Booklists

Max Crack and his best friend Frankie are back with even more questordinary adventures! Armed with shiny new quest list, they are on a mission to find a meteorite, make a movie, solve a sisterly feud, eat truckloads of chocolate and set a world record.

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.

Both Mango and Bambang are left star-struck when Bambang's cousin comes to town with Hollywood actress Minter Verbena. But when disaster strikes, Bambang is the true star of the show.

Mango and Bambang are a dynamic duo. They are a little girl called Mango and her best friend, Bambang, who just happens to be a tapir. Together, they search for a hobby for Bambang and join forces to defeat the evil Dr Cynthia Prickle-Posset, who is determined to steal Bambang for her Museum of the Unusual.

Mango Allsorts, a busy little urbanite, and Bambang, a lost tapir and definitely not a pig, are unlikely friends. Mango is an irrepressible girl with a wonderful optimism and a very hectic schedule that includes karate, diving, playing chess and the clarinet. Bambang is a stranger in a big city. Everything is large and scary, confusing and intimidating. But, together, they are a remarkable duo, bringing a little magic and adventure into each other's life.

When a small but mischievous tapir guest comes to stay in the busy city with Mango Allsorts and Bambang, things soon get into a rather troublesome tangle.

Race across Sumatra with a streak of tigers. Join a hippo float, a flamboyance of flamingos - or just cosy up with a passel of possums as you go on safari with Wilbur. Explore the animal kingdom and the world of collective nouns, with proceeds from this book supporting wildlife protection via the United Nations Development Programme.

An entertaining and humorous mix of poems, including nursery rhyme parodies and classics.

When Susie won't hand over her pocket money to her mean cousin Walter, he locks her in the attic. But when a gigantic meat-eating dinosaur turns up, Walter's the one who gets scared. And when the dinosaur gobbles up Uncle Colin, it's time for Susie to save the day.

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.

There's nothing normal about Uncle Chunk. He's eccentric, unpredictable and full of deep dark secrets. He hasn't been seen for years. Has he just popped in, or is there more to this mystery than meets a were-dragon's eye. And that's not the only thing Billy's got to worry about. Miss Hicks the werewolf has returned to school and his nemesis Scratchhook is watching his every move.

When nine-year-old Billy gets bitten by a lizard at the pet shop, strange things start to happen. His fingernails turn into claws, his skin becomes green and he starts breathing fire. Billy can't hide it any longer - he's turning into a dragon. And when his parents decide to sell him to the zoo, Billy has to make a decision. Find a way to change back, or lose his family forever. Being a dragon is more complicated than it sounds.

Billy's sister has been kidnapped by werewolves and only Billy the dragon can save her.

Billy is in serious trouble, he's struggling with his shapeshifting lessons, there's a werewolf out to get him and he's got his soccer trials tomorrow.

Captain Saurus was a legendary pirate. He had a dinosaur-bone leg and a magic glass eye that could bring fossils to life. When Jack and Toby find the magic eyeball while camping, they unleash an avalanche of dinosaurs of every shape and size. To reverse the curse, the kids have to solve the Captain's cunning clues.

Thomas's grandparent's house is ancient. There's no electricity, and the toilet is an old cabin outside, Thomas is terrified of that toilet. There's something down there and when Thomas gets too close and falls down the hole, he discovers a secret that will change Saurus Street forever. Plunging pterosaurs, squiggling squid and massive meteors are all part of the greatest adventure since the Cretaceous period.

What bad luck. Just when Sam's finished his homework a pterodactyl flies through the window and steals it. Poor Sam. It's the fifth piece of homework he's lost this month. He's got to get it back. With the help of big brother Nathan, Sam builds a pterodactyl suit and sets off for Saurus Hill.

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.

When Jack wishes for his own Tyrannosaurus, he doesn't expect a real live one to turn up in the veggie patch. It's pretty cool, but there's no way he can keep it. It's far too big to hide in the shed, and it's bound to eat one of the neighbours sooner or later.

Tom and Tam are horrified when they find out Great Aunt Gertrude is coming to stay. She's got bad breath, smelly feet and her false teeth like to bite. They need to get rid of her, fast. Luckily they've got a secret weapon - their very own velociraptor - but it's a naughty one and it keeps getting them into trouble. In a fight between a vicious velociraptor and a ferocious great aunt, there can only be one winner.

Barnabus lives in a secret lab beneath a toy store which is trying to create perfect pets through genetic engineering. What happens to the creations which are not considered perfect? Barnabus and his friends may not be perfect but their loyalty is second to none.

A beautiful orb drops from the sky and sets all the insects in the garden to wonder. They begin to come up with ideas on what the object is and from where it came. When the crafty spider thinks he can use this wonderful object to his own benefit, he learns a valuable lesson.

A treasure map, a map of a face, a map of a neighbourhood, a family tree and even a map of a heart are included in these maps of life. Children will be inspired to draw some maps for themselves.

How rockets and other spacecraft work and look. Information on gravity and drag, how they are powered, built, steered and controlled. The book contains step-by-step instructions and plans for a fully working rocket powered by water pressure.

A peaceful journey through the alphabet, looking at some common and not so common native Australian plants. With beautiful illustrations and information about First Nations people, this is an engaging and educational read.

Arthur wants an ordinary family life, but instead he has a brother who acts quite differently to other brothers and sisters. This causes Arthur no end of embarrassment. When Arthur has had enough, he tries to run away only to find a polar bear on the doorstep. What can a polar bear do for Arthur and his family? When the spider-fearing polar bear Mr P moves in life changes for Arthur.

Will and his family head for Ballarat to find gold. They face heat, dust and flies in summer; rain, mud and cold in winter. Along with other diggers and a young man with a strange past, the events of the Eureka Stockade change them forever.

Lulubelle doesn't even know she's a dog. Then she meets Bones, rescues him from a life of slavery and together they run away to London. Life on the road isn't easy but Lulubelle and Bones find friends in the strangest places.

