Booklists

Australia is full of the most amazing animals on the planet! What animal has 6 thumbs? What animal produces square poo? What animal is made of 95 per cent water and is highly venomous? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this factastic tour of Australian animals.

his unique A-Z book truly captures the range and diversity of our unique and wondrous Australian wildlife. Exploring common names, aboriginal names, Latin names and from every corner of Australia, the book includes over 400 native animals, from sea creatures and insects, to amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The book highlights the endangered, sometimes the extinct and the rare beauty of Australia and its islands and territories. Fully indexed, this book invites and engages kids (and kid-adults) of all ages to find, discover and learn all the animal names and compare their different types. Originally assisted by leading biologists, author Myke has ensured the illustrations are anatomically correct as well as vibrant and enchanting. As a bonus, you can find one human in the book doing what Myke loves best as a recreational pursuit.

Zoe is thrilled to be helping out at her Auntie Jo's animal shelter over the Easter holidays. But, she doesn't expect to come across a box on the steps of the shelter containing three tiny, abandoned puppies. It's touch and go for the littlest pup, whom Zoe names Cookie. Over the next few weeks, Zoe takes special care of Cookie and a close bond is formed between the two of them. Zoe tries to learn to cope when it comes for the puppies to be rehoused.

An enchanting collection of lullabies, chosen and illustrated by well-known Australian artists. They use collage, pen and ink, gouache, chalk, charcoal, pencil and watercolour to present a varied, visual experience of the lullabies.

Our planet is precious. It's where we live, learn, work and play. This charming picture book is a gentle introduction to caring for the world around us. The simple, engaging text and beautiful illustrations explore ideas like planting veggie gardens and recycling, to show the ways every person, no matter how big or small, can make a difference.

Organised alphabetically, the beautiful, full page photographs and short but excellent texts in this book provide a wealth of information about Australian animals.

Organised alphabetically, the beautiful, full page photographs and short but excellent texts in this book provide a wealth of information about Australian birds.

Abel Grable's work takes him into remote jungles with only the moon to guide the way. His children love to hear about his moonlit adventures when he's back home. When he's away, the children use his desk as a moon machine for their own adventures.

Indigenous and non-indigenous writers work in collaboration with indigenous people to present a vast amount of information about the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. Provides information on each author.

This greedy little fella just can't stop eating honey and won't go home with his mother. The grumpy little devil is nearby chopping wood to make a fire to cook his dinner. But first, he has to catch it.

Matilda's sister, Iris, has a precious possession, an old penny passed on to her by Great Grandfather Parnell. After a fight, Matilda hides the penny in a lilac hedge in the garden. When she goes to retrieve it, the penny is gone. Two sets of glittering emerald eyes are watching Matilda and when she reaches further into the hedge, she sets off a tale of the penny that is more than it seems.

When Daisy tipped sprinkles on Gabby's ice-cream cake and some went in mum's boots, it might have been an accident. There are lots of naughty things that Gabby might do accidentally or maybe even on purpose.

Trung and his father are separated from his mother and sister while escaping from Vietnam to Australia. The story traces their dangerous journey and the difficulties they face as refugees assimilating into Australian society. While they want desperately to be reunited, they did not want Trung's mother and sister to travel to Australia on a leaky boat.

Once upon a time there was a boy who opened his eyes...and noticed something. He was lost. So begins the first adventure of Action Tank. The boy soon discovers he is not the only one on this strange planet on which he has woken, and while some creatures are helpful and friendly, others are not. All the boy knows is he is late home for his carbonara dinner! Join the adventure as the boy braves the dreaded Snowgers Cave and a two million degree lake with his new friend, a talking horse man, as he attempts to find his way home for dinner.

A boy races across the Solar System, piloting a beat-up spaceship and accompanied by his fascinating new friends. Forced to crash land on Neptune, he's soon dodging lightning cannons, racing hovercrafts, and trying to outsmart a bunch of super aggressive guys with buckets on their heads, all in the hope of making it back to Earth in time for his Mum's spaghetti carbonara.

Ada Rios grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. Her family were recyclers of trash. With little money, Ada's dream to play the violin was never possible. When music teacher, Favio Chavez, arrived, he wanted to give the children something special. He made instruments out of materials found in the trash, a crazy idea that would leave Ada and her town forever changed. Now, The Recycled Orchestra plays around the world, spreading their message of hope and innovation. Based on a true story.

In the midst of the city, Adelaide leads a quiet life. At night, she listens to the song of the stars. During the day, she watches over the others that are like her - the still ones, the quiet ones, and those who dance and dream alone. Little does Adelaide know that her secret world will soon be transformed into something unexpected and full of joy.

Australian's all, let us rejoice... Our national anthem, beautifully illustrated.

Speedy Simpson is the absolute best at everything. But, Bebe La Mouche has a special talent with words that is going to take some beating. When Speedy stumbles upon a secret word, he is sure it will impress Bebe and his classmates. But, he soon discovers that there is more than one way to be the best.

Alfie Onion has just set off on a great adventure but only to carry his brother's luggage. It's his older brother, Magnifico Onion, who's destined to make his family's fortune. But, when it turns out that Magnifico isn't half the hero he's cracked up to be, it falls to Alfie to save the day, with a little help from his loyal dog, a talking horse and a couple of meddling magpies.

Anders, Bernie and Eden are best friends and are always on the lookout for new adventures. In these three exciting stories, discover an unknown comet, explore an extinct volcano and find your way through a castle maze.

Rory and Trang are best friends who share many interests, including the desire to get a pet goat. When their parents agree and Jellybean moves into Rory's backyard, mayhem ensues. This sweet story includes a community of very special people who all want the boys to be successful in raising their unusual pet. And Jellybean has a big surprise in store for them all.

