Riverbend Teacher Librarians Book Club

The Riverbend Schools' Teacher Librarian Book Club is coordinated by Pauline McLeod, our Children's and YA Literature Specialist. They meet once a month on a Wednesday and Thursday night. Dates are sent out at the beginning of the year. The book club runs from February to October and participants receive a Certificate for nine hours of Professional Development. Our annual fee for Book Club is $100.00 to be paid at the first meeting.

Primary Schools Teacher Librarian Book Club is held from 4.30-5.30pm on Wednesday and 4.30-5.30pm on Thursday. Members read one picture book and one primary fiction each month.

Secondary Schools Teacher Librarian Book Club is held from 6.00-7.00pm on Thursday night only. Members read one middle school fiction and one secondary fiction each month.

More about Riverbend & Schools can be found here.

Expression of Interest

Please register your interest below and Riverbend staff will notify you when space opens up in one of the groups you've selected.

Please note: joining our book clubs requires an annual membership fee of $100, to be paid before you start in order to secure your place.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN OCTOBER 2024

Middle School Title

Six Summers of Tash and Leopold by Danielle Binks

Leopold and Alytash - Leo and Tash - are neighbours who used to be best friends, but aren't anymore, for reasons that Leo doesn't entirely understand. But now it's the last week of Year Six and Tash is standing in Leo's front yard with a misdelivered letter - and a favour to ask. It's a request that will set off a chain of events in their little crescent in Noble Park, a suburb that is changing, and fast. In the process of solving an unfolding neighbourhood mystery and helping Ms Shepparson, a reclusive neighbour with a tragic past, Leo and Tash each have to confront fault-lines in their own recent histories and families. They will discover that friendships can grow and change, that bravery takes many forms, and that, most of all - whatever the future holds - friends and family are what matter.

Secondary School Title

Anomaly by Emma Lord

Piper Manning survived the apocalypse. Barely. She recovered from the virus that killed millions, but it left behind a new, uncontrollable power that's forced her to isolate herself from others — for their sake. Then an injured boy shows up at her mountain hideaway. And what hurt Seth is out to get her, too. Now she's on the run, risking everything for a shot at an actual future. But to get there, she'll have to trust a stranger, control her abilities … and face her ghosts. Because the end of the world was just the beginning. A high-octane YA debut, Anomaly will force you to question destiny, memory and how far you would go to survive.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN OCTOBER 2024

Picture Book Title

The Endfixer by Noemi Vola; translated by Rosa Churcher Clarke

Sometimes, when a story is reaching what should be the absolute best part, the whole thing just falls apart. The ending can be too complicated, too sad, or too catastrophic. That’s why our narrator has a plan to change the way things end. And make sure they finish at just the right time, in just the right way. But even the best plans can go awry. For fans of David Ezra Stein and Lane Smith, a book about the structure of stories and the diversity of endings.

Junior Fiction Title

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria (Bravepaw #1) by L.M. Wilkinson; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu

A fully illustrated and brilliantly readable adventure full of magic and prophecy, quests, heroism and loyal friendship - the world of Bravepaw will hook young readers until the very last page. This is the stuff of legend. Titch has always longed for adventure - just like the gallant mouse hero Bravepaw in all her favourite stories. But she is the smallest mouse in her family, living in a peaceful little village where nothing exciting ever happens . . . until DIRE TROUBLE comes to the Plateau!  Titch and her best friend Huckleberry must set out on a DANGEROUS QUEST to take the Heartstone to repair the crack in the heart of Alluria before the whole world breaks apart. Can Titch ever hope to live up to the legend of Bravepaw?

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN SEPTEMBER 2024

Middle School Title

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

A powerful, authentic verse novel exploring a teen boy’s experience with disordered eating, charting the successes and setbacks of his journey toward recovery. Jake feels alone at school and alone at home. Some days it feels like the only people who understand him is the poet Emily Dickinson – and Jake's beloved grandma. But there is also the Voice inside him, louder than any other, who professes to know him best of all. The one that says "You have me." The Voice is loud enough to drown out everything else, even the hunger Jake feels, until his mom intervenes and sends him to Whispering Pines. Here Jake will learn how to confront the loneliness inside him, and find out who he is and what he has to live for. That is, if he can quiet the Voice... Told in succinct and powerful verse, this novel is a stunning and wholly authentic expression of a young man finding the will – and the power – to wrest control from the intrusive thoughts that crowd his mind.

Secondary School Title

A Girl Can Dream by Emily Barr

Love story and un-love story intertwine in the brand-new thriller-romance from the YA bestselling author of The One Memory of Flora Banks and Ghosted. Venice, 2024 Hazel has managed to escape her destructive relationship with her older boyfriend. In the dreamy Italian sunshine, she is able to stop looking over her shoulder in case Freddie has followed her. But there's a girl she keeps seeing in the city. A girl with beautiful eyes. And whenever Hazel sees her and their eyes meet, something strange seems to happen . . . England, 2022 Hazel goes to see an up-and-coming local band. She locks eyes with the lead singer, Freddie, and he finds her afterwards and slips her his number. She's not even 16. He is ten years older. She knows it's stupid. She didn't even think it was boys she was into. But it's everything a girl could dream of. Until it's absolutely not . . .

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN SEPTEMBER 2024

Picture Book Title

Wolves will (not be Wolves: A Modern-Day Feminist Fairy Tale by Frances Stickley

A fairy tale picture book which introduces a serious subject in an easy-to-understand and lighthearted way. The wild woods are waiting, and Little Red wants to have an adventure, but weighed down by the King's Decree to "Be Good" and warnings from other fairy tale characters that the Big Bad Wolf is about, Little Red's journey suddenly seems fraught. On meeting Goldilocks, Hansel and Gretel and the Three Little Pigs, Little Red quickly goes from curious to furious as she wonders why she needs to alter her behaviour when the Big Bads are free to wander anywhere. Little Red's campaign gathers pace as beloved fairy tale characters join her in a march to reject the "Rules for Being Good" and finally take back the woods. This witty picture book introduces a serious subject to children, encouraging them to challenge the cautionary tales which are sewn into the fabric of storytelling. Although we are now well-versed in feminist fairy tales, a seed of caution remains rooted in our stories, parenting and laws, but what if we started challenging this narrative for our children? What if the onus of responsibility is shifted onto the villain? Wolves will (not) be Wolves introduces a serious subject in an easy-to-understand and lighthearted way.

Junior Fiction Title

How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five

Sam is a kind and thoughtful eleven-year-old, but he's not particularly great at anything. His sister, Ava, is a soccer star, and his best friend, Vihaan, is an award-winning artist. The one thing Sam is good at is knowing all about the extraordinary feats in the Big Book of Records.When Sam is set a class project about a moment he's proud of, he can't think of anything and takes inspiration from his favourite book. He knows he'll be proud of himself if he can break a world record!But breaking a world record isn't easy. And things get even harder when someone close to Sam needs his help and he must decide- will he be good? Or be the best?

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN AUGUST 2024

Middle School Title

My Brother Finch by Kate Gordon

Finch and Wren were as close as a brother and sister can be. When he vanished, when they were nine years old, her world cracked in two. Finch was never found. On the same day that Finch disappeared, another girl was lost, too. Her name was Ava. Her parents were rich tourists, from Sydney. Ava's story got all the media attention. And Finch was forgotten. But not by Wren. Never by Wren. Three years on, Finch is still with her, whispering in her ear, guiding her through life. As Wren begins high school and forms a new, bewildering friendship with a mysterious girl called Freddie, Finch is there, urging her on. To go bolder. To go braver. To grab life with two hands. When another girl goes missing - a strange girl called Johanna - Wren feels compelled to search for her. To her surprise, Freddie does, too. The two of them try and piece together who Johanna is and why she ran away. Or did she run away? Was the truth more awful? And was it all tied together with what happened to Finch and Ava? My Brother, Finch, is a story of family, of loss, of friendship and of grief, and of what it truly means to let go and move on.

Secondary School Title

Deep is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson

A bewitching journey behind the closed doors of a secret society, featuring sinister toadmen, resistance witches and a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, from the acclaimed author of A Hunger of Thorns. Merriwether Morgan doesn't need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is: simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble. But Merry's best friend, Teddy, is joining the Toadmen - a secret society upholding backward thinking and suspiciously supernatural traditions - and she is determined to stop him. Even if it means teaming up with her academic arch-nemesis, Caraway Boswell, an ice-cold snob who hides his true face behind a glamour. An ancient Toad ritual is being held in the nightmarish Deeping Fen, and if Merry doesn't rescue Teddy, she'll lose him forever. But the further she travels into Deeping Fen's foul waters, the more Merry wonders if she can possibly save her friend - or if she's walking straight into a trap. Because there's nothing the Toadmen love more than a damsel in distress . . .

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN AUGUST 2024

Picture Book Title

I Love Books by Mariajo Illustrajo

From the award-winning creator of Flooded and Lost comes a colorful picture book about the joy that comes from discovering a connection with books for the very first time.It's the end of term, and a little girl is given the unreasonable task of reading a whole book over the holidays. A whole book? but she HATES books. Luckily her sister takes her to the library and recommends just the thing. Slowly, the little girl is drawn into a world of adventure inside her own imagination, for the very first time. Even the grayscale world starts to fill with color as she is carried away in the story. A little fennec fox leads her to meet fairytale witches and creatures as they find ingredients to cast a special spell at the end of her book. The little girl is dismayed to learn that the spell seemingly hasn't changed a thing. However, the little fox points out that she is completely transformed: discovering the power of her imagination has transformed her forever. Designed for kids who claim to hate reading, this fun page-turner will delight and inspire kids to change their minds about books for good! Discover adventure on every page and turn I Hate Books into I Love Books!

Junior Fiction Title

A Small Collection of Happinesses: A tale of loneliness, grumpiness and one extraordinary friendship by Zana Fraillon; illus. Stephen Michael King

An unforgettable story of friendship, hope and happiness from two masters of their craft, renowned Australian writer Zana Fraillon and illustrator Stephen Michael King. Are you ready? Are you listening? Something is about to begin. When Ada arrives on the day of the Great Summer Storm, it is like the wind had picked her up and blown her in - walking stick and all - and dumped her right at the front gates of number 9 Hawkhurst Lane. Unfortunately, Ada is not the kind of neighbour Hettie was hoping for. Cranky, impatient and a hater of cats, Ada has no intention of making friends. But as the summer unfolds, Hettie and Ada discover they have more in common than they think. Could their unlikely friendship be the missing piece they never knew they needed?

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JULY 2024

Middle School Title

The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

A castle, a bridge, and dangerous secrets- in this page-turning story, set in Nazi-occupied France, a 12 year-old Jewish girl must learn who to trust and how to find her courage. 'We don't choose how we feel, but we choose how we act. Choose courage.' From the two-time Newbery Honor-winner and a #1 New York Times bestselling author of The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won comes a new middle-grade novel, in which a girl who has lost everything must decide whether to risk her life to bring others to freedom. In 1942, much of France is occupied by the Nazis. Twelve-year-old Miri is Jewish, so she is not safe. Separated from her parents, she rescues her neighbours' two-year-old daughter Nora and escapes to a village, where she is given a new name and pretends to be Catholic to escape Nazi capture. Miri is at first wary of the convent school nuns, but soon learns that there is much more than meets the eye to these knowledgeable women. One night she is asked to undertake a terrifying task that could allow her to escape. But what about Nora? The person Miri meets that night could save her life. And the person Miri becomes that night could save the lives of many more. The Night War is a captivating and often funny story that explores history, moral dilemmas and friendships.

Secondary School Title

One by One They Disappear by Mike Lucas

The fog is coming. And when it does, everything disappears . . . One girl. Two identities. Three friends. One disappears. One forgets. One remembers. There is truth in every tale . . . Find it!  A frighteningly creepy supernatural YA thriller that chills to the bone with imagined and real horrors.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JULY 2024

Picture Book Title

Book of Hours by Clare McFadden

Every life is made of hours, moments and feelings ... what will you remember?A unique invitation to ponder the moments that create our memories and the mystery of time ...

Junior Fiction Titles

Retrospective look at 3 works from Steven Herrick.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JUNE 2024

Middle School Title

The Apprentice Witnesser by Bren MacDibble

That's what my photos are. Little moments. All the good moments, the kind moments, the moments of care and love that, if you add them all together, make a life sweet. Bastienne Scull is a young orphan who lives with the local Witnesser of Miracles, Lodyma Darsey, who investigates 'miraculous events' and spins them into stories she tells at the night markets. After Lodyma's husband and elder son died of a sickness that continues to sweep the land, she sent her teenage son Osmin into the hills to live with the mountain men. That was ten years ago, and Lodyma doesn't know if he's alive or dead. And she's taken Bastienne as an apprentice to fill the void of her lost family. One day, two young boys arrive in town asking Lodyma to go on a mysterious mission to a monastery. And when Lodyma and Bastienne arrive, what they discover will change their lives.

Secondary School Title

Make Me a Liar by Melissa Landers

Veronica Mars gets a fantastical twist in this novel about a girl with a transferrable consciousness, who uses her power for good, only to have it turned on her when someone uses her body to commit murder. Now she must solve the crime before the killer comes after her. Caught red handed... for a crime she didn't commit. It's an open secret at Harvey Davis High School that Tia Dante can solve all your problems (for a fee, of course). As one of the few blessed with the genetic gift of transferable consciousness, she can slip inside your mind and do your dirty work-humiliate your cheating boyfriend, bring a bully to his knees, tell your boss where to stick it-and then return your body with no one the wiser. No task is too awkward, and unlike the competition, she takes care of business without peeking at your goods. Her rules are simple- pay in full, don't report her side hustle to the government, and let her gorge on all the foods that would otherwise send her and her weak stomach fleeing to the nearest bathroom. Everything is going smoothly during a routine job, until Tia catches a breaking news broadcast- live video coverage of her (body) murdering the town prosecutor in cold blood. With the crime caught on camera and no concrete alibi, Tia is forced to ask her infuriatingly gorgeous ex to help clear her name and bring the criminal who hijacked her unconscious body to justice. But they quickly find the heat is on, in more ways than one, as their investigation unearths multiple scandals, massive corruption, and more than a few stray bullets.With a cliff-hanger at the end of every chapter, Melissa Landers weaves an unputdownable mystery that will have everyone talking.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JUNE 2024

Picture Book Title

How to Measure the Oceani by Inda Ahmad Zahri

How DO you measure something as vast and dynamic as the ocean? A poetic invitation to explore the shallows and depths of the ocean, sparking curiosity and wonder while introducing early maths concepts along the way. The ocean can be difficult to measure. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try. You can work most things out... once you know what you're measuring. A lyrical exploration of the beauty of maths and the wonders of the ocean. Inda Ahmad Zahri is an author, illustrator, surgical doctor and scuba diver. She was inspired to create this book when her daughter said, 'What I love about numbers is that they go on and on and on forever.'

