When a peculiar curator and an equally strange cat turn up in the gallery where Mimi works, she is pulled into an extraordinary adventure that will force her to make a life-changing choice.
What would you give up to become famous?
A fantasy adventure for young adults and dreamers alike.
]]>When a peculiar curator and an equally strange cat turn up in the gallery where Mimi works, she is pulled into an extraordinary adventure that will force her to make a life-changing choice.
What would you give up to become famous?
A fantasy adventure for young adults and dreamers alike.
]]>What will happen when one of Daisy's ideas grows out ofcontrol?
]]>Kim lives on Guringai Land in Sydney's Northern Beaches. If she's not busy creating stories, she's probably crafting, cooking something delicious, or enjoying a hard earned nap something Bug would definitely approve of.
]]>Vibrantly illustrated by Deb Hudson, award-winning author Katrina Germein's gorgeous Girls Like is a joyous celebration of all the ways to be a girl.
]]>Deb Hudson is an illustrator and designer based in beautiful Melbourne, Australia. Creating for both children and the young at heart, her illustrations are whimsical and nature-inspired with a sweet, cheerful, and handmade feel. Her work has appeared in over 20 books, as well as stationery, home goods, and greeting cards. Since her 2018 debut with The Golden Thread, Deb has worked on many beloved projects, including the What Zola Did series. Her clients include Penguin Books, Hachette, MidnightSun, Disney Plus, and La La Land Gifts. She was also the featured illustrator for the 2021 Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge.
]]>TAP, DA-DUM, TAP, TAP, DA-DUM!
But when Sammy turns five, she feels silly wearing her tutu and gumboots and so she stops dancing altogether.
Eventually, Sammy can't hear her beat any more the very beat that makes her special. How does Sammy find her beat again?
]]>Blithe Fielden is an illustrator from the UK but is now based in Brisbane, Australia. Inspired by the beauty of nature, animals and the environment, Blithe loves to create playful illustrations, depicting the world through the eyes of children. Since graduating from Leeds Arts University with a BA in Illustration in 2021, Blithe has worked alongside several small businesses and clients, showcasing her illustrations to a range of audiences. You can contact Blithe via Instagram @ blithe_illustrations
]]>What will it take for Bear to feel better?
An uplifting tale about a bear discovering what truly matters at the end of the day.
]]>Coral Vass is an award-winning Australian children's author. With a background in media, Coral has always delighted in telling stories and has been writing books for more than ten years. Her titles include bestselling Goodnight Possum and the 2019 CBCA Book of the Year Eve Powell winner, Sorry Day (illustrated by Dub Leffer). She loves to visit schools, often running writing workshops and inspiring young people with a love for literature. Coral is an ambassador for Reading Out of Poverty and is passionate about giving all children an equal opportunity to read.
Tull Suwannakit is an Australian book illustrator and author for children with a background in animation and fine art. After receiving a BA degree from The Savannah College Art and Design in Georgia, US, he began his artistic career as a set designer and character sculptor for animation studios in New York City. He then migrated to Australia, where he got a distinction on the Master of Fine Art program at The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. His books have been published in Australia, the US and Thailand, as well as being translated into numerous languages throughout the world. Working predominantly with watercolour, graphite and coloured pencils, Tull's books have been featured in The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Mornings Radio, Play School on ABC4Kids and The New York Times.
]]>One bright autumn morning, Rose and her cheeky companion, Banjo, head off to fly their kite.
]]>A long admirer of illustrators like Freya Backwood and Emily Gravett, Karen Erasmus was delighted to illustrate her first children's picture book in 2011, and has now completed more than ten books. She works in watercolour, ink and pastel, and aims to create images that are engaging and lively for young readers.
]]>A magical tale that will delight all ages.
]]>When the boys win a bet, the girls cry 'Unfair!' However, their plan for revenge backfires and leads to the principal banning all e-scooters from school premises and insisting students must follow government regulations, which means they can only ride a scooter with an adult. How can they get to school? To their jobs?
Jolie and her friends want to fix things, but what can they achieve on their own? Is the only person who can help the one person Jolie doesn't want to turn to?
The e-Revolution is in the Rhiza Shorts series a short read designed to engage teenage reluctant readers, including those who struggle with confidence in reading. With a reading age of 10+ and an interest age of 14+, The e-Revolution features relatable situations and fun characters who teens can identify with. It also tackles the issues surrounding e-scooters with realism and compassion while still focusing on responsibility and safety.
