Cirrus@Austlit

'Introducing an exciting collection of children's stories from award-winning authors Damon Young and Peter Carnavas!

'Get ready to meet some extraordinary family members and embark on thrilling adventures with the family. Experience the swashbuckling tales of a pirate pop, witness the incredible feats of a superhero sister and be amazed by a truly marvelous magical mum, amongst others.

'These enchanting tales will captivate young listeners and ignite their imaginations. Get ready for a wild ride with this extraordinary family!

'Shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards, Children's Book of the Year, and Speech Pathology Australia, Book of the Year' (Publication summary)

'There’s an art to writing the journalistic yarn, and Walter Marsh has it. Young Rupert: The making of the Murdoch empire is his biography of the youthful Rupert Murdoch, documenting the kingpin’s rise and rise. In plain but far from dull prose, Marsh shows how Murdoch’s father, Keith, tried to leave his son an empire. Instead, young Rupert was the heir to a fight: “His father’s colleagues and rivals were descending on his inheritance like seagulls on a bag of chips.”' (Introduction)

'Some dads pull billycarts

painted blue and black.

But my dad is a dragon...

I sit upon his scaly back!

'All dads are different. But what if your dad was really different? What if your dad was a dragon?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Some mums gulp green tea, with bitter barley blends. But my mum is a magician . . . her cup of coffee never ends.

'Damon Young and Ruth Quibell consider uprooting themselves and their children from their rental-to-rental life in Melbourne, and brace for the great leap southward.'

'All brothers are different. But what if your brother was really different? What if your brother was a beast? A brilliantly boisterous picture book celebrating our lovable brothers and the fun and adventure they bring into our lives. A must for every family and library.' (Publication summary)

'Some sisters glide on scooters

next to lanes of tooting cars.

But my sister is a superhero …

she races rockets around stars.

'All sisters are different. But what if your sister was really different? What if your sister was a superhero?

'A spectacular picture book celebrating sisters everywhere.' (Publication summary)

'We are not born readers, we learn to turn words into worlds. But why is fine writing lauded while excellent reading is ignored?

In The Art of Reading, philosopher Damon Young reveals the pleasures of this intimate pursuit through a rich sample of literature: from Virginia Woolf's diaries to Batman comics. He writes with honesty and humour about the blunders and revelations of his own bookish life.

Devoting each chapter to a literary virtue—curiosity, patience, courage, pride, temperance, justice—The Art of Reading celebrates the reader's power: to turn shapes on a page into a lifelong adventure.'

(Publication Summary)

'On the heels of the popular My Nanna is a Ninja comes the second picture book from a talented author and illustrator duo this time celebrating our much-loved grandfathers.

'Some pops scream ‘Huzzah!’ when they dive in dazzling pools.

'But my pop is a pirate … he yells ‘Aaarrrgghhh!’ and buries jewels.

'All pops are different. But what if your pop was really different? What if your pop was a … pirate?

'A rollicking and comical picture book celebrating pops and grandfathers everywhere and the joy and fun they bring to our lives. A must for every family and library.' (Publication summary)