Twelve year old farm boy, Ned Wattrous, runs away to sea on Captain James Cook's HMS Endeavour. Ned tells how they save the ship and sail into shore for repairs. Then they must find a way out through the shallow and treacherous water.

This is the children's story of the Australian bred horses, known as Walers, at war. Originally from New South Wales, these medium sized horses were instrumental in the Australian and British victories of WWI.

All Mr Noah wants is a bit of peace and quiet but God has told him to build an ark and take on board two kinds of every animal. With all the animals on board, life suddenly becomes very noisy for Mr Noah.

Frolicking in mud and puddles and looking most dishevelled, Terrible Troy causes his mother great despair.

A funny, rhyming story about a family and their friends celebrating Australia Day at the beach.

Gorski. the vampire bat is in a flap. Following a frightful event his fangs are shrinking and he faints at the sight of blood! Can he find a cure or will things go from bat to worst?

This book is a celebration of school teachers and the great variety of other people in children's lives who teach important life lessons in other ways on other days.

Welcome to the 1980s -- a time when crimped hair and perms were cool, kids listened to cassette tapes, thought dancing on your head was the ultimate, and synth-pop ruled the school. My Folks Grew Up in the '80s is a stroll down memory lane for the kidz who grew up then, and a hilarious chance to share the decade's downright weirdness with a whole new generation.

At almost ten years of age, Eric is now the responsible owner of his dog Ugly. But when Ugly is involved in a series of mishaps including the theft of a roast chook and a bedroom decorated with duck poo, it is clear Eric needs to do something to keep his dog out of trouble. Luckily, Eric knows exactly how to solve the problem...Ugly needs a job. But how can Eric find a job for a dog, even if his dog is a genius?

Eric Bright and his doggy best mate, Ugly, have a big challenge. They are attempting to solve the serious problem looming over Eric's mean and miserable big sister, Gretchen. It's lucky that Ugly is the friendliest dog ever. He's surely going to rescue Eric's sister. He's a star companion pooch, working with the kids at school. On top of that, he will win almost every category at the upcoming pet show. Surely.. This is a paw-some tale about friendship, compassion and what it takes to be a real hero.

Up to the 1950s, a highlight of visiting a Sydney or Melbourne zoo was a ride on the elephants. This book is about Queenie, the joy she provided until her unfortunate end.

On 3rd February 1932 when Lennie Gwyther and his pony Ginger Mick were nine years old, they left Leongatha in Victoria to ride six hundred miles to Sydney to see the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is the true story of their remarkable journey.

One night in Florence, Italy, a long time ago, a lone sparrow flies over the streets and squares, through arches and windows looking for her mate. She must find him before her nest of babies wake to find her gone. The city comes alive as the reader follows the mother swallow on her quest.

This is the true story of two lives brought together by chance. Arthur Cooper, working in intelligence for the British Government in pre-war Hong Kong, rescues a small gibbon and names him Tertius. Together they escape to a safe place - but is it for always?

When Subzero won the Melbourne Cup, it was just the beginning for him and his best mate Graham Salisbury. Never has there been a greater bond between man and horse. What they did together will touch your heart. This is their true story.

Noseville Public School has a school veggie patch cared for by the school's environmental group and the school's two resident wombats. When the beautiful produce begins to disappear at an alarming rate the wombats are considered the prime suspects, with the principal demanding their removal. It is up to the wombats themselves to solve the mystery and retain their home.

When Kiki finds a crown in the woods, a group of mushroom people rushes to call him their ruler. Now the quirky residents of Hotel Strange have to find the real king before things get even crazier.

Beak moves into Ally's neighbourhood. Ally isn't looking for a new friend but Beak is very persistent. When it comes down to it, Ally realises that it is important to be a good person and maybe that means he does have a friend after all.

Five fabulous Tashi books all in one volume.

Tashi is too cunning for the warlord and the wicked baron, and far too clever for the giant. He's craftier than the witch and quicker than the demon and much braver than the ghost. But, don't take his word for it.

Jack has an extraordinary friend, the elf-like Tashi. Tashi's poor parents sold him to a war lord. He escaped and flew to Australia on a swan. These are some of the stories that Tashi tells.

Tashi, Jack's friend, tells wild stories featuring a house on chicken legs and a witch who eats children. So Jack's dad can't believe Tashi's other wild stories about Baba Yaga and the wicked Baron.

Tashi plots with the wife of Chintu, the giant, to rid the village of his Only Brother, a giant who eats everything in sight, including the villagers! Also, a mysterious stranger is not rewarded for saving the crops, so he returns to seek revenge.

Jack's Uncle Joe loves to tell stories, and so does Tashi, like the one about the magic shoes and Uncle Tiki Pu's sneaky plan...and what Tashi did when the fortune teller, Luk Ahed, said that his tenth birthday would be his last.

The slippery demons are going to make Tashi talk...and there's more trouble for Tashi when the fierce River Pirate returns without a warning.

Tashi's scariest adventure ever, when the stranger Bluebeard moved into the castle, nobody knew what a monster he was. Then the Baron's prize peacock goes missing and his dog Pongo will be killed unless Tashi can complete three impossible tasks.

Tashi's fantastic stories about the sly genie and his three wishes...and what Tashi does when he comes face to face with the ferocious war lord again. Tashi is always ready for anything.

Tashi could hardly breathe as more and more ghosts crowded around him. No one in the village is as brave as Tashi...only he could scare the ghost monsters out of the forest.

Tashi outwits a couple of giants and a whole gang of bandits.

The Baron's nephew, Bang-Bang, is going to take over Wise-as-an-Owl's fresh water spring, which he uses for his medicines. Tashi and his friends use clay and magic to make a golem who will give the bully Bang-Bang a good scare.

