Recommended Reads
-
Dewey and the Dragonfly
Set in 1960s Italy, on the dusty lanes between the cypresses of Tuscany, a friendship is growing between a young boy and a dragonfly.
The dragonfly has had a bad name over the centuries and Dewey is longing for a friend.
As the cypresses cast their long golden shadows the dragonfly knew that Dewey was sound asleep.
£10.99 -
Dinner with the Founding Fathers
Few Australians have any awareness of how their nation was established on 1 January 1901 when six self-governing British colonies joined together as one nation.
It was achieved after a dozen years of superb negotiations in which Federation conventions drafted and agreed on a splendid constitution which was approved by six colonial parliaments, six referendums in which ordinary Australians had their say, negotiations in London to have the British parliament gave its approval and finally gain the agreement of a difficult Queen Victoria who wanted the six colonies to become counties of England.
Above all, it was achieved without violence, unlike their counterparts in USA.
Everald Compton has now written a vivid account of it all as he creates a dinner held ten years after Federation in which the founding fathers relive the great political and legal battles they fought and the huge parochial attitudes they overcame to create a nation.
It is one of those books which makes you stay awake to turn the
next page.
More importantly, it will get you thinking about the changes that are needed to the Constitution 120 years after Federation to make it relevant to a hugely different and rapidly changing world.£9.99 -
Dog Days
An inspiring story about a young girl, Zahara, overcoming her fear of dogs.Zahara loves to visit her family on a beautiful island in the Pacific Northwest. But this year, she is met with a big surprise. Aunt JoJo got a new dog, Rugby! Zahara used to like dogs, until one chased her home from school.Over the summer, Aunt JoJo slowly introduces Zahara to Rugby, and a trusting relationship develops.Children and adults will love to join Zahara as she explores her curiosity of dogs and learns just how much our furry friends can teach us about ourselves.
£9.99 -
Dog's Conundrum
Dog has a problem. His beautiful world is in crisis – again! Should he let events take their course, or should he interfere?
This book is an invitation to see planet Earth through the eyes of Dog and Mother Nature, from the era of the dinosaurs, though times of plenty, to our current and future crises. Who’s to blame? Is it us? Is it them?
This magical read takes us on an insightful journey where individual stories from around the world blend and unfold as Dog’s intimate understanding of the big picture grows. Despite the gremlins, can humans recognise what it is really that matters? Will the warmth and humour of the sprites be strong enough to help people rediscover the wisdom in their souls when faced with fear of losing everything they hold dear… or will Mother Nature not be prepared to wait any longer?
The best and worst of human nature is exposed here. Our assumptions are challenged as this book digs deep into ideas which will resonate with many.
£12.99 -
Dolly King
Dolly King is thrown into a world where ruthless men rule; her dad, Michael King being one of them and Tommy Wright, being another. To survive she needs to be as tough as the men, if not tougher. Even though Tommy tries to shield her she rises to the challenge when a back street crook and his tart try to wipe out her dad and frame Tommy. She hunts them down and plans on making them pay in the worst possible way until her dad manages to trick her into leaving the barn so Tommy can mete out the punishment. Just as things seem to calm down and life is on the up, another enemy strikes leaving Dolly vulnerable and in need of saving. Sometimes it’s those closest to you who you most need to worry about.
£9.99 -
Don't Expect a Standing Ovation
How shall I lead my life? What will bring me happiness (and can I possibly know this in advance)? Where do my ethical values, feelings and opinions come from? How do I know if I really understand something, or are my judgements always just opinions? Should I be optimistic or pessimistic about ‘human nature’ – including my own, of course? Finally, are there any ‘objective’ answers to all of this or is any answer always as good as any other?
If such questions seem important to you personally, then this book is written for you. Its focus is precisely on methods for understanding better the nature of our experience, behaving more ethically and with greater emotional awareness.
Don’t Expect a Standing Ovation is a reworking in contemporary terms of an ancient Buddhist teaching on meditation, but it is intended for readers of any ‘faith’ (or none), i.e., for anyone who is open to meditation as a possibly helpful practical response to the sense of unease arising from the questions listed above. Buddhist teachings are, therefore, introduced not as a ‘religion’ but as a combination of psychological, ethical and philosophical ideas that are nevertheless in themselves not unfamiliar.
The teaching consists of fifty-nine slogans or maxims, which taken together form a practical handbook of guidance in responding skilfully (and indeed, therefore, ‘wisely’) in our everyday interactions with others.
£8.99 -
Don't Forget to Bounce
For the grown-up people too.
Sometimes things other people say to us can really affect us and make us feel a little bit out of sorts.
Even if it’s from the people we love.
Clover the lamb realises, with the help of his friends, that he has to be true to himself and do what gives him joy and also embrace whatever makes his little heart soar.
