8–10

Silver is an apt name for the heroine of this delightful story! Silver is ten years old with an alluring and sparkling personality; she also happens to live on a cruise ship with her mum and her group of grown-up friends. What Silver yearns for is a friend her own age and when she meets Yana, she thinks she’s found the perfect candidate, but the reader can see that Yana is not a nice friend. Silver endures embarrassment and humiliation in her desperate efforts to find a pal, while at the same time trying to track down the thief who’s pinched two fancy watches.

Cabin Head and Tree Head is a wonderfully eccentric graphic novel that will entertain children and adults alike. A collection of short graphic stories, the book introduces us to two friends, Cabin Head and Tree Head, who live in a world where the ordinary rules don’t seem to apply. Imagine if the ground beneath our feet were made of fun, friendly creatures, and then imagine the adventures that might unfold — this is exactly the playful space we are joining.

Cecily Sawyer is a spy in training, poring over Little Girl’s Guides to all things espionage and observing the intriguing guests and staff at her parent’s hotel. But when her mother and father mysteriously disappear, will she become the spy she’s always wanted to be? And what’s with all the mice?

Science is wonderful, especially when it helps solve some of life’s most challenging problems, like avoiding a grumpy emu in a maze, lifting a jumbo jet without breaking a sweat, or rescuing grandad from a volcano. This may sound far-fetched, but don’t worry – physics has the answer!

Lizzy has dreams of being a famous inventor, but her pet hamster has escaped, and she has to invent something to find him. With help from her babysitter and fellow inventor Ruby, Lizzy learns all about the skills required to become an inventor, how to follow a checklist, and how to consider the audience, safety, and sustainability of anything you might invent.

This colourfully illustrated book explores how dense layers of forest interact with each other and the rich life concealed within them.

Sometimes it’s the little things that have the most impact. The chain of events in The Last Pebble begins with something small that turns into a greater mystery. Our shy protagonist, Trader, spends his days at the beach looking for treasure with his Grandad, until one day he finds a remarkable pebble that changes the trajectory of his life. What happens next is a heartwarming tale of family, friendship, and intrigue as Trader learns more about his pebble and his relationships, especially with his Grandad.

The first in a new series, readers are introduced to Anderson House, a retirement home for witches. Meeting its quirky and diverse cast of residents and their familiars, we learn that the witches have given up magic in retirement, that is, until one day, a boy arrives requesting help …

The beloved Friendship Fairies are back again with another exciting adventure, this time – they must work together to save the circus. Emme, Holly, Jess and a symphony of quirky characters come together to help Diogo the clown get his smile back and remind him that what makes us happiest is often right in front of our eyes.