French Exit by Patrick deWitt ( paperback)
£8.99
New Yorker Frances Price is in dire straits. Scandals swirl around the recently widowed New York socialite, and her adult-aged, toddler-brained son Malcolm is no help. Cutting their losses, they grab their cat, Small Frank, and head for the exit.
A moving and tragically funny story of a possessive mother, a down and out son, and Small Frank the cat, who is possibly possessed by the spirit of the deceased husband and father. A book full of characters who will climb inside your heart.
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Big Panda & Tiny Dragon, James Norbury ( hardback Sept 2021)
£14.99
'While the drawings have the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh, the captions have the depth of ancient proverbs' GUARDIAN
'Which is more important,' asked Big Panda, 'the journey or the destination?''The company,' said Tiny Dragon.
Friends Big Panda and Tiny Dragon journey through the seasons of the year together, day and night, in rain and in sun. Travelling through nature, they find hope and inspiration in the world around them, realising that even in the darkest of days, Spring will always return. Feel the calming influence of Big Panda, who reminds us of the bigger picture while appreciating the simplicity of small moments.
Explore your surroundings with the inquisitive eye of Tiny Dragon, our friend who is big in heart if not in stature. And on their journey through the ever-changing seasons, join these two friends as they learn how to live in the moment, be at peace with uncertainty, and find the strength to overcome life's obstacles, together. Inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, James Norbury has captured in these whimsical characters the ideas that have helped him through his most difficult times.
The New Girl, Sinead Moriarty ( hardback, August 2021)
£11.99
At school, Ruby is the odd one out. Although Denise and Clara are her friends, they are each other's best friend and she is the 'other' friend. So when new girl Safa, a refugee who has just arrived in Ireland from Syria, joins the class, she is put sitting beside Ruby.Safa and Ruby realise that their lives are very different. But as they get to know each other they soon discover that they have more in common than they might think. A timely and heart-warming story of friendship from one of Ireland's best-loved storytellers.
'A story about friendship, hope and courage ... I loved it and couldn't put it down!' Christy Lefteri, The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Everything Under The Sun, Molly Oldfield ( HB, Sept 2021)
£25.00
A collection of 366 curious questions asked by children from around the world, based on the award-winning podcast by original QI Elf, Molly Oldfield. How much bamboo can a giant panda eat? Do aliens exist? What we would do if we didn't have a prime minister? Why do hammerhead sharks have such strange-shaped heads? Find out the answers to these curious questions and much, much more! Ponder where ideas come from with award-winning illustrator, Rob Biddulph. Find out why you taste things differently when you have a cold with Michelin star chef, Heston Blumenthal.Learn about everything from how astronauts see in the dark to what the biggest dinosaur was with experts from the Natural History Museum. Fascinating facts are accompanied by gorgeous illustrations making the perfect gift for Christmas. Whether you read a question a day, or dip into it whenever you are feeling curious, this is a book to treasure and share all year round.
Dinner Party : A Tragedy, Sarah Gilmartin ( HB, Sept 2021)
£16.99
** This is one of the most astute, enjoyable books I've read this year so far!** Linda
Kate has taught herself to be careful, to be meticulous. To mark the anniversary of a death in the family, she plans a dinner party - from the fancy table settings to the perfect Baked Alaska waiting in the freezer. Yet by the end of the night, old tensions have flared, the guests have fled, and Kate is spinning out of control.
But all we have is ourselves, her father once said, all we have is family. Set between the 1990s and the present day, from a farmhouse in Carlow to Trinity College, Dublin, Dinner Party is a dark, sharply observed debut that thrillingly unravels into family secrets and tragedy. As the past catches up with the present, Kate learns why, despite everything, we can't help returning home.
