EK Books International Rights - 2017

International Rights Catalogue 2017 EK Books

Great stories, great characters, great message!

M I N D F U LEN K EBSS O O&K SB E YO N D

EK Books are synonymous with quality, caring kids’ books. Not afraid to tackle tricky issues, EK is proud to produce high-quality picture books for 4-8 year olds. Through the magic of imaginative story, our books use memorable characters to deliver moving messages. We are privileged to bring to market the work of some of the brightest talent.

Reena’s Rainbow

DEE WHITE & TRACIE GRIMWOOD 245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | hardcover | colour

Reena is deaf and Dog is homeless, but they are also so much more than that. At first Reena and Dog feel like they don’t belong, but when they form a unique bond with each other, and become friends with the hearing children in the park, they discover that everyone is different and special in their own way. Reena’s Rainbow is about

We are like the colours of the rainbow. We are all different. But when we stand together we are one. friendship, diversity and acceptance.

Through the Gate SALLY FAWCETT

245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | hardcover | colour

Like all changes, moving house can be difficult. A little girl struggles to cope when confronted with a dilapidated house and a new life. But, over time, the renovations to the house parallel a shift in her perspective, as she realises that change can include good things too.

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Grace and Katie

M I N D F U LE N K EBSS O O&K SB E YO N D

SUSANNE MERRITT & LIZ ANELLI 245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | hardcover | colour

Grace and Katie are twins who love to draw.

Grace loves everything to be orderly and neat, while Katie loves everything to be bright and messy. When they want to draw a map of their home and street, the girls can’t agree on how it should be done so they each decide to create their own map.

But that doesn’t work out quite as well as they’d planned. Perhaps working together might be more fun after all! An imaginative exploration of individuality, sisterhood, creativity and appreciating each other’s strengths.

From the author of the popular Don’t Think About

Purple Elephants and one of today’s hottest children’s book illustrators, Grace and Katie is a playful testament to the power of teamwork.

By the same author . . .

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Finn and Puss

EK BOOKS

ROBERT VESCIO & MELISSA MACKIE

245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | hardcover | colour

Finn, a young boy, is lonely. Puss, a cat, is lost. Then Finn and Puss meet. Suddenly Finn isn’t lonely anymore, and Puss seems quite happy to be with Finn too. So when Finn sees a ‘Lost’ poster, put up by Puss’s owners, he’s faced with a tough decision.

Will he do the right thing? This simple story, told in few words, touches on themes of hope, despair, loneliness and friendship. Above all, it gently explores how sometimes we need to make hard choices but that ‘doing the right thing’ has its own rewards.

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Grandma Forgets

EK BOOKS

PAUL RUSSELL & NICKY JOHNSTON

245 x 255 mm | 24 pages | hardcover | colour

Grandma Forgets is the heart-warming story of a family bound by love as they cope with their grandma’s dementia. Over the years, the little girl has built up a treasure trove of memories of time spent with Grandma, but now, Grandma can’t remember them.

This is a warm, hopeful story about a family who needs to remind their grandmother a little more often how much they care. She might not remember their names but she will always know how much she is loved.

It doesn’t matter if Grandma forgets how to play our games. She still smiles and claps along.

About the author & illustrator Paul Russell is a teacher, artist, playwright, author and father of two. This is his first picture book.

Nicky Johnston is an educator, speaker and author/illustrator. She is passionate about promoting emotional resilience in children and raising awareness of mental health issues.

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The Chalk Rainbow EK BOOKS

DEBORAH KELLY & GWYNNETH JONES

215 x 288 mm | 32 pages | hardcover | colour

Zane is different to other kids. He lines things up, and he’s frightened of things that don’t seem to bother others — like the colour black. The Chalk Rainbow explores difference and diversity through a family living with autism. It’s a story of unconditional love, of trust and of learning to look at the world through the eyes of others.

This gorgeous picture book sensitively addresses the experience of autism in a way that is comforting for children on the spectrum, while also providing insight into their world for others.

