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TENTACLES! TERROR! TANTRUMS!

After a mysterious stranger appears at The Crafty Trout, Jack Scratch and his friends find themselves entangled in an adventure of monstrous proportions.

Narrowly escaping a boatload of murderous moggies, crashing cannonballs and a treacherous seabird, Jack and crew set a course for the most fearsome stretch of sea known to catkind, in search of the legendary ...

KRAKEN!

 A beautifully created A4 hard-cover book with cloth covered spine.

64 pages of full-colour illustrations by Craig Phillips, creator of 'Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts' a graphic anthology of world tales.

Book two follows on from the first book, 'The Quest for the Hiss-paniola'.

RECLAIMING COMICS FOR KIDS… 

Written and illustrated by Craig Phillips, this is the second book in The Adventures of Jack Scratch series of comics about a pirate cat.

Craig Phillips is a professional illustrator, working for publishers all around the world from his studio by the shores of beautiful Lake Taupo in New Zealand.

He has created many book covers for popular children’s and young adult books, as well as rock posters for bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, Red Hot Chili Peppers, DJ Shadow and the Foo Fighters.

Craig recently retold and illustrated ‘Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts’ a graphic anthology of world tales.  He won the Russell Clark Award for Illustration in the 2018 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults for this book.

This is the second book in the series and follows on after 'The Quest for the Hiss-paniola'.  This book is packed with humour that will have kids laughing out loud (and probably a few parents too).

A beautifully illustrated A4 hardcover book with a stunning cloth spine. It is printed in full colour and created with classic comic series like Tin Tin and Asterix in mind.

Comics are cool, we all know that! And comic books are FUN!

If something is fun for children, they will do it again and again!

Comics are a great way to engage young children into a real love of books. They are interesting and exciting and help develop their imaginations. Comic books really do offer a lot for children. You don’t necessarily need to be able to read to enjoy a comic book, which is great for young children and also children that have trouble reading due to issues like dyslexia.

We want to RECLAIM comics for kids! This industry is set to explode because KIDS LOVE COMICS! SIMPLE!

AS SEEN ON NEWSHUB AND THE CAFE!

AS HEARD ON RADIO NZ, THE HITS & THE NUTTERS CLUB!

International orders can be placed via Book Depository or Amazon.

Aroha’s Way is a bestselling picture book for children around uncomfortable emotions; fear, apprehension, worrying thoughts and nervousness with ways to manage them.

Free book reading on our YouTube channel!

Here are just a few reviews:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “My five-year-old boy enjoyed the book upon first reading. The next day, I found him reading the book by himself during a stressful moment: "I'm looking for one of Aroha's Ways to calm myself, Mum." Clearly, the message got through. Thank you!” Paula

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A beautiful, precious book, easy to follow and written in a way that is understandable and relatable. My 3 almost 4-year-old moko enjoyed it, and it created further kōrero and questions between us. I wish there were books like this when we were growing up!” Keriana

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “My 7-yr old struggles with anxiety - so much so that it affects her breathing every time she gets slightly stressed. We had previously tried talking it through and belly breathing exercises. But it took this book - and Aroha showing her the way - before she really opened up and practiced these techniques. The book is such a beautifully written and illustrated piece - it's easy for both of us to read. The notes at the back really got the conversation flowing too. Thank you for this book. I was finding it difficult to get through to my daughter. Obviously she needed to see it through Aroha's eyes first to normalise her own emotions.” Kim

About the book:

Come along on a journey with Aroha, as she wards off nervousness, fear, worrying thoughts and apprehension, with simple, yet effective tools that everyone can use.

From award-winning New Zealand author and illustrator, Craig Phillips, creator of
The Adventures of Jack Scratch and Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts (winner of the Russell Clark Award for Illustration at the New Zealand Book Awards 2018).

“Aroha’s Way is a beautiful, descriptive and relatable book – an important book – helping children to normalise, understand and even develop their own tools for dealing with their feelings.” – Jenny Palmer, Author of Feel a Little.

This beautiful picture books takes children on a journey through emotions associated with anxiety and shows simple yet effective ways to help manage them.  Aroha shows children a tool that she uses for each emotion which includes; movement or exercise, belly breathing or diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness and connecting with others and sharing our worries.

At the back of the book, there is a section for parents and/or teachers to explore the tools in more depth.  This section expands on the beautiful poem and opens up conversations with our children.  Asking questions around those emotions to make it easier for children to recognise the emotion, and then a simple way to manage it.

At Wildling Books we believe these tools will be invaluable for children and can be used for a lifetime.

We would like to give a big THANK YOU to Like Minds, Like Mine in helping to make this book possible.

