Booklists

When Peggy rescues a stray dog from near-death, a beautiful friendship begins. Nothing but the looming war can part them. Peggy is evacuated to safety and Beau is left behind in London, where he becomes an unexpected war hero. Night after night, as bombs rain down and lives are destroyed, Beau searches the ruins, rescuing countless survivors. But then tragedy strikes and Beau sets off on an incredible journey to find his beloved Peggy.

Michael Mouse lives in a very chaotic household, with younger brothers, a set of twins and a set of triplets. His father is a magician, struggling to keep the household afloat. Mouse sees himself as an aspiring super hero but, when his father suddenly leaves home, Mouse must do more to help around the house. Michael Mouse begins to think he'll never get his chance to be a superhero.

Adjusting to a new country and a new school was never going to be easy for Herschelle. It's so different to South Africa. The food is strange and, worst of all, no one understands the Aussie slang that he's learnt on the web. But, it's the similarities that make things really hard. Herschelle will have to confront racism, bullying and his own past before Australia can feel like home.

Robin Hood's classic tales of daring-do in a delightfully aesthetic presentation.

The arrival of a little known grandfather from Scotland makes life miserable for the Nuttboard family. Fergus McCrane is self-centred, overbearing and rude. Nathan is forced to give up his bedroom and share with his sister, Nadine, and Fergus dobs Narelle in for being at a pub instead of studying. Mum also doesn't get on with her father who has never forgiven Dad for marrying his daughter and taking her to Australia.

Nathan is eleven years old with two sisters, one older and one younger. When the family goes camping, Paradise Bay doesn't quite fit its name. Nathan's father can't seem to catch any fish, the tent isn't up properly, the gas stove doesn't have a pipe and Nathan and his sister get swept out to sea. Depsite all this, Nathan learns how to surf, explores new relationships and learns to maintain often-difficult family relationships.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Grade seven is not going well for Nathan Nuttboard. His mother is filling his sandwiches with pet food, his friends are crazy, his teacher is full of 'interesting' ideas and, when he is publicly dumped by the most popular girl in the class, he reckons things can't get any worse. But then, he's unexpectedly and unwillingly cast as the lead actor in the school's end of year play.

Jane's world has been turned upside down. She has a brand-new sister, and her family has moved to a small town, leaving behind everything she knows. She is sure that she will be miserable. But, a mysterious old lady, a curious boy and an amazing garden prove her wrong.

Laura's house is indeed puzzling. It's an Italian-style villa of the 1800s, built in a small country Victorian town, with a myth claiming it is haunted by the spirit of an elderly Italian man. Laura and Leon are outsiders and they both have secrets. Alienated by their classmates, the pair tackles the mysteries of her house and its former occupants.

Elliot is mad about magic. Completely and utterly mad. It's all he talks about, all he thinks about, and even all he dreams about! And it's not surprising, because magic is in Elliot's blood. His great grandfather had once been known as The Greatest Magician in the World and Elliot is desperate to follow in his footsteps. But it's tricky when the only magic book in the library is missing half its pages, and there's no one around to teach you. But all that's about to change when Elliot discovers a long lost letter from his great grandfather and embarks on a magical adventure that could change his life forever!

A funny, appealing story about Ock, the vampire, who doesn't have many friends because, well, he's a vampire. When Ock gets down about being different, he tries to remember the advantages of super hearing, night vision, vanishing power and his cool teeth.

Owl began staring as soon as he was born. He makes people feel uneasy with his staring and begins to feel like a weirdo, so he sets out to find somewhere where he feels comfortable being a starer.

Kalta is the Aboriginal word meaning ""sleepy lizard"". In this picture book, the reader is shown how the Yalata community catch and cook kalta.

Well-organised under clear headings and well-presented information on the way government in Australia is organised with contents, websites, a glossary and ideas for related things to do.

An insight into the world of Jack Fairfax, a nineteen year old fighter pilot in World War 1. Jack takes to the skies and faces the skill of the German ace pilots over the Somme.

Two sixteen year olds put their ages up to join the Armed Forces and fight in the Great War of 1914-1918. An honest account of the horrors of war in the trenches, particularly sensitive and heartbreaking. Fictitious, with historical notes and photos.

