A 2026 CBCA NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNGER READERSA beautiful and deeply moving story about friendship, family, hope and the power of the ocean, for middle-grade readers who love a mystery, from popular children's author Ashleigh Barton.Beatrice Glass - Bea - lives in a tiny fishing village that's sleepy all year until the summertime, when the tourists flock in and most of the locals leave. But summer is also when Bea...

You'll never believe where Solomon Macaroni is heading ... The world's friendliest vegetarian vampire and his six mischievous cousins are going to Paris with Uncle Dracula. They can't wait for the fine food, fabulous fashion and fang-dangled art. But Uncle Dracula is not himself. When the kids see the Mona Lisa, they get an idea to cheer him up ... and it' s their naughtiest one yet. With the help of an overly friendly hotel manager, they hatch a ridiculous plan to steal the famous paintin...

A CBCA NOTABLE EARLY CHILDHOOD BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025James loves two things more than anything in the world: dinosaurs and miniatures. So when his class goes on an excursion to a museum and James finds a miniature dinosaur in the gift shop, he can't help himself: he steals the dinosaur. But as the day continues, James's guilt grows. And so does the dinosaur!The only thing that can cure James's guilt - and shrink the dinosaur back to its proper size - is doin...

A gorgeous NEW book celebrating mums in different cultures from bestselling duo Ashleigh Barton and Martina HeiduczekIn every country around the world are mums – some short, some tall.Though they go by different names, we love them one and all.A heart-warming celebration of ways to say 'Mum' from Okaasan in Japanese to Miimi in Gumbaynggirr. Join bestselling duo Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek on a journey t...

A fun rhyming picture book with bright and engaging illustrations that teaches children about animals who look similar, but have unique differences, from acclaimed author Ashleigh Barton and illustrator Amandine ThomasWhen a hedgehog and an echidna meet and realise they have many similarities, they take a look at other animal pairs around the world who look the same but aren't: crocodiles and alligators, llamas and alpacas, rabbits and hares, and more. Join Echidna...

An inclusive picture book for parents everywhere.In every country around the world are dads - some short, some tall.Though they go by different names, we love them one and all.From bestselling duo Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek comes a heartfelt and charming book that celebrates the many different ways we say dad.What Do You Call Your Dad? **is a love letter to fathers and families from every corner o...

Did you know that lawnmower racing is a sport? Or that cranberries bounce? How about that Gentoo penguins can bodysurf?Freddie Spector loves collecting facts - about anything and everything. At the moment he's obsessed with facts about sport. It's all he talks about: weird sports, Olympic sports, extreme sports, athletes and sporting history. He writes all his facts on sticky notes that his mum and big sister, Henrietta, keep finding in weird places - like in a cup...

Did you know that a bolt of lightning is five times hotter than the Sun? Or that slugs have four noses? How about that humans share 50 per cent of our DNA with bananas? Freddie Spector, the world's greatest fact collector, knows all these things and so much more.Freddie Spector loves collecting facts - about anything and everything. His latest obsession is space. It's all he talks about: stars, planets, galaxies, astronauts, space travel - and, of course UFOs and e...

Something in the air has shifted,Steps have lightened, spirits lifted.We all have our own ways,To bring the magic to these days.Traditions old, traditions new,Whatever means the most to you.Traditions big, traditions small,It's the joy they bring us all.The tree is decorated, the presents are wrapped, the cricket set is ready and the barbecue is fired up - it's ...

A wise and beautifully written middle-grade novel about finding answers to the big questions in life from popular children's author Ashleigh Barton.Ester Star is a germophobe and hypochondriac and she's convinced she's going to die. To prepare for her imminent and inevitable demise, Ester keeps a list of all the questions she hopes to have answered in the afterlife - things she knows she'll never have the answers to during her lifetime. What really happened to ...