New Releases by PAMELA ALLEN

The little boy climbed down from the train. Have you seen my grandmother? he asked. There are only goannas here, replied the station master. Is your grandmother a goanna? An entertaining, heart-warming picture book from the best-selling, award-winning Pamela Allen.

In a little house in a dark forest, a toymaker lives all alone. One day, a small brown bird bears the magic sounds of the toymaker''s violin, and flies down to him. Together they make music so enchanting that even the trees shiver and murmur in wonder. But as the seasons change, the little bird dreams of the wide open sky and a life beyond the tops of the trees . . . From one of Australia''s favourite picture-book creators comes a hauntingly beautiful tale of freedom and love.

Picture-perfect books to share Join in the fun and make lots of noise as you count your way from one to ten with some of Pamela Allen''s most memorable characters.

Lazye bird wanted a nest. Nothing would do except the best. But what IS the best?

The sun is shining and the sea is singing. Grandpa and Thomas go to the beach. But all of a sudden, the sun goes, the wind blows and the green umbrella flies bowling and bobbing away. Another delightful picture book with Thomas and Grandpa from the bestselling, award-winning Pamela Allen.

Memorable characters from the stories of Pamela Allen parade, dance, jump and stomp through the alphabet from A to Z. Suggested level: junior.

Here are five little stories of two little men, one called Billy and the other called Ben. From the best-selling, award-winning Pamela Allen comes the perfect read-aloud picture book about two little men who just won''t share . . .

Every Friday, Jack spends the day with his Grandma. They romp roly-poly on the ground, they read stories and they eat cake. Then, one cold and rainy Friday, they make the potato people . . .

''With each new title, Pamela Allen still manages to come up with something special for her infant readers; Grandpa and Thomasis one of her best.''MagpiesThomas and Grandpa go the beach. It is an Australian summer. The sun is shining, the gulls are screeching and the sea is singing. Together they build a sandcastle, they have a picnic and they splash in the water. Then at the end of the day, Grandpa takes a sleepy Thomas home. In this lovely picture book for the very young, Pamela Allen gently unfolds the special relationship between grandchild and grandfather.

When Cuthbert''s mother brings home not one baby brother, but FOUR baby sisters, no one seems to have any time for Cuthbert. So Cuthbert wishes for someone to play with, someone BIG and BAD. And the three pirates who answer his call are exactly what Cuthbert had wished for . . .

Shake it baby, shake it! is a lively session with bouncing and upbeat dance songs. This Bright Bubs session includes scarf, ball and percussion play to stimulate your baby''s senses. Your baby will enjoy the circle dances, attentive massage, playful finger plays and gentle rocking.

Do not feed the animals, the notice board said. But Mr McGee had a big bag of bread. Share in the fun with this new Pamela Allen book for the very young as Mr McGee sets out to feed the animals in the zoo, and meets one very hungry crocodile!

Daisy was an ordinary dog living an ordinary life with Stanley. Now she is an EXTRAORDINARY dog living an EXTRAORDINARY life - and all because of three lovely liquorice lollies . . .

A play adapted from a humorous story.

Second volume in the Black Magician trilogy. Novice magician Sonea knows she can turn to Rothen and Dannyl for help when needed, until someone starts vicious rumours about her. Dannyl is promoted to Lord in the Elyne court to research into ancient magical knowledge and faces unexpected dangers. The first book in the trilogy is ''The Magicians'' Guild''. Author had a career in graphic design and publishing and manages the ''Aurealis'' website.

Another original Pamela Allen book to share with the very young. As with her award-winning Who Sank the Boat?, there is something for all of us to learn from this simple but amusing story of John and Jane''s attempts to pick a pear from the pear tree

Collection of essays and literary criticism of Y.B. Mangunwijaya''s work; festschrift.

Sitting in a tree outside Jonathan''s house is a black and white magpie. ''Waddle Giggle Gargle!'' the magpie shouts. A delightful story about a boisterous, swooping, waddling, giggling, gargling bird!