AustLit

'Fairy Wrens know exactly when to begin singing, and it’s sooner than you think!

'In this beautifully illustrated story, a fairy wren lovingly builds a nest, lays her eggs and starts to sing a unique song. She sings the song over and over as she sits on her eggs. When the chicks hatch, their eyes are still closed and they have no feathers. But they can already sing for their food. And the song that they sing is the song their mother has been singing to them before they were even born.

'This charming story is a great introduction to a beloved bird and will spark conversations about preparing for a baby and the songs we sing together.' (Publication summary)

'A moving story about a shy girl coming out of her shell with a little help from her pet snail

'Lucy and Dad move a lot, so it's hard to make friends.

'Luckily, she has Snail, the perfect pet for a lonely girl. If only she had her own shell to hide in when she started at a new school.

'But this place is different. She likes her teacher, Miss Darling. She likes her classmates, especially Tahnee. She even likes Mei-hui's van park, where she lives with Dad and Snail. This place feels like home. But can she convince her dad to stay?

'From the author of Bully on the Bus comes this moving story about making friends and finding where you belong.' (Publication summary)

 (Publication summary)

'Warna-Manda Baby, the earth is part of you.

'Follow Allurru as she is guided across the land on a journey to discover her connection to Mother Earth and find her way home.

'An ode to earth, sea and sky, Warna-Manda Baby Earth Walk is a gift to future generations to help them connect, care and understand the world around them.'

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

'Smudge has been Lucy's best friend since she was little. But these days, Lucy is too big to ride her beloved pony.

'Lucy is sure no one can replace Smudge, even when Pa brings home a new horse called Copper. Can Lucy grow to love Copper just as much? A story that will warm the heart of every animal lover, from the bestselling author-illustrator of Joey & Riley and The Wheels on the Bus.' (Publication summary)

'Each day Esmeralda collects a variety of objects and waddles down the hill.

'Everyone wonders why the Saddleback sow is carrying a bottle, fencing wire and a pair of sneakers in her mouth.

'Only Esmeralda knows. Nothing will stop her.

'Esmeralda's Nest is a sweet story introducing children to the days of the week and the way that animals nest.' (Publication summary)

'Phil Cummings has written a hilarious rollicking story that follows cheeky farmyard animals and their antics when the farmer goes to bed.

'The farmer was tired at the end of the day, so he went to bed and snored away. But not the animals, they took a chance, to have some fun, to have a dance.  The cows kicked their hooves in time.  Clickety clack clickety clack. The sheep danced in a crooked line. Tippety tap tippety tap. The chicken’s feathers tickled the crowd. Flippety flap flippety flap. The ducks were wild, the ducks were loud. QUACKETY QUACK QUACKETY QUACK!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Joey lives on a farm with his mum, his grandad, and his best friend - Riley, a working dog. Joey and Riley are inseparable, sharing adventures all day long.

'But times are tough, and Joey and his mum have to move to town so that she can find work. Joey misses Riley desperately, relying on his grandad's letters to stay connected to his best mate. Until the day Grandad writes with sad news: Riley has gone missing in a big storm. Joey is devastated - but things might not be as they seem ...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

“All is quiet, all is still as the first stars appear in the evening sky. As night closes in, the farm settles down with all the animals, big and small, knowing that now is the time to snuggle into their warm cosy beds.” Hush say the Stars, it’s time to be still. The gentle cows gather on the side of the hill. Time for sleep.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Santa journeys around Australia on Christmas Eve delivering presents to all the Aussie animals who've made it onto the nice list, in this Christmas romp from bestselling illustrator Mandy Foot.

'As the sun sets on Christmas Eve, the Bush Santa's big night begins. He travels around Australia delivering special presents to all the Aussie animals, from the cockies in Cairns and the crocs of the Top End, to the wallabies in Canberra and the quokkas of Rottnest Island.

'Follow along with his journey in this lushly illustrated Christmas picture book.'  (Publication summary)

Jane Taylor's classic poem and favourite children's nursery rhyme is given an Australian twist, with lush illustrations of nocturnal Australian animals by illustrator Mandy Foot. As the publisher's blurb notes 'An adorable pygmy possum makes his way home to the nest [and] a very special star guides him. Along the way, he encounters many other Australian animals.'

'This little roo went to market.

'This little platypus stayed at home.

'This little croc had tasty treats.

'This little quokka had none.'

'When this little roo goes to market, this little platypus stays home. What surprise are the other Aussie animals planning while little roo is away?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Poetry for children and adults where smaller creatures of the animal kingdom and members of the insect world come to a 'sticky end.''  (Publication summary)

'It's been a long, hot, dry summer in the Aussie outback - and today it's bushfire weather. Luckily, Captain Kangaroo is in the skies and when he spots flames, he knows just what to do! While the fireys spring into action, Captain Kangaroo and his grandad, Old Pa Roo, help save the animals in this action-packed adventure.' (Publication summary)

'This little croc, he plays one, he plays knick knack on his tum,
With a knick knack bushwack,
Though he likes to roam,
This little croc comes rolling home.'

'Join little croc and his Aussie animal mates, as they make their way to the creek in this snappy and colourful retelling of ths classic kids' song.' (Publication summary)

'In Captain Kangaroo and the Footy Final, two teams of Australian animals are competing for the grand final cup. As always, Mandy Foot's illustrations are full of fun details that will keep kids engaged.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Brought to life by Mandy Foot's delightful illustrations, this wonderful picture book is full of noisy fun. Children will delight in reading along as we discover which animals Old MacDonald had on his farm including a kangaroo and an emu!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The Kanceroo is a creative, caring poetry anthology written specifically for children with cancer, their parents and loved ones. The poems introduce Australian animals whose names and attributes have been changed to refer to specific elements of the cancer 'journey'.

'I'm Confused might help you think about the sort of person you could be if you assumed traits from Australian native animals. Confused? There's a fair chance you'll be even more so after you see what sort of "Me-Critter" Mandy saw me as! [Graphic design by Ash Bennier.]' (Publication summary)

'In Shut the Duck Up, Indie dreams of being able to fly but as an Indian Runner Duck, he can t. Up late to practise his flying technique, he spots a fox and raises the alarm. No one believes him at first, but eventually Indie sets a trap that catches the fox and makes himself a hero. Bestselling illustrator Mandy Foot s colourful, kid-friendly illustrations bring to life the farmyard chaos. ' (Publisher's blurb)