Takadu the aardvark is organising a surprise fig party for Noko's birthday and he invites all the animals except greedy Hyena, whose manners are too terrible. Takadu spends a long hot day at the fig tree picking a great big basket of figs. But Hyena follows him secretly, determined to steal the figs and spoil the party. How Takadu manages to give Noko an exciting birthday is hilariously told, in this second of the series about the lovable Takadu and Noko.

Providing practical guidance and resources, this book helps teachers harness the power of children's literature for developing ELLs' literacy skills and language proficiency. The authors show how carefully selected fiction, nonfiction, and poetry can support students' learning across the curriculum. Criteria and guiding questions are presented for matching books and readers based on text features, literacy and language proficiency, and student background knowledge and interests. Interspersed throughout are essays and poems by well-known children's authors that connect in a personal way with the themes explored in the chapters. The annotated bibliography features over 600 engaging, culturally relevant trade titles.

This collection of essays analyzes the work of 29 authors and illustrators. South African children's and youth literature has a long history. The country is the most prolific publisher of children's books on the continent, producing perhaps the highest quality literature in Africa. Its traditions resonate within the larger world of children's literature but are solidly grounded in African myth and archetypes. The African diaspora in the U.S. and elsewhere have stories rooted in these oral traditions. Much has changed in South African literature for children since the 1994 transformation of the country. A field once dominated by all white and mostly female writers and illustrators has diversified, adding many new voices.

Notorious Nikos Katrakis was looking for a new woman to bed when, out of the blue, heiress Tristanne Barbery offered herself to him. Could satisfaction and revenge really be that easy to obtain? Tristanne knew better than to play games with a man of such devastatingly lethal charisma as Nikos. But, though she had a good idea of the kind of sacrifice she was offering, she had no choice. To Nikos's surprise, Tristanne was not the weak, biddable good-time girl he'd expected…and soon his plans for vengeance came crumbling down around him!

Issues for Nov. 1957- include section: Accessions. Aanwinste, Sept. 1957-

After a hot day in South Africa's Mpumalanga bushveld, Noko, a young crested porcupine with a big heart, scurries out of his burrow to meet up with his many friends at night school. But just before he leaves, his parents summon him back with exciting news. He's going to be a big brother! Unfortunately, Noko isn't nearly as thrilled as his mother and father. Noko is the baby of the family, and he thinks it should stay that way. Feeling sad and dejected, Noko dashes off into the darkness before his parents can say another word. As Noko struggles to come to terms with his emotions, a friend overhears his plight and attempts to offer him help. Instead, Noko accidentally hurts him-a mistake that causes the young porcupine even more sadness. Meanwhile, his buddies aren't sure what's going on- but they know they must approach Noko with kindness if they ever hope to help him. A charming story of friendship and compassion, "Noko the Knight" is the perfect tale for young readers who are learning how to express their budding emotions.

When CJ receives a strange treasure map in the mail, he and Edison embark on a mysterious map-reading adventure that takes them as far as Egypt and Atlantis!

Sailing from California to Hawaii, Susannah, her family, and a crewman are driven by a vicious storm into the path of a drifting powerboat. The ghostly boat carries the bodies of two drug runners and a huge stash of money. For the sailors, stealing the sordid treasure changes everything, causing dissent and division, compromising each of them, and putting their futures at risk. Because now they are being pursued by the worst enemies imaginable, including a drug lord's son eager to prove himself and a cold-blooded teenage hit man with murder on his mind.