Family Chapter

A conversation-changing look at the social, familial, neurological, and psychological benefits of reading aloud, especially for parents and children. A miraculous alchemy occurs when one person reads to another, transforming the simple stuff of a book, a voice, and a bit of time into complex and powerful fuel for the heart, brain, and imagination. Grounded in the latest neuroscience and behavioural research, and drawing widely from literature, The Enchanted Hour explains the dazzling cognitive and social-emotional benefits that await children who are read to.

On Christmas Eve 1969, a letter from Australia House, London, brings welcome news for newlyweds Anna and Joseph Fletcher. Young and idealistic, Anna falls passionately in love with their adopted land. Seven months later, an unexpected event causes their life to take a tragic turn. Years pass, and Anna retreats to a fictional world she has created. But when a different challenge presents itself, does she have the courage to take the risk...or will she take refuge in fantasy?

Our Street at War series takes an ordinary street during wartime and peeps inside at the lives of the residents - full nostalgia and compelling storylines, this series is must for fan of Elaine Everest, Nancy Revell and Ellie Dean.

When Oliver Moon is entered for the Young Wizard of the Year award, he finds he's up against the head boy. And when he's given the job of litter collector, he decides to liven things up with the help of his new pet dragon.

Dad's working on his cool dance moves for the local talent search, while Weir's trying out for the school soccer team! Will Weir score a goal, or fall flat?

A Loafer’s Guide to Living is a story of disrupted lives during a search for the rarest of conditions: equilibrium. Bernard Goldman is the son of a famous father, and can’t get over it. His life is in shambles, as he gets grief from everyone and everything around him.

Josh Higgins has an alien gizmo that lets him think his way to other planets - and he does not want to use it. But his sister Maggie won't stop bugging him, so he agrees to an off-world vacation. Josh dreams up a planet full of blue oceans, white beaches, and sunny weather. And he prepares for everything...well, almost. A parade of cranky creatures soon spoil Josh and Maggie's perfect getaway - including a one-horned beast, a sharp-toothed sea princess, and a two-tailed monkey.

Part-inventor, part-dentist, robot builder, and scientist, nine-year-old Matty Bratty just might be a misunderstood genius. Matty Bratty Robots is the hilarious, clever tale of a boy who flunked third grade but is confident enough to think that he can be a scientist. After all, Albert Einstein is his pen pal, although Albert never writes back to Matty. When Matty builds some robots in his bedroom closet science lab, chaos happens.

Stanley's never alone in the Lone Star state. Stanley Lambchop can't wait to visit Texas and hang out with his brother, Arthur, and friends Carlos and Eduardo. Between jamming onstage at a rock concert and horseback riding in the desert, Stanley is flying high! But when a mysterious truck starts following them, the fun comes to a halt until a showdown at the Alamo reveals all. Is Stanley ready to face his fears with his friends by his side?

Peony Pinker is sick of: Mum and Dad arguing non-stop, big sister Primrose acting like a total drama queen, nobody listening (as usual) and Dennis the rabbit (the man promised he was house-trained…)Gran says you can’t change your family. Can Peony learn to live with them instead? The second book in a funny, fantastic series starring Peony and her crazy family from acclaimed author Jenny Alexander.

The president orders Captain Deke Mallory to penetrate a mysterious brotherhood of Neo-Nazi billionaires. They've financed a coup d'etat in Central America to begin their takeover of the Global Monetary System.

Eloise, a self-confessed Christmas obsessive, can’t wait for the big day. Devoted to her Michael Bublé playlist, she’s organising the school nativity play and even her gorgeous Grinch of a neighbour, James, can’t get her down. Her workaholic twin sister, Cara, on the other hand, plans to work over the holiday. The sisters used to be close, but since Cara moved to London, everything’s been different. Eloise isn’t giving up just yet. With James’ help and a white Christmas on the cards, Cara can’t fail to be moved by the magic of the season...can she?

There are approximately two million species of animals on earth, and each animal possesses characteristics and forms that make it unique and different. This book presents 270 random animal facts that will wow your mind and increase your knowledge of the magnificent animals that call earth home.

When Catherine Tedder’s husband dies suddenly in September 1822, she is left alone with two small girls, Margaret and Sarah. Accepting the proposal of James Blay Jr. sees her trapped in a marriage of convenience - for him. Struggling with the vagaries of her wayward husband, Catherine and the girls are forced to adapt to his tyranny. Moving them between Hobart and New Norfolk, James refuses to let the girls attend school. It's 1823, and Catherine's rights as a wife are limited.

Kennedy, Daryn, and Joy Soul are three hip sisters who live in a small suburb in Ohio. These three girls have never gotten along with each other and have never agreed upon anything; not even the day of the week. But when Bo Hart, their mom's new boyfriend, comes into the picture after years of it being just the sisters and their mother, each of the girls can finally agree upon one thing: That they need to get rid of Mom's new boyfriend!

After Rachel and Matthew had their first child, they had a couple of fights. Well, okay, more than a couple - they fought for over three years. They fought about schedules. They fought about bad habits. They even fought about the lawn mower. And besides actually having their child, it was the best thing that could've happened. Chronicling their greatest hits, from the great birth control debate to the divorce joke showdown, Fights You'll Have After Having a Baby is a postpartum story with hope.

The second book in John Reinhard Dizon's Generations series tells the story of Teodulfo Dizon: a teenager from Bical, the San Pedro District of the Philippine Islands. Son of a decommissioned Spanish officer, Teodulfo works as a house boy in the US military sector and makes connections that change his future. He and his friends seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to America, where they eventually find themselves in San Antonio, Texas. Soon, Teodulfo becomes a dynamic figure within the Filipino community as well as with the Mexicans. But will his dreams become legend?

This is the charming story of a small girl and the family members she lives with, as she playfully charts them just the way a child learning to count might do.

From the moment he was born, Jasper’s curiosity has consumed him. With his brother Willie, they’ve made new friends and learned more about the Amazon rainforest. The youngsters have grown close and make the most of any situation they find themselves in. Jasper’s main job is to make sure his brother stays safe, but that’s easier said than done. The jungle is full of dangers, and if they’re not careful, things can quickly get out of hand.

In this celebratory, reassuring rhyming story, a little girl with two mummies shares the magic of her family and discovers how magic all her friends' families are too. This is a warm, funny story that's perfect for opening up conversations about different families in a playful, creative way.