 Terry Pratchett (author)
Random House Children's Books, UK: 1996; 264pp
ISBN: 0552551139
Genres: science fiction
Issues: choices, friendship, greed, war
Silver medal winner, Smarties Prize
Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and The Children's Book Award.
It is 1996 and when Johnny and his friends find Mrs Tachyon, the local bag lady, semiconscious in an alleyway, they have to do something. Having seen her taken off to hospital in an ambulance, Johnny realises that he then has to do something about her trolley, with its huge plastic bags - and Guilty, her razor-clawed cat.
 Lois Lowry (author)
Houghton Mifflin, USA:1993; 180pp
ISBN: 0006748287
Genres: science fiction
Issues: community,choices, differences, ethics, gifted, responsibility, social condition, values
Winner of the Newbery Medal.
Jonas lives in a futuristic community where family units consist of parents and two children - one male, one female. Theirs is a highly organised world in which everybody has a role to play, every person has a job, and every individual is in fact part of a very efficient social structure.
 Jacqueline Wilson (author)
Corgi Yearling Books, 2003: 192pp
ISBN: 0440865786
Genres: realistic fiction
Issues: family, gifted, identity, self-esteem, sensitivities
Violet is a rather lonely thirteen-year old. She adores her older brother, Will, but at the same time is rather frightened by his intimidating and controlling manner. Her fascination with the works of her favourite author and illustrator, Casper Dream, mean that she is considered immature and odd.
 Patricia Wrightson (author)
David Cox (Illustrations)
Puffin Books, Australia: 1999; 60pp
ISBN: 0141305363
Genres: realistic fiction
Issues: environment, friendship
An Aussie Bites book.
Sam, Lin and Jerry go to the same school. They are not friends, as such. It's just that their houses are all near a concrete drain where a special kind of lizard, called water dragons, made their home.
 Joan Grant (author)
Neil Curtis (illustrations)
Lothian Books, Australia: 2003
ISBN: 0734404816
Genres: picture book
Issues: differences, friendship
CBCA for Picture Book of the Year, 2004.
This delightful, whimsical, slightly surreal story will charm readers of all ages. The superficial narrative concerns a fish and cat who meet in a park and, despite being from different worlds, take a liking to each other.
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 Lois Lowry (author)
Houghton Mifflin, USA: 2000; 215pp
ISBN: 0747555923
Genres: science fiction
Issues: community, creativity, corruption, differences, gifted, power, prejudice
Kira lives in a harsh, unforgiving, almost barbaric society where everything is about survival. The weak and maimed are not welcome here, where strength is valued above all else. When Kira's beloved mother dies, she is left to face her community on her own - a young girl with a paralysed leg who is of no obvious value.
 David Metzenthen (author)
Penguin Books, Australia: 2003; 292pp
ISBN: 0143001302
Genres: realistic fiction, historical fiction
Issues: friendship, relationships, war
CBCA Honour Book, Older Readers, 2004.
Henry Lyon is on his way to meet his mates for a short holiday of sail-boarding, lounging around on the beach and hanging out with his girlfriend, Marcelle. His peaceful drive up the south coast of NSW is interrupted when his mother's faithful Volvo station wagon breaks down and Henry is stranded in the small country town of Strattford for a few days.
 Martine Murray (author)
Allen&Unwin, Australia: 2004; 90pp
ISBN: 174114361
Genres: realistic fiction
Henrietta is a highly imaginative child - ‘if anyone tells you I make things up, you better believe it.' Amongst other things, Henrietta is an explorer.
 Pamela Allen (author/ illustration)
Penguin Books, Australia: 2003
ISBN: 0670041572
Genres: picture book, realistic fiction
Issues: family
CBCA Book of the Year, Early Childhood, 2004.
This is another delightful creation from the remarkable talent of Pamela Allen (Alexander's Outing; Magic Beach; The Potato People). Thomas and his grandfather spend a day at the beach doing nice, ordinary things such as building a sandcastle and putting on suncream.
 Libby Gleeson (author)
Ann James (illustrations)
Scholastic Press, Australia: 2003
ISBN: 186388985X
Genres: picture book
Issues: anxiety
CBCA Honour Book: Book of the Year, Early Childhood, 2004
CBCA Honour Book: Picture Book of the Year, 2004.
A little boy's one job is to cross the various areas of the farmyard to feed the chooks and shut them up safely for the night. He goes about this task cheerfully, skipping and jumping across the yard, feeds the chooks and names each of them as they scramble into the pen. One is missing and the boy knows he must find it before the foxes do.
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