AustLit

'April thinks if her town was a colour, it would be grey. Everyone is too busy to stop and look around. How can she help them slow down?

'When she remembers the happiness that dandelions brought her grandmother, April comes up with a plan ...

'Bursting with colour, this is a sweet story about flowers, family and the wonders children wish for.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Sam's life has always been strange. After all, his family have no idea that he's half monster, half fairy.

'But now he's keeping an even bigger secret. He alone has the power to bring monsters to life! (He's even got a tiny gargoyle hatchling hidden in his sock drawer.)

'When Queen Maggie finds out, she's delighted. She wants Sam to create her a whole new legion of vile ogres.

'When he refuses, she vows that she will destroy everything Sam holds dear. And so the stage is set for a final battle, one that will determine not just Sam's future, but that of the whole of monsterkind …' (Publication summary)

'An entertaining and enlightening look at how to wallop waste and reduce rubbish from renowned picture book creator Philip Bunting.' (Publication summary)

'The magical follow-up to The Monster Who Wasn't. The second book in this brilliantly rich and strange fantasy series will make us all believe in monsters – be they good, bad or somewhere in between.

'Sam might be half-monster and half-fairy, but since finding a loving family with the Kavanaghs, his daily life has been all human. And now he's facing one of the greatest human challenges – starting secondary school.

'But Sam barely has time to worry about the strange stuff teachers say (why do they call it the Great War when it sounds like was anything but great?) before he is thrust back into the world of monsters. Sam's school friends Amira, Hazel and Wilfred reveal that they are shifters: noble twin-souled beings who live half their lives as humans and the other half as dogs. When his new friends are kidnapped one by one, Sam is dragged into an adventure that will force him to confront both halves of his own identity, monster and fairy, if he wants a chance at saving their lives …' (Publication summary)

'This is the story of a creature who hatches down in the vast underground lair where monsters dwell but who looks just like a human boy. He's a child with feet in both worlds, and he doesn't know where he fits. But little does Imp realise that Thunderguts, king of the ogres, has a great and dangerous destiny in mind for him.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Frank does not know how to feel when Nick Underbridge rescues her from bullies one afternoon. No one likes Nick. He is big, he is weird and he smells - or so everyone in Frank's class thinks. And yet, there is something nice about Nick's house. There is strange music playing there, and it feels light and good and makes Frank feel happy for the first time in forever. But there is more to Nick and to his house, than meets the eye, and soon Frank realises she is not the only one keeping secrets. Or the only one who needs help. A poignant, darkly comic and deeply moving story about the power of the extraordinary, and finding friendship where you least expect it.' (Source: Publisher's blurb)

'Errol and his teddy, Thomas, are best friends who do everything together. Whether it's riding a bike, playing in the tree house, having a tea party or all of the above, every day holds something fun to do together.'

'One sunny day, Errol finds that Thomas the Teddy is sad, and Errol can't figure out why. Then Thomas the Teddy finally tells Errol what Teddy has been afraid to say: 'In my heart, I've always known that I'm a girl Teddy, not a boy Teddy. I wish my name was Tilly.' And Errol says, 'I don't care if you're a girl teddy or a boy teddy! What matters is that you are my friend.''

'A sweet and gentle story about being true to yourself and being a good friend, Introducing Teddy can also help children understand gender identity.' (Source: Publisher's website)

'The perfect life or the perfect love? You choose.

'Sabine isn't like anyone else.

'For as long as she can remember, she's had two lives. Every twenty-four hours she 'Shifts', living each day twice.

'All Sabine has ever wanted is the chance to live one life. When it seems like this might finally be possible, Sabine begins a series of dangerous experiments to achieve her goal. But is she willing to risk everything - including the one man who might actually believe her?' (Publication summary)

'Secrets, lies, murder and betrayal.

'Micah Wilkins is a liar. But when her boyfriend, Zach, dies under brutal circumstances, the shock might be enough to set her straight. Or maybe not. Especially when lying comes as naturally to her as breathing. Was Micah dating Zach? Did they kiss? Did she see him the night he died? And is she really hiding a family secret? Where does the actual truth lie?

'Liar is a breathtaking roller-coaster read that will have you up all night, desperately seeking for something true.' (From the publisher's website.)

A twelve-year-old boy cares for his mentally ill father.

Bob the Builder is a very happy man until the day his nice, messy house is infested with elves. The elves tidy up Bob's house till it's horribly clean and bright. They even shine his working boots, polish his hard hat, and put fairy bread in his lunch box. His mates just laugh and laugh. Bob is so embarrassed! But with the help of Lily Sweet, the lady next door, he achieves a compromise, and lots of good things follow.

'When a thief steals two splendid lobsters - kings of the sea - and leaves a secret message on the empty tank, Mr Petrusca is more upset than anyone can understand. Hazel Green knows there's something fishy going on, but it takes all her ingenuity, plus a little help from the Yak, to crack the code and solve the mystery. And even then, Hazel still has important work to do...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.