]]>Joel's mum is diagnosed with cancer - again - sending him into a spiral. He is already feeling the burden of caring for Holly's grave; how could he possibly care for his mum's grave as well? Then, he is confronted by his arch-nemesis, Trent, and his buddies in Joel's most sacred place - the local cemetery. While Joel is striving to understand how family members can 'forget' their loved one by abandoning their grave, Trent wants everyone to know that graves are an important part of our human community. When Joel is given the opportunity, he champions green burials in a science presentation. The public opposition from Trent is almost more than he can take. Joel is forced to fight for himself and his beliefs, while trying to hide his biggest secret. New and old friends support him in his quest to protect the environment and find peace and his parents see his struggles and make changes to support him.
In Ways to Die Right, the author wants to highlight how deeply teens feel about things affecting them, like death, the environment, and peers they perceive as a threat. Teenagers will be able to identify with interactions happening in everyday life at school, when conflict arises, and with family. Ways to Die Right is for all teenages who want to read about real people struggling with real issues they will be able to identify with. It will especially appeal to teens who love shorter, easy to read stories, but who want to read about teenagers just like them.
Reading age of 10 +, Interest age 14+
]]>Then amidst the glitz and glamour, tragedy strikes 'the millionaire's club', raising unsettling questions: was it an accident, or a deliberate act, fuelled by hidden secrets? As the group begin to discover the truth behind their extraordinary good fortune, they unwittingly unravel a complex web of lies concealing not only their improbable win but also other so-called luck happening around them.
In this heart-pounding tale of wealth, deceit, and moral reckoning, the millionaires club find themselves entangled in a treacherous game where the price of fortune is higher than they ever imagined. As they attempt to shield their newfound riches and each other from the relentless pursuit of the truth, they begin to realise that luck can be far from good, and lies, once buried, have a way of clawing their way back to the surface.
]]>Her voyage to overturn an ancient hunting law means sailing the perilous Starstruck Straits and dealing with sabotage. But who is threatening Scree's mission, and are others in danger too?
Can the Wildkin captain and Patch, her plucky ship's mate, untangle a magical plot, help the lost creatures find their way home, and save the animals?
Dugongs of the Sky is an exciting seafaring adventure for middle-grade readers about magic, mystery and friendship.
In the Realm of Tides, hunters threaten the gentle flying dugongs and Captain Scree Barnacle is determined to save them. But on her voyage to petition the Wavebearers' Council, misfortunes plague the crew. The ship's artist is injured, secrets abound, and the timid ship's boy is more than he seems. Who is threatening Scree's mission, and are others in danger too? Can the Wildkin captain and Patch, her plucky ship's mate, untangle a magical plot, help lost creatures find their way home, and save the animals?
Dugongs of the Sky is about friendship, animals and the meaning of courage. It's ideal for readers who love the high adventure of Claire Fayers's The Accidental Pirates duology and the magical whimsy of Liz Flanagan's Wildsmith series. It's an exciting seafaring adventure with magic, mystery and friendship. And, of course, flying dugongs! Dugongs of the Sky is great for animal lovers and everyone who loves twists and turns! It will soar into your heart.
]]>Emily writes in a variety of genres and is the author of the picture book The Whirlpool, illustrated by Helene Magisson and published by Wombat Books (2017), and the young-adult dystopian novel Within the Ward, published by Rhiza Edge (2021). Her short fiction and poetry features in Australian and international literary journals, including Meniscus, Idiom 23, Seizure, Trove, Literary Orphans, The Write Launch, Number Eleven Magazine, Flumes, The Zodiac Review, Sad Girls Club, Streetlight Magazine, After the Pause, and Black Fox Literary Magazine. Emily has also contributed short stories to the Rhiza Edge anthologies Crossed Spaces, Dust Makers and Stepping Sideways, and co-edited Stepping Sideways with author Lynne Stringer.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys being with family members (both human and animal), playing Dungeons and Dragons, and reading and writing.
]]>Within the Ward is a young adult novel that includes themes such as mental health, depression, suicide, friendships and relationships, grief and loss, and identity and perception. It explores the way people might perceive mental health struggles such as depression, and challenges readers to think about how they personally perceive such matters, including stigma. Within the Ward is set in a dystopian future where people like Paige are told that if they finish a dream reality called 'the Journey', then they can go home. But perception is challenged and the heaviness of depression is weighed as Paige navigates the world, trying to find the difference between what things are and what they seem. But not only does she have to find a way to escape the ward, but she must also discover herself for who she really is and find her own reason to live.
