Booklists

A collection of school yard play rhymes.

Twelve year old Daniel, a student at Glenfield High School, wins a place in the New Zealand Warrior's rugby league team and becomes the youngest ever player in the history of the game. Daniel's secret will make him a media sensation but being a league superstar has its downside.

It all began with a book so boring that nobody would ever read it, the perfect place to hide a terrible secret. Now the book has emerged from its hiding place and the world may never be the same. A prank leads Luke and Tommy into a world of trouble, requiring all their investigative skills to save civilisation from a catastrophic occurrence. World War ll, da Vinci's inventions, and time travel all come into play.

Only three people in the entire world know the secret formula for Coca-Cola. So, when all three are kidnapped, the extaordinary abilities of Fizzer Boyd must be used to search for the missing recipe.

Jacob John Smith, a student at Glenfield High School, is tired of getting into trouble and being pushed around by the school bully. When Jacob discovers that he has a special power, he wonders whether to use the power to be a superhero or a supervillian.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Cecilia Undergarment likes a challenge. When she discovers a sad and neglected dog, she is determined to rescue him. But, her daring dog rescue lands her in deep trouble, in the form of being lost in the dark forest of Northwood. A forest where ferocious black lions roam. A forest that hides a secret castle, an unlikely king and many a mystery. A forest where those who enter never return.

Find out about the people, the events, organisations and activities that are working towards reconciliation all around Australia. The book is presented by an Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian, each of whom has a special association with the Arts.

Ghost, Cormac and Kate are junior recruits of the Black Lotus, an underground school for ninjas. When a powerful weapon is stolen, the three of them must battle through sixteenth-century Japan and present-day New York to stop a power-hungry shogun from destroying the city. Betrayal and the testing of friendships combine in a battle for world supremacy.

Rose has magic! She uses it for good to save injured animals in her area. Her brother, Kris, has also discovered he has magic. But Rose thinks he needs to be better at using it to help people rather than just doing magical tricks for the neighbourhood kids. She is jealous that he has learnt his skills so quickly and is VERY good! Then Kris disappears, and Rose needs to help him. Will she be strong enough? She will need to time travel and meet an old friend Merdyn to help save her brother. Will her powers be enough to defeat his kidnappers and not change history?

Chaya can talk her way out of anything, except stealing the Queen's jewels. Even if she had the best reasons the King did not want to know. She ends up escaping on the back of an elephant and leads her friends on a jungle adventure, where leeches lurk and revolution is stirring. This is where Chaya's most dangerous idea takes shape. Maybe she can leave her village a thief but return a hero.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...what makes a princess excellent?' The magic mirror is the thread that connects the worlds of ten very different Princesses after an enchantress flings her magic mirror into the universe. Ten short stories. Ten very unusual Princesses. Ten Princesses who are brave enough to be themselves. The answer to the question is not what you expect it to be.

It is 1861 and a major horse race, the Melbourne Cup, is about to be run for the first time. Thirteen year old Robby Jenkins is working as a stable hand and is convinced that his favourite horse, Archer, can win. This is Robby's diary about his love of horses, life at the stables and his dreams to become a top jockey.

It's 1932 and Sydney has hit hard times during the Great Depression. But, the construction of a bridge that will reach across the harbour is setting spirits soaring. Alice and Billy, whose fathers are working on the bridge, tell the story, through their diaries, of building the spectacular Harbour Bridge, which will unify a separated city from the north shore to the working class suburbs of the south.

Pigeons may be taken for granted but they have played a very important part particularly for Australia during World War II. One pigeon flew sixty-four kilometres in fifty minutes through a storm to save a shipload of ammunition. Amusing drawings highlight fascinating facts and true stories in this illustrated tribute to Australia's wartime messenger pigeons.

The Piraka are the embodiment of evil. It is a mystery how they met, what caused them to join forces and how they learnt about the Mask of Life. Even more mysterious is the seventh Piraka.

When Nurah's family moves from Karachi, Pakistan, to Peachtree City, Georgia, all she really wants is to blend in, but she stands out for all the wrong reasons. Nurah's accent, floral-print kurtas, and tea-colored skin make her feel excluded, and she's left to eat lunch alone under the stairwell, until she meets Stahr at swimming tryouts. Stahr covers her body when in the water, just like Nurah, but for very different reasons. But in the water Nurah doesn't want to blend in: She wants to stand out. She wants to win medals like her star athlete brother, Owais - who is going through struggles of his own in America - yet when sibling rivalry gets in the way, she makes a split-second decision of betrayal that changes their fates. As Nurah slowly begins to sprout wings in the form of strong swimming arms, she gradually gains the courage to stand up to bullies, fight for what she believes in, and find her place.

This is a collection of Australian poetry.

Morgan is so excited when she thinks she's taken the winning catch in her baseball final but the thing she catches is a strange, blue object. It makes her feel calm and happy but it has different effects on other people.

Sarah is unhappy as she has to help her Dad with a garage sale. When their neighbour sets ups his own garage sale, the battle is on to see who will get the most customers. Sarah is really embarrassed as she watches just how far Dad will go to win.