Junior Fiction Title

Wurrtoo: The Wombat Who Fell in Love with the Sky by Tylissa Elisara; illus. by Dylan Finney

Described as an Indigenous Blinky Bill meets Winnie the Pooh, this heartwarming and beautifully illustrated middle-grade novel follows Wurrtoo the wombat on his quest to marry the love of his life, the sky, while facing his fears and learning the importance of friendship along the way. It all began in a burrow. The fifty-fifth burrow of Bushland Avenue to be exact. If you were ever lucky enough to find this beautiful clearing on Kangaroo Island where the arching gum trees kiss, you'd know that Wurrtoo's home is the one at the end with the big red trapdoor and large gold doorknob. Can you see it? Wurrtoo the wombat lives a quiet and solitary life in his burrow on Kangaroo Island, hoping to one day travel to the mainland and marry the love of his life, the sky. When Wurrtoo inadvertently saves Kuula the koala from a bushfire, he acquires the adventure companion he didn't know he needed. With Kuula by his side, Wurrtoo leaves the safety of his burrow and sets out on an epic journey to cross the island, reach the mainland and climb to the top of tallest tree in the Forest of Dreaming. But it's fire season, and danger and strange creatures lurk behind every gum tree. To make it, the pair must face their fears together, learn the importance of friendship and discover the power of wombat wishes.Tylissa Elisara draws on classic children's literature in the tradition of Winnie the Pooh and Blinky Bill as well as stories from her own Narungga, Kaurna and Adnyamathanha heritage in this unique middle-grade novel about friendship, adventure and facing your fears.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MAY 2024

Middle School Title

Courage Be My Friend: The Vivian Bullwinkel Story by Jenny Davis

A moving tale of friendship, survival, and the remarkable strength and resilience of women during World War II. Sister Vivian Bullwinkel was the only survivor of the Bangka Island massacre during World War II. Her evocative story is told through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Edith 'Edie' Kenneison. Sister Bullwinkel enlisted in the Australian Army Nurse Service at the outbreak of World War II and was posted to Singapore. In February 1942, she and hundreds of others attempted to escape the advancing Japanese army but was captured and held as a prisoner of war. Vivian spent the next three years in captivity, working tirelessly to help her fellow prisoners. One of those prisoners was young Edie. Their remarkable friendship would help them survive and became the basis of a lifelong bond.

Secondary School Title

Those Girls by Pamela Rushby

The poster had a picture of a tanned, healthy girl, wearing a regulation uniform hat and shorts that were, surely, anything but regulation. When Hilly volunteers for the Women's Land Army in 1942, she's sixteen years old. She expects to be picking sun-kissed fruit and bottle-feeding fluffy white lambs, all while she's wearing a flattering outfit. Travelling to farms across Queensland, Hilly encounters backbreaking work, but also friendship and fellowship with other Land Army girls, Aileen and Glad, all seeking independence for their own reasons. War is a chance for a life away from family and familiarity, offering adventure and romance. But the poster didn't mention crutching sheep or 4 am starts. Or the prejudice they would face, and that some men needed to be fought off, rather than fought for. In the midst of adversity, Hilly finds exactly what she is capable of ... and it might be more than she ever thought possible. She is one of 'those girls with grit'.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MAY 2024

Picture Book Title

Pidge’s Poppies by Jan Andrews; illus. Timothy Ide

Pidge’s Poppies is based on a true story about a pair of pigeons at the Australian War Memorial. It remembers the vital role pigeons played in both world wars, their heroism and their sacrifice. Little Pidge chooses nesting material that won’t be forgotten.Mission accomplished.

Junior Fiction Title

Tweet by Morris Gleitzman

A boy and his beloved budgie are thrust into an epic adventure that could change everything. Absolutely everything. Birds. Lots of birds. The people of the world are puzzled. Their feathered friends are trying to tell them something, and they’re not sure what it is. Then a boy and his pet budgie discover the secret. Join Jay and Clyde, and their friends Maxine and Dora, on an exciting, funny, risky journey to save their families. And every other family too.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN APRIL 2024

Middle School Title

Look Me in the Eye by Jane Godwin

running late

drop it off without me

I type drop what off? I don't know what Mish is talking about.

While I'm typing, another message appears. don't tell bella

But I am Bella.

Best friends Bella and Connie live on the outskirts of the city in an area that was once full of open fields and paddocks but is changing as the suburbs creep closer. And now there is Mish, Connie's cousin, who has to be included even though she is unfriendly and unpredictable. The pandemic lockdowns have lifted and the three teens are eager to explore their newfound independence. But with the world opening up, there has been a rise in surveillance, from apps that track their movements to voice recorders and hidden cameras. It feels like everyone is watching them. But when does 'watching' become 'watching over'? Do we have a right to know everything about those we love? Look Me in the Eye is a gripping tale of young teens navigating freedom and trust-building, privacy and secrets, in an era of parental surveillance.

Secondary School Title

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

From the author of New York Times bestseller House of Hollow comes a darkly seductive witchy thriller where, though both men and demons lurk in shadows, girls refuse to go quietly into the night.

"A gorgeously twisted modern fairy tale that shimmers with magic and mystery, The Invocations is thrilling, irresistible, and unforgettable." -Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying
Three girls, one supernatural killer on the loose . . . 

Zara Jones believes in magic because the alternative is too painful to consider-that her murdered sister is gone forever and there is nothing she can do about it. Rather than grieving and moving on, Zara decides she will do whatever it takes to claw her sister back from the grave-even trading in the occult.

Jude Wolf may be the daughter of a billionaire, but she is also undeniably cursed. After a deal with a demon went horribly wrong, her soul has been slowly turning necrotic. It's a miserable existence marred by pain, sickness, and monstrous things that taunt her in the night. Now that she's glimpsed what's beyond the veil, Jude's desperate to find someone to undo the damage she's done to herself.

Enter Emer Byrne, an orphaned witch with a dark past and a deadly power, a.k.a. the solution to both Zara's and Jude's problems. Though Emer lives a hardscrabble life, she gives away her most valuable asset-her invocations-to women in desperate situations who are willing to sacrifice a piece of their soul in exchange for a scrap of power. Zara and Jude are willing, but they first have to find Emer.

When Emer's clients start turning up dead all over London, a vital clue leads Zara and Jude right to her. If a serial killer is targeting her clients, Emer wants to know why-and to stop them. She strikes a tenuous alliance with Zara and Jude to hunt a killer before they are next on his list, even if she can't give them in return what Zara and Jude want most- a sister and a soul.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN APRIL 2024

Picture Book Title

Ladybirds Do Not Go to Day Care by Ali Rutstein; illus. by Niña Nill

Mum says it's the first day of day care, but Ravi's dressed up as his favourite insect, and he is quite certain that ladybirds do not go to day care. In fact, this ladybird would rather stay home and eat aphids, thank you very much! Can an anxious and unsure Ravi find the bravery he needs to take flight? A spirited, funny and empowering picture book to encourage even the most nervous of children to spread their wings and try something new.

Junior Fiction Title

Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas

From award-winning storyteller Peter Carnavas comes this stellar novel about space, soccer and the best friend you could ever imagine. Ralph sat up. His voice was croaky. 'If a shooting star zoomed past right now, what would you wish for?' 'To find another friend like you.' Leo and Ralph have been best friends ever since Ralph flew down from one of Jupiter's moons. But now Leo's in Grade Four and he's spending too much time in his own imagination. Mum and Dad say it's time to say goodbye. The family are moving to a small country town and they hope Leo might finally find a real friend. But someone like Ralph is very hard to leave behind...

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MARCH 2024

Middle School Title

Smoke and Mirrors by Barry Jonsberg

Grace McKellon isn't a 'people person'. All she needs is her magic tricks and her wise-cracking grandmother - until a new friend comes along and promises to make her a social media star. I don't know about love. I suspect the emotion that others apparently feel all the time is just . . . absent from me. Like there's an ingredient missing from the recipe. The possible exception is Gran. Grace cares about only two things: performing magic and her cantankerous gran. Gran shares her prickly personality and spiky sense of humour, and she's the only one Grace lets into her tightly locked heart - until she meets Simon, an older student who promises to help her turn her magic tricks into a small business and social media stardom. When Gran is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Grace moves in to become her primary carer. With the help of Simon and some sleight of hand, Grace is determined to bring joy back into their lives. And when she confronts her worst fear, she realises maybe her heart doesn't need to stay locked away after all. A funny, compelling and fresh story from the author of the bestselling books My Life As An Alphabet and A Song Only I Can Hear.

Secondary School Title

Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer by Amy Doak

Eleanor Jones has just started at her ninth high school in less than five years. Since she and her mum are always moving on, Eleanor likes to stay on the outer, to stay invisible. So maybe it's just bad luck that the very first person she talks to at Cooinda Secondary College, Angus Marshall, is stabbed and left for dead the same day. The last message on Angus's phone is from Eleanor Jones. After being interviewed by the police, Eleanor realises they don't have all the facts and decides to investigate. In trying to understand what happened to Angus, Eleanor inadvertently becomes involved with an eclectic group of fellow students - all of whom have their own reasons to want to solve the mystery. As they slowly unravel Angus's secrets, Eleanor discovers the true meaning of friendship - and uncovers a danger lurking at the heart of the town . . .

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MARCH 2024

Picture Book Title

The Beehive by Megan Daley

An amazing look into the native stingless bee, the heroes of pollination, from celebrated teacher librarian and author Megan Delay and CBCA shortlisted illustrator Maxine Hamilton. It's finally hive day! Willow has been waiting all year for groundskeeper Tom to split the school's native stingless beehive in two so she can take home her very own hive. Everything needs to be just right to help so that the bees forage and thrive in their new home. The dual text results in a charming story alongside an abundance of fascinating facts about Australia's native bees.

Junior Fiction Title

Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr

From the incredible mind of multi-award-winning Australian children's author Shirley Marr comes a beautiful story for young readers about memories, family, friendship, The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book, David Bowie and time travel! James wishes he could go back in time. Back to when his mum and dad were together, when he had one home, when his family laughed and climbed hills and went to the movies. After meeting the enigmatic Yan, a girl who looks at the world differently, James discovers time travel might not be impossible after all. But if James can live forever in one of his six favourite memories, which one will he choose?

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN FEBRUARY 2024

Middle School Title

Tyger by S.F. Said

Winner of the British Book Award for Children's Fiction Book of the Year 2023...!

Adam has found something incredible in a rubbish dump in London. A mysterious, mythical, magical animal. A TYGER. And the tyger is in danger. Adam and his friend Zadie are determined to help, but it isn't just the tyger's life at stake. Their whole world is on the verge of destruction. Can they learn to use their powers before it's too late?

Secondary School Title

In Times of Bushfires and Billy Buttons by Steven Herrick

What makes a good family? Love or blood? And what if you have to choose between the two? Ethan’s parents are in jail; his Aunt works too hard; the new kid, Joshua, has a scar on his arm; a fire storm threatens the suburb, while wildflowers bloom along the school fence.For Ethan, Audrey and their friends, it’s time to choose what’s important and what to leave behind.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN FEBRUARY 2024

Picture Book Title

Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year Andrea Beaty

A moving story starring the Questioneers' teacher that's all about kindness, learning to face your fears, and the profound difference that one brilliant educator can make in a child's life from the #1 bestselling creators of Aaron Slater, Illustrator and Ada Twist, Scientist! Lila Greer is full of worries. Even the smallest things-from cabbages to cardboard-fill her with dread and What Ifs. So when her family makes a big change-moving to a new town-the worry and What Ifs only grow. What if things go wrong? What if no one likes her? At first, Lila feels right to be worried. In her new home, everything is strange. The new kids, the new smells. Lila feels alone and invisible. But there's one person who sees her: Lila's teacher, Ms. Kern. Through some creativity, blackboard erasers, and-most of all-kindness, Ms. Kern finds a way to make Lila feel welcome and open to new experiences. A lesson that will resonate with Lila long after second grade.

Junior Fiction Title

Lani and the Universe by Victoria Carless

Lani Scrub has a plan: study hard and become a double PhD like her idol, celebrity scientist Kit Galway, who wrote The Meaning of the Universe, a handy reference book for well, everything. Lani's life plan is tracking well until her mum decides on a tree change. And Lani is somehow coerced to leave their two-storey house in the city for a dank cabin in an alternative lifestyle community called Passing Waters. The signs were all there. Lani should have known things were up when they got backyard chickens. Lani is not a happy camper at Passing Waters and fails every test the community throws her way - Green STEM studies, candle making and even interpretive dancing. Despite coaching from nine-year-old-nature -loving Lentil and a vegan chef/astronomer named Meadow. Turns out failing is hard, and what's worse is Lani apparently has a murky aura. But when the community's future is threatened, can Lani put aside her judgement of the locals and apply what she has learnt from her surprising new friendships? Will Lani Scrub pitch in to save the day?

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN OCTOBER 2023

Middle School Title

Scar Town by Tristan Bancks

A missing father. A drowned town. A buried secret. Three friends on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth. Seven years after Old Scarborough was drowned, a house is emerging from the water. Will and his friends Dar and Juno dare each other to explore it. But when they find bones - and a stash of cash - they realise they're not the only ones interested in its secrets. Now they're fighting for their lives against the men who want what they found. Will can't leave the mystery alone, though. What if the bones belong to his missing dad? A DANGEROUS JOURNEY TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH IN A TOWN THAT WANTS THE PAST TO STAY BURIED.

Secondary School Title

Let’s Never Speak of This Again by Megan Williams

Ella and I have been best friends since grade one. We can spend hours talking about everything and nothing. We know each other's greatest fears, things that irrationally annoy us, and ideal career if money and skill weren't an issue. If there was only one Hartford Bakery brownie left in the whole world and it was somehow in my possession, Ella is the only person I'd consider sharing it with. Life is pretty good for sixteen-year-old Abby. Okay, her grandma doesn't remember things anymore, her relationship with her mum is increasingly strained and she accidentally kissed her cousin's cousin on the weekend, so things aren't exactly perfect. But everything is manageable with her best friend, Ella, by her side. And with Ella's brother, Will, interesting and attentive, on the sidelines. When new girl Chloe arrives, Abby is pleased to be the one to show her around, to welcome her to the group. But Abby doesn't imagine Chloe fitting in so well or quite so quickly. And before long Abby is feeling just a little left out, a little unsure of Ella's friendship. In a moment of anger and confusion she wishes something bad would happen. When it does--with tragic consequences--everything shifts again. And Abby has to face her own feelings and work out what friendship really means.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN OCTOBER 2023

Picture Book Title

One Little Word by Joseph Coelho; illus. by Allison Colpoys

A beautiful and moving picture book from Waterstones Childrens Laureate, Joseph Coelho, tells the story of how a big, hairy argument gets in between two best friends. "The argument came from nowhere. It sat huge and bloated in the middle of the playground between me and my best friend." This big hairy monster appears out of the blue one day, splitting up the best friends and growing bigger and bigger, until it starts to ruin all the children in the playgrounds fun.Together, they learn how to shrink the monster until it vanishes completely, to the point where they cant even remember what it looks like! Coelhos gentle and lyrical verse pair perfectly with Allison Colpoys beautiful illustrations to create a book which will be treasured by young readers. This is an ode to the power of an apology, and to treasuring a special bond that runs deeper than even the friends realised.

Junior Fiction Title

The Fortune Maker by Catherine Norton

In a world captivated by the temptation of fortune telling, twelve-year-old orphan Maud Mulligan finds herself caught up in a web where strangers are making plans for a future they believe she can foretell. Which is more dangerous - a future you can't see - or one that you can? Twelve-year-old Maud Mulligan knows there's no future for her in London, in the rat-infested slum where she grew up. But in the tunnel under the river are fortune tellers, Seers, who will tell your future for a few pennies. And then there is Mr Mandalay, Seer to the king and anyone else rich enough to afford him. When Mr Mandalay sees Maud in a foretelling for a wealthy factory heiress, she believes Maud can save her family from financial ruin. But how? And why? What could a girl like Maud do to change anyone's future - or even her own? With more twists and turns than any fortune-teller's tales, this is a story that will keep you reading to the very last page.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN AUGUST 2023

Middle School Title

Hamlet is Not OK by R.A Spratt

Selby didn’t plan to read Hamlet. She certainly never planned to meet him. Selby Michaels is totally busted. Her parents found out she hasn’t read any books for her English class – not ever! Which was particularly upsetting to them since her parents run the local bookshop. They sentence Selby to hard labour – working with a tutor to try and catch up. And that tutor is Dan – her nerdy older brother’s super-nerd friend. It’s so painful. Dan doesn’t just force Selby to read Hamlet. He forces her to read it out loud. But something is magical in the bookstore. When Selby begins to read, she and Dan are drawn down through the words and into the play itself. They become characters in the famous story of betrayal, revenge and grief. And while Prince Hamlet himself is heartbroken and indecisive, Selby's quiet courage inspires her to try the unthinkable: she attempts to save the lives of the characters who die in the play. But when she 'rescues' Hamlet by bringing him with her into the twenty-first century, Selby realises that fixing this tragedy is not going to be as easy as she thought. Now she needs to figure out a way to save everyone’s lives without destroying half of the English literary canon . . . and before Hamlet stabs one of her classmates. Equal parts funny, shocking, clever and thought-provoking, Hamlet is Not OK is a unique story where Shakespearean moral dilemmas meet the contemporary teenage experience from the bestselling author of Friday Barnes.

