AustLit

'1901. The slide clunks into the lantern, and Phantoms come alive on the wall. The father-and-son Magic Lantern team of Bert and Tom Eliot are masters of The Art of the Story. The only problem is that they are missing a wife and mother. Then one morning eleven-year-old Tom wakes to find his father missing, too.

'The Lanternist’s apprentice is thrown out of home, forced to work for the arch-criminal Jimmy Sacks, arrested and imprisoned. Will he ever be able to escape with his new friend Max and make the long, flea-bitten, rat-infested journey to Sydney in search of his parents?

'The Lanternist is a story about stories, and how they show us a way through life, despite callous landladies, corrupt officials, criminal companions and the problems with living in incinerators. But mostly, it is about searching, and making your own endings.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Born in 1889 on a farm in rural South Australia, Harry Butler was determined to fly. Follow Harry’s remarkable journey from studying the flight of his chickens to becoming one of Australia’s most significant pioneer aviators.

'An inspiring true story of a young Australian hero who proved that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and follow your dreams.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Sidney Kidman runs away from home at thirteen and travels to the outback on a one-eyed horse. He finds stray cows in the scrub, swims across rivers by hanging on to a bullock’s tail and dreams of having the biggest herd of cattle in Australia. Many years later, when the workers on Sid’s cattle station organise a giant rodeo for Sid’s birthday party the cattle from the bush take fright in the city. People panic and horses bolt. Can the Kidman stockmen save the day? King of the Outback tells the rags to riches story of one of Australia’s greatest pastoral pioneers.' (Publication summary)

'Big Tom Kruse was a real Australian hero. He'd pile his truck high with bags of mail, and furniture, and passengers, and would drive back and forth, across the outback, come rain or shine' (Back cover).

'Ferdor, a magician, has been hired to find Saxten and trap him, using his friend Lily as bait. But he has not counted on the loyalty of Dargo, the only wolf among all the creatures of the forest who is deaf to Severo's treachery. Ages 9+.'  (Publication summary)

'Redbeard is greedy for power and land, and after he has conquered the kingdom of his brother, Blackbeard, he becomes even greedier. Everything must belong to him! He is angered when he sees a bird feeding on the grain in his wheat field, and infuriated when a stray cat steals his lunch. Finally, when a bee stings him on his royal finger, he seeks a way of punishing all the birds, cats and bees in his kingdom ...' (Publication summary)