More Series Fiction

Each book below is the next instalment in an already existing series. Some are for competent readers and others are for those who are searching for short chapter books. These are great fun reads and I am sure they will continue the buzz of reading!

Better Than OK! Nick Place (Allen&Unwin)
Hazy Retina (aka Focus) and his special superhero friends are back and the tables are flopping around! They are finding their feet as Level D superheroes but one of the team gets a superhero promotion. This time the team are also battling an enemy who has developed STOMP - Serum That Overly Magnifies Powers and it is being used and the team is not doing too well!!!!
This is Superhero fun with lots of fun and humour that kids will love ... boys especially! The OK Team #2


The Middle Sheep Frances Watts & Judy Watson (ABC Books)
Another superhero adventure, this time starring Extraordinary Ernie (another newish superhero who ahs only been in training for a few months) & Marvellous Maud (his sidekick - a sheep!) together again in their second adventure. In this adventure the two rescue a kitten from of a tree, have to learn to stop arguing (or get kicked out of the society) and Maud wants her own sidekick ... and of course the other superheroes have to join in too!
Extraordinary Ernie & Marvellous Maud #2


Roland Wright at the Joust Tony Davis & Gregory Rogers (Random House)
Roland Wright is going to be a Knight someday but first he must finish his training at Twofold Castle where he has been learning the finer arts of a knights life. he has school and swordsmanship classes to attend as well as taking care of his pet mouse nudge, and getting over his hiccups. this time there is even a tournament to determine who will be chosen as the king's oldest son and so teh heir to the King (even though there is actually an heir by birth!) Of course things at the joust don't go quite to plan for those involved and suddenly the pages are joining in! What will Roland (and nudge) get caught up in? Roland Wright #3


Saving Mr Pinto: Alison Lester & Roland Harvey (Allen&Unwin)
The two girls Bonnie and Sam are best friends ... the know everything about horses. This time they travel to the Royal Show with Mrs Puller - she's going to enter her cake into a competition and the girls are there to help their friend in a horse riding competition... but when they discover a sad starving neglected pony the girls set about rescuing it with some spectacular results!

Bonnie And Sam #4

Runcible Jones and the Frozen Compass Ian Irvine Penguin Books
The latest Runcible Jones adventure finds him in desperate stakes. this time he is in for the ultimate battle. this time Runcie and his friends have fled the tower where they have been learning their magic for if lord shambles gets hold of their unique magic ... earth will be invaded. The only solution is for Runcie to take on the most feared sorcerer - alone! There's magic, mysterious towers, ghost galleons, cells for prisoners, dimensional lenses for 'watching', vanishing rhymes, possible torture, and stacks more. A great fantasy adventure!

Runcible Jones #3

Enjoy these wonderful Aussie Reads! More coming soon - including fantastic Christmas Books!

Fantastic Fantasy Fiction

These are two books that can't be missed. I couldn't put them down!

The Wizard Of Rondo Emily Rodda (Scholastic)
Rondo just keeps turning and kids will keep reading!!! This is the magnificent second book in the Rondo series filled with fun and exciting twists created by one of our most successful and wonderful storytellers.
Leo and Mimi return once more to the fantastical world of Rondo ... unable to resist turning the key to the antique musical box and thus make changes to the world of Rondo. This time they are determined to stay out of trouble but once more they are caught up in the fantasy of Rondo and much has changed since their last visit. Now Bertha the pig is a media celebrity, Conker, Freda and other Rondo friends are all together. This time they are on a quest to find the missing Wizard Bing (who performs not so successful wizardry). Has he been murdered or is something more sinister afoot. And the Blue queen - is she really as helpless as she is supposed to be? And what will happen should the skipping chat ever be completed?
This is just a wonderful read!

The Cloudchasers Steven Hunt & David Richardson (ABC Books)
This book - a true graphic novel - is spectacular. It is a wonderful visual and literal exploration although a little dark.
In a town called Bankerville Alice is daydreaming out the schoolroom window. She is drawing the creatures she sees in the clouds - but creativity is forbidden in this town! Her daydreaming and drawing gets Alice into much trouble. She is suspended, eventually to be re-educated ... for Alice just might be the one to set Bankertown free. But Alice (and her companions including her conformist brother) escapes into the clouds in the sky into the land of Imagination all the time being chased by the Catcher. What will happen to Alice and her companions?
This is a grand adventure in the spirit of Jules Verne and Lewis Carroll with a more than a dash of the Grimm's fairytales thrown in! It can be read on many levels from upper primary and onwards. But the story is not complete with this book. The sequel (and resolution) will be coming later in 2009 ... but don't wait till then. There is also the Cloudchasers website to investigate.

Have fun with this wonderful fiction.

More (not so new) Picture Books

Recently two picture books published last year came across the desk. These are fun and delightful ... and still available and worth investigating.

Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs Peter Whitfield & Jacqui Grantford (New Frontier)
It's time for bed but there are always a few things that prolong the routine - cleaning teeth, Eskimo kisses, nursery rhymes, cuddles and more all must happen before ... sleep.
This lovely book explores the loving relationship of a mother and child and all that is part of the routine of going to bed!