Twelve-year-old Autumn is a beastkeeper at Inglenook School for Magicians, which she secretly dreams of attending as a student. Instead, she must care for Inglenook's menagerie of dangerous creatures so the king's future monster hunters can study them. But when she isn't mucking out the griffin stalls, Autumn searches for clues about her twin brother's mysterious disappearance. Everyone else thinks that he was devoured by the terrifying Hollow Dragon, but Autumn isn't so sure.

There are Australians from all works of life. Some have famously contributed to our history. Here is a list of 26 colourfully presented in alphabetical order.

The Prime Minister makes decisions that affect us all. Being the Prime Minister is an important job. Imagine if children made all the decisions and what would happen.

Randall has found that by building an invisible wall he can protect himself from the judgements of his classmates and his many problems at home. Inside his wall, he can dream and forget about his real life. Living in a house with no running water means Randall can't bathe so he is teased for smelling. One day, Randall makes a friend and slowly, frighteningly, his wall begins to crumble.

Bill and Matty are the best of friends and neighbours which leads to exciting adventures and, sometimes, more than a little trouble. When Bill learns that his father is coming home from jail, his world is tipped upside down. Worries start to mount but Matty has an idea to help Bill. But life doesn't always go according to plan.

Bill and Matty are neighbours and best friends. They share their deepest secrets and lean on each other when things aren't right at home. Bill misses his father and is having a hard time at his new school. Matty is realising that her family is not quite the same as everyone else's. When a new girl decides she wants Bill all to herself, Bill and Matty discover what true friendship means. Some derogatory language used in context.

On his eighth birthday Eric is allowed to choose a puppy from the dog shelter. Ugly, so named because of a comment made by his sister, lives up to all of Eric's expectations for a little while but soon he realises that Ugly wants to be with mum, he is growing rapidly and becoming difficult to control as well as destroying everything he can get his mouth into.

Bill and his bullock team delivered supplies and news to settlers in remote parts of the country. His best mate was Lady, his brave and faithful dog. One day, when the axle on the bullock dray split, Bill went for help, leaving Lady on watch on the tuckerbox. Based on a true story about Lady's loyalty and the monument erected to honour her.

In the early days of the railway, when shiny new tracks were opening vast areas of Australia, there was an adventurous dog who was part of it all. As the tracks were being laid, he was there on the train, riding in his favourite spot on top of the Yankee engine. Everyone knew him. The true story of Bob the railway dog, who had adventure in his heart and the rattle of the rails in his soul.

Trim was a cat born for adventure...This is the true story of a courageous, mischievous and fearless cat called Trim, who sailed with Matthew Flinders on his voyages to map the coastline of Australia and beyond.

It's the last summer of the 1970s, and as 12-year-old Toby heads to the coast on a longed-for summer holiday, he finds himself almost invisible to his newlywed father and step-mum. Toby's loneliness lifts when he meets Tara, the daughter of the local shark fisherman, who is dealing with family issues of her own. A terrifying incident on the old wharf begins a dramatic chain of events within the small coastal town -- revealing secrets and creating ripples through both Toby's and Tara's families. A lyrical novel of the joys of childhood, friendship, facing truths, the trials of growing up... and the days of in between.

Following in the footsteps of Goscinny and Uderzo, author, Jean-Yves Ferri, and illustrator, Didier Convard, have Asterix in a new adventure, centred around a mysterious, missing scroll.

Seven days to solve a century old crime. Seven days to unearth the treasure. Seven days to survive... The countdown is on. Ben works to overcome his own shortcomings to set right a wrong and bring some credit back to a wronged family? But, can he live long enough to succeed? A fast paced, action packed story that will make you snigger and gasp, just not at the same time.

When a burglar jumps through the kitchen window one night, Louis knows he should get him in a wrestling-hold while he has the advantage, but his heart is hammering and his legs feel like wobbly air. Louis Beside Himself is a hilarious and companionable story about losing your words, finding your courage and arm-wrestling your way out of big trouble.

From an early age, Will could walk a tightrope and juggle bananas. His mother told him that, one day, he would be the star of a circus. But, until then, Will must be kept a secret because, each year, pirates come to the islands to steal young boys for their crew. But, when his mother disappears and pirates arrive at his door, Will takes courage from a crazy, truth-telling parrot and his mother's advice. But, this may not be enough to survive the perils at sea. And, Will will have to do something about that infuriatingly polite boy, Horrendo.

Tildy knows there are monsters - lolling on her cushions, reading her books, hiding under her bed. They're everywhere! So why can nobody else see them? They make Tildy monstrously miserable, until the new boy comes to school. Hendrik knows there are monsters too, and he knows exactly what to do about them.

An attractive version of the old testament story about Joseph.

25 women, 25 exciting careers and every one is possible if you are willing to dream big and work hard. From mountaineer to astronomer, citizen scientist to volcanologist, enjoy their stories and learn some fun facts about the people, places and creatures of the amazing world we live in.

Harry has burned down the house by mistake. He is saved from having to stay at Aunt Susan's because he can blackmail his Uncle Tristram over the cat incident. So, they are off on holidays with the very comely Morning Glory on her strange island home where Harry will very much be the gooseberry, and a trouble-making one at that, and they will start by eating nettle pancakes and end up eating things on sticks.

