AustLit

'The only book about bums you'll need this Easter.

'This is a book for anyone who has a bum or anyone who likes Easter or anyone who has a bum AND likes Easter! It's a celebration of skipping through the tulips bums, egg-hunt bums and even Easter hat bums.

'From bestselling pair Kate Mayes and Andrew Joyner comes The Easter Bum Book, a book to put bunny ears on - hippity, hoppity, hop bum!' (Publication summary)

'When the parents of naughty babies realise they can send them back, the storks' village is suddenly inundated! Will the babies settle into their new home, or will they be returned to sender?

'From sparkling new duo Cressida Gaukroger and illustrator Andrew Joyner comes this wickedly funny cautionary tale about naughty babies and their exasperated parents learning to get along, with a little help from the storks. Perfect for fans of I Want My Hat Back (Jon Klassen) and Not Now, Bernard (David McKee), Back to the Storks is both uproarious and blessed relief for frazzled 'gentle parents' everywhere!' (Publication summary)

'A hilarious, fully illustrated tale about an unlikely friendship between a girl and an octopus that is perfect for newly independent readers, from one of Australia's most respected writers for children and an award-winning illustrator.

'FOUND!

'One octopus!

'Likes to eat tuna sandwiches.

'Goes by the name of 'Oswald'.

'It all began when Etta decided to take a bath . . . And realised she wasn't alone. On the floor lay a brown suitcase with Oswald written on it in fancy writing. And in the bath sat Oswald. Etta had never had an octopus in her bath before.

'Etta feels sure someone must be missing their octopus and is determined to return Oswald, but he seems a little less enthusiastic.

'When a rude lady with a net and a stick turns up to claim him, Etta must decide where Oswald really belongs.' (Publication summary)

'A hilarious and charming story about a boy and his fishy friend who do a series of odd jobs for their eccentric neighbours, from an Australian Children's Laureate and the bestselling creators of The Terrible Plop.

'Ursula Dubosarsky was the Australian Children's Laureate 2020-2021

'Hercules Quick wants to be a magnificent magician. He just needs a special box of magic tricks. But the box is expensive, and Hercules doesn't have any money. Luckily, Hercules lives in a big apartment block with Aunt Alligator and his tadpole friend, Sylvie, and he has plenty of neighbours who are willing to pay for his help. Whether it's babysitting for the Elks, spring-cleaning for Queen Claude, or helping Professor Calamari choose the perfect bow tie, no job is too odd for Hercules Quick!

'Join the enterprising Hercules on his neighbourhood adventures as he discovers that sometimes the best magic of all is not a trick.' (Publication summary)

'The only book about bums you'll need this Christmas

'This is a book for anyone who has a bum or anyone who likes Christmas or anyone who has a bum AND likes Christmas! It's a celebration of Santa's bum and Rudolph's bum and tinsel, twinkle and turkey bums.

'From bestselling pair Kate Mayes and Andrew Joyner comes The Christmas Bum Book, a book you'll want to deck the halls with - fa, la, la, la, la bum!' (Publication summary)

'Hook them on reading for life, with the fully illustrated adventures of Mary and Marcus.

'Contains five hilarious and silly stories, perfect for emerging readers!

'Mary is the happiest panda in the world.
She loves to sing and dance and play the ukulele.
But sometimes things get out of hand!
Lucky she has her best friend, Marcus the snake, to help her out.

'From Australian Children's Laureate Ursula Dubosarsky and award-winning illustrator Andrew Joyner comes five madcap stories about two very different friends.' (Publication summary)

'The flock has been ‘the flock’ since the beginning of time. Or since last Tuesday. Whichever came first.

'When a new sheep joins the flock, she realises that home can be warm and safe and good.

'But what happens when the new sheep decides to leave?

'A hilariously subversive tale about bravery, independence, and that first bold step away from the crowd.' (Publication summary)

'From a #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator comes a picture book to celebrate and remember the days we spent inside-the joys and the hardships, the bravery and the resilience, but most of all the love.

'This book, inspired by kids who found ways to stay connected to the people they love during the pandemic, is about what an imaginative, curious and loving little girl did when her world was turned inside out.

'The girl played inside, she learned inside, she waited inside. She talked on the phone to her Nan inside. Her days and nights were all inside, and she would think about what she missed outside--the running, cheering, splashing, hugging, and of course her Nan.

'Finally, when the girl could go outside, she was happy to be there--to hug her Nan, see her friends, and even climb a tree. But she had changed inside, and she knew she would always remember the small things and the big things that made that time special.

