Exisle Publishing

Ariana Treasure loves helping her friends and Maya definitely needs her help. There’s a talent show at school, but Maya thinks she has no talent. To add to Maya’s dilemma, she is desperate to impress her grandfather who is visiting all the way from Sri Lanka. Can Ariana help Maya discover her special talent before show day? Afterall Ariana knows we all have talents.

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had.

Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore friendship, families, courage, diversity and sustainability. With simple sentence structures, accessible vocabulary, familiar characters and relatable storylines, the stories in the Ariana Treasure series would suit eager beginner readers. Whether it be making new friends, saving a kitchen disaster or finding an act for the talent show, Ariana is ever ready to step up and help those in her community.

Ray Johnston and his best friend Tom, nearing the end of their first year in high school in Melbourne's vibrant inner-western suburbs, develop a fascination with Melbourne's new West Gate Bridge. After school, they regularly go to the bustling construction site to talk to the workers and collect mementos from the debris.  To Ray and the community, the bridge symbolizes more than a mere transportation link from the western suburbs to Melbourne's central business district. It represents progress, superiority, and power, filling Ray with immense pride as his father, Doug Johnston, serves as the lead rigger, and his neighbor, George Demetriou, works as an ironworker.  One fateful day, Ray stumbles upon a conversation between a bridge engineer and a foreman. They express serious concern about a buckle in the bridge and discuss plans to loosen the bridge’s bolts the following day. 

Tormented by this secret, Ray confides in Tom and ultimately decides to share his fears with his father. But his father tells him to keep quiet about it. Although Ray fears for his father’s and George’s safety, he agrees.  The next day, shortly before noon, Ray is in his class at school when he hears piercing sirens wailing. He sprints toward the bridge, only to find a scene of utter devastation and chaos. Driven by desperation, he joins the courageous team of workers, relentlessly searching for his father amidst the wreckage—fighting against time to save lives.  Hours pass like an eternity as Ray, with his torn and dirt-streaked shirt, abandons his identity as a schoolboy. And then, a glimmer of hope—the unimaginable happens—Ray finds his father alive and well. 

As months pass, Ray is haunted by the bridge as it hooks his fragmented heart, and he refuses to pass it on his way to Tom’s house. Although he feels somewhat older since the accident, it’s not until Ray learns the biggest lesson of all—to forgive himself—that he is finally free.  And just like the weathered, stressed and damaged pieces of glass he loves to collect, Ray begins to notice they too can be reshaped and strengthened into something new, ultimately reflecting a new perspective and a new way of looking at the world.   

On the cusp of adulthood, the two young friends face their own individual rites of passage as they wrestle with tragedy, justice, and a loss of innocence, which will not only define them but change their lives forever. 

Reading age of 12+, Interest age 14+ Rhiza Shorts are teen novellas for reluctant readers. 

Flip is a contemporary Australian young adult drama that explores big issues with soul and sensitivity. Its high-low content and feel-good finale make it a perfect read for both lovers of the genre and non-confident readers.

Issues and themes flowing through Flip are timely and relevant, including a housing crisis, bullying, loss and grief, finding yourself and a sense of belonging, friendship and family dynamics, starting over in a new town and school, and the impacts of cancer and dementia. 

Denim Davies wishes he could flip his life, just like the vintage items and clothing he finds at garage sales and thrift stores and sells online. With the worsening housing crisis, Denim and his dad have spent a year moving from town to town in search of sustainable work and a home they can call their own. Every move means starting over in a new school. Denim feels he’s drifting through life without an anchor.

When Denim and his dad arrive in the coastal town of Driftwood Heights, Denim knows things are only going to get worse. The only accommodation is in the trailer park, he’s just started Year 10, and in this small town where everyone knows each other he feels more of a misfit than ever. Besides, what’s the point of getting close to anyone if you’re just going to move away again?

When Denim befriends Mina, a quirky girl with a carefree attitude, Driftwood Heights starts to look a little brighter. But then a vintage find that seems too good to be true goes horribly wrong, and he has a tough decision to make—one that could ruin his friendship forever.  What do you do when flipping your life has too high a price? 

Reading age of 10 +, Interest age 14+. Rhiza Shorts are teen novellas for reluctant readers.

An exciting time travel journey, combining suspense and adventure with problem solving as Harper tries to keep history on the right course and save a missing girl.  Harper Wells finally gets a room of her own, away from her annoying big brother and the grief they both feel at the disappearance of her mother. But on the first night in her brand-new bed, she wakes up in the past and meets a young girl named Edie. Not knowing where she is or how she got there, Harper eventually wakes up back in her room at home.  When another night’s sleep turns into a second visit to Edie, she’s grabbed by a boy her age, who identifies himself as Maximilian. He’s a time officer and reveals that Harper has accidentally bought a time-travelling bed and her encounter with Edie could have changed Australian history. He tells her that the World Office of Timeline Officials—WOTO for short—will kill her if they realize she’s using a Wollemi Bed without authorization or training.   Has Harper changed the future or can things be restored? And who does her new bed really belong to? 

The answer throws her into a world of time-travelling spies and puts her life in danger as she tries to restore Edie’s timeline and find the missing time officer.  

Harper Wells: Renegade TimelineOfficer is an exciting story ideal for ages 10 and up. It covers grief and loss, as well as important moments in Australia’s history. It has a feisty heroine who knows how to stand up for herself and tries to set things right instead of walking away.  

Juniper is stuck in her beachside home. All she wants is to play on the sand, collect shells, and look for mermaids in the shallows. But it's too wet and Mamma's busy with work. Juniper tries to keep busy with indoor games—like a tea party with her dolls, and building a blanket cave with Teddy. Eventually, she runs out of things to do. Mamma suggests she paint a picture, so Juniper decides to paint her beloved beach. She starts with the sky that stretches down to the deep sea green, then adds red sailboats and darting silverfish. By the time it’s complete, Juniper is surprised to see that something has changed! The storm has passed and Mamma is ready to go to the beach. Did her painting change the world outside? Maybe her imagination is more powerful than she thought …

With captivating illustrations, Juniper’s Painting helps children patiently navigate disappointment, embrace their creativity, and find enjoyment in the present.

After being expelled, Joey is sent to the country to help an old man. Will it turn his life around or will his past follow him?   Joey is sent to the country where his phone won’t work, he’ll be far away from his buddies, and has to live with his great-aunt. His mother must be nuts if she thinks he’ll go.  But there isn’t any choice. This is the third school he’s been asked to leave. For fighting. Which is  stupid because he doesn’t fight. It’s an unfortunate case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sure, he disrupts every class he attends—a skill he’s proud of. Or at least he pretends to be proud of. 

He has to disrupt them to keep everyone from realizing he can’t read.  But it turns out that Auntie Belle is not so old and not so bad, and when she asks him to help out a neighbor who’s recovering from a bad accident, Joey finds a world he can understand.  Young Harry has horses and dogs and a bull. And he has a garden that produces more food than Joey  has seen in the city supermarket. It looks like Young Harry will become his new best friend—better  than the ones he hung out with on the streets in the city.  Young Harry is eighty-five years old. He doesn’t have a phone either—or anything else from the  21st century. But even without electricity and the internet, Joey has never felt more at home. He likes the trust Harry has in him, hopes to join the local football team and he enjoys going for rides with Emily, the girl who looks after Harry’s horses. 

