Books with author Niki Daly

A tribute to worn-in, fiercely loved bearsWhen Emma's grandfather, Old Bob, gets a teddy bear for his birthday, Emma is jealous. Old Bob just puts Teddy on a shelf with dusty books, which isn't loving the bear as Emma thinks he should be loved. With a bit of persuasion, Teddy is allowed to go on vacation with Emma - a holiday that stretches into years packed with tea parties and trips to the beach, until Teddy is a ragged-eared, worn-nosed sort of bear. Which, Emma realizes, is just the sort of bear Old Bob can love.With spunky watercolors and a story garnished with an unusual intergenerational twist or two, Niki Daly helps close the gap between grandparent and grandchild in this charming ode to the powers of a well-loved bear.

Fifth-grader Bettina Valentino couldn’t be a bigger fan of the funky new art teacher at Bayside Prep, who walks around barefoot to soak up the energy of the earth and is full of inspiring lessons about how art can be used to challenge, shock, and surprise. But when the teacher’s unconventional methods get him into trouble with some influential parents, it’s up to Bettina and some of her art-loving friends to nip the controversy in the bud and support freedom of artistic expression. In his first chapter book, Niki Daly gives readers a quick-paced, profusely illustrated story about a boisterous heroine – as well as tidbits about famous artists such as Picasso, Klee, and Warhol.

Mrs Tati wants a baby and when no baby appears, Mr Tati comes up with a jaunty solution! He brings his wife a sweet little piglet with a rosy face and curly tail.How Mr and Mrs Tati love their piggy baby, but should he be brought up as a boy or a pig, and what will happen if he goes to school?And could this tale have one more twist at the end of it ?

The summer holidays are here and all Jamela can think about is the Afro-Idols TV final. So, when she lands a job at Divine Braids hair salon, she can't believe her eyes to see Afro-Idols celebrity, Miss Bambi Chaka Chaka, in the salon. But while Jamela's idol dozes and Aunt Beauty designs her starry hairdo, a buzzy fly threatens to ruin everything. Can creative Jamela save the day?

It's a scorching hot day so Joe and his parents take a trip to the seaside. Joe runs about in the sand, jumps the odd wave, and finds a deserted old boat to play on. But when he falls from the boat after playing a little too zealously, Joe feels very alone and lost. After he cries out for help a lifeguard comes along to take Joe back to where his parents are waiting and very pleased to see him safe and sound. This is a very reassuring story illustrated beautifully in watercolour, which brings fully to life the smells and sounds and textures of a family outing by the sea.

How do you deal with a bunch of "wild ones" on your first day at school? Nicholas is faced with a gang of bullies including big Charlie, mean Jake, Wedgie Reggie and, worst of all, their girl leader, Cindy Crocker. But through a combination of artistic talent and inventiveness Nicholas eventually wins the admiration of the wild ones and makes a surprising new friend. A great picture story book about bullying, problem-solving and friendship from multi award-winning author-illustrator Niki Daly.