Cirrus@Austlit

'“Someone else could live here with us,” said Bat, “in the cave down the back.”

'“I don’t think so,” said Dragon. “Why not?” asked Bat.

'“It is hard enough having a bat and a dragon live together,” she huffed. “We don’t need to make things more difficult by sharing with a giraffe.”

'“Do giraffes live in caves?” quizzed Bat.' (Publication summary)

'“Want to talk about it?” asked Dragon.

'“About what?” said Bat, flicking the torch on and off, on and off.

'“About what’s wrong.”

'“Nothing is wrong,” sighed Bat.

'Dragon was more than five hundred years old. She knew a bit about most things.

'She could tell that Bat was not happy.' (Publication summary)

'“Want to talk about it?” asked Dragon.

'“About what?” said Bat, flicking the torch on and off, on and off.

'“About what’s wrong.”

'“Nothing is wrong,” sighed Bat.

'Dragon was more than five hundred years old. She knew a bit about most things.

'She could tell that Bat was not happy.' (Publication summary)

'“What are we going to do with your mess?”

'Bat pointed to Dragon’s treasure. Suddenly, Dragon was not so tired.

'“I have been collecting this pile of treasure for more than five hundred years,” she roared. “It is not mess!”

'Smoke burst out of Dragon’s left nostril. She was not happy.' (Publication summary)

'Bat flew to the back of the cave and came back with two small, snap-lock containers. Dragon sniffed the containers.

'“That is definitely a troll wart and really top-notch giant’s drool.”

'Bat put them in the pot. They did not disappear, but the pot started to spin and change colour.

'“Now we’re cooking!” cried Bat.

'“It smells terrible,” wheezed Dragon.' (Publication summary)

'Dragon had just closed her eyes when Bat stumbled into the cave. He was not alone.

'“You’re back!” said Dragon. “Where have you been? I’ve got a surprise.”

'“I have a surprise too!” said Bat excitedly. “This is Boris. He’s my new friend. Boris is a bat too.”

'“I can see that,” said Dragon flatly.' (Publication summary)

'Dragon and Bat sat still in their canoe. The water rose under them.

'“It’s just a passing shower,” said Bat breezily, “a light sprinkle.”

'“I don’t think so,” muttered Dragon. She was right. Seconds later, a great surge of water roared through the cave, taking Bat and Dragon and their canoe with it.' (Publication summary)

'“Want to talk about it?” asked Dragon.

'“About what?” said Bat, flicking the torch on and off, on and off. \

'“About what’s wrong.”

'“Nothing is wrong,” sighed Bat.

'Dragon was more than five hundred years old. She knew a bit about most things.

'She could tell that Bat was not happy.' (Publication summary)

'Roll up! Roll up! The Circus is here! Ringmaster Roy from Circus Bizurkus says: "Come inside our striped tent and see our spectacular show! Meet Bendy Betty, our contortionist, and gasp at Vinny Vamoose, the escape artist. Be dazzled by Max Manyhands, the juggler, and thrilled by our daredevils. Cheer for the acrobats and go wild for Wonderful Wilma and her animals. Circus Bizurkus will have you out of your seat, clapping your hands and stamping your feet for more!.' (Publisher's blurb)

'How bendy is Betty? Each level of Circus Bizurkus has 10 titles, 1 Readers' Theatre and 2 Nonfiction Books. STORYLANDS is a reading scheme focusing on the needs of teachers of students in the first three years of school. The three broad levels in each STORYLANDS set - emergent, early and early-fluent - mean that there are books at different levels on the same theme. Your whole class can read great books with the same characters and theme, providing cohesion for teaching and for your students.' (Publication summary)

'By day, 12-year-old Maddie Marples-Macintosh is best friend to Saffron and Rainbow, arch enemy of L33t (the school's uber-geek), and proud owner of Amelia, a Chinese Crested Hairless pooch. By night, she is...Ms Communic8ion: an anonymous blogger and online oracle, trying to give advice to kids at her school. It all started when Maddie froze in front of the camera for her media studies assignment. She doesn't like the limelight. When her teacher, Ms Dickenson, suggests that Maddie become an online blogger, it seems the perfect solution to her media studies dilemma. But giving advice isn't as easy as it seems...'(Publication summary)

'What a mess! When one circus meets another circus, they all become very tangled. Each level of Circus Bizurkus has 10 titles, 1 Readers' Theatre and 2 Nonfiction Books. STORYLANDS is a reading scheme focusing on the needs of teachers of students in the first three years of school. The three broad levels in each STORYLANDS set - emergent, early and early-fluent - mean that there are books at different levels on the same theme. Your whole class can read great books with the same characters and theme, providing cohesion for teaching and for your students.'(Publication summary)