Books We Love!
The Complete Brambly Hedge - A treasury of seasonal stories by Jill Barklem
You can't help but be completely enchanted by the richly illustrated old English countryside that the sprawling community of forest mice inhabit. The reader is swept along through the extended mice families' celebrations, family dramas and adventures. The intricate illustrations are a visual feast depicting beautifully adorned miniature cottages and the Old Oak Palace built in hollowed-out tree stumps, with the flour and dairy mill nearby.
The Complete Brambly Hedge includes eight chapter stories that follow the Seasons. All are joyful and life-affirming in their celebration of family life and living in nature.
This is a book that will quickly become a family favourite! With its focus on simple family values and a celebration of the Seasons, you and your children will find yourself revisiting these whimsical stories again and again.
Perfect as a first-chapter book, but each chapter story can also be enjoyed on its own.
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 5+
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Let's Eat Weeds - A Kid's Guide to Foraging by Annie Raser-Rowland, Adam Grubb and illustrated by Evie Barrow
An exciting new Australian book that we love is Let's Eat Weeds - A Kid's Guide to Foraging by Melbourne authors Annie Raser-Rowland and Adam Grubb.
In this fun and informative book, filled with gorgeous botanical illustrations by artist Evie Barrow, kids will discover how to identify weeds, where and when to find them, and how to cook them!
You can feel the authors' enthusiasm for weeds and foraging jump off the page with expressive descriptions about how great edible weeds can taste, fun facts and delicious recipes like 'Weeds 'n' Cheese Pie and Chickweed Pesto to try at home.
The range of plants the book covers is broad, progressing from plants that are easy to find and very safe, to the second half of the book offering a ‘careful-ometer’ based on specific risk.
With Let's Eat Weeds as your guide, you’ll start to see food all around you, every time you go for a walk.
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 5+
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Wandi by Favel Parrett
A new favourite Australian story for readers 7+ by Australian author Favel Parrett.
Wandi is the fictional retelling of a true story of a dingo cub called Wandi, who became a worldwide sensation when, at 5 weeks old, he was snatched by a giant eagle and dropped into a backyard miles from his Australian alpine home. Then his journey begins to find a safe home again, meeting some kind humans who help him along the way but also coming across humans who hurt dingoes. He eventually finds a safe home at a dingo sanctuary in regional Victoria and dreams of a time when all dingo cubs can live in the wild in safety.
A beautiful yet simply written children's novel told from the perspective of Wandi the alpine dingo. This is a heartwarming story for young animal lovers, although some scary scenes may upset sensitive children.
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 7+
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Pomme and the Pumpkins by Admar Kwant
Pomme and the Pumpkins by Admar Kwant is a delightful picture book that celebrates the seasons and shares the joy of planting your own vegetables and helping them grow.
Pomme saves pumpkin seeds in winter when helping her father make pumpkin soup, she patiently waits until planting time in spring to dig a tiny bed in the earth for each seed before covering them gently with a blanket of soil. Soon funny shoots of green appear and by summertime, her plants are flourishing with pumpkin flowers, but is Pomme the only one looking after the growing pumpkins?
"One afternoon there was a thunderstorm. The heavy rain came too. 'I hope the rain doesn't wash away my pumpkin plants', thought Pomme.
When the storm had passed, Pomme rushed outside to check. In the soil she saw little channels that had drained the rainwater away. Her plants were safe!"
Filled with Admar Kwant's vibrant pastel illustrations, this heart-warming picture book tells the story of how vegetables grow through the lifecycle of a pumpkin, from seed to harvest. This is a story that shares a beautiful message of kindness as Pomme discovers a special new friend has been helping to care for the garden through the seasons.
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 3+
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How The Stars Came To Be by Poonam Mistry
This book is a visual gem!
How the Stars Came to Be is a breathtaking visual journey into the realm of folklore and wonder. Through a tapestry of intricate illustrations, we explore a new folktale of how the stars came to be.
When the moon disappears for a few nights each month, The Fisherman's Daughter worries about her father and how he will find his way home to her. When the Sun finds her crying, he offers her a way to ensure that there will always be light in the darkness...
Poonam Mistry's exquisite illustration style, influenced by traditional Indian paintings, transports you to a world where myths and reality intermingle. The story's universal themes of curiosity, courage, and the beauty of the unknown make it a poignant read for both children and adults.
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 8+
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Spin a Scarf of Sunshine by Dawn Casey and Stila Lim
This story is a joyful celebration of traditional crafts and sustainable living and will inspire children and adults alike to explore the simple beauty around them as well as perhaps inspiring a few knitting projects!