]]>Chloe is here to teach you about networks! She has a dot on her shirt called a node. So do her siblings, Jack and Willow. As family, their nodes are connected by an edge. Each of them are connected to their friends by edges, and then their friends' friends, until the network is expanded further and further. In maths, this is called a spanning tree, where no node is left unconnected!
This book sits somewhere between fiction and non-fiction with an easy-to-understand introduction to the mathematical concept of networks, as well as a reassurance to readers that they're never alone. Connected will particularly appeal to visual and spatial learners, with a sentimental quality making it enjoyable as a leisure read.
]]>Tamlyn Teow is an artist, illustrator and props designer. In 2013, she left a corporate career to learn how stories are told through art. Tamlyn's passion is to create works that give hope in challenging times, spark curiosity and bring individuals together by opening their eyes to truth and meaning. Tamlyn has worked in the art department for various productions, including Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Peter Rabbit 2, Shang-Chi (Marvel Studios) and North Shore. She has illustrated a number of picture books, designs book covers and illustrates chapter books.
]]>Join the adventurous cat and her friends for an interactive counting and adding challenge. But don't get too mixed up!
In this quirky maths breaking counting book readers can engage with all the different ways you can go WRONG in adding like terms In this quirky maths following and slightly maths breaking counting book readers engage with all the different ways you can go wrong in adding like terms. Maths teachers can use this book to help children understand basics as they are introduced to algebra and patterns. Written in a way that you can interact with the reader. An alternate counting book with a fun outlook demonstrating why you can't add things that aren't the same.
Children and teens easily mix up their addition in algebra. In this fun picture book for kids it's fun to learn that apples and oranges don't make orples!This book can be used with older children, learning support and in other areas to help students with understanding why you can't mix and match.
]]>This collection from an outstanding poet, Rachel Rooney, winner of the CLiPPA Award, is perfectly matched by the amazing witty and inventive illustrations by Chris Riddell, the former UK Children's Laureate.
'This moreish collection of poems about a class full of characters is beautifully written and illustrated and will ring bells with all children about their own behaviour and that of their schoolmates.' The Sunday Times
'Rooney evokes children's perspectives with empathy. The poignancy and humour of these character sketches are heightened by their illustrations.' Guardian
'I absolutely love this children's poetry book.' David Walliams
'Thought-provoking and fun.' The Week Junior
'Full of both emotion, and knowledge of the classroom, this is a superb collection, brilliantly illustrated. Poetry has never seemed more alive and more relevant.' Minerva Reads
'There is not one weak point in this wonderful collection.' Poetry Zone
]]>Chris Riddell, Children's Laureate 2015-17, is internationally renowned both as artist and author. His awards include the Kate Greenaway Medal (2002, 2004), the Costa Children's Book Award (2013), and the Hay Festival Medal for Illustration (2015). He is currently president of the School Library Association. His bestselling books include theGoth Girlseries, theCoralineseries,The Sleeper and the Spindlewith Neil Gaiman andA Great Big Cuddlewith Michael Rosen. He lives in Brighton, UK.
]]>This stunning counting book, illustrating numbers 1 to 10 in beautiful animal paintings, is now presented as a very special board book, embellished with gold leaf as in the original hardback edition, bringing this gorgeous book to a younger readership.
With playful words and stunning pictures with lots of detail to pore over, the book depicts dogs, bears, foxes, elephants, tigers, pandas, otters, mice and of course one cheetah and a cherry making this a perfect introduction to numbers and counting.
'A book to pore over with delight' Parents in Touch
'A particularly decorative counting book' Observer
]]>Here are eight majestic wildbears, brought to life in breathtakingwatercolour paintings. Brown Bear, Black Bear, Polar Bear, Sloth Bear, Spectacled Bear, Sun Bear, Moon Bear. All are gloriously depicted, with lyrical descriptions of their lives in the wild.
But of all thebearsin the wild, wide world, which is the bestbearof all? Your teddy bear, of course!
Kate Greenaway medallist Jackie Morris, acclaimed illustrator of the international bestseller, The Lost Words,has created this spectacular gallery ofbearsto instil a love of wild places and a respect for all creatures.
]]>The people say he must go to King School, but the king hates wearing heavy robes and remembering difficult rules.
So the king says, 'NO!'