Bran is a prince of the Carvetii tribe in ancient England. He has been captured by the Romans and kept hostage with a legion of Roman soldiers building a military road across his country. Bran is there to ensure their safety and they are keeping his family hostage at their base camp to make sure he complies. But, no-one is safe in newly-conquered Britain.

Leo Lennox has a very disappointing thirteenth birthday and an epic problem. Rather than catching the eye of the lovely Lily across the library or hanging out with his buddy Jinx, or even just having a quiet evening with his father and annoying, big sister, Leo has grown a very uncomfortable, quite itchy tail and gained a craving for mice. Something is not right.

Thirteen year old Leo Lennox has made a massive mistake. The secret that his shape-shifter ancestors have kept hidden for thousands of years is now in danger of being discovered. Leo insisted on going to school camp but he's surrounded every minute of every day by his classmates, including his secret crush and two terrifying bullies. Leo's about to find out just how much he still has to learn about transforming. But, when he discovers a fiendish plot, Leo realises that surviving camp is going to be the least of his worries.

Meet the most hilarious year 6 class ever, with the worst teacher of all time then add Squidge Dibley, a kid like no other. Everything is about to change!

Music has been played and enjoyed in Australia since the first peoples arrived thousands of years ago. Explore the history of Australia in Song as you discover lyrics that have been written to express love, anger, sadness and joy, as well as to recount historical events and Australian stories.

A book of inspirational stories New Zealand women who have achieved great things, risen above the odds and made positive change to the world. Incluides the stories of Dame Whina Cooper, Janet Frame, Farah Palmer, Lucy Lawless, Nancy Wake, Lorde, and more.

Rufkin is left to work in a salvage yard while his celebrity parents go on an acting tour. Vicious cave lizards lurk in the mud, among rusting ship hulks saved for scrap. When Rifkin hears a small voice cry for help, he and his reluctant new neighbour, Nissy, are caught up in a perilous sea adventure. Rufkin, who suffers stage-fright, is suddenly centre stage as the only one who can right an ancient wrong and save the kingdom.

Hodie is the odd-job nobody boy at the Grand Palace in the Kingdom of Fontania. Twelve year old Queen Sibilla, worried about her lack of magic powers, decides to join Hodie when he runs away to better himself. An adventure full of friendship, greed and mystery ensues.

Aboard the mysterious sailing ship, Jasper encounters whirlpools, troublesome monkeys and hungry pirates on his quest to save the kingdom from the Provisional Monarch, Lady Gall.

Twelve year old Dorrity leads a quiet, peaceful life as the only child in Owl Town. When she unearths a magical book with five possible conclusions, none of the endings make sense. But, they are disconcerting and they all point to her, with dire predictions. Dorrity must face her enemies and find out who the strange boy is who has appeared in the Beastly Dark.

It's my first day at a new school and the only person I know is my cousin, Zoe (but she might be a little too cool for me). I was just another scrawny kid until a group of ninjas recruited me into their clan. It was a world of trouble I wasn't prepared for. This diary is a warning: the life of a ninja is dangerous, scary...and awesome. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

Any three titles read from this series can be included as official Challenge books; up to five more titles can be included as your personal choice books. To see the individual book titles and their PRC ID numbers, go to the Series lists on the Booklists page, on the website. Or, you can search for a series name or the individual titles by using the Search function on the top left hand corner of the screen.

Rival ninja clans, pirate overlords and now a sneaky evil genius - at my school, things don't stay quiet for long... The science fair is coming up, and things are going smoothly - until some supervillain starts stealing science projects and destroying them. Oh, and leaving me anonymous notes and trying to frame me. It's going to be a long week. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

As always, there's trouble brewing in the school halls, and you'll never guess who wants to team up with me... There's a thieving bandit on the loose, and as each day passes, his list of victims grows. Zoe says I should stay out of it...but staying out of trouble isn't my style. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

Wyatt and I have made a deal - if I help him get his ninja clan back then he'll leave me alone forever. So this week, Wyatt and I are building a robot together for a school competition while we figure out how he can win back the red ninjas. I know it sounds like a bad idea, but Wyatt's changed! Well, I think he has... My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

