Picture Books, Junior Fiction, Older Readers, Teens & YA and much more
CHILDREN’S CATALOGUE 2024 Cover illustration from: The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood (HarperCollins Publishers)
r EAD G r OW EX p LO r E
Explore!
As independent booksellers and fellow book lovers, we take great joy in putting books into the hands of young readers.
On the following pages, you’ll find some amazing books for all ages – from picture books to first readers and junior fiction, to novels for teens and young adults.
Our gorgeous cover illustration comes from The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood (page 3), a tender story about curiosity and the joy of listening. Happy Reading!
Contents
Page 2-5 Picture Books
Page 6-7 Non Fiction & Interactive Fun
Page 8-9 Junior Fiction
Page 10-11 Popular Kids Series
Page 12-14 Middle Fiction
Page 15 Older Readers
Page 16-17 Teen & Young Adult
Page 18 Sally Rippin Australian Children’s Laureate
Page 19 CBCA 2024 Shortlist
Page 20 Store Information
HarperCollins
Before We Met
Gabrielle Tozer & Sophie Beer (Illus)
Hardback RRP $24.99
4 September release, advance orders welcome
Before We Met is a joyous celebration of growing families of all shapes and sizes from award-winning duo Gabrielle Tozer and Sophie Beer. Age: 0+
LOVELY
ABC Books
Marringa Lullaby
Emily Wurramara, Sylvia Wurramarrba
Tkac & Dylan Mooney (Illus)
Board Book RRP $19.99
A board book of the popular lullaby from ABC Kids TV. A gentle read that helps children wind down at the end of the day, with an appreciation of nature and respect for Country. Age: 0+
Reading to Baby
Margaret Wild & Hannah Sommerville (Illus)
Hardback RRP $24.99
From award-winners
Margaret Wild and Hannah Sommerville comes a story to remind us of the wonder and magic of reading.
Dora has doting big brothers who play with her, look after her, and guide her as she grows. But Peter reads to her, which turns out to be the greatest gift of all. Age: 0+
Is That You?
Gregg Dreise Board Book
RRP $14.99
1 July release, advance orders welcome Is that you?
encourages young readers to learn new verbs and adverbs: frogs bop, snakes slide, lizards hide, Tasmanian devils growl... can you make a low roar?
Filled with adorable and distinctive illustrations from the creator of the Silly Birds series. Age: 0-5
Australian author Titles marked with this symbol are available in Bolinda audio format
Affirm Press
Magabala Books
2
PICTURE BOOKS
The Truck Cat
Deborah Frenkel & Danny Snell (Illus)
Hardback RRP $24.99
Some cats are house cats. Some are apartment cats. But Tinka is a truck cat. Tinka lives everywhere.
Along with his human, Yacoub, Tinka travels roads wide and narrow, near and distant. But no matter how much they travel, home feels very far away – for both of them. When Tinka and Yacoub are unexpectedly separated, they are determined to find their way back to each other – and, in doing so, might find more than they expected … Age: 3+
Quokka Finds a Friend
Katie Stewart
Hardback RRP $24.99
30 July release, advance orders welcome
When Quokka meets Seal, he wants to be friends. Quokka thinks that making Seal smile would be a great way to start. But, despite his best efforts, Seal doesn’t smile. Can they be friends after all? A gorgeous picture book about understanding each other’s differences. Age: 0+
HarperCollins
The Garden of Broken Things
Freya Blackwood
Hardback RRP $26.99
One day, curious Sadie follows a cat behind the lonely house at Number 9.
Deep in the undergrowth, Sadie finds the cat sitting on the lap of a woman, bent with time and weariness. Sadie has found the Garden of Broken Things. Age: 3+
Walking Together
Coral Vass & Dub Leffler (Illus)
Hardback RRP $26.99
1 July release, advance orders welcome
‘We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future ...’ - extract from the Uluru Statement from the Heart. A stunning new picture book from award-winning creative duo Coral Vass and Bigambul man Dub Leffler. Age: 3+
Hardie Grant
Scholastic Press
Fremantle Press
3
The Tiny Gardeners
Kat Macleod
Hardback RRP $26.99
27 August release, advance orders welcome
Kat Macleod’s newest picture book, The Tiny Gardeners, navigates the process of preparing, growing and harvesting a productive garden through the five senses: sight, taste, touch, smell and sound. This imaginative and charmingly illustrated story describes the process of preparing a garden bed through to harvesting. Age: 5+
Also available in the series, The Tiny Explorers and The Tiny Tailors.
Spiro
Anna McGregor
Hardback RRP $24.99
2 July release, advance orders welcome
Spiro’s formula for spidery success: 11% hunger to succeed (or actual hunger)
34% trying again and again ... and again! 53% giving it another shot And 2% spider silk.
