AustLit

'During World War I, Australian and New Zealand soldiers on the front were sent Christmas care packages in a tin billy. The Anzac Billy is the heartwarming story of a little boy packing a billy with all his father’s favourite things – added to by mum and grandma – even though he realises there is no way that the billy can actually go to a particular soldier.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The jacket was no ordinary jacket. It was soft, like dandelion fluff. It was warm, like the afternoon sun. It was comforting, like a hug from your favourite teddy. In The Jacket, a child's favourite piece of clothing, which she outgrows, passes on to her little sister and then is repurposed for a new life. This is a heartwarming story about growing up and learning to let go of the things you become attached to in childhood.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When you are very, very young or very, very old, you can see things out of the corner of your eye. In between, all you can see is all you can see. Unless you are very, very lucky. Then the corner of your eye stays awake forever.

'The story of an ageing man who has lost something. But what and where? His granddaughter, Sally, helps him find it. Subtle and touching, this is an emotional response to people trying their best to live in an imperfect world.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'As ngua rises, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen. Wilam – home. 

'Yarra Riverkeeper Andrew Kelly joins award-winning picture book duo Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy to tell the Indigenous and geographical story of Melbourne’s beautiful Yarra river, from its source to its mouth; from its pre-history to the present day.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A heartwarming celebration of Christmas, family and faith by two of Australia's finest picture book creators.

Sarah loves her two grandmas – Grandmother Azar and Grandmother Maria. Grandmother Azar tells Sarah stories from the Holy Koran, while Grandmother Maria tells her stories from the Bible. At Christmas time, Sarah snuggles in each of her grandmothers' laps and listens to two nativities stories about the birth of baby Jesus. They are the same in some ways, and different in others ... but both can be Sarah's favourite.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The first people of the land call the Mallee “Nowie”. It means sunset country. When the sun goes down the red heat of the day bleeds into the sky and sets it on fire. Drought and rain – life under a Mallee Sky.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Nic is left in the care of her grandfather at the remote family property that was once her mother’s childhood home; a place with thirty rooms, three dogs and no mobile reception. Left to her own devices, she searches for clues about her mother – who died the day Nic was born. But when Nic learns how to slip through time, she discovers more than she could have imagined. The past holds a dark and shocking secret that haunts the land and the people who live there.'   (Publication summary)

'I built a ship from this and that. I named her Spirit. Could Spirit sail? I knew she could. A beautiful picture book about resilience, imagination and hope.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'White gum rustle, tawny frog mouths still as wood, dragonflies swoop. Banjo frog calls the secret – watch the world carefully, your backyard is home to animals other than you! A child stands on her back step at dusk and surveys her backyard. The backyard is teeming with life - birds, possum, native rat, bats, insects and bugs.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Award-winning picture book creators Claire Saxby and Wayne Harris team up to bring us a gentle story of nature, history, recycling and art.

'A bird drops a seed to the floor of the forest. The seed grows into a sapling, then a tree. The tree is felled and taken to a busy city. Bird to Bird is the story of one bird, one seed, one tree. Award-winning picture book creators Claire Saxby and Wayne Harris have crafted a gentle story of nature, history, recycling and art.' (Publication summary)

'This is what happened during Little Lunch: Debra-Jo began acting very weird after a mysterious truck arrived at school, Rory was put in charge of the class when playlunch was rained out, and Tamara Noodle started a game of kiss-chasey just so she could chase and kiss Battie. A lot can happen in fifteen minutes!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'This is what happened during Little Lunch: Atticus's grandmother made a weird smelly playlunch that Atticus refused to eat, Battie dressed up as Stretcho and did a whole bunch of amazing superhero deeds, and Melanie got Germblocked by everyone and she couldn't work out why. A lot can happen in fifteen minutes!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'I don’t want to go to Australia. I have just started grammar school. My best friend Sally goes there too. But it looks like there could be another war and Dad has convinced Mum to go. Because we’re migrants, the voyage is costing Mum and Dad only £10 each. My brother Brian and I are travelling free. It’s a long way to Australia. What if we never come back to England? In the 1950s and 60s Australia welcomed thousands of British immigrants as part of the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. Ten Pound Pom is the true story of award-winning author Carole Wilkinson’s immigration to Australia.' (Publication summary)

'This is an expansive and generous Welcome to Country from a most respected Elder, Aunty Joy Murphy, beautifully given form by Indigenous artist Lisa Kennedy.

'Welcome to the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People. We are part of this land and the land is part of us. This is where we come from. Wominjeka Wurundjeri balluk yearmenn koondee bik. Welcome to Country.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'This hilarious tie-in edition of the smash-hit television series Little Lunch has three bite-sized stories for young readers.

'This is what happened during Little Lunch: Battie fell out of the old climbing tree and Debra-Jo campaigned to cut it down, Max and Elsa disappeared from school under mysterious circumstances and a Grade Six girl asked Rory out, but he ended up kissing someone else. A lot can happen in fifteen minutes! Three hilarious stories from the smash-hit television series Little Lunch.

'This TV tie-in has three hilarious stories with small illustrations throughout. Perfect for establishing independent reading. After reading the first story no child could resist reading the other two! ' (Publication summary)

'3 highly illustrated, hilarious stories about a group of kids and their adventures during the fifteen minutes of Little Lunch.

'This is what happened during Little Lunch: we played Chinese whispers in a circle around the big old tree, Melanie saved a fly and opened up an Insect Hospital, and Rory kicked his football over the off-limits fence. What else can happen in fifteen minutes?' (Publication summary)

'The true story of a little dog who had adventure in his heart and the rattle of the rails in his soul.

'In the early days of the railway, when shiny new tracks were opening vast areas of Australia, there was an adventurous dog who was part of it all. As the tracks were being laid he was there on the train - riding in his favourite spot on top of the Yankee engine. Everyone knew him. He was Bob the Railway Dog. ' (Publication summary)

'Based on the true story of a quilt made by convict women on board the Rajah, bound for Australia.

'Lizzie Flynn has nothing but her name when she boards the Rajah, which is bound for the penal colony of Australia. On board the Rajah the convict women were given a "useful bag" containing among other things fabric and needle and thread. The women were taught to sew and together they made the Rajah quilt which is currently housed in the National Library.' (Publication summary)

'Rabbit would like a friend. What can he do to find one? For any little Rabbits - or Dragons, Sheep, Roosters or Rats - and anyone else who has ever needed a friend. A story about finding your place, with the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. ' (Publication summary)