New Releases by Beverley Birch

Two beautifully told traditional tales by Beverley Birch. ‘The Water Thief’ is about the mischievous antics of Hyena and how crafty Tortoise plays him at his own game. ‘Lumbwi and the Gazelle’ is about a moving friendship, but when Lumbwi embarks on a new life he seems to forget about his old friend, to dreadful consequences.

When Frankenstein creates a monster, he never expects it to be such a huge threat to society, what will he have to do to stop it, and can he succeed before any more damage is done? Explore the fascinating dilemma of nature versus nurture in Mary Shelley’s unforgettably dark thriller.

Love story, ghost story, thriller: Kisiri is a sacred island just off the coast of Africa holding secrets from both present and past - perhaps teenagers Ally and Leli are the key to solving its mystery ...

Turtle wanted to go to the party in the clouds, but how would she get there without wings? She had an idea, but, unfortunately, things didn't go quite according to plan. - Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. - Text type--a traditional tale. - A story map on pages 22-23 allows children to look back at Turtle's changing emotions along her journey.

Inspired by three traditional African tales, follow the crafty spider Anansi, and find out how his greed and cunning don't always get him what he wants. - Topaz/Band 13 books offer longer and more demanding reads for children to investigate and evaluate. - Text type: A retelling of a traditional tale - Curriculum links: Citizenship

YA. Mystery fiction. Suspense fiction. In a vast African landscape four teenagers and a journalist vanish without a trace from a camp below a steep rock ridge, Chomlaya. As Ella, the sister of one of the missing girls, helps Inspector Murothi piece together what happened, she realises there are terrifying possibilities for her sister and the others. 12 yrs+

"This is the true story of a man who helped save millions of lives. Because of his work, the diseases that had killed people for centuries were finally defeated. His imagination, patience, and clear thinking have transformed our world forever"--Page 2 of cover

Describes the life and work of the Italian inventor, who was a pioneer in the development of the radio.

Ben spends a summer with his uncle restoring the boat Sea Hawk and learning to sail with mysterious Iona. Then the dreams start and Iona disappears. Mysterious and gripping to the end. 10 yrs+

Tells the story of the beginnings of radio communication.

A holiday in Italy, with a distant cousin, turns into a time of confusion and fear for fifteen-year-old Jennifer, who must find the strength to stand alone. Suggested level: secondary.

A must for every family bookshelf. Highly regarded as one of the most popular poetry anthologies ever published, this collection includes poems by Blake, Emerson, Dickinson, Longfellow, Stevenson, et al.

Explains how a microscope works, its parts, preparation of slides, and how the microscope is used to view various specimans; also gives suggestions of things to examine.