There's a light in the window of the haunted house, and Tashi is going in. He's brave and fast, but he has to be fast enough to beat two mysterious strangers in a race around the village and he doesn't know what will happen if he loses.

A fire-breathing monster breaks out of Wise-as-an-Owl's workshop and threatens them all, and when Tashi is accused of killing the carp in Soh Meen's pond, he uses a Truth Potion to find the real culprit.

Tashi must deal with Warlords and Emperors. It takes courage, but Tashi always has a clever idea and something useful in his pocket!

An ancient royal tomb is discovered in the village and Tashi is nearly buried alive. Then the Book of Spells is stolen from Wise-as-an-Owl. The village needs Tashi to find the Book of Spells.

Tashi tells Jack about the time the villagers were going to market in the valley people's very own bus, and the demons tried to take over the bus.

Jack loved it when Tashi told his stories. Today Tashi was telling about the time the old forest disappeared, and Much-to-Learn was in danger of disappearing with it! And now the whole village was threatened ... Could magic sand and a certain spell help save them all? Only someone as clever as Tashi could find a way to outwit the Baron - and solve the mystery of the disappearing trees. An Australia Reads exclusive story.

Tashi has big adventures, like the time he is lost in the city and has to escape from a mean man with a glass eye and a silver dagger. Then, on the way home, Tashi and Grandma are kidnapped by brigands called Fearless and Ferocious.

There once was a boy called Tashi who had a way with witches and warlords.

Tashi is bold and clever and tells the best stories ever. There's a Magnificent Magician with a greedy plan, a haunted house about to go up in flames, ruthless ruffians after a rare orchid and a quest for the bravest person in the land to face the fire-breathing Red Whiskered Dragon.

For twenty years, Tashi has been telling fabulous stories. He escaped from a war lord in a faraway place and flew to this country on the back of a swan. And he wished he would find a friend just like Jack. In this first book of his daring adventures, Tashi tells Jack about the time he tricked the last dragon of all. This anniversary edition includes a new story. Now, a whole generation of readers know that when Tashi says, 'Well, it was like this...' a new adventure is about to begin.

In a land far away, you'll find A boy called Tashi, brave and bold, Baba Yaga the witch, cunning and cold, Chintu the giant, bigger than most, Dragon of fire, who'll turn you to toast! Learn the alphabet and journey through Tashi's world filled with mythical creatures, wild adventures and magic in a story especially created by Anna and Barbara Fienberg with original artwork by the late illustrator Kim Gamble, beautiful restored and rendered by his artist daughters, Arielle and Greer Gamble.

Horrendo reveals strategies for overcoming fear and adversity when he finds creative solutions to problems caused by pirates, vile villains and volcanoes. Horrendo champions those who are different and non-violent.

Wonderfully original and off-beat stories, cleverly linked by a spider, in which five children each show their talents.

Minton, the salamander, has a spirit of adventure and makes use of whatever is washed ashore on his island. His building skills and imagination provide the means to explore. Soon, he and turtle are sailing, flying, driving, trucking, going underwater and hot air ballooning.

As Bouncer, the acrobat, has lost her bounce, Minton makes an aeroplane to fly her all the way back to the city.

Minton and Turtle have landed in the coldest place on earth and found Hector, the hottest boy who ever lived. Now, Minton must build a hot-air balloon so they can get home.

Minton can't wait to make a boat so that he and his friend, Turtle, can sail to an island on the horizon. There, they meet Bouncer, the acrobat, who has been stranded since she made the most gigantic, enormous jump and flew right out of the city and over the ocean.

Minton, the salamander, loves all machines that move and he finds just what he needs to make them. Minton wants to be a truck driver. When there's sand to move and building to be done, Minton and Turtle are ready for a hard day's work.

Minton, that very popular salamander, is on the move again in another delightful picture book adventure. This time, Minton makes a submarine to explore under the sea.

Minton loves anything that moves but his friend, Turtle, is not so adventurous. Find out what happens when they explore the deepest ocean and soar above the clouds.

Minton loves anything that moves and he's always ready for action. His friend, Turtle, is not so brave but, together, they have wild adventures. Find out what happens when they zoom through town and operate a dump truck.

Minton loves anything that moves but his friend, Turtle, is not so brave. Find out what happens when they set sail and take to the skies.

Madeline, a friendly and caring mermaid, risks her life to stop an outbreak of magical war in the ocean's depths.

For a long as Tashi could remember, he had been told stories about the dragon who sent the rains each year, until now. The creeks are drying up and the mountains are going up in flames. Someone in the village needs to visit the dragon and only Tashi would dare.

Robust, no nonsense Bonny has a healthy attitude to herself and others that enables her to survive a day at Charm School although she is involved in some hilarious episodes along the way.

Simon and his class are being taught how to cross the road without ending up as flat as a pizza. This is an important thing to know.

Poor Ellie is horrified when Tuffy drags a dead bird, and then a mouse, into the house. But Tuffy can't understand what all the fuss is about. Soft-hearted Ellie must get her beloved pet to change his wild ways before the next victim arrives through the cat-flap, and Tuffy ends up in even deeper trouble.

Once best friends, always best friends. That's the way it is with Jamie and his toy Highland bull, Angus. In this collection of six stories, the pair tackles a lively playmate, get muddled by a pretend game and discover that playing isn't fun unless they are doing it together.

Together they are the EnviroTeens and they are going to get very angry, because ... Singleuse Plastic Brendan may have an evil plan to destroy all the world's turtles but there is something else going on. Climate change. The EnviroTeens will do anything to stop this terrible disaster. Can they save the whole world, they sure will give it their best.

If you love footy and think you're pretty good, you sound just like Nick. After recovering from an ankle injury, Nick discovers he has lost his self-confidence and is not playing very well. His Uncle Matthew gives him a new pack of footy cards and, during the night, Nick wakens to the sound and movement of tiny footballers, training on his doona. It's the Hammers, his favourite team, who just might help to improve his game.

