New Releases by Joyce Dunbar

Mole wakes happily from a dream where he has discovered the secret of happiness. The problem is, he suddenly can''t remember what it is! Join Mouse and Mole in three delightful, everyday adventures, from sitting down for a good read but unable to settle, to taking a leisurely stroll that turns into errands. Both children and adults can learn from the stories in Mouse & Mole: The Secret of Happiness and will develop an appreciation for friendships. James Mayhew''s charming illustrations alongside Joyce Dunbar''s good-natured stories will captivate readers of all ages.

Simple pastimes help Mosue and Mole realize there''s something special in everything -- including themselves. Mouse and Mole return in three heartwarming stories of friendship, imagination, and joyful surprises. Youngsters (and adults!) will smile and frown alongside the delightful illustrations of Mouse and Mole from artist James Mayhew.

Celebrate this festive season with three brand new Mouse and Mole short stories by Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew. Snowmole Mole wakes one morning to find the ground is covered in snow! Mouse and Mole decide to build their very own snowy friend – Snowmole – but Mole doesn’t want to leave him alone so decides to keep him company all night long and wakes to find another snowy surprise. Lo and Behold! Mole is impatiently waiting for Christmas to come when Mouse presents Mole with a brilliant gift – an advent calendar! Mouse and Mole use the advent calendar to countdown to Christmas and complete all the festive chores that need to be done and before they know it…it’s Christmas Eve! A Bump in the Night Late at night on Christmas Eve, Mouse and Mole are getting ready for bed, when they realise they’ve forgotten a few important tasks – putting the stockings by the chimney, leaving the mince pies and cherry brandy out for Father Christmas and sending their Christmas lists – but as they finish these jobs something goes BUMP! in the night…

Mouse and Mole''s charming, gentle and humourous adventures continue in this new addition to the much-loved series.Contains three stories:1. The Secret of HappinessMole dreams that he finds the secret of happiness and wakes a grumpy Mouse to tell him, but then Mole instantly forgets! Mole spends all day trying to remember, bringing Mouse and all their friends to join his search, but will he manage to discover the secret again?2. This Way and ThatMole sets off for a walk going this way and that, but Mouse keeps asking him to run errands for him. But why is Mouse making Mole run these seemingly useless errands, and will Mole ever be able to go for his care-free wander?3. A Good ReadMouse and Mole sit down for a good read, but Mole can''t stop fidgeting and distracting Mouse. Whether it''s finding a place to sit, having hiccups, itching and scratching or yawning, Mole just can''t stay still.

Mouse and Mole try to give their friendship a fresh start but realise they can''t go without seeing each other, even for a day. Mouse and Mole''s charming, gentle and humourous adventures continue in this new addition to the much-loved series, perfect for shared reading with younger children and for older children to read independently.

"Wenn das Wetter schön ist, machen wir ein Picknick im Wald. Wir schmieren Brote mit Käse und Gurke und nehmen unseren neuen Picknickkorb mit", sagte Maus. "Oh ja, das machen wir!", rief Maulwurf. "Aber was ist, wenn das Wetter morgen nicht schön ist?" "Dann setzen wir uns in unsere gemütlichen Lehnstühle vor dem Kamin und rösten Kastanien und toasten Teekuchen. Und dazu trinken wir heißen Kakao." Ganz gleich, wie das Wetter ist: Maus und Maulwurf wissen, wie man den Herbst genießt!

Join the two friends in three brand new adventures by author illustrator team Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew.A Fresh Start:Mouse and Mole try to give their friendship a fresh start but realise they can''t go without seeing each other, even for a day.Hip-Dip-Dip:When Mole is unable to decide which toy boat he likes best, Mouse suggests ''hip-dip-dip'' to help him make his choice.A Bolt from the Blue:Mouse and Mole try to avoid a storm by running, crawling and sitting it out, until they realise it''s impossible to know when a bolt from the blue will strike and to make the best of their situation.The latest in a series of gentle and humorous stories by acclaimed author and illustrator team Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew. ''Warm and witty illustrations... perfect to snuggle up with on a chilly afternoon'' Practical Parenting''Children will love the simple adventures of these two unlikely companions'' The School Librarian''Characters that stand alongside the greats of children''s literature... They work their magic not just on children, but on parents too...'' The Sunday Telegraph