A hilarious tale of one spider’s determined search for a decent meal from award winning author and illustrator Anna McGregor. Age: 3+
How to Move a Zoo
Kate Simpson & Owen Swan (Illus)
Hardback RRP $24.99
The incredible true story of Jessie the elephant and her heartwarming journey. Jessie walks from Moore Park through city streets and the Fort Macquarie ferry to move to her spacious new home in the soonto-be-opened Taronga Zoological Park. Age: 4+
Grey
Laura Dockrill & Lauren Child (Illus)
Hardback RRP $27.99
An iconic picture book collaboration about feelings and acceptance from two of the most beloved voices in children’s literature. Beautifully crafted compositions together with simple die-cut design, reveal the story of a child who feels as though all their colours have disappeared. Age: 3+
A Leaf Called Greaf
Kelly Canby
Hardback RRP $24.99
Bear is all alone. His brothers and sisters have left him. Bear embraces his grief in the form of Greaf - the greenest, most beguiling leaf Bear has ever seen. Bear holds Greaf tight. Greaf changes with the seasons, and so too does Bear. A lyrical story that gently introduces the concept of grief to children. Age: 3+
*Age guides are approximate. Ask for more personalised advice in-store.
Allen & Unwin
Thames & Hudson
Walker Books
Fremantle Press
MORE
Scribble
4
PICTURE BOOKS
Our Game: Make Your Own Mark
Bianca Hunt & Desirai Saunders (Illus)
Hardback RRP $24.99
3 September release, advance orders welcome
Whitney is training for her first-ever footy game, but she’s nervous about playing. Will she be good enough? In yarning with her Uncle Jas and Aunty Dawn, she explores the rich history of Marngrook and the inspiring contribution that deadly AFL players have made to the game. Age: 3+
Wild About Book Week!
Sarah Speedie & Kurti Desai (Illus)
Paperback RRP $16.99
3 July release, advance orders welcome
One more sleep!
I’m so excited! Book Week’s here at last! What will I wear for dress-up day? I need a costume fast. With so many wonderful books to choose from, deciding on the perfect Book Week costume can be a HUGE challenge, but not when you have a family WILD about creativity! Age: 3+
Imagine a Time
Penny Harrison & Jennifer Goldsmith (Illus)
Hardback RRP $26.99
Imagine a time when all the world stops, when all of the clocks no longer tick-tock. and all of the maps are starting to fade, as the need to be somewhere drifts far away. A glorious celebration of nature’s healing powers and a timely reminder for us all to slow down. Age: 3+
What Stars Are For Margeaux Davis
Hardback RRP $24.99
Henry spends his nights exploring the world alone and wondering one thing: what are stars for? One morning, he decides to come out of his shell and
ask someone. Can Henry find the answer to his question and make a friend? From Margeaux Davis comes a moving story about curiosity, overcoming your fears and finding friendship. Age: 3+
Nosy
Frank and Bert: The One With the Missing Biscuits
Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Hardback RRP $24.99
FREE BOOK
The hilarious fox and bear double act from bestseller Chris NaylorBallesteros are back with another adventure. Being patient is never easy but when Frank eats all Bert’s biscuits, this comic duo show how understanding and forgiveness can always save the day. Age: 2+
FREE BOOK!
Purchase a copy of Frank and Bert: The One With the Missing Biscuits and receive a copy of Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Learns to Ride a Bike. *While stocks last.
Hardie Grant
Larrikin House
New Frontier
Crow
Affirm Press
5
NON FICTION &
Design & Building on Country: First Knowledges for younger readers
Alison Page & Paul Memmott, illustrated by Blak Douglas
Paperback RRP $26.99
24 September release, advance orders welcome From boomerangs to buildings, fire carriers to fashion, learn about Indigenous building and design on Country and how it continues today. With striking colour illustrations from Archibald Prize winning artist Blak Douglas. The second book in the First Knowledges for Younger Readers series. Also available is the younger readers adaptation of Songlines
Age: 8+
Omnibus Books
How babies are made.
Philip Bunting
Hardback RRP $19.99
‘How are babies made?’ This is a book created to help apprehensive adults answer that age-old question, without any of the dodgy metaphors. So buckle up and get set to discover how people make new people. Age: 6+
DK
Odd Animals Out
Ben Hoare &
Asia Orlando (Illus)
Hardback RRP $27.99
Most types of animals are similar to their close relatives, but what about the rebels and the rulebreakers of the animal kingdom? Discover more than 75 creatures that truly stand out from the crowd. Age: 7+
Scientists Are Saving the World!
Saskia Gwinn & Ana Albero (Illus)
Hardback RRP $14.99
4 July release, advance orders welcome
A celebration of science now, starring some of its best-loved (and lesser-known) heroes. Get ready to meet more than 20 inspiring, real-life scientists, and discover how they started asking questions.
Age: 4+
Always Was, Always Will Be
Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson
Hardback RRP $27.99
Always Was, Always Will Be takes a closer look at some of the iconic First Peoples protest movements of the last 200 years, celebrating the strength, wisdom, and bravery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people defending their land and asserting their right to self-determination through history.
Thames & Hudson
Bang
Jennifer N. R. Smith
Hardback RRP $34.99
Using luminous HUV printing, Bang immerses readers in the aweinspiring phenomena of the natural world. Awardwinning illustrator Jennifer N. R. Smith takes us on a breathtaking tour of the planet’s most astonishing natural phenomenafrom explosive volcanoes to dancing lights in the night sky. Age: 7+
*Age guides are approximate. Ask for more personalised advice in-store.