Secondary School Title

None Shall Sleep (#1) by Ellie Marney

The Silence of the Lambs meets Sadie in this riveting psychological thriller about two teenagers teaming up with the FBI to track down juvenile serial killers. In 1982, two teenagers — serial killer survivor Emma Lewis and US Marshal candidate Travis Bell — are recruited by the FBI to interview convicted juvenile killers and provide insight and advice on cold cases. From the start, Emma and Travis develop a quick friendship, gaining information from juvenile murderers that even the FBI can't crack. But when the team is called in to give advice on an active case — a serial killer who exclusively hunts teenagers — things begin to unravel. Working against the clock, they must turn to one of the country's most notorious incarcerated murderers for help: teenage sociopath Simon Gutmunsson.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN AUGUST 2023

Picture Book Title

You’re So Amazing by James & Lucy Catchpole; illust. Karen George

A funny, whip-smart, friendly picture book about how it feels when strangers make you feel different because of your disability. One-legged Joe is often told that he's Amazing Joe or Poor Joe, but what if he'd rather just be ... Joe? One-legged Joe is "amazing". He knows this because wherever he goes people always tell him he's amazing. Amazing for sliding down the slide, for kicking a ball. even walking to get an ice cream, or even just eating an icecream. Of course, being Amazing Joe is better than being Poor Joe. But Joe doesn't want to be Amazing Joe OR Poor Joe. He's happiest when he's just Joe. An important picture book which discusses the process of "othering" in all its forms.

Junior Fiction Title

The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster

A fun, frolicking adventure about five kids with a mystery to solve! Eleven-year-old Oli is spending his school holidays at Heroes Club, where kids can build friendships and learn about their emotions, but Oli just wants to be home... where it's familiar, not-so-boring and he can play his favourite game. But when Oli and the other kids at the club see a stray dog who keeps disappearing into a soon-to-be-demolished building across the street, Oli and his four fellow heroes hatch a daring rescue plan to save the dog before it's too late. It's going to take bravery, some seriously smart teamwork... and a few broken rules

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JULY 2023

Middle School Title

Out of This World by Sonya Breen Bates

This fast-paced intergalactic adventure is a story of family, friendship, and discovering who you really are. When the navigation system on Hali's interplanetary cruiser goes haywire, an ordinary family space holiday turns into a nightmare. They hurtle through space and crash onto a strange, unlisted planet called Earth. Hali Greengard thinks she's a freak. She's a twin from Hexa, a planet where twins are always Daka together. Except for her. She is Luma. The family is welcomed by two of Earth's inhabitants, who call themselves Humans but bear a striking resemblance to Lumas. Hali finds herself strangely comfortable in this unfamiliar world, where her Daka brother stands out like a sore thumb, not her. Soon they discover that space travel is banned on Earth, and they are, in fact, fugitives from the law. Things go from bad to worse when they're spotted by the nosy kids from the farm next door, who report them to their mother, the local cop. With their new friends languishing in jail and an all points alert out on the 'dangerous aliens' (as the Earth authorities have dubbed them), Hali and her family must work quickly to save Liam and Jodi. Along the way they discover that Lumas and Humans might have more in common than they thought.

Secondary School Title

This Summer’s Secrets by Emily Barr

One hot summer, first love, so many buried secrets . . . A bold new story for fans of We Were Liars, intertwining past and present, love and loss, from the bestselling author of The One Memory of Flora Banks. Senara has never been in love before. She's not done anything exciting before. Always the sidekick . . . Until the summer that changes everything. Cliff House is closed off for most of the year until its rich Londoner owners come down to Cornwall for the summer. This year, despite herself, Senara finds herself pulled into this world of wealth and ease, sunbathing and beautiful people. She even finds herself falling in love for the first time. But Cliff House and its owners are hiding things. They've been hiding things for too long and now, despite all their efforts, their secrets are coming out . . . Secrets that involve Senara's friends and her family in a way she could never have imagined.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JULY 2023

Picture Book Title

Some Fish Have Moustaches by Heidi Walkinshaw

Celebrating all kinds of fish ... especially those with moustaches! There are big fish and small fish, round fish and long fish, and fish of all shapes and sizes. But did you know that there are also fish that have ... moustaches? Celebrate all kinds of fish, and especially those with moustaches, in this fin-tastic picture book!

Junior Fiction Title

Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolfer

A celebration of community, adventure, kindness and, above all, dogs! The summer holidays have finally arrived and Scout can’t wait for her adventure in the big rig with Dad. They’re on a mission to deliver donations of dog food to animal rescue shelters right across the state. There’ll be lots of music, dad-jokes and a brilliant plan that will make sure everyone’s got a friend for the holidays. There might even be a special four-legged friend in it for Scout. But Scout and her dad get more than they’ve bargained for. It’s bushfire season – and it’s not just the dogs who need rescuing . . .

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JUNE 2023

Middle School Title

Where the River Takes Us by Lesley Parr

It's February 1974 and working class families have been hit hard by the three-day week. The reduced power usage means less hours for people to work, and less money to get by on. Thirteen-year-old Jason feels the struggle keenly. Ever since his parents died, it's just been him and his older brother Richie. Richie is doing his best, but since he can't make ends meet he's been doing favours for the wrong people. Every day they fear they won't have enough and will have to be separated. One thing that helps distract Jason is the urban legend about a beast in the valleys. A wild cat that roams the forest, far up the river from their bridge. When Jason's friends learn of a reward for proof of The Beast's existence, they convince Jason this is the answer to his and Richie's money problems. Richie can get himself out of trouble before it's too late and the brothers can stay together.And so a quest begins - Starting at the bridge of their village and following the river north, the four friends soon find themselves on a journey that will change each of them - forever. With echoes of Stand By Me, this thrilling middle-grade adventure gives us the most exquisite characterisation and a page-turning plot with relatable themes, making this utterly timeless and one of the finest historical fiction stories in the market today.

Secondary School Title

Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight

Six teenagers. An empty shopping centre. No Wi-Fi. And … a baby?  Acclaimed author Tegan Bennett Daylight’s first novel for young adults reconceives Lord of the Flies for Gen Z. What happens when a group of teenagers is stranded indefinitely in a shopping centre, alone? With all the stuff they could possibly want … and a baby? Is it paradise – or hell? With no phones and no internet, Shannon and her fellow prisoners are completely disconnected from the outside world… and their online lives. It’s hard to say whether they’ll be driven to delinquency, or – even worse – forced to make friends irl. Will the limitless bubble tea, Maccas, high-end trainers and tech equipment be enough to keep the six teens safe and happy until they can find a way out, or is this all the start of something more sinister?  

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JUNE 2023

Picture Book Title

Neil, the Amazing Cucumber by Amelia McInerny; illus. Lucinda Gifford

With deadpan text by Amelia McInerney and hilarious illustrations by Lucinda Gifford, this is a fabulous story about an unlikely hero who is very surprised to find himself in this book: a sea cucumber named Neil. Hello. I'm Neil. I'm a sea cucumber. It's a bit strange that I'm the star of this book. Usually books are about the cool sea creatures. And I'm boring, even for a sea cucumber. Nothing exciting ever happens to me. At least, it hasn't before now ... 

Junior Fiction Title

The Great Gallipoli Escape by Jackie French

Renowned for her historical fiction titles, Jackie French now tells the story of the brilliant and famous evacuation of Gallipoli. Sixteen-year-old Nipper and his Gallipoli mates Lanky, Spud, Bluey and Wallaby Joe are starving, freezing and ill-equipped. By November 1915 they know that that there is more to winning a war than courage. The Gallipoli campaign has been lost. Nipper has played cricket with the Turks in the opposing dugout, dodged rocket fire and rescued drowning, freezing men when the blizzard snow melted. He is one of the few trusted with the secret kept from even most of the officers: how an entire army will vanish from the Peninsula over three impeccably planned nights. Based on first-hand accounts of those extraordinary last weeks of the Gallipoli campaign, this is the fascinating 'lost story' of how 150,000 men – and their horses and equipment – were secretly moved to waiting ships without a single life lost. An unforgettable story told through the eyes of a boy who lied about his age to defend his country.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MAY 2023

Middle School Title

Selfie by Allayne L. Webster

Celebrated Australian author Allayne L. Webster explores the complexities of teen friendships and the difficulties of navigating social media in this captivating novel for younger YA readers. Dene Walker picked me to be her best friend. She had the whole of Tonsley High's year eight to choose from-and she chose me. Me! Tully can't believe her luck. Dene is famous. Everyone loves her. She has thousands of followers online and hundreds of sponsorship deals. Being best friends with Dene Walker is a dream come true. Tully is soon hardly aware that her long-time bestie, Kira, exists, as she shapes her own interests and cares to be the person worthy of Dene's attention. And she's not prepared for the heartache and confusion when Dene's friendship is not all she imagined it to be. Selfie is an engaging and very real exploration of social media and the trickiness of separating what's real from the glossiness of the online world. It's a tender story about friendship and staying true to yourself.

Secondary School Title

The Impossible Story of Hannah Kemp by Leonie Agnew

The unpublished manuscript was the winner of the 2022 Tessa Duder Award: a powerful exploration of guilt, forgiveness, choice and personal responsibility.

Hannah Kemp is dealing with a traumatic accident for which she was responsible. Struggling to come to terms with her guilt, she is ostracized in a community that condemns her. She deals with this by rebelling and pushing away anyone that offers kindness or seeks to understand her. Crippled by her own guilt and anger, she comes across a mobile library bus where every book is the true story of someone's life, and realizes that judgement of others is almost always shallow and uninformed. When she finds her own book ... she also finds that her past can reshape her present.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MAY 2023

Picture Book Title

Democracy by Philip Bunting

What you say (and how you say it) has the power to change the world. Democracy gives you that power. Democracy is people power. But does democracy really matter? How does it work? And what exactly is democracy, anyway?! Get set to speak up and learn how you can create positive change in your corner of the world. The brilliant new picture book from bestselling Australian author–illustrator Philip Bunting, created in consultation with The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra. Democracy! is full of fascinating and engaging information about democracy, and provides young readers with easily digestible information about the importance of their voice. It is filled with handy tips on how to engage in community discussions, from petitions to peaceful protests, and explains the history of democracy in a funny and positive way.

Junior Fiction Title

Sea Glass by Rebecca Fraser

When Cailin has to spend Christmas at her eccentric grandfather's shack at Whitefoam Cove, her holiday plans are ruined. She barely remembers him, let alone knows him. Memories of her father are everywhere and, to make matters worse, she's left her cricket bat at home. It's going to be the worst summer ever. But there's treasure to be found at Whitefoam Cove! However just when it seems she and Grandpa are finally making a connection, disaster strikes and Cailin knows it's all her fault. Sea Glass is a family drama for readers aged 7-12 that explores how, despite difference and disaster, a generational gap can be bridged, with a little treasure hunting.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN APRIL 2023

Middle School Title

Running With Ivan by Suzanne Leal

Yearning to escape the new family he never wanted, thirteen-year-old Leo Arnold is transported to wartime Europe where he must draw on his courage to save himself and those around him. From award-winning author Suzanne Leal comes a gripping timeslip novel inspired by true stories. Thirteen-year-old Leo Arnold hates his life. He doesn't want a new school, a new house or a new family. And he definitely doesn't want to be sharing a room with his new stepbrother, Cooper. What Leo wants is to be somewhere else, far away. So when he uncovers an old music box and turns the key, he is astonished to find himself in Prague, surrounded by whispers and fears of a second world war. A war that ended decades ago. In Prague, Leo meets Ivan, a Czech boy, and the two become friends. But when World War Two finally erupts, the unimaginable becomes real and the boys are imprisoned. Fearing the worst, Leo and Ivan frantically search for an escape. A search that sends them running. Running against time.Running for their lives.

Secondary Title

Two Can Play That Game by Leanne Yong

Funny and romantic, an upbeat YA novel about gaming, goals and getting even from a fresh new voice in contemporary fiction. How did I let my sister talk me into going out when I have a game to fix and a jerkface to destroy? Sam Khoo has one goal in life: create cool indie games. She's willing to do anything to make her dream come true - even throw away a scholarship to university. All she needs is that super-rare ticket to a game design workshop and she can kickstart her career. So when Jaysen Chua, otherwise known as Jerky McJerkface, sneakily grabs the last ticket for himself, Sam is left with no choice. It's war. Knowing all too well how their Australian-Malaysian community works, she issues him an ultimatum: put the ticket on the line in a 1v1 competition of classic video games, or she'll broadcast his duplicity to everyone. Thank you, Asian Gossip Network. Meeting in neutral locations, away from the eyes and ears of nosy aunties and uncles, Sam and Jay connect despite themselves. It's a puzzle that Sam's not sure she wants to solve. But when her dream is under threat, will she discover that there is more than one way to win?

Primary teacher librarians reading in april 2023

Picture Book Title

Little Shark Lulu is Sleeping by Dr Charlotte Birkmanis and Josie Montano; illus. Carla Hoffenberg

Little Shark Lulu is trying very hard to go to sleeeep But, all around her, lots of sea life are wide awake and busily hunting, eating or playing. How can Lulu nod off with all that underwater fun and games? Join her as she meets a colourful array of bedtime sea creature friends!

Junior Fiction Title

Boris in Switzerland (The Wolves of Greycoat Hall #2) by Lucinda Gifford

A romp of a read, with an ingenious mystery to solve, and packed with endearing illustrations. Boris is attending the Institute of International Excellence, a fancy Swiss boarding school while his parents are staying with Great Aunt Orfilia. Although worried about being the only wolf, and having to navigate around the rude vice principal, he quickly makes friends, learns how to “log in” and heli-board, and has plentiful supply of cake, Boris can’t shake the idea that something funny is going on . . .

secondary teacher librarians reading in march 2023

Middle School Title

Queenie in Seven Moves by Zanni Louise

A sensitive, timely story addressing loss and belonging. To Queenie, home is Peachy, the little house where she’s lived forever. But when she and her mum have to leave Peachy, Queenie discovers that home isn’t a place at all. It’s making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, letting yourself be uncomfortable, and finding the courage to share your song with the world.

