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The Boy Who Was Followed Home by Margaret Mahy with illustrations by Steven Kellogg

Robert is an ordinary boy, but one day he is followed home from school by one hippopotamus. That isn’t a problem because he quite likes hippos and the hippo quite likes the goldfish pool in the lawn. When more hippos follow him over the following days, it starts to become a problem though, and his father decides to look to a witch for a cure, but is her solution really a cure?

This is a delightful and funny story for young readers who can imagine and love animals.

RRP $18.99
Published and distributed by Penguin Group under the Picture Puffin title

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The Boy With Two Shadows by Margaret Mahy with illustrations by Jenny Williams

This is a witty story about a boy who takes very good care of his shadow. It is like his best friend. He is aware that you only have one shadow and it has to last a lifetime so he makes sure it doesn’t trail in the dust, always has a good place to walk, and generally won’t wear out.

The boy takes such good care of his shadow that he comes to the notice of a witch who wants him to take care of her shadow while she is on holiday. He agrees but soon finds that her shadow is not as well behaved as his (or most other people’s shadows. It is mean, plays tricks and scares not only shadows but people as well. Will the boy ever have one shadow again? And will it be his own shadow?

This is a very funny story full of unexpected things. It once again demonstrates Mahy’s gift for spinning stories and encourages a young reader’s own imagination.

RRP $19.99
Published and distributed by Penguin Group under the Puffin title

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Jam by Margaret Mahy with illustrations by Helen Craig

Meet the Castles. Mrs Castle is extremely talented, so talented in fact that she is working with scientists trying to cure sunspots. Her husband therefore stays home to look after their three small children: Clement, Clarissa and Carlo (so small they are more like cottages than castles). Mr Castle is a very good house father but one day he runs out of work so he decides to make plum jam from the plums on a tree beside their house, and that is when everything starts to go wrong.

Soon they have more jam than they know what to do with, or even have jars for. Their father is determined that no plums will be wasted. Where can he put the jam when he runs out of jars, what can they do with all the jam, and will it ever stop?

In typical Margaret Mahy style, this is a humorous book that encourages the imagination of readers. Young readers will also love the humorous and detailed illustrations. It is a very entertaining, feel good and fun story children will love.

RRP $19.99
Published and distributed

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The Margaret Mahy Treasury by Margaret Mahy

The Margaret Mahy Treasury includes eleven favourite stories by one of New Zealand's most loved children's' authors. She transports readers into a magical world of witches, pirates and humour.

The timeless stories capture the imagination with the aid of some wonderful illustrations that are as imaginative and magical as the stories themselves. Included in this collection is A Lion In The Meadow, one of the first Margaret Mahy stories to be published. Many others, parents will remember reading and enjoying when they were a child, showing how her stories transcend generations.

The Margaret Mahy Treasury is sure to be a favourite bedtime read and enjoyed for years to come.

RRP $45.00
Published by Penguin Group

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Organ Music by Margaret Mahy

It starts with Harvey and David seeing some repetitive graffiti asking the question ‘Where’s Quinta?’ Harley’s mother is a music teacher, and ever since she ran away with a Jazz guitarist, he has been intent on living life dangerously and taking David with him. That is why they are walking down one of the most dangerous streets in town, reading the graffiti, and also why when there is no-one around and they see a car with keys in it parked in the street, Harley decides to take it for a joy-ride.

David is the sensible one but is teased into going along with Harley, even though he thinks it is a bad idea. When in the car, they don’t even notice that the words on the walls have changed to ‘Quinta come home’.

Harley doesn’t quite observe things around him or recognise real danger. David is more observant but succumbs to Harley’s peer pressure. It is only when David finally insists that Harley stops the car so he can walk home, that Harley realises that there is something strange about the car and in fact it is driving itself. The car seems to have a death wish too, speeding through the city and onto the motorway, getting faster and faster. Where is it taking them and what horrors could await them when the car reaches its destination? And there is that strange music that the car is playing.

Organ Music is a chilling and thrilling tale of danger, ghosts and secret experiments. It is an entertaining and enthralling sci-fi horror for readers aged eleven and older. Organ Music is a chilling and thrilling tale of danger, ghosts and secret experiments. It is an entertaining and enthralling sci-fi horror for readers aged eleven and older. The chapters are short, making the reader feel he or she is making real progress, and contain enough action and mystery to keep them on the edge of their seat too.

RRP $19.99
Published by Gecko Press
 

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A Summery Saturday Morning by Margaret Mahy with illustrations by Selena Young

Through rhyme and repetitive word, this fun story of a weekend walk is a great way for young readers to learn words. There are also some fun words not found anywhere else, but that children will love to say.

A Summery Sunday Morning is designed to be read aloud, and is therefore a great book to read to or with a class. The happy uplifting prose is more import in this than the story they tell, although the illustrations by Selina young make them come alive.

RRP $19.99
Published and distributed by Penguin Group under the Puffin title

The Three Legged Cat by Margaret Mahy
with illustrations by Jonathan Allen

This is the humorous story of a cat who wants to travel but only has three legs, who gets his wish when a swagman mistakes him for his hat. Will Tom’s owner miss him, after all she wants a cat who just stays in one place and doesn’t eat? Will the swagman find out that he has a cat on his head and what will he do when he does? And what about Tom, is travelling around the world on top of someone’s head really the life for a three legged cat to lead?

This is an entertaining and wonderful tale for young readers from a great New Zealand author.

RRP $18.99
Published and distributed by Penguin Group under the Picture Puffin title

The Witch In The Cherry Tree by Margaret Mahy
with illustrations by Jenny Williams

David’s mother is a good cook, but her cakes are so good they attract a cunning witch. Can David and his mother prevent her from eating all the cakes or will they be fooled by one of the witch’s clever ploys.

This is a story of love, warmth, family and sharing for younger readers. It shows them that witches can be defeated by warmth and love. It is also about caring for others and sharing. It is a humorous story that just might make the reader very hungry.

RRP $18.99
Published and distributed by Penguin Group under the Picture Puffin title

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