2021 Shortlisted OLDER READERS RESOURCES
Kensy and Max: out of sight by Jacqueline Harvey
Kensy and Max are gearing up for their first Pharos review, a rite of passage with no room for failure. But juggling studies and the spy life isn't without its complications. As the dust settles from their last mission, and family members find their place in the new world order, old tensions rise to the surface. There's also the school play to prepare for - in rather different ways for each twin. However, the play soon takes a back seat as missing journalists and stolen objects see Kensy and Max embarking on a hair-raising ride to the City of Lights. Will they make it before it's too late?
Kensy and Max book trailer (video)
Kensy and Max (Jacqueline and Andy) on a mission in Melbourne on WB Kids (video)
Funny Kid: belly flop by Matt Stanton
Is that sea monster ... glittery?! Laugh your head off with the super-popular Funny Kid series!
Every kid wants to laugh, but Max is the boy who can make it happen.
Max and Abby hardly ever agree on anything ... until now! They are both desperate to get out of this Friday's swimming carnival.
Max is the funny kid and it's time to cancel a swimming carnival!
A sea monster, the Maths Olympiad, spotty rashes, good twin vs bad twin and a swimming instructor named Chaz are just some of the things in store for Max and his friends in this brand-new Funny Kid adventure.
Matt Stanton interview with Kids News
130-storey treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Andy and Terry have added 13 new levels to their treehouse and now it's even more out of this world than before! There's a soap bubble blaster, a GRABINATOR (it can grab anything from anywhere at any time), a time-wasting level, a toilet paper factory (because you can never have too much toilet paper), a super long legs level, an extraterrestrial observation centre and the best bookshop-in-a-treehouse-in-a-tree-in-a-forest-in-a-book in the whole world!
Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!
Andy Griffiths introduces the 130-storey treehouse (video)
Andy Griffiths answers questions from fans (video)
Final storm by Deborah Abela
In a world of wild weather, is anywhere safe? Isabella, Griffin and their friends have settled into New City, enrolled in school and are making new friends, including the charming Aleksander Larsen. But their home is facing a new threat - weather patterns are becoming erratic and fierce ice storms batter the city. When someone from Isabella's past returns, loyalties are tested. Who is watching her from the shadows? Can Isabella and Griffin's friendship survive this furious final storm?
Deborah Abela online author talks (video)
Deborah Abela talks about the Grimsdon series (video)
Final storm trailer (video)
Hollowpox: the hunt for Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow and her friends have survived their first year as proud scholars of the elite Wundrous Society, helped bring down the nefarious Ghastly Market, and proven themselves loyal to Unit 919. Now Morrigan faces a new, exciting challenge: to master the mysterious Wretched Arts of the Accomplished Wundersmith, and control the power that threatens to consume her. But a strange and frightening illness has taken hold of Nevermoor, turning infected Wunimals into mindless, vicious unnimals on the hunt. As victims of the Hollowpox multiply, panic spreads. And with the city she loves in a state of fear, Morrigan quickly realises it's up to her to find a cure for the Hollowpox, even if it will put her - and everyone in Nevermoor - in more danger than she ever imagined.
Jessica Townsend Hachette author profile
Hollowpox extract read by Jessica Townsend (video)
Hollowpox trailer (video)
Ella at Eden: new girl by Laura Sieveking and Danielle McDonald
Ella at Eden: new girl by Laura Sieveking and Danielle McDonald
Ella has started at her new high school, she is getting to know her new friends and enjoying the many things the school has to offer. Until things start to get complicated, she insults the school diva, hears a ghost in the dorm and items start to mysteriously disappear. Can Ella catch the thief and solve the mystery?
Laura Sieveking Penguin author profile
Laura Sieveking talks about points of view in writing (video)
Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables: go wild by Tim Harris and James Hart
Meet your new assistant principal- Miss Frost! Uh-oh, that's not good. At least we're away on camp. Mr Bambuckle lets us eat marshmallows before dinner! Is that a spark-maker beetle? Shh! What was that noise? The class in room 12B are having fun in the wilderness. Until Miss Frost crashes camp...
Tim Harris interview (transcript)
Nice girls don’t play footy by Kathy Helidoniotis
More than anything Devi Sharma wants to win the upcoming BollyOz competition for her mum. Then she'll be on her way to becoming Bollywood's first ever Australian half-Indian, sort of Kiwi, quarter Scottish, Vaisnavi vegan superstar! Then Devi starts AFL lessons at school and she's surprised to find she has talent...and a feeling she hasn't had in a long time. Can Devi convince her family to let her play AFL when nice girls don't play this football and her mum thinks it will risk her winning BollyOz? With the help of her best friend in the whole entire universe, Josie, Devi needs to come up with a plan so she can play footy like she wants and light the fire in her belly once again.
The Glimme by Emily Rodda
Finn loves to draw. It helps him escape his hard life in the village of Wichant. Finn's imagination comes to life on the pages of his sketchbook where the shapes of dragons, ogres and giants lurk beneath the surface of the rugged cliffs and coastline. Is he drawing what exists beyond the veil? He is soon to find out when his grandfather sells him to the mysterious housekeeper from Edge House and he slips through a magical painting into another world. A mighty fantasy adventure with extraordinary illustrations that will transport you into the wonders and perils of the Glimme.
Emily Rodda reads from The Glimme
Emily Rodda talks about her inspiration for The Glimme (video)
Marc McBride talks about creating the artwork for The Glimme (video)
The power of positive pranking by Nat Amoore
The power of positive pranking by Nat Amoore
Green Peas is our name and pranking’s our game!
A symphony of alarm clocks at assembly? Yep, that was us. A stampede of fluffy guinea pigs? It’s next on our agenda.
But for me, Cookie and Zeke, it’s about more than just fun. We’re determined to make a difference. And when the adults won’t listen, us kids will find a way to be heard – as long as we can stay out of detention!
No activist is too small, no prank too big... and things are about to get personal.
Authors and more read from The power of positive pranking (video)
The power of positive pranking teacher’s notes