Secondary Title

Grace Notes by Karen Comer

This song has a grace note,a tiny note that's there for embellishment but can easily be ignored, not played. Tonight, I add it in -just because. We can all do with an extra note of grace. Grace Dalfinch is a talented violinist who longs to play contemporary music in bars, but her mum forbids her. James Crux is an aspiring street artist who promised his dad he wouldn't paint in public until he's finished school. When Crux witnesses Grace's impromptu performance on a deserted tram, he's inspired to paint her and her violin; and when Grace stumbles across her portrait in a Melbourne alley by an anonymous street artist, she sets out to find its creator. Grace Notes is a debut YA verse novel, set in one of the most locked-down cities in the world - Melbourne, 2020.

primary teacher librarians reading in march 2023

Picture Book Title

Meanwhile Back on Earth by Oliver Jeffers

The captivating new companion to international bestsellers Here We Are and What We'll Build. A father takes his two children on a thrilling out-of-this-world adventure into space and invites them to look back at Earth and the conflicts that have taken place since the beginning of time. This becomes a brief history of the world and a whistle-stop guide to the universe, all rolled into one - and told with Oliver Jeffers's inimitable perspective, wit and exquisite artwork. Meanwhile Back on Earth gives a unique look at like life on Earth with a cosmic perspective - and an enduring message that what binds us together matters more than what sets us apart. A timely story for families everywhere.

Junior Fiction Title

Waiting for the Storks by Katrina Nannestad

I don't want to remember the truck, or the night I was taken, or the family I left behind. I am not a sad Polish girl. I am a good and happy German girl.

I am. I am. I am.

It's the Second World War and Himmler's Lebensborn Program is in full flight when eight-year-old Zofia Ulinski is kidnapped by the Germans. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, just like the other Polish children taken from their families and robbed of their names, their language, their heritage. But when Zofia is adopted into a wealthy and loving German family, it is easier, it is safer to bury her past, deep down, so everything is forgotten. Until the Polish boy arrives. And the past comes back to haunt her. From Katrina Nannestad, multi-award-winning author of We Are Wolves and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief, comes a story about family lost and found, and the choices we make when we don't have a choice at all.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN OCTOBER 2022

Middle School Title

A Walk in the Dark by Jane Godwin

A gripping and suspenseful rite-of-passage novel about five teenagers and one night that will change them all, from award-winning author Jane Godwin. 'It's just a walk in the dark. What is there to worry about?' That's what the head teacher, Johan, says. And so the Year Nines from Otway Community School set out on an overnight hike, with no adults. But doesn't Johan know that a storm is coming? When five teenagers head in to the forest that late afternoon, none of them is aware what the night will bring. Each will have to draw on their particular strengths to survive. Each will have to face the unknown, battling the elements, events beyond their control, and their own demons. It's a night that will change everything. Set in the lush rainforest of Victoria's Otway Ranges, A Walk in the Dark is about friendship, trust, identity and family, consent and boundaries, wrapped in a compulsively readable, suspense-filled adventure. Five head into the forest, but will all five make it out?

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN OCTOBER 2022

Picture Book Title

Two Dogs by Ian Falconer

Dachshund brothers Perry and Augie are home alone and desperately want to get outside and have a good time. Augie is the cautious one, the worrier; Perry is pure joy and excitement. When they finally manage to open the back door, mischievous adventures begin! Soon they're diving into the swimming pool, digging an enormous hole, and more! Will all return to normal before their owners come home? This witty and utterly heartwarming story plays perfectly off the exquisite illustrations. These are Ian Falconer's first all-new characters since Olivia, and Two Dogs is sure to equally capture the hearts of readers everywhere.

Junior Fiction Title

How to Be … The New Person by Anna Branford

Delightful and insightful story from the author of the Violet Mackerel series Hazel Morrison has a secret habit – pretending to make videos about everyday things. Eight important tips for successfully buttering toast! Putting your hair in a ponytail: a step-by-step guide! But when her family move to the outer suburbs, Hazel has to cope with starting at a new school where she doesn’t exactly feel welcomed. A school project inspires her to create a real video – a how-to guide for being “the new person” . . . because everyone, sometime, will meet one, or be one!

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN SEPTEMBER 2022

Middle School Title

Answers in the Pages by David Levithan

Donovan is excited to read The Adventurers, the new book Mr Howe has assigned his class. But before he can dig in, his mother gets her hands on it--and she is not excited by what she reads. Soon the whole town is freaking out about whether the book's two main characters are gay, and Donovan is caught in the middle. Rick and Oliver are the two main characters in The Adventurers. They're trying to stop an evil genius from acquiring the Doomsday Code and destroying life as we know it. Meanwhile, Gideon and Roberto have been paired up on their own book project, which draws them closer and closer together... With Answers in the Pages, bestselling author David Levithan delivers a bold, fun story about taking action (whether it's against book censors or killer alligators), being brave (in love and in adventure), and standing up for what's right, no matter the circumstances.

Secondary Title

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels

A gripping, near-future thriller - The Hunger Games meets Station Eleven. Welcome to the Arcadia. Once a luxurious cruise ship, it became a refugee camp after being driven from Europe by an apocalyptic war. Now it floats near the coastline of the Federated States - a leftover piece of a fractured USA. For forty years, residents of the Arcadia have been prohibited from making landfall. It is a world of extreme haves and have-nots, gangs, and make-shift shelters. Esther is a loyal citizen, working flat-out to have the rare chance to live a normal life as a medic on dry land. Ben is a rebel, planning something big to liberate the Arcadia once and for all. When events throw them both together, their lives, and the lives of everyone on the ship, will change forever . . . Complete with love triangles, betrayals, and fights for freedom - this is the unmissable YA debut of 2022.

primary teacher librarians reading in September 2022

Picture Book Title

There’s No Such Book by Jessica Dettmann

There's No Such Book is a funny and heartwarming that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the frenzy of Book Week.
It's the night before the Book Week parade and Ellie announces that she needs a costume by the morning. Mum, who is taken by surprise, desperately tries to piece together a costume from what’s lying around the house …
They went into the bathroom.
‘Hmm,’ said Mum. ‘Don’t I remember once reading you a book about a monster whose skin looked like it was made of bright green towels?’
‘No,’ said Ellie. ‘There is no such book.’ Ellie heads to bed only with Mum's promise that she’ll have a costume sorted by the morning. Mum stays true to her word, but perhaps not in the way that Ellie was hoping.

Junior Fiction Title

How to Be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five by Carla Fitzgerald

Imagine your dad gets the top job but isn't exactly up to it. Then he sneaks off on holiday, leaving the country without a leader. What would you do? When Harper's dad becomes the prime minister of Australia he's terrible at it. He was thrust into the top job after a heroic boogie-board rescue of two kids (and a labradoodle) from a shark attack, but surviving government is proving hard. Their family is a laughing stock, and Dad disappears to a 'conference' - but he leaves his phone behind. With her little sister, Lottie, Harper must secretly take his place and decide on a new policy by the end of the week. She finds herself torn between ideas - should she ban plastic bottles? Or make weekends longer? Can she prove a kid can lead the country better than a grown-up?

secondary teacher librarians reading in august 2022

Middle School Title

Cop and Robber by Tristan Bancks

Secondary Title

Completely Normal and Other Lies by Biffy James

Love has rules. So does grief. And Stella Wilde’s about to break them all. Stella Wilde is secretly in love with the hottest guy in school, Isaac Calder. He seems to love her back, but there’s a problem – he already has a girlfriend, the gorgeous Grace Reyes. When Isaac is killed in a car accident, the entire school is turned upside down with grief. And while Grace can mourn publicly, Stella has to hide her feelings to stop people from finding out about her and Isaac being more than friends. But how long can Stella keep lying – to herself and everyone else? And when the truth finally comes out, how will it affect her newfound friendship with Grace?

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN AUGUST 2022

Picture Book Title

What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say by Davina Bell; illus. Hilary Jean Tapper

Junior Fiction Title

August and Jones by Pip Harry

Eleven-year-old Jones Kirby has just moved to Sydney from her farm in country New South Wales. She's missing her alpacas and wide-open paddocks and can't get used to her family's tiny city apartment. She's also worried that her vision is blurry - she lost her eye to cancer as a toddler. Could it be another tumour? Enrolling at her new school, Jones meets shy, awkward August Genting. He loves fun facts, the library, and knitting as much as Jones loves rock climbing and being outdoors. Who would have thought they'd become fast friends? At home, August's parents are fighting. And for Jones, the news from the doctor is not good. To cheer themselves up, the pair hatch a brilliant plan: the August and Jones Must-See Bucket List. Together, this brave duo will set out to meet a rare monkey, run across the Harbour Bridge and even climb Australia's highest mountain. After all, with your best friend beside you, anything is possible!

Netball nerd Grace Parker leads a busy life. Not only are there the usual challenges of high school, but Grace and her once enemy Amber Burns are trialling for the state under 15 netball team, dreamy aspiring rockstar Sebastian King is paying her a lot of attention, and Grace must decide between doing the right thing by her new netball friend Daisy, or going to the Kings of Linwood concert on Saturday night with her besties Mia and Stella. She thinks she has the solution, but will they understand? It's going to be a big year.

Secondary Title

Ghosted by Emily Barr

You'll never meet that perfect stranger again, right? But what if you do? Again and again . . . A love story with a thrilling twist from the bestselling author of The One Memory of Flora Banks. Meeting Joe changed everything. It gave me hope . . . I never wanted to stop talking to him. I wanted him to tell me everything about what it was like to be him. Ariel's accidental meeting with a handsome stranger called Joe is completely perfect; they have a connection like she's never known before. They exchange numbers and agree to meet when he is back from a trip to France. But when Ariel messages him, the number Joe gave her is disconnected. He's ghosted her. She assumes she will never see him again. Except she does.  Again and again.  Ariel returns to the place she and Joe met, and is stunned to find him there, not in France as he said he'd be, and behaving as if he has no idea who she is. It turns out that their first meeting has been life-changing for them both, actually it's even more than that for Joe. But what do you do when - with every day that passes - you're literally growing apart from the best person you've ever known . . . ?

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN JuLY 2022

Picture Book Title

Family, all that you dream it to be (Teeny Tiny Stevies) by Byll & Beth Stephen; illus. Simon Howe

Empowering and fun picture books from the cool musician mums everyone loves to sing along with ... You love who you love, and you build a great team, because family's all that you dream it to be. From Byll and Beth Stephen, the writers behind the ABC TV musical sensations Teeny Tiny Stevies, comes a gorgeous reimagining of their much-loved song, Family (Love is Love).

Junior Fiction Title

Guardians (#1 Wylah the Koorie Warrior) by  Jordan Gould, Richard Pritchard

Meet Wylah: warrior, hero and friend. Her adventures have been 40,000 years in the making! Wylah is brave, clever and strong-willed, and all her best friends are giant megafauna animals. But she isn't a warrior. Not yet, anyway. Then comes the day when her family is stolen by the dragon army, and her life is forever changed. She must find the courage to set out on a journey to save them. What will it take for Wylah to become a warrior, like her Grandmother before her? Introducing an unforgettable cast of characters, Wylah The Koorie Warrior is a heart-stopping and imaginative adventure, inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture.  

A rescue story of love and trust between a boy and a dog from the talented author of Paws. Do you hear that? You’re Cliff now, and your life is going to get better, I promise. When eleven-year-old Matt finds Cliff, a hurt, neglected dog abandoned in the bush, he knows the brave little pup needs saving. He wants to help. But can he? Lately, Matt has had way more bad days than good days. The pieces of his life just don’t seem to fit together any more and he doesn’t understand why. He's finding it impossible to concentrate at school and has lost interest in the activities he used to love. Plus, he’s tired all the time. Matt's too afraid to share what's really going on in his own head with anyone. His friends and family will never understand... maybe it's not only Cliff who needs saving.

Secondary School Title

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

Last summer, Alice Ogilvie's basketball-star boyfriend, Steve, dumped her. Then she disappeared for five days. Where she went and what happened to her is the biggest mystery in Castle Cove. Or at least it was. Because now, another one of Steve's girlfriends has vanished: Brooke Donovan, Alice's ex-best friend. And it doesn't look like Brooke will be coming back ... Enter Iris Adams, Alice's tutor. Iris has her own reasons for wanting to disappear, though unlike Alice, she doesn't have the money or the means. That could be changed by the hefty reward Brooke's family is offering. The police are convinced Steve is the culprit, but Alice isn't so sure, and with Iris on her side, she just might be able to prove her theory. Luckily, Alice has exactly what they need to crack the case - the complete works of Agatha Christie. If there's anyone who can teach the girls how to solve a mystery, it's the master herself. But the town of Castle Cove holds many secrets, and Alice and Iris have no idea how much danger they're about to walk into.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN June 2022

Picture Book Title

Four Bad Unicorns by Rebecca Patterson

Tackling the theme of childhood disability and play with humour and warmth... and unicorns. Roald Dahl Funny Prize winner Rebecca Patterson deftly handles the subject of childhood play and disability from her own personal experience of growing up with a disabled sister. Frankie and her sister are UNICORN MAD! Today, they're playing their favourite unicorn game, but when their bossy friend Ada arrives with her brother to play, she takes over the game - and takes over the wheelchair - putting them all in unicorn prison! After all, they've been bad unicorns, haven't they?

Junior Fiction Title

How to Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood

Nell McPherson is a catastrophe expert, but nothing has prepared her for the impending catastrophe of her mum's plans to merge families with boyfriend, Ted and his annoying daughter, Amelia. As if that's not dire enough, grade six is turning into an emotional obstacle course as Nell moves away from her old spelling bee friends and into some rule-bending with new girl, Plum. When Nell decides to tackle the biggest catastrophe of them all, climate change, and campaigns for grade six to attend the School Strike 4 Climate, old friends and new will come together, and along the way plans to foil the family merge give way to an understanding that it might not be such a disaster after all.

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MAY 2022

Middle School Title

The Best Liars in Riverview by Lin Thompson

A heart-warming adventure starring a non-binary six-grader and written by a debut non-binary author on the rise. In the woods of a small town, Aubrey sets off on a journey about growing up, self-discovery, and acceptance while searching for their missing best friend. Aubrey and Joel are like two tomato vines that grew along the same crooked fence-weird, yet the same kind of weird. But lately, even their shared weirdness seems weird. Then Joel disappears. Vanishes. Poof. The whole town is looking for him, and Aubrey was the last person to see Joel. Aubrey can't say much, but since lies of omission are still lies, here's what they know for sure-For the last two weeks of the school year, when sixth grade became too much, Aubrey and Joel have been building a raft in the woods. The raft was supposed to be just another part of their running away game. The raft is gone now, too. Aubrey doesn't know where Joel is, but they might know how to find him. As Aubrey, their friend Mari, and sister Teagan search along the river, Aubrey has to fess up to who they really are, all the things they never said, and the word that bully Rudy Thomas used that set all this into motion.

Secondary School Title

That Thing I Did by Allayne. L. Webster

Five misfits hit the road in a haunted hearse, on a madcap road-trip from their prison-bordering suburb behind the 'Mullet-Proof Fence' to small-town Mount Gambier. After Taylor Kennedy makes a fatal Facebook error and is dumped by his best friend, he's befriended by his eccentric next-door neighbour. Aspiring pornographer Chip drives a funeral hearse and talks to dead people, and he wants Taylor's help. But mild-mannered prison escapee Jackson Rollock has other plans. They're liberating Jackson's beloved, mouthy grandmother from her nursing home and hitting the road to fulfil her dying wish - with beautiful hitchhiker Chloe on board. They'll break the rules, bare their souls ... and make a shitload of questionable jokes, while inadvertently exploring sexuality, consent, the dark side of social media, mental health and friendship. Frank, fearless and taboo-breaking, That Thing I Did is a rollicking road trip with a serious side.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MAY 2022

Picture Book Title

Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country by Adam Goodes & Elle Laing; illust. by David Hardy

A joyful celebration of family and culture, the Welcome to Our Country series introduces First Nations history to children. From Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, co-writer Ellie Laing, and Barkindji illustrator David Hardy. Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community and caring for Country from the world's oldest continuous culture.

