Natalia Shaloshvili

Sasha wants to join in on a playdate, but her shyness keeps getting in the way. A kindhearted, funny, reassuring story for anyone who needs more time warming up in this socially extroverted world. “Models empathy for shyness of all stripes” Kirkus Reviews Sasha has been invited to a playdate at Leo's. Leo bounces up and down as he wants to play cafe, start a band, and fly to the moon. It's all too much for Sasha who wants to go back home. How can Sasha manage her shyness and show Leo that she really does want to make friends? A reassuring story for anyone who has ever felt shy, and for those of us who need more time to warm up socially. In a world that focuses on extroverts, this little wolf cub shows that introverts enjoy company too ... when they're ready to play! A funny, heartwarming picture book that explores shyness with empathy, by the award-winning creator of Pavlo Gets the Grumps.

This companion title to Natalia Shaloshvili’s award-winning book Bear is a funny and comforting take on how to cope with constant worrying. With a little help from his friend Duck, Bear finds that even when his biggest (cookie-related!) worries do come true, it’s not the end of the world. At first, Bear is happily munching his cookie, until a thought creeps in: what if it’s the last cookie? When this turns out to be true, he sets off for the shops – and his worries mount and mount. He worries about missing the bus . . . and it leaves without him. He worries he’ll get lost . . . and gets lost. By the time he finds the cookie queue, he’s at the very back; and his worst worry comes true. The very last cookie goes . . . to Duck! But just when Bear thinks his worst fears have been realised, Duck gently shows him that worries don’t have to end in disaster. By sharing his cookie and reminding Bear that ‘what ifs’ can lead to happy endings too, Duck helps his friend see that things often turn out better than expected. Complete with Natalia Shaloshvili’s expressive, playful illustrations and a story that balances humour with warmth, Bear Worries captures the familiar experience of children (and adults) whose imaginations run away with them. Both entertaining and reassuring, this picture book is the perfect springboard for conversations about anxiety, resilience and friendship. Whether shared at storytime, used in classrooms or given as a thoughtful gift, Bear Worries is an essential addition to every child’s bookshelf. It offers the reminder that no worry is too big when faced together.

This companion title to Natalia Shaloshvili’s award-winning book Bear is a funny and comforting take on how to cope with constant worrying. With a little help from his friend Duck, Bear finds that even when his biggest (cookie-related!) worries do come true, it’s not the end of the world. Bear is very happy eating his cookie. But then, he has his first worry: what if this is the LAST cookie he has at home? When this turns out to be true, he sets off for the shops – and his worries mount and mount. He worries he’ll miss the bus . . . and misses it. He worries he’ll get lost . . .and gets lost. By the time he finds the cookie queue, he’s at the very back; and his worst worry comes true. The very last cookie goes . . . to Duck! But: “What if?” says Duck, and he shares his cookie with Bear. The perfect way to reassure and comfort youngsters prone to worrying and help build resilience, Bear's story showsthat even if the wildest of worries DO come true, you can still achieve a happy ending.

This companion title to Natalia Shaloshvili's award-winning book Bear is a funny and comforting take on how to cope with constant worrying. With a little help from his friend Duck, Bear finds that even when his biggest (cookie-related ) worries do come true, it's not the end of the world. At first, Bear is happily munching his cookie, until a thought creeps in: what if it's the last cookie? When this turns out to be true, he sets off for the stores--and his worries mount and mount. He worries about missing the bus . . . and it leaves without him. He worries he'll get lost . . . and gets lost. By the time he finds the cookie line, he's at the very back; and his worst worry comes true. The very last cookie goes . . . to Duck But just when Bear thinks his worst fears have been realized, Duck gently shows him that worries don't have to end in disaster. By sharing his cookie and reminding Bear that 'what ifs' can lead to happy endings too, Duck helps his friend see that things often turn out better than expected. Complete with Natalia Shaloshvili's expressive, playful illustrations and a story that balances humor with warmth, Bear Worries captures the familiar experience of children (and adults) whose imaginations run away with them. Both entertaining and reassuring, this picture book is the perfect springboard for conversations about anxiety, resilience, and friendship. Whether shared at storytime, used in classrooms, or given as a thoughtful gift, Bear Worries is an essential addition to every child's bookshelf. It offers the reminder that no worry is too big when faced together.