But that’s until the break-ins start. Robbie, who thinks Emily is his girl, points the finger of blame at Joey and the locals turn against him. And when one of his friends from the city is revealed as the culprit, he wants to recruit Joey in his break and enters.   After all, he can’t change who he is, can he? And the locals will never accept him as one of them.  Or will they? And will Joey betray Young Harry?  Last Chance Joey is a great read for every kid who struggles to find acceptance and their place in the world. Joey finds not only somewhere that he belongs, but also the courage to stand up for what’s important to him and the people he cares about. 

Young brothers and aspiring musicians, Garlan and Cadell, must find a way out of their kingdom that has outlawed music or they will never be free.

Twelve-year-old Garlan and his mute younger brother are forced to run away from their abusive guardians. With no home to return to, the brothers make a dangerous and unlawful journey across the kingdom.

The two boys are at constant risk of capture from the King’s Guard due to being underage without guardians, and must move on from every town within three days or be arrested for violating traveller’s law and sent to work in the King’s Mines.

Along the way they meet a small underground society of musicians who meet together to sing. Garlan has sung Cadell to sleep for years, and song is one of the few comforts the two have left. The meeting is busted by soldiers, and the brothers have to run for their lives. Still, the group’s bravery inspires the brothers to dream of a world where they can embrace the joy and comfort of music freely, and live without constant fear.

Though it’s rumoured that no one has ever survived crossing the wall that runs along the border of the kingdom – and those who lived were immediately arrested – Garlan has to trust Cadell’s unique ability to find lost things, and the pair try their luck navigating through a pitch-black series of tunnels that burrow underneath the wall. Garlan is terrified that they will die down there, and Cadell has to comfort him when they find a human skeleton deep in the cave. When they finally make it to the other side of the wall, Garlan and Cadell have to decide what they’ll do with the opportunity to live in a way they’ve never known before. They race to try out for the King’s Conservatorium, which allows children below the age of 13 to study and practice music full time. They barely make it to the auditions in time, and Garlan is even injured while working to pay for the journey.

Though Garlan is the one who has spent his life singing, Cadell is the only one who makes it into the conservatorium, as he finds a song within his heart that he plays on an instrument he’s never seen before. Garlan can’t stay in the city without a job, and the separation of the brothers is tragic. But before anything else, Garlan has always wanted Cadell to be safe and happy, and he emphasises how lucky Cadell is, and how Garlan will find a job as a travelling musician that lets him visit the conservatorium often. Garlan sings to Cadell for the last time.

The brothers’ devotion to one another is heart-warming and deeply engaging, and sends a strong message of hope and perseverance for the sake of the people we care about. Similarly, anyone who has a personal relationship to music or art will feel seen and resonate with the way that song serves as a beacon of hope for the brothers in a dangerous and unpredictable world. It reminds the reader that even impossible circumstances are survivable if you have the love and passion necessary to fight for a better tomorrow.

The Treasure Chest is in trouble! Ariana’s mum is about to sell the thriftshop because there aren’t enough customers to keep it open. Ariana is devastated. Thankfully, all her friends want to pitch in and show the community that the store deserves to stay. With newfound determination, the group organises a unique community fundraiser, featuring a food truck, petting zoo, Kandyan dancing, and more! But when disaster strikes, will the money they raised even be enough to keep the store open? 

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had.  Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore  friendship, families, diversity, courage and sustainability. With simple sentence structures, accessible  vocabulary, familiar characters and relatable storylines, the stories in the Ariana Treasure series would suit eager beginner readers. Whether it be making new friends, saving a kitchen disaster or finding an act for the talent show, Ariana is ever ready to step up and help those in her community. 

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had.  Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore  friendship, families, courage, diversity and sustainability. With simple sentence structures, accessible  vocabulary, familiar characters and relatable storylines, the stories in the Ariana Treasure series would suit eager beginner readers. Whether it be making new friends, saving a kitchen disaster or finding an act for the talent show, Ariana is ever ready to step up and help those in her community. 

Was it you or was it me? A discreet bottom burp, long winded, infusing the air with a deadly pong. Perhaps it was a royal trump, or a princely > purp >created by the Queens gaseous corgis. Everyone loves a fart!

A stinker of a tale, full of embarrassment, mayhem and laughter, where nobody ever asks the question thats too rude to mention who farted?

Fifteen-year-old Becca questions the influencer life that supports her family when an unexpected friendship in an online writing community challenges her to step into the 'real' life she craves.

Becca has been online influencer since she helped make promotional baking videos for her mom’s patisserie as a toddler. Now at fifteen, cutting online comments remind Becca she is no longer the cute flour-covered kid her followers first subscribed to. Her business-driven manager fuels Becca’s self-doubt by pressuring her to rebrand to a health and weight-conscious influencer. Becca vents her frustration in her poetry journal, questioning if the online life is worth sacrificing real friendships.

A teacher encourages Becca to sign up to the online writing community Poet’s Portal and there she meets @notmylife, another poster feeling trapped by family expectations. Becca and @notmylife confide in each other without giving away their identities and Becca feels like she has finally met someone who really understands her. When the two win a writing contest with their verse story 'Your dream not mine,' they receive entry to a writing workshop.

Becca and @notmylife agree to meet in person before the workshop. But Becca’s manager has booked her for a TV show on the same day as the workshop. Becca is torn as her influencer work supports her whole family. Now, she has to decide between the online life that’s never been her dream and the real-world connection she so desperately craves.

With teens increasingly aspiring to become online influencers, Like, Comment, Subscribe? aims to show the less glamorous side of the influencing lifestyle, particularly when the decision to be thrust in front of the camera is not made by themselves.
Rhiza Shorts are teen novellas for reluctant readers.

At the outbreak of World War I, eleven-year-old Elsie Clarke is shipped off to Wales to attend Miss Coleridge’s Academy for Gifted Youths. What at first appears to be an institution for talented academics soon reveals that ‘Gifted’ means something else entirely, and only the mysterious Madam Tryll holds the answers.

Only she can open the Gateway to The Place Where Lost Children Go – a sentient forest called Elsewhere with the power to enhance the talents, desires, and fears of unique souls. And then there’s Elsie, the newest Guardian, with the power to open the Gateways into Elsewhere, borrow Gifts in emergencies, and enhance other Gifts with her touch so that her Gifted friends can grow stronger. But Elsie’s powers are unpredictable and her new role as mentor comes with a lot of responsibility.

Meanwhile, the war rages on, and the headmistress believes the students are the solution. She intends to push them to their academic limit, training them in the art of war, stripping them of their childhood. The Gifted must use their newfound talents to bring down her awful regime and win a battle of their own. But with the war growing ever closer to home, Elsie can’t help but feel like Elsewhere has been recruiting them too, training them for something bigger than just school.

