Cirrus@Austlit

'Hardnut Hannigan and the Jewel of the Jungle Harold Hannigans parents knew their baby was different when he fell out of his cot and landed head-first on the floor. From then on, Harold was known as Hardnut Hannigan. Hardnut amazed the world with his extraordinary deeds; he climbed Mount Everest, without an oxygen mask; won an Olympic marathon; swam the English Channel underwater! But, at 12 years old, hed run out of challenges. Then he read about a long-lost, precious jewel in the deeply dangerous jungles of Mongo-Wongo. With his faithful emu Thunderbang and his beloved pooch, Itchybutt, he set off on the greatest adventure of his young life! Would he ever find the Jewel of the Jungle? And even if he did, would he live to tell the tale? Captain Offensnotty and the Giddi-Giddi Zombies Not far into the voyage of The Concrete Slug, the crew discover that Captain Potty Dotty Offensnotty is sneaking off at night to her home sweet home, which she has secretly towed behind the mother ship. While the crew has to survive sleeping fifteen to a bunk, their crafty captain lives a life of luxury, nibbling chocolates and watching television! Enraged, the sailors stage a mutiny, but before they can reach their captain, they must get past her very big and mean cat. Then, the hapless crew are attacked by a sailor-swallowing sea serpent and the ferocious flesh-eating Giddi-Giddi Zombies! Will they survive?' (Publication summary)

'Xander and the Pen is the story of a boy who loves to draw superheroes, and the pen he buys from a mysterious market stall. He soon learns that the pen has a magical power: whatever he draws, happens! At first the pen helps Xander improve his family’s fortunes, but there are many unintended consequences and soon everybody is angry at Xander. With problems galore, Xander has one big decision to make — should he use the pen to draw one more picture?' (Publication summary)

'A twisty-turny fantasy romp, with heart, humour, do-it-yourself projects and a singing dragon.

'Two days ago, Mum-Queen and Dad-King happily flew off in the Wing-Thing that Princess Shona, the Fix-it Princess, had made them. Shona hasn’t sighted them since. And that’s a worry.

'But Shona is a princess with a Can-Do attitude. After all, she isn’t called the Fix-it Princess for nothing. She is great at solving problems. Surely, the Fix-it Princess can work out a way to find a Wing-Thing and a pair of missing parents. Surely …' (Publication summary)

'The world's most famous volcanologist Kylie O'Riley is asked by Hilda to recover her husband, Rudy, who has fallen into an active volcano, along with her precious ring and picnic basket. Kylie, who is fearless, brave, and extremely gifted, promises to recover Hilda's treasures. Off she heads to where the mighty Watta-Wopping Volcano is located. There she finds a dragon. Luckily, she can speak Dragonese and is able to persuade it to fly her to Cracka-Cracka Boom-Boom, home of the Gidgee Guy tribe. However, the chief's son, Tumby, fancies Kylie for dinner.

'Will she escape his cooking pot? What about the dangerous exploding Boom-Boom HaHa volcano? Does she find and recover Hilda's missing husband? What about the precious ring and picnic basket? What antique gift does she receive?

'To find out the answers to these and other enthralling questions, read these great books!' (Publication summary)

'The wildest and toughest adventurers in this world - and the next - have failed to find and capture the Abominable Snowman. Famed adventurer, Tasman Wallaroo (known as Tazzie) enters the scene, saying she will 'crush that cruel creep to crumbs!' Training hard until she is as trim and taut as Superwoman after a super make-over, she and her team of 28 shaggy-haired Siberian Cha-Wow-Wows depart the Point of No Return.

'Will Tazzie and her doggies overcome blizzards and sub-zero weather? Will they survive falling into a crevasse? And thousands of ice mites? And frenzied ice mice? Will they overcome frostbite? And starvation? What happens when Tazzie uncovers an igloo? Is this the home of the Abominable Snowman? And how and why is love somehow on the cards?' (Publication summary)