And he takes the people into the forest and shows them a different way to be king...
A brilliant new story from the internationally acclaimed author of Beegu and Slow Loris.
'One of the most subtle and innovative writers working today.' Waterstones
]]>The stories included are: Goldilocks and the Three Bears (England), Little Red Riding Hood (Germany), The Billy Goats Gruff (Norway), The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf (England), The Enormous Turnip (Ukraine), The Tortoise and the Hare (Ancient Greece), The Gingerbread Man (North America), The Vain Little Mouse (Spain).
Using the same technique of colourful cut-outs and collage as in his bestselling Once Upon a Tune: Stories from the Orchestra,James Mayhew has created another spectacular gift book, this time for a very young audience.
]]>Just flip the pages and see ten remarkable animals become 1,000 crazy creatures, taking on new names and astonishing new identities as their heads, bodies and tails are swapped around.
Devised and brilliantly executed by master-artist Tony Meeuwissen, this is a book that will be treasured by readers of all ages.
'Clever and eye-catching.' The Sunday Times
'Beautiful and great fun.' Guardian
'A delight.' LoveReading4Kids
'Great for tweaking even the most timid imaginations.' School Library Journal
]]>A gentle tale about reaching for the stars and being extraordinary...but remembering the ordinary too. Extraordinary! celebrates the best moments in life: the ones we share with friends and family. They may be simple, they may be ordinary, but they are moments we will cherish forever.
]]>Katie Wilson is an illustrator and designer based in beautiful New Zealand. Creating for both adults and children, her illustrations are sweet and cheerful with a handmade feel. Her work has appeared in magazines, greeting cards and books. Katie's clients include Hallmark, Papyrus, Rotovision, Quartet and Woodmansterne. Katie can be contacted via her website: www.katiewilsonillustration.com
]]>when all of the clocks no longer tick-tock.
and all of the maps are starting to fade,
as the need to be somewhere drifts far away.
A glorious celebration of nature's healing powers and a timely reminder for us all to slow down.
]]>Jennifer Goldsmith came to visual storytelling trailing fluff and threads from years of toy making. She used to bring characters to life in her hands one stitch at a time, but now scribbles them into the world with a 2B pencil on satisfyingly heavy paper. She's always drawn to gentle stories that are comforting and tread lightly on the hearts of children. For Jennifer, the process of sitting with a story and letting it wash over her as they get to know each other is a privilege she tries not to take for granted. Spending days losing track of time, chasing watercolours across paper while clutching coloured pencils is a dream come true.
]]>Blue Monster does something you should NEVER do and then...he does it again and again!
Now he DEFINITELY has no one to play with! He feels sad, lonely and VERY guilty. But when Blue Monster opens his mouth and YAWNS...what a surprise!
Things may get better after all! If Blue Monster only says he's sorry...
'A wonderfully funny and surprising picture book.' Reading Zone
'OUTRAGEOULY good.' Achuka
'A terrific read-aloud that will both shock and amuse young listeners.' Red Reading Hub
]]>Only Neal Zetter could create a collection of short poems that includes 'The Loooooooooongest Poem in the Universe'. His new volume makes a great introduction to the fun, enjoyment and new understandings that poetry can bring. All are short, direct and entertaining. Whether reading with a single child or a group, they arouse immediate interest and are perfect for reading aloud. Year 6 children in a London primary school foolowed the production from draft to publication: here are some of the things they said about it. 'A book where you go up and down and swirl around', 'Neal's poems challenge me, but I enjoy figuring out the jokes', 'His poems inspire me and make me want to ROAR with joy".
]]>Will Hughes is an illustrator and author of children's books. His strongly graphic, comic images perfectly complement Neal's poems.
]]>Written for first readers, about a Black British extended family Jake, older sister Ellie, little brother Sam, Mum, Dad and Grandad, all living in Maple Street.Jake in the Middle has four delightful interlinked stories about home and school life Shoes, Shoes, Shoes! where naughty Sam runs off with Jake's new trainers;Catchof the Day, where a favourite toy falls into the pigsty at the city farm; The Class Museum, featuring a special fossil Jake'borrowed' from Ellie's bedroom; and All Fall Down, where Grandpa displays his amazing cricket skills.
