Booklists

Alemitu lives with her mother in a poor village in Ethiopia, where she must walk miles for water. Life is difficult, hunger roars in her belly and Alemitu dreams of knowing more about the world. When her mother has no choice but to leave her at an orphanage, Alemitu's life changes dramatically when she is adopted by an American family. Although her life improves, she never forgets her homeland and the mother.

Two traditional tales that combine humour and horror.

Little Frisky Mouse finds room for everyone in his house until Rumbling-Bumbling Bear comes along. Someone has stolen Hare's house and Hare can't find anyone to help him get it back. A children's classic.

Two traditional tales retold.

Two traditional tales retold.

Two traditional tales from Europe and North America retold in simple language.

This hilarious picture book written by award-nominated Kate Inglis features two children trying to outdo one another in imagining what they could do if only they were a zombie, a ninja or a robot. With outrageously entertaining rhyming text and brilliant illustrations from artist Eric Orchard, this is sure to be a favourite with readers of all ages.

Join Ted on a humorous trip exploring the slumps of bears and the wisdom of owls.

The Australian song is probably the most wide spread and enduring of the old-time shearers' songs. The tune came from an American Civil War song, Ring the Bell, Watchman, and was written by Henry Lawson. The song was first published in written format in 1946 and versions don't seem to differ much. The version in this book is as sung by A L Lloyd in the 1950s.

Many centuries ago, when the ancient gods ruled the world, a powerful king named Dionysius killed and plundered without any mercy. Damon, the shepherd, tried to free the country from terror.

Dad loves to make things. So, when Mum wants a new barbecue, Dad gets to work. Then, they have a weekend barbie that no one will ever forget.

Friendships are a special thing, and it is great to have and be a good friend, but sometimes things go wrong. It is important to know how to get the balance back so that everyone is having fun.

The Internet is like a puddle, its great fun to splash around in but what lurks just below the surface? This book explains in simple terms some of the things to watch for on the internet and how to keep yourself safe.

The brown dog often visits Henry on rainy, grey afternoons. Usually he doesn't hang around for long. But this time the brown dog decides to stay, and Henry needs to find a way to make him leave.

All the adults in the village have lost their magic so it's up to the children to again confront the evil sorcerers. This takes them to the Black Crypt under the mountain and the realms of the undead.

The evil sorcerer and his brother have stolen back the Book of Spells and the town's Foundation Stone. Tamly and Kym enlist their friend, Mel, and all three go through a magic portal to the mountain where the sorcerers live. They must fight giants and flesh-eating birds in their attempt to get the Book and Stone back.

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.

Tamly is the only person in Meadowhythe who can't do magic. He wishes he knew why and longs to learn. But, it is precisely his lack of magic which makes him ideal for the dangerous challenge of rescuing the Book of Spells from the evil sorcerer, Lord Harshax. Together with his magically gifted friend, Kym, Tamly sets out to steal the book and save his village.

Tamly is being hunted by the sorcerers, Harshax and Krushax, because he doesn't have magic. Surely a boy without magic is of no use to them. Tamly must thwart their plans to rebuild the evil tower that will allow them to rule the world.

A chance to see the famed Kodiak bear in Alaska is hampered by some bear hunters who are more interested in destroying life than preserving it. Bindi and her friend Katrina will stop at nothing to make sure the magnificent bears remain safe, but mother nature has plans of her own.

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.

Bindi and her friend spend an exhausting day helping out at the Australian Wildlife Hospital, caring for the victims of a local bushfire.

The Irwins have been invited to Singapore for the opening of a reptile park. While they are there, a Komodo dragon disappears from her enclosure.

The Irwins are crocodile-tagging in Cape York. Bindi and Robert meet a father and daughter who don't seem to belong up there.

Bindi is in South Africa on a horse-riding trek when she comes across a sanctuary for the giant sable antelope. Something just doesn't feel quite right.

Bindi and her family are in Cambodia working with an elephant conservation group in the wild Mondulkirri jungle. They're helping to find non-violent ways for local villagers to deter elephants from destroying their crops. But not all the locals are on board with the project.

In the Maldives, Bindi discovers a shark with its fins missing. Shark finning is illegal and Bindi is determined to find the culprit.