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 3+
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The Garden Adventures of Griswald the Gnome by Daniela Drescher
One of our favourite first chapter books is the delightful story of Griswald, a little gnome who lives in the garden with a host of animals and birds for friends. Through the seasons, Griswald explores his surroundings, gets into sticky situations, helps his companions and even learns to dance!
The Garden Adventures of Griswald the Gnome by Daniela Drescher is the perfect bedtime storybook, filled with beautiful illustrations that will enchant and entertain children with each easy-to-ready chapter telling a different story of Griswald’s adventures
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 6+
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An A-Z Collection of Behaviour Tales from Angry Ant to Zestless Zebra by Susan Perrow
"Stories may not be magic pills that have powers to fix or heal all difficulties. However, they can be a wonderful alternative to nagging or lecturing. And sometimes ‘magic’ does happen and a story does make a difference!”
Susan Perrow.
This collection of behaviour tales created by Susan Perrow, offers story medicine as a creative strategy for parenting, teaching and counselling. Telling the right story at the right time can help children face challenges and change behaviour.
The stories, some humorous, some serious, are especially relevant for children aged three to nine years. They are for telling and adapting: turn them into homemade picture books or puppet shows, or even create new tales from them.
This is a wonderful resource for parents and educators that you will dip into again and again!
Format: Paperback
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Pip the Gnome's Bedtime by Admar Kwant
We love beautiful board books for very young children and Pip the Gnome’s Bedtime is the the perfect bedtime story with soft colourful illustrations and simple rhythmic words that will prepare little people for a peaceful nights sleep.
One by one, Pip's friends go to sleep: the mouse in her bed under a tree root, the rabbit in her burrow underground… Pip is sleepy too. "Sleep well, Pip."
Format: Boardbook
Recommended reading age: 0+
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Norse Myths and Viking Legends by Isabel Wyatt
This exciting collection of three epic Viking legends is perfect for children aged 9+ especially those in Class 4 at a Steiner / Waldorf School as this is the year they dive into Norse mythology.
These thrilling tales of war and love, power and cunning, magic and destiny are beautifully retold by renowned storyteller Isabel Wyatt.
Format: Paperback
Recommended reading age: 9+
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The O In The Snow by Judith Barker
"High amidst the snow-gums.
A drover’s horse once rode
Across the Bogong High Plains
To the land of the Ngarigo.”
This richly illustrated picture book is inspired by The Man from Snowy River and celebrates the creatures of the High Country and the drovers that once mustered horses and cattle on the high plains.
Along the way we learn about the vowel sound O and where it can be found in different words in this gorgeous Australian-themed story with engaging rhyming text.
The O In The Snow is the perfect book for children who are curious about the world of letters and the sounds they make.
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 3+
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The Apple Cake by Nienke van Hichtum and Marjan van Zeyl
This is a beautiful story about an old lady who wants to bake an apple cake. She has everything she needs except apples. So she sets off to market to buy some apples, taking a basket of plums to trade along the way, just in case...
The Apple Cake is also a story about sharing, trading and caring. Children will love guessing what the old lady will acquire next, and how, and seeing how her journey brings her full circle as her kindness is repaid.
We love the invitation at the end to make your own apple cake with the inclusion of a lovely apple cake recipe.
This book is a wonderful addition to your Autumn Harvest celebrations.
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 4+
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Pippa and Pelle in the Autumn Wind by Daniela Drescher
Autumn has arrived! Pippa and Pelle can't wait to play with their colourful kites.
A vibrant story about embracing and enjoying the Autumn weather and all that the season brings.
Daniela Drescher's whimsical illustration style will capture any child's imagination. This magical autumnal board book is full of seasonal details and is the perfect size for little hands.
Format: Board book
Recommended reading age: 1+
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Wilam a Birrarung Story by Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly and Lisa Kennedy
This is the story of one day in the life of the vital, flourishing Birrarung (Yarra River).
As ngua (sun) rises, Bunjil (wedge-tailed eagle) soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen (salt water bay). Wilam (home).
Yarra Riverkeeper Andrew Kelly joins award-winning picture book duo Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy to tell the Indigenous and geographical story of Melbourne’s beautiful Yarra River, from its source to its mouth; from its pre-history to the present day.
An ode to Australian rivers, the flora and fauna that live on them, and the function they perform as a part of modern-day life.
The gorgeously rich illustrations of Wilam brings Aboriginal culture and language to life in this beautiful book that includes a glossary of Woiwurrung words.
Format: Hardback
Recommended reading age: 6+
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One Handed Cooks - How to raise a healthy, happy eater from baby to school age
More than just a recipe book. One Handed Cooks bestows plenty of practical advice to help you successfully navigate your child's journey with solid foods. Learn how to avoid the trap of fussy eating, and ways to manage the common challenges that parents face. Above all, learn how to set your child up with a positive relationship with food and healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.
