AustLit

'The brown felt hat was beautiful, very elegant and very expensive. This was a hat fit for a queen and was destined to go places. It certainly does travel overland and overseas, perhaps not always in the best of conditions, but that's the adventure of life.' (Publication summary)

'Redbeard is greedy for power and land, and after he has conquered the kingdom of his brother, Blackbeard, he becomes even greedier. Everything must belong to him! He is angered when he sees a bird feeding on the grain in his wheat field, and infuriated when a stray cat steals his lunch. Finally, when a bee stings him on his royal finger, he seeks a way of punishing all the birds, cats and bees in his kingdom ...' (Publication summary)

'Just days before its big hundred-year anniversary, the town of Tumblegum is in trouble. Its oldest and most precious possession, the map that belonged to its founder Ezra T. Tumblegum, has been stolen - swiped right off the wall of the community library! What low-down rotten scoundrel could have done this dastardly deed? Max and Maggie Maypole, the mayor’s grandchildren, are determined to find out. If you keep your eyes open for hidden clues, you too can help solve the mystery of the missing map!'  (Publication summary)

'No wall is too thick, no lock to tricky and no watchman too watchful for Barry the Burglar. He's the boldest, brainiest, burglar in town, and he's never been caught.

'He steals from the Baker Street Bank. He steals from the Griffin Gallery, and when the residents of Rosemount Mansions advertise for a caretaker, he even steals from them.

'Barry thinks people are stupid. "Fancy putting an ad in the paper to tell everyone there's no caretaker on duty. It's asking for trouble!" 'But trouble for whom?' (Publication summary)

'The Oldmouse family goes back a long, long way. But there aren't many of them left now. So Renata Oldmouse promises her aunt Tabitha that she will NEVER marry and take another's name. But, when she grows up, she meets a handsome trapeze artist with a chipped tooth and a dazzling smile.' (Publication summary)

'Jim is desperate. He wants a pair of the world's trendiest sneakers - Superdoops!

'To show his parents how badly he needs Superdoops, Jim decides to enter the roughest, toughest fun run in the country - the Granley Gutbuster.

'Poor Jim! What has he let himself in for?' (Publication summary)

'Richard's mum is crazy about babies. So crazy that she pokes her nose into every pram, every sling, every carry cot. Women with babies run away when they see her coming. Richard is used to his mum terrifying all the mothers in the street. But then one day she comes u p with a plan with terrifies him.' (Publication summary)

'The ship's cat is the blackest and busiest cat ever to go to sea - and the most loved. Each person on board the "Nancy Lee" thinks of her as his very own special pet.

'But one morning after a tremendous storm at sea, the little cat is missing. What has happened to her? Will things ever be the same again aboard the "Nancy Lee?"'(Publication summary)

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'Nikki is enchanted by the fairy penguin parade. She wants a penguin friend of her own. Dad says it's impossible: how would they look after it? He buys her a toy penguin instead.

'Nikki doesn't want a toy penguin. It's a fake, only second-best. But when she comes face to face with a real penguin, it's not what she expects at all.'(Publication summary)