Cirrus@Austlit

'Exploring the true story of the St Kilda merry go round during World War 1, by Australia's most revered
verse novelist

'In Melbourne's St Kilda, as World War 1 begins, Anton, a German immigrant fulfils his dream of creating the most beautiful steam-driven “riding gallery” - a merry go round – in the world. Evelyn, who has just moved to the city befriends local boy Rory, but the war, and anti-German sentiment, soon takes its toll on the children, Anton, their families, and the riding gallery itself.

'Based on true events, this is a cleverly structured, multiple point-of-view story, including poems created from contemporaneous newspaper headlines, and Sally Murphy at her finest form.' (Publication summary)

'Featuring entertaining poems with themes of animals and nature, this is a great introduction to the wonder of poetry for middle readers, and is complete with stunning illustrations on every page.

'Stand on your head with Sally Murphy, explode some dynamite with Cristy Burne or shoot some hoops with Cheryl Kickett-Tucker. Grow a poettree with Meg McKinlay or curl up next to your cat with Amber Moffat and watch a bit of Stink-o-Vision with James Foley. These and loads more poems by Australian poets are there to discover in Right Way Down. With striking illustrations by Briony Stewart, these poems will have you laughing, thinking, and playing with words - whichever way you read them.' (Publication summary)

'Worse Things follows the lives of three main characters: Blake, an Aussie Rules football player who suffers a devastating injury; Jolene, a hockey player who hates the game and and is grieving over the recent death of her father; and Amed, a soccer-loving, non-English speaking orphan who feels like an outsider since arriving in Australia after being raised in a refugee camp. A touching and inspirational story about connections and the things that bind us all.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Sage Cookson travels to the snow with her parents to film the opening of a new patisserie for their TV show. But when snow begins to fall in the Australian Alps, things don’t go quite to plan.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Amy is staying in Marysville with her grandmother, and help in the garden and clean out her gutters. It is, after all, bushfire season. As summer arrives, so do the fires, and Dad is busy helping control the flames in bushfires that have started burning in Victoria. But it is early February 2009, and the Black Saturday bushfire is about to encircle Amy and her family, and teach Amy first-hand about tragedy and survival.'  (Synopsis)

'Sage flies to Townsville to help sample seafood with her parents for their cooking show. When they arrive and are caught in the middle of a cyclone, Sage quickly realises its not going to be the glamorous beach holiday she was expecting.'(Production summary)

'Sage takes her friend Lucy on her latest adventure. Together, they enjoy the beach as Sage’s parents prepare to film their next cooking show. The reappearance of Nancy unsettles Sage and soon strange things begin to happen.' (Publication summary)

'Sage embarks on an exciting new adventure in Singapore. Her TV chef parents are recognised wherever they go. Posters advertise their upcoming cookbook and the inflight magazine has a big story on the Cooksons. But when a lady with pink hair begins following them, things go horribly wrong. ' (Production summary)

'Sage must conquer her fears and step up to launch a book.' (Publication summary)

'Sage and her parents fly to Perth to film chef Myra making the largest ever pavlova for Christmas. But a ghostly presence threatens to interfere with Myras plans.'  (Publication summary)

'Sage embarks on an exciting new adventure in Singapore. Her TV chef parents are recognised wherever they go. Posters advertise their upcoming cookbook and the inflight magazine has a big story on the Cooksons. But when a lady with pink hair begins following them, things go horribly wrong.' (Publication summary)

'Pete is hoping - desperately hoping - for a telescope. There's nothing he wants more for his birthday. But when a mysterious card arrives in the mail, what Pete wants is turned totally upside down.' (Publication summary)

'Sage and her parents visit a bakery to film a segment for their TV show. They are all in for a bit of a surprise when a treasured ring goes missing.' (Publication summary)

'Sage and her parents visit a chocolatier to film a segment for their TV show. Things go drastically wrong when the competitive spirit gets the better of the chocolatier.' (Publication summary)