New Releases by Helen Lester

A shy young mouse ventures outside her comfort zone in this sweet picture book classic in the making from the beloved author and illustrator of Tacky the Penguin. Mousetta has never felt comfortable in her own fur. She likes to stay quiet and hidden, never brave enough to play with the other field mouse children who always seem to be having fun. The only way Mousetta can venture outside is by wearing a bucket on her head so she doesn’t have to worry about meeting anyone new. But when foxes attack and the mice have to take cover, Bucket Head may be just what the others need—if only she can muster the courage to charge forward!

Sparky, a new energetic student at a sloth school, saves her lazy classmates when a wild boar from a government agency tries to shut the school down.

Having trouble listening? Feeling uncomfortable in your own skin? Finding it difficult to work as a team? No matter the trouble, laughter is the best medicine! This value-packed collection features eight stories that will have kids laughingandlearning important life lessons. Parents will love that each story can be read aloud in five minutes flat. Hurty Feelings It Wasn''t My Fault Listen, Buddy Me First A Porcupine Named Fluffy Princess Penelope''s Parrot The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken The Sheep in Wolf''s Clothing Includes bonus downloadable audio.

Tacky is not very helpful as Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect plan and prepare for Halloween, turning their igloo into a haunted house and making treats, but while Tacky is finishing his costume something really frightening arrives, and only he can chase it away.

Fragility was a solid piece of work. But despite her sturdy exterior, Fragility was fragile. Anything and everything hurt her feelings. In the most benign compliment, Fragility heard an insult. No one could even say she looked nice without evoking images of big, squishy cupcakes—since they are also nice—and causing Fragility to flop on the ground and weep. Fragility’s friends stop speaking to her for fear of another fit, but Rudy, a very rude bully, has other ideas. In the face of real insults, will Fragility finally learn to take a compliment? Featuring bonus audio!

"The delightfully droll humor is carried out in whimsical watercolor illustrations." "School Library Journal"Spoiled Princess Penelope''s new parrot simply wont talk, even when she rattles its cage, calls it names, and threatens to chain it up. But when Prince Percival comes courting, the clever parrot surprises them both when he opens his beak at exactly the wrong time This new addition to the Laugh-Along Lessons series is about the importance of speaking carefully and kindly. Includes a parent/teacher discussion guide and downloadable audio

When three boastful magicians try to outdo one another, they create a problem that can be solved only when they work together.

Ewetopia must save the day and embrace who she is after her flock''s Costume Ball takes a catastrophic turn. Includes a bonus audio download. Full color.

Angus, a very messy monster who lives with his parents in Loch Ness, learns an important lesson about picking up after himself.

“This funny, fetching tale will bring chuckles—and a lesson—to any child with a tendency to echo Pinkerton’s cries of ‘Me first.’” –Publishers Weekly Pinkerton Pig will do anything to be first—first down the slide, first in line at the trough-a-teria, first on the bus. His pushy ploys backfire on a Pig Scouts hike when he hears the magic words “Would you care for a sandwich?” Little does he know, he’s being tricked by a sandcastle-dwelling Sandwitch in need of care! How long will Pinkerton be doomed to powder her warty nose? This cheery look at the dangers of piggishness is now part of a fun hardcover series about life lessons. This ebook includes audio narration as well as a code for free downloadable audio.

"…this sprightly paced tale amiably nudges kids whose direction-following skills need some honing." —Publishers Weekly "Buddy’s father had a beautiful big nose. He was a great sniffer. Buddy’s mother had beautiful big teeth. She was a great chomper. Buddy had beautiful big ears. It didn’t matter." When someone says squash, Buddy hears wash. Tomatoes, you say? He buys potatoes. One day—because he didn’t listen—Buddy accidentally ends up at Scruffy Varmint’s scary cave. Unfortunately, he doesn’t listen to Scruffy, either…and almost ends up as bunny stew! This delightful cautionary tale is now part of a fun, 8" x 8" hardcover series about life lessons. This ebook includes audio narration as well as a code for free downloadable audio.

The Nice Icy Land was crackling with busy-ness. It had taken weeks and a lot of whispery chirps for Tacky the Penguin’s friends to plan a Perfect Surprise Birdday Party for him on his special hatchday. With songs, presents, cake, fishy ice cream, and surprise entertainment from Iglooslavia’s own Twinklewebs the Dance Queen, how could anything go wrong? But it’s a comedy of errors . . . and all is far from perfect. Luckily, Tacky’s good cheer—and his flippity dance moves—save the day with a flap of his flippers and a tap of his tippywebs. Munsinger’s adorable, expressive penguin illustrations are the icing on the cake.

A porcupine named Fluffy is happier with his name after he meets a similarly misnamed rhinoceros. OThe humor is just absurd enough to make the picture-book set howl along with Hippo and Fluffy."N"The New York Times Book Review." Full color.