'Brilliant new chapter book for early readers, with a collection of four interlinked stories set around home and school life. Delightfully illustrated by Shanarama, the antics of middle-sibling Jake and his extended Black-British family are written with warmth and humour.' The Bookseller
]]>Shanarama is a new illustrator, living in London. Jake in the Middle is the first story book she has illustrated. With a background in architecture, film and TV, she is adept in a variety of genres. She uses both traditional and digital methods, often combining the two.
]]>Get ready for a whirlwind of fun and heartwarming moments with Nico and his amazing Grandpa Rodrigo! From fishing expeditions and bike rides to tackling tricky homework and even a close call with a whole lot of piranhas, life is never boring when these two are together. Grandpas, Piranhas, and Other Stories is a joyful celebration of the unique bond, endless laughter, and quiet wisdom that grandparents bring to our lives. It's a perfect way to honor the incredible connection between generations and share the warmth of family love with the little ones in your life. Prepare for giggles, heartwarming moments, and maybe even a few ideas for your own grand adventures with this beautifully written and illustrated picture book.
For over 75 years, Albatros Media has been crafting original and innovative children's books that are both playful and educational, fostering curiosity and a thirst for knowledge in young minds. We deliver the highest quality children's books from novelty, picture, pop-up, and how-to books, to non-fiction, and fairy tale books.
]]>From the award-winning illustrator of The Stars comes a story about the power of art, and about how being different and true to yourself can change the world.
Sketch is a little boy like no other. His imagination runs wild and he is more rambunctious and creative than most kids his age. He also looks different very different. As the doctors say, he's 'not drawn like other people.'
In a perfectly ordered town, where everything has its place and everyone behaves properly at all times, Sketch stands out. While others walk in perfect lines and write in perfect letters, Sketch's creativity spills out everywhere. But despite the support of his parents and his art teacher, he sometimes feels alone.
One day, Sketch changes schools and meets a new group of friends, each different in their own way. Together, they form an inseparable team, ready to explore the world while celebrating who they are.
This charming and powerful book features:
Sketch's vibrant personality and unconventional approach to life's challenges is an inspiring reminder that sometimes, doing what everyone else expects, dims our own creativity and joy. This charming book has a simple, but hopeful message: how being true to yourself can change the world.
]]>Maxime is ten years old. Her favorite things are her books and cats especially her own cat, Turmeric. Like Matilda, the heroine of her favorite book, she feels different. She wouldn't mind being like other kids but they make so much noise, it hurts her ears. So, her friends are the characters in her books, and her cat. If she were brave enough, she would talk to the new girl at school, who carries a copy of Matilda in her book bag.
One day, she finds some mysterious bowls in the alley behind her house. She dresses up like a detective in order to investigate and meets an older woman, Catamou, who feeds the neighborhood's stray cats. Soon enough, the two become friends. Maxime confides in Catamou, who encourages her to introduce herself to the new girl at school.
This heartwarming story by award-winning author Lucile de Pesloan is told alongside graphic-style illustrations by celebrated artist Jacques Goldstyn.
An ode to cat-lovers, The World of Maxime is a celebration of friendship and an inspiring story about finding confidence in yourself.
]]>Jacques Goldstyn is an illustrator and a political cartoonist who began life as a geologist. He received the Governor General's Award in 2017 for his book Azadah and was inducted to the Canadian Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2018. His graphic novel, The Stars, was also published by Aldana Libros.
Helen Mixter is a translator who lives in Toronto.
Zazie Todd is an animal behaviour expert and award-winning author of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy.
]]>But she knows that can't be true!
Because Lulu is a rhinoceros!
Kids will love this inspiring and funny picture book about a spunky bulldog who has the courage to be herself.
Lulu knows she is a rhinoceros. She may have soft, fuzzy fur and a little nub that wiggles when she's happy but in her heart, she has thick gray skin and a tail that whips and twirls. And more than anything, Lulu would like her very own rhinoceros horn! 'If only I had my horn, they would finally see the REAL me!'
As Lulu sets out to find her horn, she meets all sorts of dogs and even pigeons who don't understand her. To them, Lulu does not look like a rhinoceros! But Lulu doesn't let others stand in her way. Soon, she meets a small friend that makes a big difference in her life. With help from her new friend, Lulu realizes that the courage to be herself was inside her all along...
The first picture book in a new series, Lulu is a Rhinoceros takes readers on an adventure through New York City and into Central Park Zoo to fetch and retrieve the most important possession Lulu owns her identity! With adorable and vibrant artwork by acclaimed illustrator Sophie Corrigan, Lulu is a Rhinoceros conveys gentle messages for young readers about diversity, tolerance, self-expression, radical acceptance, and interdependence.
