Nicola Davies

A powerful and necessary picture book - the journey of a child forced to become a refugee when war destroys everything she has ever known. Imagine if, on an ordinary day, war came. Imagine it turned your town to rubble. Imagine going on a long and difficult journey - all alone. Imagine finding no welcome at the end of it. Then imagine a child who gives you something small but very, very precious... When the government refused to allow 3000 child refugees...

When a young girl's family has snakes as pets instead of dogs or cats, they help her overcome her fear of snakes by teaching her about them. When she learns why snakes slither, look slimy, flick their tongues, and stare, she discovers she might like snakes a little, or maybe a lot, after all.

Describes how the polar bear, also called Nanuk, thrives in the Arctic and explains the lessons that the Inuit people have learned from watching the creature.

One winter, a grandfather and his small grandchild find an owl roost, open owl pellets, install a nest box and watch patiently until spring when they are rewarded with the sight of owls, hunting in their fields and feeding a family in the box they have provided.

On her way to school, a young girl spots mallard ducks in the river and enthusiastically describes their appearance, habits, and behavior. Interspersed throughout the pages are facts about ducks.

When a young boy moves from his home in Italy to Wales, the only thing that cheers him up are the racing pigeons that Mr. Evans keeps in a loft behind his house.

"Perfect is a story of anticipation, disappointment, acceptance, and, ultimately, love. Suffused with natural imagery, Perfect is an ideal way to open up the subject of disability with children, as well as being a great story in its own right. This beautifully illustrated, truly remarkable book is guaranteed to bring a lump to the throat"--Www.amazon.com.