Showing all 11 results

The Happiness Trap Cards

50 ACT-Based Prompts, Practices and Reflections to Help You Stop Struggling and Start Living

Due for release  in September 2024  (ANZ only)


Following on from the million-copy bestseller The Happiness Trap, this beautifully presented card set introduces the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in a fresh and accessible format. Each card features a key concept of ACT, and on the reverse a practical teaching for the reader to apply in their daily life. Readers will be empowered to prioritise their true values, deal with difficult emotions and engage fully in what matters, building authentic happiness from the inside out.

Specifications: 50 cards + 4-page booklet, boxed | 146 x 95 mm

Creative Writer’s Sourcebook

50 Great Authors & 175 Writing Exercises

Due for release  in May 2024  (ANZ only)


A fascinating guide to the style and technique of the world’s great writers. From Roald Dahl to Katherine Mansfield, each author profile includes details of the writer’s career, key works and significance of their writing style. Writing exercises then guide the reader to experiment with this style, honing their craft as they play with perspective, perfect characterisation, and craft opening lines like the greats. Perfect for aspiring fiction writers and literature lovers alike!

Specifications: Paperback | 230 x 172mm  | 224 Pages

The Art of Words

USD $18.99 Tax Included

Words are everywhere! In this fun and interactive story about the magic of words, you’ll meet ugly words, colourful words, and words that just need a friend. The imaginative illustrations show a young boy and girl playing with words; stretching them, squashing them, colouring them, and sewing them together to reflect their meaning. Engaging, entertaining and educational, this unique ‘language through adventure book’ will inspire young readers to appreciate the joy of making stories from words.

Click here to view Teacher’s Notes

SPECIFICATIONS: 9781925820843 | Hardback | 245 x 255mm / 9.5 x 10in | 32 pages | Full Colour | EK Books

The Godzone Dictionary of favourite New Zealand words and phrases (2nd Edition)

This concise A–Z dictionary, now updated in a new edition, is a quick and easy reference to understanding the words and phrases that make New Zealand English unique. Language expert Max Cryer provides helpful definitions for the various entries, and also sheds light on their origins. Slang words feature heavily, while a key feature is the large number of Māori words that have become part of the language. Popular names of sports teams are included as well as an appendix of New Zealand acronyms

SPECIFICATIONS: 9781775594000 | Paperback | 210 x 135 mm / 8.25 x 5.25 inches | 248 Pages

Curious English Words and Phrases (2nd edition)

USD $16.99 Tax Included

The truth behind the expressions we use.

‘Cloud nine’, ‘at the drop of a hat’, ‘spitting image’, ‘mollycoddle’, ‘rigmarole’, ‘round robin’, ‘spill the beans’, ‘kick the bucket’, ‘balderdash’ and ‘touch wood’. There are so many curious words and phrases that we often use and yet haven’t you ever wondered why we say them, where they come from and what they mean?

Written by language expert Max Cryer, Curious Words and Phrases has all the answers behind some of the most interesting and perplexing words and expressions in the English language. Bulging with information, it’s a useful reference book and the ideal gift for anyone curious about the words and phrases we use.

SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 210 x 135 mm / 8.25 x 5.25 Inches | 432 Pages |

Word to the Wise

USD $19.99 Tax Included

Untangling the Mix-ups, Misuse and Myths of Language

Even the best wordsmiths can trip over words that are commonly misused, mixed up or misspelled. This useful reference gets to the bottom of these language issues so that you can ensure you’ve got the word you’re looking for. With examples of how to sharpen up text and improve your writing, lists of useful social media abbreviations and a discussion of unusual plurals, this playful look at the often bizarre English language has got you covered, whether you’re writing a book, blog or an email.

SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152 mm / 9 x 6 Inches  | 192 Pages |

The Cat’s Out of the Bag

USD $16.95 Tax Included

Truth and Lies About Cats

We cannot get enough of cats: from ancient times they have occupied a special place in many different cultures around the world. They have also generated a fascinating array of words, expressions and observations, as well as poems, books, movies, cartoons and artworks. In this witty and entertaining book, Max Cryer celebrates cats and all they have given to us. He describes the many words and expressions they have inspired, from ‘catnip’ and ‘catwalk’ to ‘the cat’s whiskers’ and ‘raining cats and dogs’, as well as famous cat characters like Garfield, Felix the Cat, The Cat in the Hat and Puss in Boots, songs as varied as ‘What’s New Pussycat?’ and ‘The Cats’ Duet’, and poems like ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ and ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’. The cats owned by famous celebrities are described, from Elizabeth Taylor’s ‘Jeepers Creepers’ to Dr Johnson’s ‘Hodge’. In other chapters he explores cats’ attributes, the strength of their night vision and sense of smell, their sleep requirements, life expectancy and much more. Surprising facts – and spurious fictions – can be found on almost every page.

Everything you ever wanted to know about cats can be enjoyed in this magnificent compendium of a book. It is a delight from beginning to end to be read with one on your lap.

Specifications: 9781921966545 | Paperback | 210 x 135mm / 8.25 x 5.25in | 192 Pages

Preposterous Proverbs

USD $13.99 Tax Included

Why fine words butter no parsnips

From our earliest years we have heard proverbs, and many of them are repeated without much thought. In ‘Preposterous Proverbs’, Max Cryer looks at a vast array of proverbs from around the world. Proverbs on birth, food, women and love rub shoulders with others on money, animals, sin and death. He has chosen some of the most interesting and perplexing, and with his characteristic wry wit he analyses their meaning and truth. A great book to dip into.

SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 198 x 126 mm | 272 Pages |

Everyone Can Write

USD $14.95 Tax Included

Everyone Can Write is an easy-to-understand, practical, ‘how to write’ book that is accessible to everyone from a business executive wanting to polish his reports to a retiree wanting to chronicle her family history. It solves the problems that beginning writers struggle with by giving them an easy-to-follow and simple set of rules that allows them to write rapidly and clearly.

The book outlines the three forms of non-fiction writing: report, narrative and essay. Each one is dissected and a set of rules applied to each structure. The rules are easily put into practice and vary for each structure. For example, in report writing, two easy-to-apply rules are: 25 words to a sentence and 3 or 4 sentences in a paragraph.

The author has also developed a foolproof method of structuring your writing, so that you make effective use of your time. It’s based on the easy-to-remember three-step formula: Pre-write, Free-write, Re-write. Pre-write refers to researching the necessary information. Free-write refers to getting the information onto the computer screen. Re-write refers to the essential task of editing the writing into clear readable text. This technique allows writers to become the editors of their own writing, thereby dramatically improve its quality.

The essentials of grammar and punctuation, easily confused words and other useful tips for writers are also covered.

SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 162 mm x 125 mm | 176 Pages |

The Essential Lingo Dictionary: of Australian Words and Phrases

The Essential Lingo Dictionary is a warts-and-all look at the notoriously hilarious (and occasionally a little bit naughty) canon of Australian slang words and phrases, casting light on the quirky, intriguing and often bizarre Australian Aussie language. A must-have for every bookshelf!
If you have wondered why his girlfriend is a ‘Sheila’ even though her name is Sophia, or why your colleagues in Melbourne’s suburbs are said to live ‘beyond the black stump’, then this book is for you.

SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 210 x 135 mm / 8 ⅓ x 5 ⅓ Inches | 208 Pages |

The Right Word: Making sense of the words that confuse (eBook)

An easy-to-use reference guide to the words that most commonly confuse people in written English. Written by a teacher and journalist with years of experience in effective writing and communication.

‘Affect’ or ‘effect’? ‘Right’, ‘write’ or ‘rite’? ‘Soul’ or ‘sole’? ‘Pawn’ or ‘porn’? English can certainly be a confusing language, whether you’re a native speaker or learning it as a second language. This is the essential reference to help people master its subtleties and avoid making mistakes.  Entries are organised alphabetically, with meanings and examples (including colloquial ones) being given to facilitate correct use. The book then looks at words that often confuse — childish vs. childlike, incredible vs. incredulous, for example — before providing a list of commonly misspelled words. It’s a book that deserves a place on every bookshelf: at home, in the study and at the office.

SPECIFICATIONS: eBook | 256 Pages |