AustLit

'Orphaned as a baby, Eloise Pail yearns for a family. Instead, she lives a lonely life trapped in an orphanage and made miserable by the cruel Sister Hortense. Befriended by the village blacksmith, Eloise soon uncovers some strange secrets of yesteryear and learns that something terrible may be about to happen to the village. As troubles and dangers mount, she must learn who to trust and choose between saving the village or belonging to a family of her own. Unless something truly magical happens...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Every living thing, large or small, plays a very important role in the workings of our environment. To protect the world’s declining biodiversity, all children must understand the environment to make sure it is saved for future generations.

The fantastic art of Helen Leitch triggers curiosity in all age groups. Combined with Janeen Brian’s humorous verse the book offers a valuable device to help today’s children understand nature’s way of the environment and how it works. While the children appreciate these charming images - ants, frogs, bush crickets or grass hoppers and many more - they will learn to have a better understanding of them and may instil a desire to search out the woods, witness and appreciate these small animals at work.

The artist portrays our small fauna at play, feasting, at school or participating in an orchestra or circus act, and dressed in the delicate components of the forest fl ora from buds, petals to stamens.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.
 

'A picture book series about the extraordinary men and women who have shaped Australia's history, including opera star Dame Nellie Melba. Dame Nellie Melba was Australia's first classical music star. The beauty of her singing was celebrated around the globe. She was appointed Dame Commander, OBE for her enormous fundraising efforts during World War One and today she is commemorated on Australia's hundred dollar banknote.

'This is the story of how she rose to fame, and how she brought opera to Australians in the city and in the bush. From Ned Kelly to Banjo Paterson; Captain Cook to Sidney Nolan, the Meet ...series of picture books tells the exciting stories of the men and women who have shaped Australia's history. ' (Publication summary)

'Mrs Dog is a farm dog at the end of her working life. She spends her days shadowing the steps of Tall-One — the farmer. When the pair discover an abandoned lamb one day, Mrs Dog adopts the stray and the lamb becomes her surrogate pup, learning the ways of dogs and life on the farm. Until one day Mrs Dog goes missing. And that’s when everything changes…

'This is a story about change, courage and determination. It’s the story about an old farm dog who rescues a lamb, and the lamb who rescues her right back.' (Publication summary)

'Yong doesn't want to leave Guangdong to travel to the goldfields of Ballarat. But as the firstborn son, he has no choice. On the long and treacherous journey, Yong strives to be an honourable son, while he and his father face many hardships and dangers. But in his heart he knows the shameful truth - that his honour is a lie. Can a journey change lives? Has Yong the courage to face what lies ahead? ...' (Source: Walker Books Australia website)

'Finally, the day has arrived! Four beautiful eggs hatch and four delightfully fluffy chickens emerge. One little chicken quickly realises she’s different, but not sure why. In a quest to find answers and hopefully a friend, she sets off to explore the farm.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Bertie Bear was going on a long journey. He didn’t realise it would be on a camel! And he never imagined he would be having adventures on his own, far away from Jessie.

'Bertie sets off with his family to head out into the Outback. He is packed into a box to travel with the cameleers as he won’t fit on the horse-drawn cart with the family (and young Jessie, his owner). But Bertie doesn’t understand where his family has gone. ‘Where’s Jessie?’ is the refrain that runs through the book, as Bertie bumps along on the camel, then falls off unnoticed. Bertie has adventures with the kind cameleers, and meeting desert animals before he is swept along in a flash flood, gets taken high in an eagle’s talons, and finally falls to the ground, left all alone. Luckily, a young Indigenous boy finds him and returns him to Jessie: a happy ending!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'This bright and colourful picture book for young children features a collection of simple and funny verse about Australian creatures found by the shore. Each poem is accompanied by some facts about the animal and the illustrations are based on the colours and features of the environment in which each one lives. A companion to Silly Galah!' (Publication summary)

'From award-winning author and illustrator team, Janeen Brian and Ann James, comes this gorgeous new rhyming picture book about our favourite little dinosaur (I'm a Dirty Dinosaur), who is now hungry for cake. Ann James has had fun painting with flour, cocoa, icing and 100s and 1000s with adorable results that will inspire lots of rumbling tummies and cake making!

'Bright simple illustrations, card pages and rounded corners make this a perfect book for the very young.

'Shake, stir, mix, bake . . . . This little dinosaur just loves cake!'

''Our village sits above the great river, nestled in the Himalayan mountains. This is what we do on summer days when school is closed for holiday time, in our village in the sky.'

Janeen Brian's evocative poems, beautifully illustrated by Anne Spudvilas, reveal how the vital work of children in a remote village can be transformed through imagination into joyful play.' (Publication summary)

'The perfect book for kids learning about Ned Kelly and his gang.

'Ned Kelly was a notorious bushranger.

He lived in Australia's earliest days.

He was daring and clever and bold.

In a suit made of iron he battled police.

And his story is still being told.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Best friends Jack and Gilbert made a pact when they were younger - promising to work together in the copper mines, just like their fathers and other Cornish immigrants. But now Jack is turning twelve, and the thought of working underground fills him with panic. When Gilbert is forced to leave school and earn a wage, Jack wants to keep his word to his friend - but that means facing his fear. And all the while his heart is telling him to follow another path. That boy, Jack must find the courage to choose.' (Publication summary)