Book picks similar to
Alphabetical Sydney by Hillary Bell


picture-books
children
hillary-bell
australia

It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This


Lisa Wilkinson - 2021
    One of Australia's most admired and respected journalists and media personalities, her warm, intelligent and elegant presence has graced our television screens for many years, where she has shared and shaped many important national conversations. Australians of all ages love and respect her warmth, empathy, humour, integrity and fighting spirit. But it all could have been so different... When she was at school, Lisa found herself wishing she could just disappear. Subjected to horrific bullying as a teenager, she survived by making herself as small as possible, but she swore when she left school that no one was ever again going to determine who she was - or limit what she was capable of. That determination and drive led to Lisa blazing an unprecedented and enormously successful trail through the Australian media and cultural landscape for more than four decades. She was only twenty-one when she became the editor of Dolly - the youngest ever appointed to a national women's magazine - and four years later, after almost tripling the circulation, Lisa was head-hunted by the late Kerry Packer, who offered her the editorship of the iconic Cleo magazine. which she transformed into the number-one bestselling women's lifestyle magazine per capita in the world. Moving to television, first on Channel Ten's Beauty and the Beast, then as host of the Seven Network's Weekend Sunrise, she went on to spend almost eleven years as co-host of the Nine Network's Today Show, becoming its longest-serving female co-host, and where her talents took the program to the number-one spot in breakfast television. Lisa then caused a media storm in Australia and the world when she moved to the Ten Network as co-host of its prime-time award-winning program The Project. Lisa's interviews with everyone from George Clooney to Lady Gaga to Sophia Loren to Kim Kardashian, to every one of the country's last eight prime ministers, always create headlines. But it is her most recent work and the leading role she took in uncovering the misogyny in Parliament House, with her powerful, exclusive interview with Brittany Higgins, of which Lisa says she is most proud. A fierce campaigner for women and gender equality, Lisa has fought her own personal battles on this front, and continues to lead the way. It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This, the story of how a young girl from Campbelltown came to be such a force in Australian cultural life, is honest, warm, funny, engaging - and powerfully inspirational.

An Awesome Book of Thanks


Dallas Clayton - 2010
    Crafted for children ages 0-1000, this timeless story is sure to be an instant classic, at home in the hands of anyone looking for the perfect reminder of just how beautiful life can be.

Pop the Bubble!


Mary Eakin - 2016
    Children will love creating a bubble, playing with it and of course they’ll want to pop the bubble! Encouraging imagination with exciting interactive elements will make this a wonderful read-aloud experience.

The Taste of River Water


Cate Kennedy - 2011
    Everything that suffuses her well-loved prose is here: compassion, insight, lyrical precision, and the clear, minimalist eye that reveals how life can turn on a single moment. Musing on the undercurrents and interconnections between legacy, memory, motherhood and the natural world, the poems in the collection begin on the surface and then take us, gracefully and effortlessly, to a far more thought-provoking place.

Meet Alice


Davina Bell - 2012
    . . and Alice lives with her big family by the Swan River in Perth, while on the other side of the world, World War I rages. Alice's deepest wish is to become a ballerina, and when she auditions for a famous dance teacher from London, it seems as if her dreams might come true. But then there's a terrible accident, and Alice must ask herself whether there are more important things than dancing. Meet Alice and join her adventure in the first of four stories about a gifted girl in a time of war.

Diggy


Calee M. Lee - 2014
    If your little boy loves dump trucks, diggers, and building fun, Diggy is sure to be a treat! For fans of "Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site," and "Where do Diggers Sleep at Night."

My Dad Is Amazing (A Hello!Lucky Book)


Sabrina Moyle - 2018
    A joyful tribute to dads from the bestselling creators of Hello!Lucky!   Is your dad cooler than a million popsicles? Tougher than a rhino wrestler? Cuddlier than a ton of bunnies?   Celebrate all the things that make Dad amazing with this joyful board book!   Also available: My Mom is Magical!

