8 minute read
On the shelf
Bedtime Sorted! by Jimmy Rees
Who said bedtime was hard? Dad’s got bedtime sorted! Lenny and the twins have a bath without water spilling over, brush their teeth without toothpaste spraying onto the mirror, and go to sleep straight after their story. Perfect! Dad can finally settle down to his dinner. But then – My pyjamas don’t match! I’m too cold! I’m too hot! The window is making funny noises! I’m not tired! From one of Australia’s best-loved comedians and children’s entertainers Jimmy Rees comes a story about bedtime excuses we know all too well Published by Affirm. RRP $19.99
When Anna Came to Stay by Maddy Tyers
When Anna Came to Stay centres on a happy young girl called May who falls into heeding advice from her imaginary friend, Anna. Her plight is followed by the family who no longer recognise their daughter and hatch a plan to rescue May from the clutches of Anna. The book will open conversations around eating disorders and how they impact every area of a person’s life. Recognising the signs will help schools and families seek help before the disorder progresses further. The emotions are beautifully captured in a mix of mediums including watercolour and pencil by illustrator Siobhan Skipworth. Published by Interactive Publications. RRP $31.99.
Who Fed Zed? by Amelia McInerney
Zed the fish is white and red. His poo hangs down in one long thread. The main thing, though, is what Fred said, ‘NEVER, EVER FEED ZED BREAD.’ A funny, rhyming picture book about Ted, Ned and Fred, Fred’s dog, Jed, and Fred’s fish, Zed. ‘Who Fed Zed? is fun and a bit ‘off the wall’’. It reminds readers to always check food packaging labels and was actually inspired by Amelia’s own daughter, who has a severe food allergy to nuts. When she was four, Amelia accidentally gave her a muesli bar that had peanuts in it. Published by Allen & Unwin. Ages 3–6. RRP $24.99.
We Go Way Back by Idan Ben-Barak
Long, long ago, no one knows exactly where or when, a tiny bubble formed that was a Little Bit Different. It was the first living cell. Everyone’s ancestor. And so the story of life begins ... In this visually stunning and brilliantly devised picture book, Idan Ben-Barak and Philip Bunting lead us through the origin of life on our planet, and how an odd little bubble gave rise to the incredible web of life on Earth. Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $24.99.
The Story of Australia: For the young (and the curious) by Don Watson
Watson guides readers from the ancient lands of Gondwana, through human settlement, colonisation and waves of migration, to the challenges facing our diverse nation today. Each era is brought to life in a series of beautifully illustrated spreads that capture a particular event or development – or give a snapshot of ordinary Australians at the time. Each chapter ends with a profile of a person, from the oldest Australian ever discovered, Mungo Woman, to pop icon Kylie Minogue.
Published by Black Inc. RRP $32.99.
An Unexpected Hero. Pow Pow Pig 1 by Anh Do
Hi there! My name is Piccolo. Also known as Pow Pow Pig! I live in the year 2050, and THE WORLD IS IN TROUBLE. Don’t worry though, because me and my friends Cha Cha Chicken, Kung Fu Duck and Barry the Goat are on the case. Me and my friends didn’t make the A team ... or the B team ... or the C, D or E teams .... We made the Z team! How are we going to save the world when we were the last ones picked?! Published by Allen & Unwin. 6-10 years old. RRP $15.99.
Everything I Thought I Knew by Shannon Takaoka
Seventeen-year-old Chloe had a plan: work hard, get good grades, and attend a top-tier college. But after she collapses during cross country practice and is told that she needs a new heart, all her careful preparations are laid to waste. Eight months after her transplant, everything is different. Stuck in summer school with the underachievers, all she wants to do now is grab her surfboard and hit the waves – which is strange, because she wasn’t interested in surfing before her transplant. (It doesn’t hurt that her instructor, Kai, is seriously good looking.) And that’s not all that’s strange. Published by Walker Books. RRP $18.99.
Girls in boys cars by Felicty Castagna
A complicated friendship. A roadtrip in a stolen car. The stories that define us. And two funny, sharp, adventurous young women who refuse to be held back any longer. Rosa was never really trying to hurt anyone, no matter what they said in court. But she’s ended up in juvenile jail anyway, living her life through books and wondering why her best mate Asheeka disappeared. A page-turning novel about a complicated friendship; a road trip through NSW in a stolen car; the stories that define us; and two funny, sharp, adventurous young women who refuse to be held back any longer. Published by Pan Australia. RRP $18.99.