Paperback - 36 pages

Size: Landscape 210x225

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REVIEWS:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Dr Hinemoa Elder, MBChB, FRANZCP, PhD - "An exquisitely moving read.  This book will help empower our tamariki mokopuna."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jimi Hunt - "In order to change our culture of greatly increasing mental illness, we need to tell stories ... this is one of those stories.  Beautifully told and illustrated, it is another tool in the education of our young people in how to deal with emotions and increase their mental fitness."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dr Suzanne Henwood, mBraining4Success - "This is a beautifully illustrated and cleverly written book to help children find a way back to calm."

2018 -NZ Book Awards / Russell Clark Award for Illustration - Best Book Illustration

2018 - Ledger Awards for Excellence in Comics - Gold Medal Recipient

2018 - Children's Book Council of Australia - Notable Book

2018 Aurealis Awards - Shortlisted Aurealis Awards - Best Graphic Novel/ Illustrated Work

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A stunning collection of fairy tales from around the world.  In graphic novel form, Craig Phillips brings these stories back for a new generation. 

A cobbler girl tricks the Wawel Dragon after all the king's knights fail...
The Polar Bear King loses his skin...
Momotaro, born from a peach, defies the ogres everyone else is too scared to face...
Snow White and Rose Red make friends with a bear...

From Poland to Iceland, Japan to Germany, these ten fairytales from across the globe re-told as comics will have you enthralled. Giants! Trolls! Witches! Beasts! You will encounter them all in this visual cornucopia of a book.

******

"My 4yo boy has loved this book from day one! It is imaginative and the pictures reflect the story and their culture." - Frosina

******

'Magnificent storytelling...I can't remember when I have read classic fairytales that have been presented with more life, charm, and heart than in this wonderful book.' TED NAIFEH, Eisner-Award-nominated creator of the Courtney Crumrin series

******

'Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts is not only a collection of terrific tales from around the world; it is also a feast for the eyes.' CAROLE WILKINSON, bestselling author of the Dragonkeeper series

******

"Even people who've read countless folktales will find something new and surprising in this collection, and they may discover that the stories are even stranger than they remembered." --Kirkus Reviews "The book's full-colour art is bright and majestic . . . a second artfully created compilation would be welcome." 

Softcover

PIRATES! CURSES! CUTLASSES!

Meet Jack Scratch. Pint-sized hero. Swashbuckler. Adventurer … and singer of pirate ditties!

Together with Cap’n Catnip – The World’s Greatest Mariner – and his Uncle Silver, Jack is about to embark on a quest to find the fabled treasure of the Hiss-paniola!

And he’ll encounter a whole lot of trouble along the way.

A beautifully created A4 hard-cover book with cloth covered spine.

52 pages of full-colour illustrations by Craig Phillips, creator of 'Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts' a graphic anthology of world tales.

RECLAIMING COMICS FOR KIDS… 

Written and illustrated by Craig Phillips, this is the first in The Adventures of Jack Scratch series of comics about a pirate cat.

Craig Phillips is a professional illustrator, working for publishers all around the world from his studio by the shores of beautiful Lake Taupo in New Zealand.

He has created many book covers for popular children’s and young adult books, as well as rock posters for bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, Red Hot Chili Peppers, DJ Shadow and the Foo Fighters.

Craig recently retold and illustrated ‘Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts’ a graphic anthology of world tales.

Several years ago Craig’s daughter asked him to make a book just for her. When he asked her what she’d like it to be about she said “cats!”, then “pirates!” and then, “pirate-cats!” and so Jack Scratch was born and developed over many meal times and deep discussions about all the types of things pirate-cats might get up to.

So, if you have a child that likes cats or pirates or pirate-cats, then they will love this book!

This is the first book in the series and helps to establish some of the main characters that will carry through in the following books. The second book ‘The Curse of the Kraken!’ is already well underway.

A beautifully illustrated A4 hardcover book with a stunning cloth spine. It is printed in full colour and created with classic comic series like Tin Tin and Asterix in mind.

Comics are cool, we all know that! And comic books are FUN!

If something is fun for children, they will do it again and again!

Comics are a great way to engage young children into a real love of books. They are interesting and exciting and help develop their imaginations. Comic books really do offer a lot for children. You don’t necessarily need to be able to read to enjoy a comic book, which is great for young children and also children that have trouble reading due to issues like dyslexia.

We want to RECLAIM comics for kids! This industry is set to explode because KIDS LOVE COMICS! SIMPLE!