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had. Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore friendship, families, courage, diversity and sustainability. With simple sentence structures, accessible vocabulary, familiar characters and relatable storylines, the stories in the Ariana Treasure series would suit eager beginner readers. Whether it be making new friends, saving a kitchen disaster or finding an act for the talent show, Ariana is ever ready to step up and help those in her community.

Bronte is nervous about meeting a group of girls who are friends of her best mate Annabelle. Will she like them? Will they like her? How will they all get along for two whole weeks? Bronte needn’t have worried, as they all connect when something which has been playing on Bronte’s mind gets the girls to unite as a team.

Bronte has always been a beach girl. She grew up by one and has been a Nipper for as long as she can remember. She’d do anything for her beach… so when she realises that not everyone respects it as much as they should, she decides to do something about it. After a quick brainstorming session with her new best friends, she comes up with a very out-of-the-box solution that sees her become a business entrepreneur! Bronte decides to start a beach stall selling a line of reusable, personally designed food storage items to encourage visitors not to pollute the beach with rubbish. Soon, however, the stall becomes a victim of its own success, and Bronte is overwhelmed with the demands her business takes upon her time and mental health. Taking on adult responsibilities is a full-time job and one she struggles to cope with, until some sound advice from Annabelle about the importance of just being a kid makes Bronte see that one person should never feel the need to take everything on their shoulders alone. Everyone should do their bit to be environmentally responsible, but everyone also has a right to be happy and to do the things they love… like spending care-free days frolicking on the beach with their best friend!

It comes with a very strong moral attached to it; no child should be made to feel like they have to grow up too soon and deal with adult issues, but they can all be mindful of the impact their actions have on the world around them. Parents would agree with this sentiment and it gives children peace of mind. This ties in nicely with the original purpose of the Australian Girl Dolls – age appropriateness.

With their unflappable expressions, large, striking eyes, and cuddly appearance, capybaras are undeniably cute and appealing. They’re intelligent and emotionally sensitive and one of the world’s most loved and recognised animals. These charming creatures are easy-going and are well-known for being one of the most friendly and sociable animals on the planet.

In Clara Capybara, young Clara – like the rest of her species – is friendly and amiable and loves to please others. But with her ‘can do’ attitude, it’s easy for Clara to be taken advantage of. When Clara finds herself unable to say no to the constant demands on her time, Mama imparts some wise words to help Clara implement a plan that involves diplomacy and better self-care.

Carrying essential themes of self-care, mental health, diplomacy, navigating relationships, manners, setting boundaries, and social anxiety, Clara the Capybara possesses layers of meaning that will appeal to both children and adults. Woven into the story are language and literacy elements teaching synonyms and alliteration and, of course, a study in the nature of delightful capybaras.

Four years ago, Millie lost her baby brother Noah before he could be born. She writes a journal to him, exploring her memories and emotions, and thinks about him every day. When she learns her mother is pregnant again, she writes to him about her anxieties. What if the new baby dies like Noah did? Millie takes it upon herself to take care of her mum while she’s pregnant. She cooks, cleans, and brings her mum ginger tea when she feels sick in the morning. At school, she has two close friends, the bubbly extrovert, Charlie, and bookish introvert, Emma, who pull her in two directions. But Chappy Leeann is there to help her sort out her feelings. Working together to support their parents and the drought affecting their sheep farm, Millie grows closer to her older sister Vicky and learns to appreciate the things in her life. As Millie shares all her feelings with Noah, she reassures her precious stillborn baby brother that even after her new sibling is born, she will always be his sister. Throughout it all, Millie learns just how resilient and strong she really is.

This book contains an important message about the impact of stillborn children on the lives of siblings too, and highlights the importance of school chaplains in their ability to help children through their emotions. Siblings are often overlooked as they grieve the loss of an expected baby.

Join Ariana at the Treasure Chest – the best thrift shop in town!

Ariana is excited to hear there is a new kid in town. She can’t wait to show him around the Treasure Chest. Can Ariana use the treasures from the thrift shop to help make a new friend and find her missing book?

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had. Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore friendship, families, diversity, courage and sustainability.

This heartwarming and hopeful story, written by a marine biologist, is based on true events and friendships. It celebrates themes of togetherness, support, determination. Flute is a positive role model showing young readers resilience in the face of challenges. Flute raises vital awareness of boating and noise pollution as threats to dolphins world-wide. The back matter provides practical ways to help conserve dolphins.   

Author Kasey Whitelaw is a qualified marine biologist and spent seven years ensuring the daily protection of Flute and other wild dolphins.

Join Ariana at the Treasure Chest – the best thrift shop in town!

Come and find the secret ingredient. Ariana is excited for the food truck competition. Her friends, Hunter and Jake, are confident their family will win the big prize. All they need is a standout dish and thanks to the Treasure Chest they think they have it.

In the Ariana Treasure early reader series there are always problems to solve and fun to be had. Ariana often saves the day with her quick thinking and thoughtful spirit. The stories explore friendship, families, diversity, courage and sustainability.

Public speaking phenom, Lexie, is on her way to represent her school at the Speech state finals, with dreams of reaching nationals. But that is before a freckle on her cheek turns out to be a rare form of melanoma, skin cancer, that requires surgery. Now, with a large scar on her face, her world changes and she no longer recognizes herself.

Her confidence has vanished, her friendships are changing and the very thing she has always loved—public speaking—now strikes terror into her heart. When a chance encounter turns into an unexpected friendship, Lexie's feelings about her scar, and herself, are challenged. Can she find a way to explore her ordeal with her ambitions for winning the state Speech competition?

A relatable and easy read for teenagers and young adults about overcoming obstacles, navigating friendships and finding out that our worth is far more than just skin deep.

When nine-year old May visits the cemetery to lay flowers on her Nonna’s grave, she gets separated from her mother. She’s frightened and tearful, until she meets Skippy Blackfeet whose presence is as calming as a bowl of fresh cream.   

When Mum agrees to let May bring Skippy Blackfeet home, their adventures have only just begun. For starters they need to win May’s dad over. He does not like cats. Especially black cats. Then there’s the fierce neighbourhood dog, birthday party bungles, tumultuous trips to town, fireworks and thunderstorms, and everything in between! But it soon becomes obvious that Skippy Blackfeet and May go together like milk and sardines, and together they can face any challenge.   

Skippy Blackfeet is a heartwarming tale of friendship, acceptance, and belonging that will appeal to anyone who has every questioned their place in the world.

In an extraordinary stroke of luck, six high school students – Luke, Alex, Harriet, Meg, Kye, and outcast Cassie – find themselves thrust into unimaginable wealth after winning a staggering 50 million-dollar Megaball prize. Overnight, their ordinary lives transform into a world where anything is attainable, and shopping becomes difficult - not because you can’t afford anything, but because you can afford everything.

As the group begin to discover the truth behind their extraordinary good fortune, they unwittingly unravel a complex web of lies concealing not only their improbable win but also other so-called luck happening around them.

