AustLit

'Tired and anxious, Amanda Thomas Walsh, wakes up one morning wondering how she will get through the day with two young children to look after.

'Amanda’s thoughts rapidly descend, until the life-changing moment when she is bundled into an ambulance, rushed to a psychiatric ward and sectioned.

'A Mother’s Mind is Amanda’s journey of pain, discovery and ultimately, healing.'(Publication summary)

'Distant Island is a collection of poems exploring the role of motherhood, female identity and the sense of place.' (Publication summary)

'Later all he could remember was the blood-red geranium on the window ledge. The vibrant flower found at every mine head. Superstitions long held of its magical power to keep the mine safe and the devil at bay. Well, it had not worked for Pa, had not protected him. The devil, in all his malevolent evil, had been there, to destroy the one person who had been the mainstay of Jonathon's life.

'1821 survivor, Frenchman Christian de Furneaux crawls onto the dubious sanctuary of a Cornish beach. He sets in motion a saga that will encompass the tin mines of Cornwall to, decades later, the tin mines of South Australia.

'His descendants, including protagonist Jonathon de Furneaux, endure the downturn of the tin and copper industries. They grapple with the emerging China clay trade. Unexpected deaths, missing children and alcoholism.

'Jonathon travels to North Wales learns about sheep husbandry and slate quarrying but following setbacks, the family decide to seek a future in South Australia. They quickly become embroiled in the ethos of their new country and the different religious beliefs, cultures, politics of the 1880's and early gold rush finds.' (Publication summary)

'Jack and Harry Beaumont are young brothers, aged 8 and 6 years old, with a passion for writing and illustrating. They love reading books and thought they would have a go at writing their own. Jack came up with the idea for The Little Green Frog while slowly travelling on a canal boat down the River Nene in Northamptonshire, UK, counting dragonflies, damselflies and other wildlife spotted along the way. On returning to their home in Australia, Jack and Harry set about creating their book. Harry painstakingly used letterpress stamps to create the font and then painted sheets of paper, which were cut up, along with beautiful hand-marbled paper by Il Papiro in Melbourne, to create collages to illustrate Jack's words. The little green frog loves jumping. Follow him as he jumps from lily pad to lily pad. Where will he go? Will he reach his destination? The Little Green Frog is a book about resilience and not giving up. It's a perfect story for young children today. SELLING POINTS: The book is unique in that is has been written by children for children. Jack and Harry are brothers. They are aged 8 and 6 years old and they love reading, writing and illustrating books. The Little Green Frog is the first book to be published under the Little Green Olives imprint, an imprint of Green Olive Press, specially created for books written by children for children. The beautiful illustrations are mixed media collages, created by the younger brother using brightly painted paper cut into pieces, hand-marbled paper and tiny pieces of lace for the dragonfly's wings. The Little Green Frog is a charming story about resilience and never giving up. AUTHORS: Jack and Harry live in Melbourne. Most of the time they get on well with each other! They enjoy playing games, exploring the outdoors and writing and illustrating their own books. The Little Green Frog is their first book and they hope to write many more.' (Publication summary)

'12 Powerful and Inspiring Stories from Mothers Around the World

'Angela Kelly loved being a mother.

'But she often felt defeated and out of her depth. Sensing that she’d missed some kind of maternal memo, she set out to connect with other women. She wanted to know one thing: How were they navigating the seemingly unnavigable waters of the Motherhood Strait?

'From post-World War 2 Greece and earthquake-ravaged El Salvador, to modern-day Singapore, Canada and Australia, The Motherhood Collective brings together diverse tales of devotion, heartache and ultimately, survival.

'Laced with warmth and authenticity, this book explores themes of politics, religion, mental health, domestic violence, immigration, same-sex marriage, disability and divorce.

'Inspirational, funny and poignant, these stories will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'A family of possums’ lives and habitat are threatened by urban creep. What will happen to them? Where will they go?

'Can Louis, the boy who lives in the house at the top of the possums’ garden, save them before it’s too late?

'Schoolboy Ben Dark is a 13 year old, A minus student and B plus athlete. He keeps a low profile at school, with his friend Mike, a nerdy academic and Amanda, who is aloof and athletic. He spends his time playing the ancient strategy board game Go with Mike and avoiding the unwanted attention of the school bully.

'Ben’s life is turned upside down when a bunch of robots attack his school and try to grab him. Ben is further surprised when his two friends spring into action to help him escape, albeit onto an orbiting Phloundar space ship – who Ben soon discovers are some of the nastiest beings in the galaxy. They escape for a second time to a nearby planet, and after a brief encounter with an alien dinosaur, a mysterious guide helps them onto a ship to the planet city of Civis Mondi, the centre of the galaxy’s government – the Federation.

'Bolognese Days is a whimsical tale of adventure and possibilities for children of all ages to enjoy.

'Join Rhys, Tomos and Hunter and their three friendly dragons on an adventure to a mysterious land with a big red rock.

'Find out what happens when they run out of their favourite food, Bolognese, and have to fend for themselves in a land full of strange animals.

'With a special "Can You See Me?" section to help your little one find and learn the names of Australian animals.' (Publication summary)

'Would you like to learn about magic?

'Discover it the way I did. A longed for adventure after reading Anne of Green Gables as a child. Travelling from Sydney, Australia through unknown destinations to Prince Edward Island in Nova Scotia.

'“It’s delightful when your imaginations come true, isn’t it?”

'Anne Shirley’s words came true for me.

'Awaiting me was pure magic in a dusty mirror in a Green Gabled house.' (Publication summary)

'The Dragon Brothers: Let the adventure begin is the first in a series of whimsical tales of adventure and possibilities for children of all ages to enjoy. Join Rhys, Tomos and Hunter on their magical journey in a faraway land and find out what happens when they discover three mysterious eggs.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Some noted Australian book collectors and collections of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

'Lian Mage has run from slavery, and has been hiding in the caves above Ablit. Natalia (Tali) Overseer lives in Ablit with her little brother Marty, hiding their magical skills from those who would like magicians eradicated. When Lian and Tali meet, they realise that they have the same purpose: to make Ayurom again a land where magicians are welcomed and magic not feared. Their journey together to find help, and their quest for dragon scales, is full of adventure. The last showdown is with the Black Magician, Raconem, who is shot with an arrow from the bow called the Heart of Ayurom, Lian’s last link to his lost family.'

Source: Reading Time (http://readingtime.com.au/scales-time/). (Sighted: 16/3/2016)

'One day, Simone's dad rescues a tiny baby wombat. Her dad and mum know how much work's involved, but Simone is confident she can rear the little creature herself. Simone is as good as her word and, as Wilhelmina grows and grows, the two become inseparable. Adventures follow involving the family cat, Wilhelmina mistaking Dad for Simone, with surprises all round, and flying in Dad's aeroplane. The time comes, though, when a tough decision has to be made - one that will change Wilhelmina's life and Simone's world. With the theme of caring and sharing, the story of Simone and Wilhelmina will bring tears of laughter, sadness, and ultimately joy.' (Publication summary)