'The perfect storyline to talk to kids about so many topics!' Neuroclastic
]]>Jason Flom is a music executive and public speaker. He is devoted to reforming the criminal legal system and to various animal rights causes including saving the rhinos. He serves on many charitable boards, including VETPAW, whose work inspired Lulu Is a Rhinoceros.
Sophie Corrigan is a children's book illustrator and author whose many books include I'm a Little Monkey, which was selected as a Highly Commended Book in the Macmillan Prize for Children's Literature. When she's not creating books or working as a freelance illustrator for clients like Hallmark, Corrigan hangs out with her pet cockatiels and occasionally makes cute things from wool and clay.
]]>I'd like to tell you a rather true story about a big black cat who started out gray. Her name was May.
Margaux and her cat May became friends when Margaux was just six years old. They grew up together, sharing countless memories along the way. But one day, May is late coming home. Where is May? Is she under the porch? Maybe on the roof?
Margaux's nitsis (the Cree word for auntie) helps search for May in the tall grass. But soon nitsis needs to leave: she's moving away to the big city, and has to pack her things into boxes. Margaux helps nitsis, but she can't take her mind off May. Will she ever return? nitsis is worried, too. But little do they know, May has a surprise in store for both of them!
This fun and heartwarming story with a surprise happy ending invites readers to share their own cat stories. My Friend May is a tribute to love and the balance between all beings, and the experiences and emotions that connect us all.
My Friend May features:
A powerful and wise story about finding the courage to be yourself, despite the pressure to conform.
Abtin is nothing like the rest of his family. The Moleskis are fiercely competitive sports champions, and they expect Abtin to become a great athlete too. But Abtin is a reader, an artist, and has his own way of doing things. Despite his family's best efforts, Abtin remains stubbornly himself. Wanting his family to be proud of him, he comes up with a plan to make them happy: a plan that doesn't go quite as expected...
Written and illustrated by two celebrated Iranian creators, Champ is a book for anyone who marches to the beat of their own drum: for the artists in a science family, or the readers in a sports family. It is a book for those around the world who have resisted and continue to do so, no matter what.
Reza Dalvand is a member of the Iranian Society of Illustrators and has published more than 15 picture books in Iran, Europe, and Asia. He lives in Tehran.
]]>Let's go on an insect expedition for kids ages 4 to 8! This adventure into the extraordinary world of bugs is inspired by David Suzuki's adventures with his own grandkids.
It's time for the twins to go on a nature expedition with Bompa. What marvellous place will they explore this time? Tidepools at the sea? The pond full of frogs' eggs? Maybe deep in the forest? But to their disappointment, they are just exploring outside the door. Yet, as they begin to search for insects, they find world-champion flyers, eaters, and weightlifters. And more tiny surprises at every turn!
With their Bompa at their side, they find a way to recognise the amazing feats and important role of all insects...even the annoying ones! Featuring gorgeous art by Qin Leng, this picture book is a lush, colourful tour through a world we too often overlook.
This exciting and educational tribute to bugs features:
After reading Bompa's Insect Expedition, kids will come away understanding how essential bugs are to our world.
Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.
]]>Tanya Lloyd Kyi is the author of more than 30 books for children and young adults. Tanya's most recent books include What Will I Discover?, Our Green City, and Better Connected (written with her daughter, Julia Kyi). She lives in Vancouver, and teaches for the University of British Columbia's School of Creative Writing.
Qin Leng has illustrated picture books and magazines with publishers around the world. Recent books include her author-illustrator debut I Am Small, and Clover written by Nadine Robert, which received the Governor General's Literary Award for a French Language Illustrated Book. She lives in Toronto.
]]>From the extraordinary Hans Christian Andersen award winner Suzy Lee comes an inventive retelling of a Korean folk tale about a young traveler who outwits a rich, selfish man to ensure that villagers will always be able to rest in the shade of a magnificent tree.
Villagers like to come to rest and cool down in the shade of a huge, old tree. But when a young traveler decides to join them one day, a rich man on whose land the tree stands demands they leave because he owns the tree and therefore its shade. Thinking fast, the traveler strikes a deal: one that will enable him to outsmart the rich man - and ensure that the villagers will always have access to the shade tree's shade, wherever it may fall.
With simple, elegant illustrations, The Shade Tree is a striking story about one person's quest to combat greed for the greater good.