Miss Petitfour enjoys having adventures that are just the right size. She's an expert at baking and eating fancy iced cakes, and her favourite mode of travel is par avion. On windy days, she takes her sixteen cats out for an airing. Join Miss Petitfour and her equally eccentric felines on five magical outings.

Once Pete was a brand new car with flash tyres, sparkling chrome and more shine than the sun. Now he is a worn-out old farm car, a paddock-basher. Life on the farm can still be fun, but Pete dreams of greater things.

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.

Riley travels to the South Pacific island of Moorea with his Uncle Max, Aunt Martha and Cousin Alice. Their mission is to study spinner dolphins and enjoy swimming, having surfing lessons and close encounters with humpback whales. When several dolphins become trapped in a local lagoon, Riley may not realise that he holds the key to their survival.

Riley, his cousin Alice, Aunt Martha and Uncle Max visit the Australian outback to research the local koala population, suffering due to drought, bushfires and farming in its natural habitat. While staying at a working sheep station, they see lots of native animals and Riley saves the sheep from a wild dingo. Scientists appearing in small portraits provide factual information about koalas and their habitat.

Riley and family fly north to Canada, to watch polar bears. There's just one problem: no ice. For polar bears, no ice means no seals, and without food, the bears can quickly become hungry, weak, and dangerous.

Riley, who is nine, receives a call for help from his Uncle Max a globe-trotting, research scientist. This time they must find a missing panda in the Jiuzhaigou Valley, twelve hundred kilometres west of Beijing, China. Scientists appearing in small portraits provide factual information about pandas and their habitat.

Journey to Australia's Great Barrier Reef with Riley and his family as they see what's up down under. Large areas of the coral reef are dying and they need to find out why. Joined by Wyland, world-renowned marine artist and conservationist, the crew faces giant starfish, great white sharks and even poachers in their search for answers.

Riley embarks on an expedition with his aunt, his cousin and his Uncle Max to track animals in South Africa. Scientists appearing in small portraits provide factual information about animals native to South Africa and their habitat.

Riley joins Uncle Max on a voyage to the South Pole to find out if the penguins of Antarctica are getting their fill of krill, or whether climate change has reshaped the food web. Home to whales, seals, penguins and most of the world's ice, Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. Riley learns valuable lessons about survival and cooperation.

Riley journeys to the Terai Arc region of India and Nepal in search of the elusive Bengal tiger. Riley's research leads to exciting encounters with some weird and wild animals, such as an Asian rhino and a king cobra, and a better understanding of the local culture.

The first adventure of the muddle-headed wombat and his further adventures at school, on holiday and in the tree-tops with his friends, a tiny, practical mouse and a vain, neurotic, tabby cat, combined in one book.

Intergalactic hero, Zack Proton, and Omega Chimp risk life and limb to save the universe from the evil Big Large. Find out how banana skins come in handy.

When Hal reluctantly accompanies his Uncle Nat on the final journey of the Highland Falcon, an iconic royal steam train, he is anticipating a dull, uneventful trip - but Lenny, the train driver's daughter, is a huge rail enthusiast and has stowed away, determined not to miss the experience of a lifetime. The two new friends have great fun exploring the train and observing the passengers, including an eccentric Countess with her five boisterous dogs, a glamorous film star and guests of honour, the royal prince and his wife. As the train wends its way from London to Scotland, some priceless jewellery goes missing. Realising the thief must be on the train, Hal and Lenny decide to investigate, piecing together clues to try to identify the culprit.

Some of Aesop's best-loved stories are retold simply in this easy-to-read, language-rich and delightfully illustrated book. The hare, tortoise, crow, ant, dove, fox, stork, mouse, dog and lion, all have lessons to teach us.

'Discover the amazing diversity of the African continent in this celebration of all 55 countries on the African continent! The beautifully-written text captures Africa's unique mix of the modern and the traditional, as she explores its geography, its peoples, its animals, its history, its resources and its cultural diversity.

Kiki's father is a doctor who travels to faraway war zones. She always worries about him and, to calm her, Kiki's mother explains her father's likelihood of return in terms of odds. When her father goes missing, Kiki decides she has to try and improve the odds of her father coming home, the only way she can.

A boy arrives on Clark's doorstep and says he is an exchange student but there is something not quite right. Alan Alyian is weird and he's full of surprises.

On Macquarie Island, in the Southern Ocean far below Tasmania, the sea-birds throng; petrels, penguins, shearwaters, skuas. But rarest of all, the Wandering Albatross, wondrous master of the sky and sea. Yet there is blood and death in the water, and for one priceless breeding pair, the dangers gather.

Albert Ironstain invents a great robot, Elvis, to be his identical twin but this invention turns out to be a very mixed blessing. Elvis is inclined to misunderstand commands with hilarious results and starts to develop a will of his own.

Alby has just completed his training as a guide dog and arrives at his new owner's house. However, the neighbour's cat isn't nearly as enthusiastic about Alby's arrival.

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.

Alby comes face to face with the dreadful, small human from his past. But, this time, Alby holds all the cards. Faced with a terrible dilemma, he must listen to either his fear or his training.

Alby the guide dog is getting used to the cat next door. It saved his life, after all and Alby is almost fond of it. Then, suddenly, the cat disappears. Days pass and Alby is worried. It's not until Jim, his blind master, takes Alby to the Morvale Show that all becomes clear.

Alex's parents ask him to keep out of trouble for just one day. Alex tries, he even thinks the sideways skateboard will help him to do so.