Simon and his classmates have to take part in a science project that involves taking care of a six pound bag of flour - a pretend baby.

When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe!

Meet Raye Montague-the hidden mastermind who made waves in the U.S. Navy! After touring a German submarine in the early 1940s, young Raye set her sights on becoming an engineer. Little did she know sexism and racial inequality would challenge that dream every step of the way, even keeping her greatest career accomplishment a secret for decades. Through it all, the gifted mathematician persisted-finally gaining her well-deserved title in history: a pioneer who changed the course of ship design forever.

Tara Finn has always loved books and reading. When she was five, she told everyone she was going to be a writer, and at age ten she has published a collection of over thirty of her poems.

In this essential book, Isaiah, a Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, establishes a foundation of First Nations knowledge with 20 key topics.

A colorful information book filled with 100 fascinating and mind-blowing facts. Scientists and historians have discovered a lot about our past, our future and how the world works, but SO MUCH remains unknown.

Tim, Beth and Mac suspect that Great Aunt Emma, Grinny, isn't what she pretends to be.

When an everyday dad accidentally becomes Prime Minister it throws his family into a new world. One with new rules, and a new school. This is a challenge on its own. When he disappears, his daughters need to cover for him and get the opportunity to make some big decisions regarding their future.

Harriet spies on all the people in her neighbourhood and writes notes about them in her book.

Spencer Gray is twelve - finally old enough to join Dad in his glider. His mates are going to be so jealous. Going up is awesome, but when disaster strikes, Spencer will need to be nothing short of amazing.

Spencer Gray is just an ordinary kid, but he manages to get into some pretty extraordinary situations. Playing soccer at school with his mates he accidentally uncovers a sinister operation and rescues a super-endangered marsupial, but in the process he risks becoming super-endangered himself.

The story of an ordinary man who went to fight in World War II. It tells how he dealt with his wartime experiences, how, at the age of ninety one, he agreed to meet a group of elderly Japanese women interested in world peace, and how he could never forget the young men who were with him during the war and who didn't come back.

Jemmy must take the whippings for the royal heir, Prince Brat, but the Prince must rely on Jemmy when they both run away from the castle.

A beautifully illustrated story with a strong conservation message.

Danny discovers girls or, rather, one special girl called Ella, and the joys of riding a malboard. Can he overcome the problems of surfing mates who only accept shortboards? He is new to town and needs a break on the waves and at school.

Stuff happens sometimes. For Tom Connors, it happened during a tennis match. Tom is a very good tennis player but he struggles to control his nerves in a match, particularly on his serve. His left arm seems to have a mind of its own. When he held match point against Zac in the club championship, only to serve a double fault and lose the match, Connor thinks about this loss all the time. His serve and game have got progressively worse ever since.

Marcus is a future tennis star, with a solid forehand, a strong backhand, but his biggest asset is his mind. When Marcus learns he has to win the next state title or lose someone he loves, his mind is tested like never before.

Matt has a unique ability to help kids make the most of their lunch money at the tuckshop. He's not so good at making friends though. A funny story about friendship and fast food.

Matt, also known as The Tuckshop Kid, is back. He's lost weight, he's healthier and he has a fabulous girlfriend, Kayla. It all seems great but then there's Kayla's catty girlfriend, Tash, and his old, best friend who isn't his friend at all any more. Matt gets talked into doing something terrible, spying on Kayla, and she finds out. But, Kayla has a terrible secret and maybe Matt is the one who can help her.

Jamie loves surfing which can affect your friendships and your popularity. Jamie tells us about the day to day school and family life of a Year 8 surfer whose eyes are focussed on winning the surfing competition.

An interlinked collection of stories about the hilarious goings-on at Koala Hills School.

When Princess Glori wishes for a charming prince and he doesn't turn up, she gets impatient and wishes again and again. Surprising things may happen.

Roland knows that girls can be trouble but nothing could have prepared him for Eugenie.

The history of the Murri people of Waka Waka.

The day that Celeste comes into the boy's classroom changes everything for him. He can't stop thinking about her, and when she suddenly disappears in the smoke filled high rise city, he is determined to track her down. He finds her in the most polluted part of the city. She is sick and weak. As sick and weak as the planet itself. Can he save Celeste and in doing so, save the world? A heartfelt, environmental fable about two children fighting for a better world.

Which emperor built a giant palace under the ground? Why is the fourth floor missing from many Chinese buildings? How would you like to snack on deep-fried scorpions?

When Chester discovers he can mind jump, he becomes a hit on his sister Amy's YouTube channel. An instant star, he does his most daring mind jump yet, into the brain of Tito the gorilla. The trouble is, when he tries to return to his own body - it's gone! Has it been stolen? But who would want it, and why? And how come Chester suddenly wants to search Amy's hair for fleas? The quest to find the answers takes him on a journey beyond his wildest imagination.

More than an approaching cyclone hangs over Jeremy's family. His parents are struggling to save the farm during a drought and he spends his time squabbling with his younger sister, fishing with his best mate and failing to stay out of trouble. Includes some colloquial language within context.

Tori has heard a dog howling. He is not sure if he imagined it or if it is, as his cousin Bronte says, Axle's ghost. Thinking that, perhaps Axle could be alive after all. Tori sets out to solve the mystery but discovers more than he expected to find.