Thames & Hudson
Magabala Books
Magic Cat
6
INTERACTIVE FUN
Atlas of Cats
Lonely Planet
Hardback RRP $29.99
8 August release, advance orders welcome
Explore the claw-some world of cats in this definitive guide that’s packed with fun facts and illustrations. Large continent maps show the origin of over 100 weird and wonderful breeds like the Sokoke from Africa - the rarest variety of domestic cat in the world - plus discover ancient cats, wild cats, record-breaking cats, and their super senses! Age: 6+
Magic Cat
The Inventor’s Workshop
Ruth Amos & Stacey Thomas (Illus)
Hardback RRP $29.99
Join two curious children on a tour through ten inventions that changed the World. Step inside the inventor’s workshop to see how one creative spark leads to another... Until an invention is born. Age: 7+
LEGO
Amazing Space
Hardback RRP $37.99
LEGO Minecraft Ideas
Hardback RRP $22.99
DK
Be inspired with these exciting collections of LEGO building ideas. Discover the universe’s most incredible sights with Amazing Space - and learn how to build them. Age: 5+ Then level up your LEGO Minecraft models with Minecraft Ideas Age: 7+
Hardie Grant
Life On Us
Tim Flannery, Emma Flannery & Xavi Ramiro (Illus)
Hardback RRP $29.99
Welcome to the fascinating world of Life On Us! Get ready to learn all about our amazing microbiome and the trouble-making germs and parasites you won’t like to host. Scientist-extraordinaire Tim Flannery and his daughter Emma Flannery come together in this incredible exploration of what’s living on you. Age: 8+
WIN a set of books
Enter now for your chance to WIN a set of Tim & Emma Flannery’s fascinating creature series, including Jiggliest Jellyfish, Extraordinary Elephants and Sensational Sharks. For details go to www.indies.com.au/competitions
The Big Book of Plane Activities;
The Big Book of Train Activities
Lonely Planet
Paperbacks RRP $19.99 each
Keep curious kids busy with these fun activity books, each packed with more than 80 word and picture games. These are the perfect companions for a flight, train trip, longdistance trip, or a rainy day spent indoors, kids can while away the hours exploring word searches, roaming mazes, and discovering fun facts. Age: 6+
DK
Lonely Planet Kids
Lonely Planet Kids
7
Astrochimp
David Walliams & Adam Stower (Illus)
Paperback RRP $22.99
From million-copy bestselling author David Walliams comes a laughout-loud animal space adventure.
Chump the chimpanzee was always being silly. He would:
- make rude noises from BOTH ENDS…
- pick his nose with his little toe…
- eat the skins of bananas, hurling out the tasty part inside.
NASA’s scientists thought he’d be the PERFECT chimp to send into space. Little did Chump know that he had been selected for a deadly-dangerous mission. If a chimp could orbit Earth, then chances were a human could too.
With Chump the chimp at the controls of a spacecraft, what could possibly go wrong? As it turned out, EVERYTHING.
Blast off with Chump, and encounter dog space pirates, evil insects, and the silliest chimpanzee who ever lived in this wildly funny space opera, fully illustrated in fantastic colour. Age: 6+
Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra
Cassy Polimeni & Hykie Breeze (Illus)
Paperback RRP $15.99
1 July release, advance orders welcome
Eight-year-old Ella hates her new house. She wants to be back in her old house with her best friend Viv next door ... until one day Ella discovers a secret pond in her neighbours’ backyard with an orchestra of frogs! Age: 5+
Penguin
Into the Blue Cristy Burne
Paperback RRP $14.99
Blair and his cousin embark on an adventurous day out snorkelling, but their excitement turns to panic when Blair loses his brother’s cherished GoPro camera. Terrified to confess, Blair is wracked with guilt until his family helps him find his way. Age: 7+
MOOKi vs The Big Scary
Scotty James with Steve Worland & Dave Atze
Paperback RRP $15.99
13 August release, advance orders welcome
Adventure has a new name and it is MOOKi!
Join MOOKi and his best friends Cindy and Ralph as they climb an EPIC mountain, facing HEARTSTOPPING challenges and meeting AMAZINGLY UNEXPECTED characters along the way! Age: 5+
Berbay
Sharkman and Blowfish: World
Domination
David Woodland
Hardback RRP $19.99
Sharkman dreams big. He wants to conquer the world, and he’s counting on his friend Blowfish, his trusty sidekick to help make this happen. Which madcap idea will succeed? A hilarious tale of ambition gone wild! Age: 7+
8
HarperCollins
UWA Publishing
Fremantle Press
*Age guides are approximate. Ask for more personalised advice in-store.
JUNIOR
FICTION
Scholastic Press
Duck for Cover!
Kate & Jol Temple
Paperback RRP $14.99
1 August release, advance orders welcome
Benny the bin chicken and his friends, Scrap and Tweeter, are in a flap!
A cheeky little duckling is following them everywhere, and the seagulls have stolen their breakfast! Can this trashy trio come up with a plan to get their chips back?!