Junior Fiction Title

The Week at World’s End by Emma Carroll

1962, London during the Cuban Missile Crisis What would you do if there was a real possibility that the world might end? Ray, aware of his parents' building worry, decides to take matters into his own hands. He builds a shelter in the woods behind his house in the hope that he never has to use it. Only to discover that someone else needs it more than he does. An American girl, reported missing, has turned up there... Why is she hiding? And with neighbour turning against neighbour, will Ray be willing to help her? Set over the six days when the Cuban Missile Crisis became public knowledge, this tense, clever thriller might just be Emma Carroll's best book yet!

SECONDARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN april 2022

Middle School Title

Tyenna: Through My Eyes - Australian Disaster Zones by Julie Hunt and Terry Whitebeach

An engaging and suspenseful novel about one girl's experience of the terrifying Tasmanian bushfires. They huddle low, nostrils burning from the smoke. A wave of despair flows over Tye. Nothing will survive this firestorm. The bush and everything she loves will be lost. It's the summer holidays, and Tye is staying at her grandparents' lodge at Chancy's Point in Tasmania's beautiful Central Highlands. But her plans for fun with best friend Lily and working on her pencil pine conservation project are thwarted as fire threatens the community and the bush she loves - and when Tye discovers Bailey, a runaway boy hiding out, she is torn between secretly helping him and her loyalty to her grandparents. As the fire comes closer and evacuation warnings abound, Tye is caught up in the battle of her life. Will she and Bailey survive? What will happen to her beloved pencil pines and the wildlife at risk? Can she and the close-knit Tasmanian community make a difference in a world threatened by climate change?

Secondary School Title

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Trapped by an evil dictatorship, will Cristian be forced to betray his family or will he risk everything he loves to resist? A powerful YA thriller, inspired by real events, from a Carnegie Medal-winning author. Cristian has lived his entire life in the grip of a repressive dictatorship. The country is governed by fear. When the secret police blackmail him, Cristian has an impossible choice. Save the life of his sick grandfather by informing on his family, or risk his life - and all of theirs - by resisting? At 17, Cristian dreams of being free but doesn't know where to turn. In this climate of constant suspicion, can he trust his best friend, his girlfriend or even his family? Closely based on the real events of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, this is a powerful, heart-breaking thriller from the award-winning YA author of Salt to the Sea.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN april 2022

Picture Book Title

Loud! by Rose Robbins

When Abigail can't concentrate in class, she gets bored and does naughty things! Abigail is sent to the cooling down room. Then she has a music class. She can't make any of the instruments work! Just when things are about to go wrong again, the teacher discovers exactly what to do to engage this little girl, and Abigail ends up finding a special voice of her very own.

Junior Fiction Title

The Chameleon Thief by Matt Larkin

How far would you go to save your enemy? Attica Stone has fantastic friends, a great life and a massive problem: her bestie, Jinni Miscamble, suddenly hates her. Attica doesn't know why – but she does know Jinni's done something bad. Really bad. And only Attica can help her deal with the consequences. Does Jinni want Attica's help? No. Does she need it? Yes. But in order to save Jinni, Attica will need to pull off a stunt so wild, so daring, that it might just get her kicked out of town… Razor-sharp wit, not-quite-right magic tricks and a heist involving the world’s rudest bunnies combine in this irresistible read from beloved author Mat Larkin. A prequel to his exuberant debut The Orchard Underground, The Chameleon Thief is a stand-alone novel featuring the reader favourite Attica Stone. 

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in MARCH 2022

Middle School Title

Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed

In this compelling companion to the bestseller Amal Unbound, Omar finds a way to change the corrupt system in his new school. Omar, the son of a servant, is thrilled when he gets a scholarship to an elite school. But he's not so thrilled when he finds out that the school weeds out kids like him by requiring them to get higher grades than fee-paying kids-so it's almost impossible for scholarship students to graduate. On top of that, they aren't allowed to join clubs or teams, and have to do menial chores. It's a good thing Omar has learnt to hold on to his dreams. With the help of his friend Amal and his new school mates-and with the threat of expulsion looming over him-he sets out to do what seems impossible- change a rigged system. Omar Rising is an exciting middle-grade story about student activism, believing in yourself and fighting for justice.

Secondary School Title

Fish Out of Water by Kate Hendrick

Beloved Australian YA author Kate Hendrick's new novel deftly examines Australian ideas of masculinity for a teenage audience. Finn the Swimmer. Finn the Winner. Finn who works hard and pushes through and never gives up.Or just Finn. And whatever Finn could be.Life is pretty simple for fifteen-year-old Finn- just keep following the black line in the pool. But in a moment it all changes- distracted by a familiar face in the crowd, he falters on the blocks and loses not just the race, but the single-minded focus that has driven him this far.Did he really see what he thinks he saw? It doesn't seem possible-not after what happened-but now Finn can't stop wondering, and everything is starting to unravel. For the first time, he's got no idea what he's supposed to do or who he's supposed to listen to. His bossy older sister, Connie, who wants to know the truth? The whip-smart and unforgiving Aaliyah? Or the unflappable Loki, who gets Finn like no one else ever has?It turns out that in life there's no such thing as a simple choice. And sometimes there's no choice at all.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN MARCH 2022

Picture Book Title

Your School is the BEST! by Maggie Hutchings; illus. Felicita Sala

Everyone's favourite cockroach is back, and this time he's going to school! From show-and-tell to arts and crafts, this little stowaway can't wait to try it at all ... and maybe even become the teacher's pet! Charming, hilarious and just a tiny bit disgusting, this is a back to school tale with a twist from the all-star team behind Your Birthday Was the BEST!

Junior Fiction Title

Xavier in the Meantime by Kate Gordon

Sometimes Xavier wakes up feeling hopeless. Every new doctor … this will fix it. Removing him from school … this will fix it. The therapy group … this will fix it. And his dad moving out. Maybe, this will fix it. Despite his positive affirmations, the black dog never really leaves him. It watches from the corner of his room, never straying too far away—waiting for the perfect opportunity to sink its teeth in. But Xavier has a plan—one he hopes will help all the kids in his support group. Enlisting the help of best friend Aster, he tries to convince his dad to turn the family sheep farm into a therapy retreat for the group session kids. But he is up against decades of tradition, his parents who are on a “break,” and the spectre of the black dog. Can Xavier learn to cherish the moments in between the struggles—the moments in the meantime?

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in OCTOBER 2021

Middle School Title

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Anne Braden

Some people can do their homework. Some people get to have crushes on boys. Some people have other things they've got to do. Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlour. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defences. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?

Secondary School Title

Take Me With You When You Go by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven

From the New York Times bestselling authors of All the Bright Places and Every Day comes a story of hope, siblinghood, and finding your home in the people who matter the most. Subject: You. Missing. Ezra Ahern wakes up one day to find his older sister, Bea, gone. No note, no sign, nothing but an email address hidden somewhere only he would find it. Ezra never expected to be left behind with their abusive stepfather and their neglectful mother--how is he supposed to navigate life without Bea? Bea Ahern already knew she needed to get as far away from home as possible But a message in her inbox changes everything, and she finds herself alone in a new city--without Ez, without a real plan--chasing someone who might not even want to be found. As things unravel at home for Ezra, Bea will confront secrets about their past that will forever change the way they think about their family. Together and apart, broken by abuse but connected by love, this brother and sister must learn to trust themselves before they can find a way back to each other.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN OCTOBER 2021

Picture Book Title

The Spectacular Suit by Kat Patrick; illus. by Hayley Wells

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?

Junior Fiction Title

My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas

Luke and his big brother Ben spend the summer on the banks of Cabbage Tree Creek. Quiet Luke sketches birds, while Ben leaps off the Jumping Tree. The boys couldn't be more different but they share the same dream- winning a boat so they can explore the creek properly. Then Ben starts high school and the boys drift apart. When Luke catches Ben sneaking out at night, he knows his brother's up to something, but what? A timeless story of birds and boats, and of brotherly love that is bigger than a wedge-tailed eagle, bigger than the sky.

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in SEPTEMBER 2021

Middle School Title

Exit Through the Gift Shop by Maryam Master

Anahita Rosalind Ghorban-Galaszczuk (yes, that really is her name but you can call her Ana) is discovering that life is absurd. As if dying of cancer at the age of 12.5 isn't bad enough, she still has to endure daily insults from her nemesis, Alyssa (Queen Mean) Anderson. Ana's on a wild rollercoaster of life and death, kindness and cruelty, ordinary and extraordinary. And she's got a few things to do before she exits. 

Secondary School Title

Girls in Boys’ Cars by Felicity Castagna

Rosa was never really trying to kill anyone, no matter what they said in court. But she's ended up in juvenile jail anyway, living her life through books and wondering why her best mate Asheeka disappeared. A page-turning novel about a complicated friendship; a road trip through NSW in a stolen car; the stories that define us; and two funny, sharp, adventurous young women who refuse to be held back any longer.

PRIMARY TEACHER LIBRARIANS READING IN SEPTEMBER 2021

Picture Book Title

The Very First You by Scott Stuart

Nobody has ever smiled your smile,
or ran the way that you run.
The chances of you being born as you are
were 400 trillion to one.  
Scott Stuart encourages young readers to embrace their uniqueness and see the joy that their individuality brings to the world. Encompassing children from different backgrounds and told in irresistible rhyme, The Very First You is a must-have picture book for all young readers.

Junior Fiction Title

Devils in Danger by Samantha Wheeler

Eleven-year-old Killarney thinks school is boring. She'd much rather be exploring the wilderness around her Tasmanian hometown or helping her hairdresser mum. When strange things start to happen - ear-splitting screams in the dead of night and missing items found under the house - there's even less chance of Killarney doing her schoolwork. She's too busy solving the mystery. Before long, Killarney discovers the culprit- a wild Tasmanian devil, denning under the house! Killarney is excited, but many of the locals are terrified. When rumours about dangerous devils begin spreading, Killarney is determined to protect her precious visitor. But can she convince an entire town these wild creatures are worth saving?

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in AUGUST 2021

Middle School Title

A Weekend with Oscar by Robyn Bavati

A moving #LoveOzYA novel about family, loss, first love – and being there for your family no matter what. There has been a lot of change in sixteen-year-old Jamie's life lately. He is still grieving the loss of his dad, which left his mum as sole-carer for his younger brother Oscar, who has Down syndrome and thrives on routine. Things get even more complicated when Jamie meets Zara, the new girl at school who seems to understand him in a way that no one else can. When their mum goes away for the weekend, Jamie volunteers to look after Oscar. Then the weekend is over and she doesn't return. Jamie must now deal with his growing feelings for Zara, keep Oscar safe and happy and do whatever it takes find her.

Secondary School Title

Henry Hamlet's Heart by Rhiannon Wilde

I'm losing it because I kissed you / Because I kissed you I might lose you. Henry Hamlet doesn't know what he wants after school ends. It's his last semester of year twelve and all he's sure of is his uncanny ability to make situations awkward. Luckily, he can always hide behind his enigmatic best friend, Len. They've been friends since forever, but where Len is mysterious, Henry is clumsy; where Len is a heart-throb, Henry is a neurotic mess. Somehow it's always worked. That is, until Henry falls. Hard. For the last person he imagined. From an exciting debut author comes this passionate story of growing up, letting go, and learning how to love.

Primary Teacher Librarians Reading in AUGUST 2021

Picture Book Title

The World’s Most Pointless Animals by Philip Bunting

We share our planet with some truly weird and wonderful creatures, from blobfish to pink fairy armadillos, who all (let's be honest) seem pretty pointless. But what do these creatures actually do?!  A witty, quirky, colourfully-illustrated book featuring some very silly animals. With a humorous, sardonic tone throughout, it contains funny labelled diagrams and some excellent made-up Latin names (n.b. the jellyfish's scientific name is not actually wibblious wobblious ouchii...) but, importantly, it conveys genuinely fascinating facts about these animals, who are perhaps not so pointless after all. 

Junior Fiction Title

The Memory Thief by Leonie Agnew

A lonely troll and a fierce, spiky girl form an unlikely alliance in Leonie Agnew's extraordinary novel for children aged 9 years and up. Seth has been trapped behind the iron bars of the public gardens for as long as he can remember. By day he's frozen as a statue of a shepherd boy, but as soon as the sun sets he roams the park, ravenously hungry. He is a troll, and the food he seeks is human memories. Then he meets Stella. There's something so different about her - Seth doesn't want her memories. He simply wants to talk to her. But there's someone else in the garden who sees Stella as a threat...and a meal. Captivating, spine-tingling and surprising, this is a novel that holds you spellbound. What is Stella trying to forget? What are the memories that Seth is piecing together? And will he ever escape the lonely garden and start truly living?

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in July 2021

Middle School Title

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes

A powerful coming-of-age story about two brothers - one who presents as white, the other as Black - and the ways they are forced to navigate a world that doesn't treat them equally. Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at his school, he feels as if he is constantly swimming in whiteness. Most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbed the 'Black Brother', Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more like his lighter skinned brother, Trey. When an incident with a white student leads to Donte's arrest and suspension, he's sure the only way to get even is to beat the student at the school's most valued game: fencing. With the help of a former Olympic fencer, Donte embarks on a journey to carve out a spot on the school's fencing team and to find a way to make people at school see past the colour of his skin to who he really is.

Secondary School Title

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He

Two sisters. An unputdownable story. Cee woke up on the shores of an abandoned island three years ago with no idea how she got there. Now eighteen, she lives in a shack with an ageing android, and a single memory- she has a sister, and she has to escape to find her.From the safety of the eco-city floating above Earth, now decimated by natural disasters, sixteen-year-old Kasey mourns Cee whom she's sure is dead. She too wants to escape- the eco-city is meant to be a sanctuary for people who want to save the planet, but its inhabitants are willing to do anything for refuge, even lie. Is Kasey ready to use technology to help Earth, even though it failed her sister? Cee and Kasey think that what they know about each other and their world is true. Both are wrong. If you loved We Were Liars or Black Mirror, you'll love The Ones We're Meant to Find, a clever, inspirational thriller.

Primary Teacher Librarians Reading in July 2021

Picture Book Title

The Colour of Music by Lisa Tiffen; illus. by Matt Ottley

Molly can see the music. Colours flash brilliantly as she listens. The music takes her on a journey into places filled with colour, revealing connections between music, emotions, and the world we live in. The Colour of Music mixes art, music and the written word in a truly synesthetic experience.

Junior Fiction Title

Wednesday Weeks and the Tower of Shadows (#1) by Denis Knight and Cristy Burne

In a world of magic, can science save the day? Wednesday Weeks never wanted to be a sorcerer's apprentice. She'd rather study science than magic. But when her cloak-wearing, staff-wielding grandpa is captured by a power-hungry goblin king, Wednesday must find a way to embrace her magical heritage and rescue him from the dreaded Tower of Shadows. Luckily, she's not alone. Her best friend Alfie is a prime-number fan and robotics expert who's all-in on Wednesday's epic plan involving parallel universes, swords of power, and a wise-cracking talking skull. But it's going to take more than science, magic, and the world's cutest robot to take down this bad guy. Because the goblin king is playing for the ultimate prize - and Wednesday and Alfie just walked into his trap...

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in July 2021

Middle School Title

Talking to Alaska by Anna Woltz

A powerful story of two unlikely friends brought together by the love of a dog. It only takes one day at their new school for Parker and Sven to become mortal enemies. Parker's had a terrible summer and just wants to be invisible, while Sven is desperate to make an impression and be known as anything other than "that boy with epilepsy." When Parker discovers her beloved dog Alaska who she had to give away last year now belongs to Sven, she's determined to steal Alaska back. Of course, that's easier said than done...