In this heart-pounding tale of wealth, deceit, and moral reckoning, the millionaires club find themselves entangled in a treacherous game where the price of fortune is higher than they ever imagined. As they attempt to shield their newfound riches and each other from the relentless pursuit of the truth, they begin to realize that luck can be far from good, and lies, once buried, have a way of clawing their way back to the surface.

In Ways to Die Right, Joel's life is steeped in loss, with his mom’s battle with cancer not the first time his family has faced death. When he discovers the environmental harm of traditional burials, he decides to champion 'green burials' through a science presentation.

Joel’s mom is diagnosed with cancer, again, sending him into a spiral. He is already feeling the burden of caring for his sister’s grave, how could he possibly care for his mom’s grave as well? Then, at the cemetery, his most sacred space, he is confronted by his arch-nemesis, Trent. While Joel is striving to understand how family members can ‘forget’ their loved one by abandoning their graves, Trent wants everyone to know that graves are an important part of our human community. When Joel is given the opportunity, he champions green burials in a science presentation. The public opposition from Trent is almost more than he can take. Joel is forced to fight for himself and his beliefs, while trying to hide his biggest secret. New and old friends support him in his quest to protect the environment and find peace, while his parents see his struggles and make changes to support him.

Tarni can’t wait for her Senior Prom and is counting down the days. She has a checklist for everything—the shoes, the makeup, the friends, the photos, and most importantly, the dress. But Tarni’s perfect dress is a whopping $950 and she has to work extra shifts at her job to pay for it. While she slowly marks off her checklist, the elusive dress remains too expensive. Beside the dance, she still has to pay for her driver’s license and driving lessons. Add on the pressure of trying to decide what she’s going to do once school is over, and Tarni is becoming a nervous wreck.

Then the worst happens, by the time she saves enough for the dress, it’s sold out. How can she find her perfect dress—and in the right size in time? And will she ever get a clue on what to do after school? She will have to rely on her fashion sense and courage to make her dreams come true.

Lord Derryk is in love with the foundling he and King Eirik discovered seventeen years ago. Then, he was but a child. Now, he is ready to court and marry her. Renata, however, believes she doesn’t belong and is unworthy of Derryk’s love. She tries to be a perfect wife, ultimately exhausting herself.

When temptation comes in the form of a professed friend, Iollan, she falls for his seductive lies, and betrays Derryk, breaking his heart.

Repeatedly, Derryk forgives and tries to draw her back. But Renata doesn’t believe Derryk can truly forgive or love her again. Renata continues be unfaithful, until Derryk signs a divorce.

Away from Derryk’s protection, Renata sees the truth about Iollan. At her lowest point, desperate, she returns to Eorden for help. She is offered a hut on the edge of his lands with only basic food to sustain her.

But Derryk has vanished and an army bears down on the kingdom. Iollan discovers Renata’s hideout and charges her with many crimes, including murder. Derryk’s servants are distraught, not knowing what to do.

The king arrives in time for the trial, where Renata is sentenced to death. At the last minute, Derryk steps out of the crowd and offers to take her punishment. What follows is a public hanging and a turn of events no one expects. Derryk’s love ultimately vanquishes all enemies and wins Renata’s heart forever in beautiful reconciliation.

Our Map is a heart-warming children's book that explores themes of friendship, heritage, and the power of imagination and educates young readers about the importance of cultural understanding and the value of creating new narratives. It is perfect for families, educators, and anyone looking to inspire children to embrace their heritage and appreciate the diverse world around them.

JJ's best friend, Lee, struggles with maps because his parents, who were refugees, fled their homeland at a very young age. Lee doesn’t know where his parents' country is and feels a sense of loss and confusion. In a tender moment, JJ attempts to show Lee their home countries on the map, highlighting the vast deserts of Australia, the beautiful national parks of Bangladesh, and the immense Great Wall of China. However, Lee’s parents' country is nowhere to be found on the map. This realisation prompts JJ and Lee to understand that not all places are represented on traditional maps, especially those lost to conflict and change. Lee's poignant story of his parents' homeland, which had water, houses, animals, and playgrounds that disappeared, underscores the transient nature of maps and the histories they represent.

Determined to create something new and meaningful, JJ suggests drawing a new map. With the help of their teacher, Miss Young, and their classmates, JJ and Lee gather papers and markers to start their creative project. Each child contributes drawings of their homes and favourite places, from Clare’s family house in the Netherlands to Luke’s townhouse and pizza. Lee sketches a playground and an old house, while JJ adds a treehouse next to a botanic garden. Together, they assemble their drawings into a unique map that reflects their diverse backgrounds and shared experiences. This new map, unlike any other, becomes a symbol of their unity and creativity. The children proudly hold up their new map, knowing that it represents their identity and no one can take it away.

Ben stays with Nan for the first time since Pa died. The family are still grieving, particularly Ben who adored his grandfather. Ben finds a note with a treasure map. It promises an adventure like many others he went on with Pa. But before the treasure hunt Benjamin discovers he is a descendant of the fierce pirate, Benito Bonito. The map promises to uncover the hiding place of Benito’s treasure. Ben and Nan embark on an exciting adventure using the map, but what they uncover is much more than they ever expected.   

The author’s note at the end gives a more detailed account of the legend of the Lost Loot of Lima and history into the real-life attempts made to uncover the buried treasure at Queenscliff.

Her dad and Uncle John dig a trench in the backyard, and school lessons are replaced with air raid drills.   

Mavis is keen to help the war effort at home, and an opportunity arises when a soldier comes to school seeking volunteers. Too young to help on her own, she convinces her older sister, Doreen, to join her in plane spotting.   

Every Saturday, they climb the stairs of the town clock tower, armed with binoculars and pictures of bombers, to record the times and direction of aircraft. Planes come and go, but they are local friendlies.   

One Saturday, Mavis must work alone. She is nervous but determined to carry out her duty for the war effort at home.   When an enemy plane comes into view, she is more excited than frightened! She rings it in and becomes a hero.  

That is until it’s revealed the aircraft is a captured enemy plane that she just happened to see when the local air force was testing it.   

Mavis feels deflated, but her spirits are boosted when Mum makes dessert in her honour and Dad lets her play in the trench.   

Mavis never sees another enemy plane, but after the war when she hears a rumble come over the hills of home, her eyes still search the skies.

Fifteen-year-old Nick is a shy homeschooler whose best friend is his younger sister. Growing up on a farm, they both like the Australian horse-riding sport campdrafting, but Nick is too nervous around other people to compete. Tired of watching his sister making friends wherever she goes, Nick joins a local swim squad to challenge himself.

There he begins to come out of his shell, especially when he is befriended by four of his teammates who show him how to be friendly and self-confident. He soon discovers that he is great at swimming the breaststroke and finds the assurance to compete in meets. As his friendships and self-esteem grows, his shyness diminishes, but will that be enough to help him compete in the next campdraft event?

Written by a homeschooling mother of six, Holding Back provides an authentic look at what homeschooling is like and how hard it can be for homeschooled kids to challenge themselves in social situations.
Rhiza Shorts are teen novellas for reluctant readers.

