Cirrus@Austlit

'Local writers Libby Hathorn and Elizabeth Cummings were unusually busy during Covid, exploring the coastal wonders of some of the eastern coastline of Sydney. They responded in poetry to time spent at beaches and on boardwalks from Yarra Bay to Watson's Bay; and Coastal Poetry with its artful photographic depictions of each beach is the result. This unique publication gives insight into the by-the-sea treasures of life in the writers' local environment celebrating the wonders of nature by the sea.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A beautifully illustrated collection of original poems celebrating the wonder and complexity of nature and the environment, from beloved children's author Libby Hathorn, illustrated by award-winning artist Christina Booth

'Let's dream of what we can become,
Mother Earth, I am your son.
Food and shelter, climate, water,
Mother Earth, I am your daughter.

'Mother Earth is a warm, funny, beautiful collection of nature poems. Written with great sensitivity by multi-award-winning poet and author Libby Hathorn and with superb illustrations by talented artist and illustrator Christina Booth, this is a book to treasure and to celebrate our precious environment - for kids and families, students and teachers alike.' (Publication summary) 

'Izumi, Ren and little Yoshi are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the famous poet Bashō in their village. It is 17th century Japan and the poet is walking far to the north, writing his now world-famous haiku.

'Libby Hathorn's endearing story describes their encounter with Bashō. Sadami Konchi's sensitive paintings light up the story with a grace and beauty to ably match the text.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A mysterious talking cat invites children through the grand doors of the State Library of NSW in Sydney. It’s the Est Cat, who wants to show them the biggest, the smallest, the strangest, the rarest and the gluggiest objects to be found there! They visit secret places, get followed by ghosts, spy special treasures and finally learn the Est Cat’s secret.

'This delightful tale introduces readers to some of the weird and wonderful artefacts of Australian history, where they live, and the people who look after them.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'There was a child,

'The sweetest ever,

'Until she learned these words:

'NO! NEVER!'

'Georgie is a sweet little girl who always makes her parents happy... until she discovers one powerful phrase: No! Never!

'It suddenly becomes her answer to every request, from tidying up her toys to going to bed. Her parents are at their wits end, but what happens when they decide to try saying No! Never! themselves?'

'A lovely, lively look at the Terrible Twos (or Threes, or Fours, or Fives...) from mother-daughter team Libby Hathorn and Lisa Hathorn-Jarman, with debut illustrator Mel Pearce. Perfect for any parent dealing with tantrums, defiant behaviour or communication issues.' (Publication summary)

'This is a story about iconic Australian writer Stella Miles Franklin, namesake of two major literary prizes, during her brief but formative time as a governess in rural New South Wales. Teenager Stella Miles Franklin has to work to help support her family. Stella is unhappy in her job and longs for the freedom and excitement of city life. While working, she meets a young orphan girl, Imp, who is almost as feisty as Stella herself, and who spurs the older girl to follow her dreams.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

A new baby is welcomed to the family.

'Two small children discover the beauty and wonder of nature in their very own backyard in this beautifully illustrated story from award-winning author Libby Hathorn.

'Come explore your backyard. Who knows what you'll find? A butterfly, a frog, a bird ... maybe even a dinosaur!

'A sweet and gentle story that feels as warm as a garden bathed in sunlight, from award-winning author Libby Hathorn and acclaimed illustrator Lisa Stewart.' (Publication summary)

'Little Georgie is the youngest, and this sometimes means Max and Harriet forget about her.

'But Georgie is unfazed. She's armed with a BIG imagination.' (Publication summary)

''From award-winning Australian author Libby Hathorn and acclaimed illustrator Phil Lesnie, an exquisitely illustrated and deeply moving story of the Somme.

'A moving story, told completely in dialogue, about a young Australian soldier in the battle of the Somme. Walking through the fields away from the front, he finds what he thinks is a stray dog, and decides to adopt it as a mascot for his company. Then he meets Jacques, the homeless orphan boy who owns the dog. The soldier realises that Jacques needs the dog more - and perhaps needs his help as well.

'With stunning illustrations from Phil Lesnie, this is a deeply moving celebration of friendship in times of war.

'A Soldier, A Dog And A Boy was inspired by Libby Hathorn's months of research on her uncle, who survived Gallipoli but went on to fight at the Battle of the Somme and was killed there in 1917 at just twenty years old.'

'Join a charming family of bears as they sing and chuckle and snuggle their way through a sunny afternoonChildren will adore spending time with this family as they delight in each other's company and delight in the myriad ways a baby can bring joy to everyday life. A sub-plot follows the antics of two pets who hide the baby's toys, and children will delight in this humourous search-and-find storyline. The rhyming text is complemented by luminous ink paintings that encapsulate the gentle pleasures of an afternoon with the family in the sun.' (Publication summary)

'Painstakingly researched and extremely well written, this is a novel that moves deftly and easily from one time period to another and yet still allows the novel to retain an overall sense of cohesion.

'Respected YA author Libby Hathorn has drawn on family history and done extensive research to write a fascinating book that profiles two young protagonists, both seventeen years of age, who are related: Maurice, who went to Gallipoli and the Western Front and his great-great nephew, Oliver, who is trying to deal with difficult family circumstances but whose discovery of Maurice's WW1 diary changes the way he sees the world. The balance of the historical and contemporary points of view makes this title perfect for use in the classroom, but also appealing to the YA reader.' (Publication summary)

'Sangita loves to sing. But when she leaves her small village for school in the big city of Kathmandu, fear makes her lose her sweet voice. Will she ever make friends in this strange place with the bully Yamu close by? Will she learn to read?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Like the garden it portrays, Outside is a Baroque wonderland waiting to be explored, a shimmery place of texture, luminosity and colour where time stands still and memories are born.

'Two internationally acclaimed creators—author Libby Hathorn and artist Ritva Voutila—have coupled their dazzling imaginative powers to capture the wonder of childhood in this homage to the magic of a garden.' (Publication summary)