Alexander woke up with chewing gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped on his skateboard and then dropped his jumper in the sink while the water was running. He knew it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Alexander's grandparents give him a dollar. He contemplates his new found wealth and how he will spend it.

Evie is overjoyed when she is given her very own puppy, Alfie. Alfie adores Evie - he loves to be cuddled, sleeps on her bed and welcomes her home from school every day with a wag of his tail. But it's not long before another new member of the family arrives: Evie's baby brother, Sam. Suddenly no-one has much time to look after Alfie, let alone play with him and take him for walks, and soon he finds himself unwanted and all alone.

With all the nostalgia of a country fair, Alfie comes up with a winning painting and helps the losers to cope with their disappointment.

Confused about his destiny, Alfie sets off across the country to ask the animals for their advice, before returning home to discover the answer.

Ten year old Ali is a refugee. Accompanied by his grandmother, Ali had to flee his home country of Afghanistan to avoid the conflicts caused by war. In his own words, Ali documents his feelings of alienation, separation and suffering, and the thread of hope that helped him overcome his ordeal.

Mary the airy fairy is coming to stay with Alice and her family. Is she a real fairy or just a free spirit.

A country child, Alice ran barefoot. On smooth waxed floorboards, over dusty clay in the yard, through icy water in the creek... she refused to wear shoes. After losing her sight and hearing through illness, Alice slowly made her way back to life and became the first deafblind person in Australia to be educated. Her hated shoe was Alice's first connection with the world of language as she learnt to sign.

Alice-Miranda is at camp, but it's not all fun and games, as she keeps an eye on the newest student, who seems determined to case trouble. The camp is next door to Alice-Miranda's father's childhood home, which needs some investigation.

At the age of seven and one quarter, Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones cheerfully waves goodbye to her weeping parents and takes her place at the Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies. Alice-Miranda's optimism must overcome quite a few obstacles.

Alice-Miranda is set for a luxurious cruise aboard the royal yacht Octavia, where Aunty Gee is hosting the wedding of Aunt Charlotte and Lawrence Ridley. Even Ambrosia Headlington-Bear has come along, much to her daughter Jacinta's surprise. Wild weather and rumours of a jewel thief throw the travellers into turmoil, but something else is giving Alice-Miranda one of her strange feelings.

Alice-Miranda and her friends are invited to the palace for the Queen's celebration, but people are behaving strangely, with sinister things at play.

In a startling turn of events, Alice-Miranda unexpectedly finishes the school term earlier than planned. Holidays should be a time for fun and a chance to catch up with friends, but it seems all is not well at Highton Hall. There is trouble afoot with the family business and it's got everyone worried. Scores of people have been struck down with a mystery illness and it looks as if Kennington's may be responsible. Meanwhile, there is an annual garden party to prepare for. And the whole village is invited. Throw in an intriguing neighbour, a runaway and a swindler and it may be the perfect recipe for disaster. Alice-Miranda will have to trust her intuition to find the key to unlock this mystery.

Alice-Miranda and her friends are on a school exchange in China. There's so much to see and do, and plenty of new people to meet. Among the whirlwind of sights is a breathtaking circus show, a hair-raising feat and an encounter with a family of acrobats. While some are having a great time, others haven't quite landed on their feet. Throw in clashing personalities and the theft of a priceless antiquity, and sparks are set to fly. There may be more than just fireworks in store for Alice-Miranda and her friends.

The Queen's Colours leadership program is heading to Egypt and Alice-Miranda and her friends are thrilled. There are hidden tombs to explore, a new culture to experience and a lot to learn about the country's ancient past. But something is amiss among the pyramids and palm trees. Bizarre happenings back home, a new friend with something to hide and adults with stories that don't quite add up leave the friends very worried indeed. One thing's for sure: when Alice-Miranda starts digging, she'll find more than just buried treasure!

Alice-Miranda and her friends are off to Hollywood to take part in Lawrence Ridley's new movie. It's a western with a twist, and they'll be shooting some scenes on location at the picturesque Grand Canyon. Everyone's excited to get a sneak peek of the glitz and glamour of show business- especially Caprice! On set, however, there is high drama with tears and tantrums, romance and a string of suspicious mishaps. Is there a villain lurking behind the scenes, or could the rumours of a curse be true? Alice-Miranda is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery before tensions explode.

Alice-Miranda is in Japan and gets embroiled in an elaborate missing persons hunt when she is given a gift from her father that confuses the would-be trackers. Things come to a head when the tourists get an invitation to attend dinner at the Royal Palace in Tokyo, and the plans of a jealous sister begin to unravel, with startling consequences.

New York is a blur of skyscrapers, hot dog carts and chats with zoo animals. Alice-Miranda is worried about her father and her friend Lucinda is shy about inviting Alice Mirand to her house. While solving these riddles, she still wants to search the amazing city.

Alica-Miranda and school friends are in Paris for fashion week, where some expensive fabric has been stolen from France's best known designer, showing a darker side to the glitz and glamour of Paris.

A select group of students have been invited to attend the inaugural Future Leaders Opportunity Program in Scotland. Alice-Miranda and her friends are some of the lucky few and they just might be joined by a few familiar faces from around the globe. There are new skills to be learned and challenges to conquer as well as a few fiery feuds for Alice-Miranda to settle! The organisation is being run by some interesting characters and, as the tournament reaches its climax, tempers start to fray. Is there another reason these particular children were brought together?

Alice-Miranda and her friends are off to St Moritz in Switzerland to ski and sightsee. Mid-holiday, the Baron, a close friend of Alice-Miranda's family, reappears after being mysteriously out of contact, and the group heads across the country to Zermatt. The resort town is full of charm but, underneath the picturesque exterior, there are shady dealings and unsavoury characters.