A fun, family friendly and interactive picture book to celebrate mums and their love for their children, written from the perspective of a child.

My mother has an invisible shield. I’ve tested it. It’s true.

No matter what her mischievous children attempt, mum is always ready and prepared. When they sneak up behind her, she always turns just in time. With ease, she thwarts an attempt to nab an afternoon snack before it's ready. They must try something cleverer. But her shield is still there, and she avoids the attempt yet again. Maybe her shield is like an astronaut suit, or like feathers, or like bubble wrap? But in moments of need, that shield always falls in time for mum to scoop them up into her arms.

This book was written inspired by the author’s own children and written as a fun activity with them. While the tricks are a bit silly, it carries an important message about family and the bond between mother and children.

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet by Rosanne Hawke is a series of five story books featuring an adventurous black cat called Pepper Masalah, and her nine-year-old friend, Zamir.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zam’s grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She believes the carpet can fly, and that it will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasn’t flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first, and can’t find its bearings. It lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir, where Pepper Masalah and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.

In the 5th book, the carpet flies Pepper Masalah and Zamir to Kashmir and lands in the aftermath of a modern-day earthquake. When Pepper is kidnapped and locked in an animal shelter by some thieves, she meets a snow leopard, a cat, and a woman named Jani, who reminds her of Zamir’s Dadi. Despite Pepper’s clever plan to release the animals and reunite with Zamir, the new group cannot evade the thieves. It seems only Jani will be able to help. Will Zamir and Pepper find a way to escape? Or will Jani’s secret change everything?

Amanda Commander is kind, loyal and a natural-born leader. But even school can be a battlefield sometimes, so sometimes Amanda and her Squad need a plan just to survive.

When Amanda returns to school after having a sick day, she finds fitting back into the friendship group tricker than she imagined. Amanda makes a plan, with the help of the Dolphin Squad, to go out of their way and include anyone. But when Eve is sick and has a few days off school, how will Amanda ensure Eve doesnt have a blues-day back at school just like she did? Its OPERATION WELCOME BACK!

Amanda tries everything to make Eve feel included, even when it means being left out herself.

AMANDA COMMANDER - THE BLUES-DAY TUESDAY is the fourth book in a Junior Fiction series promoting kindness, loyalty and friendship.

From Noahs Flood to the imprisonment of Paul the Apostle and everything in between, come on a journey through Bible times. Each story listed below is told through the eyes of characters which you may or may not recognise, as they face decisions and experience life-changing encounters.

The Gift: A lamb called Lucky discovers the most valuable treasure of all.

Is This How It Ends? After the trauma of surviving a worldwide flood, how would you react when it starts to rain again?

Burdens: A young boy must find a way to let go of the past and trust in a new hope and a new future.

LMort de Lazarus: Step inside Lazarus tomb and watch him raised to life from the other side.

Murder At My Feet: Eli has a choice – obey his father and watch another die, or save a mans life and risk the rejection of his family.

Claudia Procula: A recurring dream torments the wife of the most powerful Roman in Judea. Could it come true?

My Brother's Keeper: Joseph is responsible for wrecking his brother's life. Will he ever forgive himself?

What would you do if you were about to lose your best friend forever.

Grace the Amazing is a story that GLOWS. Quirky, original, and endearing, its filled with fun, laughter, tears, and totally relatable childhood moments that will forever find a place in your heart.

Grace Marshall is eleven years old. Shes curious and precocious, stubborn and determined, creative and eccentric. She dreams of becoming many things when she grows up, including a magician called Grace the Amazing!

Grace may be little, but she has big emotions and a million burning questions that demand answers. Her only friend is her art teacher, Pamela. When Grace discovers that Pamela is dying, the fragile certainties that existed in Graces world threaten to slip away. She embarks on a journey to find a cure for Pamela using miraculous magic and while doing so she asks the big questions about life, love, friendship, and death. Some of the answers she uncovers will surprise both Grace and readers.

Covering issues of family, friendship, finding yourself, mental health, love, loss, animals, brilliant teachers who can change your life, and everything in between. For ages 8+.

Join the adventurous cat and her friends for an interactive counting and adding challenge. But dont get too mixed up! In this quirky maths breaking counting book readers can engage with all the different ways you can go WRONG in adding like terms In this quirky maths following and slightly maths breaking counting book readers engage with all the different ways you can go wrong in adding like terms. Maths teachers can use this book to help children understand basics as they are introduced to algebra and patterns. Written in a way that you can interact with the reader. An alternate counting book with a fun outlook demonstrating why you cant add things that arent the same.

Children and teens easily mix up their addition in algebra. In this fun picture book for kids its fun to learn that apples and oranges dont make orples! This book can be used with older children, learning support and in other areas to help students with understanding why you cant mix and match.

When Charlies grandmother is murdered, she is plunged into the world of the Temporal Sinistrum. A secretive organisation of time travellers tasked with maintaining the historical timeline. Her grandmother was once one of their star agents, and Charlie must step into her footsteps and solve the mystery of her death, in an adventure that takes her from Australia in 1966 to the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Los Angeles in 2120.

Charlie is a teenage girl, coming-of-age, across multiple timelines as she investigates her grandmothers past as part of the Sinistrum, while still dealing with her complicated feelings for the boyfriend she left behind in 2016.

This is a novel for fans of Dr Who, Marvel and Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children. Its for those who love big mind-bending adventures where the historical past of the Blitz and the Chernobyl disaster mixes with the dystopian future of Los Angeles and a cult sheltering in missile silo.

Dont panic!

Simply read this essential handbook for welcoming your visiting dragon. You will be provided with step-by-step instructions to ensure your dragon has a wonderful time. Your visitor will need to meet the family, learn table manners and go sightseeing. Maybe youll even qualify as top host!

While this hilarious book is full of silliness, it also explores language barriers and non-verbal communication. The heartwarming ending leaves readers with a beautiful message of embracing differences, and how a hug has universal meaning.

Until Michael Reeve shows up a prison guard unlike any other. What kind of turnkey shows compassion instead of cruelty, encouragement instead of scorn? He talks and acts like Olivia matters. Like her future matters. And hes not about to give up, despite opposition from every angle. Opposition that hints of danger ahead. Can Olivia learn to trust before its too late? Will Micks kindness lead to love, or will it be his undoing?

The Captives Song is an Australian retelling with elements of Rapunzel, complete with a tower, a long braid and a beautiful song.

A book about differences, choices and looking at the bigger picture, suitable for parents and teachers who are wanting to help children explore interpersonal differences, fear and prejudice.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zams grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She believes the carpet can fly, and that it will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasnt flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first, and cant find its bearings. It lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir, where Pepper Masalah and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.

In the 4th book, the carpet flies Pepper Masalah and Zamir back in time to find its original owner in Moghul India, who is none other than the ailing Emperor Shah Jahan. They land in Lahore and find the Lahore Fort where a magician is doing a disappearing rope trick. Pepper climbs the rope to escape a bazaar dog and their problems start in earnest. They have arrived in Hindustan at a time of intrigue and Zam is accused of stealing the carpet and is put in the dungeon. How will Pepper and her new friends rescue him? And how can they return home without the carpet? They are lost in time.

