Books with author David Hills

Follows on from A Hedgehog Story: Hedgehog Queen published in June 2018. Autumn has arrived and Alistair is surprised to discover that the badge he received from the hedgehog Queen earlier in the year is magical. By mistake he gently rubs the badge and with a big burst of sparkle dust, Hamish the hedgehog re-appears. Alistair is so pleased to see Hamish again and is very excited to find that his badge is magical. Soon, a little hedgehog called Hector enters Alistair's garden. He is in search of the hedgehog Queen as he needs help to find his two lost sisters. He is confronted with a strange black creature who is a little grumpy and not at all friendly. Hector is cold and scared and he calls for help. Eventually the strange black creature seeks out the little hedgehog and begins to befriend him. This creature is, in fact, a little rat with a white waistcoat and small, uneven spectacles. He goes by the name of Mr. Tilly. One evening, Hector is searching the garden and is calling out for the hedgehog Queen to help him. Alistair hears his calls and rushes to see who it is. He discovers little Hector and learns of his terrible dilemma. Thinking fast, Alistair uses his magical badge to call Hamish to see if he can help Hector in his quest to find his two lost sisters. Alistair, Hector and Hamish embark on a journey through a spooky but shiny forest and discover that Hector's sister's are trapped inside a bat-guarded tree. Can they save the day and reunite the hedgehog family? They'll need the help of Mr. Tilly and, of course, the magical badge from the hedgehog Queen.

Simon is a typical teenager - in every way except one. Simon likes girls, weekends and enjoys mucking about and playing practical jokes. But what s different is that Simon has muscular dystrophy - he is in a wheelchair and doesn t have long to live. See Ya, Simon is told by Simon's best friend, Nathan. Funny, moving and devastatingly honest, it tells of their last year together. Winner of the Times Educational Supplement Nasen Award, the Silver Pen Award and the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-loved Book, See Ya, Simon has been published in the USA, UK, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, China, Japan and Slovenia.

In 1967 an unknown, elderly New Zealander and his ancient Indian motorcycle set a world land-speed record at Bonneville. The man was Burt Munro, and he became a Kiwi legend. How did he do it? His amazing true story is now a stunning picture book. A crowd of people stand on a flat white plain. In the distance, a snarling, roaring dark speck is hurtling towards them. It's a motorbike. The rider is inside the shell, lying almost flat. 'Go, Burt!' The red bike blurs past. Fingers click stop-watches. How fast has Burt Munro gone this time? The moment young Burt Munro saw a motorbike chugging down a quiet Invercargill street, he was hooked. More than 50 years later, he and his ancient Indian motorcycle would amaze the world by setting a land-speed record—one that remains unbroken to this day. Burt didn’t have much money. He wasn’t young. But he was determined. And he became a Kiwi legend. A wonderful true story about a very unlikely New Zealand champion, by the award-winning author and illustrator of First to the Top.

The bells stopped, so suddenly that their sound quivered in the air. For the first time in an hour, the loudspeakers spoke, but this time the words were different. 'We are about to abandon ship. All passengers proceed immediately to the starboard side. We are about to abandon ship.' � Stuart and his twin sister Sandra are coming home to Wellington on the ferry. Stuart knows he'll enjoy the trip - he's a good sailor. But it's April 1968 and the ship is the Wahine. � As the tragic events unwind Stuart and Sandra must�battle to stay alive. � A vivid and compelling picture of the Wahine's last hours.

Scotland, September 1886. A family boards a ship bound for New Zealand. What will their new lives hold? Will they find the opportunities and riches denied them in their homeland? And will they ever call this strange, faraway country home? Leap forward a decade and the family have settled near the banks of a river, befriended by the people of the neighbouring pa. But their new existence has been paid for with some terrible losses. Through the decades and right up to the present day, more tests lie ahead - war, earthquakes, protest marches, brushes with death. And so do some thrilling discoveries. Life in this quiet river valley is never boring. Master storyteller David Hill traces the fortunes of two New Zealand families, through seven generations and over 130 years of fast-flowing change, in this exciting and richly rewarding novel.

A gripping novel for young adults that captures both the daring and the everyday realities of serving in the Air Force during the Second World War.Pete and Paul yelled together. 'Bandit! Nine o'clock! Bandit!'Jack spun to stare. There was the Messerschmitt on their left, streaking straight at them.Eighteen-year-old Jack wanted to escape boring little New Zealand. But he soon finds that flying in a Lancaster bomber to attack Hitler’s forces brings terror as well as excitement. With every dangerous mission, he becomes more afraid that he’ll never get back alive. He wants to help win the war, but will he lose his own life?My Brother’s War: '... there are stories that need to be told over and over again, to introduce a new generation of readers to important ideas and to critical times in their country's history ... Hill's descriptions of trench warfare are unforgettable.' from the Judges' Report of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2013

Simon is a typical teenager – in every way except one. Simon likes girls, weekends and enjoys mucking about and playing practical jokes. But what s different is that Simon has muscular dystrophy – he is in a wheelchair and doesn t have long to live. See Ya, Simon is told by Simon's best friend, Nathan. Funny, moving and devastatingly honest, it tells of their last year together.Winner of the Times Educational Supplement Nasen Award, the Silver Pen Award and the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-loved Book, See Ya, Simon has been published in the USA, UK, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, China, Japan and Slovenia.

'We knew straightaway that something was happening. Extra men in khaki uniforms stood at the main gates. Behind the wire, figures in blue sat on the ground. None of the usual moving around, washing up, wrestling, anything like that. Just rows of prisoners, sitting silently.' It's 1942, and the tiny farming town of Featherston is about to receive hundreds of Japanese soldiers into its prisoner-of-war camp. Ewen, whose dad is a guard there, can't stop wondering about the enemy just down the road. Some say the captives are evil and cruel and should be treated harshly - or shot. But when Ewen and his friends ride out to the camp to peep through the barbed wire, the POWs just seem like . . . well, people. Then a new group from a captured warship arrives and the mood in the camp darkens. Guards and inmates begin to clash. As tension builds the boys are told to stay away. But on 25 February 1943, Ewen and his friends are there at the moment the storm breaks - and terrible, unforgettable events unfold before their eyes.

Follow the fortunes of two families – their triumphs and disasters, losses and discoveries – in this enthralling novel by a bestselling author.A family boards a ship bound for New Zealand. What will they find there? Tests lie ahead – war, earthquakes, protest marches, brushes with death. And so do some thrilling discoveries . . . Master storyteller David Hill traces the fortunes of two New Zealand families, through seven generations and over 130 years of fast-flowing change, in this exciting and richly rewarding novel for intermediate readers.

Mathematics Year 4 goes beyond the requirements of the new National Curriculum and continues to stretch and challenge pupils with the revision of basic numerical skills, as well as the introduction of new material on topics such as negative numbers, decimals, inequalities and perimeter and area. - Endorsed by ISEB - Covers the new National Curriculum Programmes of Study to ensure pupils are learning the most up to date material - Combines the traditional standard method with the mental approach to challenge all abilities - Features end-of-chapter activities and summary exercises to engage pupils and consolidate the information learned Answer book available separately