Marge is back and this time she's taking the Button family on a train journey. When Mum and Dad go out for a 'romantic' (i.e boring!) dinner, Marge takes the kids on an adventure of their own. Jakey's always longed to drive a train and with Marge around to turn ordinary life extraordinary, there's a good chance his wish might come true!

Marge and the Pirate Baby is a collection of three short stories about the best babysitter ever. Marge has colourful hair and a knack for making everything fun but can she save the day from the pirate baby?

Members of the school population state their ways to have fun at school. A play version is also presented.

Deliveries usually come in a van, as heavy boxes or oddly-shaped bags. They do not come late, on a school night. When Poppy's dad opens the front door to find a small, very distressed child, clinging to a green blanket, the family tries their hardest to do the right thing. They look after the baby while the authorities search for her family. Although Mei's stay is brief, her impact on the family is long-lasting.

Princess Lily's magic is not quite accurate. Her spells produce snakes instead of cakes, so wizardly help is needed. Wackoo, the wizard, has his own plans but it is Lily's magic powers that rescue her sisters.

Ping, the hero of this classic, is a rebellious little duck. On a day almost like any other, Ping is accidentally left behind. Undaunted, Ping heads out onto the Yangtze in search of his family, finding friends and adventures around every bend.

Wesley is an outsider, friendless and tormented by his peers and unhappy with the 'sameness' of everyone. His answer is to create his own world. Wesley grows a garden and makes his own food, clothes, games and language.

Many of the world's beautiful animals are now in danger of extinction. In this book Garry Fleming captures the unique beauty of some of these animals and provides information about the animals and their plight.

Carla, a very bossy cassowary, leaves her partner, Calvin, to look after their egg for twenty-one days. But, the egg gets stolen and Calvin must find a way to get it back before Carla returns.

Marlow Brown dreams of being a scientist, but when her chaotic home experiments drive Mum crazy, Marlow runs the risk of being banned from experimenting altogether. Surely there must be something she can do to keep on Mum's good side while still continuing her dream.

Forget everything you thought you knew about the North Pole. This book will change how you think about Christmas. Get ready to meet: a boy called William Trundle, his dad Bob, an elf named Snozzletrump, the meanest girl in school named Brenda Payne, a nasty piece of work called the Hunter, a most unusual dinosaur and the real Santa.

Marcus Atkinson is a basketball hero, not. But, his dad, a self-help author, is convinced that Marcus can achieve anything he sets his mind to and has magic in his bounce.

Nine year old Marcus Atkinson is a Maths whiz who is not good at sport. His dad is a self-help author who thinks Marcus can achieve anything he sets his mind to. Marcus thinks cricket is some sort of insect and is stumped why anyone would want to play such a stupid game.

Marcus Atkinson is a golf pro, not. But, his dad, a self-help author, is convinced that Marcus can achieve anything he sets his mind to and has magic in his swing.

Marcus Atkinson is a rugby champ, not. But, his dad is a self-help author who thinks Marcus can achieve anything he sets his mind to. He's convinced that Marcus has magic in his legs.

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.

Marcus Atkinson is a soccer star, not. But, his Dad is convinced that nine year old Marcus has magic in his feet. Marcus would much rather spend his time doing mathematics.

Marcus is a maths whiz, who is not good at sports. But, his dad, a self-help author, is convinced otherwise. Just when Marcus hopes his dad has finally run out of sports for him to try, he discovers a new one, involving water. But, Marcus is not a fish. Marcus is not a turtle. Marcus is an ordinary boy. He will not love to swim.

Marcus Atkinson is a taekwondo master, not. He is a maths whiz who is not good at sport. But, his dad is convinced that Marcus has magic in his kicks.

Marcus Atkinson is a tennis genius, not. He is a maths whiz, who is not good at any sport. But, his dad is convinced that Marcus has magic in his wrists and can achieve anything he sets his mind to.

Marcus Atkinson is nine years old, good at maths and computer games but, definitely, not sports. His dad's latest crazy idea is for him to try track and field. Even worse, there are ten events. Marcus knows he's not good at one sport, let alone ten different ones.

Marcus is a maths whiz who is not good at sport. His dad is a self-help author who thinks Marcus can achieve anything he sets his mind to, even becoming an AFL legend!

Susie K's mum thinks she will be 'Queen of the jungle' at the school camping trip, the only obstacle is that Susie hates the outdoors. Not able to get out of the trip Susie straps her goldfish to her backpack and they begin Operation: Happy camper.

Susie's mum is delighted to hear there'll be a talent quest at school ... except Susie has no skills she could perform on a stage. But even though Susie would much rather stay home doing crossword puzzles, she uses all her problem-solving skills to become a show stopper!

Suzie K Files the Game Changer continues Suzie's challenge of keeping her mother happy. This time her mother wants her to be a champion at the school sports day. Suzie is more of a bookish type, preferring her studies of science. Using problems solving steps Suzie sets to be as useful as possible to her team.

Susie's mother had come from Sri Lanka and didn't have many of the opportunities Susie has in Australia. She really wants her daughter to be one of the crowd and that includes being invited to class parties. Susie isn't worried, she is happy with the fish, George, and her science work. However she also wants to please her mother so...being a problem solver she sets out to work out how to get an invitation to the most popular girl in school's birthday party!

Marcus is a maths whiz who is not good at sport. His dad is a self-help author who thinks Marcus can achieve anything he sets his mind to... with hilarious results. This is 5 books in 1.

Animal Town is in trouble! Meanie King Viking and his Robot Army are spreading No Fun across the land. Only Super Rabbit Boy can save the day! But first he must make it past sand traps, lave, and lots and lots of robots. Will Super Rabbit Boy reach the final level, or will it be GAME OVER?

Winning isn't easy at the Super Cup Grand Prix. Our hero Super Rabbit Boy needs to beat meanie King Viking. Can he beat King Viking despite all the tricks, traps and other racers?

