Picture Books

Crocodile River

illustrated by Danny Snell

For Cranky the saltwater crocodile, every day is a struggle for survival. Wild pigs come searching for crocodile eggs, and sea eagles swoop on the tiny hatchlings. As Cranky grows, bigger crocodiles want to eat her and humans come hunting. Will she ever find a place of her own – a place where she can be safe?

Where did the idea for Crocodile River come from?

My uncle lived in a remote part of Papua New Guinea beside one of the wide and murky rivers – home to many crocodiles. His stories of how he hunted them, especially at night, sparked my interest.

Paraphernalia's Present

illustrated by Dee Huxley

Dottie and her hen, Paraphernalia, share breakfast, trips into town, even afternoon tea. But one day Dottie has an accident and Paraphernalia surprises her with the greatest gift of all…

A story about loneliness and friendship

Where did the idea for Paraphernalia’s Present come from?

My sister's children treated their chooks – the Australian name for hens and chickens – like pets. They nursed the chooks on their swing and, when they could get away with it, carried them indoors. The happy chooks laid far more eggs than the family needed, and sometimes produced a clutch of chicks.

Pickle the perfectly awful pig

illustrated by Craig Smith

Pickle is the smallest piglet in the litter. She needs someone to love her and feed her, so Jack takes her home. But before long Pickle grows bigger and bigger, causing all sorts of trouble...

A story about loyalty and keeping a promise.

Where did the idea for Pickle the perfectly awful pig come from?

A friend told me about a pet piglet she once had. Every day when she came home from school the piglet squealed a welcome. She took it for walks on a lead and slathered sun-cream on its back so its skin wouldn’t turn into pork crackling.

Non-Fiction Books

It's True! Your Bones are Stronger than Concrete

pictures by Geoff Kelly

Did you know museums keep colonies of beetles to eat the flesh from bones for display? Or that Santa Claus had a broken nose?

Have a squiz at skeletons and discover how experts find clues to murder in dry bones, why we can't wag our tails and how a person's face can be reconstructed from clues on the skull.

It's True! Your Hair Grows 15 Kilometres a Year

pictures by Leigh Hobbs

Did you know a single strand of hair can show if you've been poisoned? Or that redheads were once burned at the stake?

Find out what makes hair frizzy, fine or fair. Read up on beards, babies, barbers and baldness, and dicover the origin of the word 'bigwig'. 

Where did the ideas for the two It's True books come from?

Everything about the human body has always fascinated me. Hair and Bones had endless possibilities from murder to music to language, besides the obvious science. Great fun!

Guide Dogs from puppies to partners

Find out about the breeding of guide dogs and the care of newborn puppies. When does training start? What does a young dog need to learn? Discover how a dog is matched to its handler and how they learn to work together to form a very special bond.

Where did the idea for Guide Dogs from puppies to partners come from?

Felix developed arthritis after working as a guide dog for four years. He was retired early and came to us through our state guide dog centre. If I burned the chops for dinner and accidentally set off the smoke alarm, Felix would rush into the kitchen and butt me away from the griller. It made me wonder what he'd been trained to do...and how.

Inside The Australian Ballet

Discover the secrets behind the scenes at The Australian Ballet. See how costumes and wigs are made, the number of pointe shoes a dancer will wear out in a year, and what a flyman does. Look at what happens long before the curtain goes up – and while a performance is on.

Where did the idea for Inside The Australian Ballet come from?

One day I went on a guided tour of The Australian Ballet and besides ballet dancers saw a lot more. The Centre was alive with colour and music and action, but there was no book about all the people whose hard work and skills combine to bring a production to the stage. Lots of them talked to me – now it's in the book.