Alice-Miranda and her friends are off to the Australian Outback! They're going to help an old family friend who's found himself short staffed during cattle mustering season. The landscape is like nothing else - wide open and dusty red as far as the eye can see. It's also full of quirky characters, like eccentric opal miner Sprocket McGinty and the enigmatic Taipan Dan. As the gang settles in at Hope Springs Station, mysteries start piling up. A strange map is discovered indicating treasure beneath the paddocks, a young girl is missing and there are unexplained water shortages. Can Alice-Miranda get to the bottom of this desert dilemma?

After a disastrous fire in the village leaves a family without a home, Alice-Miranda and her friends pitch in to help. They decide to hold a music festival to raise funds. The only trouble is, not everyone's as keen on the idea. Things are also heating up in Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies with Miss Reedy at the helm. The arrival of a new teacher, a deputy turned diva and an entire faculty of disgruntled staff sees tempers flare. Has the power gone to Miss Reedy's head or is there a sinister hand at play? One thing is for certain: there's no smoke without fire. Alice-Miranda is put to the test. Can she ensure the festival, with its many secrets and surprises, hits all the right notes?

Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones on holidays from the Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Ladies with new friend, Jacinta Headlington-Bear, has lots of smashing times. There's horse-riding, cake to eat, meeting old friends and new, plus solving a heinous crime.

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.

The sixth grade girls are preparing for a change to high school. Jacinta is being particularly grumpy and even with the most persistent questioning, no one quite knows why. When Myrtle Parker's husband awakes from his coma and disappears, Alice-Miranda puts on her detective hat. She's determined to find Reginald Parker, deter the politician and uncover exactly why Jacinta is playing up.

Alice-Miranda has a birthday to celebrate and a village show to look forward to. Things quickly go from bad to worse when Alice-Miranda's beloved Bony is horsenapped. Can Alice-Miranda uncover the culprit and get her horse back in time for Rockstar to compete in the race?

Alice-Miranda is thrilled to be back at school, where the girls are preparing a play with the neighbouring boys' school. But, it's not all glitter and stage lights. There are rumours of a witch in the woods and Jacinta and Millie are clashing with a rude new student and her pushy mother.

It's the beginning of term and Alice-Miranda is delighted to be back at school. There is excitement with the news of Miss Reedy and Mr Plumpton's engagement. When a surprise arrival is added to the mix, both the students and teachers are thrown into a spin. Nearby, in Winchesterfield, the village about to host Chudleigh's, the country's most prestigious dog show. Along with the event comes a series of bizarre characters.

Protector of planet Earth or abduction by extra-terrestrials! You see strange lights in the night sky one night. It's a flying saucer, just like in the movies. Inside are lizard aliens -- disguised as humans. They have come to invade the planet Earth. You want to resist but your actions may lead to the destruction of humankind . . . Do you have what it takes to save the world? Or will the aliens unleash their ultimate weapon?

Twins Ben and Jen inherit a secret alien zoo from their late grandfather. But, on their first day as alien zoo keepers they discover the zoo is in need of repairs, creatures are out of their cages, there's a VIP group on their way for a visit and the supercomputer is mucking up.

They come from planets near and far, some big, some small, some quite bizarre. Moving at the speed of light and looking for a fight, the aliens are coming to Earth to conquer the human race.

David needs to find out why the aliens want his help and who else they have kidnapped.

Poetry, playfully illustrated by Ian Cunliffe, that explores the joys and disappointments of toys - what children want as gifts, what they receive, what they grow tired of and what they break.

Dig deep into the world of dragons and discover all there is to know about these formidable fire-breathing beasts. Why are dragons so hard to find? What do they eat? When do they sleep? How far can they fly? And is it safe to get close to them? In this follow-up to the bestselling All About Mermaids and All About Fairies, you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about these captivating creatures.

Flit through the fascinating world of fairies and discover everything there is to know about these fabulous creatures.

All About Korea is a great book for teaching children the finer aspects of Korean culture, their way of life and etiquette. This book includes favourite games, special holiday times and after school activities that are unique to Korea.

Dive into the world of mermaids and discover everything there is to know about the ocean's most mysterious creatures. From where they are found to how they sleep, from what they eat to how they raise their young, All About Mermaids is overflowing with fascinating facts that are sure to enchant and enlighten readers.

Gilly does not want to wear a frilly pink dress and be the flower girl at her cousin's wedding. Things just go from bad to worse, but, when your heart's in the right place and you give things your best shot, you can be a star in the most surprising ways.

Harvey owned a heap of stuff, but could always use more. The Orange 430 was the latest and the greatest. Harvey wasn't sure what it did, but he had to have it!

If you like pigs, you will love this story book about how pigs live and how you can keep them as pets.

The ants come scurrying one by one. Quickly, they're followed by swooping barn owls, trundling wombats, jumping kangaroos, striding brolgas and other favourite Australian animals, all in their race to get to the ark before the flood.

Uncle Kev is lost. He's looking for the rare Bearded Night Parrot and we're trying to find him. Join us on a trip across the Nullabor and all over Western Australia.

Allie Finkle doesn't want to leave her pretty, pink bedroom in her lovely modern home and all her school friends to go and live a long way away in a creepy old house with a zombie in the attic. Fortunately, the rules she makes to live by, as well as being practical and very funny, also help her to make the best of things.

When Susie won't hand over her pocket money to her mean cousin Walter, he locks her in the attic. But when a gigantic meat-eating dinosaur turns up, Walter's the one who gets scared. And when the dinosaur gobbles up Uncle Colin, it's time for Susie to save the day.