When a cyclone strikes the vineyard, the four cousins are in the homestead alone. They are without power and the phone line is down when they see a large dog-like creature attacking the chickens.

Quinn, Sebastian, Elanor and Tom have defeated the black witch, Githa, and found the last crucial piece of the prophecy, the sea serpent's scale. Back now at Wolfhaven, they search desperately through the castle crypts for the sleeping heroes, whom they hope will save them all, before the dark moon rises and they lose everything.

After escaping the bog-men in the wilds of the Witchwood, Sebastian, Quinn, Elanor and Tom journey south on their impossible quest. Sebastian and Elanor seek help from Crowthorne Castle but both allies and enemies will reveal themselves. Tom and Quinn venture into the mysterious moors where a hideous beast lies in waiting.

Quinn, Sebastian, Elanor and Tom have found a dragon and conquered the dreaded Beast of Blackmoor Bog. Only one item remains on their impossible quest - the scale of a sea-serpent. Now, they must journey to the drowned kingdom, where they will face their deadliest challenge yet. And there, they will uncover the truth behind all that has happened. The truth that will change everything.

Tell your lord to beware, the wolves smell danger in the wind. Wolfhaven Castle has been attacked and only four escape. Tom, trained to scrub pots, not fight; Elanor, the lord's daughter; Sebastian, a knight in training; and Quinn, the witch's apprentice. If they are to save their people, they must find four magical beasts from legend and awaken the sleeping warriors of the past. But first, they have to make it out of the castle alive.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Hunted by Lord Mortlake, Tom, Quinn, Elanor and Sabastian flee for cover. The unicorn leads them into the darkness of the Witchwood, where they meet Wilda the witch. She seems to help them on their quest but they're not sure she can be trusted. Danger surrounds but there's no time to lose. The four unlikely heroes must find the giffin, the dragon and the sea serpent before it's too late.

Everything is changing for eleven-year-old Alex Freeman and, as an autistic person, change can be terrifying. With the first day of high school only a couple of months away, Alex is sure that having a friend by his side will help. So he's devised a friend-making plan. But making friends is tougher than Alex expected, and it looks as if his last chance to succeed rests on the shoulders of his dog Kevin.

A modern fable about some peacocks and swans that allow their fear of each other to destroy them.

Lenny Spink is a watchful, caring, and sharp older sister to Davey, her sweet, charming and unusually big younger brother. She is ever mindful of the challenges and moods of her single parent mother, the curious lives of the various characters in her neighbourhood, and the dark reality which comes with her brother's rare disease causing him to grow at an unhealthy and alarming rate. The regular arrival of 'Burrell's Build-It-at-Home Encyclopedia' give Lenny and Dave a window to a broader world and feeds their imagination and curiosity.

Ophelia doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. Ophelia soon discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.

In 1867 London, twelve year old Annabel Grey is primed for a life as a proper young lady. But, when she is placed in the care of two ageing great aunts who run a magic shop, Annabel is thrust into a world of potions, broomsticks, wands and wizards. Evil Mr Angel and his terrifying dark magic extracting machine want to put an end to good magic for ever. The wizards have dreamt of Annabel, the most magical girl, to save London. But, Annabel doesn't even believe in magic or understand the strange powers inside her.

Throughout history, droughts have brought dreadful devastation to a wide variety of societies. Find out about the impact on farmers, the importance of topsoil and the latest tools and technologies developed to help us survive future droughts. Eyewitness accounts and dramatic photography tell the story of the world's worst droughts.

Nobody really knows how many earthquakes occur in any given year because many go unrecorded. But, when the earth shakes, rattles and rolls, the impact can be severe when buildings collapse and fire, landslides, avalanches and tsunamis result. Find out about the major earthquakes and their causes. Eyewitness accounts and dramatic photography tell the story of the world's deadliest earth movements.

Find out how catastrophic storms and hurricanes form, and why they rage through the same regions. Chart the deadliest hurricanes in history and the damage they cause. Eyewitness accounts and dramatic photography tell the story of the world's deadliest weather.

The 2004 Asian Tsunami resulted from the second largest earthquake ever recorded. Lasting over eight minutes, it was also the longest on record. The quake measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, large enough to vibrate the entire planet and violent enough to move an ocean. Eyewitness accounts and dramatic photography put you in the terrifying path of the huge wave that washed ashore in many countries.

Beneath our feet, a molten hell brews and its boiling fury can no longer be contained within the Earth's thin crust. The world is about to change. Find out why volcanoes erupt and the strange, changed landscapes they leave behind. Eyewitness accounts and dramatic photography tell the story of the world's deadliest eruptions.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Taken from his home in the middle of the night, Jack is placed in a home for 'Orphans and Unwanted Children.' He loves telling jokes but not many people laugh in the orphanage. There are no names, only numbers on shoes, and Jack has become Number 49. The spirited, ever-optimistic Jack struggles in the loveless, cruel environment and begins to wonder if he will ever return to the family he misses so much.

