NEW! Big Eyes, Scary Voice, illustrated by Carl Pearce (Tamarind/Random House Children's Books, UK; available from Random House Australia), for ages 3-5 years.
ISBN 978-1-870-51688-4

Tania and Josh hear a scary voice calling in the park at sunset. They walk warily along the path, listening and exploring. The voice calls again and again. What is it? Where is it coming from? They see a fountain, boats, playground, trees… There are strange shadows everywhere and unexpected eyes. At last, joined by Mum, they find a feathery thing with big eyes and a scary voice.

Look at the eyes and the feathers on the end papers, and the double-page sunset scenes at the beginning and the end of the book.

www.tamarindbooks.co.uk
www.randomhouse.com.au

The Magic Horse, illustrated by Claire de Zoete and Heath Gray, 'Springboard' series (2005, Macmillan Education Australia) – for ages 6-8 years. 0 7329 9609 0

In this German folk tale, three lads try to find out who is robbing their father's corn. John, the youngest, discovers it is a horse – a magical horse that takes him up a mountain to meet a princess!

Publisher: (Macmillan): www.macmillan.com.au

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The Little Mermaid, illustrated by Peter Campbell, 'Springboard' series ( 2005, Macmillan Education Australia) – for ages 6-8 years. 0 7329 9593 0

A retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen tale of the little mermaid - the youngest of six sisters. When it is her turn to rise up and see the world, she falls in love with a prince.

Publisher: (Macmillan): www.macmillan.com.au

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Numbers in Lines, illustrated by Melissa Webb, 'Inquisitive' series (2005, Pearson Education Australia) – for ages 6-8 years 0 7339 6864 3

What happens when you start looking for numbers in lines? Try it, and you'll find them everywhere: at home, at school, in the street, in big buildings, in the harbour…

Publisher: (Pearson): www.pearsoned.com.au

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Frozen Music, illustrated by Tom Barrett, 'Books for Young Learners' series (2005, Richard C. Owen Publishers, USA) – for ages 6-8 years. 978 1 57274 709 9

In a German folk tale, a coachman on a journey blows signals and tunes on his golden horn. The weather is cold, and the music freezes! Later on, in the warmth of an inn, the tunes are released.

Publisher: (Richard C. Owen): www.rcowen.com

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Rumpelstiltskin, illustrated by Philip Webb, 'Chatterbox' series (2004, Pearson Education Australia) – for ages 6-8 years. 0 12 360300 5

A retelling of a tale from the Brothers Grimm (Germany). A little man helps a young woman spin straw into gold, and she marries the king. But the little man demands a payment: the Queen's first-born child.

Publisher: (Macmillan): www.pearsoned.com.au

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I Wonder Who Lives Upstairs, illustrated by Leanne Argent (1993, University of Western Australia Press – Cygnet Books) – for ages 3-6 years. Children's Book Council of Australia, Notable Book.

Sophie, Mum and Dad and baby Julian are moving into a downstairs flat. Sophie wonders who lives upstairs, and wants to meet them. Soon she sees clues, and then there are surprises. Look at the upstairs pictures. Can you work out the mystery?

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King Beast's Birthday, illustrated by Marina McAllan, 'Literacy Links' series (1992, Mimosa) – for ages 6-8 years.

King Beast, the lion, boasts that he owns the biggest and best of everything. For his birthday, he prepares for the biggest and best party ever, but…

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Roly Meets the Monster, illustrated by Neil Curtis, 'Story Chest' series (1991, Rigby Heinemann) – for ages 6-8 years.

Roly, the classroom rabbit, is jealous when the class votes for Peter Rabbit as their favourite, so he sets out to be brave and adventurous – like Peter - to get attention.

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Big April Fools! illustrated by C. S. Severn, 'Spectrum Library' (1989, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Australia) – for ages 6-8 years.

Miranda has been in Australia for only a few months, and she doesn't know about April Fools' Day. Soon Danny and Rose trick her, but then, surprisingly, she tricks the whole family!

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Amanda's Warts, illustrated by Heather Campbell, 'Spectrum Library' series (1989, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Australia) – for ages 6-8 years.

Amanda has warts on the back of her hand, and Grandma, Grandpa and Great-Aunt Dorothy tell her magical cures for them. What happens when she tries them?

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Spider in the Toilet, illustrated by Margaret Power (1988, Lothian Books; 1998, Eldorado Publishing) – for ages 3-6 years.

When Ben stays with Nanna, he sees spiders everywhere: in the toilet, on the wall, in the sky. Then his mother arrives, bringing a special surprise.

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Raining Cats and Dogs, illustrated by Rodney McRae (1987, Hodder & Stoughton) – for ages 3-6 years. Honour Award, Most Beautiful Books from Around the World, Leipzig Book Fair, Germany.

One day when Jan and Peter were staying at Grandma's, the rain started. It wasn't sprinkles, drizzles and mizzles, but driving and pouring, drenching and roaring rain – a downpour and a deluge, with cats and dogs arriving, too.

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The Car Wash Monster, illustrated by Kim Lynch (1986, Ashton Scholastic) – for ages 3-6 years.

The Car Wash Monster growls, 'I'm coming to eat you up!' Anna and Ben are scared, but their country cousin, Cindy isn't. What happens when Offenbark, the dog, leaps out of the window? (Look at the Car Wash Monster's tentacle tongues. If you go into a car wash today, you will notice that the monster's tongues have changed.)

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