AMANDA COMMANDER - THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER is the fifth book in a Junior Fiction series promoting kindness, loyalty and friendship.

Written in simple, but lyrical prose, Boots breathes life into a generation of hardworking men and women, their humble lifestyles, and an unforgiving landscape that is intrinsic to the Australian identity. With themes of love, loss, old age, hardship and resilience, and references to drought, flood, bushfire and war, Boots provides a candid glimpse into the trials and tribulations of one mans life.

While this story paints a gentle portrait of an 'everyday hero', Boots celebrates a much broader facet of the Australian national spirit, and most importantly, it reminds readers of the universal importance of making each moment of our own finite lives count, even in the face of an unpredictable future.

Today is a story about the beauty we find in everything. A child ventures out with his best friend - a bear, and the two enjoy a day of realization and acceptance. A joyous celebration of love and friendship.

Today sends a message that little things are special and fun which makes this is great read-aloud book. The child in the story shows that every day is full of possibilities – especially TODAY!

Today inspires imagination and fun. Its an empowering story for making choices and celebrating life to the fullest and to find a piece of ourselves. It clearly shows that a bear is the little childs best friend, as they play and share together.

This story is perfect in starting a conversation with young children about the ever-changing world we live in and our relationships. It will appeal to parents who would much prefer their child spending time outdoors versus time spent indoors, watching TV or on the computer.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zams grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She believes the carpet can fly, and that it will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasnt flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first, and cant find its bearings. It lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir, where Pepper Masalah and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.
In the 3rd book in this series, Pepper Masalah and the Giant Bird, the ancient carpet is closer to finding Kashmir and flies over Afghanistan. A huge bird (the Simurgh from Persian folklore) whisks Pepper off the carpet and up to her nest of eggs, high on a mountain. The carpet is disorientated without Pepper and disappears after Zam falls off. Zam makes the long climb to save Pepper before she becomes food for the birds huge chicks. Pepper makes a friend in the nest, a girl called Dana. A cobra comes to eat the eggs.
Pepper manages to save the eggs by telling the cobra riddles and winning the riddle game. But Pepper and Zam still need to find the carpet in order to get home to Australia.

After a day full of his antics at school, the monsters climb out of the window and try to kidnap Jerry and drag him underground. Terrified, Jerry screams he will be good forever. The monsters run away, unable to stand being around a good child. Jerry now knows the monsters only come after children who behave like monsters themselves.

They kidnap misbehaving kids and pull them underground, locking them in cages and feeding them until they decide the little troublemakers are ready to be eaten. This doesnt sound like a bright future to Jerry, so he tries very hard to improve his behavior. Eventually, he just cant do it anymore. In a relapse, he steals a lollipop.

As the monsters drag a struggling Jerry to the window in the ground, he knows its all over – he doesnt deserve to be saved, and his parents probably dont love him anyway. But Mr and Mrs Ronden explode out of the family home, armed with an encyclopaedia and a rolling pin, ready to beat the monsters into submission. When Mrs Ronden smashes the window, the monsters cant survive.

They collapse into dust, and Jerry is saved. Jerry tells his parents hes sorry for his awful behavior, and they tell him they feel like theyve been given a second chance too – a chance to love Jerry better.

A secret. A holiday. A summer like never before. Shae knows her parents are keeping something from her and is determined to find out what. But nothing can prepare her for what they are hiding. 17-year-old Shae is learning that relationships, deception, secrets and love can sometimes blend together and change everything.

Shae and her family have a vacation of a lifetime planned, until it is cancelled unexpectedly. No warning. No explanation. Nothing. Instead, she is left to spend the summer holidays at her cousins. Shae knows her parents are keeping something from her and shes determined to find out what. As Shae tries to uncover the mystery, she must also navigate the deteriorating relationship with her favorite cousin, Lexi, whos been acting differently. To makes things more complicated, Shae meets Callen, the perplexing neighbor who manages to get under her skin every time she sees him. Then, Shae receives a mysterious letter. It includes a photograph of her father and another woman. An anonymous caller claims they sent it and have the answers Shae seeks. But does Shae really want the truth?

As Shae fights to keep her world the same, she soon realizes that some things are out of her control. It seems everybody she cares about is hiding something. But nothing can prepare her for the secret her parents are guarding. Shaes world will never be the same again by summers end.

Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet by Rosanne Hawke is a series of five or more chapter story books featuring an adventurous black cat calledPepper Masalah, and her nine-year-old friend, Zamir.

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zams grandmother is from the old country (Kashmir) and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She believes the carpet can fly, and that it will try to find its previous master in Kashmir. It hasnt flown for hundreds of years so it is shaky at first, and cant find its bearings. It lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir, where Pepper Masalah and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.

In the 3rd book in this series, Pepper Masalah and the Giant Bird, the ancient carpet is closer to finding Kashmir and flies over Afghanistan. A huge bird (the Simurgh from Persian folklore) whisks Pepper off the carpet and up to her nest of eggs, high on a mountain. The carpet is disorientated

A cobra comes to eat the eggs. Pepper manages to save the eggs by telling the cobra riddles and winning the riddle game. But Pepper and Zam still need to find the carpet in order to get home to Australia

A light-hearted story about carrying heavy loads and the strength to be found when women and girls find ways to lift each other up.

Heavy is an empowering children’s picture book about intergenerational and societal patterns of burden carrying for women and girls. It addresses the glorification of business and burden-carrying in today’s world in a gentle, age-appropriate, and accessible way, with lightness and humour. It’s an anti-multitasking story for 4-8 year olds that advocates for lighter living and focusing on just one important thing at a time to avoid overwhelm and burnout.

At the wild animal rescue center run by her family of incredibly strong women, Nina watches as her older female relatives piggyback polar bears and carry boa constrictors.

Every day, they pick up more and more. The trouble is, they never put anything down! Seeing her family struggle, Nina is determined to find a way to show them that just because they can carry heavy things around all the time, doesn’t mean they have to.

Will Nina’s inventions help lighten their loads?

Heavy is an empowering picture book about the value of rest and the lovely lightness one family discovers when the youngest, Nina, suggests they could all do things a little bit differently

A compassionate, insightful guide to humanity’s relationship with the horse, with evidence-based training tips. 

Weaving together science, history and fiction, Connected traces our bond with the horse across 6000 years of co-existence. It takes the reader on a journey of discovery, from the evolutionary beginnings of Eohippus, the Dawn Horse through to the domestication of horses, their use during wartime, and their place in our lives today. 

The book opens with a detailed look at the evolution of the horse, with fascinating insight into how particular characteristics and traits evolved to become today’s modern animal: fast, vigilant, and with a strong herd instinct. The horse’s brain, senses and abilities are all fully explored. 

In the book’s second half, the author turns her considerable expertise to how the horse learns, and helps readers understand proven, effective and compassionate training methods for the animals they work with. 

