Cirrus@Austlit

'An unforgettable story of friendship, hope and happiness from two masters of their craft, renowned Australian writer Zana Fraillon and illustrator Stephen Michael King.

'Are you ready? Are you listening? Something is about to begin.

'When Ada arrives on the day of the Great Summer Storm, it is like the wind had picked her up and blown her in - walking stick and all - and dumped her right at the front gates of number 9 Hawkhurst Lane.

'Unfortunately, Ada is not the kind of neighbour Hettie was hoping for. Cranky, impatient and a hater of cats, Ada has no intention of making friends.

'But as the summer unfolds, Hettie and Ada discover they have more in common than they think. Could their unlikely friendship be the missing piece they never knew they needed?' (Publication summary)

'The poignant story of an old gargoyle, forced off his rooftop to make way for a new urban development in a barren cityscape, and the child who encounters him on an overcrowded train, from one of Australia's most critically acclaimed writers for children.

'He's old, this gargoyle. Very old. Older than me. Older than anyone. He looks tired. If I had a seat, I would give it to him.

'He shuffles past me and stands near the door and watches the city smushing past.

'I think I hear him sigh. An echoey, achy, hollow sort of sigh, like the wind when it gusts down lanes and through tunnels and in and out of the big drains that stretch under the city.

'This is the moving story of an old gargoyle, forced off his rooftop to make way for a new development in a barren cityscape, and the child who encounters him on an overcrowded train. When the gargoyle is ordered off the train, he leaves his suitcase behind. The child opens the case and unleashes the gargoyle's many memories of the city and its inhabitants. When the case crumbles, leaving nothing but a small seed, the child decides to find a place to bring the gargoyle, and the soul of the city, back.

'A unforgettable story about conservation, ageing and legacies which will leave a forever imprint on your heart.' (Publication summary)

'A hilarious, fully illustrated tale about an unlikely friendship between a girl and an octopus that is perfect for newly independent readers, from one of Australia's most respected writers for children and an award-winning illustrator.

'FOUND!

'One octopus!

'Likes to eat tuna sandwiches.

'Goes by the name of 'Oswald'.

'It all began when Etta decided to take a bath . . . And realised she wasn't alone. On the floor lay a brown suitcase with Oswald written on it in fancy writing. And in the bath sat Oswald. Etta had never had an octopus in her bath before.

'Etta feels sure someone must be missing their octopus and is determined to return Oswald, but he seems a little less enthusiastic.

'When a rude lady with a net and a stick turns up to claim him, Etta must decide where Oswald really belongs.' (Publication summary)

'A wonderful children's novel by two stellar writers featuring Shelby and Phoenix, living 100 years apart yet unexpectedly joined across time - and each make the discovery of a lifetime that has the potential to upend their worlds.

'We've been told over and over we're the generation that waits for the world to recover. We endure the heat. We endure the storms, the wrecking floods, the long droughts, the days of smoke as fire burns, coz this is what the honoured earth does when she's trying to recover.

'Shelby and her best friend Davy live quiet low-tech lives in a closed community that is made up of exactly three hundred and fifty kind, ethical people living on exactly seven hundred hectares.

'When they climb through a hole in the perimeter fence to venture into the surrounding jungle, what they find is more astonishing than anything they could have imagined.

'And when Shelby realises the terrible danger that is unfolding, it will take all of her daring and determination to ensure the past does not repeat itself.

'Intriguing, absorbing and spine-tinglingly good, The Raven's Song is a brilliant novel by two esteemed writers at the height of their powers.' (Publication summary)

'A powerful, inventive, sweet and deeply moving novel from the bestselling author of The Bone Sparrow

'Be strong. Be fierce. Life is more than a concrete floor.

'Scruffity is born into the harsh, grey world of a puppy farm. Taken from his mamma and locked in a concrete cage, what he yearns for most is Family. To belong is The Way of Dog. But no one wants him.

'Just as his chances of adoption grow dangerously thin, Scruffity is set free by a boy as unwanted and lonely as he is.

'Outside, Scruffity learns all about The Way of Dog - it is to run, to dig, to howl and, biggest of all, to love. But when tragedy strikes, Scruffity is suddenly all alone.

'How does a dog find his way home when he never had one to begin with? (Publication summary)

'Miro sees the world differently from everyone else, thanks to the Curiosities - strange little creatures that nestle on his shoulder, whisper in his ear, and show him a different way of seeing the world. Most of the time, no one else notices. But sometimes, the Curiosities make him stand out, in ways that can be good but are occasionally confusing and scary. Miro learns to live with and control his Curiosities, and gradually starts to see that they are a kind of gift.

'A lyrical and moving story inspired by the people who see the world differently - and make it more wondrous. With themes of creativity, curiosity and neurodivergence, this is an essential book for every home, school and library.' (Publication summary)

'One street-boy's quest to reunite and make amends with his best friend told in an epic story that spans a city, a decade, and the divide of life and death itself. From the award-winning author of The Bone Sparrow.

'A boy awakens in the Afterlife, with a pocketful of vague memories, a key, a raven, and a mysterious Atlas to guide him as he sets out to piece together the mystery of his final moments ...

'Meanwhile on Earth, Twig is alone as a newly-made street kid after his dad goes missing. But when he meets Flea, a cheerful pickpocket, the pair become fast friends, better even than blood family itself. Together, Twig and Flea raise themselves on the crime-ridden streets, taking what they need and giving the rest to the even-poorer. Life is good, as long as they have each other. But the all-powerful Boss who rules the streets has other plans.