Lester and artist Munsinger . . . team up again for another rib-tickling, off-the-wall tale. Booklist Murdley Gurdson is a spectacularly accident-prone boy. He falls into wastebaskets He drops only the most valuable vases. Worse yet: Whatever happened, it was usually his fault. One day, as Murdley is taking a walk, a bird lays an egg above him and it splats on his head. How could that really be Murdley s fault? Turns out, it sort of is. Munsinger s hilarious illustrations help make this silly story about cause and effect as lighthearted as it is useful. This read-aloud favorite is now part of a fun hardcover series about life lessons. Includes downloadable audio "

Rodney''s classmates make fun of him because he cannot pronounce his name, but it is Rodney''s speech impediment that drives away the class bully.

An offbeat penguin shows his peers the power of individuality in this humorous tale from the author of Pookins Gets Her Way. Tacky is an odd bird. He likes to do splashy cannonballs and greet his companions with a loud "What''s happening?" In fact, he''s something of an eccentric, which wouldn''t be a problem if all the other penguins weren''t such…conformists. When intimidating visitors invade their peaceful, nice, icy land, it''ll take a lot more than a bunch of perfect penguins to save the day. Thank goodness Tacky''s such an odd bird! “This book is must reading for any kid—or grown-up—who refuses to follow the pack.”—Publishers Weekly

Deck the iceberg wrap a gifty Fa la la la la la la la la... Tacky, Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect are celebrating the holiday with good cheer, singing, and lots of presents. Tacky’s present is a little bit different, and not exactly what his friends had in mind, but when the Christmas merrymaking is interrupted by hunters in search of pretty penguins, it''s Tacky''s gift that helps to save the day…. A bonus CD of original carols includes: Deck the Iceberg, Sandy Clawz is Coming to Town, The Six Days of Christmas, I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas, and Oh Tackytree!

Tacky and his fellow penguins are off to summer camp in Nice Icy Land to enjoy themselves while Rock Hopping, Line Dancing, and playing Capture the Ice Cube. One night, they gather around the campfire to sing, eat s’mores, and tell scary stories. But after going to bed, something straight out of one of their scary stories pays the sleeping penguins a visit. Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect think they should high-tail it out of there, but it is Tacky—with some unexpected heroics—who saves the day. Includes lyrics to the official Camp Whoopihaha song!

The new kid in town is a wombat from Down Under. He’s having a tough time fitting in, so he tries to join the baseball team. They’re excited to see a “Wham-bat” hit, but baseball seems to him like a strange game indeed as his literal interpretations of the lingo, such as “stealing third base,” lead to hilarious, and ultimately victorious, results.

Tacky and his fellow penguins on Team Nice Icy Land train hard for the Winter Games, but Tacky''s antics make their chances of winning a medal seem slim.

Encompassing information and ideas from the whole spectrum of mental health services, this text provides a unique and comprehensive overview of UK mental health policy and practice. Demonstrating the importance of interaction between different sectors, Lester and Glasby promote positive ways of interdisciplinary working and the central importance of user involvement. The text highlights examples of successful evidence-based practice and discusses how services can be changed and improved.

Tacky the exuberant penguin accidentally goes sailboarding and winds up on a tropical island, where he meets an elephant who demands proof of Tacky''s identity.

Twitchly Fidget won’t shampoo, eat his cereal, or put on his sneakers. He won’t even go to a parade (what if he got sucked up into a trombone?) or a marshmallow roast (might he get stuck?) or a Fourth of February party (would he be buried in confetti?). In Twitchly’s imagination, each opportunity poses the threat of disaster. So he just sits alone in his dreary, windowless, doorless hut and waits for his fears to be realized. Then one day something does happen: Twitchly’s Aunt Bridget Fidget drops in for a visit, and she can see right away that Twitchly needs a fixin’. But will Aunt Bridget be able to persuade Twitchly to confront his fears?

So begins the story of Helen Lester, author of Tacky the Penguin and many other popular books for children. By sharing her struggles as a child and later as a successful author, she demonstrates that hurdles are part of the process. She even gives writing tips, such as keeping a "fizzle box." Helen Lester uses her unique ability to laugh at her mistakes to create both a guide for young writers and an amusing personal story of the disappointments and triumphs of a writer''s life.

Publisher Description

It’s common knowledge that Tacky was never the best- dressed penguin, but when he and his friends prepare for the arrival of the emperor, Tacky gets carried away and ends up in more than just elegant attire! Tacky brings his own unique brand of humor and entertainment to the emperor’s visit. Here is another wacky addition to Tacky’s myriad adventures in which friendship, kindness, and laughter always win out! Tacky fans will be carried to new heights of hilarity by this latest Tacky tale.