Sally Murphy

The silence was eerie. In the darkness I could just see the mist that swirled around the rowboat. The men in the boat seemed lost in their own thoughts. No-one spoke, no-one made a sound. Somewhere ahead a loud report. A shot? Rifle fire, from the beach, which was only dimly coming into view. This was it. When Australia throws its support behind Britain in its fight against Germany, young teacher Stan Moore is one of the first to join up, swapping the classroom for adventure in Europe. But the 11th Battalion is sent with the newly formed Anzac Corp to Gallipoli where Stan is confronted by the hard lessons of war. Though conditions are dismal and death is everywhere, so is the humour and bravery that is the true spirit of Anzac.

Nineteen Fifteen

Rhian Nest James

When his best friend falls ill, John learns poignant lessons about loyalty, silliness and loss when he is challenged to discover new ways to spend time with those closest to him.

Toppling

Heather Potter

Since Pearl's grandmother's became seriously ill, Pearl's world view has changed, causing her to feel like an island in school, isolated and alone, especially when her teacher keeps asking for poems that rhyme and Pearl's somehow, seldom do.

Pearl Verses the World

Snowy doesn't look like the other kangaroos and he feels left out until a stranger in a red suit has Snowy's Christmas plans looking up.

Snowy's Christmas

Discusses how Australia's first saint, a woman who believed every child deserved an education, set up her first school in Penola, South Australia.

Meet Mary MacKillop

Aussie Authors 2

Teachers have always been aware of the need to build a love of books and reading in children, but in recent years the focus on literacy has grown to achieve even greater emphasis. An integral part of the challenge of developing reading skills is the need to select quality books for class reading, private reading and school libraries. In Australia, an additional challenge has long been to provide students with material by Australian authors and with content relevant to Australian children. Aussie Authors provides teachers with a resource for introducing more Australian content into classrooms, and for exploring these works.

Aussie Authors

Spellbound

Pete lives with his mum. His dad lives far away and, as far as Pete knows, that's all the family he has. Until one day, just before Pete turns ten, a birthday card arrives in the mail with stars on the front and signed 'Love, Grandad'. Mum reveals the card is from her own father, but when she won't give Pete more information he decides to locate this mysterious Grandad for himself. Pete visits Grandad and is thrilled to discover they share a passion for the night sky. Looking Up is a moving story about family, forgiveness and the stars.

Looking Up

Marvin can't believe that his babysitter, Nina, has forgotten his birthday. His sister Karla hasn't said anything about it either, and Dad is away in New York. Will anyone remember before Friday?

Marvin's Birthday

Worse Things is a story about connections, the ways they are made, and what happens when they are lost or illusive, from the award-winning author of Pearl Verses the World and Toppling. Worse Things follows the lives of three main characters: Blake, an Aussie Rules football player who suffers a devastating injury; Jolene, a hockey player who hates the game and and is grieving over the recent death of her father; and Amed, a soccer-loving, non-English speaking orphan who feels like an outsider since arriving in Australia after being raised in a refugee camp. A touching and inspirational story about connections and the things that bind us all.

Sally Murphy

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