AustLit

'Celebrating the twentieth anniversary, this is the story of Mothball, one of the world's most famous wombats - and where it all began.

'She is small. She is scared. She is lost.

'She is a baby wombat who needs a home.

'She is Mothball, a wombat destined to become famous.

'This is the (almost) true story of one small wombat who learnt how to train her humans - and inspired the internationally best-selling picture book Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley.'(Publication summary) 

'A plucky little dachshund finds a new way of being useful when his life suddenly changes. When the life you know and love is taken away from you, you can go under or adapt to change. Charles is a plucky little dachshund who has spent his life working in an art gallery until one day the government bans dogs from their premises. With the help of his human friends Marty and Bev, Charles learns that he can still be important and keep contributing to other people's happiness. A story for our times of courage, friendship and resilience.'(Publication summary)

'Inspired by an extraordinary true story, Where the Heart Is explores the friendship between Dindim the Magellanic penguin and his rescuer, Joao.

'With gorgeous illustrations and flowing prose, it depicts Dindim’s 8000-mile journey to his Patagonian home, and his longing to return. Young readers will delight in travelling across the ocean with Dindim, meeting whales and albatross! Heartfelt and educational, this is a celebration of the power of friendship and the beauty of the natural world.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Beneath the western mountains, on the open plains of the high Monaro where the skies are blue and big, there lived a little dragon lizard.

'Timpo is the smartest, best-disguised lizard in Narrawallee, the Big Grass Country. Wolfie the spider is his good friend, but there are no other dragon lizards and he is lonely for his own kind.

'Timpo and Wolfie embark on a journey to discover if Timpo is indeed the last dragon left in the valley. Through a landscape of grassland, granite boulders, shiny snow gums, and shady creeks they search, encountering new friends but also facing grave danger. Wolfie must return home with her spiderlings, but Timpo trudges on … will he ever find another dragon lizard?

'Featuring stunning artwork in ink and graphite by artist Mandy Foot, and an author’s essay on the Monaro Grassland Earless Dragon and its grassland habitat, this is a book that will have crossover appeal as a gift book for adults.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'The students of Mount Mayhem primary school are fed up. Their uniform is hideous, the tuckshop sells only healthy food, and the sports cupboard is empty.

'It’s time to find a leader who will speak on their behalf. But who will it be? They need an election!

'Fortunately Ms Sparks is an expert on preferential voting. Voting has never been so much fun.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Have you ever seen a fish that could do a handstand?

'This is the story of a quirky and primitive little fish that is famous for two things: walking on its 'hands' (pectoral fins), and being the first marine fish anywhere in the word to be listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Spotted Handfish has survived since the time of the dinosaurs — until now. Invasive sea stars, pollution and climate change mean that this unique Australian is in real trouble — raise your hand if you want to know more!

'Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish is perfect for primary aged readers.' (Publication summary)