Far away in the land of snow and ice lives Cold Paws, a lonely polar bear. Cold Paws shivers and wonders why he always feels cold inside. But, when little Hannah from the village becomes his friend, the cold feeling inside begins to melt away.

Carey is good at schoolwork and sport and wishes that he wasn't. Winston says that it is worse to be bad at everything.

When Molly and Joseph have a baby, they call her Whisper. Whisper's mum and dad are quite different from other parents. Through two generations, Whisper learns how love and being accepted make a happy family life.

For his Grade Five project, Williams must design a moon station. He has just one week to finish it and wonders if his parents can do a good enough job to win him a prize.

Sally Tinker makes machines and her baby brother, Joe, breaks them. Sally is the world's foremost inventor under the age of twelve and she just knows she can build a better brother than the messy, smelly version she has. Sally's invention, Brobot, is fantastic. That is, until the remote gets broken and Brobot is out of control.

When Sally's archenemy Dexter Maelstrom invites her to a demonstration of his new invention, she doesn't expect it to actually work. Dexter's De-Evolving Ray can turn chickens into dinosaurs! But when Dexter's chickensaurs breaks free and go on the hunt, Sally - along with her friend Charli and her baby brother Joe - must avoid becoming chicken feed. Is Dexter behind this dastardly plan - or is somebody else the bad egg?

Sally Tinker is pretty smart. She is not even twelve and she has created a machine that can both shrink and enlarge practically anything. Unfortunately, she has enlarged a dung beetle to a monstrous size and it is threatening to crush the whole town in a giant dung ball! Luckily her best friend is probably the worlds best biologist under the age of twelve and together they just might have a chance of stopping the beetle and saving the town.

Sally Tinker is the world's greatest inventor under the age of 12. But when her baby brother Joe swallows her greatest invention to date Sally and her genius biologist friend Charlie will have to shrink themselves to a size small enough to delve deep into the bowels of baby Joe to recover it. But will they be able to find it and if they do, how are they ever to get back home? Funny and smart this book will gross you out, crack you up and teach you stuff all at the same time!

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.

Stella the elephant is fighting interstellar discrimination one pachyderm at a time! Stella wants to be an astronaut. There is only one problem: Stella is an elephant. Every time she applies to Space Command, they come up with a new reason she can't join. But where there's a will, there's a way and Stella is determined to reach for the stars.

The ants come scurrying one by one. Quickly, they're followed by swooping barn owls, trundling wombats, jumping kangaroos, striding brolgas and other favourite Australian animals, all in their race to get to the ark before the flood.

In a ruined village, torn apart by war, a barbed wire fence cuts off a little boy from the hills he loved to walk in. One day, after rain, he sees a tiny, green shoot breaking through the rubble.

Mia's family is very poor, living in a house made from recycled bits and pieces. When her dog, Poco, disappears, Mia takes the family horse and heads off into the mountain meadows. There, the snow is clean and the sky is clear and Mia finds a kind of lily she's never seen before.

Noa loves to watch the elephants play in the water near his small village in East Africa. One day tragedy strikes and the baby is left all alone, his mother killed by poachers. When Noa and his village adopt the lonely orphan, a beautiful friendship is born. Until one stormy night when Noa may need his friend to save him too ...

When food is scarce in the land of King Lion, the Fat King, ruler of the neighbouring, very rich country refuses to help so war is declared. But the people of the Fat King's land are too fat for their equipment.

Jake's dad is out in public again with his ugg boots on. Why can't he wear proper shoes like other dads.

Five short stories showing the humour in everyday situations included are stories about bubbles, pet flies, cranky umbrellas and crazy kitchens.

Once, a long time ago, my grandmother's grandmother travelled far, far across the seas. Kate Forsyth tells tales of her ancestors' lives in Australia in this beautifully illustrated picture book. From the first perilous journey to a new land, to the great wars and civil rights movements, readers live through key moments in Australia's fascinating history.

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.

Ben badly wants to get a dog. But, his mum says they'll have to move to a bigger house first and, besides, they can't afford it. So Ben, his brother, Tim, and their friend, James, decide to find some dragon's gold. They have to meddle with magic to do it and that is always a dangerous thing to do. When a fire-breathing dragon kidnaps James' sister, they're in for a marvellous, magical misadventure.

Ben and Tim and their cousins don't expect unusual adventures when they begin their summer holidays at the beach. When they stumble across a mer-boy called Sechiel stranded on the sand, they hear about a sinister diver in a submarine, who, together with his razor-toothed shark, is terrorising the mer-people and destroying the wildlife. Worse still, he has abducted Sechiel's sister.

Ben and Tim have always been told to be careful what they wish for. They don't know what this means until Tim discovers a magic wishing ring and a whole lot of trouble. They find themselves fighting for their lives and a few other people's, too, in a besieged castle full of knights, swords and a bossy countess. Making wishes is not as easy as it sounds and they will have to be very clever to get themselves out of this mess.

Jesse and Lewis want to grow their own fruit and vegies, just like people do on a farm. They're going to dig and build, plant and grow, and when they're finished they're going to have a feast!

As everyone knows, there are usually two sides to every story and if you believe the sharp-toothed villain of Little Red Riding Hood, there is a logical explanation for everything.

This collection includes dogs, cats, budgies, bugs, tarantulas, leopards, crocodiles, rabbits, dolphins, porcupines, werewolves, vultures and pterodactyls, every pet you could possibly imagine and more.

Attractively presented poems and illustrations that focus on seasons, festivals and special days around the world.

An anthology of riddles, limericks, rhymes, short humorous poems and tongue twisters that are a mixture of old and new.

Foolish Bajirriga, an Aboriginal boy, fails to cooperate with his community, preferring to go to the beach and swim while they gather food. Ignoring his parents' advice to come out of the water, he begins to transform into a turtle.

