The Elephant Thief

Based on real events, this is a miraculous story of a boy who befriends a famous elephant during a race against time and villains! When young pickpocket Danny accidentally buys an elephant at an auction, he finds himself swept up on an unforgettable adventure. Offered a job by a zookeeper, all he has to do is ride Maharajah from Edinburgh to Manchester in one week.Everyone in the country is watching, even the Queen, but the journey soon proves to be filled with drama and danger. A rival zookeeper will stop at nothing to make sure they fail, and soon Danny's shady connections from his past threaten to overturn the mission...Can Danny win the trust and friendship of the elephant and guide him home? Can the two of them stick together through the odds and win the day?

The most significant works in recent New Zealand theatre, Krishnan's Dairy, The Candlestickmaker, and The Pickle King form a loose trilogy connected by theme and theatrical style that explores three eternal questions: Will I find love? How can I find happiness? and What is worth preserving? Western theatrical traditions fuse with Indian flavors in the telling of three stories that are accessible to all cultures.

Inspired by the lush terrain of Sri Lanka, this fun tale of friendship, risk, and reward is just right for middle grade fans of fantasy and page-turning adventure. Chaya, a nobleman's rebellious, outspoken, no-nonsense daughter, just can't resist the shiny temptations the king's palace has to offer. But playing Robin Hood for an impoverished community doesn't come without risks, and when Chaya steals the queen's jewels from a bedside table—a messy getaway jeopardizes the life of a close friend. After an equally haphazard prison break, Chaya barely escapes...on the king's prized elephant! With leeches and revolution lurking in the jungle, Chaya leads her companions on a daring escapade. But after leaving her village as a thief, can she return as a hero? Or will Chaya's sticky fingers be the beginning—or the end—of everything for this ragtag gang of getaways?

Danny is happy working at Belle Vue Zoo. But then the animals start escaping and, as a former street urchin and pickpocket, suspicion falls on him. Now, he must untangle the mystery of the great animal escapade in order to clear his name.

'The universe is, instant by instant, recreated anew . . . The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it.' Time is a resource. Everyone knows it must be managed. You can let it move fast or slowly, but what you mustn't do is allow it to stop. On the Discworld, the History Monks have the important job of ensuring that tomorrow always comes. But the construction of the world's first truly accurate clock starts a race against, well . . . time. Monk Lu-Tze, his apprentice Lobsang Ludd and Death's granddaughter Susan must stop the clockmaker before he completes his task. Because a truly accurate clock will stop time completely. And then, there really will be no tomorrow . . . 'This is the best Pratchett I've read' Sunday Telegraph Thief of Time is the fifth book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.

The popular Social Studies Connects series links history, geography, civics and economics to kids’ daily lives. Featuring stories with diverse characters who face situations young readers can relate to, these books support reading and social studies skills including researching, inferring, comparing, and communication. An activity to stimulate curiosity about the world is included in each book! Zack's cupcake went missing, and someone ate the evidence. Is Tyler innocent--or guilty? Only the Student Court can decide! (Social Studies Topic: Civics/Justice System)

Inspired by true events, this vivid and moving story of a young woman zookeeper and the elephant she's compelled to protect through the German blitz of Belfast during WWll speaks to not only the tragedy of the times, but also to the ongoing sectarian tensions that still exist in Northern Ireland today—perfect for readers of historical and literary fiction alike. Belfast, October 1940. Twenty-year-old zookeeper Hettie Quin arrives at the city docks in time to meet her new charge: an orphaned three-year-old Indian elephant named Violet. As Violet adjusts to her new solitary life in captivity and Hettie mourns the recent loss of her sister and the abandonment of her father, new storm clouds gather. A world war rages, threatening a city already reeling from escalating tensions between British Loyalists and those fighting for a free and unified Ireland. The relative peace is shattered by air-raid sirens on the evening of Easter Tuesday 1941. Over the course of the next five hours, hundreds of bombs rain down upon Belfast, claiming almost a thousand lives and decimating the city. Dodging the debris and carnage of the Luftwaffe attack, Hettie runs to the zoo to make sure that Violet is unharmed. The harrowing ordeal and ensuing aftermath set the pair on a surprising path that highlights the indelible, singular bond that often brings mankind and animals together during horrifying times. Inspired by a largely forgotten chapter of World War II, S. Kirk Walsh deftly renders the changing relationship between Hettie and Violet, and their growing dependence on each other for survival and solace. The Elephant of Belfast is a complicated and beguiling portrait of hope and resilience—and how love can sustain us during the darkest moments of our lives.

When magically gifted Arisha runs away from an army camp with her elephant Hami in order to save him from death in battle, she thinks she's in deep trouble. However, she soon discovers that things can always get worse.Escaping across a war-torn country, they are captured by the enemy's leader. Rhys, known as the Eagle and with a reputation as a cold blooded killer, wants to use the elephant to take revenge on Arisha's people and needs her to control Hami.Arisha is ready to fight him every step of the way, but to her annoyance, instead of throwing her in a rat-infested prison, he behaves with honour. Grudgingly she comes to respect him and they find themselves drawn to each other despite their differences.But can Arisha bridge the gap between opposing countries and personalities before the decisive battle is joined?A tale of elemental magic, almond eyes, daring escapes and feathers.