ABC What Can She Be? Girls Can Be Anything They Want to Be, From A to Z


Sugar Snap Studio - 2018
    In this new title from Walter Foster Jr., ABC What Can She Be?encourages young girls by presenting a colorful variety of choices for their future careers.   Talented illustrator Jessie Ford artfully pairs the letters of the alphabet with vibrant, eye-catching illustrations that paint an inspiring picture for budding trailblazers everywhere.ABC What Can She Be? explores 26 different career paths. Each page introduces a letter of the alphabet with bright artwork and highlights a career that is fun, challenging, and makes a big impact in its own way.   A boldly illustrated, fun family read, ABC What Can She Be? is a great way for parents to introduce their small children to the bright futures before them.

Baby, Mix Me a Drink


Lisa Brown - 2005
    Yet too many parents allow their infant sons and daughters to lie about idly: napping, drinking milk, and whatnot. Why not put them to work? Observe how tots enjoy the shapes and colors, all the while learning how to mix a variety of basic cocktails. Thanks, Baby!

Waltzing Matilda


A.B. Paterson - 1972
    through a light lyrical verse, comes to life the story of a swagman who steals a sheep or 'jumbuck', and his ensuing police chase. Desmond Digby's painterly style of illustration with rustic colours, and a rugged looking swagman encapsulate the poet's Australian bush perfectly.the song was a collaboration between Christina MacPherson, who was responsible for the earliest version of the music, and Banjo Paterson, who wrote the words in 1895.As widely read today as it was 100 years ago, this is a must for all Australian children.Ages 4+

Count the Dinosaurs


Unknown - 2020
    A Funny Count the Dinosaurs Puzzle Book for Kids! It will bring endless happiness to your kids.

Apple Cake: A Gratitude


Dawn Casey - 2019
    / Thank you, flower, / Thank you, bee. / Thank you, rain, / Thank you, sun. / Thank you, farmers, / every one. In this simple rhyming story from the author of Held in Love, a child says thank you for the gifts nature provides, from hazelnuts in the hedge to apples from the tree, eggs from the hens to milk from the cow. Eventually, the family has enough ingredients to make something special…a delicious apple cake! With captivating illustrations that brim with emotion, this sweet picture book encourages children to be grateful for the world around them—the perfect read for Thanksgiving. A recipe for apple cake at the end allows you and your child to share in the joyful gratitude.

Lizzie Nonsense


Jan Ormerod - 2004
    Then Lizzie and Mama and baby are all alone in the little house in the bush. Lizzie is always playing and pretending. She is always dreaming. Lizzie nonsense! her mama calls it. Lizzie Nonsense brings to life, through the story of one family, the experience of pioneering women and children left alone in the Australian bush while their husbands and fathers were away working. Seen through the eyes of Lizzie, a playful and imaginative little girl, the joy and exuberance of childhood shines through, despite the hard work and isolation. But Lizzie Nonsense is, first and foremost, a story about a mother and daughter, told with warmth, tenderness and humour. Jan Ormerod's stunning, evocative illustrations make this a rich and resonating book.

Plants vs. Zombies: Petal to the Metal #8


Paul Tobin - 2016
    Zomboss are neck and neck! Paul Tobin (Bandette, Colder) and Ron Chan (Star Wars, The Guild) return to deliver another hilarious zombie battle to your burg! "Artist Ron Chan and colorist Matthew J. Rainwater [do] an excellent job of capturing the bright, cheery art style of the PvZ games and generally creating an energetic, vibrant cartoon landscape." -IGN

How Andrew Got His Spots


Louise Lintvelt - 2014
    He does not have any spots, you see! He keeps seeing spots wherever he goes… One spot, two spots, three spots, Four! And many, many, many more. “Where did you get your spots?” he asks. Join Andrew as he discovers how the ladybug, the leopard and the owl came to have spots and discovers that spots often appear when you are least expecting them! This is a wonderful rhyming picture book for children of all ages.