Age: 5+
Affirm Press
Snot Funny Sea
Stories!: Kev and Trev, Book 1
Kylie Howarth
Paperback RRP $16.99
30 July release, advance orders welcome
Join Kev and Trev’s epic deep-sea adventure – full of kraken laughs and comic commocean! Dodge flying coconut cannonballs, outrun ghost pirates, escape big sharks, pig sharks, and a punch-throwing pelican, all while hunting for mysterious merpugs and the missing emergency boat snacks! Age: 5+
Crow
Dungeon Runners
Level 1: Hero Trial
Kieran Larwood & Joe Todd-Stanton (Illus)
Paperback RRP $16.99
6 August release, advance orders welcome
CALLING ALL DUNGEON RUNNERS - There’s space for a new team of heroes. This is your chance to enter the leagues and fight your way to the top! A hugely interactive and action-packed new adventure series. Are you ready for the games to begin? Welcome to the Dungeon! Age: 7+
Dragonfire: 18,000 Holes in the Universe, Book 1
Adam Wallace, Lisa Foley & James Hart (Illus)
Paperback RRP $15.99
31 July release, advance orders welcome
When twins Noah and
Jordie discover a secret letter from their long-lost Grandpa Galileo, they launch a rescue mission with the help of their friends and a magical mini-golf hole that sucks them into another world!
Will they save Galileo?
Will they also become trapped?
Or will they be burnt to a crisp and eaten by vicious dragons?
There’s only one way to find out ...
But BEWARE!
If you keep reading, YOU might get sucked into THE MOST INCREDIBLE GOLF COURSE IN THE UNIVERSE too ...
A hilarious start to an illustrated series from the creators of Fartboy! Age: 7+
Big Trouble with Angry Chairs
Lachlann Carter & Douglas Holgate (Illus)
Paperback RRP $16.99
31 July release, advance orders welcome Maddie & Clare live in a quiet, palm tree-lined dead end with their dad and pet chicken. It’s not a place where not much happens, except for the odd small incident. Like a mass uprising of angry chairs…
The first in an action-packed series that smashes together the spookiness of Twilight Zone with the craziness of Adventure Time! Age: 6+
HarperCollins
Nosy
Hardie Grant
9
Hide and Seek: Wolf Girl, Book 11
Anh Do & Lachlan Creagh (Illus)
Paperback RRP $16.99
2 July release, advance orders welcome
From Australia’s bestselling author comes another hackle-raising adventure!
Gwen and her dogs have made it out of Moon City, but the Braxans are right behind them. In the ruins of an abandoned town, the pack find the perfect spot to lay low: an old shopping centre, full of nooks and crannies to explore. But it soon becomes clear that they aren’t the only ones who know about their new safe haven. Will the other residents turn out to be friends, or enemies? Age: 8+
Allen & Unwin
Talent Quest: Smarty Pup, Book 4
Anh Do & Anton Emdin (Illus)
Paperback RRP $16.99
When their school puts on a talent quest with a big cash prize, Lily and JJ enter as a singing duo. There’s just one problem ... JJ can’t sing! What will they do now?! Age: 6+
Scholastic Press
Garden Time!: Hotdog!, Book 16
Anh Do
Paperback RRP $14.99
Hotdog and his friends want to win THE GREAT GARDEN CONTEST! The prize money will help them buy gifts for their mums. They know nothing about gardening, but hopefully it will GROW on them! Age: 5+
ABC Books
Fluff: Mess Up!
Matt Stanton
Paperback RRP $15.99
Gilbert and Fluff have to clean up, but Gilbert would rather not get his hands dirty. Fluff has a wild idea!
A hilarious story full of heart and packed with food fights, jumbo jets, banana smoothies and world domination!
Age: 7+
Crookhaven: The Island Heist
JJ Arcanjo
Paperback RRP $16.99
25 June release, advance orders welcome
The third book in the ‘criminally good’ Crookhaven series, the secret school where students are taught to do wrong, so that one day, they can put the world to rights. Age: 9+
WIN the Crookhaven series set
Enter now for your chance to WIN a complete set of the Crookhaven series. For details go to www.indies.com.au/competitions
Amari and the
Despicable Wonders
B.B. Alston
Paperback RRP $19.99
3 September release, advance orders welcome
War has come to the supernatural world, and Amari’s two worst enemies are leading the charge. To end the war, Amari will have to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice . . . because the Despicable Wonders will demand everything. The third book in the bestselling Supernatural Investigations series. Age: 8+
Allen & Unwin
Hodder Children’s Books
*Age guides are approximate. Ask for more personalised advice in-store. 10 From one of Australia’s best-loved storytellers - Anh Do
Hardie Grant
POPULAR
KIDS SERIES
Ming and Ada Spark the Digital Age
Jackie French
Paperback RRP $16.99
History’s sister, the mysterious Herstory, believes that the more you know about the past, the better you can understand the future. And so she now sends Ming to work as a maid in an isolated English mansion to see a girl change the world in 1829. The fourth book in the historical series that places girls centre stage. Age: 10+
WIN a set of Ming and Ada books
Enter now for your chance to WIN a set of Ming and Ada books. For details go to www.indies.com.au/competitions
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods
Rick Riordan
Paperback RRP $18.99
9 July release, advance orders welcome
The original hero. A brand-new adventure. Percy Jackson has saved the world multiple times - battling monsters, Titans, even giants - but these days the modern-day son of Poseidon is hoping for a regular final year at school. Too bad the Greek gods have other plans, and three new quests for Percy to complete. Age: 9+
New books from bestselling author - Aaron Blabey
The Serpent and the Beast: The Bad Guys, Episode 19
Aaron Blabey
Paperback RRP $16.99
If their life was a series, this would be the end. Ready? The multiverse is about to get dark. Real dark ... It’s The BAD GUYS, EPISODE 19. Age: 7+
Protectors: Wylah the Koorie Warrior, Book 3
Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Paperback
RRP $15.99
Wylah is finally the Koorie Warrior, but her troubles are far from over!