Continuing the havoc-meets-hilarious adventures of Chase Cooper, who is recruited by a secret society of ninjas at his new school. Being the leader of a ninja clan isn't easy - especially when half of my ninja clan quit. This week started with 'Talk Like a Pirate' day, and it looks like it's going to end with an all-out pirate invasion. The entire school is in danger, and I'm the only one who can save it. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

It all started when some kid stole my book bag, and set off an avalanche of disaster that turned into the worst week of my life. I'm number one on the school's most-wanted list, and I've just found out about a rival ninja clan- the red ninjas. Things are looking bleak, but ninjas never quit...and neither do their enemies. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

The Scavengers invited me to join their secret club. Turning them down was a bad idea... It's election week and I'm trying to help Zoe become president...while fending off the creepy Scavengers and a school reporter who's trying to expose my ninja clan. Yeah, my week is packed. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

It's Spirit Week, and that means costumes, competitions and chaos. And it's only Monday... I've got to step up and win the Spirit Week games or Wyatt's red ninjas will have free rein to take over the school. But no matter how hard I play, Wyatt keeps beating me. It's gonna take all my ninja skills to get through this week. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

I've met Victor, the leader of the Scavengers, and let me tell you - he's not the forgiving type. The Scavengers are back and they're out to ruin my life (again!). Time is running out and I have to end this feud with the Scavengers once and for all...even if it means hanging up my ninja robes for good. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

I've met Victor, the leader of the Scavengers, and let me tell you - he's not the forgiving type. The Scavengers are back and they're out to ruin my life (again!). Time is running out and I have to end this feud with the Scavengers once and for all...even if it means hanging up my ninja robes for good. My name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja.

Fantastica is slowly decaying, its childlike empress dying. Only a human can set things right. Unicorns, dragons and sprites inhabit this enchanted world, into which Bastian ventures through the pages of an old book.

Erik the Viking's father and the entire clan have been kidnapped. But, Erik isn't interested in swinging spiky balls and swords, so it is going to be very difficult for him to save his father from the Dorks and the Jerks.

Casey Cantrell's mother buys an antique grandfather clock but when Casey turns the clock's key, she is magically transported back to the time of King Arthur.

Archie Cupid is a perfect angel. Lizzie Imp is just perfectly naughty. They don't like each other until Archie's arrow and Lizzie's spitball miss their targets and everything changes.

Through letters written to loved ones, three characters reveal their most intimate thoughts about the conflict in World War II. Franz, a young Nazi soldier, has begun to question the rightness of the cause. Helga is a Russian girl, bent on joining the resistance. Susanna, a Jewess, has been separated from her husband and children, and condemned to the cruelty of a concentration camp.

An informative book that provides a diverse range of fun facts. Easy to read, interesting snippets of information including how to perform magic, get rid of hiccups or read tea leaves.

She stands, motionless, as the cold breeze bites her cheeks. She stands for hours, but the girl on wire knows that she must begin. A story about courage and confidence while growing up.

When ten year old Stuart moves to a new town at the beginning of the summer holidays, he expects to be bored. Soon, he is drawn into an intriguing adventure when he discovers his missing great uncle was an inventor and magician, who has left him the contents of his workshop, should he ever find it. There are clues and puzzles to solve but what starts as fun ends up as danger.

An engaging look at some very extreme and whacky sports, including parachuting and skydiving, baseboarding and blading, bungee jumping and extreme ironing.

You will read fascinating tales about who introduced surfing to the world, which sharp shootin' cowgirl was a superstar of the wild west, which famous road is known as America's main street and about Tornado Alley.

On his twelfth birthday, Archie Greene receives a mysterious present, an old book, written in a language he doesn't recognise. It comes with a Summoning - Archie must travel to Oxford to return the book to the Secret Library. But, the magical book under Archie's protection is dangerous, and dark spirits hunt it out. In this magical world, bookshelves are enchanted, librarians are sorcerers and spells come to life.

A community in Western Australia decided to honour the ANZACs by building a house in one single day and giving it to a returning wounded ANZAC soldier. It is the oldest memorial in Western Australia and one of the oldest nationally.