Shona Innes, Írisz Agócs (Illustrator)

This series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children’s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends. These beautiful picture books share simple examples of positive thinking that children can apply to everyday situations.

Worries are like clouds: Some days are so wonderful we wish we could bottle them. But other days we don’t feel like getting out of bed. Worries are like clouds that float in and take the shine out of our day. Moving worries away can make even the toughest day feel a little better.

Shona Innes, Írisz Agócs (Illustrator)

Going into the playground can be like setting off on an adventure in the jungle – exciting, a little bit wild and filled with lots of different creatures. You’ll meet lots of people having their own adventures in the playground, and sometimes you might want to play together. There’s a lot to learn, but there’s also lots of fun to be had.

This series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children’s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends.

Shona Innes, Írisz Agócs (Illustrator)

The internet can be amazing – it helps you talk to friends and family that live far away, and you can also play games and learn all sorts of fun things.

The internet can also be a bit like a puddle – there are some puddles that are fun to play in, but others are much too deep and aren’t safe. It is important to stay in the right part of the internet.

This series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children’s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends.

Shona Innes, Írisz Agócs (Illustrator)

The life inside your body is tricky to see, but you can feel it. Life lets you run and laugh and play – like how the wind helps kites to fly across the sky and leaves to dance across the ground. But where does the wind go when it stops blowing? And where does life go when it leaves the body?

This series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children’s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends.

Shona Innes, Írisz Agócs (Illustrator)

Friendship is a very special thing. It’s great to have a friend, and being a friend to someone else is a good feeling, too. Sometimes getting along with your friends is easy, and other times it can be a little trickier, but there are lots of ways to keep your friendships balanced and fun for everyone.

This series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children’s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends.

Shona Innes, Írisz Agócs (Illustrator)

Anger is a strong and powerful thing. It brings us lots of energy, and it can tell us when something is not right or when we have a problem. Anger is something that can protect and take care of us. Anger is a bit like armour.

This series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children’s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends. These beautiful picture books share simple examples of positive thinking that children can apply to everyday situations.

Shona Innes, Írisz Agócs (Illustrator)

This series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children’s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends. These beautiful picture books share simple examples of positive thinking that children can apply to everyday situations.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. They are the people who help us feel that we belong. Families give us help, support and love, even when we are apart from them. When we are with our family, we feel like we are home.

Barney Saltzberg

A life lesson that all parents want their children to learn: It's OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn't ruin a drawing-not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don't be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator.
Barney Saltzberg, the effervescent spirit behind "Good Egg," offers a one-of-a-kind interactive book that shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. A singular work of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering, "Beautiful Oops " is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and even an accordion "telescope"-each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder.
The smudge becomes the face of a bunny, a crumpled ball of paper turns into a lamb's fleecy coat-celebrate the "oops" in life.

Rachel Williams, Freya Hartas (Illustrator)

All around us, nature is turning, growing…and working. Every day, hour by hour, magical transformations happen right in front of you. But it's not always easy to see them… Discover 50 nature stories, paused just long enough for you to watch them unfold. Then go outside and explore… and see what you find when you take the time to slow down.

Slow down long enough to watch a bee pollinate a flower, a butterfly emerge from a chrysalis and bluebells carpet a woodland floor.

• 50 nature stories that command calm and foster mindfulness.

• Each story is told frame by frame, with facts and figures on more than 50 different species.

Suzanne Lang, Max Lang (Illustrator)

Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason.

His friends can't understand it-how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day? They encourage him not to hunch, to smile, and to do things that make THEM happy. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a bit of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?

Suzanne and Max Lang's hilarious approach to this very important lesson is an excellent case study in the dangers of putting on a happy face and demonstrates to kids that they are allowed to feel their feelings (though they should be careful of hurting others in the process!).

Davina Bell, Allison Colpoys (Illustrator)

The night before the underwater fancy-dress parade, Alfie got that feeling . . .

Sometimes it's hard to be brave. Sometimes you get that feeling. Sometimes you're just not ready . . . until, one day, you are.

From a dynamic new picture-book partnership comes the story of Alfie and a big octopus wearing a tiny hat and the things you can only whisper to the cowboys on your wallpaper.

Jo Witek, Christine Roussey (Illustrator)

The life of a toddler can be full of frightening things: the dark, the neighbor’s dog, and thunderstorms, just to name a few. As children get older, they begin to feel braver around these everyday events, but how do they build this newfound confidence? In this lyrical, insightful picture book, an older sister explains to her younger sister all the things she used to be afraid of, along with some tricks to help, whether it’s a special blanket for bedtime or singing during a storm. Now, big sister assures little sister, the fears that once felt as big as a mountain feel as minuscule as a speck of dust.

This playful portrait of fear and bravery empowers young readers to confront once-scary situations and, with charming illustrations and die-cuts throughout, is also beautifully packaged.

Jo Witek, Christine Roussey (Illustrator)

There are many types of gifts. You can give a big, shiny, wrapped gift on Christmas morning, but you can also give the gifts of your help or your time. You can bake a cake for your parents or share what you learned in school with your little sister. You can help a friend unravel a knotty bracelet or smile at a stranger who looks sad.

With a spirit of generosity, you’ll find you have many gifts to give to the world—and that giving can be even more fulfilling than receiving. Featuring a die-cut cover and interior flaps throughout, My Little Gifts celebrates the gift of giving.

The Growing Hearts series celebrates the milestones of a toddler’s emotional development, from conquering fears and expressing feelings to welcoming a new sibling.