Jasmine is thrilled when she gets to catsit for her neighbours while they're away on holiday for Christmas. She adores looking after the beautiful Star and only wishes she could keep her forever. Star loves playing with Jasmine and soon the pair are inseparable. But, what Jasmine doesn't know is that Star has a secret.

Join the Alpha quest, a journey in search of treasure. Everyone is desperate to find the riches - Eagle and Emu, the Goldfish in Gliders, the Knight, the Pirate Pig, even the Violent Viking. But, only you can find the hidden pieces of the key to unlock the treasure.

In a land far away, you'll find A boy called Tashi, brave and bold, Baba Yaga the witch, cunning and cold, Chintu the giant, bigger than most, Dragon of fire, who'll turn you to toast! Learn the alphabet and journey through Tashi's world filled with mythical creatures, wild adventures and magic in a story especially created by Anna and Barbara Fienberg with original artwork by the late illustrator Kim Gamble, beautiful restored and rendered by his artist daughters, Arielle and Greer Gamble.

When every girl in Year Three gets an invitation to Eve's birthday party except Amanda, Amanda makes a plan, with the help of the Dolphin Squad, to win herself an invitation before the week is through. It's operation invitation! Amanda tries everything to make Eve like her and get an invitation to the party, until she finally learns it's more important to be kind, not for what you can get but because of who you are.

One of the Amazing Australian series. An information book with interesting, simply presented facts and detailed photos of various Australian mammals. Maps, fact files and a glossary of words enhance the text.

Come on an amazing Aussie road trip with our family as we go on a quest to find a scenic spot to have a picnic and wish aunty a happy 60th birthday. We will discover many amazing sites as we travel around Australia. Will Aunty choose your favourite spot and have the best birthday ever?

In this book you'll meet twelve amazing Australian women who have changed the world, in small ways and large. Some of them are world famous, like Annette Kellerman and Nellie Melba. Some of them are famous in Australia, like Mary Reibey and Edith Cowan. And all of them deserve to be famous, and admired. They represent the warriors, artists, business owners, scientists, singers, politicians, actors, athletes, adventurers, activists and innovators of Australia.

Amazing Australians in Their Flying Machines tells the stories of ten brave Australians who changed the face of aviation forever. These include Charles Kingsford Smith, John Flynn and Nancy Bird- the youngest licensed woman pilot. Up until these pioneers changed aviation in Australia, it could take days, weeks, or months, for everyday Australians to get to their destination in the early 20th Century.

When you peel a banana, or bite into a pear, when you smell a rose, pop a fuchsia bud or scrape your knee climbing an old pine tree, do you ever wonder how those plants came to this country? Read the amazing case of Dr Ward to be awed by the science and troubles of the past.

From atoms to Xrays and from the Big Bang to the Internet, brilliant breakthroughs by successful scientists have changed the world again and again. Dip inside this intriguing book to read the stories of 100 scientists and their amazing discoveries!

The Flea Circus is the best show that Matt has ever seen. He is really excited when the circus superstar, the Amazing Fleadini, wants to stay at his place. But, his guest isn't quite the fun that Matt expects him to be.

Matilda Mudpuddle discovers she has exciting new powers. The beans from Tibet allow her to fly through the air.

An exploration of the role of ambulance officers in our community. Bright, photographic illustrations and simple clear text show the ambulance officer performing a range of typical work tasks.

Aditya and Anjali love listening to their grandmother's stories, especially the scary one about a ghost in the tree. The night their grandmother dies her stories lose their meaning until something happens that is more mysterious and magical than any story. Could their grandmother still be with them?

Simple factual information about amphibians. The book includes beautifully presented photographs and illustrations, a glossary and an index.

Amy and her friends take an exciting time travel adventure with the help of a rainbow necklace. After finding a map of South Australia with a mysterious location, the necklace takes them to Wilpena Pound in the early 1900s. Here they meet Jessie Hill, whose family is threatened by a disastrous flood. The girls learn about courage and the value of true friendship.

Through the eyes of a young Egyptian slave, discover what life was like in Ancient Greece during the Great Dionysian Festival.

A beautifully presented book for younger readers about the ancient Greeks, including simple and interesting facts, an index, a glossary and web links.

At New York City's Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns to sit on an abandoned egg until it hatches.

Meet Anders, Eden and their new friend, Bernie. It's the school holidays and there are comics to be made, games to be played, ice-cream to be eaten, and rhinos to impress at Wekiwa water park. When Anders and his friends meet the Green Grabber, things take on a whole new twist, leading Anders to a wonderful pet and wild adventures in the sky.

Now that school is finished, Anders and his friends, Bernie and Eden, are looking forward to their holidays at Camp Canvas at Mount Tremble. They make new friends and discover new things about themselves. That's lucky, as they'll need everything they've got when Mount Tremble, an extinct volcano, starts to rumble.

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.

Judd's on a rescue mission, and he's brought Andy along as his weapon of choice. Can Andy help Judd and bring down the forces of evil and still stay true to what he believes in. The pressure's on and the stakes have never been higher.

When you're half boy, half machine, it's hard not to be a hero. Andy is starting to enjoy his new life but he might not be the only one who's hiding a secret. Andy's parents think the safest place for him is school camp. They couldn't be more wrong.

Andy's trying to live an ordinary life, despite his extraordinary powers. But, when a field trip goes terribly wrong, Andy has to decide whether to save the day and risk blowing his cover. With the evil Dr Baffi on his trail, it could be the last decision he'll ever make.

Andy and Judd are on a mission but it's possible that Andy's awesome powers won't be enough. Someone who Andy cares may lose their life to protect him. It's the toughest night of Andy's life and he'll have to summon all his courage to outwit a merciless enemy.

