6 minute read
New on the shelf
Furball Spy Cat by Adrian Beck
Furball is the world’s greatest spy! But he’d rather spend his time napping or snacking. When Furball and his spy friends, Jade and Kit, visit a waterpark on their day off, they learn Furball’s greatest enemy is using the park as a secret base! Can Furball and his friends stop the Baddies before they destroy the city? Or will Furball get distracted by the snack bar? Published by Larrikin House. RRP $13.59.
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You are Loved by Liv Downing
A warm and reassuring celebration of unconditional love. Cut outs on each page create a beautiful heart to make this book a very special object to treasure and share. You are loved when you win the race. You are loved when you don’t. You are loved when you brush your teeth. You are loved when you won’t. And if you forget, put your hand on your heart and feel the love again. This beautiful and timely book affirms and reassures children that they are loved, no matter what. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $24.99.
Friends Fur-ever: Smarty Pup 1 by Anh Do
The first ever full-colour adventure from mega-bestselling author Anh Do. Hi! My name is Lily. Nothing exciting ever happens to me. Right now, I have a potato in my schoolbag because it was the most interesting thing I could find for show-and-tell. But all that’s going to change now that we are getting a dog... Lily’s new pup JJ is kind of clumsy, but something about his smiley face makes her really happy inside. So you can imagine Lily’s surprise when she wakes up to discover that JJ can TALK and is SUPER SMART. In fact, he might have the smartest brain in the whole wide world! Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $15.99.
Runt by Craig Silvey
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.
A Girl Called Corpse: An Elston-Fright Tale by Reece Carter
Reece Carter’s A Girl Called Corpse is a fresh, unique and heartwarming debut about a lonely kid ghost searching for answers. With a body made of wax, seaweed for hair and polished abalone shells for eyes, Corpse is bound to haunt the Witches’ sea shack forever. She has no memory of her name or who she was before the Witches snatched her and took her to the rock-that-doesn’t-exist. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $16.99.
Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Champ 2 by Anh Do
From spectator to superstar, that’s The Champ! Summer is back for another fast-paced and funny adventure. Summer used to always be picked last for a sports team, but one day her life changed forever. Now she has the skills of the greatest sports stars who ever lived. Now she is THE CHAMP! When everyone’s favourite rock band is kidnapped by the mysterious Book Witch, it’s up to Summer and her sidekick Ice-Cream Boy to save the day. Go, Champ! Go! Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $15.99.
The Fifth Quarter: Hard Court by Mike Dawson
Lori’s game just gets better. She’s practicing constantly in her after-school program, and although she’s still only playing in the fifth quarter, she’s starting to feel confident on the court. But growing brings change; her friends start to branch off into different interests, and even different basketball teams. At home, the family dynamics are changing too, with her dad going back to work, and her mum staying home with the kids for the first time in Lori’s life. The brewing tension unsettles Lori, and she begins holding herself back. With the support of her family, and the expertise of her soccer-player-turned-coach mum, Lori must learn how to trust herself and take chances, not just on the court, but in life as well. Published by Macmillan. RRP $24.99.
The Hike to Home by Jess Rinker
Lin Moser is not looking forward to this summer. After living on the road all her life, hiking mountains and traveling through the country in an RV with her house-flipping parents, she’s now stuck in Newbridge for their longest stay yet. With Mum away on a year-long naturalist assignment, Lin has resigned herself to having the most boring summer ever. But then she finds out about a local legend: an ancient ruined castle in the woods that no one has been able to find. Hiking to this castle would be such an amazing quest, that Mum might even come home and join her. Published by Allen and Unwin Childrens. RRP $32.99.
Safar: Muslim Women’s Stories of Travel and Transformation is a beautifully illustrated gift book that explores the emotional and spiritual aspects of journeying. Through a series of interviews with Muslim women from diverse backgrounds, Australian journalist Sarah Malik considers personal growth and self-knowledge in the context of travel. There are fascinating stories of love and friendship, as well as stories of how travel connects to roots, spirituality, confidence, identity, privilege and inspiration. Published by Hardie Grant. RRP $32.99 Pub Date: 3 November.
We Love Love by Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley
Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne, former Bachelor finalists and hosts of the number-one podcast Life Uncut, have fumbled their way through it all. And they’re here to make you feel a little less alone in the chaos. Now they’ve distilled their most trusted and true advice into a book that’s as much about romance as it is about loving ourselves. WE LOVE LOVE is an encyclopaedia of life as Britt and Laura have lived it, full of hard-won wisdom, hilarious anecdotes, serious challenges and refreshing honesty. Published by Penguin. RRP $35.00.
The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner: A memoir by Grace Taylor
Grace Tame has never walked on middle ground. From a young age, her life was defined by uncertainty - by trauma and strength, sadness and hope, terrible lows and wondrous highs. As a teenager she found the courage to speak up after experiencing awful and ongoing child sexual abuse. In 2021 Grace stepped squarely into the public eye as the Australian of the Year, and was the catalyst for a tidal wave of conversation and action. She was using her voice and encouraging others to use theirs too. Published by Macmillan. RRP $49.99
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
He said she jumped. He wouldn’t lie. Before the woman went over the cliff, Pippa and Gabe were happy. They had the kind of marriage that everyone envies, as well as two sweet young daughters, a supportive family, and a picturesque cliff-side home - which would have been idyllic had the tall beach side cliffs not become so popular among those wishing to end their lives. Gabe has become somewhat of a local hero since they moved to the cliff house, talking seven people down from stepping off the edge. But when Gabe fails to save the eighth, a sordid web of secrets begins to unravel, pushing bonds of loyalty and love to the brink. What wouldn’t you do for your soul mate? Published by Macmillan. RRP $32.99.
