CBCA Notable 2023
The Book of Wondrous Possibilities
2024 SAKURA MEDAL NOMINEE AND 2024 REAL AWARDS
2023 CBCA NOTABLE AND SHORTLISTED KOALA, YABBA AND KROC AWARDS
A story about books, bookshops and libraries and how they save us when we feel lost.
Arlo Goodman lives with his Uncle Avery in a run-down flat above their bookshop. He has no friends, except for his pet mouse, Herbert.
But when a girl called Lisette bursts into the shop and begs him to hide her from a murderer, Arlo’s life changes forever.
He’s swept up into an adventure involving a magical book, a race to save Lisette’s home and a story in The Book of Wondrous Possibilities, where Arlo himself is the hero…but will Arlo be able to find his courage in time to save the day?
Bear in Space
2023 CBCA NOTABLE, BEST BOOK IN TRANSLATION, MALTA
Bear was different.
When he dreams of going into space, the other bears laugh. In space he feels at home, but also alone, until something extraordinary happens.
A story about being different and
finding friends who love you
just the way you are.
Grimsdon Trilogy
SHORTLISTED AUREALIS AWARDS, REAL AWARDS, SPEECH PATHOLOGY AWARDS & KIDS BOOK REVIEW, HONOUR BOOK YABBA AWARDS, SHORTLISTED KOALA & KROC
"The characters, the adventures, the emotion, the plot twists and turns - WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE!'
Jo Noble, Librarian, St Agatha's Catholic School, Clayfield
'AWESOME. EXCITING. UNPUTDOWNABLE!'
Mrs Kerry Gittins, Head Librarian, Renaissance International School
'Your book had me on the edge of my seat in every chapter.'
James, age 12, Sydney Grammar School
The Grimsdon trilogy was inspired by governments around the world not taking enough care of the planet.
When the city of Grimsdon floods, a group of kids is left in the ruins along with sea monsters, flying machines and sneaker waves. Isabella, her best friend Griffin and three other children, survive with Griffin’s brilliant inventions and Isabella’s fighting skills. When a mysterious boy arrives in his flying machine, they wonder if letting him into their lives will lead to a way out or into even more danger.
The sequel, New City, takes the issue of a climate-changed world further by asking what happens to people when wild weather drives them out of their homes? This time, there are ornithopters, ice tornadoes, rescue eagles and a brand new bad guy.
In the third and last book, Final Storm, Isabella and her friends have settled into New City, enrolled in school and met the charming Aleksander Larsen. Fierce ice storms batter the city and when someone from Isabella's past returns, her life is soon in danger. Can Griffin face his darkest fears to save her and survive this furious final storm?
The Most Marvellous
Spelling Bee Mystery
AUSTRALIAN FAMILY THERAPISTS AWARDS, SHORTLISTED YABBA, KROC, KOALA AWARDS
India Wimple can spell. Brilliantly. When the Wimples suggest she enter the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee, India says she's not good enough - but her family encourage her to sign up. In the sequel, India is invited to London to the international bee, but when a series of accidents happens, India and her friends suspects skullduggery is afoot and she and her friends are determined to save the bee.
'I absolutely adored The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee.' ASO
'This is an inspirational story.' Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian
'Humorous and poignant.' Kate Nafz, School Library Journal, USA
'This story about facing and overcoming one's fears is a winner.' Kirkus Review
The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee &
Teresa A New Australian
SHORTLISTED WAYBRA AWARDS, WINNER BEST BOOK IN TRANSLATION, MALTA
Teresa was only four years old when the bombs began to fall. Over the next three years, her island home of Malta became the most heavily bombed place of WW2. With her country destroyed and starvation rife, Teresa's father decides to leave for Australia and its promise of a brighter future.
Teresa was inspired by Deb's father who was born in a cave during the bombings of 1942. After the war, he and his family, along with a million other migrants, made the journey to Australia to start a new life.
This is book four in an exciting series from Scholastic.
Teresa is an outstanding addition to the New Australian series. Aussie Reviews
A fascinating historical novel ... insightful and entertaining. Sunday Telegraph
Teresa gives us a wonderful character who shares her family’s journey through the excitement, frustration and joys of becoming Australian. Thanks for a great read. Jackie Hawkes, Teacher/Librarian
Wolfie An Unlikely Hero
Fairytales are nonsense. They're full of wolves pestering pigs and picking on sweet little girls in red hoods. But I would never do those things. I knit! I bake blueberry pie! You know what I really want to do?
I WANT TO RESCUE A PRINCESS!
Yours sincerely,
Wolfie
Wolfie: An Unlikely Hero is an amusing, entertaining, hilarious story that will make you laugh out loud. (It) is a real page-turner that demands to be read and then read again and again.
This is a unique, hilarious story about trying to change your image which will appeal to all sorts of ages for all sorts of reasons.
The Remarkable Secret
of Aurelie Bonhoffen
IBBY OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD, AUREALIS AWARD, CBC NOTABLE BOOK
Inspired by Deb's Nanna who used to tell her lots of stories when she was a kid, this is the story of Aurelie Bonhoffen and her family who own an amusement park, but on Aurelie's 12th birthday, she discovers her family's 100 year old secret.
Max Remy Superspy
2 Books in 1 - 10 Part Series
KOALA, YABBA, COOL AWARDS, ANGUS & ROBERTSON TOP 50 BOOKS, CBC AWARDS USA, WAYRBA, CROC, ELLIE AWARDS USA, OPPENHEIM AWARDS USA, AUREALIS AWARS, READ AND WRITE AWARDS
Max Remy and her best friend, Linden, travel the world as the youngest spies of elite intelligence agency, Spyforce. Armed with time and space machines, Jetpacks, freeze rays and stink bombs, they travel from London to Hollywood, Paris and country Australia to save the world from bad guys. It’s fast, fun and sometimes very, very messy. There are ten books in the series which are inspired by Deb's love of adventures, cartoons and the TV show Get Smart, which she watched as a kid.
Jasper Zammit Soccer Legend
3 Books in 1
Jasper Zammit loves soccer. He dreams of walking into stadiums, of girls calling his name and of one day playing in the World Cup … if only he can stop his daydreaming long enough. When new girl Lil joins his team, they might finally have a chance of winning the finals, but there’s bully Badger Mackenzie to contend with, unexpected trouble at home and a new coach who doesn’t always play by the rules. Written with the advice of soccer legend Johnny Warren, this is an engaging story of friendship, family and the beautiful game.
Ghost Club
3 Part Series
SHORTLISTED SISTERS IN CRIME DAVVITT AWARDS, YABBA AWARDS 2016
Twins Angeline and Edgar are the youngest investigators at The Ghost Club, formed over 150 years ago by Charles Dickens. Armed with special ghost hunting equipment, they explore spooky places to try and talk ghosts out of their pesky, haunting ways, and apart from stray bursts of ectoplasm and a few grumpy pot-throwing ghosts, they do a very good job.