Book Band: Lime, ideal for ages 6+ A powerful and personal story from Joyce Dunbar about what it''s like to experience hearing difficulties. ''Joyce Dunbar is one of the best writers for children today.'' Guardian Dylan can''t hear as well as he used to be able to and he doesn''t want to be different from his friends - he wants things to go back to the way they used to be. As his hearing gets worse he becomes more and more isolated from his friends. Luckily his dog Pluto is there to keep him down to earth... This heartwarming story from Joyce Dunbar has beautiful black-and-white illustrations by John Shelley and is perfect for children who are developing as readers. The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com. ''Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed ... Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.'' Books for Keeps

Maulwurf hat es im Gefühl: Heute wird irgendetwas Tolles passieren! Aber Maus weiß es besser, denn Überraschungen ereignen sich nie dann, wenn man sie erwartet. Überhaupt ist Maus ein bisschen weiser als sein verträumter Freund. Und genau deshalb sind die beiden auch so ein gutes Team. Zusammen freuen sie sich über die erste blühende Narzisse, schaukeln gemütlich in ihrer Hängematte und feiern mit all ihren Freunden Maulwurfs Geburtstag - vollkommen überraschend, weil Maulwurf ihn selbst nämlich glatt vergessen hätte. Aber zum Glück hat er ja Maus, seinen ganz besonderen Freund fürs Leben.

When Mouse makes himself a hammock, Mole is only too happy to test it for his friend, and Mouse is equally eager to help Mole find his lost spectacles. But who will catch the falling leaf?

"¡El pato está enfurruñado! El estanque está seco y, lo que es peor, una pequeña nube gris lo sigue por todas partes. ¿Qué pueden hacer los amigos del pato para animarlo?"--Back cover.

When Duck’s grumpiness becomes contagious, what can possibly turn it around? Duck is in a very grumpy mood. The pond is dry, and she doesn’t want to roll in the mud with Pig, sing with Rooster, doze with Tortoise, eat laundry with Goat, or join any of the other animals in their pastimes. To make matters worse, the gray cloud that’s following Duck is growing bigger by the minute, and now her friends are feeling gloomy as well. What will it take to cheer them all up? Two prolific picture-book creators look to the skies for a humorous tale of not-fair-weather friendship.

An enchanting Christmas picture book about the magic and anticipation of Christmas Eve. There''s only one more sleep till Christmas, and Lucas and Willow, the moon and the stars are all waiting... Waiting for Christmas morning, and presents, and mince pies and fun. But, unbeknown to Lucas and Willow, the magic has already begun. As silently and secretly the toys come to life... Perfect for sharing on Christmas Eve, this atmospheric story will soon become a new festive tradition. Written by master storyteller Joyce Dunbar, with stunning, classic illustrations from award-winning artist Victoria Turnbull.

Meet Tibs, son of Toodle, son of Tiddles, son of Toby. A trusted employee of the Post Office. Tibs is paid 2s 6d a week to catch mice but he prefers making friends with them! Join Tibs on a curious cat and mouse adventure where everything is not quite what it seems.... There was trouble at the Post Office: holes in the mails sacks! Letters torn to shreds! Stamps licked through to the glue! When the postmaster discovers that mice are to blame, he decides to employ a brave new cat to sort them out. Tibs comes from a long line of Post Office cats, so his new career should be a piece of cake, except that instead of catching the mice, Tibs would rather make friends with them! Can Tibs teach them how to tidy up, instead of nibbling the post, and will he be able to deliver the reward that he promised? Soon, these unlikely friends are on an adventure that takes them down to the underground Mail Rail where, together, Tibs and the mice find themselves catching more than they bargained for! This charming story based on the life of a real cat called Tibs who was employed by Post Office in the 1950s to catch mice, earning a tidy sum of 2s 6d a week for his dedicated service. With a career spanning 14 years, the real Tibs became a Post Office celebrity. Featuring a cast of warm and loveable characters, this book will have children captivated by a nostalgic world of stamps, letters and underground mail trains.

A rollicking, read-aloud rhyme featuring Plunkett, the plucky pink pig.