Hardback - Recommended for Teens & Adults

Finding Gratitude introduces the concept of gratitude and the power of positive thinking in everyday life with simple reminders, beautiful photography, and easy-to-digest research on the topic. Gratitude is the feeling of appreciation or thanks, a concept that has been strongly associated with greater happiness and believed by many in the wellness industry to improve overall health. Join the growing number of people who are improving their health and outlook on life with appreciative thoughts. The powerful women behind this book, Bex Lipp and Nicky Perry, are part of AwesoME Inc, an organization that inspires their audience to use gratitude and positive thinking for mental and physical wellness. This timeless book contains short reminders that happiness can be found in the simplest things. Beautifully designed pages are accompanied by simple explanations that communicate the many reasons we can have to find gratitude each day. Finding Gratitude will help you improve your life or the life of a family, friend, or co-worker-through conscious changes and environmental awareness. Soon, you will see more, enjoy more, and appreciate more.

Author Biography

With a vast experience of running businesses and charitable projects, Bex Lipp wants to sprinkle happiness as far as she can, because, from her own personal experience, she knows gratitude works. She lives in Taupo in the central North Island of New Zealand with her husband, three boys, and numerous fur babies. Nicky Perry is the creative director of AwesoME Inc. Originally from the island state of Tasmania, Australia, Nicky has over 20 years of experience working in various design environments as a graphic designer and art director in Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. She is passionate about design and loves creating beautiful products that make people happy.

*Recipient of a 2020 Storylines Notable Book Award!

What happens when you find yourself on a dangerous journey, and you’re expected to be the hero? Who can help when you’re faced with vicious creatures that are meant to be extinct or people who don’t care whether you live or die? The Tūī Street kids are writing ‘hero’s journey’ stories at school, but soon find themselves involved in adventures more difficult than they could ever have imagined.

From award-winning New Zealand author, Anne Kayes, creator of Tūī Street Tales and winner of the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award, 2016.

“The kids from Tūī Street make a welcome return as more awe-inspiring adventures await readers looking for a little - a lot - of magic.” – Dionne Christian, Canvas, NZ Herald.

This is a stand-alone book and therefore you do not have to have read the first book, Tūī Street Tales, however, we recommend you do.

Recommended age - 8 -12 years

Paperback

Download the Teachers' Notes here

Now in stock!!  Limited seeds available.

International orders can be placed via Book Depository or Amazon.

SEEDS ALL GONE! The first 2,000 copies sold will receive a packet of six mixed sunflower seeds from Koanga Institute.  This will be a mix of about 80% Giant Russian and 20% Lions Mane varieties which are both stunning. Seeds only available for New Zealand orders.

Free book reading on our YouTube channel!

Ziggy decides to plant sunflowers in autumn, but everyone knows sunflowers don't grow in winter.  Or do they?

Sunflowers Don't Grow in Winter is a true story of hope, determination, and a little boy's love of sunflowers.

Search and Find - on each spread, children will need to find the three B's - a bee, a butterfly and a bird.

At the back of the book, learn how to grow your own sunflowers and how our thoughts are like seeds.

Recommended age: 4 - 10 years

Paperback

Written by Emily Holdaway from the wildly popular New Zealand blog, Raising Ziggy, now Officially Em. 

Illustrated by Craig Phillips - international multi-award-winning illustrator.

Downloadable Version

p.s.  We are a small family business based in Taupo, the contents of this download are fully copyrighted and are the result of years of hard work.  Please don't share the download itself with your friends - encourage them to get their own copy which is forever theirs.

AS SEEN ON NEWSHUB AND THE CAFE!

AS HEARD ON RADIO NZ, THE HITS & THE NUTTERS CLUB!

International orders can be placed via Book Depository or Amazon.

Aroha’s Way is a bestselling picture book for children around uncomfortable emotions; fear, apprehension, worrying thoughts and nervousness with ways to manage them.

Here are just a few reviews:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “My five-year-old boy enjoyed the book upon first reading. The next day, I found him reading the book by himself during a stressful moment: "I'm looking for one of Aroha's Ways to calm myself, Mum." Clearly, the message got through. Thank you!” Paula

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A beautiful, precious book, easy to follow and written in a way that is understandable and relatable. My 3 almost 4-year-old moko enjoyed it, and it created further kōrero and questions between us. I wish there were books like this when we were growing up!” Keriana

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “My 7-yr old struggles with anxiety - so much so that it affects her breathing every time she gets slightly stressed. We had previously tried talking it through and belly breathing exercises. But it took this book - and Aroha showing her the way - before she really opened up and practiced these techniques. The book is such a beautifully written and illustrated piece - it's easy for both of us to read. The notes at the back really got the conversation flowing too. Thank you for this book. I was finding it difficult to get through to my daughter. Obviously she needed to see it through Aroha's eyes first to normalise her own emotions.” Kim

About the book:

Come along on a journey with Aroha, as she wards off nervousness, fear, worrying thoughts and apprehension, with simple, yet effective tools that everyone can use.

From award-winning New Zealand author and illustrator, Craig Phillips, creator of
The Adventures of Jack Scratch and Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts (winner of the Russell Clark Award for Illustration at the New Zealand Book Awards 2018).