The Irwins fly down to Tasmania to take part in a fundraising concert to for the endangered Tasmanian devil. After a terrific start, things take a dramatic turn for the worse when a self-obsessed celebrity causes the real stars of the show to escape.

When a German tourist goes missing in the outback, volunteers are called in to help to search Kakadu National Park. Bindi and her Aboriginal friend DJ decide to take a different route when they spot a cockatoo that seems to want to show them something.

Bindi, Robert and their wildlife warrior pals have been invited to speak at a climate change conference in Finland. But when the conference organiser, Professor Tikkanen, mysteriously disappears the night before the conference begins, Bindi and Robert realise they have two missions.

At very short notice, the Irwins are called on to help run an ecolodge in Madagascar for a fortnight. They arrive to find the place deserted, and realise they have a lot of work to do before a bus load of tourists arrive.

Bindi is in Nepal, working to create a protected sanctuary for the red panda.

Bindi and her family help transport a special rhino from South Africa to a national park in Mozambique. But when a tyre blows out, they realise they are not the only ones interested in the unusual cargo. Bindi and Robert hatch a plan to outwit some dangerous poachers.

The Irwins are in Sumatra to collect three tiger cubs and Bindi finds herself tracking poachers in the jungle.

A suspected illegal mining operation in the jungle of the Republic of Congo means finding the impressive mountain gorillas isn't the only thing on Bindi's mind.

Visiting a Japanese friend in Nagano, Japan, Bindi helps her friend Emi by photographing a group of snow monkeys. Her nature photography turns into detective work when the monkeys start to display unusual behaviour and abnormal colouring.

Bindi and her friend, Kelly, are on a surfing tour in Mexico and the United States. Getting to surf with green sea turtles is a complete thrill. But, one of their fellow surfers is acting suspiciously and Bindi realises that he's got more than beautiful waves on his mind.

Bindi is spending time at an outback sheep station, where the neighbour has blamed a dingo for killing a sheep and wants to hunt it down.

Bindi's birthday party at Australia Zoo is loads of fun, until a spoilt young guest decides to try and take home a souvenir.

Bindi is out on a boat whale-watching with some English friends, when they spot an emergency flare, signalling a boating accident, which leads them to find a terrible oil spill.

Lili takes the reader on a behind-the-scenes tour of a ballet company preparing for an evening performance.

Protector of planet Earth or abduction by extra-terrestrials! You see strange lights in the night sky one night. It's a flying saucer, just like in the movies. Inside are lizard aliens -- disguised as humans. They have come to invade the planet Earth. You want to resist but your actions may lead to the destruction of humankind . . . Do you have what it takes to save the world? Or will the aliens unleash their ultimate weapon?

Robot ruler or cyborg slave! A chance encounter with an escaped mini-bot leads you to a military science facility. The place is filled with giant robots ready to unleash destruction upon the city. Unless you can stop them, a mechanical future with cyborg slaves awaits! Can you overpower the mighty machines, or will you be crushed beneath their marching feet?

You are on a school excursion at the Entomology and Arachnology Research Centre when things go very wrong. It starts with a gigantic new breed of spider. Soon, there are insects everywhere. Whether it's moths swarming all over you or an army of vengeful praying mantises, the creatures are on the attack! Will you exterminate the bugs, or will you find yourself in the middle of creepy crawly chaos?

Daredevil driver or kidnapping by super spies! You are attending the Extreme Machine Expo. Every type of fast vehicle is on display -- some of them are even available to test! Among the mind-boggling sports cars, hovercrafts and jet planes are information stands, with creepy vendors asking weird questions. Will you fulfill your dream of becoming a pro racer, or will the machines and their owners turn against you?

Aussie Rules superstar or total footy failure! A footy quiz sets you on a course for AFL adventure . . . A Grand Final game with a footy-crazed mum who's a massive embarrassment. A footy skills camp that's being sabotaged by a secret society of grumpy old men and women. A footy festival where mascots come to life and AFL dreams can come true. These are just some of the possibilities. Will you play your way to AFL glory, or will it be a specky-tacular disaster?