Sasha wants to join in on a playdate, but her shyness keeps getting in the way. A kindhearted, funny, reassuring story for anyone who needs more time warming up in this socially extroverted world. When Sasha arrives for a playdate at Leo's, she finds him charged up and ready to go. Waving a toy frying pan, he shouts, "I'm Chef Yummy. Step into my caf " Sasha pictures herself making fluffy pancakes, but her shyness quickly takes over. Leo is full of ideas, bouncing up and down as he invites Sasha to play rock stars or astronauts, but Sasha's reticence wins out every time. She wants to be Leo's friend, and she doesn't want to make him sad, but how can she get past this hurdle? With empathy, humor, and some truly adorable characters, Natalia Shaloshvili draws from her own childhood experiences to show that sympathy and understanding can go a long way--and might just lead to the start of a beautiful friendship. Anyone up for a game of space-rocker-pancake chef?

I just want to hide behind mummy! Sasha has been invited to a playdate at Leo's. Leo bounces up and down as he wants to play cafe, start a band, and fly to the moon. It's all too much for Sasha who wants to go back home. How can Sasha manage her shyness and show Leo that she really does want to make friends? A reassuring story for anyone who has ever felt shy, and for those of us who need more time to warm up socially. In a world that focuses on extroverts, this little wolf cub shows that introverts enjoy company too ... when they're ready to play! A funny, heartwarming picture book that explores shyness with empathy, by the award-winning creator of Pavlo Gets the Grumps.

A book-shaped hug that we all need on a day when everything just feels BLAH. Pavlo does not feel like going to the park. Not today. He does not want to go swimming. He even says no to the cinema. What's going on, Pavlo? Pavlo's got the grumps. This comforting picture book takes a look at bad days and big emotions, and reminds us that we all have grumpy days sometimes but no feeling lasts forever. Natalia Shaloshvili's expressive illustrations are sad and funny at the same time, reassuring little ones that we are loved by our family and friends even when we're not our happiest selves. Pavlo guides young children on their emotional learning journey and shows how joy is always just around the corner.

A story about sharing and how important it is to say what you mean. Bear is all set for a perfect day. The sky is blue, there's not a cloud in the sky, and he has all of his most favourite things in the world by his side--a cookie to nibble on, a book to get lost in, a bright balloon to keep him happy, and the perfect bench to take a rest on. But no sooner has Bear made himself comfortable, than along comes Fox who wants to share the bench too. Bear agrees, begrudgingly. But no sooner has he overcome the idea of sharing his bench when Wolf pops up to ask for a bit of cookie . . . and then Rabbit jumps up to read his book . . . and then Elephant lumbers along to play with his balloon. And before Bear knows it, it's all become too much for him AAAAAARGH yells Bear. From author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili, this is a whimsical and laugh-out-loud funny picture book about how hard it can be to say what you really mean--and why it's best to avoid bottling up emotions, so they don't come bursting out in one big AAAAAARGH.

A story about sharing and how important it is to say what you mean. Bear is all set for a perfect day. The sky is blue, there's not a cloud in the sky and he has all of his most favourite things in the world by his side – a cookie to nibble on, a book to get lost in, a bright balloon to keep him happy and the perfect bench to take a rest on. But no sooner has Bear made himself comfortable, than along comes Fox who wants to share the bench too. Bear agrees, begrudgingly. But no sooner has he overcome the idea of sharing his bench when Wolf pops up to ask for a bit of cookie . . . and then Rabbit jumps up to read his book . . . and then Elephant lumbers along to play with his balloon. And before Bear knows it, it's all become too much for him! AAAAAARGH! yells Bear. From author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili, this is a whimsical and laugh-out-loud funny picture book about how hard it can be to say what you really mean – and why it's best to avoid bottling up emotions, so they don't come bursting out in one big AAAAAARGH.