Five Little Owls Mark Carthew & Mini Goss (New Frontier)
This is a fun hide and seek book. The game is played by five little owls and a bundle of creatures in a moonlit forest.
The rhyming verse is delightful and easy to read and accompanied by bold, bright illustrations. Counting activities and searching for the hiding creatures (as well as a mirror surprise for the reader) are also in the pages.

Delightful Picture Books

New Picture books are alwasy delighful to read ... here are two authros and illustrators and one from a star creative team.

Peka Boo: The Smallest Bird In All The World Eliza Feely (Allen&Unwin)
What happens when you are the smallest bird in the world? Life is tough; from having to crack an egg 20 times your size, to trying to get attention, to being teased by the brothers, and having to stay with Kapecki -the oldest wisest bird in the bush - where he eventually learns to make his own mark and get noticed! Big things do come in small parcels! This book is full of fun – fun to read and fun to look at all the delightful illustrations. Filled with really great Australian-isms (words and phrases like: older than Uluru, don't give a twig, doesn't matter a pip and quick sticks, gobdropper and doozey)

Planet Yawn Toni Collette & Emma Magenta (Pan MacMillan)
What happens when a naughty little boy called Yawn, from planet Yawn makes too much noise, won't sleep like the others do, won't play with other boys and girls, and all in all is very consuming? This book tells just that story. Partly written in rhythmical verse it can be read on a few levels as it also explores the environment around us that we all share. Unique illustrations also add another dimension to this tale.


Pocket Dogs Go On Holiday Margaret Wild & Stephen Michael King (Scholastic) What happens to the pocket dogs when they are on holidays? But when Mr Pockets leaves his jacket on the beach while they all go exploring it gets washed away. Now the pocket dogs don’t have the pockets and Mr Pockets doesn't have his coat. It’s up to the pocket dogs to come to the rescue.
Another lovely story with unique and delightful illustrations by this super talented team.


Have fun reading and exploring and investigating these great books - read the words and explore the pictures ... its fun!

Two Treasures

My Place Nadia Wheatley & Donna Rawlins (Walker Books)
Not only is My Place back in print (definitely a cause for celebration) but it is updated with a timeline tracing the history of the book characters. It also includes 2008 and the Australian government's apology to Indigenous Australians. My Place is the story of one part of Sydney from 1788 through to 1988 and the children who lived there. Discover this book for the first time ... or discover it again. It is great.


Stories from the Billabong James Vance Marshall & Francis Firebrace (Walker Books)
This is a beautiful book - ancient legends of the Yorta-Yorta people beautifully retold and accompanied by beautiful illustrations (some full page) created by one of Australia’s most wonderful Aboriginal artists.
The ten legends include the Rainbow Serpent and the Story of Creation, what makes Frogs croak, why Kangaroo has a pouch, and just what it is that makes Platypus so special. The book also includes information about Aboriginal Australians, Aboriginal symbols and their meanings and a glossary.

Both of these books are treasures and need to be part of every library!

Sport & more Sport!

Most Australians love their sport ... here are a few books for those kids who are sport mad!!

The Boy From Bowral Robert Ingpen (Walker Books)
This of course is the story of Sir Donald Bradman, Australia’s master cricketer who is recognised as one of the most talented cricketers ever to walk onto a cricket field. This beautiful book is the perfect introduction for children to this amazing sportsman's entire cricketing career right from the Don's early years in his Bowral backyard and his first real game at 12 years of age on the now Bradman Oval. It includes statistics and facts and is wonderfully illustrated throughout.


30 Australian Sporting Legends Loretta Barnard & Gregory Rogers (Random House)
Do you want to find out about some of our sporting superstars and their sports? Then this book might just be the one to read.

It features sporting stars like Ian Thorpe, Louise Sauvage, Mark Ella, Karrie Webb, Dawn Fraser, Lauren Jackson, Donald Bradman and Phar Lap. With information boxes, facts and figures, a section on sporting diets and training, even a feature on non-human sporting animals, as well as websites for finding out even more about the sports and even an Oops! (sporting mishaps for each sport) this is a great insight to lots of sports where aussies are stars.

Play the sport and read to find out more!

Pirates and Drummers and Treasure

Here are some fun fiction reads that have just hit the shelves - just right for younger readers who love illustrated chapter books.

Dragon Blood Pirates #1-6 Dan Jerris (Lothian)
Pirates lovers, ahoy there. You will love these books.

Death Diamond (#1)
One minute Al and his best mate Owen are searching through a trunk in the attic and the next minute they find themselves stranded on a rocky outcrop - in the middle of the ocean with no means of escape. A ship appears and rescues them (along with a three legged cat that has also appeared) but this ship is a pirate ship and soon the boys are sailing islands in search of treasure, encountering more pirates and becoming prisoners (and escaping) and riding out wild storms and finding out the mysteries of Dragon Blood Island!

