from his beloved Afghan plains and mountains to Australia, Bell Sing is forced to join the baggage train for famous nineteenth-century explorers Burke and Wills as they embark on an expedition to cross the continent from south to north for the first time.

• The books in this series will educate while entertaining the young reader.•Ages 9 – 13

198 x128mm 144ppRights: World

Classic junior fantasy – dragons, elves and adventure

Elves who live secretly in the midst of the human world are known as Shadows, and after a tragic misunderstanding involving the death of the Crown Prince, Elves live in fear of the King’s Shadow Hunters, who seek to capture and enslave them.

Rhonan and his sister Dyahn are half human, half elf and when they disobey the rules to play with the wild ponies on the moors, they unwittingly lead the Shadow Hunters back to their family. A twisting turning tale of baby dragonets, magic stones and broken promises follows as they must try and save their parents from the wrath of the angry King.

Something terrible is about to happen, as the magic the elves have relied on to stay hidden begins to fade leaving them all exposed to

Linda McNabb lives and works in Auckland with her husband and two daughters. Shadow Hunters is her seventh junior novel. Her first, The Dragon’s Apprentice, was a finalist in the 2003 New Zealand Post Childrens’ Book Awards.

PRAISE:

‘Mountains of Fire is a whirlwind ride through a vivid landscape of exploding spells, magical gems and colour-coded dragons — an exhilarating adventure for

DRAGON CHARMERSLinda McNabb

FANTASY

relied on to stay hidden begins to fade leaving them all exposed to the wily Shadow Hunters.

Shadow Hunters is a stand-alone book that features some of the characters from the Dragon Charmers series.

Mountains of Fire, Dragon Charmers Book One: Logan lives with Zared, an elderly and absent-minded wizard, in Shanoria — the Kingdom of Dragons. His closest friend is Alyxa, a dragon charmer with the rare gift of soothing and commanding dragons. But not all dragons in Shanoria are tame, and when the feral Reds kidnap the crown prince, Logan and Alyxa are thrust into a fast-paced adventure…Valley of Silver, Dragon Charmers Book Two: Logan and his friends realise their imprisonment of the dangerous Red Dragons will not hold. When they eventually break free of their enchantment they will seek a terrible revenge.

exhilarating adventure for younger fantasy fans.’ V.M. Jones

145 x 202; 176pp Rights: WorldAge 8-10

Sometimes in life there are just no answers to

the questions we ask…

Kate is twelve years old, and chats to God about everything - her parents and their new baby, her friends, getting used to her new glasses, even the ants who drown in the puddles on her driveway. If God exists, why doesn’t he teach ants to swim?

Danielle and Stacey have pushed her out of the ‘in’ crowd, her glasses make her look like a geek, her parents will surely love her less when the new baby arrives, children all over the world are still starving, and the ants are still drowning in the driveway. Kate’s worries and confusion erupt into constant

KEY POINTS:

•Beautifully written, restrained and unsentimental, this is a child’s first book of philosophy.•This is a book that will sneak into your heart, touch your soul and stay with you a long time.•The story is moving without being mawkish. The God of the title is non-denominational - there are no explicitly Christian references - and the book is concerned with big questions about life and death rather than with religious doctrine. This should make it appealing to a wide range of readers.

Moya Simons has been writing for children for over ten years and has published twenty-five books. She has been shortlisted in the Young Australian Best Book Awards twice and has been published in the USA, UK, Germany, France and Malaysia.

July 2007 9780732285340

HELLO GODMoya Simons, illustrated by Lisa Coutts

YOUNG READER FICTION

and confusion erupt into constant hiccupping, and she still doesn’t have any answers.

Kate also writes to God about Stephanie, the new girl in her class. Stephanie isn’t the sort of girl Kate usually makes friends with; she’s too ‘nerdy’ for a start. And she looks weird, too. But getting to know Steph proves to be unexpectedly interesting for Kate, making her look at friendship in a new way.

Things get serious when Stephanie becomes ill. Steph’s a good person, so why isn’t she getting better? But just when Kate’s ready to give up on God, she finds the answers to her questions in an unexpected place.

July 2007 9780732285340180 x 128mm 144ppb&w illustrationsRights: World

‘Good food for thought on

philosophical issues – as

well as an entertaining read’

Australian Bookseller and

Publisher

‘Although profound in

content, the story is told with

a light touch’ Magpies # 22

THE KARAZAN QUARTET by V M Jones

A fast-paced fantasy quartet introducing an unlikely hero - twelve year-old Adam Equinox - as he enters a world he never

knew existed.

