AustLit

'A buoyant and heartwarming celebration of individuality, identity, and dressing to suit yourself!

'It’s almost Frankie’s birthday and everything is ready — except for something to wear. All of her party dresses feel wrong. Her family tries to help, but it’s no good.

'What Frankie longs for is a suit. A spectacular suit …

'Can Frankie find the outfit of her dreams?'

Source : publisher's blurb

'I know your world is feeling grey but it won’t always be this way. And everyone alive can say they’ve felt the way you do today.

'We all have bad days, and bad days do pass.

'From creative superstars Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys comes a message of hope that we can depend upon and live by: bad days pass, and no matter what happens, we are deserving of love. An uplifting and healing book that every family needs in an era of overwhelming change.' (Publication summary)

'An adorable story about making new friends and finding creative solutions to playground problems.

'A pair of pears rocked on a seesaw.
A pair of pears played ping-pong.
A pair of pears rode their tandem bike.
Until one day, someone new wanted
to join their fun.

'Big Pear and Little Pear love playing together. But when Orange joins in, their games don’t work and Big Pear feels left out. A relatable, hilarious, and kind-hearted tale about navigating friendship when three definitely starts to feel like a crowd! From the author of much-loved Anemone is not the Enemy.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'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 ...' (Publication summary)

'Howl is a masterfully told and exquisitely drawn story of a young girl’s way of expressing and resolving big feelings.

'Maggie has had a very bad day.

'First of all, the sun was the wrong shape, in a sky that was too blue. The spaghetti was too long, and her pyjamas were the wrong kind of pyjama.

'Then Maggie begins to have wolfish thoughts ...' (Publication summary)

'Izzy and Frank spend blue-sky-sunny days and grey-cloud-rainy days roaming and playing by the sea.

'But when Izzy has to leave her lighthouse and island life behind to move to the city, she also has to say goodbye to Frank.

'The city is crowded and noisy, and Izzy misses the sand and the sea.

'Can Izzy find a place for herself in her new home? And will she ever see Frank again?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

‘They’re both my mums.’
‘But which one’s your real mum?’

'When Nicholas wants to know which of Elvi’s two mums is her real mum, she gives him lots of clues. Her real mum is a circus performer, and a pirate, and she even teaches spiders the art of web.

'But Nicholas still can’t work it out! Luckily, Elvi knows just how to explain it to her friend.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Doodle Cat is back! Can you see his cape?

'From Alarm Croc to Cheepy Head, you’ll enjoy Rhyme Cordial all day long! A fun, new take on wordplay from bestselling illustrator Antonia Pesenti. Open the pages to reveal unexpected rhymes and bold, bright illustrations.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'I live in the rainforest.
I have a spectacular tail that I raise over my head when I sing and dance.

'Can you make a circle with your arms? 
Or a triangle with your fingers? 
If we work together, we can make a rectangle, or even a pyramid.
We can make lots and lots of shapes – just watch this!

'A bold and playful celebration of movement, energy, pattern, colour and shape.' (Publication summary)

'Smart is not just ticks and crosses,
smart is building boats from boxes.
Painting patterns, wheeling wagons,
being mermaids, riding dragons …'

‘Every page of this book in joyous, imaginative and life-affirming … All the Ways to be Smart is a celebration of what childhood can be, and it will likely become a classic.’

Source: Publisher's blurb. 

'Sometimes we find what we’re looking for in the most unexpected places.

'Wren just wants a bit of peace and quiet. What he gets is the noisiest baby sister you could ever imagine! But when Wren runs away to the country, he discovers that maybe peace and quiet isn’t all he needs . . .

'With bright, modern illustrations and a powerfully simple story, any child (and any parent!) who’s ever had to deal with a noisy sibling will love Wren. This debut from the new team of Katrina Lehman and Sophie Beer is sure to delight. '  (Publication summary)

'On an ordinary day, in an even more ordinary town, it was Albert's birthday.

Under the Love Umbrella is a celebration of the enduring love that surrounds our children, wherever they are in the world. Inspired by the rhythm of the New York subway's L-train, the gentle rhyming text - accompanied by beautiful, vintage inspired illustrations - draws out the small things that can loom large in a little person's life, from big dogs to lost teeth, and from forgotten hats to friends who won't share. Whatever the troubles, the comfort of our love umbrella is always there, and parents and children will delight in this visual representation of the bond they share. This is a perfect gift book for new parents and babies, as well as for children embarking on big changes and new adventures, who may benefit from this lovely reminder of the permanence of love.' (Publication summary)

'Doodle Cat is back and he is very bored. Until he finds a thing! But what is this thing and what does it do?

'Following on from their debut picture book I Am Doodle Cat, writer Kat Patrick and illustrator Lauren Marriott have created another hilarious tale featuring the irreverent bright red squiggle who loves just about everything.

'Bursting with imagination and fun, Doodle Cat returns to remind us to be curious, creative and to explore every option.' (Publication summary))

'In kaleidoscopic colour, Higgie takes young readers on a journey from some of life’s most important things (baked beans!) to some of life’s biggest wonders (stars!). The perfect early picture book for the curious kid!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'I Am Doodle Cat is a cheerful children's book here to encourage imagination, celebration of the things you love, and finding the magic in silliness. Written by Kat Patrick, with delightful illustrations by Lauren Marriott, this book shows a tomato-red Doodle Cat rejoicing in everyday pleasures such as swimming in the ocean, wearing a favourite onesie, and playing guitar.

'Whatever your age, I Am Doodle Cat reminds you of the universe's splendidness, and above all, to remember to love YOU!' (Publication summary)

'The night before the Underwater Fancy Dress Parade, Alfie got that feeling...

Sometimes it's hard to be brave. Sometimes you get that feeling. Alfie isn't sure he can go to the parade, but his mum knows there's at least one special place for Alfie - a beautiful shimmery, underwater world that tells Alfie it's okay to feel shy. Because sometimes you're just not ready...until, one day, you are.' (Publication summary)

'A picture book for kids and adults celebrating strong, powerful, and world-changing women from across the globe and generations.

'This unique book started life as a heartfelt gift from author Eliza Sarlos to her son Arthur. Now extended substantially, Amazing Babes introduces all of us to an eclectic and refreshing mix of 20 women role-models from around the world.

'This beautifully presented book, which will inspire children and parents alike, features influential women such as Miles Franklin, the 20th-century Australian writer and feminist; Emma Goldman, a pioneer of the American women’s movement; Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer from 1990s seminal punk-rock acts Bikini Kill and Le Tigre; Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s pro-democracy leader; Gloria Steinem, one of the founders of modern feminism; and Vandana Shiva, the Indian environmental activist.

'Eliza Sarlos’ words are accompanied by beautiful and playful paintings from acclaimed illustrator Grace Lee.' (Publisher's blurb)