Why would a wombat be registered for war? It's 1965, and an old Tattersalls barrel starts rolling marbles to randomly conscript young Australian men to fight in the war in Vietnam. Melbourne housewife Jean McLean is outraged, as are her artist friends Clif and Marlene Pugh, who live in the country with their wombat, Hooper. Determined to wreck the system, Jean forms the Save Our Sons movement's Victorian branch, and she and her supporters take to the streets to protest. Meanwhile, in the small country town of Katunga, Bill Cantwell joins the Australian Army, and in Saigon, young Mai Ho is writing letters to South Vietnamese soldiers from her school desk. And when Hooper's call-up papers arrive, he mysteriously goes underground... As these stories intersect in unexpected ways and destinies entwine, a new world gradually emerges - a world in which bridges of understanding make more sense than war. This stunning graphic novel, full of empathy, courage and resistance, is based on true events. 'Every drawing reflects a Vietnamese history era in which I grew up and witnessed the war. I cannot thank you enough for this memory.' MAI HO 'I wish I had this growing up. It's incredibly informative. Stories like this are severely lacking, and for an Australian audience, I think it will be revelatory.' MATT HUYNH

Once there were two little girls who were best friends. They did everything together. As they got older they weren't allowed to do the same things anymore. Because they looked different. Because of the law. This is a story about the landmark 1967 Referendum, the two women who came together to change the law ... and how the Australian people said YES.

The complete Cleo collection in a beautiful hardback edition, starring a little girl with a big imagination, created by children's book legends Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood. Meet Cleo, the little girl with a big imagination, who solves problems in creative and delightful ways and always finds ways to have fun. Read all the Cleo stories from an award-winning, legendary team: Cleo and the Necklace Cleo and the Present Cleo makes a Friend Cleo wants a Pet Set in a comforting domestic world, these warm and irresistible stories altogether in one volume for the first time are perfect for kids learning to read and transitioning from picture books to chapter books. 'Exquisitely and extensively illustrated with pictures that bring Gleeson's little family affectionately to life.' Katharine England, Adelaide Advertiser

The Dunggiirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale is both a beautiful picture book and a special resource that will connect children to the landscape of the mid-north NSW coast, as well as to the unique stories of the Gumbaynggirr people. Welcome to Ngambaa Country on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. I am Aunty Shaa and this is the story of the Koala Brothers, the Dunggiirr Brothers. This is the story of our Country. We live the story of being saved by Dunggiirr and we do a ceremony to keep it alive. It is this story and memory we share with you in this book. This stunning picture book from the Yandaarra Caring for Country community group, a project led by Gumbaynggirr Elder Aunty Shaa Smith, in association with the University of Newcastle, helps us learn the stories of the mid-north NSW coast. The Dunggiirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale also spreads a welcome and beautiful message of care and understanding to the wider community.

I wonder if the first day of Learning is always like this - do the girls on the hill always feel the ground tremble under their feet? Leira is about to start her initiation as a priestess when her world is turned upside down. A violent earthquake leaves her home - and her family - in pieces. And the goddess hasn't finished with the island yet. With her family, Leira flees across the sea to Crete, expecting sanctuary. But a volcanic eruption throws the entire world into darkness. After the resulting tsunami, society descends into chaos; the status and privilege of being noble-born reduced to nothing. With her injured mother and elderly nurse, Leira has only the strength and resourcefulness within herself to find safety. A thrilling Bronze Age survival story from the acclaimed author of Dragonfly Song.

An adorable picture book that celebrates the arrival of a new baby, with gorgeous illustrations by the bestselling illustrator of It's Not Scribble to Me. Here you are. Look at you! Tiny, precious, all brand-new. At first you were a beating heart, Now your life's about to start ... Hello, Baby! A sweet story that perfectly captures the special feelings that arrive with a new baby, and which will welcome that bundle of joy into hearts and homes.

Miri's been on the move and now she's finding her feet, her freedom, her community and her home, treading lightly all the way. A story about spreading your wings and putting down roots in an ancient land. From the much-loved creator of Rivertime (WINNER: Readings Prize and Wilderness Society Award) and Rockhopping (WINNER: CBCA Awards). 'Another lovely adventure from Trace Balla. Rich in country and family, deep in care for the future.' BRUCE PASCOE 'A beautiful book about being connected to the world at ground level. I feel like I've made a new friend through Trace's exquisitely accessible drawings and gentle prose.' ALISON LESTER 'Reminiscent of Alison Lester and Roland Harvey, Landing with Wings is a story about moving slowly, looking carefully and remaining curious, and it is a book that leads by example. In her loving portrait of community life in Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Balla achieves something like a contemporary visual bush poetry. It is spellbinding.' Books+Publishing

Noni the Pony has a lot of fun counting everything she sees on a happy summer's day! You may have met Noni already in Noni the Pony, Noni the Pony Goes to the Beach and Noni the Pony Rescues a Joey. Noni the Pony stands under one tree, and watches her two friends dance by the sea. She gives three speckled hens a ride up the hill… Come on another adventure with Noni in this delightful rhyming story. Alison Lester's books are favourites with children and adults around the world. Magic Beach, Imagine, My Farm and Noni the Pony are Australian classics.

If she had stayed to load the kiln as she should have, she'd never have seen the ship. Mama said the ship still would have been there, so everything had to happen the way it did. But that's not true. Clio saw it, and the world changed. When a raiders' ship appears off the coast, the goddess demands an unthinkable price to save the town - and Clio's grandmother creates a sacred statue to save Clio's life. But Clio is torn between the demands of guarding the statue and caring for her beloved horses. Disabled in an accident, she must try to put aside her own grief at no longer being able to ride - and in the process, save a friend's life and stop a war. Rippling with emotion and drama, war and resistance, fear and determination, this novel is a brilliant companion to the highly acclaimed Dragonfly Song and Swallow's Dance.

A cheeky, fun and fast-moving tale of two Lebanese-Australian kids who decide to escape their horrible babysitter by running away…to the other side of the world. SHORTLISTED: 2022 CBCA Book of the Year, Younger Readers Huda's sitting in the airport lounge, fiddling with our tickets. I can tell she's excited because she has a little smile on her face and she keeps glancing at her pink digital watch. I can't believe we're doing this. I can't believe we're running away from home. Well, we're not really running away. We'll come back. We're running to our parents. On the other side of the world. When their parents have to travel to Beirut unexpectedly, twelve-year-old Akeal and his six siblings are horrified to be left behind in Melbourne with the dreaded Aunt Amel as their babysitter. Things do not go well, and Akeal's naughty little sister, Huda, hatches a bold plan to escape. After stealing Aunt Amel's credit card to buy plane tickets to Lebanon, Huda persuades her reluctant favourite brother to come with her. So begins Huda and Akeal's hair-raising and action-packed journey to reunite with their parents half a world away, in a city they've grown up dreaming about but have never seen. A fresh and funny story of sibling love, adventure and courage, Huda and Me is one of a kind. 'An irresistible invitation to young readers to embrace a story that is familiar at times, and wonderfully fresh and new at others.' RANDA ABDEL-FATTAH 'One minute you're laughing out loud and the next you're wiping away a cheeky tear. Big adventure, big laughs and big heart.' NAT AMOORE 'Sparkling with mischief, adventure and family love, Huda and Me is a gem of a story.' KIRSTY MURRAY