Cirrus@Austlit

'Every kid wants to laugh, but Max is the boy who can make it happen.

'When his friends start talking about a new scary movie, Max realises they don't just want to laugh ... they also want to scream!

'Max is the funny kid, but does he know how to make his own scary movie?

'An oversupply of slime, a bumbling babysitter, a ghastly ghost, a melodramatic mummy and a terrifying beast called Duckenstein are just some of the things in store for Max and his friends in this brand-new Funny Kid adventure.' (Publication summary)

'A wondrous walkabout through the mountains from Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood, the creator of the heart-stirring picture books Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth, My Little Barlaagany, Giinagay Gaagal, Hello Ocean and Miimi and Buwaarr, Mother and Baby.

'The juluum (mountain) watches over us as we walk proudly on Country.
Me, Jinda, Miimi and Gami take note of all the subtle changes in nature
as we walk up, up the rocky path towards the peaks.

'Join the family as they journey through the mountains, observing animals, plants and trees, waterways and high peaks. Their ancestors and the mountain watch over them.

'A lyrical and heart-stirring series by Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood.

'Gumbaynggirr translation included.' (Publication summary) 

'After there'd been a robbery in a block of Wiluna retirement units, two police officers arrive to begin their investigations. They knock on the front door of the first unit in the block. An old lady answers.

''Lady,' says one of the police officers, 'where were you between 5 and 6?'

''I'm not exactly sure, officer,' replies the old lady, 'but I was most probably in kindergarten.'

'Australia's outback police have seen it all: natural disasters, incredible acts of selflessness, unspeakable crimes and daring rescues, to name just a few. And they've met some unforgettable characters along the way. This memorable and eye-opening collection of real-life accounts from cops on the frontline in the heart of Australia is by turns inspiring, poignant, heartbreaking and hilarious.

'Bill 'Swampy' Marsh is an award-winning writer and performer of stories, songs and plays. He spent most of his youth in rural south-western NSW and now lives in Adelaide. Swampy is one of ABC Books' bestselling authors of Australian stories; this is his twentieth book.'  (Publication summary)

'Simply a great middle-grade read for all kids -- fun, funny, relatable and a little bit cheeky. Just like Dylan.

''My life so far has been pretty primo.
At home I've got a great family (sure, even my big brother, Jack, when he's not being a total pain) and my pet legless lizard, Pogo (she can lick her own eyeballs, really).
At school there's my awesome friends Yusuf, Gemma and my best mate, Hannah. In between there's coding, mixing tracks and shooting hoops.
Now it's time for something new -- high school.
Confession, I'm not always a fan of new things.'

'When old friends and new collide, a teacher called Grumps is on your tail, and the school talent show looks like turning into a real-life drama, twelve-year-old Dylan discovers his family motto is going to come in handy -- it's not all about you.' (Publication summary)

'John and Elizabeth Gould sailed into Australia on a cold spring day in 1838 prepared for the most astonishing adventure of their lives. They had crossed three oceans from their London home to find the treasures of Australia's birdlife and showcase them to the outside world.

'Elizabeth had fallen pregnant for the seventh time at just 34, and there would be little rest for her in illustrating her husband's exquisite books that had made him England's celebrated 'Bird Man', and a force of nature in both science and publishing. Elizabeth had always worked in his shadow, but perhaps with his new book The Birds of Australia she would finally receive the deserved acclaim for her work.

'Gould had studied birds from the Galapagos Islands and helped Charles Darwin expound his controversial theory of evolution by natural selection. In Australia, with the help of Aboriginal guides, he would gaze upon a vast array of Australian wildlife which would generate huge praise and profits.

'The Birds of Australia would become a landmark publication and cement the reputation of the husband and wife team forever, but tragically it was one that Elizabeth would never see. This rollicking story of the astute Gould and his brilliant wife brings Elizabeth and her extraordinary talent to life - the woman behind the man and his fame - as well as the incredible array of Australian birds and wildlife that astonished the world.'  (Publication summary)

'The Nazis want everyone to be the same. If you're different, you don't belong.

'Not belonging is dangerous ...

'Anna's little sister, Eva, is frail and needs time to learn new things. She has a huge heart and a gift for loving, but Hitler doesn't value such riches. And so she's hidden away. Safe for now, but with the threat of discovery always near.

'Anna does her best to bring joy and light to Eva's small life with stories, trinkets and treasures from the outside world. But soon, more children need hiding. Risks are taken -- by Anna, by her best friend Udo, by a Nazi seamstress and feisty Brunhilde. Until Anna wonders if any of them will make it through the war ...

'Loyalty and love. Family and friendship. Understanding and tolerance. Right and wrong. Multi-award-winning Australian author Katrina Nannestad explores it all in this thrilling and powerful historical novel.' (Publication summary)

'An inclusive picture book for parents everywhere.

'In every country around the world are dads - some short, some tall.
Though they go by different names, we love them one and all.

