JUNIOR FICTION
Mystery at the Hotel Espanol
Illustrated by Lily Uivel
Published by Penguin
If you ever thought detectives can't be divas, you need to meet Lulu and her fabulous mystery-solving dance troupe! This illustrated chapter series is ideal for dance-mad emerging and confident readers.
Will Lulu and the Silver Stars deliver a stolen celebrity necklace and an unforgettable dance performance?
The Silver Star Dancers have landed a gig a dancing the flamenco at a very ritzy hotel. But before they know it, they’re entangled in the robbery of the hotel's most notable guest – Greta Honeyville, star of Recycled Wardrobe Makeover 4. Every last item of her fabulous recycled clothing collection has been swiped, as well as her signature piece, the famous heart-shaped dog-food-tin necklace.
Can the Silver Star Dancers catch the thief as well as perform an unforgettable flamenco?
Look out for more adventures of Lulu and the Dance Detectives!
The Pool Party Poisoning
Illustrated by Lily Uivel
Published by Penguin
If you ever thought detectives can't be divas, you need to meet Lulu and her fabulous mystery-solving dance troupe! This illustrated chapter series is ideal for dance-mad emerging and confident readers.
A story of friendship and facing your fears - and a whole lot of fun! - The Pool Party Poisoning is storytelling that fans of dancing and detecting will love.
In the second book in the Lulu and the Dance Detectives series, Lulu and the Silver Star Dancers have been invited to perform at a pool party! Their synchronised swimming routine and sparkly mermaid costumes are all set to make a real splash … but things don’t quite go according to plan. Mouse is terrified of putting her head under. The water is turning a very strange colour. Who is sabotaging the party? And why?
Will the Silver Star Dancers crack this case? And can this birthday party be saved?
Look out for more adventures of Lulu and the Dance Detectives! Every book in the series includes a special activity to encourage engagement. The Pool Party Poisoning features a chance for readers to be the detective, and solve their very own two-minute mystery!
The Doggy Disco Hoax
Illustrated by Lily Uivel
Published by Penguin
The third book in this illustrated chapter series, ideal for dance-mad, mystery-solving emerging and confident readers.
A dodgy dog rescue fundraiser, a dazzlingly dizzy disco, and a mystery to solve for the Silver Star Dancers!
When a disco to raise money for a dog rescue centre turns out to be a hoax, Lulu and her team are determined to make it happen anyway. Amongst the yelping and barking, disco lights and darkness, there is a thief to catch. But will their cunning plan work?
Fans of dancing, detecting and good stories will love The Doggy Disco Hoax. And look out for more adventures in the Lulu and the Dance Detectives series!
Ravenous Rooster Stake-Out
Illustrated by Lily Uivel
Published by Penguin
Book 4 in this charming illustrated chapter book series, perfect for dance-mad, mystery-solving emerging and confident readers.
An all-you-can-eat restaurant, a swinging country and western dance, and a mystery to solve for the Dance Detectives!
Lulu and the Silver Star Dancers have an exciting gig dancing at the Ravenous Rooster, but nerves are frayed – notorious criminal Douglas Vipersnitch is on the run from police and believed to be hiding in the area! When suspicious events begin to unfold, there’s only one explanation: it’s him!
Amid flowing chocolate fountains and fizzing drinks, the clues come thick and fast. Will the Silver Star Dancers be able find the thief, and be able to perform their toe-tapping routine?
Ravenous Rooster Stake-Out is fun storytelling that fans of dancing and detecting will love. And look out for more adventures in the Lulu and the Dance Detectives series!
Glitterwing's Book week Blunder
Illustrated by Kirsten Richards
Published by Scholastic
Shhh ... Not for parents! You can keep a secret, right? Clara and I have a herd of tiny, talking, glitter-twinkly, flying horses - and they're real! It's true. Those naughty Miniwings get us into so much trouble. Who would have thought Book Week could end up such a magical mess!
The first in the Miniwings series, adorably illustrated in full colour by the extremely fabbo Kirsten Richards. Superdoochie!
Storylines Notable Book Award, 2018
DEMOLITION
Illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Published by Walker Books
Swing the ball. Swing the ball.
Thump and smash and whack.
Bring the top floors tumbling down.
BANG! CLANG! CRACK!
Wrecking balls, crushers, dust and noise galore as an old building is demolished to make way for a playground! A companion to Roadworks.
Storylines Notable Book Award, 2013
"Another visually and verbally emphatic delight for younger readers who are stuck on trucks" - John Peters, Booklist
CONSTRUCTION
Illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Published by Walker Books
Hoist the wood. Hoist the wood.
Chain and hook and strap.
Swing it round, then lower it down.
THONK! CLONK! CLAP!
The third book in the Roadworks and Demolition series, Construction offers more noisy fun, this time at a busy building site. And what are the construction workers building? A library, of course!