Secondary School Title

The Boy I Am by K.L. Kettle

They say we're dangerous. But we're not that different. Jude is running out of time. Once a year, lucky young men in the House of Boys are auctioned to the female elite. But if Jude fails to be selected before he turns seventeen, a future deep underground in the mines awaits. Yet ever since the death of his best friend at the hands of the all-powerful Chancellor, Jude has been desperate to escape the path set out for him. Finding himself entangled in a plot to assassinate the Chancellor, he finally has a chance to avenge his friend and win his freedom. But at what price? A gender-flipped, speculative YA thriller for fans of Malorie Blackman and Louise O’Neill.

Primary Teacher Librarians Reading in June 2021

Picture Book Title

The Whale Who Wanted More by Rachel Bright; illus. Jim Field

A stunning undersea tale of friendship, community and discovery from the bestselling creators of The Lion Inside. Under glittering waves of a vast ocean blue, a beautiful world is hidden from view. And there, in the cool and the quiet of the deep, a great, gentle giant was stirring from sleep. . . Humphrey the whale is on a quest: to find the one perfect object that will make him feel complete. He roams far and wide, gathering endless undersea treasure as he goes. Yet, no matter how many goodies he accumulates, Humphrey still doesn't feel content. Could it be friendship, not possessions, that will really make Humphrey's heart sing? A sparkling rhyming tale that encourages sharing and kindness, this heartwarming story of friendship is perfect for reading aloud.

Junior Fiction Title

Night Ride Into Danger by Jackie French

From one of Australia's best-loved storytellers comes an exciting mystery adventure story set in 1874 about the Cobb & Co. It's a dark and dangerous journey for the Cobb and Co night mail coach, but when his coach-driver father is injured, young Jem Donovan must take the reins. Surely a boy like Jem can't handle a team of four horses and guide the coach on a rough bush track through fog and untold dangers? But there are six passengers on the coach tonight, each with a secret. And if Jem can't get them all to their destination by morning, the seventh secret could be deadly ...

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in May 2021

Sunburnt Veils by Sara Haghdoosti

Tara wears hijab even though her parents hate it, and in a swipe-right world she’s looking for the ‘will go to the ends of the earth for you’ type of love. Or, she would be, if she hadn’t sworn off boys to focus on getting into med. Besides, what’s wrong with just crushing on the assassins, mages and thieves in the fantasy books she reads? When a bomb threat on her first day of university throws her together with totally annoying party king and oh-so entitled politician’s son Alex, things get complicated. Tara needs to decide if she’s happy reading about heroes, or if she’s ready to step up and be one herself.

Primary Teacher Librarians Reading in May 2021

Blue Flower by Sonya Hartnett; illus. by Gabriel Evans

A beautifully told picture book about self-esteem, resilience and the discovery that being different can be something wonderful. A young child describes her qualms about going to school and how hard she finds asking the teacher for help, how she feels shy about making friends, not being funny or a fast runner. But through her love of art, a conversation with her mother and her observations about nature she comes to see that being different might not be a bad thing after all.

The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr

September 1939. When Jimmy is evacuated to a small village in Wales, it couldn't be more different from London. Green, quiet, and full of strangers, he instantly feels out of place. But then he finds a skull hidden in a tree, and suddenly the valley is more frightening than the war. Who can Jimmy trust? His brother is too little; his best friend has changed. Finding an ally in someone he never expects, they set out together to uncover the secrets that lie with the skull. What they discover will change Jimmy and the village forever. A mesmerising mystery about bravery and brotherhood from an outstanding new voice.

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in April 2021

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Iris Hollow and her two older sisters are unquestionably strange. Ever since they disappeared on a suburban street in Scotland as children only to return a month later with no memory of what happened to them, odd, eerie occurrences seem to follow in their wake. And they're changing. First, their dark hair turned white. Then, their blue eyes slowly turned black. They have insatiable appetites yet never gain weight. People find them disturbingly intoxicating, unbearably beautiful and inexplicably dangerous. But now, ten years later, seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow is doing all she can to fit in and graduate high school on time - something her two famously glamorous globe-trotting older sisters, Grey and Vivi, never managed to do. But when Grey goes missing without a trace, leaving behind bizarre clues as to what might have happened, Iris and Vivi are left to trace her last few days. They aren't the only ones looking for her though. As they brush against the supernatural they realise that the story they've been told about their past is unravelling and the world that returned them seemingly unharmed ten years ago, might just be calling them home.

Primary Teacher Librarians Reading in April 2021

Mo and Crow by Jo Kasch; illus. Jonathan Bentley

Mo lived alone and he liked it that way.
He had a house to protect him.
And a wall.
Mo trusted his wall.
It kept everything out he wanted kept out.

A beautiful story about breaking down barriers and discovering the joys of friendship, from the brilliant creative team of Jo Kasch and award-winning illustrator Jonathan Bentley.

The World Between Blinks by Amie Kaufman & Ryan Graudin

Discover a magical world where lost things are found ... Whenever cousins Jake and Marisol get together, adventure follows. They have their late Nana to thank for that. Her epic trips and treasure hunts were the stuff of family legend. This summer, with the whole family reuniting for one last vacation at Nana's home, the cousins are in for a legendary trip of their own. Following a map Nana left behind, Jake and Marisol sneak out to a nearby lighthouse - then accidentally slip into another world ... The World Between Blinks is a magical place, where all kinds of lost things (and people!) end up. Everywhere they turn, the cousins find real mysteries from history - plus a few they thought were only myths. But the man who holds the key to Jake and Marisol's return journey doesn't want to be found ... and if the cousins don't catch him fast, they could end up lost in this world for good.

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in March 2021

The Boy From the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

A funny and heart-warming queer Indigenous YA novel, set in a rural Australian community, about seventeen-year-old Jackson finding the courage to explore who he is, even if it scares him. It's a hot summer, and life's going all right for Jackson and his family on the Mish. It's almost Christmas, school's out, and he's hanging with his mates, teasing the visiting tourists, avoiding the racist boys in town. Just like every year, Jackson's Aunty and annoying little cousins visit from the city - but this time a mysterious boy with a troubled past comes with them… As their friendship evolves, Jackson must confront the changing shapes of his relationships with his friends, family and community. And he must face his darkest secret - a secret he thought he'd locked away for good. Compelling, honest and beautifully written, The Boy from the Mish is about first love, identity, and the superpower of self-belief.

Primary Teache -Librarians Reading in March 2021

Day Break by Amy McQuire; illus. Matt Chun

Day Break is the story of a family making their way back to Country on January 26. We see the strength they draw from being together, and from sharing stories as they move through a shifting landscape. The story refocuses the narratives around ‘Australia Day’ on Indigenous survival and resistance, and in doing so honours the past while looking to the future. Confronting yet truthful, painful yet full of hope, Day Break is a crucial story that will open up a conversation on truth-telling for the next generation.

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold; illus Levi Pinfold

There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that's what April's father tells her when his scientific research takes them to this remote Arctic outpost for six months. But one endless summer night, April meets one. He is starving, lonely and a long way from home. Determined to save him, April begins the most important journey of her life... This moving story will win the hearts of children the world over and show them that no one is too young or insignificant to make a difference. The Last Bear is a celebration of the love between a child and an animal, a battle cry for our world and an irresistible adventure with a heart as big as a bear's.

"This is an important first novel, important for us, for polar bears, for the planet. It is deeply moving, beautifully told, quite unforgettable." Michael Morpurgo.

Secondary Teacher Librarians Reading in October 2020

The F Team by Rawah Arjah

Meet Tariq Nader, leader of 'The Wolf Pack' at Punchbowl High, who has been commanded by the new principal to join a football competition with his mates in order to rehabilitate the public image of their school. When the team is formed, Tariq learns there's a major catch – half of the team is made up of white boys from Cronulla, aka enemy territory – and he must compete with their strongest player for captaincy of the team. At school Tariq thinks he has life all figured out until he falls for a new girl called Jamila, who challenges everything he thought he knew. At home, his outspoken ways have brought him into conflict with his family. Now, with complications on all fronts, he has to dig deep to control his anger, and find what it takes to be a leader. In confronting and often hilarious situations, Tariq's relationships with his extended Lebanese family and his friends are tested like never before, and he comes to learn that his choices can have serious consequences.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in October 2020

Be Your Own Man by Jess Saunders

ABIA Award winning author Jessica Sanders follows up her successful picture book Love Your Body, with Be Your Own Man. Have you ever felt you should act a certain way or do certain things, just because you’re a boy? This book encourages young boys to broaden their ideas about what it means to be a boy, supporting them to feel free and proud to be who they truly are.

The Wolves of Greycoat Hall by Lucinda Gifford

A deliciously funny tale, with equally amusing illustrations, about being judged for what, rather than who, you are. When Boris and his parents learn that Scotland is re-introducing wolves, they leave their mansion in Morovia for their Scottish homeland. But these wolves aren’t planning to settle in the wild, oh no! Instead, they book into the exclusive Highland Hotel, from where they plan to enjoy Scotland’s best tourist spots and cuisine. Is Scotland ready for holidaying wolves? Especially such hungry ones? And why are certain people so unhappy to see them? From spooky dungeons to scheming developers, the Greycoats’ new adventure is full of surprising discoveries.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in September 2020

Tribal Lores by Archimede Fusillo

 A moving and explosive tale about what happens when tradition and the need to belong collide. Frankie Rescio is struggling with the death of his sister. Next door, Lochie Marsh is about to have his world invaded by his estranged, pregnant half-sister and her layabout boyfriend. Despite tensions simmering just below the surface for both boys and their families, they form a bond that connects their different worlds. Until tribal lores threaten to bring everything crashing down.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in September 2020

My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart

My Shadow is Pink is a beautifully written rhyming story that touches on the subjects of gender identity, self acceptance, equality and diversity. Inspired by the author's own little boy, 'Shadow's' main character likes princesses, fairies and things 'not for boys'...he soon learns (through the support of his dad) that everyone has a shadow that they sometimes feel they need to hide. This is an important book for a new generation of children (and adults alike) which exemplifies the concepts of unconditional love, respect and positive parenting.

The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle by Pamela Rushby

A crumbling castle, a moat full of crocodiles, a catastrophe of kittens, and let's not forget the villains and the mummies! This rambunctious story has it all. It's England, 1873. When 12-year-old Hatshepsut (Hattie) Lambton's guardian is unfortunately eaten by a crocodile, Hattie is sent to live with hitherto unknown relatives: Great-uncle Sisyphus and Great-aunt Iphigenia, in their half-ruined castle in mysterious, mist-shrouded marshes. Hattie discovers Great-aunt Iphigenia is an Egyptologist who conducts Mummy Unwrapping Parties at the houses of wealthy clients. The Parties are managed by her two assistants, the sinister (and, to Hattie, highly suspect) Edgar and Edwina Raven. Soon, a problem arises. It has become illegal to export mummies from Egypt. The solution? To set out on a one-thousand-mile voyage up the Nile, to acquire - and illegally export - mummies for the Unwrapping Parties. There, Hattie makes a friend, Amal, who has problems of her own. Already, Hattie has had doubts about whether it is right to destroy the bodies of ancient Egyptians but there's no way the Ravens will allow the Unwrappings to be discontinued. They have a nice little racket set up. They threaten Hattie - and Great-uncle Sisyphus. Hattie knows they're serious. Dead serious. Back in England, Hattie finds herself on a desperate dash to a famous London museum, with a very special, heavily disguised Egyptian mummy in her arms and the Ravens hot on her trail. Will her quest to preserve the mummy's eternal existence in the after-life be successful?  

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in August 2020

Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty

Diary of a Young Naturalist chronicles the turning of 15-year-old Dara McAnulty's world. From spring and through a year in his home patch in Northern Ireland, Dara spent the seasons writing. These vivid, evocative and moving diary entries about his connection to wildlife and the way he sees the world are raw in their telling. Diary of a Young Naturalist portrays Dara's intense connection to the natural world, and his perspective as a teenager juggling exams and friendships alongside a life of campaigning. 'In writing this book,' Dara explains, 'I have experienced challenges but also felt incredible joy, wonder, curiosity and excitement. In sharing this journey my hope is that people of all generations will not only understand autism a little more but also appreciate a child's eye view on our delicate and changing biosphere.'  

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in August 2020

Ellie’s Dragon by Bob Graham

From master storyteller Bob Graham comes an adorable and affecting tale about imaginary friends and the bittersweet nature of growing up.   When Ellie is very small, she finds a lovable newborn dragon on a carton of eggs in the grocery store. Ellie calls him Scratch, takes him home, and moves him into her dollhouse. Her mother can't see Scratch, and her teacher doesn't notice when Ellie brings Scratch to preschool, yet her friends are amazed. Ellie is lucky to have an affectionate, house-trained dragon like Scratch But dragons get quite large as they grow. And Ellie is growing, too, moving from dollhouses to dance parties, not noticing that Scratch's brilliant green scales are beginning to fade a little. . . . Beloved picture-book creator Bob Graham illustrates the joys of imagination and friendship in this touching story. With his signature gentle wit and warm, whimsically detailed illustrations, he captures the bond between girl and dragon, as well as the changes that come with time's passage. A wistful, quietly thought-provoking tribute to the friends who appear when we need them most, even if it's just for a little while.

Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell

Gaming and time travel collide in this exhilarating middle-grade adventure, from bestselling author Jennifer Bell. THE GAME IS ON. TRAVEL WITH WONDER. When Arthur, Ren and Cecily investigate a mysterious explosion on their way to school, they find themselves trapped aboard The Principia – a scientific research ship sailing through hazardous waters, captained by one Isaac Newton. Lost in the year 2473 in the Wonderscape, an epic in-reality adventure game, they must call on the help of some unlikely historical heroes, to play their way home before time runs out. Jumanji meets Ready Player One in this fast-paced adventure featuring incredible real-life heroes, from the internationally bestselling author of The Uncommoners series.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in July 2020

The Man in the Water by David Burton

On his first day of year ten, Shaun sees his first dead body. When 16-year-old Shaun discovers a dead body in the lake of a quiet mining town in outback Queensland, he immediately reports it to the police. But when he returns to the site with the constable, the body is gone. Shaun's father drowned a few years ago, and now his mum and the authorities questions whether he saw a body at all. Determined to show the town the truth, Shaun and his best friend, Will, open their own investigation. But what they discover is far more sinister than a mining mishap or a murder, and reveals a darkness below the surface of their small mining town.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in July 2020

Family by Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson; illus. Jasmine Seymour

Family is a thoughtful contemplation for all to learn the different ways that family makes us whole. This beautifully illustrated children’s picture book shows everyone that ‘family’ can be about heart and home; an endless sky; stories and songs. It  ‘learns’ us how to be with each other and with Country. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and this remarkably simple story teaches us all, that family can be many things. This is the second book from the Our Place series, that introduces young minds to First Nations’ cultural philosophies that Aunty Fay Muir, a Boonwurrung Elder holds close to her heart.