]]>Helen Mixter is a writer and the translator of several children's books, including the Governor General's Award-winning Harvey.
**Winner of the 2023 AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books**
An illustrated book about the digestive system and microbiome for young readers, from famous (and funny) scientist Dr. Jennifer Gardy.
Everybody eats, and everybody poops. Pretty ordinary stuff, right?
But what happens in between is far from ordinary! That's where your digestive system-also known as your gut-works its magic.
It Takes Guts is an excellent, science-based resource for classroom learning and home-schooling for kids age 9 to 13, with information about:
Dr. Jennifer Gardy also takes stomach-turning detours to investigate the science behind burps, barfs, and farts, proving that learning about the wonderful world of your gut - takes guts!
]]>Belle Wuthrich is an illustrator and designer specializing in books for young readers. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Belle has contributed to more than a dozen books for kids, a number of which have won awards or been republished internationally.
]]>A dazzling story about love - for the stars, and for one another - between two young people, set in the multicultural city of Montreal.
Every day, Yakov takes his sisters to the park. He's supposed to look after them, but their games are boring, so he reads about space and dreams of becoming an astronaut instead. His father, though, has other plans: he wants Yakov to take over his grocery store when he grows up.
Yakov's world changes when at the park one day, he comes across a girl also reading a book about space. Acha has moved into the house right behind his, and the two become inseparable. Together, they search for constellations, check out astronomy books from the library, and marvel at the night sky. However, their fathers fear they are growing too close. They are forbidden from spending time together, and Acha eventually moves away.
Years later, Yakov has achieved his dream: he works for NASA and builds space probes. Will he and Acha ever see each other again?
The Stars features:
From award-winning picture book creator and cartoonist Jacques Goldstyn, The Stars is a brilliant and heartwarming hymn to friendship, the infinity of the sky, and following what you love.
]]>Sixteen-year-old Grace lives under a bridge in Melbourne's CBD. It's cold and wet, but hidden. Safe, at least, until she can go home.
When winter drives her to the City Library one morning, Grace meets Louie, a weird kid with his own problems, and discovers a community piano. The piano reminds Grace of her mum, a celebrated pianist whose mental illness makes life a rollercoaster - and not always a fun one.
When Grace comes up with a plan to find the help she and Mum need, life begins to look up. But things don't work out as Grace imagines and suddenly her world's turned upside down again, and maybe for good this time.
A Way Home is a big-hearted novel that explores the complexities of growing up with a parent who is struggling, and about the places and people we call home.
'A page-turning, gritty story full of hope and compassion. The writing is assured and gripping, and Grace is a memorable and compelling character, beautifully realised. A Way Home is a riveting story of resilience and hope against the odds, both insightful and heartbreakingly real.' - Mark Smith, award-winning author of the Winter Trilogy
'A gritty and moving novel about a vulnerable young woman's capacity to endure, and to find courage, despite the shocking dysfunction in the lives of those she depends on.' - Ingrid Laguna, award-winning writer of Kit and Arlo
]]>#sparkaconversation
'A real feel-good story that beautifully captures the power of friendship.' Danielle Brown MBE, 2 x Paralympic gold medallist, speaker, inclusion champion, award-winning author
]]>Joanna Bartel is an Australian illustrator with a background in graphic design and secondary school art/design and English teaching. She draws much of her inspiration from everyday family life with three young kids, experiences in teaching, and childhood memories of fun with three brothers and lots of cousins. Joanna has a particular love for character design and celebrating diversity. Joanna can be contacted on Instagram: @joanna_emily_illustrates or on her website: joanna-emily.com
]]>This non-fiction picture book brings to life the fascinating but little-known story of Jessie Hickman (18901936), Australia's so-called 'Lady Bushranger'.
A women who lived outside the norms of her time, Jessie was a brave and formidable woman, with a life full of adventure, action and danger. At the age of 8, she joined a travelling bush circus, learning to perform as a whip cracker, sharpshooter and rough rider. She would perform dangerous feats, like tightrope walking or handstands on bare-backed ponies. When the circus closed, became an outlaw and cattle rustler, famous for her daring escapes.
The endmatter includes information on travelling circuses in Australia, bushrangers and buckjumping, as well as a timeline of Jessie's life and accomplishments accompanied by historic images.
This lavishly illustrated picture book immerses the reader in the wilderness of what is now the Wollemi National Park as Jessie's life unfolds with every turn of the page.
