When the Circus Came to Town


Polly Horvath - 1996
    Then came Elmira Degoochy the snake lady. Then the Flying Gambinis -- all seven of them and their mother. And Mrs. Harrison the fortune-teller, and Mr. Wydel the strongman . . .These are the new residents of Springfield, the formerly peaceful Midwestern town where up to now young Ivy's life had been pretty uneventful. Ivy becomes fast friends with Alfred Halibut, who is an aspiring writer like herself and the son of a circus publicity manager. She also befriends the other circus people who have moved into town. But many of her neighbors are not feeling kindly about this invasion of strange characters. Tensions somersault into a climactic tangle at the Springfield bake-off. In the midst of hurtling pies, one voice alone can bring peace and tolerance back to the community. When the Circus Came to Town is Polly Horvath's funniest novel to date, packed with vivid exaggeration and slapstick scenarios.

Ice Lolly


Jean Ure - 2010
    Her new family don't seem to care about anything Laurel loves, including books and Mr Pooter, her old marmalade-coloured cat.So Laurel decides that she won't feel anything: she'll become Ice Lolly, the girl with the frozen heart. But a special friend and a mysterious letter open up new possibilities for Ice Lolly, and for Mr Pooter…

Swift Arrow


Josephine Cunnington Edwards - 1997
    They were riding north and moving quickly. So many Indians moved along the path that George, who rode near the front of the line, could not see the end when he turned around to look. The farther they went, the more unhappy George became. For with every step, Neko (his faithful pony)took him farther and farther from his home and from Ma and Pa. Even the fluttering leaves seemed like little hands waving good-bye all the day long. So begins chapter seven of this beloved classic by Josephine Cunnington Edwards. George, a young pioneer boy is captured by Indians and raised as the son of a mighty chief. He spends his time learning the ways of these native Americans, and yearning for the day that he might find a way to return to his loving family.

Minnie and Moo Meet Frankenswine


Denys Cazet - 2001
    The panicked farm animals are convinced it's a monster –Frankenswine's monster! It's up to best friends Minnie and Moo to keep their heads and get to the bottom of the sinister–seeming events in this hilarious beginning–reader adventure from Denys Cazet.Ages 7–9

The Dunderheads Behind Bars


Paul Fleischman - 2012
    Or so they thought! Teen star Ashley Throbb-Hart is shooting a movie nearby, and who should show up as an extra but their formidable former teacher! She's not the only Breakbone on the scene, either; after a string of burglaries strikes town, Miss Breakbone steers her barrel-chested brother, Police Chief Breakbone, toward those meddling, good-for-nothing Dunderheads. And when Spider ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, the blowhard chief has all the evidence he needs to lock him up. Can Einstein, Wheels, Nails, Spitball, Google-Eyes, Clips, Junkyard, Pencil, and Hollywood combine their talents to catch the real criminal before they join their friend behind bars? Newbery Medalist Paul Fleischman and illustrator David Roberts reunite for a delightfully triumphant sequel to The Dunderheads.

Faraway Home


Marilyn Taylor - 1999
    It has become very dangerous to be a Jew in Austria, and after their uncle is sent to Dachau, Karl and Rosa's parents decide to send the children out of the country on a Kindertransport, one of the many ships carrying refugee children away from Nazi danger.Isolated and homesick, Karl ends up in Millisle, a run-down farm in Ards in Northern Ireland, which has become a Jewish refugee centre, while Rosa is fostered by a local family.Hard work on the farm keeps Karl occupied, although he still waits desperately for any news from home. Then he makes friends with locals Peewee and Wee Billy, and also with the girls from neutral Dublin who come to help on the farm, especially Judy. But Northern Ireland is in the war too, with rationing and air-raid warnings, and, in April 1941 the bombs of the Belfast Blitz bring the reality of war right to their doorstep.And for Karl and Rosa and the other refugees there is the constant fear that they may never see their parents again.Based on a true story -- there was a refugee farm at Millisle and among its occupants was a young boy called Karl.

Just Wacky


Andy Griffiths - 2004
    An Australian bestseller, this book's out-of-control humor will drive you over the edge!Do you bounce so high on your bed that you hit your head on the ceiling?Do you ever look in the mirror and see a wild-eyed lunatic staring back at you?Do you often waste your time taking crazy tests like this one?If you're not completely crazy yet, you will be by the time you finish this book. Written by Andy Griffiths and starring...Andy Griffiths, this madcap collection of outrageous adventures and outlandish illustrations may drive you over the edge of sanity -- but it will be worth it!

Poison Island


H.I. Larry - 2006
    DrasticFeatured Gadget: SpyPad Turbo DeluxeDanger Rating: 6.7 Zac Power is on a mission to the world's most dangerous island. He has to track down Dr. Drastic, an evil mad scientist, in a jungle is full of quicksand, piranhas, and poison frogs. No sweat! When you come from a family of spies, you do this sort of thing millions of times before the age of twelve. But this time is different. Something goes terribly wrong and Zac's geeky older brother gets kidnapped. Now, Zac only has 24 hours to find the formula for solution X and stop Dr. Drastic...before his brother gets fed to a volcano!

California Gold


Pamela June Walls - 2001
    But upon arrival at Luke's Aunt Dagmar's, they can tell they're not welcome. Because gold has just been discovered near Sutter's Mill, the children strike out for the fields, hoping some “quick money” will provide a doctor for Ma and a permanent home for the Kendalls. But all isn't easy in the goldfields. The work is hard, Luke gets “gold fever,” and they hear rumors of children being kidnapped. Then Kini and Sarah disappear! As Abby searches desperately for the missing children, she discovers that God knows the desires of our hearts—and never deserts us.

The Slobberers


Paul Jennings - 2004
    And now they are to be step-sister and brother. Even worse, something very weird is happening to the worms Rory keeps as pets. But what happens when the Slobberers escape during the wedding is only the beginning.

The New Girl


Rowan McAuley - 2008
    What will she be like, and will they be friends? But when Isabelle starts being really mean, Zoe has to choose between being mean too, or standing tall and being a good friend.  Over one million GO GIRL! copies in print in Australia!

Two Under Par


Kevin Henkes - 1987
    Instead, he has a brand-new stepfamily and a new house far away from his friends; and his bedroom window faces a seven-foot castle that marks the eight eenth hole of his stepfather's miniature golf course. Can Wedge really respect a man who wears a plastic crown and calls himself "King"? It's a lot to deal with, but Wedge may not have a choice. If he wants to be happy, he'll have to accept his new life -- crazy as it is.

The Long Winter: Little House on the Prairie #6


Mustbe Interactive - 2014
    When the supply train doesn't arrive, Almanzo Wilder and his brother realize something must be done. They begin an impossible journey in search of provisions, before it's too late.

Tom Gates Collection 4 Books Set Pack


Liz Pichon - 2011
    The collection involves:- The Brilliant World of Tom Gates- Excellent Excuses (And Other Good Stuff)- Everything’s Amazing (sort of)- Genius Ideas (Mostly)

Cairo Jim on the Trail to Chacha Muchos


Geoffrey McSkimming - 1993
    What happened there nearly five hundred years ago remains a mystery. Who were these people? And why, in the end, did the entire tribe dance itself to extinction? When that well-known archaeologist and little-known poet, Cairo Jim, sets out to solve the mystery, he doesn't know that he is not the only one on the trail to ChaCha Muchos...