Recommendations based on "Gwen Tells Tales When It's Hard to Tell the Truth"

For fans of Warriors and Wings of Fire comes a magical adventure story about a street cat who's mistaken for a wizard’s familiar.“Whether furry, flippered or feathered you’ll be taking a closer look at your family pet.” —Michael Buckley, author of The Sisters Grimm and NERDSWhen Aldwyn, a young alley cat on the run, ducks into a mysterious pet shop, he doesn’t expect his life to change. But that’s exactly what happens when Jack, a young wizard in training, picks Aldwyn to be his magical familiar.Finally off the tough streets, Aldwyn thinks he’s got it made. He just has to convince the other familiars—the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert—that he’s the telekinetic cat he claims to be. But when Jack and two other wizards in training are captured by the evil queen, Aldwyn will have to use all of his street smarts, a few good friends, and a nose for adventure to save the day!This delightful Indie Next pick is beloved by hundreds of thousands of readers and was named to nine state award lists. Don’t miss any of the exciting books in the Familiars series: Secrets of the Crown, Circle of Heroes, and Palace of Dreams.

Move over, Junie B. Jones and Ivy & Bean! Here comes a lovably energetic little sister with a BIG personality—and an imagination to match!As the youngest in her family, Dory really wants attention, and more than anything she wants her brother and sister to play with her. But she’s too much of a baby for them, so she’s left to her own devices—including her wild imagination and untiring energy. Her siblings may roll their eyes at her childish games, but Dory has lots of things to do: outsmarting the monsters all over the house, escaping from prison (aka time-out), and exacting revenge on her sister’s favorite doll. And when they really need her, daring Dory will prove her bravery, and finally get exactly what she has been looking for.With plenty of pictures bursting with charm and character, this hilarious book about an irresistible rascal is the new must-read for the chapter book set.

"The astounding new novel from the bestselling and Costa-shortlisted author of Time Travelling with a Hamster, this is a story for everyone of 10 and older who loves adventure, laughs and tears. One of my favourite middle-grade writers Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars When 12-year-old Georgie makes friends with an eccentric retired scientist, she becomes the test-subject for a thrilling new experiment: a virtual reality, 3D version of the future. Then a deadly virus threatens to wipe out every dog in the country, and Georgie s beloved dog Mr Mash gets sick. Which is bad but worse is still to come. As the world is thrown into chaos, Georgie embarks on a desperate quest: to save every dog on earth and all of humanity... ... without actually leaving the room. An extraordinary quest with the biggest stakes of all, and a huge idea at its heart, this is time travel but not as you know it. "

Soon to be a major motion picture!Winner of the Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestsellerThis unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated book is told from the point of view of Ivan himself. Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope.The One and Only Ivan features first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective).Plus don't miss Katherine Applegate's Endling series!

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From Charlie Mackesy, the New York Times bestselling author of the internationally beloved, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, comes the Academy Award® winning film adaption--now streaming on Apple TV+. A journey, in search of home... This edition of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse celebrates the work of more than a 100 animators across two years of production-with Charlie Mackesy's distinctive illustrations brought to life in full color with hand-drawn traditional animation and accompanying hand-written script. "I made a film with some friends about a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse--their journey together and the boy's search for home. I hope this book gives you courage and makes you feel loved." Love Charlie x

CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Adored by generations of readers, this gorgeously illustrated classic tells a tale of youth, curiosity, and delight as a little girl and her mother make unexpected friends while picking blueberries in the Maine countryside. “All the color and flavor of the sea and pine-covered Maine countryside.”—School Library Journal (starred review)Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother are picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter. Meanwhile, Sal's mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one?With its expressive line drawings and gentle, humorous storytelling, Blueberries for Sal will have readers of all ages rooting for their adventurous protagonist to explore, reunite, and—of course—eat more blueberries!