And … never forget to bounce … Not ever!
£7.99 -
Dragons Out!
Learn about software testing in a fun way, by reading stories about dragons and knights. The book is a great read for children on their own, with their parents, or as an additional reading in schools. It is also for anyone who wants to know what software testing is, they will enjoy this book tremendously.
The book talks about adventures of two children, Laura and Tom, who tumble into dragons annoying villages and castles. They learn about different dragons and how to defeat them with the help of knights. The children grow into exceptional dragon experts.
Stories are explained in information technology and software testing terms and concepts, e.g. a dragon represents a software defect, and knights represent testers and developers. Reading parallels is an easy-to-understand way of learning.
In this book, Kari Kakkonen combines his passion into fantasy and software testing in a new and fascinating way, creating an enjoyable experience for the readers.
The book is suitable for ages of 9-99, although it is written for children.
“I love the idea of bringing testing and dragons together. Explaining testing ideas in this way is great for new testers to give them a broad idea of the depth of testing. The stories can sit on their own for children as well, and may encourage them to think about how they could test some of the apps they use.”
Janet Gregory, DragonFire Inc, co-author of three books on agile testing.
£15.99 -
Dreams of Taboo
This book will entertain, inform, and emotionally move its reader and provide healing. It certainly is not a lecture but a look at a survivor’s struggle with certain areas in life that are not so easy for an abuse victim. It is a look at a person’s career in a very competitive job and spiritual growth. This is a troubling subject treated with sensitivity along with down-to-earth humour along the way. It would clear some of our jails and make a safer world, for our children. We’ve recognised, more or less, the existence of institutional abuse of children, but have a long way to go on the subject of familial abuse. It is prevalent and it won’t leave our lives unless light is shone on this subject, which nobody really wants to look at. We will, I’m sure.
£14.99 -
Driving a Cat to Portugal and Building a House When We Get There
While waiting to board a plane for our annual holiday, my wife and I exchanged a few words,Me: ‘Where’s Faro?’Wife: ‘Portugal.’Little did we know, that fleeting conversation would lay the blueprint for our future. Soon, the allure of Portugal would not only inspire our next holiday destination, it would beckon us to transform a passing fancy into a permanent address in the sun-kissed hills of São Brás de Alportel.Amidst our major life decisions, the laughs, the frowns, the ups and downs, Marli (our much loved cat, who was prone to car sickness) takes centre stage. From her early years in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, UK, to her sunlit retirement in Portugal, Marli’s journey mirrors our own, from idealism to realism, (with pit-stops at Bafflement, Bliss, Disappointment and Delight).Follow our tale from whimsical date-night daydreams to the concrete steps of buying land and building a home in a foreign country. This narrative isn’t just about relocating- it’s a candid and humorous exploration of love, hope, challenges, and the sheer unpredictability of life.We had a dream, we had each other, and we had Marli.What could possibly go wrong?
£9.99 -
Drop Dead Like Flies
An hour’s drive from the small town of Brumby Flat, a new murder mystery gradually reveals itself in a place where hushed whispers of lost people, secret loves and big ambitions collide and spark.
Senior Detective Phillip Duncan is forced to come to terms with a personal tragedy which happened within Beecham’s Bridge National Park over 30 years ago.
As the thirty-second and third anniversary of the Park’s infamous folk festival begins, pure evil returns. When folk music legend Hannah Dee Wainwright arrives, her ‘Diva’ behavior rocks the festival staff and locals alike which leads to a quick earthly dispatch. Duncan encounters a motley new band of likely suspects.
Banksia Ava Peterson is a 20-something dynamo who runs the family roadhouse and motel single handed, dreaming of a better life somewhere far away. There’s the worldly new partner Duncan must learn to work with. And to add to Duncan’s inner turmoil, sparks fly with a sexy young firefighter which will test his new relationship, just as the body count starts to rise around him.
A cold-blooded killer is on the loose in the National Park and no one is safe. Is Detective Duncan too close to the truth this time to see the wood for the trees?
£9.99 -
Droppy Druppy
Have you ever gazed at a tiny droplet so intently that you could see your own reflection in it? What happens to that water droplet after you’re done marvelling at it? Do you wipe it away, cover it with a book, or let it slowly evaporate and ascend into the sky? In Droppy Druppy, the author invites you to see droplets as adventurous travellers – they turn into steam, soar to form clouds, cascade as rain, and ultimately join rivers flowing to the sea. These humble droplets experience incredible journeys, seeing wondrous places and performing important tasks. So why not befriend a droplet and let your imagination soar? Come along on this magical journey as we explore the life of a droplet and the fascinating places it visits. Are you ready for this captivating voyage? Let’s embark on this dreamy adventure together!
£8.99
Discover