Hope is a kookaburra singing the sun
Hope is the emu learning to run …

Let your imagination soar in this joyful ode to the world of birds and the healing power of nature.

Sparked by the Emily Dickinson poem 'Hope is the thing with feathers', this lyrical text accompanied by glorious mixed media collages reflects and celebrates the diversity, ingenuity and wonder of birds.

Written and read by award-winning author Johanna Bell
Illustrated by Erica Wagner
Published by Allen & Unwin
Sound design by Cinnamon Nippard

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here:
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Johanna-Bell-and-Erica-Wagner-Hope-Is-The-Thing-9781761180026/

Hope is the Thing

For many long years tales have been spread, stories all full of horror and dread.
Tales about creatures covered in hair that lurk in the branches you'd better beware! 
You'd better look up ... You'd better run fast ... for maybe the drop bears have found you at last!

Written and illustrated by Heath McKenzie.
Read by Veronica Milson - comedian, actor, podcaster, Mum and all round legend.
Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Australia.

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here:
https://shop.scholastic.com.au/Product/100098788/Beware-Beware-the-Drop-Bear!

Beware, Beware, the Drop Bear! Text and illustrations copyright © Heath McKenzie, 2022. First published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Australia Pty Limited in 2022. This narration reproduced under licence from Scholastic Australia.  The moral rights of Heath McKenzie have been asserted.

Veronica Milsom reads Beware, Beware the Drop Bear!

Mini the elephant has a tiny house, a tiny bedroom, and a tiny best friend. But she also has a teeny-tiny invisible voice that sometimes causes big trouble. Sometimes it tells her to make a mess, and other times at school, it tells her she's not good enough...can Mini figure out how to deal with the teeny-tiny voice?

A heartwarming book for kids about taming the doubts in your head. 

Written by Venita Dimos - a lawyer, mediator, coach and Mum
Read by Travis Nippard
Illustrated by Natashia Curtain
Published by Walker Books

To read along with the gorgeous illustrations, get your own copy of the book here: https://www.walkerbooks.com.au/book/9781760656157/

The Teeny-Tiny Voice

My mummy is a unicorn! She makes magic every day when she takes me on a rainbow road to school, and then we play.

Join in the fun as a mum and her child use their imaginations to create a magical day full of fantastical adventures. 

Read by Tess and Olly
Written by Laine Mitchell
Illustrated by Kim Fleming
Published by Scholastic Australia

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/my-mummy-is-a-unicorn-laine-mitchell/book/9781761204630.html

My Mummy is a Unicorn: Text copyright © Laine Mitchell, 2023, and illustrations copyright © Kim Fleming, 2023. First published by Scholastic Australia, an imprint of Scholastic Australia Pty Ltd in 2023. This narration reproduced under licence from Scholastic Australia. The moral rights of Laine Mitchell and Kim Fleming have been asserted.

My Mummy is a Unicorn

On sunshiny mornings, we go shadow catching.
Inside, outside, in our home and in our neighbourhood, 
shadows dance around us from morning through to night.  
Our shadows are so tall, then small, 
then tall again in sunlight, lamplight and even in the moonlight. 

A delightful picture book that celebrates the playfulness of young children trying to catch their shadows.


Written and read Kirsty Murray
Illustrated by Karen Blair
Published by Allen & Unwin

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Kirsty-Murray,-illustrated-by-Karen-Blair-Shadow-Catchers-9781760526955/

Shadow Catchers

Two tiny eggs survive a brutal storm and hatch at the same time - one in a pond and one on a tree. Harold the tadpole and Grace the caterpillar become friends. But as they grow, they grow apart...

A beautiful book about the metamorphosis of friendship.

Written and illustrated by Sean E. Avery
Read by Travis Nippard
Published by Fremantle Press

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here:
https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/harold-and-grace/

Harold and Grace

Emit (whose parents turned back time to name him) is surrounded by busyness! 

Dad is too busy to read stories, Mum is too busy to play games and Emit’s brother and sister are simply too busy doing nothing to do anything, at all! 

Emit tries everything he can think of to get more time, but it’s not until he tries to buy some time that he finds out exactly what to do!

Read by Charlie McGee from Formidable Vegetable
Written and illustrated by Kelly Canby
Published by Fremantle Press

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here:
https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/timeless/

Timeless

Ruby gets a brand-new pair of roller skates for her birthday. She’s super excited and sure that rollerskating will be easy peasy!  But after a few tumbles she realises she might need her dad’s help after all. 

A fun, engaging story for children learning how to do something for the first time.

Read by Zoe Sheridan, radio presenter, meditation teacher and rollerskating fan!
Written by Ky Garvey.
Illustrated by Amy Calautti.
Published by Exisle Publishing.

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here:
https://ekbooks.org/product/easy-peasy/?v=6cc98ba2045f

Zoe Sheridan reads Easy Peasy

At a time when girls weren’t encouraged to be bold and daring, Australian circus rider May Wirth lived by her own rules.

Instead of just looking pretty on a fancy circus pony, she longed to do thrilling stunts that would amaze crowds with her courage and skill . . . So she did.

Here is the story of a girl from humble beginnings who defied expectations and became the world’s bareback riding queen.

Written and read by Simi Genziuk who is a circus performer and author.
Illustrated by Renee Treml.
Published by Affirm Press.

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here:
https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/so-she-did-the-story-of-may-wirth/

So She Did

In the Jingle Jangle Jungle on a wet and windy day, 
Four little friends found a cosy place to play. 
Moose had marvellous antlers, and Lion, a golden mane. 
Zebra had fantastic stripes and Sheep . . . 
well, Sheep was plain. 

When four friends encounter a cranky bear, Moose, Lion and Zebra all think they know how to cheer him up. But is it plain, boring Sheep who might save the day?

Written and illustrated by Nick Bland. 
Read by Veronica Milsom, actor, podcaster, comedian, Mum and all round legend.
Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Australia.

To read along with the pictures, get your own copy of the book here:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-very-cranky-bear-nick-bland/book/9781741691344.html

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