Andy and Judd have blown their cover - so when Judd goes missing, can Andy risk going after him. With the police, the Agency and the evil Blaireau Corporation looking for him, this time it's Andy versus the world.

Andy must take the fight to the enemy and win to save the people who mean the most to him. This time, there's nowhere left to turn and everything is on the line.

When you're half boy, half machine, it's hard not to be a hero. Andy's just a regular kid with a normal, everyday life. Or is he? Why is? And who are his parents really? He's about to find out who his parents are and why a sinister scientist is out to kidnap him. These superhuman secrets will change everything.

Andy and Judd are undercover in Switzerland. Their mission is to find the headquarters of the evil Blaireau Corporation, but why is Judd so freaked out. One thing's for sure, Andy's upgraded powers and hardware are certainly going to get a workout.

For the first time Andy is on his own and having the time of his life. But, Andy may be putting other lives in jeopardy because, when you're a superhero, a simple mistake can have terrible consequences.

It's official. Andy is joining the secret service. But, when he is sent on a job halfway through his training, Andy wonders whether he is up to the challenge. With no back-up and no experience, this life or death mission will be the ultimate test.

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.

Andy Shane doesn't like school or Dolores Starbuckle in particular. She is the class know-it-all who bosses him around. Luckily Andy has a very wise and understanding grandmother who teaches Dolores a lesson.

Andy Web studied Art at the National Gallery. It was his dream to exhibit there one day. How will he ever achieve his dream? Join Andy, the original artist-in-residence, as he gets up close and personal with the great masters to learn all he can about art.

Anemone lives alone in the rock pool. The tide comes in and the tide goes out. All Anemone wants is a friend, but friends are hard to make when you accidentally sting everyone who comes near you. Perhaps Clownfish has a solution to the problem ...

High above the rooftops of Rome, Angelo begins his work restoring the facade of a once glorious church. When he finds an injured pigeon, Angelo nurses it back to health and they become good friends. Angelo is worried about what will happen to the pigeon when he dies and comes up with a plan to make sure the pigeon is safe.

Wherever they live, baby animals do many of the same things that human babies do. They play, eat, sleep and find adventure. From the biggest baby animals to the smallest, you'll find out how long different animals stay with their parents, how they find food and the sorts of things they do.

Find out about the secret world of animal camouflage. Learn how animals use disguise to catch their prey while others use it to avoid being eaten. Some animals do amazing things to avoid being attacked, like the American fainting goat.

The different places and spaces that animals choose to call home. Simple explanations and beautiful illustrations help readers to find information about how to locate animals.

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.

This stunning book of illustrations from A to Z has hidden puzzles and ideas that fascinate all ages.

Tom is very scared of animals. He imagines being eaten by a dog, squeezed to death by a snake, spiders crawling up his nose and birds pecking off his ears. But, Tom has the scariest secret weapon of all.

Many of the world's beautiful animals are now in danger of extinction. In this book Garry Fleming captures the unique beauty of some of these animals and provides information about the animals and their plight.

Annie loves her pet snails. They have adventures together and she makes them a special home in an ice-cream container, where they should be very happy.

John finds himself caught up in an Antarctic adventure that happened in 1911 when he travels back in time using one of his inventions. A chance to discover the Antarctic through the writing of someone who has been there.

Find out fascinating facts about Antarctica.

Anton has a magic hat. A real one. He wants to do some magic and make things disappear. Anton tries to make a tree vanish but it's too big. But, when he is successful in making someone disappear, Anton desperately wants him to come back.

A fascinating look into the world of ants, their habitats and how they keep safe from predators. Find out where ants live, what they eat and how much weight they can carry.

Simple, factual information about ants, with beautifully presented photographs and illustrations. A glossary of terms and an index are included.

Ants are everywhere, in different shapes, sizes and colours. They creep, they crawl, they climb and they do a lot of different jobs. These hard-working little creatures thrive wherever they go, making whatever adaptations are necessary in their ever-changing world.

An author and some very curious children, with lots of questions, collaborate to write and illustrate a story. The kids become part of the story and let their imaginations run wild, becoming inspired to create tales of their own. Find out how brilliant ideas creep up on you when you least expect it and how words sometimes float out of nowhere, asking to be written.

Freda was the loyal, good-luck mascot of a brave young soldier, battling explosions on the Western Front.

In 1916, two brothers planted two trees on their farm. They then headed far away to France to fight in the Great War. The Anzac tree tells the story of a century of Australian generations who went to war, and the story of those who were left behind.

A fascinating introduction to our nearest animal relatives. Simple explanations and beautiful illustrations provide interesting information on apes and monkeys.

Aphrodite Alexandra is named after both her grandmothers who grew up in different countries and don't want anything to do with each other at all. Aphrodite Alexandra visits both grandmothers often and loves the stories they tell her about their childhoods. She realises they both have more in common than they think.

April and Esme Underhill have never collected a tooth before. Mum and Dad have always done it but, tonight, it's their turn. So, equipped with a bag, a coin and a mobile phone, the sisters head for Daniel Dangerfield's house, and a very unusual first tooth visit.

Matthew and his grandfather sail to his grandfather's island. They discover the love that can exist between a child and his grandfather, the beauty and ferocity of the sea and the joy and exhilaration of sailing, even in a wheelchair.

Simple, factual information about arctic foxes and red foxes, with beautifully presented photographs and illustrations. A glossary of terms and an index are included.

Join Grace and her family on their adventurous and, sometimes, funny expedition around Australia. A warm, heartfelt story based on an actual journey undertaken by the award-winning author and illustrator, Alison Lester.

