eBook Listing

A Rhotosaurus, a phantom kid, a ghost mountain and a "Bushman Extraordinaire" called Reginald Blowhard, all come together to form David Laing's latest tale, "Forest Secrets" the third book of his trilogy for young adults.

The protagonist is a young Aboriginal girl called Jars, who, along with her faithful dog, Shadow and her tearaway cousin, Snook, embark on an adventure neither will forget.On an impulse, they enter the Cray Bay Photographic competition, which takes them to the Gorge Camping Ground. And that is when their plans are shattered - by an eerie and sudden darkness that comes over the gorge. But that's not all - they are visited by a cheeky possum called Charlie, their bothersome camping companion and Reginald Blowhard finds himself in strife in lots of ways, and, along the way, our heroes just happen to discover "The Find of the Century".

Several things happen on the eve of the long weekend: Jars Kelly and her cousin Snook are accused of stealing some valuable gem stones from the local jewellers; strange lights are seen hovering above their town, Cray Bay; and the bumbling Quenton Quigley stumbles across a riddle that could lead them to a hidden treasure. To find out what the riddle means, an adventure full of mystery, excitement and intrigue, plus lots of twists and turns, begins.

It all takes place in a dense Tasmanian rain forest where Jars and Snook accidently meet an old Chinese prospector called Wu Han who has a secret - the secret of the riddle. That's when the fun begins. There is a race between their old enemies the Grimshaws, the smelly visitors from outer space known as The Collectors and the Kelly kids.

Why are The Collectors lurking in the forest and why is Wu Han so afraid of them?

Who will be the first to solve the riddle and find the treasure?

Why is their Headmaster in for a big surprise when school resumes after the long weekend?

An exciting read, this book is an action-packed yarn: adventure, mystery, magic, suspense, spiritualism, Aboriginal and Australian culture, with a cast of interesting characters including a wombat and a German Shepherd. A book about loyalty, trust and true friendship.

Jacinta Kelly (Jars), a part Aboriginal girl living in the Northern Territory who is orphaned when a buffalo charges her family's ute, tragically killing her mother, father and brother. Because she has no other family members in the NT, she is sent to live with her uncle, aunt and cousin (Snook) in Tasmania.

Snook and Jars quickly become friends, and along with Quenton Quigley, the annoying but not altogether bad son of the mayor of the area, they have an adventure when they go camping in the forest with Snook's father. Jars meets the Forest Spirit - an apparition that has appeared in her dreams and now asks for her help to uncover a secret in the Tasmanian bush.

Jars, her cousin Snook and the bumbling Quenton Quigley begin and adventure in the wilderness that takes many unexpected twists and turns! At the end of the story, the mystery of Jars' dream of an ancient man who later appears in a rock carving in a forest cave is solved. Jars also begins to overcome the grief of losing her family as she learns that they will always be with her.

Fred is a dreamer who likes to give the teacher answers the teacher does not expect. Fred even points out where he thinks the teacher gets it wrong. To make matters worse, Fred believes he is right. No wonder he lands into trouble. Yet this is what gets him going on his amazing adventure.

This is a story for the young at heart, any adventurous spirit, aged roughly between nine and ninety years old.

Amy and Christopher, the Frequent Flyer Twins, are on their way from Singapore to Cairns, where the International Games are going to be held. But more than one lot of games are being played!

Amy and Christopher have heard that someone is smuggling steroids in on their flight. All passengers are suspects. So are the airline staff.

Something doesn't add up, but what is it? The Frequent Flyer Twins are just the people to find out.

Jessica Mackay has one dream - to be a pilot. Jessica lives on her family farm at Narromine, New South Wales, in the 1920s - the best place for a would-be pilot. Her father developed a passion for flying in Egypt during World War I, and Narromine lies close to the heart of Australia's budding aviation industry.

Even though women were among the first people to take on the challenge of the skies, Jessica's ambitions are not supported by everyone, most notably her grandfather who has firm ideas about 'a woman's place' in the world.