“Aroha’s Way is a beautiful, descriptive and relatable book – an important book – helping children to normalise, understand and even develop their own tools for dealing with their feelings.” – Jenny Palmer, Author of Feel a Little.

This beautiful picture books takes children on a journey through emotions associated with anxiety and shows simple yet effective ways to help manage them.  Aroha shows children a tool that she uses for each emotion which includes; movement or exercise, belly breathing or diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness and connecting with others and sharing our worries.

At the back of the book, there is a section for parents and/or teachers to explore the tools in more depth.  This section expands on the beautiful poem and opens up conversations with our children.  Asking questions around those emotions to make it easier for children to recognise the emotion, and then a simple way to manage it.

At Wildling Books we believe these tools will be invaluable for children and can be used for a lifetime.

We would like to give a big THANK YOU to Like Minds, Like Mine in helping to make this book possible.

PDF DOWNLOAD

Size: Landscape 210x225

---------------------------------------------------------------------

REVIEWS:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Dr Hinemoa Elder, MBChB, FRANZCP, PhD - "An exquisitely moving read.  This book will help empower our tamariki mokopuna."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jimi Hunt - "In order to change our culture of greatly increasing mental illness, we need to tell stories ... this is one of those stories.  Beautifully told and illustrated, it is another tool in the education of our young people in how to deal with emotions and increase their mental fitness."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dr Suzanne Henwood, mBraining4Success - "This is a beautifully illustrated and cleverly written book to help children find a way back to calm."

Downloadable Version

p.s.  We are a small family business based in Taupo, the contents of this download are fully copyrighted and are the result of years of hard work.  Please don't share the download itself with your friends - encourage them to get their own copy which is forever theirs.

Sunflowers Don't Grow in Winter is a true story of hope, determination, and a little boy's love of sunflowers.

Search and Find - on each spread, children will need to find the three B's - a bee, a butterfly and a bird.

At the back of the book, learn how to grow your own sunflowers and how our thoughts are like seeds.

Recommended age: 4 - 10 years

PDF DOWNLOAD

Written by Emily Holdaway from the wildly popular New Zealand blog, Raising Ziggy. 

Illustrated by Craig Phillip - international multi-award-winning illustrator.

Do you have Ziggy fans that like to colour-in? Do you have a child that loves sunflowers?

Download these free colouring pages and see what they come up with!

Add to cart and process your free order to access and download the Full-Size Printable A4 PDF.

Downloadable Version

p.s.  We are a small family business based in Taupo, the contents of this download are fully copyrighted and are the result of years of hard work.  Please don't share the download itself with your friends - encourage them to get their own copy which is forever theirs.

IN STOCK!

Aroha's Way Te Reo Māori Edition - Listen to the story on our YouTube Channel

NĀ KARENA KELLY I WHAKAMĀORI

Nau mai, hoake tātou ko Aroha, i a ia e kaupare ana i te taiatea, i te mataku, i te māharahara, me te anipā, ki ana tukanga māmā ka taea e te katoa.

Nā te ringatuhi rongonui nō Aotearoa, nā Craig Phillips, nāna ngā pukapuka o The Adventures of Jack Scratch me Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts (te toa i te Tohu Whakaahua o Russell Clark ki te New Zealand Book Awards 2018).

“He huia kaimanawa tēnei pukapuka, he tino rauemi hoki, hei āwhina i ngā tamariki, me ngā whānau katoa. Ka titia ēnei kōrero ki te ngākau. “ – Stacey Morrison

Paperback - 36 pages

Size: Landscape 210mm x225mm

Downloadable Version

p.s.  We are a small family business based in Taupo, the contents of this download are fully copyrighted and are the result of years of hard work.  Please don't share the download itself with your friends - encourage them to get their own copy which is forever theirs.

Aroha knows that nature is there for you and for me. Spending time out in nature makes her feel all kinds of wonderful emotions. Throughout Aroha Knows, Aroha and her friends experience our amazing world and this picture book explores how it can benefit our wellbeing.

From the creators of bestselling Aroha’s Way and Let It Go, Aroha Knows encourages children to feel connected to and find meaning in nature.

“We love how Aroha learns to appreciate the world around her through this beautiful story. It’s our hope that, with every book helping to plant a native tree, many tamariki can learn to love and care for our precious environment.” – Adele Fitzpatrick, CEO, Trees That Count

At the back of the book join Aroha and her friends as they look at ways to become Guardians of the Earth.  They look at planting trees, saving seeds, composting and more.

Learn with Aroha! The wonderful Greening Taupō has created some wonderful connector resources for teachers and homeschooling families to use, based on Aroha Knows. Simple ideas and activities to get kids connecting with nature 🌳💜