AustLit

'A sensitive, beautifully illustrated book that uses backyard chickens to give a closely observed child’s-eye view of early-onset dementia.

'Mama didn’t want chickens, but she grows to love them as her dementia symptoms increase. Her young children see that she doesn’t always act like her old self anymore; this upsets both them and the chickens, but Mama always finds ways to show them just how much they are wanted and loved.

'Children will relate to the endearing personalities of the chickens, while the award winning author draws on her own experience to create an entirely age-appropriate story about the impact of early-onset dementia. The result is a supportive, much-needed book about a reality that many families face.

'Dementia doesn’t only affect the elderly. Like the parent in the story, people with early-onset dementia may have memory loss, difficulty thinking, trouble recognising people or confusion, or begin acting unlike themselves. Michelle Worthington has had personal experience of all of these symptoms since her diagnosis with Progressive Nonfluent Aphasia (a form of dementia), and hopes her book will help children understand what dementia can look like when their care-giver suffers from it.

'Her wish is that the book will initiate open and honest communication and help parents all around the world recognise the symptoms while providing love and support for their children.' (Publication summary)

'Rainbow Monkey wonders why they are not invited to play with the other monkeys. They start to question if they swing too high, sing too loud, hug too tight, laugh too much, or march too fast. When they try to fit in, they lose the fun and sparkle of being themself. At home, they are celebrated and loved for being unique and encouraged to be who they want to be every day. This book is a great reminder for children with ADHD to embrace their individuality, shine bright, and be happy in their own bodies. Why fit in when you were born to stand out?' (Publication summary)

'Sass and Traz find themselves stuck in a library with a muddle headed knight, a fire breathing dragon and a magical box full of cards. They thought that puzzling pirates, speaking with a genius and rescuing a damsel in distress was difficult, but this time the future of the whole world is at stake. This time, they need to help Ms Burns understand the magic of the library and uncover her real destiny.' (Publication summary)

'Ruby loves to fix things, rather than throwing them away. When a shiny new department store opens next door to Ruby's Repair Cafe, everyone in town soon forgets about fixing things.

'But will Ruby be able to save her family business from big business before the rubbish takes over the town?' (Publication summary)

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'Sassafraz and Alcatraz are twins who couldn't be more different, except the fact that they love their local librarian, Ms Burns. When she goes missing, they must do everything in their power to save her, even travelling back in time.' (Publication summary)

'Mouse loves to dance.

'She tries her best but flops instead of flips and trips instead of twirls.

'With a little help from music box ballerina, Mouse learns that dancing is about more than moving...

'It comes from the heart.' (Publication summary)

'An adventurous, fast moving middle grade historical fiction about survival, second chances and searching for your place in the world. 

'As a young girl growing up in an unforgiving land, Connie learns that sometimes good people need to do bad things to survive. 

'When her pioneering family travels to outback Queensland to try and rebuild their lives, as their only surviving daughter, Connie struggles to fit into society’s expectations of her. 

'The challenges keep mounting as the unforgiving climate threatens their happiness.  Devastating drought is followed by a flood that wipes out their entire flock. And then Connie uncovers the real reason behind why her father had to leave Scotland.

' When her father's past finally catches up with him, can Connie find the courage to find her own path forward and rewrite the future for her family?' (Publication summary)
 

'Granny Smith looks after her husband, her children and the trees that grow in her orchard. The original Granny Smith was in fact more famous in her lifetime for being the local midwife than she was for her now internationally acclaimed green apples, hence her name. Her husband was ill, and she had to take the fruit from the orchard to the market by herself. When one tree doesn't look like the others, she still helps it to grow big and strong, to find out what it will be. Could it be the perfect tree, or will all her hard work be for nothing? With patience and resilience, from little things, big things grow, including love. In the end, this is also a love story between her and her husband.' (Publication summary)

'Discover the hilarious stories behind the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus, straight from Troll's top secret files. Troll takes you through the secrets behind the stories you think you know. For instance, rather than just one Easter Bunny there are 418 rabbits secretly trained in the ancient art of egg-fu. The tooth fairy doesn't look as good in a tutu as you might think either, although he's really a very nice chap. Santa's helpers might not be as elvish as you'd expected (maybe they're a bit more on the automated side?). Explore the clever, funny takes on these legends from award-winning children's author Michelle Worthington, with imaginative illustrations by artist Jasmine Berry.' (Publication summary)

'Once Upon a Whoops! A book full of fairy tales that have a little twist. All of them familiar. It's really quite a list. So, once upon a time is a good way to start, but twice upon a time is what tell these apart.

'A collection of twisted tales, ridiculous rhymes and peculiar pictures by Australian authors and illustrators to raise funds and awareness for premature babies with Life's Little Treasures Foundation's Sibling Story Time. ' (Publication summary)

'Sassafras and Alcatraz are twins who couldn't be more different, except for the fact that they love their local library and their mother is best friends with the librarian. They sit in the library while their mother coaches their older brothers football team. The librarian, Ms Burns, tells them the Mayor is going to demolish the library to make way for a car park and there is nothing she can do about it. When Sass goes down to the basement for the packing boxes, she puts her hands on the old library files that hold the Dewey Decimal Cards and something magical happens. She calls the characters of the books to life. The library is helping them to find a way to fight. Can they find the right combination of characters, including the knights, pirates and scientists, to stop the council and save the library?' (Publication summary)

'Treat yourself to this colourful Christmas story, as the adorable dinosaurs come together to celebrate. With festive fun and kindness, Christmas love is all around.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Baby bird is coming. Mouse wants to help. Can she get used to the responsibility of babysitting before Mama Bird comes back?

'A story of kindness and friendship and learning responsibility for small children.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

From the authors of Share Your Story, a collection of bedtime ballads and tall tales inspired by the Australian Bush written for the young and the young at heart. The bush ballad, bush song or bush poem is a style of poetry and folk music that depicts the life, character and scenery of the Australian bush. This modern interpretation from contempory authors celebrates what it means to them. All profits from the sale of the anthology are donated to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service to help protect our bush and support those who risk their lives to save it.

'Oh no! Oh no! How does it go?

That poem I forgot.

It went, 'something something something...'

I've forgot the flamin' lot.

Oh, how's it go? It's an epic verse

But I forgot to bring it.

I should have set it all to music,

I'd recall it if I sing it.

But some of it I must admit

I've deliberately erased.

It's irrational, illogical

And absolutely crazed!'(Publication summary)

'Love is big and small and all kinds of different colours. Love is doing your best. Love is never giving up. Celebrate love in all its forms with a cast of adorable dinosaurs.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Down a hole in the middle of a field, Mouse slept in a bed made of feathers, moss, leaves and straw. Her nose and paws curled tightly inward but her long tail sticking out. Spring is here. Mouse wants things to stay the same. Can Wind show her all of the beautiful things that come with change?'(Publication summary)