New Releases by Caroline Pitcher

The danger is still close to Jez and Luka. The war bursts into the village when a bomb destroys the orphanage, but Luka is once more drawn into the world of the Cloud Cat. This time he leaves his body as a swallow, searching high over the town for the mother he misses, and becoming trapped in a deadly struggle with the sky''s greatest predator: a mountain eagle. While Vaskalia works her old magic, Katrin and Dimitri work theirs in the warmth of the bakery, which now houses Imogen and the children from the orphanage.

YA. Fantasy. A story of mysterious powers in dangerous times. Jez tries to protect his brother Luka, who has been losing his sight since the disappearance of their parents. But Luka is unaware of the danger, determined to visit the magical realm of the Cloud Cat. In their village, the witch-like Vaskalia nurses an old grudge against the boys. When Luka goes missing, will Jez or Vaskalia''s Bone Cracker find him first? 11 yrs+

One frosty morning when the hills are humpbacked with snow, Laurie and Leo decide to build a snow whale. As they shovel and dig and pat and polish to bring it out of the hill, the whale gradually takes on a life of its own. Caroline Pitcher is the author of The Sue Tribe and On the Wire.

A page-turning thriller from an acclaimed writer. Set in ancient Egypt, this is the story of a young boy, Varro, and his flight from danger as he is pursued along the River Nile by an opportunistic lord. He is believed to be carrying something very valuable - but has no idea what it could be. Full of authentic detail about ancient Egypt, rich imagery of the lush delta plains and the forbidding stone-carved monuments to gods, and exciting, nail-biting tension. The story culminates in an exciting face-to-face encounter with the legendary pharaoh. Acclaim for the series: ''…a quartet of books with robust child appeal … the brief is clearly to appeal to those recently emerging from reading schemes but requiring continuing support. But the stories have a fresh originality that will make them great favourites'' - Lindsey Fraser, Guardian Education Book of the Week, 13/05/03.

Nico rescues a small octopus and takes it home to keep as a pet, caring for it until one day, he learns some sad and wonderful news. Includes a factual section on octopuses.

Can a piano be menacing? This one can Lenny has to convince the rest of his family that his little sister is in real danger from the new grand piano in the living room. This text should help bridge the gap between picture and longer books, and is suitable for reluctant readers.

Die goedhartige Hannetjie Pan laat al die diere in haar warm skuur bly - almal behalwe die hond. Hy is te groot en te rof Maar toe die nare jakkals kom pla, verander Hannetjie gou van plan

Molly Maran was a kind hearted hen. She was quite happy to share her cosy warn barn with Robin and Hedgehog, but she wasn''t sure that she wanted the dog to stay until, that is, the fox came to visit.

Six kids on a geography trip are cut off by the sea. One of them is hurt, it''s the middle of the night and they have only themselves to blame. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

A childless old woman is given a merbaby to raise until the child can safely return to the sea.

The newly-born foal is unsteady on his wobbly legs. He is afraid of the wind and of the big dark all around him, and he is worried that his mother will leave him. She assures him that one day he will feel safe without her, but the foal cannot believe he will ever want to leave his mother''s side.

A magical tale of the special bond between father and son recounts how young Joseph, living in the African Savannah, comes to love a lion living nearby and how he learns to both love and trust his father. At night while his village sleeps, young Joseph hears a lion''s roar thunderclap across the wide East African Savannah. Joseph''s father tells him that it is not the right time to go and meet the lion, but when Joseph sees the lion racing towards him, his great head streaming with gold and his paws as big as drums, a special friendship begins. Every noontime Joseph visits the lion''s den. He sleeps beside the lion, meets the lioness, and plays with the young cubs. Then one day, traders come looking for lion cubs and an anxious fear awakens in Joseph: he suspects that his father has betrayed the lions. This beautiful father/son tale explores an unusual friendship and a child''s rite of passage. The Time of the Lion creates a metaphor for the magic of childhood, a time when fantasy is reality, and lions are our friends. The beautiful artwork is the perfect compliment to this tale, capturing the power and mystery of the African Savannah.

A mother horse reassures her young foal that soon he will be big enough to stay by himself and not even miss her.

One frosty morning when the hills are humpbacked with snow, Laurie and Leo decide to build a snow whale. As they shovel and dig and pat and polish to bring it out of the hill, the whale gradually takes on a life of its own. Caroline Pitcher is the author of The Sue Tribe and On the Wire.

It is the autumn on the little island of Lindesfarne, a time that Dan Reid loves. With all the tourists gone, the island once more belongs to the wild creatures and birds. It is also a time of secrets for Dan that he can''t tell anyone. But his secret is swallowing his pocket money, eating into his sleep and getting him into trouble at school.

Provides step-by-step instructions for building an airport equipped with buildings, control tower, helicopter, business and jumbo jets, and baggage and supply trucks.

Using readily available materials, this step-by-step guide shows young children how to create their own farmyard by making cows, pigs, sheep, barns, tractors, and other farm animals and equipment

Step-by-step instructions for constructing a space station and space vehicles out of materials available at home or school.