Cirrus@Austlit

'In spectacular and astonishing collage detail, Jeannie Baker captures the deep beauty, mystery, and hidden vitality of the desert landscape – and why it needs our protection.

'Chico’s grandpa has taken him on holiday where he grew up as a child, out in the desert. Chico has no interest in exploring the land – the desert jungle frightens him, and he’d much rather play on his his tablet. Grandpa decides that it is time to show Chico the secrets and the wonders that the desert has to offer so that he will not fear it but, instead, welcome it, embrace it and help protect it. Grandpa shows Chico paths through the cactus and the scrub, teaches Chico the plants' names – ocotillo, cholla, cirios, pin cushion, fishhook – and, soon, Chico begins to understand the wonders of the wild. He learns the value of watching, waiting and listening for all the life that hums within his desert home.' (Publication summary)

'Join TV presenter and Australian landscape architect Costa Georgiadis; TV presenter, radio host, actress and comedian Julia Zemiro; musician and singer-songwriter Dave McCormack; film director and actor Sofya Gollan; comedian, actor, author and radio presenter Matt Okine and Australian author and social commentator Dr Anita Heiss as they bring to life a delightful collection of stories for young children.'  (Publication summary)

'In an infinity of sky, tiny godwit birds follow ancient, invisible migratory pathways, flying on and on for nine nights and nine days, flying without rest... This is their story.

'From the creator of the critically acclaimed Where the Forest Meets the Sea and Mirror, comes a poetic, eco-conscious picture book which explores the complex, interdependency of nature. This is the story of the little-known Bar-tailed Godwit who, following invisible pathways that have been used for thousands of years, undertakes the longest unbroken migration of any bird, a total of 11,000 kilometres, flying from Australia and New Zealand to their breeding grounds in the Arctic... and back again.

'Facing hunger and treacherous conditions to reach their destination, their flight is one of bravery, tenacity and strength, and Jeannie's stunning mixed media collages, inspired first-hand by the spectacular landscapes of Alaska and China, will amaze readers, and take them on an extraordinary visual journey to the corners of our Earth.' (Publication summary)

'An alienating city street gradually becomes a place to call home. Little by little, baby Tracy grows. She and her neighbours begin to rescue their street. Together, children and adults plant grass and trees and bushes in the empty spaces. They paint murals over old graffiti. They stop the cars. Everything begins to blossom. Belonging explores the re-greening of the city: the role of community, the empowerment of people and the significance of children, family and neighbourhood in changing their urban environment. The streets gradually become places for safe children's play, and community activity and places for nature and wonder.'

(Source: Author's website, http://www.jeanniebaker.com/picture_books_index.htm)

'A stunning exploration of a beautiful but endangered world, by the creator of the award-winning "Where the Forest Meets the Sea"

'Looking for his lost fish trap, Ben thinks he sees something dark moving under the water. Is it a creature or only his imagination? Diving into the sea with his friend Sophie, he is amazed to discover a wonderful hidden world – and the rich variety of creatures that live there.' (Publication summary)

'A boy and his father travel in their boat, ‘Time Machine’ to a stretch of beach beside a primordial tropical rainforest. As the boy walks among the trees he imagines the forest as it might have been in the past. Dinosaurs emerge, barely perceptible, from a tangle of trunks and vines; the faint outlines of an aboriginal child melt into a background of trees and in the final haunting scene the unspoiled vista readers have toured is overlaid with translucent images of a possible future civilisation..' (Source: Author's website)

'"Millicent" is a warm and gentle story about an old lady's daily wanderings through Hyde Park to feed the pigeons. Along the way, we hear Millicent's thoughts and feelings towards the pigeons that she so dearly loves. Her dream is to find enough feathers on the ground to make a coat, hat, bag and shoes so she will be warm and cosy, just like a pigeon.' (Publication abstract)

A little girl in this story shares the simple joys of sitting with her grandmother in front of the fire drinking tea and eating chocolate cake, and helping to knit a scarf of rainbow colors.