Her family and people are still prisoners of the cruel Dragon Army, and animals and children are disappearing. Faced with new responsibilities and a dangerous new adversary, can Wylah rise to the challenge and become the leader and protector her people need?
Excitement and suspense awaits in the thrilling third instalment of the best-selling Wylah the Koorie Warrior series. Inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture, this is a must-read for adventure lovers of all ages! Age: 8+
Also available, Book 1 & 2
Cucumber Madness!:
Cat
on
the Run, Episode 2
Aaron Blabey
Paperback RRP $16.99
1 July release, advance orders welcome VANISHED! The World’s #1 Cat Video Star has disappeared! Or has she? As a diabolical mystery unravels around her, Princess Beautiful is plunged into a terrible world where ‘trending’ isn’t a thing, danger lurks around every corner, and cucumbers are no laughing matter. Age: 7+
HarperCollins
Albert Street Books
Puffin
Scholastic Press
11
Scholastic Press
Jy Goes for Gold: Kimberley Kickers, Book 1
Hakea Hustler, Carl
Merrison & Samantha
Campbell (Illus)
Paperback RRP $15.99
4 September release, advance orders welcome
I’m about 35 metres out from the goal and, running on instinct, I do a snap kick of the ball. I watch as the footy flies through the air.
Will it bend enough?
I can hear the roar of the crowd but my focus is on that red ball. It flies through the big white sticks. It’s a goal!
I’m Jy Farrar and this is my first professional match and the dream I had to play AFL since I was a kid in outback Halls Creek has finally come true.
Let me tell you the story of how I got here - about my mates, my family, growing up in the Kimberley around the bush and the red dirt and spinifex and goannas, playing footy and going to boarding school far away from home.
An action-packed AFL adventure story based on Jy Farrar’s life from the award-winning authors of Black Cockatoo and My Footy Boots. Age: 8+
HarperCollins
Doubles Disaster: Tennis Camp Diaries, Book 1
Ash Barty, Jasmin
McGaughey & Jade
Goodwin (Illus)
Paperback RRP $15.99
3 July release, advance orders welcome
This is the PRIVATE diary of Ash Barty, future tennis superstar! Ash’s dreams have come true - she’s at tennis camp for two whole weeks! But then she has a doubles tournament and talent show disaster to deal with! Age: 8+
MIDDLE
Detective Beans & the Case of the Missing Hat
Li Chen
Paperback RRP $17.99
In this hilarious full-colour graphic novel, Cat Town’s best kitten detective is on the case – of his very own missing hat! The clues take Beans all over Cat Town.
But will Beans find his hat before Mum is expecting him home for dinner? Age: 8+
The Best Witch in Paris
Lauren Crozier
Paperback RRP $17.99
3 September release, advance orders welcome Fun and funny and full of life, The Best Witch in Paris is a delightful story of courage and self-belief, with colourful characters, fabulous magic and a puzzling mystery at its core. Winner of the Text Prize for Young adult and Children’s Writing. Age: 8+ Text Publishing
WIN a set of Little Ash books
Enter now for your chance to WIN a set of Little Ash books. For details go to www.indies.com.au/ competitions
Ferris
Kate DiCamillo
Hardback RRP $19.99
It’s the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer pandemonium. The masterful Kate DiCamillo has outdone herself with this hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother and growing up. Age: 9+
*Age guides are approximate. Ask for more personalised advice in-store.
HarperCollins
Penguin
Walker Books
12
FICTION
The Sugarcane Kids and
the Empty Cage
Charlie Archbold
Paperback RRP $16.99
30 July release, advance orders welcome
Gloria the talkative eclectus parrot is missing from the animal sanctuary, and Anna the massive ‘not an anaconda’ Australian scrub python has vanished from her enclosure at the library. Have they escaped? Or were they stolen?
Andy and the Sugarcane Kids have to investigate— and fast! Age: 8+
Allen & Unwin
Read At Your Own Risk
Remy Lai
Paperback RRP $17.99
6 August release, advance orders welcome
When Hannah and her friends play the game Spirit of the Coin, they don’t really expect to unleash something evil. But now Hannah is experiencing unfortunate ‘accidents’ and her journal is talking to her. Is there any way to escape the curse? For fans of Goosebumps Age: 8+
Walker Books
Stitch
Pádraig Kenny
Paperback RRP $16.99
Stitch is not a monster – he’s a creation. He and his friend Henry were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre. But when the Professor dies and his nephew comes to take over, they soon discover his evil intentions. Can Stitch and Henry escape and make their way in a world they were never built for?
