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Kay’s Incredible Inventions: A fascinating and fantastically funny guide to inventions that changed the world (and some that definitely didn't)
by Adam KayDo you ever wonder where the stuff around you all came from? No, not from eBay. I mean, who had the amazing idea of making a mobile phone or the annoying idea of building a school? For example, did you know that Velcro was invented by a dog and WiFi by a movie star? (Spoiler alert - it wasn’t Zendaya.)In the fourth laugh-out-loud book from Adam Kay and Henry Paker, you’ll learn all about the coolest, grossest and most ridiculous inventions in the world. You’ll meet the queen who used the first ever toilet, learn why margarine used to be full of maggots and find out why Ancient Greeks wiped their bums on dinner plates. Oh, and hopefully some slightly more useful facts as well…An A to Kay to Z of the random, ridiculous and revolutionary inventions that changed our lives. (And some that definitely didn't . . .)Praise for Kay's Anatomy:'An enjoyably gross look at the human body. Hours of gruesome fun guaranteed' i'Like listening to a teacher who makes pupils fall about' Sunday Times'Totally brilliant!' Jacqueline Wilson'Fun and informative' Malorie Blackman'Very funny - this exciting book is bound to inspire the next generation of medics' Sunday ExpressPraise for Kay's Marvellous Medicine:'A ridiculously funny read that will delight, gross out and educate all at the same time' Independent'Educational and entertaining. It should be on the national curriculum!' Harry Hill'Completely marvellous and very funny' BookTrust
Benji's Emerald King (The Woodland Explorers Club #1)
by Ewa JozefkowiczThe Woodland Explorers solve mysteries and protect the animals of Willow Wish Woods. A magical new series for 5-7 inspired by Forest School, by prize-shortlisted author Ewa Jozefkowicz, full of friendship, adventure, and learning through nature, with fun illustrations on every page.In Willow Wish Woods stands the ancient Emerald King. It is the tallest tree in the forest and there's something special about it. Something magic... Benji, Shyla, Ajay, Trix, Fujiko and Eric discover its branches are damaged. Who could have hurt the tree, and why? The stream, the Tadpole Run, is full of rubbish, and there's not a frog in sight. The friends decide to form the Woodland Explorers Club. Their mission is to solve the mystery of the Emerald King, protect the animals of Willow Wish Woods and bring the magic of the forest back to life.Join the Explorers on their next adventure, Shyla's Wood Wide Web publishing in November 2024!
The Last Boy (Lothian Junior Fiction Ser.)
by June ColbertAfter fourteen-year-old Ben argues with his family, he goes to their bomb shelter, expecting his family will turn up any day to fetch him. However, his wait turns to weeks and when Ben finally emerges he finds that the world is a very different place. Green bodies litter the road, he finds references to the Last Official Day, and realises that he is alone. Living a hand-to-mouth existence and writing in his diary for company, Ben notices strange markings on the road, on fences and on his house. Someone else is alive! When this group of young survivors contacts him, Ben feels uneasy. Conditions for his entry into the group are defined and several children within the group are guarded in the way they speak to Ben. However, after becoming closer to two group members they decide to escape, as they do not like the direction the leaders are taking. One of Ben’s new friends knows something that could cost him his life and the girl has been selected for a breeding program, as girls are in short supply. Written in the form of concise journal entries, this terrifying thriller by established author June Colbert is a timely warning about where our world is heading.
Free Style
by Raewyn Caisley'A fun and appealing read for all kids interested in swimming and sport in general.’ – Grant Hackett, Olympic gold medallist In the pool Kate can focus on doing on what she loves best: finding her rhythm, staying perfectly balanced, functioning as smoothly as a machine. And there’s nobody relying on her.Why can’t Kate’s dad, a soccer coach, understand that she prefers the pool to the soccer pitch? At least her cousin Melvin, with his rose-coloured sunnies and dazzling jewellery, believes in everyone having ‘free style’. And the Dolphins’ swimming coach seems to understand her… or does he?Other sports fiction titles from RAEWYN CAISLEY include IN UNION, TENNIS STAR, NOT CRICKET, GREAT LEAD, HOT SHOT and TOP MARKS.
