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Publisher: Oxford University Press

Picturebook

When night falls and the shadows get longer and darker, Mouse is scared. How will he find his way home? Luckily he meets a firefly who reassures him, ‘I’m Ray and I’ll light your way.’

On their starlit walk, however, it can seem that every shadow is lurking danger. And the meerkat, chickens, frogs and squirrels who join them agree-until Ray flies close with his light and shows what the shadows really are.

But sometimes, just sometimes, the shadows might be just what they look like . . .

Picturebook

Sunny and his family have recently moved to a new country in this evocative story about adjusting to life in a new place. His dad is struggling to see their new house as home, and Sunny can tell that he is yearning for his old life, where collared doves cooed in the soft morning light and swallows swooped in the sunset. So Sunny comes up with a plan to help his dad find joy in his new home.

An evocative story about belonging from the author of Lubna and Pebble.

Picturebook

Peggy is an apologetic pigeon. She always assumes she’s in the wrong. Even when she’s the one getting bullied. But Joan, an older female seagull, gives her the necessary skills to stand up for herself. This hilarious tale from award-winning author Wendy Meddour contains an important message about the importance of being assertive. Carmen Saldana’s illustrations are full of personality and humour.

Picturebook

The day of the new king’s coronation has arrived. It’s a stupendous day, an exciting day, a MOST important day – and everyone, from the King’s butler to the palace guards, is feeling nervous. They’re all getting ready when Colin, the King’s Jack Russell, grabs the crown and runs away. Soon, he is being chased by the butler, the guards – even the pigeons and crowd gathered for the event! But it takes little Violet, aged 5, to work out what the problem is. Maybe Colin is nervous about his important new job as the King’s dog. Actually, everyone else admits they’re nervous too – especially the King, who has the biggest job of all. Can Violet help get Colin and the crown back to the King in time for the coronation? A fun royal caper covering themes of anxiety, empathy and community in a light-touch and warm-hearted way – with a non-fiction page about coronations at the end of the book.

Picturebook

A beautifully illustrated board book that delights in everything that grows, from red strawberries to yellow bananas. With bright, joyful art, it is a beautiful introduction to colours, and shows the youngest children how colours can be mixed to create new ones. It ends with a stunning fold-out rainbow to make this a truly special book for the youngest children.

Picturebook

Freya loves rainbows. She loves their bright colours and their curvy shape. More than anything, she wishes she has one of her very own. One that she can keep forever. So she decides to become a Rainbow Hunter! She searches high and low, but no rainbows are to be found, so she decides to make her own, collecting items in every colour of the rainbow from the garden. But when things don’t go quite to plan, Freya has to use her imagination and creativity to come up with a way to make her wish come true.

A vibrant story from the author of the bestselling The Perfect Fit with technicolour illustrations by Ana Gomez.

Non-fictionPicturebook

Today you’re the bin lorry driver! Your job is to collect the recycling from the town’s busy streets. Let’s go! Enter a world of imaginative play with this fun and immersive insight into the role of a bin lorry driver. Children will love using their imagination to take the driver’s seat and pretend to use the bin lorry’s controls to drive around town, operate the bin lorry’s paddle blade and empty the hopper at the recycling centre! This book puts the reader in charge, to build self-confidence and encourage following instructions, problem solving, and teamwork. The narrative is embedded with early learning skills such as recognition of colours, shapes, and numbers. This makes it perfect to share with children as a fun way to practise these key skills, while spotting their favourite vehicles and making the sound effects. The story ends with a sense of achievement as the rubbish is sorted at the recycling centre.

Picturebook

Today you’re the tractor driver! Your job is to climb aboard the tractor to help out on the farm. Let’s go! Enter a world of imaginative play with this fun and immersive insight into farm vehicles. Children will love using their imagination to take the driver’s seat and pretend to use the tractor’s controls! This book puts the reader in charge, to build self-confidence and encourage following instructions, problem solving, and teamwork. The narrative is embedded with early learning skills such as recognition of colours, shapes, and numbers. This makes it perfect to share with children as a fun way to practise these key skills, while spotting their favourite vehicles and making the sound effects. The story ends with a sense of achievement as all the jobs at the farm are completed.

Picturebook

Martha LOVES drawing maps. She creates maps of everything-even her thoughts and dreams! Let Martha be your guide as she welcomes you to her world. Starting in outer space, we zoom in page by page, to our planet, Martha’s community, and beyond to her dreams of a future where ANYTHING is possible. Full of quirky details and fun non-fiction labels that children will love poring over-they will discover cool new facts with every reading. Each map is imbued with an irresistible sense of excitement about the world and optimism for the future.

Picturebook

Frida worries all the time. Big worries, small worries, and all-the-time worries. Her worries feel heavy, just like the pebbles she collects every day. Some days, Frida’s worries become that only thing she can think about.

But then, one day, her granny teaches her an ingenious way to keep her worries in check-and Frida finally feels the weight of her fears slip away . . .

This sensitively written picture book explores how a young girl learns to manage her worries. Jenny Bloomfield’s beautifully observed illustrations bring Frida’s feelings and experiences vividly to life.

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