]]>Frane Lessac is an author and illustrator of over 50 books in the UK, US and Australia. She has won numerous awards, including the Muriel Barwell Award for Distinguished Service to Children's Literature in 2010.
Mark and Frane frequently collaborate to produce wonderful stories, such as Simpson and His Donkey and Midnight the Story of a Light Horse and the Our Country series. Their award-winning books tackling Australian bushranger legends include Ned Kelly and the Green Sash and The Legend of Moondyne Joe. Their latest collaboration is The Legend of Jessie Hickman.
]]>The barge had delivered the Forty Thieves onto the ship!
Marion's life is anything but ordinary. The daughter of the principal, Captain Neitenstein, she is the only girl aboard a magnificent floating boys' school, anchored permanently in Sydney Harbour in the late 1800s. Her best friend has boarded a steamship to France and now it's just her and this ship full of ragtag schoolboys. One night, Marion discovers that a new student, Alexander Walker, is escaping the ship to meet up with his vicious gang, the Forty Thieves. Marion bravely follows Walker into the frightening Rocks neighbourhood to investigate...What are the Forty Thieves up to and will Marion be able to stop them before it's too late?
Based on the real life Marion Neitenstein, this middle-grade 'faction', which offers an immersive and historically accurate experience of an unusual nineteenth-century institution for neglected boys. Marion's middle-class life is contrasted with Sydney slum life and wharf culture. Other important real characters appear, including businessman Quong Tart and the head of the Forty Thieves gang Joseph Bragg.
The author used primary sources to research the story, such as old gaol inmate records and even Quong Tart's original menus, and delves into these sources in the endmatter, covering topics such as the Nautical school-ships Vernon and Sobraon and their captains, the Rocks, Quong Tart and more. The text is accompanied by real photographs from the ship, portraits of three Sobraon boys from the admissions book and images of Sydney street scene from the period.
]]>Aussie STEM Stars is an inspiring children's series that celebrates Australia's experts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Gisela Kaplan's story begins in post-World War II Germany. Despite incredible challenges as a child, she retained a profound curiosity, care and compassion for all living things. Her captivating, ground-breaking scientific research on Australian magpies, tawny frogmouths and other iconic bird species, as well as primates, make Prof. Kaplan a world-leading expert in animal behaviour, especially of Australian birds.
Professor Kaplan is on a mission to spread the word about how intelligent and surprising birds are, before time runs out for many of them.
]]>Johnston's research group at UNSW investigates the ecology of human impacts in marine systems, combining the diverse disciplines of ecology, microbiology and ecotoxicology to expand fundamental understanding and provide recommendations for management. Her research is conducted in such diverse field environments as Sydney Harbour, Antarctica, the Great Barrier Reef and temperate Australian estuaries.
She is a regular media commentator and, as co-presenter of the Foxtel/BBC television series Coast Australia, which has helped take Australian marine science to an international audience. She also launched a Sydney Harbour cruise called Underwater Secrets' Sydney Harbour Revealed, which focuses on scientific research into the waterway.
]]>In 2018 Michelle became Australian of the Year and is an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow. She is passionate about encouraging girls to pursue a career in science and technology: 'Seeing women in leadership roles and competing internationally ... gives them the sense that anything is possible'.
]]>This collection of quotes has been carefully curated from Swift's numerous public statements interviews, op-eds, social media posts, and more, specifically geared toward middle and high school readers. It's a comprehensive picture of her meteoric rise to the top, her ever-savvy business sense, and her increasingly outspoken perspective on the music world and beyond. This edition includes educational materials and resources for lesson plans designed to provoke discussion and thought for readers in grades 712 about Taylor Swift's ideas.
Swift's catchy, chart-topping songs have propelled her to become one of the bestselling musicians of all time. But in the nearly 20 years she's been making music, she has also amassed enough power to buck the norms of an industry notorious for controlling the images of its often very young female artists.
Her latest, unprecedented record deal gives her ownership of all her master records, the ability to dictate the terms of her albums' streaming releases in order to maximise her profits, and a requirement that her label share proceeds from the sale of its stake in Spotify with its musicians. She has championed the rights of artists to earn fair royalties, and more recently, she has inspired tens of thousands of fans to register to vote.
Swift's achievements have earned her spots on both Forbes's Most Powerful Women and Time's 100 Most Influential People lists. Now, for the first time, young readers find her most inspirational, thought-provoking quotes in one place.
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