AustLit

'There are eleven words for love, and my family knows them all.

'A family flees their homeland to find safety in another country, carrying little more than a suitcase full of love.

'As their journey unfolds, the oldest child narrates 11 meanings for love in Arabic as her family show, and are shown, all different kinds of love in their new home, and they also remember the love they have for their homeland and for those left behind or lost along the way.

'In the Arabic language, there are over 50 words describing the degrees of love. That's 50 stories, 50 life-worlds. This lyrical and heartwarming book takes you on a journey through 11 of these Arabic expressions for love.' (Publication summary)

'Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex and, as an autistic person, change can be terrifying. With the first day of high school only a couple of months away, Alex is sure that having a friend by his side will help. So, he’s devised a plan – impress the kids at school by winning a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his trusty sidekick, Kevin. This should be a walk in the park . . . right?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'For anyone who has ever wished for a party every day of the year, this is a story about finding your own reasons to have cake.

'Christopher Robin had Pooh. Calvin had Hobbes. Audrey has Lion. This is the story of two friends learning the joy of celebrating the every day because sometimes it's important to enjoy things like Tuesdays, coconuts, orange, purple, and lions.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A beautiful new picture book written and illustrated by Maxine Beneba Clarke - all about the power of expressing yourself.

'Put on your passion. Flaunt your heart on your sleeve. You're a fashionista. Work it. Wear it. Believe.

'A gorgeous gift book for anyone who wants to embrace their individuality from the award winning author of The Patchwork Bike and Wide Big World.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'The story of a young boy and a whale as she swims into the river harbour seeking safety and a resolution to the violent past relationship between whales and man. This prosaic journey reveals how the past can impact our future. Can the boy make amends for the past? Can the whale forgive and return to what was once her ancestors' home?' (Publisher's blurb)

'Extraordinary imagery and rich language spark the reader's imagination as they enter the creative world of a young girl.

'From award-winning author Meg McKinlay and celebrated artist Matt Ottley comes a moving and visually stunning picture book that celebrates the transformative power of the creative process from inception through recognition to celebration and releasing into the world. We shadow the protagonist as she contemplates the blue print of an idea, collects the things that inspire from the natural world to shape a bird. And breathes life into it before letting it fly free. It shows how small things, combined with a little imagination and a steady heart, can transform into works of magic.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

we're saying black people are wonderful-strong.
That we deserve to be treated with basic respect,
and that history's done us wrong.

'From birth to the end of school, in joy and in sorrow, on the trumpet and the djembe, at home and in the community, a black child's parents remind him why Black Lives Matter.

'A gorgeous and essential picture book for children of all ages from bestselling and award-winning author Maxine Beneba Clarke.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'An exciting new addition to the narrative nonfiction series Nature Storybooks, about kookaburras.

'In the crinkled shadows night-dwellers yawn, day-creatures stretch and Kookaburra laughs. Kook-kook-kook. Kak-kak-kak.

'The team behind Dingo is back again with a new addition to the Nature Storybooks series. The kookaburra, perhaps Australia's best-loved bird, is shown in all her glory in a stunning and vivid landscape. Follow along as Kookaburra finds food for her young and goes searching for a nest with her mate.

'Full of fun and interesting facts about kookaburras - perfect for nature lovers and budding wildlife scientists.' (Publication summary)

'At first we can only see the sea creature's tails. Some clues help us try to identify each creature as we learn more about each one. Now, can you guess the sea creature that each tail belongs to before they are revealed once the page is turned?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When Ellie is very little, she finds a newborn dragon fresh from the egg on a supermarket shelf, and calls him Scratch. He is quite the sweetest thing she has ever seen! From that day on, Ellie and Scratch do everything together. Ellie's mum and her teacher can't see her fiery friend, but all her friends can - and, over the years, Ellie's dragon grows to be big, house-trained, and very affectionate. And Ellie is growing, too...

'A moving story about the wonders of imagination and the nature of growing up from one of Australia's most revered bookmakers.' (Publication summary) 

'This celebratory picture book from Frané Lessac shines a light on beloved nighttime traditions under the starry skies of North America.

'Beneath a blanket of stars, crowds cheer at Little League games, campers share fireside stories, bull-riders hold on tight, and sled dogs race through falling snow — all under the Milky Way. Vivid artwork, engaging verses, and facts about the United States and Canada will captivate readers of all ages in a joyful offering from Frané Lessac.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Ollie was small – like a pickling jar or a shoe box. Augustus was big – like a fridge or a table. They did most things together, including cycling, painting, dressing up, digging (Ollie's favourite thing) and stick collecting (Augustus's favourite thing). But Ollie is about to start school, and he has one major concern: who will keep Augustus company? He decides to search for a playmate for his enormous companion, but good friends are hard to find, especially for your best mate. In the end, Augustus shows Ollie that he doesn't mind waiting for him and that he can enjoy his time at school, worry-free.'

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.

'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.

'You can only see my tail, what insect am I? Heads and Tails: Insects is a playful follow up book to the highly successful Heads and Tails.

'At first we can only see their tails. Some clear, simple clues add detail as we learn more about each one. Now, can you guess the insect that each tail belongs to?' (Publication summary)

'Steve is a gorilla who lives at a zoo in Rio. In the evenings, he listens to jazz on the radio with his friend, Antonio the zookeeper. One night, Steve is feeling a little lonely and so he lifts the latch of his cage door and goes off to search for Antonio. At the tram stop outside the zoo, he finds a hat — the perfect disguise. Steve climbs aboard a tram and rides down the hillside, past the favelas and into the city. It is carnival time in Rio! Fireworks explode in the sky and sequinned dancers shimmy along the avenue. ‘Feliz Carnaval’ cry the sambistas. Steve follows the sounds of a saxophone and discovers his friend Antonio playing in a quartet at the Blue Jaguar Jazz Club. When a beautiful dancer steps on to the dance floor, Steve takes her by the hand. They twirl and twist to the music until suddenly, Steve’s hat falls off to reveal he is a gorilla! Calmly, the dancer puts Steve’s hat back on his head and they spin this way and that way, this way and that way, all the way to dawn.' (Publication summary)

'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: Rory forgot his playlunch and did something that shocked everyone, Battie freaked out because he thought he'd ruined Grandparents Day and Melanie held a cake stall to help homeless puppies, but it didn't really help anyone! A lot can happen in fifteen minutes.' (Publication summary)

'It is Christmastime, 1914, and World War I rages. A young French soldier named Pierre had quietly left his regiment to visit his family for two days, and when he returned, he was imprisoned. Now he faces execution for desertion, and as he waits in isolation, he meditates on big questions: the nature of patriotism, the horrors of war, the joys of friendship, the love of family, and how even in times of danger, there is a whole world inside every one of us. And how sometimes that world is the only refuge. Its publication coinciding with the centennial of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, this moving and sparely narrated story, based on true events, is reenacted in fascinating miniature scenes that convey the emotional complexity of the tale. Notes from the creators explore the innovative process and their personal connection to the story.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'When Amos starts counting sheep, there’s one thing he doesn’t quite count on … How’s he supposed to sleep when the sheep land – THUD! THUD! – in his bedroom?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.