Age: 9+
Adventures Unlimited: The Land of Lost Things
Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Bill Hope
Paperback RRP $16.99
13 August release, advance orders welcome
The funniest, most thrills and spills new adventure series from legendary Andy Griffiths, the author of the bestselling Treehouse series.
Remember the time we flew to the moon without a rocket? And the time we went to the bottom of the ocean and fought a high-voltage octopus?
And how about the time we got lost in the Land of Lost Things? That was one of our most exciting adventures yet!
It all started like this . . . Age: 8+
Six Summers of Tash and Leopold
Danielle Binks
Paperback RRP $17.99
28 August release, advance orders welcome
Tash and Leo are neighbours who used to be best friends, but aren’t anymore, for reasons that Leo doesn’t entirely understand. But now it’s the last week of Year Six and Tash is standing in Leo’s front yard with a misdelivered letter - and a favour to ask. Age: 8+
A Small Collection of Happiness
Zana Fraillon & Stephen
Michael King (Illus)
Paperback RRP $14.99
When Ada arrives in Hawkhurst Lane on the day of the Great Summer Storm, it is like the wind had picked her up and blown her inwalking stick and all.
Ada is not the kind of neighbour Hettie was hoping for - cranky, impatient and a hater of cats. Could their unlikely friendship be the missing piece they never knew they needed? Age: 7+
Text Publishing
Pan Australia
Lothian Children’s Books
Lothian Children’s Books
13
MIDDLE FICTION
Magicalia: Race of Wonders
Jennifer Bell
Paperback RRP $17.99
3 July release, advance orders welcome
When her dad is kidnapped by a woman with a giant hamstoceros, Bitsy and best friend Kosh are swept into a secret world of ancient meteorites and strange beasts called magicores. Using a powerful bestiary called Magicalia, the friends must become conjurors themselves, before following a trail of clues in a race to rescue Bitsy’s dad. Age: 8+
UQP
Summer of Shipwrecks
Shivaun Plozza
Paperback RRP $16.99
3 September release, advance orders welcome
When Sid sets off on her summer holiday to the Shipwreck Coast, she’s desperate for familiarity after a year of change. Two weeks with best friend Lou is exactly what she needs. But Lou has brought along new friend Hailey. So while Lou is busy chasing Hailey’s approval, Sid is left wondering when everything changed. Age: 9+
The Wrong Shoes
Tom Percival
Paperback RRP $18.99
Will has the wrong shoes – he’s always known it but doesn’t know how to change it. Navigating the difficulties of home and school when you feel you stick out is tough, but finding confidence with the help and empathy of friends can be all you need to see the way. Age: 7+
HarperCollins
Millie Mak the Mender
Alice Pung & Sher Rill Ng (Illus)
Hardback RRP $24.99
4 September release, advance orders welcome Millie Mak is now ten, and often feels shy and awkward. But by using her special gift, Millie still creates beautiful and useful things. But when a tricky situation arises at school can Millie, the clever maker, also mend friendships? Age: 8+
WIN a set Millie Mak books
Enter now for your chance to WIN a set of Millie Mak books - Millie Mak the Maker and Millie Mak the Mender. For details go to www.indies.com.au/competitions
The Dragon’s Treasure; The Vanishing
Mark Greenwood Paperbacks RRP $14.99 each
2 July releases, advance orders welcome Two marvellous mysteries for history hunters.
The Dragon’s Treasure: On a summer morning in 1931, four children on a remote beach make a remarkable discovery - one of many astonishing finds in the same area: silver coins, hidden chests, mysterious stones, strange objects and an unidentified skeleton. Why is it all there? Where has it come from?
The Vanishing: In 1978, a young pilot vanishes during a routine flight over a notorious stretch of water. His radio transmission to airport control is one of the most bizarre ever recorded. What did Frederick Valentich encounter? Where did he disappear to? Age: 8+
Walker Books
Fremantle Press
Simon & Schuster
14
OLDER READERS
HarperCollins
Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars
Catherine Norton
Hardback RRP $22.99
31 July release, advance orders welcome It’s 1866, and Hester Hitchins’ father is missing at sea. Determined to find him, eleven-year-old Hester wins a place at Addington’s Nautical Navigation Academy, where she will learn to navigate by the stars. Can Hester set things right - and find her own place in the universe? Age: 10+
Walker Books
Cora
Seen & Heard
Zanni
Louise
Paperback RRP $17.99
Cora Lane gets tongue-tied, is often ignored and would rather hide in the library than step onto a stage. However, when her parents decide to renovate an old theatre in small-town Tasmania, Cora realises this is the perfect opportunity for her to reinvent her personality. Enter Cora 2.0, stage left. Age: 10+
My Brother, Finch
Kate Gordon
Paperback RRP $17.99
3 July release, advance orders welcome Finch and Wren were as close as a brother and sister can be. When he vanished, when they were nine years old, her world cracked in two. Three years on, Finch is still with Wren, whispering in her ear, guiding her through life. A story of family, loss, friendship and grief, and what it means to move on. Age: 12+
The Apprentice Witnesser
Bren MacDibble
Paperback RRP $17.99
Bastienne Scull is a young orphan who is apprentice to the local Witnesser of Miracles, Lodyma Darsey, who investigates ‘miraculous events’ and spins them into stories she tells at the night markets. One day, two young boys arrive in town asking Lodyma to go on a mysterious mission to a monastery. And when Lodyma and Bastienne arrive, what they discover will change their lives. A wonderful novel, full of hope, courage, resilience and family from the multi awardwinning, bestselling author of How to Bee, The Dog Runner and The Raven’s Song. Age: 9+
Borderlands – Riding the Slipstream
Edited by Paul Collins, foreward by Isobelle Carmody
Paperback RRP $29.95
Borderlands – Riding the Slipstream is an anthology for readers young and old. It features over forty short stories and poems by some of Australia’s best-loved authors, including Ursula Dubosarsky, Steven Herrick, Leigh Hobbs, Barry Jonsberg, Sophie Masson and Shaun Tan.
