2020 Shortlisted YOUNGER READERS RESOURCES

The Bad Guys: The big bad wolf

by Aaron Blabey

When Mr. Wolf is blown up to Godzilla proportions, the Bad Guys find themselves in monster-sized trouble. They must figure out how to stop an alien invasion and get Wolfie back to his old self before the world is totally destroyed. Good thing they have the International League of Heroes on their side, and some newly honed superpowers ready to put to the test ...

In this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series, everyone's favourite hero has become a menace to society! Can the Bad Guys save the day? You know it!

Aaron Blabey Facebook page

Booktopia book trailer with Aaron Blabey (video)

The Bad Guys series trailer by Scholastic (video)

Aaron Blabey 2017 PRC Author Video

Scholastic ‘Homebase’ online game (featuring series including The Bad Guys)

PRC 3-4 Booklist #618798

Ella and Olivia: Sports Carnival

by Yvette Poshoglian and Danielle McDonald

Meet Ella and Olivia.
Big sister. Little sister. Best friends.

Ella and Olivia are sisters. Ella is seven years old. Olivia is five-and-a-half years old. They live with their mum and dad and little brother Max.

Ella and Olivia have been training hard for their school sports carnival! But can their team win the best-ever grand prize?

Yvette Poshoglian’s website

Danielle McDonald’s Facebook page

Book Review by Dimity Powell on Boomerang Books blog

Yvette Poshoglian 2017 PRC Author Video

PRC K-2 Booklist #23310

Ella Diaries: Friendship SOS

by Meredith Costain and Danielle McDonald

Ella is on holiday on a LUXURY cruise ship. It’s going to be AMAZING–swimming pools, shopping mall, ice-skating... and NO school for a week! Best of all, Zoe is coming too!

But when a friendship catastrophe strikes, Ella’s perfect holiday looks doomed!

Can she find a new CRUISE BFF? Or will this voyage be FUN OVERBOARD?

Meredith Costain’s website

Danielle McDonald’s Facebook page

Meredith Costain interview with Sydney Writers’ Centre (video)

PRC 3-4 Booklist #3870

Hot Dog 3: Circus time!

by Anh Do and Dan McGuinness

Lizzie’s joining the circus! Her sister Emma is a high-flying trapeze star, but Lizzie’s TERRIFIED of heights! She’s going to be a clown – the funniest around!

Hotdog and Kev can’t wait to see the show. Will everything go to plan?

Anh Do’s website

Dan McGuinness’s website

Hotdog! Series trailer (video)

Book Review by CBCA Reading Time

PRC 3-4 Booklist #17625

Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables fight back

by Tim Harris and James Hart

‘I wish Mr Bambuckle would come back.

Who will cook us breakfast now?

Miss Frost gave me detention just for answering a question.

Mr Bambuckle said I’m about to discover magic – but how?

There are some pretty strange things going on.

It’s almost as if Mr Bambuckle could hear us …’

Miss Frost says discipline is the new order, but not if the class in room 12B has anything to do with it …

Tim Harris’s website

James Hart’s website

Teacher notes from Penguin

Book trailer by Penguin (video)

Book Review by CBCA Reading Time

PRC 5-6 Booklist #605781

Polly and Buster: The wayward witch and the feelings monster by Sally Rippin

Who ever heard of a witch and a monster being friends?

Everyone knows that witches don’t mix with monsters. Witches are educated, clever, sophisticated. But monsters? Monsters are just uncouth. Some are even dangerous.
But Polly the witch and Buster the feelings monster have been best friends forever.
It’s the sort of friendship that makes your heart squeeze with happiness.
Somehow, they've managed to keep their friendship a secret.
Until one day, when everything changes ...

Sally Rippin’s website

Teacher notes from Lamont Books

Teacher notes from Scholastic

Sally Rippin book trailer by Angus and Robertson (video)

Booktopia interview with Sally Rippin (video)

Book Review by Kids’ Book Review

PRC 5-6 Booklist #21483

Sporty Kids: Soccer by Felice Arena and Tom Jellet

‘FWOOOOMP!

It was a killer kick, straight through the goals.

Abby did a victory dance and skipped around Joe and Lizzie.’

Abby always wins at soccer. So why won’t Pete join her team?

Felice Arena’s website

Tom Jellet’s website

Author interview with Adrian Beck (video)

PRC 3-4 Booklist #13674

Tiny Timmy: Soccer superstar!

by Tim Cahill and Heath McKenzie

Tiny Timmy Cahill really wants to make the school soccer team. There’s just one problem – he keeps getting tackled, tripped and bumped off the ball. Maybe he’s just not big enough to play with the other kids …

Tim needs to get bigger and taller, fast! Then just when he needs it most, he finds he has an awesome ability all of his own!

Will Tim make the team? Find out in Book 1 of the fund new series from Socceroos legend, Tim Cahill!

Heath McKenzie’s website

Nine News Australia interview with Tim Cahill about Tiny Timmy series (video)

Book Review by CBCA Reading Time

PRC 3-4 Booklist #9702

Truly Tan: Trapped! by Jen Storer and Claire Robertson

Way out in the country, Mrs Topple is Tan’s closest neighbour. But Mrs Topple has gone on a cruise and Tan is in charge of security at the Topple cottage.

Tan is also looking after the garden and watering the plants. But mostly she’s in charge of security. Which is just as well because something suspicious is going on.

A strange car has been coming and going and a shadowy figure has been spotted snooping around. And now Tan has noticed items moving around in the garden – on their own!

As tensions mount, Tan decides a stake-out is in order. Little does she know she is walking straight into a trap.

Jen Storer’s website

Claire Robertson’s website

Truly Tan series book quiz (video)

Book Review by Kids’ Book Review

PRC 5-6 Booklist #4165

WeirDo 12: Hopping weird

by Anh Do and Jules Faber

Mum’s got a cool new job at the animal hospital... but now Weir’s house is like a ZOO!
How can Bella and Weir help look after all the animals AND finish their school project?! It won’t be easy... but it will be FUNNY!

Anh Do’s website

Jules Faber’s website

WeirDo series trailer by Scholastic (video)

Book Review by CBCA Reading Time

PRC 3-4 Booklist #614112