Be strong. Be fierce. Life is more than a concrete floor. Scruffity is born into the harsh, grey world of a puppy farm. Taken from his mamma and locked in a concrete cage, what he yearns for most is Family. To belong is The Way of Dog. But no one wants him. Just as his chances of adoption grow dangerously thin, Scruffity is set free by a boy as unwanted and lonely as he is. Outside, Scruffity learns all about The Way of Dog - it is to run, to dig, to howl and, biggest of all, to love. But when tragedy strikes, Scruffity is suddenly all alone.

Idris is a child refugee, born into a world of tents and fences. He has known no other life than this. He has no memories of the world outside. Then the Wisp arrives, floating in on the evening breeze. Everyone who holds it finds their memories reawakened, their hopes of freedom reborn. But what about Idris, who has no memories? What will happen when he holds the magical Wisp?

With the Curiosities, a whole world of wonders and possibilities awaits... Miro wakes one morning to find the world isn't quite the way he thought it was. When the Curiosities choose Miro as the one they nest on, Miro is led to discover all the marvels waiting in the shadows where no-one else looks. Sometimes though, the Curiosities can make Miro feel alone and invisible in the darkness. But perhaps Miro isn't as alone as he thinks...

A trampoline portal into the future, a magic pencil that can write stories by itself, a trip down a hill that ends up being the holiday of a lifetime. Only the weird and wonderful can happen to Paddy T. in these seven wild action adventures.

Cailin's holiday plans are ruined when she and her mum go to stay with her eccentric grandfather at Whitefoam Cove. She barely knows him and reminders of her father are everywhere. Then, just when Cailin and her grandfather are really connecting, disaster strikes.

Cathy Freeman's own story of her childhood, her loving family and her sporting achievements. Cathy shares the personal philosophy that has led to her success and the joy she has always found in life.

When the residents of Tiger Beach Village claim to be visited by a ghost, Jake, Peter and Ruby set up a stake-out to catch the ghoul. Their surprise to find that the ghost is definitely not dead soon turns to determination to figure out who it is.

Mary MacKillop watched Australia grow from a collection of small colonies into a nation. Follow the changes Australia underwent during her lifetime.

Max escapes being made a king and marries Salizia, a tree dryad. Their daughter, Betony, has magic powers.

A power-hungry wizard has let loose the Wild Magic, and every creature in its path is transformed. An earl becomes a cat, a coachman turns into a ferret, the chancellor is suddenly a hobgoblin, even King Max begins to change. Will Floramonde ever be the same again? Princess Betony and Prince Basil are determined to find the wizard and rescue their country, braving wolves, giants and other dangers along the way. But they need help, and it comes from a surprising source.

Prince Victor must complete three challenges before Valerian's father will consider him as a suitor for her hand in marriage. Victor knows he can be brave and persistent but he is very worried about the cleverness test. When your heart is pure and true, anything can happen even where fierce dragons and enchanted mountains are concerned.

Prince Victor of Serendipity solves some sticky problems like finding the princess. Fortunately, he is aided by his horse, Quince, who is smarter than Victor.

With a king for a father and a tree spirit for a mother, Betony is a reluctant princess who prefers the simple, outdoor life. This is the story of her life at the palace, her adventures with wizards, hobgoblins, unicorns and dragons, and her love for the gardener's apprentice.

This story centres on Princess Betony, half human, half dryad. When the great dragon Windrider bewitches her father, King Max, she journeys to the high country to obtain his release. With the help of her friends, Basil and Clover, she tries to achieve her aim without changing into a wood-nymph.

Any five titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top of the screen.

In 1798 orphaned Barney Bean now has a flourishing farm in the New South Wales colony and everything he ever dreamed of ... except his childhood friend Elsie. But when Elsie falls ill and Barney rushes to be by her side, he finally learns the deadly secret she has been hiding. Who is this strange and beautiful girl who will not speak? And could France ever attack the isolated colony?

Barney Bean is keen to make his fortune and he hears a secret. A sailor's secret about the treasure of the colony. But, Barney wonders how chasing whales can make you rich, and whether an adventure at sea is worth leaving everything he loves.

Birrung, a young indigenous girl, lives with the family of Richard Johnson, chaplain to the Australian colony in 1790. When Birrung befriends orphaned Barney and Elsie, a mute, the Johnson family also takes them in. As Barney's feeling for Birrung grow, he is advised that his friendship with a 'native' girl, and all that she taught him about her language and lore, must remain a secret, forever.

Set somewhere on a large island to the north of what would one day be known as Australia, Loa decides to leave his community after learning that the girl he wants is to marry a man from another tribe. Taking his canoe and survival gear, Loa heads off across the sea. He also takes with him a 'rubbish dog' - one of the pack who scavenge for at the camp. It's a pragmatic decision, not a desire for companionship, as the dog can be fed to sharks or crocodiles as a decoy, or, as a last resort, serve as food for Loa himself. Driven out to sea by currents and winds, Loa eventually lands on an unknown shore. There seem to be no other people, but when the dog has puppies Loa and the dog forge a bond based on their mutual need to survive - the dog needs someone to protect her and her pups, and Loa discovers that hunting with a dog is far more effective than hunting alone. So there is collaboration, and also companionship. And when Loa eventually finds a new tribe to join, the dog goes with him.

