The Secret Boat is a collection of poems for younger readers by Dr Mark Macleod, mixing humour and whimsy with quirky

ponderings, conundrums, dreams, longings and childlike observations. The poems take the reader from beachside to countryside, from revolting to delicious, from realism to fantasy, and end with a suite of bedtime meditations. Their inclusive values and playful read-aloud language make them perfect for bedtime, the classroom and play, and offer opportunities for young people to learn and to question. Helene Magisson’s meticulous and luminous illustrations enhance the magic with their subtle alternative readings.

In Melbourne's St Kilda, as World War I begins, Anton, a German immigrant fulfils his dream of creating the most beautiful steam driven 'riding gallery'—a merry go round—in the world. Evelyn, who has just moved to the city befriends local boy Rory, but the war, and anti-German sentiment, soon takes its toll on the children, Anton, their families, and the riding gallery itself.

Based on true events, this is a cleverly structured, multiple point-of-view story, including poems created from contemporaneous newspaper headlines, and Sally Murphy at her finest form.

No-one wanted to hear Estie's side of the story. Now she's on a mission to make sure the truth is heard . . . A page-turning mystery novel in verse about identity, friendship and learning to use your voice, with accessible text and beautiful illustrations throughout.

When twelve-year-old Estie is expelled from school, she's sent to stay with her aunt in Scotland over the summer. Even though Estie knows what she did was right. Even though nobody, not even her mum, asked to hear her side of the story. Estie's determined to keep her barriers up and stick to herself until the holidays are over. But when she comes across an intricately folded paper bird with a secret message written inside—a message from someone desperate to tell their own unbelieved story—a chord is struck, and Estie can't help but follow the clues to the next piece of artwork. Who are these messages from? And what will their secret reveal about the town?

In helping to uncover the anonymous artist's truth, Estie just might find the words to tell her own. . .