Adam Equinox was abandoned on the doorstep of Highgate Orphanage 12 years ago. He has no idea who – or where – his parents are; no friends; nothing he’s good at; and nowhere he really belongs. One day Adam enters the Quest Golden Opportunity Competition, with the ultimate prize of working with the reclusive software genius Quentin Quested, test-driving hislatest top-secret breakthrough in computer game technology. Adam is unbelievably chosen to undergo the final selection process. At Quested Court, Adam enters a world he never dreamed existed, a world of kindly adults and potential friends, in which the boundaries between fantasy and reality start to become blurred. Only when Adam and his companions begin the gaming workshop does Quentin Quested reveal their real life quest into the parallel world of Karazan. Vicki (V.M.) Jones has spent much of her life in southern Africa, and now lives in New Zealand, with her husband and two sons. Her first novel, Buddy, won the Junior Fiction award in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards in 2003.RIGHTS SOLD: UK (Puffin); Netherlands (Gottmer); Japanese (Kodansha); Italy (Salani Editore); Thailand (Maple); Romania (Corint) Ages 8 – 12, 198 x128mm 192ppRights: World “Original and compelling, V.M. Jones writes with power and clarity.” Margaret Mahy

BACKLIST TITLES

ARCHIE’S ADVENTURES by Leonie Thorpe

A delightful, funny and refreshing new chapter book for younger readers aged 7-10 years, with the side-splitting adventures and

misadventures of young Archie Roach.

Archie is new in town, trying to find his feet (literally) and live down his gory reputation at his last school for the bloodiest bone-piercingest leg fracture in the history of the world. Trying to make new friends is a bit of a struggle, but he manages to do it, despite having the most miserly cheapskate of-all-timefor a mum and a dad who is convinced that Roachs are destined to be useless at everything. When Archie meets up with the town’s mysterious maggot smuggler – the legendary, one-eyed, child hating Captain Frank – his life changes for the better. Archie’s wacky adventures in the local fishing competition and when he joins the local sea scouts, will be a draw card for young readers, boys in particular.Leonie Thorpe is a first-time author, whose day job is as a medical laboratory scientist at Christchurch Hospital. She lives in Lyttelton with her husband, a skipper on the local ferry, and her two young daughters.June 2007, 180 x 128mm 146ppRights: World

Bestselling

Backlist

LOUISA MAY PICKETT’S BEST SHOW AND TELL EVER by Rod Clement

Louisa May Pickett’s one and only talent is Show and Tell. Until she arrives at Dobroyd Primary school, that is …

When Louisa May Picket arrives at Dobroyd Point Primary, all she has to offer for ‘Show and Tell’ is … a juggling mouse, meat-eating plants, a singing chair, and an extremely rare pink polar bear that walks the highwire upside down while singing ‘We all Live in a Yellow Submarine’ backwards. But her classmates appear unimpressed and constantly outdo her attempts with their own amazing stories. Poor Louisa May! How can she ever compete?She finally abandons all attempts to amaze her potential new friends and gives up. To her surprise she finds that in order toimpress, she need do nothing other than be herself. Named a Notable Book in the 2006 CBC Awards, this is a charmingly illustrated book with an important message, revealed when Louisa May Pickett finds that in order to impress, she need only be herself.Rod Clement is one of Australia’s leading picture book author/illustrators and his acclaimed books include Counting on Frank, Just Another Ordinary Day, Olga the Brolga, Edward the Emu, and Edwina the Emu. Grandad’s Teeth was shortlisted for the CBC Awards in 1998. Ages 5–9295x220mm 32pp Rights: World. Rights Sold: Korea (Hemingway)

BACKLIST TITLES

THE WEB by Nette Hilton

A charming and funny novel for young readers, from an award-winning author

Jenny never minds going to stay with her great-grandmother, Violet-Anne. There's Misty the possum and Saffron the lizard waiting in the yard and all the bits and pieces that Violet-Anne keeps in the spare room. This time, though, there's something else - Sam, the seven-legged spider.Sam is no ordinary spider - he spins webs full of memories for Violet-Anne. But his last web is the most wonderful of all. It is a special one that Jenny saves and hangs on her wall. A shared web that is full of memories for Violet-Anne - and comfort for Jenny.A Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book

198 x 128 mm 96pp b&w line illustrationsAges 6-9Rights sold: Spanish/Mexican (Fondo de Cultura Economica), Japanese (Kumon Publishing). Korean (Crayon House Co. Ltd. )

Bestselling

Backlist

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Enquiries about all other territories:

Annabel BlayRights & Co-editions ManagerHarperCollins Publishers AustraliaPO Box 321, 25 Ryde RdPymble NSW 2073 AustraliaT: +612 9952 5475M: + (0)418 426 403F: +612 9952 5444E: Annabel.Blay@harpercollins.com.au