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The Art of Words

2021

by Robert Vescio and Joanna Bartel

"Words are everywhere! In this interactive story about the magic of words, imaginative illustrations show a young boy and girl stretching words, squashing them, colouring them, and sewing them together to reflect their meaning. Words are everywhere! Come on this lively adventure to learn more about how they can be shortened, extended, and even switched around. Meet ugly words, colourful words, and words that just need a friend. The Art of Words is a unique, fun and interactive story about the magic of words. Two children and their adorable dog are illustrated playfully interacting with letters and words, and discovering myriad word functions and capabilities. Typography is a major feature and each page shows words that are scaled, coloured, and positioned to enhance their meaning and reflect the interplay of their verbal and visual aspects. At only 100 words, this ‘language through adventure’ book is intended to excite young children about language, especially the joy of words and their capabilities. Visually, it depicts an imaginative natural world with abundant greenery, stars, animals and flowers, and children engaging in sports, adventure and STEM! The illustrations aim to embrace and depict diversity in gender and race and cater to varied literacy levels. The font choices are simple and clear, to ensure beginning readers can engage confidently. Children, parents, carers and teachers alike will delight in this quirky celebration of the joy and power of words. Readers will come to appreciate the joy of making stories from words, and will be reminded that even books that teach can be fun!" -- publisher

Any Child Cross Group

The Best Mom

2021

by Penny Harrison and Sharon Davey

"An endearing story about the different types of mothers in the world and what makes them each uniquely special. There are so many AMAZING moms in the world: the chefs, the singers, the athletes, the costume makers…Have you ever felt that your MOM isn’t as good as other moms? This humorous story takes you through all the fabulous moms out there, who all seem to have endless talents. But in the end, every mom does one SPECIAL thing that makes her The Best Mom. What makes YOUR mom the BEST mom? A unique celebration of ALL moms." -- publisher

Any Child

The Boy Who Loved Everyone

2021

by Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring

"On his first day of preschool, Dimitri’s vocal affection for everything is met with wary reactions—until his guileless words begin to take root and grow. Dimitri may be small, but his heart is as big and as open as a cloudless blue sky. “I love you,” Dimitri tells his new classmates at preschool. “I love you,” Dimitri tells the class guinea pig and the ants on the ground. “I love you,” Dimitri tells the paintbrushes and the tree with heart-shaped leaves. So why doesn’t anyone say “I love you” back? Could love also be expressed in unspoken ways? In a familiar story of navigating the social cues of new friendship, author Jane Porter and illustrator Maisie Paradise Shearring offer a thoughtful tribute to the tender ones—those who spread kindness simply by being, and who love without bounds." -- publisher

Any Child

The Christmas Crumb

2021

by Lou Treleaven and Alex Willmore

"This Christmas story reminds us that a little can go a long way when it comes to helping others. A truly Christmassy story, which has an important message about how although something may seem small to you, it might mean everything to someone else. A magical story, written in rhyme by prolific author, Lou Treleaven and illustrated by award-winning illustrator, Alex Willmore. A family of giants are enjoying a Christmas feast with an enormous Christmas Yule Log as the centerpiece! However, when the princess drops a crumb, she worries about wasting it but Mom reassures her "it is only a crumb". But that crumb rolls out of the castle and ends up in Pip and his mom’s sparse cottage—it is a Christmas gift! They dig in but when Pip drops a crumb; that crumb rolls into a mouse hole where it will help them survive the winter. Yet again a crumb breaks off and this time rolls on to feed a whole army of ants, eventually ending up being eaten by a flea. A beautiful story, which is the perfect book to share at Christmas." -- publisher

Any Child

The Collectors

2021

by Alice Feagan

"Nature lovers and collectors of all kinds will love this high-adventure quest story about two brave and clever girls who head into the forest in search of something extraordinary.Winslow and Rosie have been building an impressive collection of natural wonders, and now it's nearly complete. With just enough space left for one final piece, the girls set off into the forest to find something extraordinary. Their journey takes them far --- along the creek, across the valley, through the spruce grove and up the mountain. And while they find many extraordinary things, nothing is just the right extraordinary thing. When the girls find a deep, dark cave, they decide to venture farther than ever before. Surely, a mysterious cave must hold something extraordinary ...Bestselling creator Alice Feagan's distinct cut-paper collage artwork brings this fun quest story to life and packs it with learning opportunities. The story highlights that girls can be adventurous, brave, clever and fascinated by science, and also that the natural world is a wondrous place to explore. From the detailed depictions of the girls' gear to the many portrayals of their extraordinary finds (a gemstone, dinosaur fossils, a rare woodpecker's feather), there are numerous STEM curriculum applications here. The story also offers excellent character education lessons in perseverance, resilience and teamwork." -- publisher

Any Child Cross Group

The Color Collector

2021

by Nicholas Solis and Renia Metallinou

"The Color Collector is a poignant story about newness, friendship, and common ground. When a boy notices the new girl picking up all manner of debris and litter on their walks home from school he wants to know why. So she shows him the huge mural she's created in her room that reminds her of the home she left behind. He learns all about where she's come from and they both find how wonderful it is to make a new friend. The Color Collector is a poignant story about newness, friendship, and common ground. When a boy notices the new girl picking up all manner of debris and litter on their walks home from school he wants to know why. So she shows him the huge mural she's created in her room that reminds her of the home she left behind. He learns all about where she's come from and they both find how wonderful it is to make a new friend." -- publisher

Any Child Cross Group

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