Masterful Non Fiction

Here are a few non fiction titles for readers who want to fnd out information. These are great books.

My Place in Space Robin & Sally Hirst, Roland Harvey & Joe Levine (Allen & Unwin)
I loved this book when it was first published in 1988 and this new updated edition is just as wonderful with Pluto the dwarf planet appearing as well as updated scientific information. This wonderful 'starry' picture book is the story of two childen who inform a grumpy bus driver where they live - not just the details of their street, suburb, city and country ... but the exact place in our solar system, galaxy, and supercluster in the universe. A must for all budding stargazers!

Wool, Wagon and Clipper Ships John Nicholson (Allen & Unwin)
This series of Australian History books are wonderful reads and visually stunning. Young reders will not only enjoy the facts and information panels but the delightful illustrations as well.
Wool Wagons and Clipper Ships is filled with history. It tells of squatters with sheep stations the size of Scotland, lone shepherds, half-starved and half-crazy, bullockies, horse teamsters and cameleers carting goods across the outback, clipper-ship captains racing to overseas wool auctions, and Cobb & Co coaches carrying mail and passengers all over Australia.

Reading a book and learning at the same time - awesome.

Wonderful New Picture Books

Picture Books are a delight to read and enjoy, exploring the pictures as well as listening to the words ... especially with younger children. Here are some new ones:


Leaf Stephen Michael King (Scholastic Press)
Absolutely adorable is this gorgeous new (and very nearly wordless) picture book by this award winning author-illustrator. When a seed falls into the matted hair of a boy who does not like having is hair combed the seed begins to grow and an extraodinary chain of events occurs. When eventually his hair is cut, along with the plant growth conitnues in a new location and years later is still being adored and life continued.

When Henry Caught Imaginitis Nick Bland (Scholastic Press)
Henry, who is normally a very serious and proper boy is having strange thoughts ... and they dont make sense at all! Sudenly he is thinking of pirates, parrots, dragons, whales and much more. But Henry isn't ill ... he has caught imaginitis!
A wonderful story with great illustrations about a boy, imaginations and dreams.


Aussie Gems
This new series takes classic aussie gems and gives them a whole new life ... some with text reworking, but all with simple text and delightful illlustrations. These books are made to share with young kids! All are published by Omnibus Books for Scholastic Press

Give me a home among the gum trees, Bob Brown, Wally Johnson & Ben Wood
Click go the shears, Charlotte Lance
The three little bush pigs, Paul Dallimore

Fun Series Read

Series books are great - if the readers really get hooked they will want them all. A few new titles in existing series have hit the desk recently. Here are some of the goodies.

Roland Wright, Brand New Page Tony Davis & Greg Rogers (Random House)

When we first met Roland he was hoping to be a knight ... now he has become a brand new page. He is to join the royal household. unfortunately for Roland there could be a few obstacles ... like the fact that the queen doesn't like mice (so nudge can't stay) and like many new students there is an older student, Hector, who thinks he runs the show. And when a rampaging elephant and Rolad meet I wonder who saves the day. Of course someone let the elephant out of his pen ... read the story to find out. A great yarn!

Danny daVinci: The flying machines of Lombardy Bruce Whatley & Rosie Smith (ABC Books)

Danny daVinci and his best friend Mick Angelo are back and this time they are building fantastic flying machines - all because the Duke of Millan wants to be the first to fly like a bird! The friends build a few machines but unfortunately they don't really fly far at all but eventually ... well it's in the book!. Simple text and humorous illustrations. A great easy read!

The Floods: The Great Outdoors Colin Thompson (Random House)

That crazy, wierd, kooky Flood family are back and this time they are on holidays - after all, everyone needs time off! The family even dig up granny and take her too. This time it is the beach, sand and sandcastles that causes all manner of commotion (along with circus chaos) ... after all the Floods can't just have time off without being immersed in trouble. Will the seaside town of Port Folio ever be the same?

Bonnie & Sam: Racing the Tide Alison Lester & Roland Harvey (Allen&Unwin)

It's holiday time. Bonnie & Sam are off mustering with their horses. They learn about abalone pocahers and also get to sleep overnight in the old shepherd's hut - alone. But it is the next morning that they begin their real adventure. They follow suspicious tracks along the beach that lead them to discover three men out in the surf clinging to Skull Rock! Are they the poachers? How will they be rescued?

For younger readers who love horse books this is a wonderful series with short chapters, lots of full colour illustrations and of course great stories.