AustLit

'A companion title to Bob Graham’s celebrated picture book Max, whose superhero family has just got bigger!

'Max has a new baby sister – Maxine! Max is there for her first words, her first steps and … her first flight! But as Maxine grows up and starts school, she doesn’t feel like she quite fits in. In fact, she’s not sure if she feels comfortable in her superhero guise at all. Can Maxine convince her family that not all superheroes wear capes? With a strong, incredibly smart girl at its centre, this is a book to inspire any child to dream big and be exactly who, and how, they want to be.' (Publication summary)

'When Ellie is very little, she finds a newborn dragon fresh from the egg on a supermarket shelf, and calls him Scratch. He is quite the sweetest thing she has ever seen! From that day on, Ellie and Scratch do everything together. Ellie's mum and her teacher can't see her fiery friend, but all her friends can - and, over the years, Ellie's dragon grows to be big, house-trained, and very affectionate. And Ellie is growing, too...

'A moving story about the wonders of imagination and the nature of growing up from one of Australia's most revered bookmakers.' (Publication summary) 

'In this magical companion to Bob Graham’s celebrated April Underhill, Tooth Fairy, two fairy sisters, April and Esme, are on a brand new adventure!

April and Esme are staying at Grandma and Grandad’s for a whole weekend! A visit to Grandma and Grandad's is always special for the two sisters. There’s the mixing of fairy cakes, pancakes with syrup for breakfast and a chocolate waiting on each of their pillows. And this weekend, when Mum calls with an urgent tooth fairy job, there's an exciting trip to the airport with Grandma to make sure one little girl has her tooth collected. Children are sure to love this thrilling and tender new story, so full of hope, possibility and the magic of a secret fairy world, from master storyteller Bob Graham.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Jack and Alex meet almost every morning in the sandbox at the playground. Jack likes trucks – big ones. Alex likes dolls – pink ones, with sparkles. And tutus. But Jack doesn’t want to play dolls, and Alex doesn’t want to play trucks. Luckily for Jack and Alex, the day is saved with a little bit of compromise and the easy acceptance that characterises true friendship... What about dolls who drive trucks?

Jack and Alex meet almost every morning in the sandbox at the playground. Jack likes trucks big ones. Alex likes dolls, pink ones, with sparkles! What will they play together?'

Source: Trove.

'The poesy ring flew high, caught by the wind. And with the breeze in its tail, the horse turned and galloped. The ring tumbled end over end, and settled deep in a meadow over the sea...

'From the multi-award winning Bob Graham comes a romantic, hopeful and exquisitely-illustrated story, perfect for giving as a gift to the one that you love. It's 1830 in County Kerry, Ireland, and a gold ring is thrown into the wind by a young woman on a black horse... And as the seasons pass, and then the years, the little treasure finds itself on the most astonishing journey, finally settling at the bottom of a deep sea. Will the ring, inscribed with “love never dies”, ever fulfil its destiny, and find the finger of a woman truly loved?'  (Publication summary)

'From multi-award winning author-illustrator Bob Graham comes a tender, touching story of family life, perfect for sharing when a new baby is on the way. Francie and her mum, who is expecting a baby girl, are driving home from Grandma's in the heavy rain. When they're still far from home, they stop for a picnic. And as the car steams up, Francie presses her little finger on the window, spelling out "Daddy" and "Mummy" and leaving one space free, ready and waiting for the name of her soon-to-be sister... A beautifully observed celebration of the way inspiration can, and often does happen in the most ordinary and unlikely of places. ' (Publication summary)

'Follow the journey of the sun across the world from a whale’s eye to a little girl’s window in Bob Graham’s tender, transcendent story.

'While Coco sleeps far away, the sun creeps over a hill and skids across the water, touching a fisherman’s cap. It heads out over frozen forests, making shadows in a child’s footprints, and balances on an airplane’s wing for a little boy to see. The sun crosses cities and countrysides, wakes furry creatures, makes a desert rainbow, and barges into Coco’s room to follow her through a day of play. With an eye for capturing small moments of shared experience, Bob Graham illuminates the natural wonder that comes with every new day.' (Publication summary)

'In this beautifully illustrated story, Bob Graham shows how all the creatures and the people of the world can be connected to each other in the most surprising ways. A wild, young sparrow rises from the dust outside an Indian food stall surrounded by swaying palms. The sparrow flies off just where he pleases, following the food...He journeys south through the lush rice paddies and across the rough sea and all the way into a bright new day where, just for a moment, the wild sparrow's world collides with little Edie's. So it is that little Edie discovers the taste of vanilla ice cream in the most curious way! This is the story of a traveller free to go where he pleases, of a journey, and of how life can take wild and curious paths. Vanilla Ice Cream is classic Bob Graham storytelling - warm and tender and wise - and is sure to spark the imaginations of young readers (and old) and inspire lots of interesting discussion. Vanilla Ice Cream sits alongside Bob's classic stories How to Heal a Broken Wing and A Bus Called Heaven and Silver Buttons. It is filled with unique observations that open our eyes to new ways of looking at the world.' (Publication summary)

'At 9.59 on Thursday morning, Jodie draws a duck. Just as she is about to add one final silver button to the duck’s boots, her little brother takes his first step. At this exact same moment, a man buys bread, a soldier leaves home, a baby is being born... Here is a book, a story, a philosophy so simply told and yet—in true and inimitable Bob Graham style—so rich with emotion and meaning. It is in the smallest details that we sense the greatest significance and can see the big picture. From his glorious urban skyscapes to the tender portrayal of a falling feather or the tying of a shoelace or a dog’s joy in scratching his back, Bob lets us in on a world view conveyed with humanity, compassion and affection.' (Publication summary)

'A broken, old bus appears one morning, sad as a whale on a beach, right outside Stella's house. On the front of it, held up with packing tape, is a hand painted sign... "Heaven".

'For Stella, this decrepit old vehicle is special -this bus is "ours" - a place for everyone to be together: hold meetings, play games and share stories. But one day, the bus is towed away and Stella must fight to save not just the bus, but everything the community has worked so hard to create.' (From the publisher's website.)

'How do you deal with a bully? A stellar author-illustrator team shows that a touch of playfulness can go a long way.tt

'Little wind-up soldier A-One is in charge. At least that’s what he tells the other toys: Sally, Maddy, and Sid. When he tells them to turn his key, they do it. When he tells them they’re no good, they feel bad. He calls them all kinds of things: no good, hopeless, the worst. Or was that hope-use, good-no, and less-less? Somehow, stringing all those mean words together makes them start to sound, well, silly — and even though A-One doesn’t mean to, he finds himself smiling too. From the incomparable Michael Rosen and Bob Graham comes an insightful, child-friendly tale about learning how to be one of the gang.' (Publication summary)

Call in the dog trainer Don't-Care Dave, the high-energy destructive dynamo, is definitely out of control. But when the Brigadier turns up to teach this pup a few things, Dave is not the only one who learns something new. In a hugely satisfying sequel to the award-winning "LET'S GET A PUP", Bob Graham creates a funny, warmhearted story to remind us that when it comes to dogs -- and their humans -- it's affection and trust, loyalty and love (and of course those silky soft ears) that really matter.