Paul knows how to manage Mum but, when she's away, it isn't so easy. Paul and his sister find that Dad's style is very different. The worst part is when Dad joins in at cricket and swimming classes - totally embarrassing.

Cat starts reading to Dog, explaining that it's a story about a little girl who always wears a red cape with a hood. Dog loves stories about superheroes and wants to know her special power. When Cat advises that the little girl doesn't have any special powers and it's not that kind of a story, the fun begins.

Ginger McFlea refuses to clean her teeth, no matter what any of her family says or does. A visit to the dentist and a call to the tooth fairy change her mind, with amazing results.

In a time long past, in a land far away, a family has suffered an unspeakable loss. Their lives are full of grief and hard work. But, a lonely goblin, a hermit from the world, has been watching. And he knows what to do to help them heal with acts of unnoticed kindness. Little does he know that he is being watched.

A tale of two young dingoes who set out on a log to see the America's Cup yacht race in Fremantle WA, and take the long way round.

Mary-Kate is accompanying her archaeologist mother on one of her digs to investigate some interesting bones found in a well. The locals are afraid - there are mysterious noises, earth tremors and a terrifying legend. Is there a beast that lives in the well? Mary-Kate might be anxious but she is not afraid to get to the bottom of this monstrous mystery.

Giants live on top of Mount Grumble, hidden from humans below. But, not all of them are big. Muncle Trogg is so small that he's laughed at by the others for being human-sized. Fed up, he decides to take a look at the 'Smallings' that he's meant to look like. But, what he discovers is very surprising indeed.

Muncle Trogg is a tiny giant who lives on Mount Grumble. When his home threatens to erupt, Emily, a Smalling, and Muncle Trogg enlist the wisest animal of all, the flying donkey, to convince the giants to listen to them.

He's old, this gargoyle. Very old. Older than me. Older than anyone. A moving story about a gargoyle who has been forced off his rooftop to make way for a new development in a barren cityscape, and the child who encounters him on an overcrowded train.

Imagine standing at the edge of the sea, closing your eyes and remembering the wise words of your grandmother. Love knows no boundaries in this inspiring story about the special moments shared in a relationship between a granddaughter and her grandmother.

Sarindi tries everything to help his mother regain her health. A meeting with a stranger at Lucky Buddha's shrine changes Sarindi's life. Readers will gain an understanding of the beliefs, rituals and superstitions of the Indonesian people.

It's Sarindi's birthday and what he wants more than anything else is the multi-coloured dragon kite he sees in the market. When he wakes up and sees the kite, he can't wait to go to the beach to fly it with his father. But, an earthquake has flattened a nearby town and he and his father must go to see if they can help.

A mysterious neighbour moves next door and renames her house Pet Palace. Angie and her brother Jeremy watch in amazement as a parade of pampered pets arrive.

Corduroy is a teddy bear who searches for his missing button because he believes that, if he is perfect, he will be loved and bought.

Lady Pineal. Princess Betony's governess, throws her authority around, scolding everyone in sight and not listening to reason. She demands that the maids stop leaving milk out for a hobgoblin she doesn't believe exists, And, Betony's father, King Max, has organised traps to capture the hobgoblin. Beware, an unhappy hobgoblin means trouble. Princess Betony hopes she can talk to the hobgoblin and win him over to prevent further mischief.

It's difficult to make friends when you are a princess and Princess Betony is delighted to have found a proper friend at last. But, friendship is not easy when you have never done it before. Princess Betony's new friend, Clover Pink, leads her into adventures she never expected.

Princess Betony has been chosen to collect a gift from the Wild Magic. It's a precious thunder egg that has to be protected at all costs. Betony must journey alone through the Dark Forest to Teapot Mountain and bring the egg back safely. If not, the Wild Magic will seek revenge.

Princess Betony's mother is a dryad who misses the Wild Magic of the Dark Forest. When the princess sees her mother running into the Dark Forest, Betony is worried she will never return. Humans are forbidden to enter the Forest. But, Betony doesn't care. She has to find her mother, no matter what. But, first, she must catch a unicorn.

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.

The dry salt bed of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre shimmers in the desert heat. But, far up north, the rains have come. Water is flooding into empty riverbeds and swirling down towards the lake. Soon, everything will change.

In the tropical wetlands and escarpments of Kakadu National Park, the seasons move from dry to wet to dry again. Those seasons have shaped the astonishing variety of plants, animals, birds, insects ... migratory birds by the thousands, grasshoppers and owls, lizards and turtles, fruit bats and spear grass. And, gliding past them all in the rivers and waterholes, the long, sinuous shapes of crocodiles ...

In this book you'll meet twelve amazing Australian women who have changed the world, in small ways and large. Some of them are world famous, like Annette Kellerman and Nellie Melba. Some of them are famous in Australia, like Mary Reibey and Edith Cowan. And all of them deserve to be famous, and admired. They represent the warriors, artists, business owners, scientists, singers, politicians, actors, athletes, adventurers, activists and innovators of Australia.

Laura's dad brings home a lamb to give to the school to raffle at the fete. Laura takes care of the lamb and calls him Lollylegs. At the end of the week, Laura can't bear to give the lamb away and determines to buy as many raffle tickets that she can. However, she has to work out how she can get enough money to buy lots of tickets.

Luke's parents just don't understand about how much a real dog can love you. They buy him the robotic wonder dog that never makes a mess or barks and never needs to be fed. Eventually, Luke's parents find out why a real dog is better.

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.

An amusing story about a light-hearted journey through space and time, with a father and his daughter searching for the perfect planet.

Mozz soars through the sky in a jet, rescuing wild animals around the world. But when Elephant Island is under threat from a deadly wave Mozz needs help urging the elephants to move! Time is running out! Can she convince Leo - a boy who can talk to animals - to join her on a dangerous rescue mission?

