AustLit

'The hawker’s wagon jingled and jangled as it came down the track...

'Annie and Arthur have been eagerly awaiting Bhagwan Singh’s next visit. What wondrous things will he have in his cart this time, among the silk and soap, spices and shirts?

'As the hawker makes his camp for the night, the children savour spun sugar and food from the Punjab, discovering the secret star anise.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Mama Ocean had eyes that sparkled, like sunlight on the sea, and tresses which tumbled and trailed through the tides. But something is troubling Mama Ocean. Who will help her?

'An imaginative and lyrical story which tackles the world-wide problem of plastics in the oceans.'

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.

'Papa Sky sits where earth meets sky, until one night the wind blows him down, down, down through the cloud forest, where he lands with a bump.

What will happen next? Who will help him?' (Synopsis)

'Jim and his family live happily on their remote outback station. Yet, sometimes Jim feels lonely. Then a strange new radio with pedals arrives and Jim's Mum and Dad can send messages to their neighbours. Jim wants to have a go! "When you're older," says Dad. Then something happens that only Jim can deal with. Will he learn how to use the radio in time to save Dad?

'Radio Rescue! is a beautifully illustrated flap book that takes us back to the origins of communication in the outback, with fascinating factual information at the back of the book.' (Publisher's abstract)

'One Step at a Time is an exquisite picture book which tells a touching story about the relationship between a young boy, Luk, and his elephant, Mali. On the border of Thailand and Burma, Mali steps on a landmine. Luk supports her during her recovery. Mali is eventually fitted with a prosthesis and get a second chance at life. One Step at a Time is a ground-breaking story. Heinrich’s beautiful illustrations match Jolly’s light touch when it comes to writing about the sensitive subject of landmines. It is a story about love and friendship that will enthral children around the world.' (Publication summary)

'The Tea and Sugar train only came once a week on a Thursday. But the special Christmas train only came once a year. Today was Sunday. Four more days without sugar. Four more days until the Christmas train. Please, please be on time. Please don't be late. Join Kathleen in the outback as she eagerly awaits the Christmas Tea and Sugar train. Will she meet Father Christmas? Will she receive a Christmas gift from him? A delightful, heart-warming story from the National Library of Australia that will intrigue, captivate and introduce readers to a slice of the past. Wonderful sensitive illustrations, including a beautiful double fold-out image showing the shops inside all the carriages.

'For 81 years, from 1915 to 1996, the Tea and Sugar Train travelled from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie once a week. It serviced the settlements along the Nullarbor Plain, a 1050-long rail link. It was a lifeline. There were no shops or services in these settlements. The train carried everything they needed: household goods, groceries, fruit and vegetables, a butcher's van, banking facilities and at one time even a theatrette car for showing films.The biggest excitement for the children was the first Thursday of December every year, when Father Christmas travelled the line. He distributed gifts to all the children on the way, including those of railway workers, those in isolated communities, and station kids.' (Publication summary)

Ali is a magician. Life in Ali's own country becomes dangerous so he travels to a new land that he thinks will be safer. There, he is locked up in a place surrounded by wire as sharp as a tiger's teeth. Ali entertains the others in the camp with his magic. Everyone is amazed. One evening Ali is left alone in the grounds. He looks up at the tiger's teeth wire and wails. Can Ali's magic bring him a better life?' (Publisher's blurb)