Stephen Hogtun’s debut picture book is something rather special and like the memories that the young sapling will always remember, ‘Leaves’ will remain with the reader long after the last page has been turned.

For years, a wise old tree has nurtured a sapling. Protecting her from the elements and filling her with love, he has helped her grow true and strong. Listening to his wisdom, the sapling has learnt how to care for and appreciate things, how to be strong and adaptable, the importance of keeping good memories and letting go of the bad. Together they make memories to last a lifetime. But eventually it is time for the old tree to go and for the sapling to take her own place in the world and to hold onto the memories that mean so much…

The desert is no place for a penguin and Mr. Penguin has his flippers all in a flap in his latest adventure.

After solving lots of mysteries, Mr. Penguin is taking a well-earned break. But no sooner has he settled into his hotel room and dipped his feet into cold water, a stranger knocks on his door with terrible news. Edith has gone missing. It’s all aboard the Pyramid Express for a trip to The Valley of Peril. Will Mr. Penguin find his friend? Can he complete three impossible tasks? And will he make it back in time for a fish finger sandwich…

Mr. Penguin’s fourth mystery-solving adventure is another rollickingly good read. Heading off to The Valley of Peril with kung-fu kicking Colin the spider and Gordon the Pigeon to rescue his good friend Edith, Mr. Penguin soon finds himself in all sorts of trouble involving dodgy disguises, pyramids, stolen treasures and worst of all, the possibility of running out of fish finger sandwiches.

Welcome to Ember. An icy, pre-historic land of feuding clans, dangerous monsters and a brave collective of warriors and warriors-in-training who have vowed to give up their lives, forgo their pasts and to train in the art of defeating beasts and keeping the peace.

Having taken the pledge, Twelve is now a Huntling - a hunter in training - who has given up her identity and her life to protect the seven clans from monsters and tyranny. When her home, the Hunting Lodge, is attacked by outsiders and a young girl is taken, Twelve is determined to get her back. Accompanied by the Stone Guardian of the Lodge, Dog, her trusty squirrel, Widge, and two other Huntlings, Twelve sets out on a dangerous rescue mission that will forever change her life…

We’ve all been there, ordered what we thought would be the perfect item only for things to not quite work out as planned. Many of us would perhaps keep the item anyway and make the best of the situation but Polar Bear knows an unhappy penguin when he sees one and is determined to do something about it.

Who wouldn’t want a penguin as a pet? And the snowy plains of the Arctic would make the perfect home for one, wouldn’t they? After spotting an advert for a pet penguin in the newspaper, Polar Bear is quick to place an order. To start with, Penguin is the perfect pet but as time goes on Penguin is not enjoying life quite as much as Polar Bear was hoping. Penguin is sad and Polar Bear knows exactly what he needs to do to fix things…

I love Christmastime and books like this are one of the main reasons. Two of Australia’s best, author Collette Dinnigan and illustrator Luke Sciberras, bring the sights of Australia to the pages along with some lovely Christmas vibes in this festive tour of Australia.

Christmas Eve, and Santa’s sleigh was overflowing with wrapped presents. Leaving the North Pole behind, the reindeers took flight into the night sky and Santa’s broad smile filled his face. One of many stops on his busiest night of the year, Australia. Santa was always excited to visit this extraordinary land of changing landscapes, iconic landmarks and unique animals. Come hop aboard Santa’s sleigh for a magical sleigh ride around a country like no other…

The Christmas books have started arriving and Little Bilby’s Aussie Bush Christmas has got me feeling all festive - yes I know it’s only October but I love Christmas.

It’s Christmas time and the bilbies are keen to turn the Aussie Bush into a Christmas wonderland. The Aussie Bush is the perfect place to hunt for decorations with wonderful flowers to collect and kind animals ready to offer their own help. The bilbies will soon have the bush looking all christmassy…

With a passion for animals, nature and all things bright and colourful, CBCA award-winning artist and illustrator Jennifer Cossins is responsible for several brilliant non-fiction books for children. In her latest offering, she turns her attention to the strange animals that she has long been fascinated by and that also happen to be her favourite ones to draw, birds.

Birds inhabit every continent on Earth and are one of the most fascinating members of the animal kingdom with their unusual appearance and often strange and unique behaviour. Coming in all shapes and sizes and equipped with feathers, beaks, claws and often excellent eye sight, each species is unique. They can be fast, slow, clumsy, skilled, deadly, passive, clever and sometimes a bit silly. Birds are brilliant and there is nothing else on Earth quite like them…

Who would want a new sibling when you could have your very own dinosaur instead?

It’s exciting times, mummy is growing something in her tummy and daddy has said that it is a new playmate. The little girl is desperately hoping it will be a dinosaur. But when the surprise finally makes an appearance it is very much not like a dinosaur or any of the other animals that the girl is hoping for. It’s a tiny human!

What on earth is a little girl supposed to do with a thing like that?

Even cranky chickens deserve to have a BFF in this warm-hearted and funny tale of friendship and acceptance.

Everything about chicken is cranky; eyebrow, eyes, beak, feet. And absolutely everything makes chicken cranky; the sun, the rain, its tail, dirt, leaves, odd socks, sprinkle-less cupcakes, food with holes. Life for chicken is one big crank. Then along comes the friendly and endearing Speedy Worm who is determined to turn Cranky Chicken’s frown upside down. But will Speedy and Cranky become BFFs…

The first in a new series, Cranky Chicken is a delightful addition to the selection of graphic novels for newly independent readers. Like many graphic novels for this age, this one presents two mismatched animal characters who form an unlikely friendship and embraces the message of accepting others as they are.

My first experience of the fabulous Fairy (little) penguin was at Philip Island in March 2006. I spent a wonderful evening down on the sand watching the penguins waddle out of the ocean and up the beach to their burrows amongst the sand dunes. To call it magical would be somewhat of an understatement. So, I was incredibly excited when The Accidental Penguin Hotel arrived at my door, a story about Fairy penguins and how they have had to find new homes due to overcrowding.

For years, the little penguins have come from their island home to the rich waters of the bay to hunt for the shoals of fish that provide a filling meal. At the end of the day and with bellies full, they carefully navigate their way through the Rip and the shipping channel to return to their burrows. The island is home but it is rapidly running out of space; younger males find it difficult to find a good nesting site and even harder to attract a female.