Friend of magical beasts or imprisonment in a ferocious land! There are legends about dragons in this area, and when you find two strange-looking eggs, it seems the tales are true. But will the dragons be friend or foe? Only time will tell. Will you gain a powerful sidekick, or will you step into a perilous world of fire and ice?

You choose! Supreme ruler of the world or misfortune for life? You are an ordinary kid - or so you think. Strange things start to happen. You make a rabbit appear from underneath your teacher's hat. Then you dream about a mystical diamond and a mysterious old woman with long white hair. It turns out you have magical powers. Do you try to keep your talents hidden, or do you go off to Magic School?

Master of the maze or eternity in a nightmare labyrinth! You decide to try the lame-looking Maze of Doom at the fun fair. But once inside, you realise that this is no ordinary amusement. The maze is massive and there are traps and mysterious creatures at every turn. Then you come across an old fortune-telling machine, which predicts an eerie future. Will you discover the maze's secrets and riches, or will you be trapped inside forever?

When Bernie follows his mum to her new top secret job, he finds himself on Monster Island, where extinct and mythical creatures are alive. Bernie and his newfound friend Ivy must solve the mysteries of where all the mushrooms come from, and who is spying on the island with drones. Danger is around every corner in this action-packed adventure.

A spectacle of wonders or life as a mindless clown slave! You are excited to check out the new carnival in town. But as soon as you arrive, the creepy clowns catch your eye. You know something weird is going on, but are you brave enough to follow them? There's so much else to explore, especially the freak show tent with its disturbing display cases. Will you defeat the evil clowns, or lose yourself in the carnival's strange attractions?

What would you do if you were out in the middle of nowhere facing a medical emergency? Dawson, a quiet and cautious boy faces this exact situation. Sam, Dawson and Emma are on a road trip with their dad along the Oodnadatta Track. They have stopped at Farina once a vibrant farming and mining area, now a ghost town full of crumbling buildings Dawson's outgoing sisters start a game of tip, despite their Dad's warnings. As they run through the ruins Dad falls and inures his leg. Unable to move the three children have to organise help. Luckily some fellow travellers stop and they managed to call the Royal Flying Doctor Service. But until they arrive Dawson has to give first aid to his seriously injured Dad. Is he up to the challenge? Will his Dad survive?

You choose, athlete of the century or phenomenal sporting failure! You are ready for a day of fun-filled physical activity. There are so many cool sports to try, but you notice that the competitors look a little unnatural. The basketball players are way too tall and some kids look strangely perfect. Are they human or could they be robots in disguise? Will you become a sporting star or a victim of the weirdest world domination plan ever?

Video game star or prisoner in a digital world! You are ready for an afternoon of action at the best video games arcade ever. But not all the games are what they seem. There are secret programmes, alien tests and other worlds inside a new virtual reality. The games computer wants you to play. The artificial intelligence wants your help. The aliens want to recruit you. But you just want to stay alive! Will you win the game, or be trapped inside forever?

You choose! Wealth beyond your wildest dreams or deadly pirate's curse! You find an old map while holidaying in a secluded seaside town. It is said to have belonged to the fiercest pirate of them all - One-Eyed William, who was buried with his treasure. Could it be real, or is it someone's idea of a joke? You set off to follow the map to find out. Will you uncover the treasure of Dead Man's Cove, or will you be destined for doom?

Ghost hunter extraordinaire or lost soul forever! You've heard spooky stories about the old house on the hill in your street. It's been said that a man was found mummified inside the house long ago. Your friends dare you to go inside and investigate. Do you really believe that it's haunted? There's only one way to find out. This could be your chance to be a hero. Do you change the course of history or do you meet a ghostly fate?

In the early twentieth century, Reverend John Flynn saw the potential for aeroplanes to bring urgent medical care to people in outback Australia. He campaigned for more than ten years to make his big idea a reality. That big idea became the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Today, the Service, a not-for-profit organisation, provides emergency and primary health care across Australia.

In his African savannah home, Giraffe has everything he needs. But, as usual, Giraffe is bored. He'd love a friend to share things with. So, he writes a letter and sends it as far as possible across the other side of the horizon. There, he finds a pen pal called Penguin. Giraffe knows nothing about penguins and his letters are full of questions. Soon, a pen pal friendship begins as letters fly from horizon to horizon.