The Leaky Story

DEVON SILLETT & ANIL TORTOP 245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | hardcover | colour

Ignored for too long, a book leaks out sea water, pirates and crabs into the living room. The family joins forces to put the characters back in the book and discovers along the way that books are the best fun of all! This is an actionDrip, drip! Drop, drop! the Plop, plop!

Splish, packed story voyaging into wonderful world splash! Surely it couldn’t get any better! of books, the power of the imagination and the Whoosh! A little ship sailed out of the book! importance of family.

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Paddy O’Melon The Irish Kangaroo

EK BOOKS

JULIA COOPER & DARYL DICKSON

215 x 288mm | 32 pages | paperback | colour

Paddy O’Melon is the endearing story of a young rainforest kangaroo. Separated from his mother as a young joey, Paddy is found and raised by an Irish family who live in the rainforest and often help orphaned or injured animals. But while Paddy loves his new human family, he’s curious to find out what he really is.

An endearing story about finding out who you really are.

About the author & illustrator

Julia Cooper’s passion was for wildlife education and rehabilitation.

Sadly, she passed away in 2011, but with the publication of this story her partner Martin Cohen hopes to keep her spirit and message alive.

Daryl Dickson is an award-winning wildlife artist and illustrator.

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EK CLASSIC

Tottie & Dot

Tania McCartney & Tina Snerling RIGHTS SOLD CHINA 245 x 255mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardcover

Hold onto your marshmallows . . . what a feast for the senses . . .

— boomerang books

Tottie and Dot are two little girls who live side by side. Life is very peaceful until one day the girls begin competing with each other to create the best house. As the story unfolds, jealousy takes hold and their competitive spirit gets increasingly out of control until ultimately, things collapse in a disastrous heap. Will Tottie and Dot realise the importance of their friendship before it’s too late?

Each girl’s house is shown over a series of exquisitely illustrated double-page spreads — Tottie on the left and Dot on the right. The detailed illustrations perfectly complement the simple story line and will provide children aged 4–7 with hours of entertainment, as well as a valuable life lesson!

Peas in a Pod

Tania McCartney & Tina Snerling RIGHTS SOLD CHINA 245 x 255mm | 32 pages | Hardcover | Paperback

Pippa, Pia, Poppy, Polly and Peg are quintuplets.

Since birth, they’ve done everything the same — cry, eat, sleep, sit. But as they get a little older, things start to change. Now they want to do things differently — very differently. Can Mum and Dad keep their little girls as matching peas in a pod, or will those five very individual personalities win out in the end? Gorgeous illustrations perfectly complement this simple yet entertaining storyline.

Sure to be enjoyed by kids and their parents!

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EK CLASSIC

Don’t Think About Purple Elephants

Susan Whelan & Gwynneth Jones RIGHTS SOLD CHINA 245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardcover

Sometimes Sophie worries — not during the day when she is busy with family and friends, but at night when everything is calm and quiet.

Her family all try to help, but somehow they just make her worries worse. Until her mother thinks of a new approach . . . that might just involve an elephant or two! But wait, don’t think about purple elephants, whatever you do! Whimsical and humorous, this little girl’s story of finding a way to ease her worry resonates with children and parents everywhere.

Dandelions

Katrina McKelvey & Kirrili Lonergan 245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardback

Beautifully explores the father/daughter bond. A little girl notices her father mowing the lawn — in the process destroying her favourite flowers: the dandelions. She rushes out to stop him, but she’s too late, they’re all gone. There’s nothing for it: she’s just going to have to sit outside and wait until they grow back! But fortunately, Dad has another idea. Taking her hand, he leads her to the verandah, and there, nestled against a post, are two tiny dandelion puff balls.

Perfect for readers aged 4–9, this is a book that will be cherished by families and recommended by teachers and librarians.

