Cirrus@Austlit

'When Madeleine is shipped off to stay with her eccentric grandmother for the holidays, she expects the usual: politics, early-morning yoga, extreme health food, and lots of hard work. Instead, Madeleine tumbles back in time to 1900, where the wealthy Williamson family takes her into their home, Lyrebird Muse...

'At a time when young girls have no power and no voice, set against a backdrop of the struggles for emancipation, federation and Aboriginal rights, Madeleine must find a way to fit in with the Williamson family's four sisters - beautiful, cold Bea; clever, awkward Gert; adventurous, rebellious Charlie; and darling baby Imo - as she searches desperately for a way home...

'Meanwhile, the Williamson girls' enchanting German cousin, Elfriede, arrives on the scene on a heavenly wave of smoke and cinnamon, and threatens to shatter everything....'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Esther spies a rainbow one morning, and she spends the rest of the week finding it again – looking for colours in everything she sees, a different rainbow colour for every day of the week.

'Perfect for the early childhood years, Esther’s Rainbow is a beautiful ‘first concepts’ book, enabling young children to investigate colour while also telling a lovely and warm family story about exploring the world.

'This is a truly delightful picture book from the creators of The Unexpected

Crocodile – once again, Kim Kane's classic text is perfectly complemented by

Sara Acton’s delightfully accessible illustrations.' (Publisher's blurb)