This series of six short books (all issued at once) are great reads. Each book comes with a fold out map and a dragon blood tattoo. There is also a supporting Dragon Blood Pirates website with activities and things to discover.

A new Aussie Bites or nibble is always fun ... and these are two more.

The Lion Drummer Gabrielle Wang & Andrew McLean (Puffin)
Lulu wants to learn to play drums. She wants to be a Lion Drummer, even though she is told drumming is only for boys. She wants to lead the parade. She pretends she is drumming at every available opportunity - even at the dinner table with her chopsticks. But drums make too much noise and will drive everyone crazy. She even copies the rhythms of master Li and the GongFu academy. How will she ever learn to play the drums?


Tilly's Treasure Sue Walker & Chantal Stewart (Puffin)
Skipping ropes, mood rings, hula hoops, dangling things for bags ... each week there is a new craze at school. Tilly joins in with her wonderful treasure she has found, or created, but each time the other kids at school think hers is never as good as the real thing - that is until Tilly's dad shows her something he learnt at school. Soon everyone wants to join in with Tilly's craze!


Enjoy, read and read some more!

More New Picture Books

Here are more new picture books to read and share and enjoy!

The ABC Book of Lullabies (ABC Books)
Thirteen wonderful Australian illustrators have each chosen their favourite lullaby to illustrate -- and this is their book. It features the glorious illustrations of Tamsin Ainslie, Jonathan Bentley, Gaye Chapman, Janine Dawson, Wayne Harris, Ann James, Stephen Michael King, Alison Lester, Caroline Magerl, Kilmeny Niland, Cheryl Orsini, Anna Pignataro and Emma Quay. A luscious book to be treasured and cherished. A wonderful gift book for a new arrival.


Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport Rolf Harris (Scholastic Australia)
Written, recorded and illustrated by the amazing Rolf Harris ... Here is his picture book, complete with the DVD of his classic 1960s Aussie song.
The illustrations are all new and in Rolf's unique painting style.
Readers of all ages will love this book!


Donald Loves Drumming Nick Bland (Scholastic Australia)
Drummers love drumming (sometimes all the time - even in their sleep) and every drummer has been told more than once that they are drumming TOO LOUD! This is a book just for them.
Donald loves drumming, all day and all night. But his family says he is TOO LOUD. So Donald searches for a new favourite activity but nothing 'beats' drumming. And then Donald had an idea. Fun!

Picture Books Galore (mostly for the young)

Lots of wonderfully delightful picture books have been hitting the shelves. They are great for sharing at any time of the day.

Sophie Bakes a Cake Tina Burke (Penguin Books)
Sophie and her cheeky doll Scarlett are helping to bake a cake. With all the ingredients ready she prepares the mixture but along to way Scarlett informs Sophie that the cakes needs some extra ingredients ... like vegemite and peanut butter and a green crayon and Sophie of course adds the extras. Together they watch the cake bake and then its time for tasting. How will this special cake taste? Sophie is gorgeous and this is a yummy story!

Big Red Hen and the Little Lost Egg Margaret Wild & Terry Denton (Penguin Books)
Big Red Hen loves looking after everyone else's babies but she longs for her very own baby to look after and kiss goodnight! One morning when she was scratching for seeds she found some hay and in that hay was a warm egg. She sets out to discover the egg's owner but when no owner is found the other adult birds decide that big red hen is the best one to look after it! She decides that she will love the baby no matter what type of bird it is but when it hatches she is in for a very big surprise. This is a tender loving story of unconditional love.

The Two-Hearted Numbat Ambelin Kwaymullina & Ezekiel Kwaymullina (Fremantle Press)
A beautiful story with stunning and vibrant illustrations. Numbat has two hearts, one of feather (making him soft and gentle but exhausted from helping others) and one of stone (making him powerful and strong but tough). But having two hearts was troublesome so Numbat sets out on a journey to find out which heart to keep. Eventually he discovers the truth about strength and about gentleness and what his true heart really is.

Double Trouble Deborah Niland (Penguin Books)
The perfect book for twins and the perfect book for exploring the wonderful chaos of the daily life of twins.
There's double trouble in the morning and double trouble getting dressed. There’s double trouble at breakfast and playing and all through the day. so much trouble is there that at night time mummy is all worn out and falls asleep ... but there’s still a little more double trouble!

Sunday Chutney Aaron Blabey (Penguin Books)
Imagine living all over the world. Sunday chutney does and it is the most extraordinary life. It would be great, new places, new people and new schools ... but being the new kid in school - that isn't so much fun. And not living in the same home - well she doesn't care about that, there are so many good things to do ... or does she? A lovely book from the creator of Pearl Barley.


Pilgrim Jo Oliver (New Frontier)
This is a story about a boy and his father and sharing their first sea adventure together. The boy unsure of the adventure ahead relies on the strength of his father who reassures and protects his son.
It is also the story of love and family and memories, of remembrance and of returned soldiers and the places they have been - and of coming safely back home.


DO grab some of these lovely books and enjoy the time sharing them!