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NEW RELEASES

What Could It Be? Sally Fawcett

215 x 288mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardcover

This concept book for kids is all about unleashing creativity, thinking outside the square and opening the mind to possibility! Part picture book, part artistic inspiration, What Could It Be? is an interactive adventure for pre-primary and primary school-aged children organized into paired double-page spreads. The first spread in each pair introduces a basic geometric shape (square, circle, triangle, etc.) and then opens the door for creative thinking by posing the question, ‘What else could it be?’ The following spread provides an answer, with the focus shape transformed into many objects in a glorious artwork.

Our Dog Benji

Pete Carter & James Henderson 217 x 160 mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardcover

We all know that dogs will eat anything. We also know that kids’ tastes generally aren’t so wide-ranging. While ice cream and pizza might be devoured in the blink of an eye, the dreaded ‘green stuff’ (vegetables to the adults) is often pushed to one side of the plate. Author Pete Carter understands this phenomenon well, as he shows in the adventures of Benji. In delightful duotone illustrations and engaging text, we see how Benji’s willingness to eat anything — from daffodils to brussels sprouts, ice cream to avocados, sandwiches to bones — gradually inspires his child owner to be a little more adventurous. Although dogs and kids do have standards and it seems there’s one thing neither of them will touch! Illustrator James Henderson is Pete Carter’s nephew, making this picture book a family affair.

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NEW RELEASES

Smile/Cry M I N D F U L N E SS

Happy or sad, wailing or glad — I N feel MIN UTES how do you today?

Tania McCartney & Jess Racklyeft RIGHTS SOLD CHINA 215 x 288 mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardback

An innovative flip-format picture book for young kids that showcases the full emotional range of childhood.

I Don’t Like Cheese

Hannah Chandler & Lauren Merrick 245 x 255 mm | 24 pages | colour | Hardback

Mike the mouse just won’t eat cheese, yet he loves tacos and pizza! The perfect picture book for little fussy eaters!

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NEW RELEASES

The Sugar and Spice Collection 245 x 255 mm | 3 x 32 pages | colour | Slipcase

Fairies, ponies and ballerinas come out to play in three fun-filled picture books, beautifully presented in a slipcase. This is a collection that little girls will treasure and that families will hand down from generation to generation. Perfect for ages 4 to 8.

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illustrated

by Gwynne Dance with Me Penny Harrison & Gwynneth Jones 245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardcover

A ballerina in a music box loves nothing more than to dance. But when the little girl who owns the box grows up, who will dance with the ballerina then?

A gorgeous story about treasured possessions and the memories they hold.

And the ballerina twirled and whirled and swayed and swirled and sang to the leopard,

“Come, dance with me.”

But the leopard bared its teeth and snarled,

“I’d rather eat you for dinner, little ballerina.”

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E L E&A SBEESYO N D M I N D FNUELWN ERSS

Patch and Ruby

Anouska Jones & Gwynneth Jones 245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardcover

Patch the pony is lonely. Sometimes it feels as if he doesn’t quite fit in on the farm. But one day something happens that changes his life forever.

A wonderful tale about friendship and finding out where you belong.

In the evenings, he and Ruby share dinner together

while Ernie and Edith get ready for a night out.

The Great Sock Secret Susan Whelan & Gwynneth Jones 245 x 255 mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardcover

Sarah’s mother is tired of finding odd socks in the laundry basket. Where do all the missing socks go? Sarah knows. But her mother mustn’t find out!

A fantastical adventure into an imaginative fairyfilled world.

‘Now I think we should go hunting for lost pens’ said Mum.

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NEW RELEASES

A KID’S YEAR series

Tania McCartney & Tina Snerling 245 x 255mm | 32 pages | colour | Hardcover

These are picture books bursting with national pride!

Each double-page spread features a month of the year and covers modern-day culture, lifestyle and traditions, as seen through the eyes of five typical children.

Charming, whimsical and inclusive, these books celebrate all that makes each country or state great.

A Kiwi Year

A Texas Year

A New York Year

A Canadian Year

A Scottish Year

An English Year

An Aussie Year

Rights rights@exislepublishing.com CEO Gareth St John Thomas gareth@exislepublishing.com 14 | International Rights EK Books Catalogue 2017