The Mask of Caliban
by Michael PryorAustralia, many years in the future. A place of darkness, overpopulation and environmental degradation. A rigidly stratified society controlled by Artificial Intelligences.Caliban, a street person and petty thief is given the chance to create a new life for himself. Drawn into a complex game by the Artificial Intelligences, Caliban suddenly discovers that he is not only fighting for his identity, but for his life…A finalist for the 1997 Aurealis Award for best young-adult novel, The Mask of Caliban was Australian speculative fiction master MICHAEL PRYOR’s breakthrough novel.
Wedgetail (Takeaways Ser.)
by Colin ThieleAndy is fascinated by wedgetail eagles. He lies on the shed roofs of his family’s farm and watches them cruising about on their huge wings, high above him in the sunlit air. They are like skaters skimming on ice, gliding in vast arcs and circles. One day a ranger brings him an orphaned eaglet so tiny that it seems unlikely to survive. WEDGETAIL is the story of Andy’s struggle to save it, to nurse it and feed it - and to protect it from danger, human and otherwise.
Race To The End Of The World: The Mapmaker Chronicles Book 1 - a bestselling adventure for fans of Emily Rodda and Rick Riordan (The Mapmaker Chronicles #1)
by A. L TaitShortlisted for The Readings Children's Book Prize 2015Adventure and danger lie just off the edge of the map in this swashbuckling new trilogy!Quinn's older brothers may long for adventure, but he is content with a quiet life on the farm. Destiny, however, has other plans.The King is determined to create the first map of the world and has scoured the kingdom for boys who could become mapmakers. When Quinn is chosen for the King's training school, he's amazed - but that is nothing compared to his shock when he is selected as one of the three mapmakers and finds himself on board a ship, competing for the big prize.So begins Quinn's reluctant journey deep into the unknown, on a ship captained by a slave, with a stowaway girl on board, and a mysterious sea monster that seems to be following them. Hot on their trail are the other competitors for the King's prize, who will stop at nothing to win.The Mapmaker Chronicles: Race to the End of the World is packed with action, adventure and intrigue, as Quinn battles unexpected enemies, discovers strange new lands and tries to conceal two very big secrets from his crewmates...'Not since Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest series has there been such an exciting adventure tale from an Australian author' - ReadingsThe Mapmaker Chronicles1. Race to the End of the World2. Prisoner of the Black Hawk3. Breath of the Dragon (October 2015)
Stormbringer lll: Ravens Rising (Stormbringer #3)
by Kerry GreenwoodAfter bringing down the Lightning Nest, the heroes of THE RAT AND THE RAVEN have returned to the University, only to find it deserted and the gates locked. Dismas, who can break any lock, opens the outer door and they gain entry, but then they find that they are locked in and now not even Dismas can open the doors. Who is Emmanuel and how is it that he seems able to control their thoughts? Locked in the tower, the Ravens must fight to defend everything that is most precious – their very humanity is at risk. Emmanuel wants desperately to become human and needs to overwhelm and inhabit them to ensure his own survival.
Brahminy: The Story Of A Boy And A Sea Eagle
by Colin Thiele'The bird hung in the air above the river. It was so low that Luke could see it clearly, a big nuggety bird with strong talons and curving beak. Its feathers were beautiful – a lovely chestnut colour on the back and sides and bright white on the head and breast.'That was the first time Luke had ever seen a Brahminy kite, or sea eagle. He didn’t know then that another Brahminy – a helpless, abandoned chick – would soon change his life.COLIN THIELE, AC, was one of Australia’s most distinguished and popular writers for children. Colin's books have won numerous Australian and international awards and have been made into many classic films, TV series, plays and picture books. His bestsellers include the multi-award-winning STORM BOY and BLUE FIN.
Stormbringer ll: Lightning Nest (Stormbringer #2)
by Kerry GreenwoodThe heroes of THE RAT AND THE RAVEN have returned to the University, but they are restless. They don’t fit in any more. Swart is told dreadful news by his father, and at the same time a petitioner comes on foot from far away, begging the wise people of the University for help against an enemy who wields lightning as a weapon. So it is time for Bran to gather his group again: the giant Mill the Hill, the dangerous twins Aethelflaed, the cowardly Dismas who can open any lock if he is scared enough, and Bran's beautiful, strange lover Scathe, a transmitting empath. They must find the Lightning Nest – a Tesla construct, and disable it. Harder things will also be asked of them before the end.