'Loyalty will be tested, and a cruel twist of fate will lead to an act of ultimate betrayal. But will it tear the friends apart ... forever?' (Publication summary)

'Idris is a child refugee, born into a world of tents and fences. He has known no other life than this. He has no memories of the world outside.

'Then the Wisp arrives, floating in on the evening breeze. Everyone who holds it finds their memories reawakened, their hopes of freedom reborn. But what about Idris, who has no memories? What will happen when he holds the magical Wisp?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Around the world, millions of people - including many children - are victims of human trafficking. These modern-day slaves often go unseen even in our own cities and towns, their voices silent and their stories untold. In this incredible book, Zana Fraillon imagines the story of three such children, Esra, Miran and Isa. The result is powerful, heartbreaking and unforgettable.

'Esra, Miran and Isa work for the Snakeskin gang, tending to plants in the dark and airless basement of a house they are not allowed to leave. They’ve been told that they belong to the Snakeskins, but Esra knows that she belongs to no one - and she is determined to find freedom. This is a Skellig for this generation; beautiful, magical and with Zana Fraillon’s incredible talent for combining important global issues with extraordinary storytelling.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Subhi's imagination is as big as the ocean and wise as the sky, but his world is much smaller: he's spent his whole life in an immigration detention centre. The Bone Sparrow is a powerful, heartbreaking, sometimes funny and ultimately uplifting hymn to freedom and love.

'Sometimes, at night, the dirt outside turns into a beautiful ocean. As red as the sun and as deep as the sky. I lie in my bed, Queeny's feet pushing up against my cheek, and listen to the waves lapping at the tent.

'Subhi is a refugee. Born in an Australian permanent detention centre after his mother fled the violence of a distant homeland, life behind the fences is all he has ever known. But as he grows, his imagination gets bigger too, until it is bursting at the limits of his world. The Night Sea brings him gifts, the faraway whales sing to him, and the birds tell their stories.

'The most vivid story of all, however, is the one that arrives one night in the form of Jimmie, a scruffy, impatient girl who appears from the other side of the wires, and brings a notebook written by the mother she lost. Unable to read it, she relies on Subhi to unravel her own family's love songs and tragedies.

'Subhi and Jimmie might both find a way to freedom, as their tales unfold. But not until each of them has been braver than ever before.' (Publication summary)

'What do sickie burps, piranha-infested lakes, the year 3054 and a school for troubled children have in common?

They all live in this super cool dangerous book - filled to the brim with stories from your favourite series like Zac Power, Space Scout and more!' (Publication summary)

'Each kid only has one pair of shoes here. Number 49's shoes are a pretty good fit for me and I know they're new because they still have that plastic smell. But the real Number 49 is quite a bit bigger than I am, because his pants keep falling down on me. I wish he would come back, so that I could go home.

'Jack loves telling jokes, but not many people laugh at them in the orphanage. Will he ever be reunited with his mother and sister, his great-aunts and great-grandmother, back at home?' (Publication summary)

'Jasper McPhee is always getting into trouble. That's why he's been sent to the Monstrum House School for Troubled Children. But there's something very strange about Monstrum House. For a start, the students have to stand barefoot in the snow every day. There's also the creepy feeling that the teachers can read your thoughts. Oh, and the fact that the school is crawling with monsters. Jasper has never been in trouble like this.'  (Publication summary)

'Forget about goblins. Forget about elves, Forget about unicorns and trolls. But don't ever forget about monsters. Forgetting about a monster is just about the worst thing you can do. Because monsters will never forget about you...

'Jasper McPhee has been expelled from schools countless times. The Monstrum House School for Troubled Children is his last chance.

'It looks like a normal school. All the parents who send their kids there think it's a normal school. What everyone doesn't realise is that Monstrum House is actually a place that trains kids to be monster hunters. And the monsters aren't cute and cuddly. They lurk under beds and in the school basement, some scare kids, some eat kids, and some morph them into stone.

'It's no use telling your parents that the school is making you catch monsters. And after being expelled from schools time and time again, who would believe you?' (From the publisher's website.)

'Jasper might be in over his head once again as he's given two equally horrifying options—fail all his classes and face his teacher's punishment, or pass and have to face a terrifying lake monster instead!

'Jasper McPhee pulled himself over the top of the icy wall. He landed lightly on his bare feet and rolled across the snowy ground, just dodging the swinging blades that whooshed from the tree tops. That was close, he thought. He shot a quick look at his watch. He had two minutes left to finish the combat course. He might just make it.

'It's exam time at Monstrum House, and the top students in Jasper's year will be rewarded. They'll get to hunt a monster that lives at the bottom of the lake and likes to drown people for fun—so, maybe it's just as well that Jasper hasn't studied. Life's never easy when you're a student at the Monstrum house.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'What are all the zoo animals up to when no one is looking?

'The animals at the zoo can stretch, growl, and roar. But when no one is looking, they are up to much more! A charming lift-and-reveal picture book perfect for young children playing on the notion that animals do funny and often absurd activities when no one is looking.'(Publication summary)

'What do all those animals on the farm do when no one is looking?

'The ducks in the pond
swim and paddle all day.
They dip-dive and swirl
in fountains of spray.
But when no-one's looking . . .

'The animals on the farm can swim, stomp, and run. But when no one is looking, they have all kinds of fun! A charming lift-and-reveal picture book perfect for young children playing on the notion that animals are up to funny and often absurd activities when no one is looking.'(Publication summary)