Virginia Ironside, Frank Rodgers (Designed by, Illustrator)

A compelling picture book which can be used as a spring board into what worries children today. The lively, comic-style pictures and the general nature of the worries make this excellent for any number of problems. The message of the book is clear - find someone who will listen and talk about your worries. A big book version perfect for encouraging group discussions on how to deal with worries.Wherever Jenny goes, her worries follow her, in a big blue bag. They are there when she goes swimming, when she is watching TV, and even when she is in the lavatory. Jenny decides they will have to go. But who can help her?

Vikki Conley, Penelope Pratley (Illustrator)

Catch up with a girl called Tomorrow —you better be quick because she’s always in a hurry! ‘You’ll catch up with the next day if you keep rushing,’ says Tomorrow’s mother. But when Tomorrow meets worrywart Yesterday and trips over thoughtful Today, her whole world begins to slow down.

Tomorrow Girl is a quirky tale delivering a timely reminder about the importance of mindfulness and what can happen when we allow ourselves time to be in the moment amidst a modern-day rush. It’s brimming with wonderful teachable moments for children to reflect on how they can be more mindful in their everyday lives and discover new friendships just by being in the moment.

Kitty O'Meara, Stefano Di Cristofaro (Illustrator), Paul Pereda (Illustrator)

And the People Stayed Home is a beautifully produced picture book featuring Kitty O’Meara’s popular, globally viral prose poem about the coronavirus pandemic, which has a hopeful and timeless message.

Kitty O’Meara, author of And the People Stayed Home, has been called the “poet laureate of the pandemic.” This illustrated children’s book (ages 4-8) will also appeal to readers of all ages.

O’Meara’s thoughtful poem about the pandemic, quarantine, and the future suggests there is meaning to be found in our shared experience of the coronavirus and conveys an optimistic message about the possibility of profound healing for people and the planet. Her words encourage us to look within, listen deeply and connect with ourselves and the earth in order to heal.

O’Meara, a former teacher and chaplain and a spiritual director, clearly captures important aspects of the pandemic experience. Her words, written in March 2020 and shared on Facebook, immediately resonated nationally and internationally and were widely circulated on social media, covered in mainstream news media, and inspired an outpouring of creativity from musicians, dancers, artists, filmmakers, and more. The many highlights include an original composition by John Corigliano that was premiered by Renée Fleming.

Jackie French, Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

Faces grew masks. Shops and schools wore signs that said, 'Closed'. Families nursing the sick drew their curtains together to say their house was quarantined...

From the award-winning creators of Flood, Fire, Cyclone and Drought, comes this powerful story of humanity prevailing during a pandemic.

Jackie French, Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

The rain stopped, but the wall of water surged into the river.
Hour by hour the river rose. In some places water only
nibbled at the banks, but in others it burst across the river
bends ... up into the streets.

It sounded like a helicopter.
It sounded like a flood.

Inspired by the Queensland floods, Flood is a moving and sensitive story of a natural disaster as seen through the honest eyes of a cattle dog that has been separated from his family.

The floodwater mercilessly rips through the towns, and finally recedes, leaving a devastating widespread path of destruction. But from the ruins, courage and kindness emerge.

A tiny tugboat heroically guides a wayward boardwalk out to sea; rescuers pluck friends and strangers from the dangerous waters; communities gather, providing aid, shelter, comfort and — above all — hope.

Jackie French, Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

'One small spark brought fire awake. Winding like a small black snake. Fire flickered, fire crept. Flames snickered, bushfire leapt...'

Inspired by the bushfires that have affected many Australians, Fire is a moving and sensitive story of a natural disaster as seen through the eyes of a cockatoo.

The fire mercilessly engulfs homes and land, leaving a path of destruction.
But from the ruins, courage, kindness and new life grows.

A beautiful and timely expression of the strength of the Australian spirit during times of adversity.

Jackie French, Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

Christmas Eve 1974 is marked indelibly into the Australian psyche, as the night tropical Cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin.

Now, over 40 years later, Jackie Frenchs lyrical rhyming text tells the story of a citys indomitable spirit, and Bruce Whatleys sumptuous illustrations bring to life the powerful force of the storm to a whole new generation of readers.

Jackie French, Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

I remember when rain stopped,
When day by day the water dropped,
All across a sun-bleached land,
Drought spread its withered, deadly hand.

From the award-winning creators of Flood, Fire and Cyclone comes Drought a moving story about the devastating effects drought has on many Australians and their farms.

Ashley Spires

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. ?She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!? But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.

For the early grades' exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl's frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it's okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn't just make her magnificent thing --- she tinkers and hammers and measures, she smooths and wrenches and fiddles, she twists and tweaks and fastens. These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Jane Godwin, Anna Walker (Illustrator)

Tim, Hannah, Sunita, Joe and Polly are all off to school for the first time. Would you like to meet them and see how they go? There are new friends to make, fun ways to learn, and lots of different things to discover.

From Jane Godwin and Anna Walker comes this beautiful book focusing on the experiences and feelings of five very different children as they begin at school for the first time. Jane's simple words and ideas combine with Anna's gentle and detailed illustrations to help children feel comfortable about taking this big step.

Penny Matthews, Liz Anelli (Illustrator)

First day of school, new experiences and making friends play centre stage for this book for the pre-school age.

It is Maddie’s first day of school and she has everything ready – her uniform, shoes, socks and hat. But there is one special thing that Maddie can’t leave behind – her blanky! Award winners Penny Matthews and Liz Anelli team up to bring us this wonderful picture book about the excitement of going to “big” school for the first time.

Book Features:

• Perfect book to prepare preschoolers for "big" school.

• Written by award-winning and much-loved author, Penny Matthews.

• Great for encouraging discussion about first experiences, making friends and growing up.