To outsiders, Mary is a queen and a threat, but to her devoted dog Folly, she is his world to the world outside her luxurious prison, Mary Queen of Scots is either a shameless beauty who killed her husband, or the rightful queen of England and Scotland, tragically held captive by Elizabeth the First. But to the dog who loved her, Mary is simply his mistress, and the centre of his life. While Mary desperately plots to seize both her freedom and the throne, her dog Folly's world is one of chasing mice behind the tapestries and enjoying turkey legs with quinces for supper. Until the day comes when they try to take his Queen away ...

An inspiring read about the famous partnership of Simpson and his donkey. Written in the voices of Jack and the donkey, their story, and the horrors and comradeship, of Gallipoli, come to life.

Butter O'Bryan lives in a very small castle with his father and three aunts. Butter has been told there are ghosts at the nearby isolated Howlers Beach, but are there? How can the children Butter plays cricket with on the beach simply vanish? Who are these children and why do they refuse his help? Butter is certain they're hiding a secret and he's determined to uncover it.

Isaac, twelve, has joined Captain Cook's ship as a master's servant. He's not considered good enough to fetch hay for the goat who provides fresh milk. Over time, a special friendship grows between the goat and Isaac. Some coarse language in context.

Sixteen-year-old Nipper and his Gallipoli mates Lanky, Spud, Bluey and Wallaby Joe are starving, freezing and ill-equipped. By November 1915 they know that there is more to winning a war than courage. The Gallipoli campaign has been lost. Nipper has played cricket with the Turks in the opposing dug-out, dodged rocket fire and rescued desperate and drowning men when the blizzard snow melted. Based on the extraordinary last weeks of the Gallipoli campaign, this is the fascinating story of how 150,000 men, their horses and equipment were secretly moved to waiting ships without a single life lost.

Billy Marks is a pickpocket, transported to the penal colony of NSW. He and his mate reckon they'll become bushrangers, buying a brumby stallion, covered with scars and refusing to bend to any man's will. Jackie French has used, in context, language and opinions of the times which are now unacceptable.

This book enables the reader to select seeds, grow, cook and eat the produce.

Twelve-year-old Ming Qong is convinced that girls must have changed the world, even if they are rarely mentioned in history books. So when Ming gets the chance to go back in time, she imagines herself changing destinies from a glittering palace or an explorer's ship. Instead, she ends up in Australia in 1898, living a tough life as Flo Watson on a drought-stricken farm. Luckily, Ming is rescued by Flo's Aunt McTavish. Wealthy Aunt McTavish belongs to Louisa Lawson's Suffragist Society, who are desperately and courageously fighting for women's rights. And Ming is determined to get involved, to make a difference.

Ming Qong is convinced that girls have changed the world throughout history. So when Ming is thrust back in time to Belgium during WW1, she faces a tough choice: will she send coded messages and risk her own life in this war on which the future depends? As Ming learns, change is never easy, so how can one girl change the world?

Jem's dad drove the Cobb and Co mail coaches between Braidwood and Goulburn, it was dark and dangerous work. They only drove at night, but sometimes Paw let Jem take the reins. This was a difficult job with 5 horses up front and passengers in the carriage. Tonight, was going to be an even more interesting drive - although they didn't know that. Jem was sitting on top of the carriage with his Paw, the mail had been packed, a mystery passenger was on board, an extremely heavy trunk too as well as all sorts of obstacles along the way. What were the secrets the passengers on this particular coach ride hiding?

It's 1854 and the Ballarat goldfields are a place of dreams and rebellion as Sam, a homeless teenager, is called back to the past. As the summer days get hotter and the miners protests are ignored, Sam experiences at first-hand the power of a united stand which will change her life forever.

Combines history, myth and fantasy. From beyond recorded time, Jackie French takes us on another historical journey. A chance for one girl who tells the truth to change history, and for her brother, an acrobat who accompanies a daring horse dancer across Greece, to attempt to rescue her.

Meet Phredde, the coolest phaery in the universe. Phredde is tiny, ferocious and Pru's best friend. And with Pru's brother turning into a werewolf, Pru needs all the magic help she can get.

Another spooky story starring Phredde, a fractious but fun-loving phaery. When your teacher's a vampire, your brother's a werewolf and a frog named Bruce refuses to try to help to save Sleeping Beauty from the Prince, something has to give.

Another spooky story starring Phredde, a fractious but fun-loving phaery. Strange yellow puddles are appearing all over the house, Phredde and Bruce keep sneaking off and, most importantly, someone is stealing Pru's underpants.

A school excursion goes horribly wrong. Phredde, Pru, Bruce and their vampire teacher, Mrs Olsen, head back into the time of the dinosaurs with Miss Richards, the librarian and martial arts expert.

Phredde, Pru and Bruce are back and this time they are in ancient Egypt. It seems Fluffy, Queen of the Nile, has sent a time tunnel to seek out a brave and brilliant girl to save her

Prudence is invited by her father's distant werewolf cousins to their castle to hunt for some missing 'treasure'. Phredde and Bruce accompany Pru, who is well aware that if she fails then her father will have to take her place. This book is also known as 'A story to eat with a mandarin: Phredde and the temple of gloom'.