Social media stars of @WhatAboutBunny, Alexis Devine and Bunny the "talking" dog, deliver a memoir loaded with wit and passion for animals, as well as the vulnerability and authenticity of a woman who learned to take care of herself by learning to talk to her dog When Bunny, a fluffy, black-and-white sheepadoodle, was eight weeks old, her guardian Alexis presented her with an odd gift: a button programed to say “outside” when pressed. Within a few weeks, Bunny was using it all the time and Alexis, encouraged by Bunny’s progress, continued to introduce more buttons and more words . . . Three years later, Bunny can now communicate using over one hundred buttons, stringing together important, relatable, philosophical phrases such as “Love you Mom,” “Dad went poop,” and “Ugh why?” In I Am Bunny, a memoir in essays and beautiful, full-color photographs, Alexis chronicles not only how Bunny learned to “talk,” but also the profound impact their journey has had on her life. Caring for Bunny has revealed to Alexis a path to self-acceptance, if not complete self-love, and as their relationship developed and their ability to communicate deepened, Alexis was able to reflect on and reframe her past traumas in a newly vulnerable and healing way. Helping Bunny through her fear and reactivity allowed Alexis to examine these qualities in herself, and as she created a safe space for Bunny, she too found space for her own healing. Through charming anecdotes about day-to-day life with Bunny, explorations into prior animal language studies, and plenty of irreverent humor, daring, and heart, Alexis tells the story of how she and Bunny have become so inspiringly close, and explores the ancient and unique bond between dog and guardian that so many of us know leads to a deeper, more meaningful life.

Ballet Shoes is the much loved classic by Noel Streatfield 'I wonder . . . if other girls had to be one of us, which of us they'd choose to be?' Pauline longs to be an actress. Petrova is happiest playing with cars and engines. And if she could . . . Posy would dance all day! But when their benefactor Great-Uncle Matthew disappears, the Fossil girls share a future of a dazzling life on stage, where their dreams and fears will soon come true . . . Noel Streatfeild once said that Ballet Shoes was 'really a fairy story with its feet half-way on the ground' - a magical description for a magical book. Noel was born in Sussex in 1895 and was one of three sisters. Although she was considered the plain one she ended up leading the most glamorous and exciting life! After working in munitions factories and canteens for the armed forces when WWI broke out, Noel followed her dream of being on stage and went to RADA where she became a professional actress. She began writing children's books in 1931 and Ballet Shoes was published in 1936. She quickly became one of the most popular authors of her day. When she visited Puffin exhibitions, there were queues right out of the building and all the way down The Mall. She was one of the first winners of the Carnegie Medal and was awarded an OBE in 1983. Noel Streatfeild lived in London. She died in 1986. Also by Noel Streatfield: Ballet Shoes; Tennis Shoes; The Circus is Coming; The House in Cornwall; The Children of Primrose Lane; CUrtain Up; Party Frock; The Painted Garden; White Boots; The Fearless Treasure; The Bell Family; Wintle's Wonders; New Town; Apple Bough; A Vicarage Family; The First Book of the Ballet; The Children on the Top Floor; Away from the Vicarage; The Growing Summer; Caldicott Place; Thursday's Child; Beyond the Vicarage; Ballet Shoes for Anna; When the Siren Wailed; Far To Go

A magical adventure by the light of the moon . . . ?Girl by day. Cat by night. Ready for adventure. In the third book of this engaging chapter book series about a little girl with catlike superpowers, Kitty and her feline friends discover a secret roof garden and must save it from unwelcome visitors. With dramatic two-color art on every page and an emphasis on friendship, family, and building self-confidence, the Kitty books are the perfect choice for newly independent readers and fans of Rebecca Elliott’s Owl Diaries. Kitty is special. Her mother is a superhero with catlike powers that Kitty and her little brother, Max, will someday inherit. But being a superhero involves going on daring adventures out in the dark, and Kitty doesn’t know if she’ll be brave enough! In Kitty and the Sky Garden, Kitty and her feline friends Pumpkin and Pixie discover a secret sky garden on a city rooftop. The garden is beautiful, and the flowers are delicate and colorful. But when Pixie tells other cats about the magical place, the secret is out, and the garden is in danger of being destroyed! Will Kitty save the day and rescue the garden before it’s too late? 

Everyone's favourite cat is now available in a delightful board book format, introducing even the youngest babies and toddlers to Judith Kerr's forgetful cat. Meet Mog and her family, cat family that is. There is her Mummy and Daddy who live on a farm, her Grandpa who is always hungry, her brother James who has frogs in his garden, her aunt Emma who takes care of a shop and many more. It'll be a big party when they all get together for Mog's birthday. Children will delight in looking at all the different cats, one tabby, one black and white, one long haired and scruffy and some very very young.