Edwina Sparrow: Girl of Destiny
by Carol ChatawayEdwina begins a journal in order to leave evidence should there be a murder inquiry. With Edwina’s father away in Antarctica, brother Julian hopeless as usual and Gran thinking she is sixteen again with World War II going on, Edwina must cope alone. The school front is not much better. Girls begin toppling off their chairs in the classrooms suffering from a raging dieting epidemic. Edwina suspects the school bully Krystal Shard and her gang, The Gems, are responsible. It is up to Edwina, operating on barely enough sustenance for even a person with an ordinary-sized intellect, to save herself and family, stop Krystal and find out what is really going on with her mother! EDWINA SPARROW by award-winning author Carol Chataway will have teenage girls rolling with laughter.
What Willow Knew
by June ColbertSarah Jane ‘Lucky’ Carter is a big-boned, smart-mouthed sixteen-year-old. Willow Moonstone, Sarah’s legal guardian for the past five years, has vanished without a trace. The police believe she’s been murdered. Willow always said They were after her because of What She Knew. Sarah and her friends thought it was all some paranoid fantasy left over from the 60s. Except that Willow’s missing now. That’s no fantasy. Sarah’s estranged father comes to take her home to live with his new family but she has no interest whatsoever in playing ‘Brady Bunch’. All she wants is to get Willow back so they can go home. Then, out of the blue, a fierce stranger from Willow’s past turns up on Sarah’s doorstep bearing Willow’s diary from her radical student days in the late 1960s. Sarah becomes convinced the diary holds the clues to Willow’s disappearance, so she immerses herself in her aunt’s diary and her life. As the weeks pass with no news of Willow, Sarah begins to panic. Time’s running out and Willow’s trail is growing cold. Is she the only one who can’t accept the truth? Is Willow really dead?WHAT WILLOW KNEW by June Colbert is the suspenseful story of a teenage girl’s search for her missing aunt, but it’s also the story of Willow’s own journey from naïve university student to radical activist and complete paranoid … Unless They were really after her, of course.
Hungry Ghosts
by Sally HeinrichSarah hadn’t wanted to come to Australia. She’s been perfectly happy with things how they were in Singapore where school was for learning, and ‘being cool’ was a non-issue. Now Dad was trying his best to make her into a ‘fair dinkum’ Aussie while Mum was determined to hang on to all the old Asian traditions. During the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts Sarah meets the ghost of Pei, a Chinese girl who was not much older than Sarah when she died. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the girls share a common ancestry. Initially reluctant, Sarah helps Pei to discover the truth about events surrounding her death and the lover she believed had betrayed her. Set in contemporary Singapore and Australia, and nineteenth-century China and Australia, this sprawling tale by Sally Heinrich touches on issues of Chinese immigration to Australia from the 1800s to the present.
Blue Fin
by Colin ThieleAn Australian children's classic.Everyone in Port Lincoln thinks Snook Pascoe is a loser. People joke about his clumsiness; his teacher ridicules him and even his father, skipper of the tuna boat Blue Fin, is convinced that Snook will never amount to anything. After all, tuna fishing is a hard life for ‘real men’.When Snook is allowed, for once, to sail on Blue Fin he faces a terrifying disaster. A waterspout engulfs the ship, the deck is swept clean, the radio and rudder are wrecked, the engine is disabled, the crew is lost overboard and Snook’s father lies unconscious down below. Snook is on his own, far out to sea…COLIN THIELE, AC, was one of Australia’s most distinguished and popular writers for children. Colin's books have won numerous Australian and international awards and have been made into many classic films, TV series, plays and picture books. His bestsellers include the multi-award-winning STORM BOY.
Balancing Act
by Wendy GrahamFourteen-year-old Josie is talkative, impulsive and awkward. She desperately wants to fit in at school, but the kids think it’s weird that she’s always counting things. And constantly wiping things clean. And avoiding lifts and packed trains. During visits to the city to see her therapist, Josie becomes besotted with a city busker. She fantasizes about him and travels into town to watch his performances at every opportunity. One day Josie’s life begins to overlap with that of Macka, another school outcast. Macka is quiet, sharp-eyed and takes a while to trust people. A bit like the wedge-tail eagles and other birds of prey he trains after school at the Wildlife Haven. While Josie is besotted with the busker, Macka finds himself besotted with Josie. The two soon realise their lives are following similar paths, which causes a series of misunderstandings and missed opportunities, but also helps each develop a sense of self-worth. Written in a lively and humorous style whilst also invoking compassion and empathy for young people who don't fit in, BALANCING ACT by Wendy Graham is a well-rounded and powerful story of finding and accepting yourself.