It's a new school term and Phredde and her friends in the school footy team are determined to beat the West Wallabies, who are a footy team of vampires.

There's a zombie librarian tending her blood-starved books in the school library and a five thousand year old Egyptian mummy roaming the corridors. Phredde and Pru must escape.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

By the 1790s orphaned Barney Bean finally has his own farm in the early NSW colony. All his dreams are coming true. But now we are to learn of Barney's biggest secret yet: how he helped Australia's first bushranger escape. Was Black Caesar a wronged man, an ex-slave who vowed to be free? Or was he a laughing villain, a trickster who planned to terrorise the colony? And in helping him, did Barney do right or wrong? You decide.

Frog is an orphan living on the streets of Parramatta in 1804. After a chance encounter with an Irish rebel, Frog joins the battle to overthrow the corrupt New South Wales Army Corp. Will the rebels be victorious at Castle Hill, and what secret is the youngest rebel hiding?

A sequel to, The cafe on Callisto, in which things go wrong on a camping holiday to the planet, Callisto, where everyone is happy and food is unashamedly revered.

Phredde is the phaery of grunge. She's tiny and ferocious, and when Phredde's around odd things can happen. Fun stories to read when your brain wants something light to munch on.

Another light-hearted, but scary, bundle of stories where Prudence and her best friend, Phredde the phaery, have to escape a grey fleshed, zombie librarian tending her blood-starved books and other unmentionables such as giant slugs.

Stories to Eat with a Watermelon is another bundle of stories about Prudence and her best friend, The Phaery Ethereal - Phredde for short.

Prudence is invited by her father's distant werewolf cousins to their gloomy castle to hunt for some missing treasure. Phredde and Bruce accompany Prudence who is well aware that, if she fails, her father will have to take her place. The zombie librarian and the castle banshee makes a reappearance. This book is also known as 'Phredde and the temple of gloom'.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

One valley's stories of gold through the ages, from the beginning, four billion years ago, to the valley's creation and the history of its deposits.

Another mystery clouds the very small castle of the O'Bryan family when glamorous actress, Delilah Devince vanishes in the middle of filming on Howlers Beach. With the monster co-star as lead suspect and more strange disappearances happening, it's up to Butter to solve the mystery. Can he crack the case before it's too late?

Read a story that began 200,000,000 years ago of fascinating lands, including our very own Australia, that are linked together by seas and monsoon winds. Journey along with two children across eons of time and the changing lands of Southeast Asia. Discover with them a world filled with traders, adventurers, conquerors and ordinary people struggling for independence. This is a story of the hopes and challenges of a history that includes us all!

In the last forty years, Australia has experienced a period of rapid change, with many social and political events impacting on our lives. This book covers the period from 1973, before computers and the internet existed in Australia, to the present time. Our resources have made us a rich country, but it remains to be seen how long the good times can last, before a boom turns into a bust.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Between 1850 and 1880, Australia developed from a struggling penal settlement to a sustainable 'free' colony. This informative but fun look at history begins with the arrival of Governor Brisbane, who must make the colony a harsher deterrent for convicts, and ends the year before gold is discovered. The resultant gold rush changed Australia forever.

Eleven ships, with over one thousand people, travelled twenty five thousand kilometres to the other side of the world to build a new colony. They didn't know what they would find and most of them certainly didn't know how much hardship they would suffer. This is the story of the governor, the soldiers, the local Indigenous people, the convicts and a handful of wives and children in the first years of Sydney, Australia.

Scabs, swaggies, battling politicians, doddering generals, sheep stealers and heroic diggers played their part in Australia's history from 1880 - 1920. Life in Australia was relatively comfortable for some, but drought drove many out on the roads, and bad times made politicians dream of forming one nation. Then, a far-off war and its aftermath brought even greater changes than the discovery of gold.

World Was II was over and rock 'n' roll, TV and the Olympics had come to Australia. It was a good time to live in Australia but, underneath, there was the menace of the Cold Wars and the horrors of Korea nad Vietnam. Come join the bodgies, the widgies and the hippies to enjoy history as you've never seen it.

Colonial Australia from 1820 to 1850 as you have never imagined it. The true story of cannibal convicts, murdering squatters, sea captains who press-ganged, that is kidnapped, their crew and poor farmers forced off their land. A story of trying to survive and build a new nation in a land that had been the sole domain of its indigenous people.

The Indigenous people of Australia lived here for tens of thousands of years, surviving an ice age and ancient global warming. They saw oceans sink and rise and watched mega-beasts disappear. Theirs is the oldest civilisation in the world. Along came the Dutch, the Portuguese and then the British and things were never the same again.

At the end of World War 1, Australia was still divided by class, gender and race. The flappers and cobbers were eager to celebrate the 'roaring twenties', a time of peace, prosperity and new heroes. Then, the stock market crashed, plunging the country and the western world into the Great Depression. Times were very tough. The Second World War brought world events even closer to our shores.

On Christmas Eve in 1974, tropical cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin. It caused massive destruction and trauma. This is the story of the city's indomitable spirit and life after the cyclone.

I remember when rain stopped, When day by day the water dropped, All across a sun-bleached land, Drought spread its withered, deadly hand.