Illustrated by quirky artist Anne Ryan, this unique collection spans a kaleidoscope of genres and themes. Age: 11+
This catalogue is printed on paper which is fully PEFC Certified (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification scheme), a program which promotes the sustainable management of forests. In addition, the paper is Australian Made with 92% of the energy used coming from renewable sources providing an environmentally friendly paper with a low carbon footprint. The pulp was bleached using totally Chlorine Free (TCF) process. This Catalogue is produced in accordance with the environment ISO 14001 Standard
Riveted Press
Allen & Unwin
Ford Street Publishing
Liar’s Test
Ambelin Kwaymullina
Paperback RRP $24.99
Seven will come. Two will die. Two will sleep. Two will serve. One will rule.
I didn’t want to rule the Risen. Wreak a little havoc upon them, though? That was something else entirely.
Bell Silverleaf is a liar. It’s how she’s survived. It’s how all Treesingers have survived since they were invaded by the Risen and their fickle gods. But now Bell is in the Queen’s Test—she’s one of seven girls competing in deadly challenges to determine who will rule for the next twenty-five years. If Bell wins, she’ll have the power to help her people and take revenge on the Risen. But first she has to make it through the challenges alive.
She doesn’t know how much she’s been lied to, or where she fits in a bigger story, a mystery stretching back generations. And she’s facing much bigger dangers than the Queen’s Test. She’s up against the gods themselves.
Liar’s Test is a fast-paced, intricately woven fantasy novel with an unforgettable heroine inspired by the strength and power of Aboriginal women. Age: 14+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ambelin Kwaymullina is an Aboriginal writer and artist who comes from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She tells stories across a range of forms, including picture books, novels, essays and poetry. Her books have won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and the Aurealis Award. Read more about Ambelin and her work at akauthor.com.au
TEEN AND
Such Charming Liars
Karen M. McManus
Paperback RRP $27.99
30 July release, advance orders welcome
The new mystery thriller from the author of One of Us Is Lying, Karen M. McManus! When mother-daughter grifters set out on their final heist, the job gets dangerously personal ... and deadly. Age: 12+
The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Holly Jackson
Paperback RRP $19.99
Bel has lived her life in the shadow of her mum’s mysterious disappearance sixteen years ago, and when she reappears in the middle of filming a true crime documentary, Bel is sure she is hiding something. Where has Rachel Price been? And why has she returned? From the author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Age: 14+
Into the Mouth of the Wolf
Erin Gough
Paperback RRP $22.99
Missing people. Mysterious deaths. A growing attraction between two girls caught up in the search for the truth. Somehow they are all connected. But in order to find out how - and in order to even meet each other - Iris and Lena will have to go into the mouth of the wolf... Age: 12+
*Age guides are approximate. Ask for more personalised advice in-store.
Text Publishing
Farshore Fiction
Hardie Grant
Penguin
16
YOUNG ADULT
Maria Petranelli is Prepared for Anything (Except This)
Elisa Chenoweth
Paperback RRP $21.99
3 July release, advance orders welcome
Maria Petranelli will do anything to get away from her overbearing Italian-Australian family. So when her family declares she ‘couldn’t handle living in Italy’, Maria immediately signs up to go there on student exchange. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everything … Age: 12+
Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret
Amy Doak
Paperback RRP $19.99
2 July release, advance orders welcome Things have settled down in Cooinda and Eleanor Jones is getting used to her new normal. But just as things start to feel calm, a series of events again rock Eleanor’s world. Eleanor soon realises that digging into old secrets can be incredibly dangerous indeed. Age: 14+
What’s Murder Between Friends
Meg Gatland-Veness
Paperback RRP $22.99
The last thing Hallie and her classmates expect to find on a scavenger hunt is a dead body. In a town with a population of about thirtysix, no one has experience with murder investigations, but now everyone’s asking who killed Ms Lovelace Age: 14+
One By One They Disappear
Mike Lucas
Paperback RRP $19.99
The fog is coming. And when it does, everything disappears . . .
One girl. Two identities. Three friends. One disappears. One forgets. One remembers. There is truth in every tale . . . Find it!
A frighteningly creepy supernatural YA thriller that chills to the bone. Age: 12+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike Lucas is the author of several picture books including CBCA Notable Book Olivia’s Voice. He has also written and published several books of humorous children’s poetry, has had work highly commended in magazines and contributed to poetry anthologies. In 2022, Mike’s first YA novel What We All Saw was published and shortlisted for the Readings Book Prize 2022, CBCA Book of the Year Award 2023 and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award 2023.
