Cirrus@Austlit

'Mum's ready to do the washing but where have all the socks gone? Follow the boys around the house as they dig up all kinds of socks –

"long socks, short socks,

every kind of sport socks.

One was full of quartz rocks

from Stephen's summer hike."

'Once you've finished the story, go back and admire the detailed illustrations as you look for the 'Fun Things to Find' in each room.

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'One brave bird...

By the shores of the Shoalhaven River on the south coast of NSW, the godwits are preparing for their annual migration north to Alaska. But their leader, Danta, is growing old. he knows it's time for him to find a new bird to guide the flock on its great journey. And Danta knows the new leader will need some very special qualities; strength, a faultless sense of direction, responsibility - and above all, courage. Whom will he choose?

...One heroic boy

Far to the north, on the shores of the Yellow Sea, a boy is waiting. The godwits, he knows, will soon land on his favourite beach. Wei also knows the beach stop-over is vital for the birds, for without the chance to feed and rest, they will never complete their journey. But things are changing; plans are in place for a building complex on the very stretch of land the godwits rely upon. How can one boy oppose the developers? How can he make them understand?'

Source: Back cover.

'Dancing Charli is the second in the 'Charli' series and sees our energetic, Sulphur-crested cockatoo meet Gordon the Pink-and-grey galah. After Charli notices their colours are different, Gordon takes her on a journey around Australia to meet new friends and celebrate with them in dance. With beautiful hand-made paper and watercolour illustrations, the unique birds of the Australian environment are captured in a book sure to appeal to the fun in all of us.' (Publication summary)

'The story revolves around Charli, an energetic, Sulphur-crested cockatoo who likes to perform a special trick – the curly wurly Raaaaarrrrrrkkkkk. One morning, while performing her stunt, she sees a bushfire and warns the other forest animals. Charli saves the day!' (Publication summary)

'Knowledge is the Prime Resource! The pursuit of knowledge is perhaps life's greatest challenge. Traditionally Aboriginal peoples cared for the land, living as one with it. This custodial relationship, expressed through cultural practices, sustained the natural environment and secured the viability of resources necessary to sustain the continuing existence of Aboriginal society over many millennia. This book containing the words of Frances Bodkin and visual imagery of Lorraine Robertson will take you on a journey of understanding the ancient knowledge of the original People of This Land of the D'harawals.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Throughout the past two hundred years, society has come to regard the Koori Dreaming stories as something akin to the fairy stories they were told as children.

'However, for thousands upon thousands of years, the stories in this book were used as a teaching tool to impart to the youngest members of the clans the laws that governed the cultural behaviour of clan members. The successive attempts to destroy the Koori culture and assimilate The People into the Euro-centric population were unsuccessful, and the Dreaming Stories were able to continue in their disguise as charming legends in which animals, birds, insects, even fish became the heroes and heroines.

'This book containing the words of Frances Bodkin and visual imagery of Lorraine Robertson will take you on a journey of understanding the ancient knowledge of the original People of This Land of the D'harawals.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'This book is written for children, to bring understanding to their young minds that climate change is not just a recent affliction, but rather a continuous event. What is the affliction is that which modern society's commercialisation and industrialisation have done to natural climate change.' ...

'The Times of Day have been described first, followed by the Annual Season Cycle, and how the European seasons fit within the D'harawal Year; included within this section is the activity of animals and plants, triggered by the climatic conditions of each season. This is followed by the minor cycles which have an impact on D'harawal life, then the longer-term fluctuations in climate. Stories are included to illustrate how important knowledge of the weather and climate fluctuations was to the D'harawal Peoples' (pp. 7, 9).