Prisoner of the Black Hawk: The Mapmaker Chronicles Book 2 - the bestselling series for fans of Emily Rodda and Rick Riordan (The Mapmaker Chronicles #2)
by A. L TaitIn the second thrilling instalment of the Mapmaker Chronicles by Australian author A.L. Tait, Quinn is taken prisoner by a ruthless enemy.Tomas laughed. 'You think that's terrifying? Wait till you meet the pescarn . . . they will eat the flesh off your bones in minutes.'In the second book in this thrilling series, Mapmaker Quinn is far from home in an exotic land filled with dangerous creatures and ruthless enemies. When he is betrayed by someone close to him and comes face-to-face with blood-thirsty pirates, he has to decide once and for all who is a friend and who is a foe . . . Is this the end of the race for Quinn - or just the beginning of another incredible adventure in The Mapmaker Chronicles?'Not since Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest series has there been such an exciting adventure tale from an Australian author. Echoes of Robinson Crusoe make this feel like a classic with a new twist, and it's perfect for readers aged 8 to 12 who are looking for some escapism in the sea of contemporary stories.' - Readings'Great white beasts and would-be pirates will capture the attention of young readers ... recommended for fans of adventure books from Emily Rodda and Andrew McGahan.' - Bookseller and Publisher'Buy it immediately for any lad over eight who is a keen reader.' - Readingtree.com.auThe Mapmaker Chronicles1. Race to the End of the World2. Prisoner of the Black Hawk3. Breath of the Dragon (October 2015)
Battle for Quentaris (The Quentaris Chronicles)
by Michael PryorWho owns the mysterious statues found under the Old Tree Guesthouse? The claims of two mortal enemies turn from argument to battle and soon all of Quentaris is drawn into their age-old struggle. Nisha Fairsight must use her wits, wisdom and her fire magic to prevent the madness from spreading, to stop friend fighting friend and neighbour battling neighbour. Is this the end for the magical city of Quentaris?
River Murray Mary
by Colin ThieleRiver Murray Mary is a delightful book for younger readers from Australia’s master storyteller. Mary lives on a farm on the banks of the mighty Murray. Her many adventures include some hair-raising encounters with tiger snakes, saving her beloved dog when he is bitten, and exciting trips on the river with her friend Abel Stenross, skipper of the paddle steamer Blackwater Bessie. When the river floods, Mary needs to bring a doctor to her injured mother, and it’s Blackwater Bessie to the rescue!
Stormbringer l: The Rat and the Raven (Stormbringer #1)
by Kerry GreenwoodTen years after a terrible accident that stripped the earth with laser burns seven kilometres wide and brought an end to most of human civilisation, patches of settlement still survive. One is the University, which maintains a population and a structure and now has time and resources to find out what happened to some of its students, sold as slaves, while the University was ruled by a despot. Bran assembles a group, including a very cautious thief, twin girls and the strong man Mill the Hill, as well as Swart, a brother of one of the lost slaves. They set out for their first mission by train, for a place now called The Rat's Town, where Bran meets a transmitting empath called Scathe, who joins the group as they go further; first to find the lightning maker, the Stormbringer and then, further still, to return to find that their minds are not their own, and that their very worst nightmares are becoming very real indeed.
Not Cricket
by Raewyn CaisleyNick is an ace wicket-keeper who loves to play cricket. He greatly respects his primary school coach who believes in the spirit of cricket and trains the team to play fairly. As the end of primary school draws near, Nick decides to join a local club so he can keep improving at the game. With the encouragement of his father, Nick joins his dad's old club and earns a spot as wicket-keeper. Unfortunately things don't go to plan and Nick's dreams turn sour. The team members are unfriendly, being more interested in personal achievements than team effort, and as far as Nick is concerned they don’t play by the rules. Torn between his mother's sense of fair play and his father's dreams that his son would play for his old cricket team, Nick becomes increasingly unhappy as the true nature of his new team mates comes to light. Sledging the opposition, tampering with the ball, ignoring the captain and refusing to 'walk' are behaviours that Nick does not agree with. His first reaction is to leave the club and, when he walks after being given not out, anger builds between him and the team. It is time to get out or make a stand.From Raewyn Caisley, the acclaimed and established author of TOP MARKS, IN UNION, HOT SHOT, TENNIS STAR, QUEEN’S CUBBY, FREE STYLE and GREAT LEAD, comes another book in the popular Junior Sports Series.
