New Releases by Alison Lester

In the second volume of this charming series, friends Bonnie and Sam are determined to win the local talent contest. And they know that learning to do trick riding on horseback will secure victory. When the girls pick a real-live horse to practice on, all bets are off. The excitement will keep young readers turning pages, as Bonnie and Sam discover that some things are even better than winning.

As children play at the beach--building sandcastles, looking for shells, splashing in the waves--they imagine that they are finding buried treasure, riding seahorses, and battling a dragon over a castle moat.

Friendship, horses and adventure in an Australian country town combine in this collection of four full-colour Bonnie and Sam stories for young readers. Created by two of Australia''s bestselling storytellers and illustrators.

On the way to assist their riding teacher at the Royal Show, Bonnie and Sam find a starving pony that they feel they must try to rescue.

During summer vacation in rural Australia, best friends Bonnie and Sam are taking care of two horses and helping with sheep shearing when they stumble upon a crime at Skull Rock.

ALISON LESTER: AUSTRALIA''S CHILDREN''S LAUREATE 2012-13 Who would you be? On a Stormy Night at Sea, in the Wild West, under the Big Top, in the Frozen North, in a Transylvanian Castle, beyond the Milky Way, in a Steaming Jungle Choose a character, turn the page and find out what happens! An exciting book of wild adventures from Alison Lester, beloved by Australian families for over twenty-five years. ''In Lester''s world, it seems that both the real and the imagined have a magic all their own - the magic of life enjoyed to the fullest.'' The Horn Book

In Currawong Creek, Australia, best friends Bonnie and Sam, who share a mutual love of horses, enhance their trick-riding skills when a traveling circus comes to town.

Describes various sounds that are being made as children play.

After the disappearance of Drover, a wild horse that looks like Drover appears in his place.

One day Wild and Woolly dug such a big hole in their sandpit, that when they fell into it, they came out at the North Pole. Immediately they set out on the journey home... visiting the houses of the most interesting characters along the way.

Running with the Horses is a stunning picture book by Alison Lester, the much-loved creator of Are We There Yet? and many other treasured books for children. Young readers will love this beautifully illustrated classic story of adventure and friendship. TEN-YEAR-OLD NINA lives with her father above the palace stables at the Royal Academy of Dancing Horses. She loves watching the famous white stallions as they parade for the crowds, but her favourite horse is an ordinary mare called Zelda - an old cab horse Nina often pats on her way home from school. When Nina''s world changes dramatically, she and her father have to flee from the city. Their journey over the mountains with Zelda and the stallions seems impossible, with danger at every turn . . .

Bonnie and Sam are best friends. No one loves horses the way they do. When Bonnie whispers to them, they understand, and Sam always knows if they need a drink, or a hug, or a race around the paddock. Now it''s time for the Royal Show, and the girls are going to help their riding teacher get ready for a big competition. But in a backyard near the showgrounds they see a sad, starving pony - and it''s Bonnie and Sam to the rescue!

Bonnie and Sam are best friends. No one loves horses the way they do. When Bonnie whispers to them, they understand, and Sam always knows if they need a drink, or a hug, or a race around the paddock. The girls ride together whenever they can - despite not having any of their own, they have a special relationship with all the horses and ponies in town. They have the best adventures, like that time the wild shadow brumby slipped into town and changes places with San''s dad''s police horse...

Talk to the pet animals with Alison Lester.

"Have fun with letters, discover new words, join in the adventures of Alice and Aldo, and find all kinds of familiar and surprising things in Alison Lester''s glorious alphabet book." - back cover.

When Clive eats fried rice and Tessa has Bombe Alaska, Rosie sips spiders. Here is the delightful group of children you met in Clive Eats Alligators who all dream of what it will be like when they grow up in their own special way. Applauding individuality, Rosie Sips Spiders will incite questions and comments from young audiences. Children will delight in Alison Lester s cheerful artwork and simple text that is filled with familiarity. Rosie Sips Spiders is an interactive book that depicts seven children happy in their own uniqueness.

Grace recounts how she, her parents, and her brothers spent an entire winter travelling completely around Australia in a camper.

An affectionate and funny recollection of a memorable year on an Australian farm. This unusual picture book gives a vivid glimpse of life on the land.

A fictional story of the hurdles and accomplishments of childhood, from the ages of 1 to 7.

This alphabet book encourages children to follow Alice and her little horse Aldo through the day - walking, getting dressed, playing - and explore the alphabet along the way. It is full of drawings of people, animals and objects for young children to find, name and talk about.

Everyone else seems to be finding work and Thing wants to be like them. The problem is, what is ''work''? Emily''s pet dinosaur gets into quite a bit of trouble before he finds the answer. An illustrated title in the ''Thinglets'' series book. ''Thing''. For ages 5Q8 years.

Thing is not well, and no-one knows what is the matter with him. As the vet says, ''not much is known about serious stegosaurus diseases'', but fortunately it turns out Thing''s ailment is one that TLC will cure. An illustrated storybook in the ''Thinglets'' series based on ''Thing'', winner of the 1983 picture book award for ages 5 Q8 years.

Emily''s pet dinosaur has a serious case of balletomania and when a concert is announced he hopes to join in. Even the stern Miss Benita is moved at his misery when he isn''t allowed and in the end he gets a special part. An illustrated title in the ''Thinglets'' series based on the picture book ''Thing'', published in 1982 for ages 5Q8 years.

Each of a group of children is different in a special way--when eating or dressing, at play, while shopping, and in bedtime routines.

Two children stay with their grandmother, and discover the answer to a family mystery that started long ago in South America. Includes the words and music to a song. Picture book format. Ages 6-10.

Lift the flap to discover who each monster is! Full of surprises, this warm, funny book will delight young children time and again as they discover each visitor to the house.

Try to guess who''s behind the door in this lift - the - flap fancy - dress story.

Each child in a group is different in a special way -- when eating or at play, while shopping, and in bedtime routines.