A hilarious and heartwarming picture book about sharing, big feelings, and learning how to speak up! Packed with vibrant illustrations and laugh-out-loud moments, Bear is a delightful story that little readers will want to revisit again and again. Perfect for bedtime, storytime, or any time! Bear is ready for the perfect day - blue skies, a cosy bench, his favourite book, a delicious cookie, and a bright balloon. Bliss! But just as he settles in, Fox wants a spot on the bench. Then Wolf asks for a bite of cookie. Rabbit wants a turn with the book. And Elephant? Well, he has his eyes on that balloon…Before Bear knows it, his peaceful day has turned into a chaotic whirlwind of sharing, and he’s about to explode! AAAAAARGH! From the brilliant mind of author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili, Bear is a laugh-out-loud, beautifully illustrated story about learning to say what you really mean before your emotions take over. For fans of Owl Babies and The Koala Who Could - this is a must-read for little readers learning about friendship, boundaries, and the power of their own voice!

Beautiful illustrations from an internationally recognized fine artist make this fun, ecologically-minded book about a bus-driving, tree-loving leopard a standout! When Miss Leoparda isn’t sleeping in her beloved tree home, she drives the bus, taking her animal friends around town on their animal business. Every day, all of the bus’s seats are taken . . . until the day something amazing and new appears: a little car that speeds off into the distance, leaving clouds of smoke in its wake. Intrigued, the bus’s passengers each get a car of their own, one by one, until the day that Miss Leoparda is the only one left on the bus. But more and more cars on the road mean more and more traffic jams, more and more arguments, and fewer and fewer trees—as trees, it seems, are just getting in the way of the jammed-up travelers. Will Miss Leoparda be able to nourish a new awareness and help her community return to their senses? With humor, insight, and gorgeous art, this is a picture book about the importance of the natural world and the value of community, to read again and again.

For those days when everything feels blah, a picture-book-shaped hug offered with humor and tenderness by a gifted Ukrainian artist. Pavlo does not feel like going to the park. Not today. He does not want to go swimming. He even says no to the movies. What's going on, Pavlo? Pavlo has the grumps. Though Mama suggests one fun activity after another, Pavlo doesn't want to do any of them. Can anything cheer him up on this down day? Capturing a range of emotions through nuanced expressions and a simple text, Natalia Shaloshvili's comforting picture book looks at familiar childhood feelings, suggesting that grumpy days, sadness, and even anger happen to everyone. But that's OK--good friends and family will love you anyway. And who knows what might happen if you decide to give that big slide a try after all?

A book-shaped hug that we all need on a day when everything just feels BLAH. Pavlo does not feel like going to the park. Not today. He does not want to go swimming. He even says no to the cinema. What's going on, Pavlo? Pavlo's got the grumps. This comforting picture book takes a look at bad days and big emotions, and reminds us that we all have grumpy days sometimes but no feeling lasts forever. Natalia Shaloshvili's expressive illustrations are sad and funny at the same time, reassuring little ones that we are loved by our family and friends even when we're not our happiest selves. Pavlo guides young children on their emotional learning journey and shows how joy is always just around the corner.

A single mitten is excluded by a matching pair in this endearing picture book about friendship, belonging and the pressure to "match." For fans of The Day the Crayons Quit. Dotty and Other Dotty are a matching set of mittens. When another mitten, Stripes, loses her partner and becomes a single mitten, they don't feel the need to include her. She doesn't "match" them, so she is banished to the dark, lonely pocket of the Little Girl who owns them. Before long, however, Dotty loses her partner, and now she doesn't match the reunited pair of Stripes and Other Stripes, who in turn banish her to the pocket. "YOU don't match " they tell her. When the Little Girl, who has been listening to their conversations, weighs in with a huge question ("Why do you have to match?"), the mittens are shocked. Then comes their realization that "matching" often means leaving someone out. This prompts the Little Girl to break a fundamental rule of fashion so that individual mittens (and maybe even socks or shoes ) can be themselves -- and everyone can belong. A warm and fuzzy story with lots of laughs, this latest picture book from Linda Bailey explores what it feels like to be excluded and included and celebrates one-of-a-kindness