Dear Son. Letters and Reflections from First Nations Fathers and Sons by Thomas Mayor
Dear Son shares heartfelt letters written by First Nations men about life, masculinity, love, culture and racism. Along with his own vivid and poignant prose and poetry, author and editor Thomas Mayor invites 12 contributors to write a letter to their son, father or nephew, bringing together a range of perspectives that offers the greatest celebration of First Nations manhood. A gentle and loving book for families from anywhere in the world. Published by Hardie Grant Books. Out: 1 Sept. RRP $34.99
Survivor: Life in the SAS by Mark Wales
How do you rebuild your life when you’ve hit rock bottom? Mark Wales thought his life would end in a cornfield in Afghanistan. Mark and his SAS troops emerged from that scorched battlefield twelve hours later, his mentor gunned down, his dream career now a nightmare. Over four deployments of intense warfighting, Mark watched the line between right and wrong become blurred. When he left the SAS he was adrift, crippled by guilt. ‘A powerful, honest story of courage, redemption and finding purpose’ - Bear Grylls Published by Macmillan Australia. RRP $34.99
Seasonal Kitchen. 70+ delicious recipes from Fast Ed by Ed Halmagyi
From zesty salads at the height of summer to hearty stews in the depths of winter, Better Homes and Gardens TV chef Ed Halmagyi shares more than 70 favourite dishes from his personal recipe collection, stretching across all four seasons of food. Fast Ed opens his personal recipe collection to share his favourite dishes. Think you-beaut breakfasts, grab-and-go snacks, easy but impressive entrees, tasty vegetarian fare, moreish mains and desserts so decadent everyone will find room for a helping. Plus, of course, delicious dishes to grill and thrill on the barbecue - perfect food for Aussie alfresco entertaining. Published by Are Media. RRP $29.99
Chance by Andrew Rule
All his life, award-winning journalist and author Andrew Rule has watched the heroes and villains of racing: dreamers and schemers, winners and losers, horses and riders. In Chance, he distils the daring, the desperation and danger of the track into a bravura account of some of Australian racing’s most famous and infamous moments, its celebrations and its secrets, the grittiness of the gambling life behind the glitz and glamour. With an ear for the colloquial, the humorous and the absurd, and an eye for physical bravery and financial folly, Rule shows how racing still defines part of the Australian character. Published by Macmillan Australia. RRP $34.99
Rock On. The Crystal Healing Handbook for Spiritual Rebels by Kate Mantello
If you are interested in the hype about sparkly rocks but aren’t sure about spiritual woo-woo, just read Kate Mantello’s introduction and you won’t be able to put the book down. Covering all aspects of crystal healing, from the scientific to the esoteric, and featuring 40 detailed crystal body layouts, this book is the definitive reference guide for those wanting to learn more about the hands-on side of crystal healing from a master crystal healer with a fresh and unique perspective. Published by Rockpool Publishing. Out: Sept 7. RRP $29.99
The Single Mother’s Social Club by Jacinta Tynan
So, this isn’t at all what you had in mind, being a single parent, raising kids on your own - at least some of the time. You’re battling the day-to-day grind, making life-defining decisions while helping with homework, shoelaces and Book Week costumes, all the while working and maybe even having a social life. It can be arduous, lonely and overwhelming. But it can also be liberating - not just adapting to your new normal, but wholeheartedly embracing it. In The Single Mother’s Social Club, journalist Jacinta Tynan interviews experts and single mothers to share the best advice for thriving when you’re the only adult in the home, along with her own experiences of making it as a single mum. Published by Murdoch Books. RRP $32.99
Inside Your Dreams. An advanced guide to your night visions by Rose Inserra
Become the awakened dreamer. You will never again say ‘It’s just a dream!’ Inside Your Dreams provides awareness about your inner self and healing through actioning your dream images in your waking life. Unlock the mysteries of your dreams and the messages they hold for greater insight into your conscious waking life, your subconscious and the collective unconscious. Use this practical guide to climb inside your dreams and connect more deeply with yourself instead of wasting one third of your life only sleeping. Published by Rockpool Publishing. RRP $29.99
Small Joys of Real Life by Allee Richards
Small Joys of Real Life is about how the life you have can change in an instant. It’s about friendship, desire, loss and growing up to accept that all you can do is be in the moment and look to find the joys in between. The night Eva shared a smile with Pat, something started. Two weeks later, lying together in her bed, Pat said, ‘You can’t live your life saying you’ll get around to doing something you know will make you happy. You just have to do it.’ Eva didn’t know how devastating those words would turn out to be. Pat dies and the aftershock leaves Eva unsteady. She is pregnant. And she has to make a choice. Published by Hachette Australia. RRP $32.99