Sleep Like Death
Kalynn Bayron
Paperback RRP $19.99
2 July release, advance orders welcome Cinderella is dead, but Snow White fights on ... New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Kalynn Bayron makes her highly anticipated return to the fairytale realm of Cinderella is Dead with this thrilling twist on the classic story of Snow White. Age: 12+
Hardie Grant
Penguin
Pantera Press
Penguin
Bloomsbury
17
Older Readers
A Hunger of Thorns
Lili Wilkinson (Allen & Unwin)
Grace Notes
Karen Comer (Lothian Children’s Books)
Inkflower
Suzy Zail (Walker Books Australia)
Let’s Never Speak of This Again
Megan Williams (Text Publishing)
The Quiet and the Loud Helena Fox (Pan Macmillan Australia)
Two Can Play That Game
Leanne Yong (Allen & Unwin)
The Children’s Book Council of Australia
2024 BOOK OF THE YEAR
SHORTLIST
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) honours the best in Australian children’s literature. Since 1946, the CBCA Book of the Year awards have celebrated the creators, storytellers, illustrators and publishers who have helped to enrich and encourage young readers. This year’s Winners and Honour books will be announced on Friday 16 th August.
Younger Readers
Being Jimmy Baxter
Fiona Lloyd (Penguin Random House Australia)
Huda Was Here
H. Hayek (Allen & Unwin)
Real Pigeons Flap Out
Andrew McDonald, illus by Ben Wood (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Scar Town
Tristan Bancks
(Penguin Random House Australia)
Scout and the Rescue Dogs
Dianne Wolfer, illus. by Tony Flowers (Walker Books Australia)
The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart
Samera Kamaleddine (HarperCollins Publishers)
Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Australia: Country of Colour
Jess Racklyeft (Affirm Press)
Country Town
Isolde Martyn & Robyn Ridgeway, illus. by Louise Hogan (Ford Street Publishing)
Eww Gross: Foul Facts and Putrid Pictures
Dan Marshall (Pantera Press)
Our Country: Where History Happened
Mark Greenwood, illus. by Frané Lessac (Walker Books Australia)
Tamarra
Violet Wadrill, Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal, Leah Leaman, Cecelia Edwards, Cassandra Algy, Felicity Meakins, Briony Barr, Gregory Crocetti (Hardie Grant Explore)
This Book Thinks Ya Deadly!
Corey Tutt, illus. by Molly Hunt (Hardie Grant Explore)
Early Childhood
Bear & Duck are Friends
Sue deGennaro (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree?
Jane Godwin, illus. by Terry Denton (Hardie Grant Children’s )Publishing
Grace and Mr Milligan
Caz Goodwin, illus. by Pip Kruger (Marshall Cavendish International)
Gymnastica Fantastica!
Briony Stewart (Lothian Children’s Books)
One Little Duck
Katrina Germein, illus. by Danny Snell (HarperCollins Publishers)
The Concrete Garden
Bob Graham (Walker Books Australia)
Picture Book of the Year
Bowerbird Blues
Aura Parker (Scholastic Australia)
Every Night at Midnight
Peter Cheong (Affirm Press)
If I Was a Horse
Sophie Blackall (Lothian Children’s Books)
Paper-flower Girl
Margrete Lamond, illus. by Mateja Jager (Dirt Lane Press)
That Bird Has Arms
Kate & Jol Temple, illus. by Niharika Hukku & Ronojoy Ghosh (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Timeless
Kelly Canby (Fremantle Press)
Dog
Country
Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson, illustrated by Cheryl Davison
Hardback RRP $24.99
Country is central to so much of First Nations Culture. It is past, present, future. Storytelling and song. Country is all of us. Country is you.
Take a walk on Country. A delightful exploration of everything Country is. Age: 3+
MORE GREAT BOOKS
CSIRO Publishing
Plantabulous!
Catherine Clowes & Rachel Gyan (Illus)
Hardback RRP $29.99
Plantabulous! presents 26 iconic and unique native plants for you to discover in your local park, bushland or even your own backyard! Filled with fabulous facts, activities and illustrations, Plantabulous! will prove just how fabulous Australia’s native plants really are!
Age: 6+
What Do You Call Your Dad?
Ashleigh Barton & Martina Heiduczek (Illus)
Hardback RRP $24.99
3 July release, advance orders welcome
From bestselling duo Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek comes a charming book that celebrates the different ways we say dad – a heartfelt love letter to fathers and families from every corner of the globe. Age: 3+ ABC Books
WIN a set of picture books
Enter now for your chance to WIN a set of picture books from Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek. For details go to www.indies.com.au/competitions
Prices listed in this catalogue as RRP refer to publishers’ recommended retail prices. While every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy of price and availability, these may be subject to change without notice by publishers. Some bookstores may not be able to hold stock of every book in this guide but in most cases, any title not currently in stock can easily be ordered in at your request. All special prices and offers are valid from 17/6/2024 until 30/9/2024 unless otherwise stated or stock has sold out.
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