Through her focus on welfare, and by making accessible the complex science of ethology and training, experienced trainer and author Portland Jones entices readers to share the awe and wonder she experiences when working with horses.  

Connected is for anyone who works with horses, rides them, or simply admires this most beautiful of creatures.

Explores the life and military career of Lucian Truscott, one of the greatest, yet least celebrated, US combat commanders of World War II.

Born in Texas to a drug-addicted father, Truscott would become one of the United States’ greatest ever combat generals. Expert in mechanised warfare and amphibious operations during World War II, he was a plain-speaking, determined fighter.

The book traces Truscott’s rise as a senior American commander in various theaters of war, including the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and southern France. It examines Truscott’s relationship with other senior American commanders such as George Patton (who once threatened to sack him), Mark Clark (who didn’t like him), Eisenhower and George Marshall.

Truscott made a significant contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany, improving his command skills with each new experience. Being placed in command of the Anzio beachhead was his finest hour, where his vital contribution ultimately led to the capture of Rome.

Truscott garnered a unique record during World War II as the only American officer to command military formations from regiment up to a full army, with over 200,000 soldiers under his command. He also took part in five amphibious landings during the war, becoming the United States’ foremost expert in such operations.

General Lucian K. Truscott: ‘Quite a talent for fighting’ is for military enthusiasts looking to expand their knowledge beyond the well-known names of World War II canon.

Getting Closer is a beautifully illustrated discussion of photography as a way of achieving greater intimacy with the natural world. With a focus on birds, the book is directed primarily at photographers (of all levels of skill and experience), but also at birders, people interested in the outdoors, and those who would simply like to achieve a deeper connection with the natural world.

The introduction makes the case for reconnecting with nature in a way that will draw in a wide range of readers, not just photographers. We have to reconnect, as most of us have lost the spontaneous bond with nature we enjoyed as young children and, in the face of impending ecological disaster, reconnecting with nature is our most urgent task.

Getting Closer offers a simple, practical path for readers to begin to ‘rewild’ themselves. This is the focus of the second part of the book, where the author explores ways of becoming attentive to the natural world around you, wherever you may live. Through self-contained spreads on topics ranging from ‘the four seasons’ and ‘winds and tides’ to ‘flight shots’ and ‘colour and texture’, he introduces basic, hands-on techniques that, with practice, will enable readers to both deeply connect with their environment and become proficient wildlife photographers. ‘Top tips’ on each spread provide technical information aimed at more serious photographers.

Not so long ago, in a small island nation in the South Pacific, beekeepers produced a most peculiar honey. It was much darker than the clover honey everyone put on their toast in the morning, and it tasted very different. In fact, the honey was a problem: it was hard to get out of the combs, and even harder for beekeepers to sell.

Today that honey, manuka from New Zealand, is known around the world. It fetches high prices, and beekeepers do everything in their power to produce as much of it as possible. Wound dressings containing manuka honey are used in leading hospitals, and it has saved the lives of patients infected with disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to standard antibiotic drugs. In so doing it has forced the medical profession to rethink its position on the therapeutic properties of natural products.

This book chronicles the remarkable rags-to-riches story of manuka honey, as seen through the eyes of a New Zealand beekeeping specialist who watched it unfold from the very beginning. Its a great tale of science, in which an inquisitive university lecturer found something totally unexpected in a product everyone had written off. Its also an entertaining account of the way that seemingly simple discovery caught the international medias attention, helping enterprising New Zealanders to develop manuka honey-based products and take them all around the globe.

A practical and therapeutic guide to managing anxiety, written specifically for those aged 14 & 25 by a psychologist with over 15 years of experience working with adolescents and young adults.

Everything Anxiety Ever Told You Is a Lie is aimed at young people who are experiencing anxiety in their everyday lives, across the breadth of the anxiety spectrum. It emphasises that anxiety is completely normal, and something that can be managed by taking the steps that are right for you. The book contains practical, effective activities and exercises that each reader can apply to their own set of circumstances.

Experiencing anxiety can be overwhelming, especially at such a turbulent stage in life. Everything Anxiety Ever Told You Is a Lie is specifically tailored for the stresses faced by the 14-25 age group, with concise, impactful chapters and strategies that can be realistically applied even in a busy and changeable time of life. Themes include management of uncertainty, values-based living, and identifying meaning and purpose.

Anxiety affects a huge number of people, and it is not something that you have to ignore or push down. This guide is full of expert advice on not just coping with anxiety, but truly managing it, to minimise its symptoms and its effect on your everyday life.

An instruction manual for change, Urban Beekeeping explores how we can adapt urban spaces to create a more sustainable future, both for bees and for ourselves.

Urbanbeekeeping has become a booming pastime in cities throughout the world. But why just fit bees into our cities, when we could reshape our cities to fit them?

This guide from beekeeping expert Cormac Farrell takes readers through the process of creating a thriving urban hive, covering topics including:

• The various bee species, and how to determine which will thrive in your space.
• Setting up your apiary.
• Planting to feed your bees.
• The different types of hive and how best to utilise them.
• Connecting with your bees and managing the hive.

Keen beekeepers, environmentally conscious gardeners and even urban planners will find a wealth of knowledge on how to create local green spaces where nature can thrive. From community gardens to rooftop apiaries, cities contain vast potential for sustainable food production. Urban Beekeeping explores how – and why – we should tap into this potential and manage bees for beauty, food, and the local environment.

This is more than a manual for beekeepers and gardeners who want to go beyond their backyard it is a guide to changing the whole concept of our cities, to make them places where we produce quality food locally and create spaces for native species.

Women have a long history of keeping the lights burning, from tending ancient altar flames to manning modern day lighthouses. Yet most of their stories are little-known. Guiding Lights is a collection of true stories spanning decades and continents, chronicling the lives of the extraordinary women who mind the worlds lighthouses.

From Hannah Sutton and her partner Grant, the two caretakers living alone on Tasmanias wild Maatsuyker Island, to Karen Zacharuk, the keeper in charge of Cape Beale, Vancouver Island, where bears, cougars and wolves roam, the lives of lighthouse women are not for the faint of heart. Paired with stunning photographs, discover the tales of:

• The dramatic torching of Puysegur Point, one of NZs most inhospitable lighthouses.
• Haunted lighthouses in across the US and their tragic tales.
• Lighthouse accidents and emergencies around the world.
• Two of the worlds most legendary lighthouse women, Ida Lewis (US) and Grace Darling (UK), who risked their lives to save others.

The book also explores our dual perception of lighthouses: are they comforting and romantic beacons symbolising hope and trust, or storm-lashed and forbidding towers with echoes of lonely, mad keepers? Whatever our perception, stories of womens courage and dedication in minding the lights – then and now – continue to capture our imagination and inspire.

Botanists have been the trailblazers in discovering how plants work to benefit our species, collecting many of the plant-species we find in our gardens today from all around the world. This informative and beautiful guide presents the stories and reveals the secrets of 35 of these botanists, plant collectors and gardening pioneers of the past and present.

