Almondine’s Babies tells the story of 9-year-old Alma faced with the responsibility of rescuing her old friend Almondine’s many tiny ‘almond babies’.
Set in Los Angeles, it’s a fantastical and humorous mystery exploring issues of friendship, courage and love.
244 pages
188 illustrations
29 chapters
Reading level 7+
Imprint: GZ Books
ISBN:
9781838320942
Almondine’s Babies (print b/w)
9781838320959
Almondine’s Babies (ebook colour)
From the Back Cover
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In their new home, Alma helps Almondine grow into a beautiful sapling. The magical little tree remains Alma’s friend and confidante and, less than a year later, she has a surprise for her: a lot of new, tiny ‘almond babies’!
Alma tries to deal with the overwhelming situation but, before she has even had time to build them a home, the little ones mysteriously disappear. Will Alma and her new friend, Denzel, be able to find them before it’s too late?
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Outline
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Alma’s adventure with Almondine continues in her new Los Angeles home. The tiny sprite is fast becoming a sapling and the two secretly enjoy their last precious moments together. Finally, Almondine completely transforms into a beautiful little tree, but Alma soon finds out the magic is not over yet.
Alma is struggling to settle in her new school and her parents, seeing her confide with a tree every day, are concerned, and decide to give her a dog for company: Bubble, a cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who will accompany Alma everywhere she goes. Things seem to improve and she even becomes best friends with her arch-enemy from her class, Denzel.
It’s her last week at school and just before she is due to take a trip back to Europe, she discovers that Almondine has produced many tiny almond babies for her. But before she’s even got time to organise a way to look after them, they mysteriously disappear.
Alma is desperate and decides to share Almondine’s secret with Denzel. Together they launch into a quest to bring back the babies, only to find themselves in a really complicated situation.
Alma, Denzel, and even Dad have to find a way to save their own lives as well as those of the almond babies, and ensure the safekeeping of Almondine’s secret.