Books with author Joe Friedman

Boobela is fed up! She's bored with routines and she's secretly missing Mum and Dad who are still abroad. She knows she shouldn't take it out on Worm, but she can't help herself. Will their friendship ever return to normal? In the other stories, Boobela meets a rival for Gran's affections, but she has fun too, helping the shy swimmers overcome their fears, and having the best ever birthday party with all her new friends. The Boobela and Worm stories go from strength to strength as Joe Friedman's vividly imagined world unfolds, brought to life by Sam Childs's stunning full-colour artwork.

The day Carol moves to the city with her family is the unhappiest day of her life. The small, hot apartment in the noisy street seems more than she can bear. Carol is so busy feeling sorry for herself that she can't see the fun and excitement of living the city. Rudely, she turns away from the boys and girls in the neighborhood. "You have no talent for friends," her mother said sadly, and Carol is frightened. Is it true? Is that why she is so lonely? Then unexpectedly Carol must act quickly -- and there is no time to think about herself.

"She's really very pretty," Grandma said, so low that only Mommy was supposed to hear. But Dot heard, too, and almost burst with happiness. Everyone was always so busy telling how pretty Peg and Fluff were that they didn't even notice her. Mommy smiled warmly at Dot and said, "I think this is going to be a lucky year for you, Dot. It's starting out that way, isn't it?"

As Bobby grows up he enjoys knocking down soda cans with his ball. He learns about the sport of bowling from his parents and, as a family outing, they go bowling at the Town Bowling Center where Bobby meets boys and girls his age having fun. As Bobby bowls most weekends he teams up with four friends and they form a team, the Fearless Five, enter a children's bowling league and end up in the championship bowling for the prize trophy. It's a story of positive family support, a network of close friendships, learning decision making and delivers good sportsmanship (ages 5 to 9).