We love (and have made many of) these simple, nutritious and tasty recipes for the whole family, written by an accredited Dietician as part of the team of Sydney Mum’s who are behind this collection of books.
Many recipes give you suggestions for how a meal can be adapted for baby, toddler or adults so that the whole family can enjoy the same meal!
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A Little Bush Fairy by Maggie May Gordon and illustrated by Eric Kuiper
A little bush fairy on the Christmas tree
Though not like fairies you usually see,
For she wears not a gauzy, gossamer gown
But gumnut blossoms drifting down!
A Little Bush Fairy is the story of how one little fairy came to be more special than any other.
Of course, she had, like all fairies do: wings, gown, slippers, wand and crown, but this little bush fairy became like no other thanks to a Christmas Spirit and nature’s gifts.
She is special, too, because she can only be found in one place in the world: a land ‘down under’.
And as a little bush fairy, she also changed the lives of five bush creatures with their most unusual, but happiest ever, Christmas!
A delightful Australian Christmas story perfect for children aged 3 years and up.
Recommended reading age: 3+
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The Christmas Craft Book by Thomas Berger
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Australia's Best 100 Walks by Australian Geographic
With international travel still looking uncertain, it's never been a better time to explore what's on our doorstep! Everyone we know will be getting this book for Christmas!
There are so many incredible walks in Australia but how do you know which are the best ones? The expertise of the Australian Geographic team of editors, writers and photographers have researched all the walks in Australia and whittled it down to the best 100!
You'll find clear and detailed descriptions of each walk with practical information such as how long, how far, how strenuous and information to explore each walk's cultural and geographical splendour and lots of stunning photography to get you inspired.
The Australian Geographic guide to Australia’s Best 100 Walks will have you itching to lace up your boots with this showcase of the sheer beauty and diversity of our landscapes and wildlife.
The ideal gift for nature-lovers, hikers, tourists and travellers.
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Little Spiral by Pat Simmons and illustrated by Patrick Shirvington
“Something special happens where nature’s treasures dwell. A hatchling baby forest snail. A perfect spiral shell…”
This delightful picture book, is just perfect for pre-school and kindergarten children. Written by Pat Simmons and beautifully illustrated by Patrick Shirvington, Little Snail takes you on a journey through the Australian rainforest through the eyes of Little Spiral, a baby forest snail. Some of the creatures he meets along the way are a rustling rat, a scritch-scratching brush turkey and a lingering lizard. He may be small but he is “steadily growing, exploring the rainforest. Slowly. Secretly.”
An enchanting story full of wonder that reminds us of the beauty even in natures littlest creatures.
Recommended reading age: 3+
Kingdom of Beautiful Colours by Isabel Wyatt
Once upon a time there was a kingdom of beautiful colours. In the middle of it stood a cloud mountain, and from the top of the cloud mountain you looked down on a wonderful rainbow, shining green and blue and yellow…
One of our favourite books for older readers is Kingdom of Beautiful Colours, an enchanting collection of seven stories by the author of many wonderful books for children, Isabel Wyatt. The imaginative stories are full of ivory towers, great forests, golden lands and brave princes and will delight children.
Isabel Wyatt (1901-1992) was born in England and spent many years teaching young children. She wrote many books for children, including The Seven-Year-Old Wonder Book, The Eight-Year-Old Legend Book, Magical Wonder Tales, Norse Hero Tales, The Legends of King Arthur, Legends of the Norse King, and Hay For My Ox.
Recommended reading age: 9+
Rocks, Minerals and Gems by John Farndon
This is one of our favourite Children's Non-Fiction books and absolutely perfect for your budding crystal and gemstone enthusiast!
The definitive guide to rocks, minerals and gems, this book includes an introduction to rocks and minerals and how they form, and a quick guide to what you need and where to look. There is also a complete guide to identifying rocks and minerals and everything you need to know to start building a collection.
Packed with fun facts and practical activities, this book also features colour photos and infographics that show the qualities of each rock and mineral in extraordinary detail.
• The ultimate guide to help you identify hundreds of rocks, minerals and gems
• Fascinating facts provide extra information on how rocks form and where to find them
• Data boxes provide short facts to help you quickly identify the properties of each rock.
"I really like the detailed pictures and information on all the different types of crystals and rocks so that I’m able to identify the crystals that I have in my collection, to the ones in the book! I really like the cool, sparkly cover too!"
Leon, 10-year-old Gemstone Enthusiast
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