Empower: Violet Eden Chapters: Book Five (Violet Eden Chapters)
by Jessica ShirvingtonWho will Violet choose?It has been two years since Violet Eden walked away from the city, her friends, her future and - most painfully - her soulmate, Lincoln. Part angel, part human, Violet is determined to stand by the promises she made to save the one she loves.Living with the perpetual coldness of a broken soul she survives day to day as a Rogue Grigori in London. But when an unexpected visitor shows up at her door, the news he bears about someone she swore to protect forces Violet to confront emotions she'd sought to bury.Even worse, she fears that this might all lead back to the night she tries hardest to forget. And to what was taken without her permission.Violet is returning to New York . . . and she knows exactly who is going to be there.With Phoenix in her dreams and Lincoln in her heart Violet knows it is only a matter of time before the final choice must be made.Empower is the final explosive book in The Violet Eden Chapters.The Violet Eden ChaptersBook One: EmbraceBook Two: EnticeBook Three: EmblazeBook Four: EndlessBook Five: Empower
The Hammerhead Light (Puffin Bks.)
by Colin ThieleTo Tessa and all the people of Snapper Bay, the Hammerhead Light is more than just a lighthouse – it is a symbol of all that is enduring and safe. Tessa has grown up within sight and sound of the light and she has formed a strong bond with old Axel, the lighthouse keeper. Both their lives are changed by their fight to save the lighthouse and by their love of a strange migratory bird, the whimbrel – and Tessa begins to learn the meaning of change and the pain of growing up.
Ghost Granny
by Melanie GuileWhen Granny dies, everyone in the family heaves a sigh of relief. She was a difficult old woman and not easy to live with. So when the unmistakably transparent form of Granny appears at the tea table, both adults and children are alarmed. Why is Granny’s spirit so restless? It appears the young apprentice angel assigned to guide her spirit to heaven hasn’t been doing her job. Whether Granny goes upstairs or down below now hangs in the balance – and Granny’s bad temper doesn’t help. The ensuing tussle between the devilish form of Mr. Brimstone and his bumbling angelic counterpart for the old lady’s soul leaves Granny in limbo and the family in crisis. When Granny’s ghost disappears, it’s left to young Anna, with a few angelic companions, to seek her at the very doors of Hellmouth. GHOST GRANNY by bestselling author Melanie Guile is a funny, fast-moving, and entertaining read with thoroughly engrossing characters.
My Brother Drinks Out of the Toilet: And other poems
by Colin ThompsonA riotous collection of poetry about toilet-water drinkers, non-stop eaters, rock ‘n’ roll teachers and much, much more!My brother drinks out of the toilet;He does it to make Mum go mad.Each time she catches him at itShe says, 'I’m telling your dad.’COLIN THOMPSON's hilarious poems are wonderfully matched by illustrator PETER VISKA's zany illustrations.They team up again on There's Something Really Nasty on the Bottom of My Shoe and other poems and The Dog's Just Been Sick in the Honda and other poems.
Media Savvy
by Jim SchembriWhile on work experience with a TV news crew, 16 year-old Cobey Miles suddenly finds herself in front of the camera covering a breaking news story about two bodies being uncovered in the ice. She proves an instant hit and her burgeoning modelling career starts to skyrocket. But when she sniffs something fishy behind the scenes at the station, Cobey realises that the story she has to tell is something certain people do not want to hear. Cobey is ultimately faced with a hard choice: leave the story alone and seize upon the success she is enjoying, or reveal the truth and risk consequences that may endanger her career – or her life. From the acclaimed author of MURDER IN AISLE 9, WELCOME TO MINUTE 16 and THE EIGHT LIVES OF STULLIE THE GREAT, Jim Schembri once again scripts a fast-paced and edgy novel, laced with humorous writing.