Storylines Notable Book Award, 2015
Finalist, New Zealand Children's Book Awards (picture book category), 2015
Whizz's Internet Oopsie
Illustrated by Kirsten Richards
Published by Scholastic
Shhh ... Not for parents! You can keep a secret, right? Clara and I have a herd of tiny, talking, whizzie-whooshy, flying horses - and they're real! It's true. Those naughty Miniwings get us into so much trouble. Who would have thought a computer game could lead to such classroom chaos?
The second book in the Miniwings series.
Oceana's Kitty Catastrophe
Illustrated by Kirsten Richards
Published by Scholastic
Shhh ... Not for parents! You can keep a secret, right? Clara and I have a herd of tiny, talking, whizzie-whooshy, flying horses - and they're real! It's true. Those naughty Miniwings get us into so much trouble. Who would have thought a weekend at Nana's could lead to a complete kitty catastrophe!
The third book in the Miniwings series.
Firestorm's Musical Muck-Up
Illustrated by Kirsten Richards
Published by Scholastic
Shhh... Not for parents! You can keep a secret, right? Clara and I have a herd of tiny, talking, oopsie-whoopsie, flying horses - and they're real! It's true. Those naughty Miniwings get us into so much trouble. Who would have thought a music concert could be so alarming!
The fourth book in the Miniwings series.
Ambulance! ambulance!
Illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Published by Walker Books
Squash-a-creaka
Splosh-a-squeaka
What's at work? Here's a clue:
It will roll the ground for you.
Roller! Roller! Coming through!
Storylines Notable Book Award, 2019
The Cat From Muzzle
Illustrated by Scott Tulloch
Published by Penguin Random House
Dwayne is a rumble-tumble tabby cat who knows where he belongs - up on the farm at Muzzle Station. So, when he's taken to live far away in the town of Kaikoura, what's a cat to do? Shake the dust off his paws and start walking, of course! The trouble is, home is a VERY long way away...
The true story of a high-country cat's incredible walk home!
Comet's Cross-Country Crime
Illustrated by Kirsten Richards
Published by Scholastic
Shhh... Not for parents! You can keep a secret, right? Clara and I have a herd of tiny, talking, zippy-zoomy, flying horses - and they're real! It's true. Those naughty Miniwings get us into so much trouble. Who would have thought a cross-country race could be such a disaster!
The fifth book in the Miniwings series.
Moonlight the Unicorn's High Tea Hiccup
Illustrated by Kirsten Richards
Published by Scholastic
Shhh... Not for parents! You can keep a secret, right? Clara and I have a herd of tiny, talking, zippy-zoomy, flying horses - and they're real! It's true. Those naughty Miniwings get us into so much trouble, especially that razzly-dazzly unicorn, Moonlight!
Short-listed in the New Zealand Children's Book Awards 2020, Junior Fiction Section
NB: Sadly, due to circumstances beyond our control, Miniwings: The Christmas Ballet Tinsel Tangle has been cancelled. Sincere apologies.
Diary of a Sea Lion
Illustrated by Dave Gunson
Published by Scholastic
I am the Cry Baby of the Beach. I am the Wimp of the Water. And I am not going in the sea. End of story.
When you're a sea lion too scared to swim, you get a fair bit of teasing. So instead, the Wuss of the Waves makes up exciting stories of sealers, shipwrecks and castaways. But when she finds herself in real danger, will she be brave enough to escape?
Diary of a Frog
Illustrated by Dave Gunson
Published by Scholastic
Can I help it if I'm beautiful? Can I help it if I'm talented? What can I do? I was hatched like this.
This is the hilarious diary of a young frog desperate to win the role of human princess in her school production of The Frog Prince. She's sure she's pretty enough (she has more warts than any other girls in class), but will she ever overcome her terrifying case of stage fright?
Diary of a Bat
Illustrated by Dave Gunson
Published by Scholastic
Outside the roost, the Shining begins. Then I hear something. It sounds like birdsong, but it can't be. No one goes out in the Shining, not without being frizzled... do they?
In this young bat's diary of life in his colony, everything is in reverse. School is held at night, you sleep upside down (and in the daytime), and you don't – ever – go out in the Shining. But our little bat is curious... dare he venture outside in daylight?
Diary of a Pukeko
Illustrated by Dave Gunson
Published by Scholastic
The Rail family is in mourning. Today is the fifth anniversary of the death of Great-Uncle Perky, whose life was tragically cut short by a pink Fiat Bambina outside the tearooms on State Highway One north of Wellsford.
Life in the wetlands is humorously told through the diary of a young pukeko, embarrassed about his patchy feathers (he's moulting), but determined to win the favour of the gorgeous Indigo Tuk-Tuk.
Charlotte FrisBee and the Slime Attack
Illustrated by Philip Webb
Published by Penguin (Kiwibite). Out of print.
At first there's only shadows and flickering shapes, but then something in the corner moves. I catch it in the torchlight and gasp.
Charlotte Frisbee is president of a secret club called PAWS (the Perfectly Amazing Word Society). But one day, strange things start to happen around the school. Where did the stinky green slime come from? Who stole the S's from the school sign and ripped the S section out of the dictionary?