This includes Joseph Banks, Asa Gray and Marianne North, highlighting the qualities that brought them success. Every botanist included in The Secrets of Great Botanists was, or is, passionate about their particular specialty. Whether they were searching for plants in wild places, prescribing herbal medicines or forming new structures of plant classification, they were driven by an insatiable desire to learn and discover, so that we, as humans, might benefit from improved crops, medicines or gardens.

Through the vibrancy of botanical photographs and beautifully illustrated period botanical watercolours, this book aims to teach readers about the observations, ideas, secrets and discoveries of these ground-breaking botanists. Their influence on gardening and the wider world will provide inspiration and practical guidance for budding gardeners of all levels and inspire readers to try these plants and tips at home.

Discover the inner workings of our relationship with dogs in this gentle, informed and fun look at the reasons why we love our four-legged friends. Many of us know the joy, love and chaos of having a dog in your life.

But have you ever wondered why we can feel such an attachment to dogs in particular? Pairing adorable images with the latest research, Dogs & Us is an investigation into – and celebration of – human-canine relationships.

With the rise of hybrid working and average lifespans increasing, dog owners are spending more and more time with their pets. This book explores how dogs affect and improve a multitude of aspects of our lives, covering themes including affection, calming, exercise, friendship and play. It also captures the link between human wellbeing and our animal companions – a particularly wonderful aspect of life with dogs.

Dog lovers everywhere will adore this fresh and vibrant look at the bond we share with our canine companions. With fascinating insights from organisations such as the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, it brings brand new academic research together with playful quotes and images in a collection that will inform, intrigue and delight. Join the growing number of dog owners who want to know more about our relationship with mans best friend, and dive into Dogs and Us.

Discover the inner workings of our relationship with cats in this gentle, informed and fun look at the reasons why we love our four-legged friends.

Many of us know the joy (and amusement) of having a feline companion. But have you ever wondered why we can feel such an attachment to cats in particular? Pairing adorable images with the latest research, Cats & Us is an investigation into – and celebration of – cat-human relationships.

With the rise of hybrid working and average lifespans increasing, cat owners are spending more and more time with their pets. This book explores how cats affect and improve a multitude of aspects of our lives, covering themes including affection, calming, exercise, friendship and play. It also captures the link between human wellbeing and our animal companions – a particularly wonderful aspect of life with cats.

Cat lovers everywhere will adore this fresh and vibrant look at the bond we share with our feline companions. With fascinating insights from organisations such as the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, it brings brand new academic research together with playful quotes and images in a collection that will inform, intrigue and delight. Join the growing number of curious cat owners and dive into Cats and Us.

Celebrating Australias Magnificent Wildlife is a celebration of Daryl Dicksons beautiful work, informed by her passion for the conservation of wildlife and wild places. From black-winged stilts to brushtail possums, see the variety and colour of Australian wildlife contained in one wonderful book. She highlights the natural beauty of species that deserve to be saved in what is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the natural world.

The work of artists crosses borders, boundaries and language barriers. Painting wildlife does not need language to explain the essence of the beauty, landscape or movement of a creature. This book can be understood and enjoyed by people of any nationality.

Witness the ancient tropical forests and majestic landscapes of northern Queensland, Australia — home to some of the worlds rarest and most fascinating species. Dicksons work is inspired by the incredible diversity of flora and fauna she lives amongst, which are rich and colourful in the diverse, thriving valley she calls home.

Dicksons techniques have varied in medium, from illustration to watercolour and many in between, but nature has always been the key element of her art. View a lifetime of artworks and share in her journey to becoming an artist, showcased in this large-format, beautifully designed book that is an essential addition to coffee tables everywhere.

Cows are my passion. What I have ever sighed for has been to retreat to a Swiss farm, and live entirely surrounded by cows – and china. – Charles Dickens

Cows are one of the most common farm animals on earth, but what many people dont realise is that they are also gentle creatures with a uniquely inquisitive nature. Newly released in paperback, Moo is a collection of quotes from the famous and not-so famous, paired with charming photographs that celebrate the humble cow.

From Thomas de Quincey to Mary Quant, cows have fascinated writers, philosophers, fashion designers, film stars and musicians for centuries. They are hugely sociable creatures, with several strange habits, such as being able to sleep while standing, and spending up to eight hours a day chewing. Moo will open your eyes to their immense variety, their joyfulness, and their surprising tenderness.

With photos of around 50 of the worlds most popular cattle breeds, this is the perfect gift for anyone from bovine experts to folks who happen to find cows cute (youll be surprised by how many famous names agree!).

Pick up Moo today and gain an endearing, amusing insight into the magic of these animals that are absolutely integral to our lives.

• reduce your stress
• become more productive
• improve your decision-making skills
• enjoy better relationships with your colleagues
• work more creatively
• develop your leadership skills, and
• generally enjoy your job more
• then mindfulness can help!

At his home in Giverny Monet creates a splendid waterlily pond. He paints magical pictures of his pond as the light prances through the waterlilies. Then, as an old man, Monet grows tired of chasing the light. He sits quietly beside his pond. Monet has spent his life chasing the light, but now at last the light finds him.

This story draws attention to the importance of biodiversity on the reef and illustrates the special roles and relationships animals have under the sea. Told through the eyes of Roger the wrasse, a small and brightly coloured reef fish who is in charge of a cleaning station on the reef. Rogers bright colours are almost like a neon sign advertising his cleaning services to other sea creatures on the reef.

This is the actual action used by cleaner fish to remove dead skin, parasites and bacteria from the bodies of their clients. This is a very special relationship as the cleaner fish provide a cleaning service to their clients and in return, the cleaners get a full stomach. This is a great example of mutualism in nature where two organisms of different species are in a relationship where both benefit.

Through the art of marine science this story will help children to become aware of the importance of biodiversity on the reef. This real-life nature story also illustrates the benefits of helping each other, an important concept to share with young readers. Education and awareness through storytelling is a powerful way of engaging with children and their readers (eg. teachers, parents, grandparents, family, friends etc) as only through positive storytelling can we hope to change behaviours and encourage children to look after each other and look after and protect the ocean.

Based on the latest marine science the last page of the story explains reef cleaning stations and the concept of mutualism in nature which is explained in terms early readers can understand and teachers can use as part of their classroom discussions and learning activities.

An epic journey from New Zealand to Spain, celebrating the enduring romance of travel by train.

The journey of The Antipodean Express takes in 89 days of travel, on 33 trains, through 19 countries. It begins in New Zealand's North Island, weaves past the volcanoes of Java, through East Asia and on into Europe. From hilarious miscommunications in China to cultural immersion at the Bolshoi Ballet, there are stop-offs with half a worlds worth of impressions, people, history, food, music and culture. Hill also describes most of the great trains of the Eurasian hemisphere, from New Zealands Northern Explorer to the Eurostar, and everything in between.

The culmination is a day spent in the obscure Spanish village of Alaejos, locating the exact antipode of the authors living room. The perfect end to a vast adventure.