Books published by publisher HarperCollins New Zealand

The sequel to our very successful picture flat Grandma's Week Off, this time our favourite unconventional Grandma proves to be the savior of the All Blacks, our national rugby team. When Grandma finds out the boys are sick and tired of training, she combines her famous zest for life with a hearty helping of her special marmalade and soon has the team back on track for the big test match. They visit the circus, go kayaking and generally have a whale of a time - after all, all work and no play makes anyone dull and dreary, and no one knows that better than our irrepressible Gran. Each day she comes up with a new plan to inject some fun into their training sessions - and by the end of the week they're match fit and rearing to go. But disaster strikes when the captain pulls a muscle - and the coach and team are in despair. Who can save them? In the very best tradition of children's fantasy, guess who steps into his boots and leads the famous men in black on to a famous victory?

A well researched and endearing non-fiction account of an amazing Airedale who captured public imagination throughout New Zealand during the Great Depression, and who is today honoured in Wellington by a statue celebrating his status as a much-loved local legend. Like Scotland's Greyfriar's Bobby, Paddy mourned the loss of his human, in his case a little mistress who died of pneumonia, but instead of haunting a graveyard, Paddy headed for the waterfront. There he became a favourite of the watersiders and seamen, not to mention the taxi and bus drivers of the Central City, who fed and protected him from dog rangers. He certainly got around - taken on board ship and crossing the Tasman, travelling around coastal ports and even flying in a Gypsy Moth - not to mention the dastardly attempt to move him to Auckland by jealous Aucklanders. He was also rumoured to have made it to San Francisco and back. Formally adopted by the Harbour Board, his official title was Assistant Night Watchman responsible for Pirates, Smugglers and Rodents. On his death his funeral procession brought Wellington to a standstill. Not bad for a stray dog.

Canoes in the Mist has been selected as the third title to be released in this series, after Tripswitch and The Blue Lawn. With a younger readership, of 9-12, this much-loved classic retells the traumatic events surrounding the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera, from the viewpoint of two young schoolgirls. Lillian lives with her widowed mother at Te Wairoa, the village which acts as a centre for tourists who flock to see the famous eighth wonder of the world - the pink and white terraces. When Mattie, an English girl of her own age arrives with her parents, Lillian finally has an opportunity to join a tour party led by her friend, the famous Guide Sophia. But these are worrying times - the old tohunga has been prophesying doom and disaster, and when they travel across Lake Rotomahana, a mysterious canoe appears out of the mists - a waka wairua, or ghost canoe, and all who live in the shadow of Mt Tarawera are about to have their lives changed forever. An exciting tale of our recent history, Elsie Locke's timeless classic has now been reissued for a new audience.