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
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?
Outline
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.