New on the shelf

Romans Magnified by David Long

Zoom in to discover what life was like for Ancient Romans in this innovative and interactive illustrated title that takes you right into their fascinating world! Grab your magnifying glass and dive into the sights and sounds of ancient Rome in sixteen fascinating search-and-find puzzles, packed with over 200 things to spot. The artwork bursts with hidden detail and bustles with action, and detailed factual text will tell you everything you need to know about different areas of Roman life. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $27.99.

Family, All That You Dream It To Be by Teeny Tiny Stevies

You love who you love, and you build a great team, because family’s all that you dream it to be. From Byll and Beth Stephen, the writers behind the ABC TV musical sensations Teeny Tiny Stevies, comes a gorgeous reimagining of their much-loved song, Family (Love is Love). Published by HarperCollins. RRP $19.99.

Kind by Jess McGeachin

From one of Australia’s most talented new picture-book creators comes this beautiful ode to the wonders of our natural world. From the tiniest beetle to the most majestic whale, every creature on Earth is a marvel, deserving of awe and compassion. This beautiful picture book is a unique celebration of living things of many kinds—and the kindness we can show them as we wander through the world. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $24.99.

A New Friend by Lucy Menzies

It’s Joe’s first day at a new school. It’s big, scary and different. Can’t he just go back to the way things were? When Mae hears that there’s a new kid starting school, she can’t wait to meet him. Is this her chance to make a true friend? Follow the heart-warming story of a new friendship in this innovative title, comprised of two books telling two different perspectives! This uplifting tale of overcoming fears and making new friends is the perfect gift for anyone struggling with new challenges. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $19.99.

The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm: Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters 1 by Karen Foxlee

Miss Mary-Kate Martin might be anxious, but she’s not scared of monsters. Travelling the globe with her famous archaeologist mother, Mary-Kate helps solve legendary problems in this fun fantasy adventure suitable for fans of the Travelling Bookshop or the Magnolia Moon series. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $14.99.

Mars Awakens by H.M. Waugh

Raised in two colonies on Mars each long ago abandoned by Earth, Dee and Holt have been brought up to hate even the idea of each other. But when a mysterious object crash-lands on a far-flung plain, they are both sent to investigate and their fates intertwine. Together they must battle epic storms and deadly bioclouds while unpicking the web of lies they have been told about their planet. Timely and compelling, Mars Awakens is the unputdownable first book in a duology offering a window into our future. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $16.99.

Wylah: The Koorie Warrior by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard

Meet Wylah: warrior, hero and friend. Her adventures have been 40,000 years in the making! Wylah is brave, clever and strong-willed, and all her best friends are giant megafauna animals. But she isn’t a warrior. Not yet, anyway. Then comes the day when her family is stolen by the dragon army, and her life is forever changed. She must find the courage to set out on a journey to save them. What will it take for Wylah to become a warrior, like her Grandmother before her? Introducing an unforgettable cast of characters, Wylah: The Koorie Warrior is a heart-stopping and imaginative adventure, inspired by First Nation’s history and grounded in culture. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $15.99.

My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas

Phoebe’s life is turned upside down when she moves to the country to live with her dad in this powerful and uplifting story about family breakdowns, facing truths and finding balance. Dr Jared Thomas is a Nukunu person of the Southern Flinders Ranges, Research Fellow, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Material Culture at the South Australian Museum and University of South Australia, and an Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador. Published by Allen and Unwin Childrens. RRP $19.99.

The Family String by Denise Picton

Meet Dorcas, a spirited 12-year-old struggling to contain her irrepressible humour and naughty streak in a family of Christadelphians in 1960s Adelaide. She is her mother’s least favourite child and always at the bottom of the order on the family’s string of beads that she and her younger siblings Ruthy and Caleb reorder according to their mother’s ever-changing moods. This is a superb coming of age story that explores a fraught mother-daughter dynamic, and the secrets adults keep from their children. It is about resilience, and the loves that sustain us when our most essential bonds are tested, and how to find the way back through hope and forgiveness. Published by UltimoPress. RRP $32.99

Anna - The Biography by Amy Odell

This definitive biography of Anna Wintour chronicles the steep climb of an ambitious young woman who would, with singular and legendary focus, become the most powerful woman in media. Based on extensive interviews with Anna Wintour’s closest friends and collaborators, including some of the biggest names in fashion, journalist Amy Odell has crafted the most revealing portrait of Wintour ever published. Weaving Anna’s personal story into a larger narrative about the hierarchical dynamics of the fashion industry and the complex world of Condé Nast, Anna charts the relentless ambition of the woman who would become an icon. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $34.99.

Family Matters by Ellie O’Neill

Funny, poignant, real and engaging, Family Matters is a thoroughly captivating story of three generations of women, each facing down their troubles to find the power of family. Ellie is an Irish Australian author based in Geelong, Victoria. She is the author of four novels, the first of which, Reluctantly Charmed, was a top ten Australian debut and a bestseller. Ellie’s writing has been described as charming, whimsical, funny and touching. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $32.99

The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss

A gripping story of secrets and intrigue set in postwar London and Paris. The search for a missing husband forces investigator and former war reporter Billie Walker to face the ghosts of her own painful past, and sets her on a collision course with an underground network of Nazis... It’s 1947. The world continues to grapple with the fallout of the Second World War, and former war reporter Billie Walker is finding her feet as an investigator. When a wealthy client hires Billie and her assistant Sam to track down her missing husband, the trail leads Billie back to London and Paris, where Billie’s own painful memories also lurk. Published by HarperCollins. RRP $32.99.