One small spark brought fire awake, winding like a small black snake. Fire flickered, fire crept, flames snickered, bushfire leapt.

The rain stopped but the wall of water surged, sounding like a helicopter. Sounding like a flood.

Discover the lost monster kangaroos, how indigenous people hunted and used kangaroos, how to tell a kangaroo from a wallaby and what to do if you find a kangaroo by the side of a road.

An engaging, personalised account of living with wombats. Anecdotal notes made over a number of years make this an entertaining, scientifically interesting and informative book.

This week's edition of The Shaggy Gully Times, the punniest newspaper, is jam-packed with exciting news from a small town full of interesting animals we have met before, including barber, Pete the sheep, and Josephine, famous ballerina.

A moving look at the history of Australia's and New Zealand's involvement in warfare through the lens of a single day - Anzac Day - revisited on notable years between 1915 and 2012.

Constantly moving, Trevor is always the new boy. His home is a caravan and school is a strange desk in an unfamiliar classroom. He has his way of coping, of fitting into each new place but this time it's different and things start to go horribly wrong.

Kieran wants to fit in and be part of the in-group at school. He wants to be on the football team. But, then, his cousin Bon turns up. Bon doesn't know anything about fitting in. He looks different, he wears the wrong clothes and he says weird things. Even worse, Julia seems to prefer Bon's company to his. Kieran just wants to ignore Bon but, soon, he is forced to make a choice.

All is not well in the crumbling castle high above the mountain village of Fracture. The sorceress, Lady Lamorna, has her heart set on a new, very expensive robe. To get the cash, she will stop at nothing, including kidnapping, blackmail and more than a little black magic. But she reckons without some heroic, gallant and wicked folk who want to stop her.

What are submarines used for? When were the first submarines built? How does the crew escape if anything goes wrong? And how did submarines help to win two world wars? Open this fast-packed book to find out about all kinds of different subs, from nuclear giants to tiny robots submarines. Read exciting true-life submarine adventures, and fold out enormous pages to see inside a nuclear submarine.

More than five billion people across the world follow a religion. Life the flaps to discover the many ways people pray, worship and celebrate world religions.

Find out how your brain controls your senses and other interesting head facts using this fun book.

Find out about familiar and less familiar topics, from the Earth's magnetic poles to spider venom and black holes. Lots of facts and colourful infographics cover one hundred science topics.

When the first apple falls from the tree, siblings Faith and Peter know that it is applesauce weather. And that means that Uncle Arthur should be here. It seems like he needs a little more time to grieve. This is the first year without Aunt Lucy after all. This is a heartfelt tale about the strength and love of family and the power of a good story.

Tom's basement is inhabited by Hugo the ghost. The only way to get rid of the ghost in the basement is to remove the incredibly revolting ghost that now inhabits Hugo's house.

Best friends Ray, Matty and Lurch are planning their best-ever prank to swap all their neighbours' pets. They think they will be legends but their efforts backfire.

The Samurai Kids are finally back in Japan. But not at their ryu in the Tateyama Mountains. Instead, Sensei has taken them to the snowy lands of Ezo - the place of his birth. The place where Sensei must face his demons and right the terrible wrong that has tormented him. Will Niya have the courage to help Sensei as he promised? Is Sensei really a black Tengu?

The people of the Nine Valleys grow desperate as they are terrorised. Hope lies with Sensei and the Little Cockroaches as they work to defeat Hyo Moon and deliver a message to the Governor.

Sensai and the cockroaches have a deadline to meet in eight days. Dreaded Oong, the pirate, is holding Mikko hostage and he will only be released when Sensai rescues and returns Oong's nephew. It's a tight schedule, made even more difficult when Sensai falls foul of a bear.

Sensei Ki-Yaga and the Samurai kids are journeying through China when Kyoko is kidnapped. Sensei's old adversary, Lu Zeng, is challenging him to try to get Kyoko back. But, getting inside the Forbidden Palace where Lu Zeng lives will not prove easy and outwitting him to get Kyoko back will be even harder.

A drumbeat echoes through the mountains. It is calling the samurais to war. The samurai kids at Cockroach Ryu (school) don't want to fight. Somehow, they must persuade the emperor to silence the drum and stop the war.

On the way to India, The Sea Dragon is shipwrecked. Niya is washed up on a deserted beach, fearing that his friends may all be dead. He is reunited with Chen, but the other Little Cockroaches are nowhere to be found. Niya and Chen soon learn there is only one path their friends would have taken. It leads through the dangerous jungle to the decaying temple city of Angkor. Who has survived? Will the samurai kids ever be the same again?

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Sensei and his students from the Cockroach Ryu (school) travel by sea from Japan to China to give aid to the Shaolin Monks. The boat's captain is drowned and Yoshi, who tried to save him, is left troubled. In China, one of Sensei's past students, Qing-Shen, is determined to gain retribution for Sensei's broken promise. The Little Cockroaches must protect Sensei by outsmarting Qing-Shen.

It's not easy being a one-legged, trainee Samurai warrior but Niya, the white crane, and the other kids at the Cockroach Ryu (school) want to prove to themselves, and those who despise them, that it is their abilities, not their disabilities, that count. Together, they must face danger, fear and the taunts of the Dragon Ryu.