'From bestselling duo Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek comes a heartfelt and charming book that celebrates the many different ways we say dad.

'What Do You Call Your Dad? is a love letter to fathers and families from every corner of the globe.' (Publication summary)

'A glorious celebration of happiness from multi-award-winning author-illustrator Emma Quay

'Happy on the inside,

inside-out.

Happy all over -

splash it all about.

'From Emma Quay, the award-winning and much-loved creator of Rudie Nudie, comes an irresistible and joyous celebration of all the small joys to be found in the everyday.' (Publication summary)

'The inspiring story of the nursing hero who survived a wartime massacre and dedicated her life to saving others - from the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Flinders, The Remarkable Mrs Reibey, Hudson Fysh and Banjo

'Bangka Island, 1942: Australian Army nurse Vivian Bullwinkel was just twenty-six when Japanese soldiers marched her and her fellow nurses into the shallow waters of a remote beach to be executed.

'Miraculously, Vivian would be the lone survivor - and she committed the rest of her long life to an exceptional peacetime career which she lived in tribute to her lost friends. The Lieutenant-Colonel would also be the first woman to be honoured with a statue at the Australian War Memorial for her extraordinary bravery and service - a country girl who become one of the highest ranking women in the Australian army, and who spent her life caring for others.

'Growing up in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Vivian started work at a local hospital and joined the Australian Army Nursing Service in World War II. When the Japanese attacked Singapore in 1942, she and sixty-four other nurses were ordered to evacuate, but soon their ship was bombed by enemy aircraft. Some of the women drowned, but Viv made it to Radji Beach on Bangka Island, off Sumatra, with twenty-one of her nursing colleagues.

'There Japanese soldiers forced the women to wade back into the sea, and as Vivian felt a bullet slam into her back, she fell face down into the water then waited to die as the soldiers bayonetted survivors. Somehow Vivian lived.

'For the next three and a half years Viv was a prisoner of war in a series of brutal Japanese camps where she helped other inmates survive the horror. When peace was restored, she went on to become a giant of Australian nursing - and was a key driver of Operation Babylift, the mass rescue of young orphans during the Vietnam War. For her extraordinary efforts, Vivian was awarded numerous honours, but she never forgot her fallen colleagues, whose lives she paid tribute to with her service to nursing.

'From the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of Flinders, The Remarkable Mrs Reibey, Banks and Hudson Fysh, Sister Viv tells the astonishing story of the courage, sacrifice, service, and love of an Australian nursing hero who survived against the odds and dedicated her life to the care of others.' (Publication summary)

'It took an ocean to learn it's not how fast you paddle but how deep inside you dig.

'254 days, 12,700 kilometres, sea sickness, sharks, crocodiles and ocean. Bonnie Hancock broke numerous records on her fastest ever circumnavigation by paddle around Australia but that wasn't the achievement she is most proud of. Testing the limits of her mental and physical toughness, she learned what it means to overcome adversity and how important teamwork and perspective truly are. What looks distressing from the rocky shore or storm-tossed waves can be inspiring when you look to the heavens.

'The Girl Who Touched the Stars is a love story, a travelogue and an exhilarating exploration of human ambition coming face to face with the beauty and power of nature. But most of all it's a lesson in overcoming self-doubt, trusting others and finding your true self. Bonnie demonstrates vividly and honestly the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of reaching for the stars.' (Publication summary)

'An ode to the mother/baby relationship and ties to family and land

'Being your miimi (mother) is the most precious gift life can give.

'When you were born you opened my heart as wide as the ocean.

'Join Miimi (Mother) as she shares stories with her Buwaarr (baby) about the environment, language and totems; passing on the wisdom of Gumbaynggirr culture and a mother's hopes for baby's future.

'A lyrical and heart-stirring series by Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood, creator of Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth, My Little Barlaagany (Sunshine) and Giinagay Gaagal, Hello Ocean.' (Publication summary)

'The hilarious and unmissable new series about Gilbert, a boy whose best friend is an imaginary giant fluffy bunny called Fluff, from the creator who brought us The Odds, Funny Kid and Bored.

'Sometimes it's better to clean up your own mess ...

'Fluff and Gilbert have made an enormous mess.

'It's bedlam and they really don't want to get their hands dirty, but then they have a brilliant idea and go into business.

'Can Fluff and Gilbert's enterprise become a global cleaning empire and literally clean up?

'From the creator of Funny Kid and The Odds comes a seriously messy adventure!' (Publication summary)

'Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called Flossy.

'Flossy leads them where she will, to the place where they're needed most ... the place where the perfect book will find its way home.

'Now Mim has arrived in wonderful Venice, city of canals, palaces, bridges, boats and ... quarrels. Gondolier battles, cat nappings and laundry theft are just the beginning. The Magnifico family and the Forte family are at war.

'Mim knows they're here to help the feuding families. To show them a better way to behave. To bring an end to the vicious vendetta.

'If only Mim could find each of them the right book. If only they'd all stop reading the wrong books.' (Publication summary)