Mozz and Leo are off on another awesome animal rescue mission. This time they've loaded their jet with vaccine darts to help protect gorillas in Africa. But before they locate all the primates and decide what to do with a seriously sick baby gorilla, they'll have to battle ruthless poachers!

Based partly on historic fact, thirteen year old Mary travels by steamship with Mrs Finnegan and her six other children from Ireland to Australia in 1913. Lots of explanatory notes on Irish history, customs and recipes included in this book.

Shaun doesn't have a sheep dog, he has a sheep sheep called Pete. The other shearers are not happy about it particularly when Pete and Shaun set up in business. Pete doesn't know how the other shearers are going to react.

A grey nurse shark colony is under attack - an old mining dam has collapsed in a savage storm, sending a flood of toxic mud towards their breeding ground! Leo and Mozz need to rescue the sharks before it's too late! But when the SkyTiger falls into trouble, will Leo and Mozz be the ones who need rescuing?

An invaluable aid to growing vegetables and annuals for young people who want to protect their garden from all sorts of bugs.

Glam Rock is a famous pop star who performs with his tame tiger by his side. But Leo can sense something is wrong - Glam hasn't been telling the truth, and Leo can read the tiger's terror and despair... she's crying out for help. Can Leo and Mozz rescue her?

Like everyone else, Sam believed that cities don't burn. But one hot summer the fires came to Canberra with devestating results. Sam must fight to try to save his home not knowing if his would be one of the five hundred houses to be lost.

It is 1927 and celebrations for the opening of Parliament House are underway. But, for Billy, an orphaned farmhand, it is just another bad day of hard work and loneliness. Now, he has to save his only friend, the work dog, Dusty, from certain death.

Based on a true story in Queensland, a colony of wonderfully hairy-nosed wombats decide to move homes. But could there ever be another home to make them happy.

Factual information cleverly woven into the story of a wombat's experiences from birth to adulthood revealing the emotions, smells and joys of being a wombat.

Drackie lives on Vampire Island, where every night is dark and stormy. Soon he'll be old enough to turn into a bat and live in his own castle. Drackie has just had the best birthday ever. His parents have given hima vampire toad called Fang. Then the unthinkable happens, Fang is toad-napped and a ransom of $100,000 is asked for by the International Society of Toad Thieves. The only clue is a bright pink feather. A clue that leads to Auntie Chook. But who is Auntie Chook? And why doesn't anyone in Drackie's family wish to talk about her?

At King Arthur's School for Knights, Horace's homework is to catch and kill a dragon. The task is especially difficult for Horace as his dad is a dragon.

Cecil's mum wears long black boots and an even longer sword, and she makes her enemies walk the plank. All Cecil wants is a normal life. But with parent-teacher night coming soon, Cecil is worried. Will his mum embarrass him in front of all of his friends? Will people realise that his family isn't normal? When flood waters rise and Bandicoot Flats Central School is in danger, who will save the students and teachers from the perils of the deepening waters? And is Cecil's mum really a pirate?

See how a native animal can live beside humans, being appreciated as a wild creature not a pet, and still provide pleasure. Fred, the black-tailed wallaby, likes eating apricots and mandarins but is careless with his tail.

The author's own observations of the echidna that lives in the bush near her home. George, the echidna, likes ants and termites but he doesn't like the smell of gum boots.

The Grand Poohjam of Stink'um knows exactly how to make kids do as they are told. That is, before the Princess of O'Straylia arrives in his court with her pet wombat.

As the flames of a bushfire approaches, one small wombat shelters with other animals in her burrow all throughout a fire-eaten night. This forms the beginning of their courageous journey to safety and survival.

Peace is a tissue blossom, a whisper on the wind. War may never truly end but there can be homecomings. This poem explores what happens when the guns stop snarling.

Has Emily Anne Quinn found a meteor, a strange egg or a space monster? If it is a strange egg what sort of creature will hatch from it and what will that creature eat? Strange things are happening at Biscuit Creek.

She is small. She is scared. She is lost. She is a baby wombat who needs a home. She is Mothball, a wombat destined to become famous. This is the (almost) true story of one small wombat who learnt how to train her humans - and inspired the internationally bestselling picture book Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley.

This wombat leads a very busy and demanding life. She wrestles unknown creatures, runs her own digging business and most difficult of all - trains her humans.

It's Christmas day in Shaggy Gully. The kangaroos are bouncy, the echidnas are prickly and the bats and possums are just hanging about. Only the bunyip is gloomy and Emily Emu is determined to make him smile for Christmas.

There's a mystery in the palace. What can it be? There are lots of spicy smells... and a large green tree! Join Queen Victoria's dogs as they discover the magic of Christmas in this hilarious new royal adventure.

Queen Victoria owned many palaces and many jewels but what she didn't have were underpants. A message advising that the Queen wants underpants was delivered to a dressmaker. She and her family explored the options of what type of underpants the Queen wanted and what they would be useful for.

She eats, she sleeps, she scratches. When a wombat goes to school, anything is possible.

This is the story of Chinoise, the baby chimpanzee who was rescued by Born Free and their supporters in 2014. After spending her early life isolated and in captivity, Chinoise now lives in a special nursery for rescued primates where, at last, she has made friends and learned how to play.

The classic fairytales retold using modern, colloquial language that is descriptive and interesting.

When a mother brings her daughter to a pond to collect some frog spawn, the little girl isn't sure what to expect. Day after day she checks on the jelly-like bubbles until the black dots in their centres turn into slippery tadpoles, and then keep on changing.

A simple, funny, rhyming book that looks at what we know and what we have to surmise about dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus Rex. Includes information about dinosaurs and the study of them. A book that could inspire you to become a palaeontologist.

Little Gray is a newborn whale travelling with his mother to the feeding areas in the Arctic, some six thousand miles from where he was born.

Brian, the Giant, has made muffins but they keep disappearing. Brian needs to find out who is responsible for the thefts.