Have a close look at twenty-one famous paintings and discover how each artist uses colour, techniques and secrets to delight you. Be an art sleuth and find items and details in each painting that, at first glance, might not be so obvious.

Delightful story of a young kitten who becomes a witch's cat and goes through most of his nine lives being rescued by his kind witch, Bella Donna.

The delightful story of Sophie, a lonely girl living in a big city, and her three secret wishes. Two of the wishes seem impossible but the third is, perhaps, not so impossible.

After falling from a boat, Tom and Alice, find themselves on board the Golden Ship, an ark carrying mythical creatures such as unicorns, griffins and basilisks. The ship is sailed by friendly but suspicious elves and a dwarf until it is sabotaged.

Arlo has a big brain and a collection of shiny things. Pip is his new pal. Moving to the city sure can be hectic for a crow. Even one as smart as Arlo! Everywhere you turn-noisy humans, lots of litter and lots of competition for French fries! Fortunately, Arlo meets Pip-who joins him on his awesome adventures (and reminds him when he is bragging too much).

An off-the-wall picture book about Arno who lives in the middle of his family's junkyard making him unpopular, mostly because of the smell. But, when Arno brings an exciting invention to school made from recycled garbage, the situation changes.

Starting in Brisbane, Wombat travels Australia, telling readers what makes the location special. Wombat slops on some sunscreen to visit the beaches of the Gold Coast. He spots a roo at Taronga Zoo and gets out his cricket bat to play at Adelaide Oval.

Lucy is about to start high-school. She has a cool new friend, Briony, and feels she's outgrown the school holiday 'Overseas Adventure Days' she shares with her grandfather, a retired geography teacher. When Lucy asks to spend those days with Briony, instead of doing geography research and international craft and cookery with Gramps, her mother refuses and reveals a poignant reason. However, when an emergency threatens more than just Lucy's Fridays with Gramps, she reflects on all they've shared, and what is most important in her life.

Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter while Max is a beginner. Max's first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is inexperienced, his energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its triumphant conclusion.

Arthur is a lone dog in Mrs Humber's pet shop and, each day, he attempts to copy the attributes and antics of the popular pets like the rabbits, snakes, fish, cats and frogs so that he will be purchased. Meanwhile, Melanie and her grandfather have been attracted to the shaggy dog who knows lots of tricks.

Arthur has an amazing dream about a pink and green boat with a striped mast. He can't wait to tell his family about it. But when he tries, no one (not even the dog) is interested in listening. In fact, they don't even notice when the very same boat gradually appears on his head, growing larger and larger by the minute.

Interesting facts about the lives and paintings of six famous artists including Monet, Picasso, da Vinci, Rembrandt, van Gogh and Turner.

Arty Farty Marty loves to surf and paint! Join Marty as he tries his tentacles at painting in the styles of seven of the world's most famous artists.

The box of magic tricks in the shop window was expensive and Hercules Quick did not have enough money in his piggy bank to buy it. What he needed was a job. Hercules certainly had plenty of neighbours who needed his help from babysitting to singing and even finding lost ping pong balls. He even got a bonus in the form of a tadpole named Sylvie. Despite all of his hard work, Hercules still did not have enough money but he realised that real magic doesn't need to come out of a box of magic tricks!

When Jamie and Tom spot the Compsagnathus on the mountainside, they think the little creatures are cute. But, they soon realise that these pesky carnivores aren't as sweet as they look. Worse still, as the boys race to get away, the mountain begins to shake. It's a volcano and it's about to blow.

Imagine 101 years into the future. The moon has been transformed into the ultimate super cool intergalactic amusement park. The Astronaughties get a chance to visit Luna Park before it officially opens. But when they arrive, they discover their parents, who designed the park, are missing. Now their mission is to find them, defeat the baddies and free a trapped alien. Hold on tight. This is a wild rocket ride.

The astronaut's cat is an indoor cat, and that is very good news, because outside is no place for any living thing. The cat can still be curious about the rocky, dusty, hot and cold, and very unusual land outside the window, including the big blue ball which appears each day.

This book explains what it is really like being an astronaut and what the job involves.

Find out how do astronomers study planets, stars and galaxies, how different telescopes work and what a nebula is. Lots of fascinating facts, amazing photographs and illustrations, and a glossary explaining the specialist terms used. See the latest images captured by telescopes and rovers.

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.

Deliveries usually come in a van, as heavy boxes or oddly-shaped bags. They do not come late, on a school night. When Poppy's dad opens the front door to find a small, very distressed child, clinging to a green blanket, the family tries their hardest to do the right thing. They look after the baby while the authorities search for her family. Although Mei's stay is brief, her impact on the family is long-lasting.

It's summer and time to head to Crabby Spit. I've been crabspotting, riding my bike, surfing and swimming, and looking at stars. With a bit of luck, I'll be having fish and chips for dinner. The only problem is my things keep disappearing.

Life at the end of Holyrood Lane is filled with sunshine and butterflies. Except when it storms. Storms make Flick's world dark, and make her feel smaller than she really is. To escape their fury, Flick runs and hides. But the storms keep coming back. It's time for Flick to try something she has never done before, so she can banish fear and welcome back sunshine.

Jamie has moved from the city to Dinosaur Cove where his Dad is opening a museum. Jamie and his friend, Tom, head off to do some fossil hunting and find themselves in a forgotten cave with fossilised dinosaur footprints, which take them to the world of dinosaurs. Here, they meet up with a friendly Wannanosaurus who takes them further into the prehistoric land until they are noticed by the T-Rex.