'Here is a picture book that will help young children remember, process, and resolve the feelings they had during the pandemic. Includes prompts to encourage readers to write their own inside stories.' (Publication summary)

'Hercules Quick dreams of being a magnificent magician. He is saving up to buy a box of magic tricks. Luckily, he has plenty of neighbours who need his help. Whether it's lending a hand to Professor Calamari or doing an out of season spring-clean for Queen Claude, no job is too odd for Hercules.

'Need something done? Ask Hercules Quick. Only ten cents!''A hilarious story about an ordinary boy who does a series of odd jobs for his eccentric neighbours, from the bestselling creators of The Terrible Plop. An Australia Reads exclusive story.' (Publication summary)

'School event? Ball game? Nana is there. But who will cheer on Nana after she takes a tumble? A sweet and spirited intergenerational story.

'Nana cheers the loudest at her grandson’s basketball game. She dances in the aisles at the spring concert. She yells at the umpire that he needs to get his eyes checked when he doesn’t call the strikes her grandson pitches. But when this go-go-go grandmother takes a tumble trying to get a front-row seat at the basketball game, it’s her grandson who roots her on in her recovery. Author Ann Stott celebrates our families’ biggest fans in a lively first-person narrative from the grandchild’s point of view. Andrew Joyner’s illustrations are as energetic and upbeat as Nana, who sparks much comic action, purse by her side. Filled with humour and heart, this tale will have readers – especially grandparents and their grandchildren – whistling and woo-hoo-ing!'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Everyone loves to play Boo!

'Join six gorgeous babies as they play Boo! with their favourite animal toys. But what will happen when the animals play too?

'An irresistibly joyous story for the very young, by two of Australia's most-loved picture-book creators.' (Publication summary)

'A hilarious and entertaining story about a boy who does a series of odd jobs for his eccentric neighbours, from the bestselling creators of The Terrible Plop.

''How much money do I have in my piggy bank?' asked Hercules.
'Actually,' said Aunt Alligator, 'I don't think you have a piggy bank, Hercules.' 

'Hercules sighed. No piggy bank, no money. I need a job, he thought.That's what I need. 

'He got out his paints, his paintbrush and a big piece of plain paper. On the paper, he painted some words.
'
NEED SOMETHING DONE? 
'ASK HERCULES QUICK!' (Publication summary)

'Unstoppable Me is about the sort of energetic child we all know and love — full of fun and play...and a bit exhausting! In this book, we see an unstoppable little boy, run, jump, and soar through his day. He takes a little time to refuel, then he's back at it—zooming and zipping around. This poetic, joyful book—filled with illustrations as bright and energetic as the boy himself— is a celebration of the active child.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The man with small hair loves his small hair. He also loves his short pants, zing-a-ding boots and clickety-clackety beads. He cartwheels with joy and bursts into song when he wears them. But the man with small hair is the only person who wears his hair small, and no one else has colourful boots or musical beads either. He decides to hide the things that make him happy in order to blend in with the crowd. Until one day he looks in the mirror and doesn’t recognise the man staring back at him.
 
The Man with Small Hair is an uplifting story about self-confidence, bravery and dancing to the beat of your own drum.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'From an extraordinary novelist and an award-winning illustrator comes this lyrical and unforgettable story about a boy and the untameable wildness of a hand-reared joey.

'This is a story about a boy called Pender and a kangaroo called Brindabella, about how they became friends, and all the things that happened to them because of it.

'Pender and his father live in an old house made of honey-coloured stone in the bush by the river, with only the company of his father's paintings and the loyal dog, Billy-Bob. Then, on one winter morning, a gunshot amongst the trees changes everything.

'When Pender rescues Brindabella from the pouch of her murdered mother, an unusual friendship blossoms between the lonely boy and the orphaned joey. But Brindabella is no ordinary kangaroo. And though Pender has saved her life, the untameable wildness of the bush--and freedom--call to her...

'Lyrical and unforgettable, Brindabella explores the brutal beauty of the Australian bush.' (Publication summary)

'It starts with one little goat. 
It ends with one little goat. 
But what happens in between is a whirlwind of nonsense and fun.

'International favourites Ursula Dubosarsky and Andrew Joyner make the most of their advanced sense of the ridiculous in this hilarious read-aloud traditional tale.' (Source: Publisher's blurb) 

'Celebrate the 2017 and 2018 Women’s Marches with this charming and empowering picture book about a pink hat and the budding feminist who finds it. ' (Publication summary)

'This is a book for anyone who has a bum or knows someone with a bum. It's a celebration of my bum and your bum and the whole world's bum.

'From bestselling author Kate Mayes and award-winning illustrator Andrew Joyner comes The Bum Book, the only book about bums you'll ever need.'  (Publication summary)