Worse Things by Sally Murphy

Worse Things is a story about connections, the ways they are made, and what happens when they are lost or elusive. Worse Things follows the lives of three main characters: Blake, an Aussie Rules football player who suffers a devastating injury; Jolene, a hockey player who hates the game and is grieving over the recent death of her father; and Amed, a soccer-loving, non-English speaking orphan who feels like an outsider since arriving in Australia after being raised in a refugee camp. A touching and inspirational story about connections and the things that bind us all.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in June 2020

The End of the World is Bigger Than Love by Davina Bell

She said we didn't know what the world out there had become. We had been alone there so long on that tiny island, in that tiny church. But in the night, I couldn't bear it. My chest beat like wings. Identical twin sisters Summer and Winter live alone on a remote island, sheltered from a destroyed world. They survive on rations stockpiled by their father and spend their days deep in their mother's collection of classic literature-until a mysterious stranger upends their carefully constructed reality. At first, Edward is a welcome distraction. But who is he really, and why has he come? As love blooms and the world stops spinning, the secrets of the girls' past begin to unravel and escape is the only option. A sumptuously written novel of love and grief; of sisterly affection and the ultimate sacrifice; of technological progress and climate catastrophe; of an enigmatic bear and a talking whale - The End of the World Is Bigger than Love is unlike anything you've read before.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in June 2020

Tippy and Jellybean: The True Story of a Brave Koala Who Saved Her Baby from a Bushfire by Sophie Cunningham; illus. Anil Tortop

Based on a heart-warming true story. Tippy and her baby Jellybean live in a beautiful eucalyptus forest. One day, they wake up and sniff the air. It's smokey, hot and windy. Kangaroos and wallabies are bounding. Lizards and snakes are slithering. Wombats are heading to their burrows. The cockatoos take off in an enormous flock. Tippy can't hop. Or run. Or fly. Instead she shelters her baby in the only way she can…This is the uplifting story of a mother koala who saved her baby from a bushfire, and the dedicated vets who look after them until they are healed and ready to go home.Proceeds from this book will raise money for the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund.

The Theory of Hummingbirds by Michelle Kadarusman

A moving novel for that is not about overcoming disability, but rather becoming one's truest self. "Hummingbirds and angels don't need two good feet. They have wings." That's what Alba's mother always says. Of course, Alba doesn't have wings or two good feet: she has Cleo. Cleo is the name Alba has given to her left foot, which was born twisted in the wrong direction. When she points this out, though, her mother just smiles like the world has some surprise in store she doesn't know about yet. Well, Alba has her own surprise planned. After many surgeries and one final cast, Cleo is almost ready to meet the world straight on--just in time to run in the school cross-country race. Unfortunately, Alba's best friend Levi thinks there's no way she can pull it off. And she thinks there's no way he's right about the school librarian hiding a wormhole in her office. Tempers flare. Sharp words fly faster than hummingbirds. And soon it looks like both friends will be stuck proving their theories on their own.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in May 2020

How to Grow a Family Tree by Eliza Henry Jones

From the author of P is for Pearl comes a heart-warming book about family, friendship and what home can mean. Stella may only be seventeen, but having read every self-help book she can find means she knows a thing or two about helping people. She sure wasn't expecting to be the one in need of help, though. Thanks to her father's gambling addiction, Stella and her family now find themselves living at Fairyland Caravan Park. And hiding this truth from her friends is hard enough without dealing with another secret. Stella's birth mother has sent her a letter. As Stella deals with the chaos of her family, she must also confront the secrets and past of her 'other' family. But Stella is stronger than she realises.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in May 2020

The Astronaut’s Cat by Tohby Riddle

A delightful story that celebrates the wonders of the Moon, the curiosity of cats and the precious beauty of Earth. The astronaut's cat is an inside cat. And she likes it like that. The astronaut's cat is an inside cat - on the Moon! But she dreams about the strange outside world - and the mysterious blue ball that rises into the ink-black sky . . . A wonderfully whimsical, funny and surprising story of a very unusual 'inside cat' - by one of Australia's finest picture-book creators. Perfect for readers who are intrigued or inspired by the landscapes of the Moon and the Earth - or fascinated by the inner life of cats.

The Boy who Fooled the World by Lisa Thompson

Cole's family is struggling to make ends meet and he doesn't fit in with the rich kids at his school. Until the day a painting Cole made in Art class is unexpectedly spotted and sold in a posh London gallery for thousands of pounds. Suddenly, he's the toast of the international art world, invited on prime time chat shows, hailed as a boy genius! But Cole has been keeping a secret... he is not the creator of the painting; the white lie he told has spiralled out of control and his world will crumble when he's exposed on live television. His family is plunged back into poverty, and there's only one way out: Cole must crack the riddle of a mysterious painting that promises the clues hidden within it will lead the solver to great riches.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in April 2020

This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield

Sixteen-year-old Nate McKee is doing his best to be invisible. He's worried about a lot of things--how his dad treats Nance and his twin half-brothers; the hydro crop growing in his bedroom; the way his friend Merrick always drags him into fights. And he has never forgiven his mother for leaving. But none of it is his fight, right? He's just waiting for his time. Nate hangs out at YouthWorks, the local youth centre threatened with closure, and fills his notebooks with the things he can't say. But when some of his pages are stolen and his words are graffitied on the wall of the centre, Nate realises he has allies. He might be able to make a difference, change his life, and claim his future. Or can he? This is How We Change the Ending is a story that will have you on the edge of your seat, hoping Nate will find a way out, despite the odds.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in April 2020

Extraordinary! by Penny Harrison; illus. Katie Wilson

A book about reaching for the stars and being extraordinary ... but remembering the ordinary too. Extraordinary! celebrates the best moments in life: the ones we share with friends and family. They may be simple, they may be ordinary, but they are moments we will cherish forever.

The Highland Falcon Thief (Adventures on Trains #1) by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman

Harrison Beck is reluctantly joining his travel-writer Uncle Nat for the last journey of the royal train, The Highland Falcon. But as the train makes its way to Scotland, a priceless brooch goes missing, and things are suddenly a lot more interesting. As suspicions and accusations run high among the passengers, Harrison begins to investigate and uncovers a few surprises along the way. Can he solve the mystery of the jewel thief and catch the culprit before they reach the end of the line?

Hear whispers in the dining car, find notes in the library, and unknown passengers among the luggage as you help Harrison to solve the mystery aboard one of the world's grandest trains. Fast-paced and packed with illustrations and clues, Adventures on Trains is a stop you won't want to miss!

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in March 2020

A New Kind of Everything by Richard Yaxley

After their father's reckless death, the Gallagher family must find new directions. Dinny's mum finds a new form of freedom, but the paths the boys are choosing are pointing them in dangerous directions. Fourteen-year-old Dinny is in danger of repeating his father's behaviour, and his older brother Carl sees an opportunity for independence. But when Carl becomes involved in the aggressive agenda of an anti-immigration group, a different crisis develops leading the family to tragedy, insight, and rebirth.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in March 2020

The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants by Philip Bunting

The answers to life's biggest questions can be found in the smallest places, once you are ready to look. Get set for an insightful (and hilarious) peek into what we can learn from the world of the ant.

The Chicken’s Curse by Frances Watts

Felix and Livia are being pursued across the Roman empire, from the darkest, dampest corner of Gaul to the dry, desert sands of Tadmor. They must reach Rome by the Ides of April to rescue Livia's brother before he is sent into the arena to do battle with lions - and perhaps a vicious ostrich or two! Along the way, the pair are helped (and hindered) by a selfish sacred chicken, a foolish camel and a grumpy magic carpet as they encounter bandits, a shipwreck and a false accusation. Will they save Livia's brother in time, or will they all fall victim to the chicken's curse? A classic adventure of friendship, fate and fortune, from the winner of the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Children's Fiction.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in October 2019

It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood

When her parents announce their impending separation, Natalie can't understand why no one is fighting or at least mildly upset. Then Zach and Lucy, her two best friends, hook up, leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward. She'd always imagined she would end up with Zach one day - in the version of her life that played out like a TV show, with just the right amount of banter, pining and meaningful looks. Now everything has changed and nothing is quite making sense. Until an unexpected romance comes along and shakes things up even further. It Sounded Better in My Head is a tender, funny and joyful novel about longing, confusion, feeling left out and finding out what really matters - from an exciting new voice in Australian YA writing.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in October 2019

How Do You Dance? By Thyra Heder

A playful picture book that urges readers to bop, bounce, and shake from the author of Fraidyzoo. There are so many ways to dance You can jiggle or wiggle or stomp. You can bop or bounce or go completely nuts. You can dance at the market or the bus stop, with your fingers or your face. You can dance because you're happy or even because you're sad. But, what's the best way to dance? Exactly how you want to! In How Do You Dance?, author-illustrator Thyra Heder explores dance in all of its creativity, humor, and--most of all--joy, in a picture-book celebration of personal expression that will inspire young and old readers alike to get up and get moving.

How to Make a Movie in Twelve Days by Fiona Hardy

Twelve days. Five kids. Many special effects. One giant mystery.

Hayley Whelan has spent her whole life dreaming of making a horror movie - and not just the type of movie that kids make on their dodgy second-hand iPhones. When her grandma passes away, she inherits the money for a proper, grown-up camera. But before Hayley even calls 'Action!', strange things start happening... Someone is sabotaging Hayley's movie - but who? Why? And can Hayley finish her movie in time for the premiere?

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in September 2019 

Sensitive by Allayne Webster

When thirteen-year-old Samantha moves to a new town, she decides to reinvent herself. She wants to be called SJ now. She's going to be cool and mysterious. But above all, she's going to pretend to be healthy. SJ suffers from chronic eczema and allergies - she's sick of doctors' appointments and tests, sick of itchiness and pain, sick of looking different, feeling different. All SJ wants is to be 'normal'. She'll do whatever it takes to keep her illness a secret. After all, would new friend Livvy or cute boy Sam still want to hang out with her if they knew the truth?

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in September 2019

Joey and Riley by Mandy Foot

A beautiful story of the bond between a boy and his dog, as well as a moving portrait of rural life, by the bestselling Australian author/illustrator Mandy Foot. Joey lives on a farm with his mum, his grandad, and his best friend - Riley, a working dog. Joey and Riley are inseparable, sharing adventures all day long. But times are tough, and Joey and his mum have to move to town so that she can find work. Joey misses Riley desperately, relying on his grandad's letters to stay connected to his best mate. Until the day Grandad writes with sad news: Riley has gone missing in a big storm. Joey is devastated - but things might not be as they seem ... Mandy Foot's naturalistic illustrations beautifully capture Australian rural life.

Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth by Lisa Nicol

Vincent is an ordinary boy - he lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary town. But Vincent's life changes dramatically when he meets young Florence from The Grandest Hotel on Earth. From shining shoes next to a dirty train station, to working in a hotel where your wildest dreams can come true, Vincent's world is turned upside down. But of course, dreams have a funny way of taking strange and surprising corners and, before long, Vincent is torn between right and wrong, friendship and family and the most enticing of desires - to see into the future . . . From ordinary to extraordinary, Vincent and The Grandest Hotel on Earth is a marvellous ride that will delight readers of all ages.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in August 2019

The Gifted, the Talented and Me by William Sutcliffe

Fifteen-year-old Sam is not a famous vlogger, he's never gone viral, and he doesn't want to be the Next Big Thing. In fact he's ordinary and proud of it. None of which was a problem until Dad got rich and Mum made the whole family move to London. Now Sam's off to the North London Academy for the Gifted and Talented, where everyone's busy planning Hollywood domination or starting alt-metal psychedelica crossover bands. Sam knows he'll never belong, even if he wanted to. And that's before he ends up on stage wearing nothing but a fur onesie ... A brilliantly funny look at fitting in, falling out and staying true to your own averageness.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in August 2019

The Little Wave by Pip Harry

When a Manly school sets out to bring a country class to the city for a beach visit, three very different kids find each other and themselves.Noah is fearless in the surf. Being at the beach makes him feel free. So where does his courage go when his best mate pushes him around?Lottie loves collecting facts about bugs, but she wishes her dad would stop filling their lonely house with junk. She doesn't know what to do about it. Jack wants to be a cricket star, but first he has to get to school and look after his little sister. Especially if he wants to go on the class trip and see the ocean for the first time.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in July 2019

Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan

Britain has lost the Falklands war, Margaret Thatcher battles Tony Benn for power and Alan Turing achieves a breakthrough in artificial intelligence. In a world not quite like this one, two lovers will be tested beyond their understanding.

Machines Like Me occurs in an alternative 1980s London. Charlie, drifting through life and dodging full-time employment, is in love with Miranda, a bright student who lives with a terrible secret. When Charlie comes into money, he buys Adam, one of the first batch of synthetic humans. With Miranda’s assistance, he co-designs Adam’s personality. This near-perfect human is beautiful, strong and clever – a love triangle soon forms. hese three beings will confront a profound moral dilemma.

Ian McEwan’s subversive and entertaining new novel poses fundamental questions: what makes us human? Our outward deeds or our inner lives? Could a machine understand the human heart? This provocative and thrilling tale warns of the power to invent things beyond our control.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in June 2019

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

A poignant, laugh-out-loud illustrated middle-grade novel about an eleven-year-old boy's immigration experience, his annoying little brother, and their cake-baking hijinks! "Pie in the Sky is like enjoying a decadent cake . . . heartwarming and rib-tickling." --Terri Libenson, bestselling author ofInvisible Emmie Sometimes life isn't a piece of cake . . . When Jingwen moves to a new country, he feels like he's landed on Mars. School is torture, making friends is impossible since he doesn't speak English, and he's often stuck looking after his (extremely irritating) little brother, Yanghao. To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen daydreams about making all the cakes on the menu of Pie in the Sky, the bakery his father had planned to open before he unexpectedly passed away. The only problem is his mother has laid down onemajorrule: the brothers are not to use the oven while she's at work. As Jingwen and Yanghao bake elaborate cakes, they'll have to cook up elaborate excuses to keep the cake making a secret from Mama.

Sick Bay by Nova Weetman

Two very different Grade 6 girls meet in their school sick bay. Meg is a loner. Grieving over the death of her father, and struggling with changes at home, she wears slippers to school and hides out in sick bay to avoid other kids. New girl Riley, is a Type 1 diabetic and already popular. She doesn't want to go to sick bay, but sometimes she has to if she's having a high or a low. As Meg and Riley are forced to spend more and more time together in the cramped sick bay room, they start to uncover each other's secrets and find the courage to be who they really are.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in June 2019

The Tattooist of Auschwitz (YA Edition) by Heather Morris

I tattooed a number on her arm. She tattooed her name on my heart. In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale - a dandy, a jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer - it was love at first sight. And he was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did too. So begins one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust: the love story of the tattooist of Auschwitz. This edition is edited and updated for younger readers, and also contains extra materials, including classroom discussion points, additional photos, maps and documents and other educational resources.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in June 2019

My Culture and Me by Gregg Dreise

Feel the rhythm of the music, from your heart down to your feet.Enjoy the movements of melodies, as clapsticks keep a strong beat.This is my culture. This is me. Beautifully written and illustrated, My Culture and Me is a heartfelt and stirring story of cherishing and sustaining Indigenous cultures.

Don’t Follow Vee by Oliver Phommavanh

I'm not on social media, but everyone knows allabout my life - from birth - thanks to Mum's Instagram, The Chronicles of Vee. It used to be a bit of fun, but when we got to 100,000 followers, Mum's started to take it way too seriously. My mission? Stop my mum posting everything about my life. How? 1. Become Anti-Vee and make my life unfollowable. 2. Make Mum's life more exciting than mine so she posts stuff about herself instead. Easy, right? That is, until Anti-Vee becomes more popular than the real Vee. Can I ever make Mum cool enough to start her own Instagram or am I doomed to have everyone following me forever?!

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in May 2019

Changing Gear by Scot Gardner

Merrick Hilton's done a runner. His folks think he's studying, but the real world has been calling for years and he can't ignore it any longer. A postie bike, a bedroll and a big sky - that's all he needs.But there's no telling how he'll handle roadkill, stolen oranges and unexpected romance, let alone the rough stuff. And in the real world nothing goes entirely as planned. Thankfully Victor - the old bloke Merrick meets on the road - knows a thing or two about broken bike chains. And broken hearts.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in May 2019

One Tree by Christopher Cheng & Bruce Whatley

One tall tree on the mountain once marked Grandfather's farm. Now there is a busy city and Grandfather lives with us in our apartment.Once he told stories but now he stays silent. Until one day, in the city market, I find something precious . . . something that brings Grandfather's memories alive again.