Audrey can't wait to get to the tiny town of Beltana. It's full of amazing things like trains, glass windows and a shop that sells lollies. But, when Mum gets sick, Audrey and her little brother, Dougie, must stay alone with Mrs Paterson, a strict old lady who looks like a burnt stick. Audrey starts to think that even a town full of people can't stop you feeling lonely.

Audrey lives in the remote outback with her family. Her life is hard and lonely while Dad is away working. Audrey does extra jobs to help her Mum but hates cleaning out the chook pen or helping with the long drop dunny. Audrey and her friend, Stumpy, ponder important questions like whether she should be a girl or a man, and whether it would be better to be a sheep or a cow.

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.

Audrey knows only too well the importance of family and what it means to be apart from those you love. But, in order to protect her friend, Audrey will need to keep the truth from her parents. She is torn between keeping a promise and telling the truth. Choices are never easy, especially when someone could be hurt.

Sophie wants a dog. Not just any dog, but a proper Aussie Outback dog. She doesn't want a dog like Boris, who can't even run after sticks. But sometimes the best dog is the dog that needs you.

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.

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.

Hi! I'm Dooley My cousin is visiting our farm. We'll swim in the river, feed the calves and collect berries. But best of all, we're going to sleep out in the barn!

Eve's address is the 'Nowhere Roadhouse' on the loneliest road in Western Australia. She doesn't get many visitors. But her Nan and cousin Will are coming from Perth to visit. Perth is a world away which is fourteen hours in Eve's time. Nan had enjoyed her last trip. But Eve was excited and worried. Would Will enjoy the visit?

Katie has a wobbly tooth that won't fall out. A fun day at the beach with her family is just what she needs.

Hi! I'm Matilda! Today there's a festival at the Japanese Embassy. That's where my friend Hansuke lives. We'll have lots of fun. But Hansuke is going back to Japan soon. How will I be able to say goodbye?

Hi! I'm Mia Jim is coming to stay with us soon. I want to show him the jetty, beach and island. But I don't want my bossy sister Alice to take over. So I have a plan . . .

Come on an adventure with Aussie Kids and meet Sam from the Northern Territory.

Taj has had a long journey to move to Australia. It was hard for his family, his Dad couldn't get work, they didn't speak English, they were different. Slowly they begin to settle into their new country and eventually start to find a home.

Come on an adventure with Aussie Kids and meet Zoe and Zac from New South Wales.

Christmas in the middle of an Australian summer means Santa has to find new ways to deliver his presents.

A unique book that presents descriptions of ten Australian animals, including their behaviours, habitats and predators, in a maze format that shows their natural environment.

A funny, rhyming story about a family and their friends celebrating Australia Day at the beach.

This is a small slice of Australia as you've never seen it before. Spend time looking and find out what makes Australia so great.

When it comes to deadly animals, Australia hits the jackpot. You might be surprised to discover that there are three creatures whose danger factor is higher than sharks or the funnel-web spider. The animals have been given a deadly factor out of ten and the higher the score, the more deadly the animal.

Come on a journey into the world of Australia's wildlife, exploring all the different habitats, from parched deserts to lush rainforests. Discover the mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects that live there. Search for the animals hidden in each habitat scene. Find out about the fish that walks; the sixth sense of the platypus; the deadly venom of the desert death adder; the strange table manners of the sea star.This environmental atlas of Australian animals, by an expert team, is full of fascinating facts and superb illustrations.

This is a common pigeon. Common because it's almost identical to every other pigeon. You'll sometimes see a white one. That's because it's just had a bath. I made that last bit up. If you would like to learn more VERY REAL facts like this about some of Australia's most common backyard birds, this is the book for you. I mean, who doesn't want to know what bok, bok, bok means in chicken? Or how often a budgerigar poops? A handy first field guide packed full of fascinating facts (some of them are even true) about Australia's most common backyard birds.

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.

Climate change. What is it and how does it affect us here in Australia? The world is part of a balancing act to ensure its ecosystems can work together to survive. But the climate is changing too quickly. What can we do to help? There are many ways that we can help, even small steps can make a difference. Read what it is all about in this interesting book that explains all the hard stuff and tells us how we can help.

Many thousands of years ago, the first people arrived in Australia and made this land their home. When Europeans arrived in the late 1700s, things changed forever. Now, Australia is home to children of many cultures and backgrounds, whose lives have changed over time.Enjoy spotting what has stayed the same and what is different in clothing, housing, activities, food and games.

Ava loves playing shops. Can she get Billy to buy anything.

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.

Ava and Angus are off to the Doolimba show, with its fun rides and lots of cute animals. But, when the daring twins, Donna and Danny Donnelly, tempt Ava to sneak into the animals' shed at night time, dozens of prize animals escape their pens. Ava and Angus' delightful trip has turned into a disaster. The Donnelly twins might own up. If not, Ava and Angus will take all the blame.

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.

Ava has an orderly life, which is just how she likes it. Then her parents decide it is time to travel Australia for one year, but it sounds like a terrible adventure to Ava.

Ava Anne Appleton continues her road trip adventures and the next stop is the beach. When she meets a new friend who needs her help, Ava's courage is tested to overcome her fears.

The Appleton family continue their road trip and Ava has found that being on the road is quite an adventure. But, when faced with going higher than she ever thought possible, Ava wonders if she will be up to this new adventure.

Axel is a 12 year old boy who loves video games. His life is turned upside down when one day a huge robot breaks into his garage. The robot is BEAST and he is running away from Grabbem Industries who want him to destroy the environment. Axel and BEAST go on the run and, helped by Agent Omega, try to keep BEAST safe.

Find out about the Aztecs, who they were, where they lived and what gifts they gave to the gods. Vivid, full colour illustrations and photographs accompany short, informative text.