Alfie Onion has just set off on a great adventure but only to carry his brother's luggage. It's his older brother, Magnifico Onion, who's destined to make his family's fortune. But, when it turns out that Magnifico isn't half the hero he's cracked up to be, it falls to Alfie to save the day, with a little help from his loyal dog, a talking horse and a couple of meddling magpies.

Princess Peony has had a bad feeling that her father might be a tyrant. She doesn't want to believe it, but he has a nasty habit of throwing people in dungeons...There's a royal party coming up, and the king is in an even worse mood than usual. He flat out refuses to invite the wicked hag, which can mean only one thing: TROUBLE!

What happens when your Royal family have lost all their riches ... adventure. Join Prince Max as he journeys with a grumpy donkey as his companion to ask giants for help. Will he cross the Hungry Marshes safely? Will the giants help? What else could go wrong?

Lottie Luna is a werewolf. She's super-fast, super-strong and has X-ray vision. Lottie doesn't really like to use her skills, though -- she just wants to be like everyone else. But when someone keeps destroying the school bloom garden it's only Lottie who can come to the rescue...

Lottie Luna is a werewolf. She's super-fast, super-strong and has X-ray vision. Lottie doesn't really like to use her special skills, though - she just wants to be like everyone else. But when Lottie and her friends go camping, she finds that she might just need to - if she's going to find out the truth about the fang fairy...

Lottie Luna is a werewolf princess with special powers thanks to her lunar eclipse birthday. However, she just wants to be a regular werewolf at school to ensure she makes real friends. With the upcoming Shadow Academy talent show, and her royal parents desire to visit her school, will Lottie be able to keep her identity secret much longer?

Lottie Luna is a werewolf, she's super fast, super strong and has x-ray vision but she doesn't really like anyone to know about her skills. When her friend Marjory's birthday is approaching Lottie wants to use her powers to give her the biggest surprise ever...

A child and her grandfather watch as a family of tiny caterpillar eggs turn into beautiful butterflies. At each stage, the story reveals their awe at the magic of what is happening. The illustrations come with notes on the scientific details.

Yacoub and his cat Tinka travel Australia in Yacoub's large transport truck. Life can be a little bit lonely but they have each other and fond memories. A life on the road means everywhere is home, as long as they have each other. An unexpected series of events separates the two friends and they must find their way back to each other somehow.

An in-depth look at the life cycle of the familiar pumpkin with stages explained through simple text and stunning photography. An illustrated timeline on each page charts the lifespan of the pumpkin.

An in-depth look at the life cycle of the silkworm with stages explained through simple text and stunning photography. An illustrated timeline charts the stages of development of the silkworm.

An in-depth look at the life cycle of a spider with stages explained through simple text and stunning photography. An illustrated timeline on each page shows the development of the spider.

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.

Jessica and Miss Strega are off on an expedition to restock Miss Strega's shop with brewing ingredients. Jessica, Berkeley and Felicity brew up a nasty itchy brew but Miss Strega has a way to get her own back.

Jessica learns how to 'spell backwards,' which means she can now travel backwards in time and find out the history of some of the more interesting spells she is learning in witch training.

Miss Strega decides Jessica has to learn not only how to be charming but how to do charming. She takes her on holidays where Jessica finds a lucky pebble that will help her with her charm skills. But, things do not work out as expected.

Jessica thinks she is an ordinary ten year old but she is actually on the way to becoming a very bright young witch. When she sees the broomstick for sale outside the hardware shop, Jessica's apprenticeship in witchcraft begins.

Jessica is off to the Witches' Games to compete in the championship hurdles. She soon discovers the other witches are determined to win and will even use trickery. This adventure is full of lots of high-jinks and low tricks.

Jessica, the ten year old witch-in-training, starts flying lessons as well as learning spelling and charming, under the watchful eye of Miss Strega.

Jess is off on a quest to find Dame Walpurga's stolen shoes. But to get them back, she must tackle a rude giant, trick a grumpy gnome and uncover a secret hidden deep underground.

Jessica is learning the Witch Switch, how to magically change shape. But, although being a cat can be great fun, it's also a bit scary especially if a Witch Switch goes wrong.

Find out what happens behind the screen, beneath the keyboard and inside the electronic 'brain' of a computer. Lift the flaps to find out.

Thor, son of Odin and god of thunder and lighting might be the bravest warrior in all of Asgard but there are many that will still challenge him. In these retellings of three classic Thor stories, Thor must use all of his wits and his strength to defeat an angry giant, a sea serpent, dangerous frost giants and on top of all that, contend with his mischievous step-brother Loki's tricks. A great first introduction to Norse mythology for young readers.

With his father's help, Nandika, an Aboriginal boy, learns how to make a chittabutta, a fishing spear, so he can catch his own fish.

Charley, Hannah, Izzie and Xa are the C.H.I.X gang, who become best friends, looking after a coop of hens. They promise to keep each other's secrets, always wear a feather and never, ever eat chicken. But, when the enemy boys let the chickens out, the girl gang is put to the test. And, they must find out what grumpy Grandma Slater's black key opens.

Fuzz McFlops is a reclusive yet creative rabbit. A great poet and writer, he has penned celebrated works, such as The Withered Carrot and Unhappy Easter. So, Fuzz is disgruntled when Charlotte Passe-Partout suggests that his writing could be enhanced by a touch of optimism. A flurry of correspondence ensues between the two rabbits, until Fuzz begins to wonder if Charlotte's positive approach might have some merit.

Belinda would like to play soccer but at her school only the boys play. She is very good but she's a girl. There must be something she can do to play her favourite sport.

Life isn't easy in the land of snow and ice and for Iluak, a Too-lee boy travelling with his tribe, there are daily challenges. Now, though, a new challenge is coming. His grandmother, the Shaman, tells him a bear is coming and that it will be Iluak who will save his people from the bear. But, Iluak is afraid of bears and doesn't want to face one.