Hapless Hero Henrie (House of Heroes #1) by Petra James

Twelve-year-old Henrie is the first girl heir of the Melchior family in 200 years. This was deemed a dereliction of duty by the formidable Octavia Melchior, head of the House of Melchior (HoMe). For HoMe is in the business of heroes for hire. Boy heroes, that is. Girls have no place. When Henrie receives a mysterious note, it sets off a chain of events including a kidnapping, a fancy skateboard manoeuvre and a private jet and she discovers something rotten at the heart of HoMe. As past, present and future collide, HoMe is poised to come tumbling down … unless a new kind of hero can emerge from the rubble.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in April 2019

The Things That Will Not Stand by Michael Gerard Bauer

Sebastian is at a university open day with his best friend Tolly when he meets a girl. Her name is Frida, and shes edgy, caustic and funny. Shes also a storyteller, but the stories she tells about herself dont ring true, and as their surprising and eventful day together unfolds, Sebastian struggles to sort the fact from the fiction. But how much can he expect Frida to share in just one day? And how much of his own self and his own secrets will he be willing to reveal in return?

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in April 2019

A Quiet Girl by Peter Carnavas

Charlie Changes Into a Chicken by Sam Copeland

Charlie McGuffin tries to be an optimist, but in reality he's a bit of a worrier. Some of the things Charlie is worried about: · His brother (who is in hospital) · Their very panicked parents · Unwanted attention from the school bully · The fact that he's started turning into animals! Even though every kid wants a superhero power, Charlie isn't keen on turning into a pigeon in the middle of the school play. But what happens if he does? Will he get sent away for Science to deal with? Will his parents crack under the extra stress? With the help of his three best friends, Charlie needs to find a way of dealing with his crazy new power - and fast!

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in March 2019

Lenny’s Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee

Lenny Spink is the sister of a giant. Her little brother, Davey, suffers from a rare form of gigantism and is taunted by other kids and turned away from school because of his size. To escape their cruel reality, Lenny and Davey obsess over the entries in their monthly installment of Burrell's Build-It-at-Home Encyclopedia set. Lenny vows to become a beetle expert, while Davey decides he will run away to Canada and build a log cabin. But as Davey's disease progresses, the siblings' richly imagined world becomes harder to cling to in this deeply moving and original novel about grief, family, and wonder.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in March 2019

Mamie by Tania McCartney

TO US SHE IS MAY GIBBS, CREATOR OF SNUGGLEPOT & CUDDLEPIE. BUT TO HER FAMILY, SHE WAS KNOWN AS 'MAMIE'.

In a land far away, where fairies, pixies and elves live deep in the woods, a baby girl is born. Her parents call her Mamie. Mamie loves to sing and dance and paint with her magical woodland friends. Her days are like a fairy tale. But when Mamie's family move to Australia, she misses green fields drenched with rain. The hot skies and dusty plains of her new home turn Mamie's world upside down. Will she ever find new fairy friends in this strange and beautiful land?

From the talented Tania McCartney comes an exquisite book that celebrates the life of renowned children's author and illustrator, May Gibbs.

A Darkness of Dragons by S.A Patrick

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in September 2018

The Weight of a Thousand Feathers by Brian Conaghan

Child experts will tell you that I'm way too young to carry such a burden of responsibility on my tender shoulders. But really, what do they know? 

'Who is Bobby Seed?' He's just your average sixteen-year-old - same wants, same fears, same hang-ups. Dull, dull, dull.
But then there 's the Bobby Seed who's a world away from average. The Bobby Seed who has to care for his Mum and whose job it is to provide for his younger brother, Danny, to rub his back when he's stressed and can only groan and rock instead of speak. That's Bobby Seed. Same, same, same, yet different, different, different...

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in September 2018

Ruby's Worry by Tom Percival

Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first it's not such a big worry, and that's all right, but then it starts to grow. It gets bigger and bigger every day and it makes Ruby sad. How can Ruby get rid of it and feel like herself again? A perceptive and poignant story that is a must-have for all children's bookshelves.

Ting Ting the Ghosthunter by Gabrielle Wang

Thirteen-year-old Ting Ting has learned the ancient skills and art of ghost hunting from her adopted grandmother, Por Por, a famous ghost hunter. But Ting Ting is sick of capturing harmless 'fat belly' ghosts, and when a desperate plea for help comes for Por Por, Ting Ting recklessly decides to take matters into her own hands and prove that she is a true ghost hunter. But what Ting Ting discovers is much more dangerous than she had thought. Can Ting Ting conquer her own pride to save Por Por and the villagers before it's too late?

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in August 2018

Waterhole by Fiona Bell

There are a lot of firsts to deal with when someone dies on you. There's the first meal, the first time you watch a TV show you both liked, the first time you laugh, the first day of the Christmas holidays. Without them.
Ever since sixteen-year-old Sunny Maguire's mother died in a car accident, Sunny has been feeling lost and alone. She dreads the idea of spending the long summer with her distant stepfather, the person she blames for her mother's death. But Kevin is the only family she has left and Sunny's got nowhere else to go.
When Sunny learns that a local teenage boy has disappeared, she joins in the search along the gorge and at the waterhole - a beautiful pool tainted by a suspicious number of tragic drownings. And when she sees her mother's ghost, she starts to lose faith in the only person she can rely on.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in August 2018

Duck! by Meg McKinlay; illus. Nathaniel Eckstrom

Duck can see that something is falling from the sky. He tries to warn the other farmyard animals by telling them to "Duck!" but they won't listen ...

A hilarious picture book of farmyard disaster by award-winning author Meg McKinlay and emerging illustrator Nathaniel Eckstrom.

Sweet Adversity by Sheryl Gwyther

There's never a good time to be orphaned - or abandoned ... especially when you are twelve years old, and it's the Great Depression.

In 1928, Shakespearean actors, the McAllisters, are forced to leave their daughter Adversity at the Emu Swamp Children's Home. They fully intend to return, but things don't go according to plan. Then, to make matters worse, Scrimshaw, a villainous theatrical agent, hears the talented Addie sing. He plots to use her in his next money-making venture, but when he turns up at Emu Swamp to collect his prize, Scrimshaw finds she's run away. Together with Macbeth, her Shakespeare-quoting cockatiel, Addie is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in July 2018

The Love That I Have by James Moloney

For fans of The Book Thief, a powerful and heartbreaking story set during WW2 that stays with you long after the final page is read.

Margot Baumann has left school to take up her sister's job in the mailroom of a large prison. But this is Germany in 1944, and the prison is Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin. Margot is shielded from the camp's brutality as she has no contact with prisoners. But she does handle their mail and, when given a cigarette lighter and told to burn the letters, she is horrified by the callous act she must carry out with her own hands. This is especially painful since her brother was taken prisoner at Stalingrad and her family have had no letters from him. So Margot steals a few letters, intending to send them in secret, only to find herself drawn to their heart-rending words of hope, of despair, and of love. This is how Margot comes to know Dieter Kleinschmidt - through the beauty and the passion of his letters to his girlfriend. And since his girlfriend is also named Margot, it is like reading love letters written for her. From award-winning Australian author James Moloney, comes a fresh and compelling story about love, loss and profound bravery.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in July 2018

Almost Anything by Sophy Henn

George can't roller-skate, George can't paint, and George most certainly can't dance!
But Bear thinks that, with a little help, George can do all these things - and more! And, luckily for George, Bear has just a little magic to help . . .
An empowering book about the power of self-belief from rising picture-book star, Sophy Henn.

Leave Taking by Lorraine Marwood

Leave taking noun: the act of saying goodbye.

What if you had just one week left to say goodbye to everything you've ever known?

Toby and his mum and dad are leaving their family farm after the death of Toby's younger sister, Leah. Together, they sort through all their belongings and put things aside to sell or throw out. It's a big task, and Toby doesn't want to leave the only place he's called home. As his last day on the farm approaches, Toby has a plan - a plan to say goodbye to all the things and places that mean something special to him and Leah, from the machinery shed to Pa's old truck to the chook house. With the help of his best friend, Trigger the dog, he learns what it means to take your leave.

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in June 2018

Bonesland by Brendan Lawley

Shortlisted for the 2017 Text Prize

As soon as I finish school I'll have the car packed. I'll thunder past the dull cardboard boxes that Banarang calls shops, I'll skim over the Bridge Street potholes without feeling a bump and I'll fly up the freeway, bound for the city and civilisation.

Bones Carter is done with Banarang and his backwater existence. There's not much to do but hang out with his friends, make bad rap music and count down the days until the end of school and the beginning of his new life in the city. Then Naya comes to town. Brilliant, black and beautiful, she wants to change the world. She thinks Bones is a well of untapped potential. Bones thinks she's delusional - but she makes him feel more hopeful than he has in a long time. Bonesland is a wild ride through the small-town agonies of adolescence, packed with sex, drugs, love and hip-hop.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in June 2018

Granny McFlitter The Champion Knitter by Heather Haylock; illus. Lael Chishol

Granny McFlitter's family have had enough of her knitting.

But when a ship runs aground, spilling oil into the sea, a call goes out for small jumpers for the shivery rescued penguins. It's the moment Granny has been waiting for!

A sparkling environmental story with award-winning illustrations that is sure to warm hearts and feathers. 

The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery by Deborah Abela

India never wanted to enter the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee, but with the encouragement of her town, her family and some newfound friends, she overcame her fears, made it all the way to the grand final at the Sydney Opera House and won! Now that life is returning to normal, a special delivery arrives in Yungabilla, inviting India to the UK for the Stupendously Spectacular International Spelling Bee. But how can India go without her whole family by her side? The Yungabilla community might have a solution!

In London, India is reunited with her friend Rajish and a much more pleasant Summer. They meet new spellers, and are invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen. But there is skulduggery afoot, with some rather mysterious goings-on and a series of accidents that seem to be not so accidental after all. They get so dangerous, in fact, that there is talk of cancelling the competition altogether. India and her friends are determined to find out who the culprit is and get the competition back on track. There are words to be spelled, nerves to be overcome, and a champion to be found!

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in May 2018

The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla

The Someday Birds is a debut middle grade novel perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and Fish in a Tree, filled with humor, heart, and chicken nuggets.

Charlie's perfectly ordinary life has been unraveling ever since his war journalist father was injured in Afghanistan. When his father heads from California to Virginia for medical treatment, Charlie reluctantly travels cross-country with his boy-crazy sister, unruly brothers, and a mysterious new family friend. He decides that if he can spot all the birds that he and his father were hoping to see someday along the way, then everything might just turn out okay.

Debut author Sally J. Pla has written a tale that is equal parts madcap road trip, coming-of-age story for an autistic boy who feels he doesn't understand the world, and an uplifting portrait of a family overcoming a crisis.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in May 2018

In the Lamplight by Dianne Wolfer

If you loved the award-winning Lighthouse Girl and Light Horse Boy, you will also love In the Lamplight, with its combination of evocative charcoal drawings, archival materials and Australian history. Published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, In the Lamplight is the story of Rose, a young English girl turned nurse who cares for and falls in love with Jim, the Light Horse Boy. On the long journey back to Australia they experience the appalling loss of life in the Spanish influenza epidemic, only to face more challenges upon repatriation.

Break Your Chains (The Freedom Finders #1) by Emily Conolan

Choose your own destiny and step into the shoes of an Irish girl making her way from London to Australia in 1825 in this exciting interactive series.

To find freedom, you must leave behind everything you've ever known. It is 1825. You and Ma have survived on the streets of London ever since the soldiers took Da away and you fled Ireland. Now, with Ma gone too, you find yourself facing life-and-death choices at every turn.

Can you carry a secret treasure across the ocean and finally be reunited with Da? You'll be asked to betray your friends, survive storms at sea and attacks by bushrangers, and trust thieves. At every turn, the choice is yours. How far will you go for freedom?

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in April 2018

Between Us by Claire Atkins

From the award-winning author of Nona & Me comes a stunning new novel about two teenagers separated by cultural differences, their parents’ expectations and twenty kilometres of barbed-wire fence.

Anahita is passionate, curious and determined. She is also an Iranian asylum seeker who is only allowed out of detention to attend school. On weekdays, during school hours, she can be a ‘regular Australian girl’. Jono needs the distraction of an infatuation. In the past year his mum has walked out, he’s been dumped and his sister has moved away. Lost and depressed, Jono feels as if he’s been left behind with his Vietnamese single father, Kenny.

Kenny is struggling to work out the rules in his new job; he recently started work as a guard at the Wickham Point Detention Centre. He tells Anahita to look out for Jono at school, but quickly comes to regret this, spiraling into suspicion and mistrust. Who is this girl, really? What is her story? Is she a genuine refugee or a queue jumper? As Jono and Anahita grow closer, Kenny starts snooping behind the scenes …

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in April 2018

Room on Our Rock by Kate & Jol Temple; illus. Terri Rose Baynton

Two seals are perched on a rock. When others need shelter, do they share it?

Room on Our Rock celebrates the truth that there are two sides to every story. This clever picture book has one story that can be read two different ways. When read from front to back, the seals believe there is definitely no room on their rock for others. But when the book is read from back to front, the seals welcome others to shelter on their rock.

A heartwarming story about sharing and compassion.

Turtle Trackers by Samantha Wheeler

Ten-year-old Isaac is flat out. Helping his mum run a caravan park on the Queensland coast means no time for fun. So when he finds a sea turtle nesting on the beach, he's disappointed that he can't volunteer as a turtle tracker to watch over her eggs and hatchlings. How can he when summer holidays are their busiest time? To make matters worse, famous travel blogger Eddie Eastwood and his mischievous dog come to stay. Isaac must pull out all the stops because a zero-star review from Eddie would spell disaster for his mum and the park.Can Isaac keep everyone happy while still finding the time to protect his turtles?

Secondary Teacher-Librarians Reading in March 2018

The Centre of My Everything by Allayne L. Webster

Justin's back, and wants to put the past behind him. Corey's a footy hero and high-school dropout who can't even find work picking fruit. Tara wants to be loved. But if her mother doesn't care, why would anyone else? Margo wants out, and she has a plan to get there. Plans change. Life happens. Some secrets won't stay buried. Peace isn't as simple as laying bones to rest. This is a story about love and loss, about tragic secrets and the lengths people will go to hide them, about inter-generational pain and desperate attempts to break the cycle and about yearning for love and finding it where you least expect.

Primary Teacher-Librarians Reading in March 2018

Here We Are Now: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

The exquisite and thought-provoking new book from the multi award-winning, internationally best-selling picture book creator of Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers.

Well, hello. And welcome to this Planet. We call it Earth.

Our world can be a bewildering place, especially if you've only just got here. Your head will be filled with questions, so let's explore what makes our planet and how we live on it. From land and sky, to people and time, these notes can be your guide and start you on your journey.

And you'll figure lots of things out for yourself. Just remember to leave notes for everyone else...

Some things about our planet are pretty complicated, but things can be simple, too: you've just got to be kind.

The Grand Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler by Lisa Shanahan

It struck Henry that perhaps he was waiting for the exact right moment to be daring and brave. The exact right moment where he felt no worry at all, not one tiny flicker. But what if that moment never came? Henry Hoobler is a reluctant adventurer worried about his summer holiday: camping at the beach, bugs, spiders, snakes, stingers, blue ringed octopi and sharks. Worst of all, his family and friends are pushing him to ride his new silver bike without training wheels. But when Henry meets Cassie, he discovers that courage is there to be found when you have a friend who is straight up and true ... A joyous, heart-warming story from the much-loved author of My Big Birkett.