As a junior member of the new Narromine Aero Club, Jessica is well-placed to meet pioneer aviators such as the legendary Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, as well as take part in the first Narromine Air Shows.

Jennifer Bradley's story of a young girl's passion for flying is based firmly on actual events in the fledgling Australian aviation industry.

Has a Book Got a Spine?

Has a Bottle got a Neck?

Has a comb Got Teeth?

Young readers (up to the very old) will laugh out loud at this highly interactive book full of brain-teasers.

It's a great book to get your brain thinking outside the box.

Readers will pick up heaps of new vocabulary on the way, and learn to love just how quirky words can be.

Heather Feather is a baby emperor penguin from Antarctica. She sets off in this environmentally-concerned information story, all the way around Australia.

Join her and learn about the coastal cities and animals she sees, as well as the degradation of habitat, and pollution, that really gets her goat.

Henry the emu wanted to fly!

But flying fish, eagles and launchers can’t seem to help. It’s only after meeting Wallagoot Jean that Henry learns about the science of orbit, and the importance of flying first with his mind...

Hannah befriends a lonely Yowie and encourages him to search for his family. On a journey to the Blue Mountains she has an eerie experience at a haunted billabong, makes friends with a Bilby and encounters the infamous black panthers. Will Howie discover other Yowies living in the Blue Mountains?

'Grab a ball that's boring, find a ball that's plain, please grab a ball so you can play this game...'

With its beautiful illustrations, descriptive language and clever use of rhyme, children will be invited to imagine, interact and engage with the magic ball as it transforms from page to page. This book encourages interaction, so grab a ball, say the magic words and pass the ball as you turn each page to watch it turn to something strange.

Sophie George lives with her father in the small town of Orchard Mead and works after school at their post office. She enjoys delivering the mail around the town, mainly because she likes to draw funny pictures based on some of the weirdos that live here. But lately, it's not just the locals who have been acting strange - her Dad has been acting pretty weird too!

Sophie's friend Janice is convinced he's a spy, but Sophie thinks that is ridiculous. However, the deeper they dig into her father's life, the more confused Sophie becomes. The evidence all seems to add up: the mysterious phone calls, a Russian connection and a mysterious note.

Could Janice be right; is her Dad really a spy?

Reece's bull calf was always causing mayhem on his parents' farm, charging at him, eating Mum's flowers... the list goes on! He was sad that it had to be sent away but a chance shows up for a different path to become a rodeo bull. Will Jailbreak successfully remain unridden?

James Gong is training for his black belt in taekwondo. One night a camera crew turns up at training for an episode of My Life.

James is sparring a white belt who gets carried away and hammers James' foot. Sparks fly in James' brain and he gasps – all caught on national TV. James responds with a jumping spinning sidekick which obliterates his opponent.

 

This is the beginning of James' woes at the club, for he has disgraced Mr Cho, the head instructor.

 

Hollywood Productions just loves James' jumping , spinning sidekick. They decide to star him in their small budget flick, Big Action in Little Town. Unbeknown to James, Hollywood Productions is a scam company that basically produces B grade ‘loser’ movies to offset huge tax bills.

 

Meanwhile James, who lusts after his sister Caitlin’s best friend, Amber, thinks his sudden film career will curry favour. Not so. If anything, Amber shuns him even more.

 

Determined to win the love of his life, James tries to learn how to skate, because he knows that Amber fancies a local skater named Spiros. He only succeeds in showing himself up, but James is pathetically immune to the irony and subtleties of life. He figures that all is well with the world and that he’s making vast progress.

 

To Hollywood Productions’ great horror the flick is so bad that it’s good. People have queued at the premiere and national TV stations have got wind of the huge success of this little budget movie. Big Action in Little Town is going to be a blockbuster!

Ming Lee - The Chinese Dragon - is the unbeaten, undisputed queen of virtual martial arts. Until she meets James Gong, fresh from his starring role in Ham Solo: Revenge of the Fist.
Can their combined skill, grace and teamwork defeat everything the virtso world throws at them?
Do they take down the mobsters?
The bully?
And just where does 'the gymnast' fit into all of this?