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On Track explores how railways opened up our world, sparked industrial, social and tech revolutions and changed society in many positive ways.

'A fascinating welcome to the wonderful world of insects.' – LoveReading4Kids'Fun, inspiring, and well researched.' – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)A beautifully illustrated tour of some of the world’s most fascinating insects, perfect for readers aged 8 and up.Did you know that without insects, humankind could not survive?This illustrated and fact-filled book dives into the incredible diversity of insects, focusing on what makes an insect an insect, the differences between various groups, and why they are the most important animal group on Earth.Broken into sections that explore each of the main types of insects, the book uses playfully visual approaches to highlight the unique characteristics of each group. Readers will also find practical tips for observing insects safely and a special section at the back offering ways to help insects thrive and encourage them into gardens, no matter how small.

Operation BananaAs World War ll drags on, Susan sets out on a mission to cheer up her mum in this heartwarming wartime tale from award-winning historical fiction writer Tony Bradman.Susan is worried about her mum. She’s struggling with long hours at her job in the factory and it’s a long time since they’ve heard from Susan’s dad, who’s on the front line in North Africa.Everything is in short supply in London, but Susan decides she’s going to cheer her mum up by getting her a treat, and what could be more rare at that time than a sweet, delicious banana? But what lengths will Susan have to go to find one? Let Operation Banana commence!Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7.

Our Islands A voyage of discovery to our world's most remarkable islands by award-winning and bestselling author Yuval Zommer.  On this island-hopping adventure, readers will come face-to-face with incredible creatures - from the giant tortoises of the Galápagos islands to the leaping lemurs of Madagascar. They'll visit wonders of the world - both natural and manmade - including the towering Moai statues of Easter Island, swirling Northern Lights in the skies above Svalbard, and ice caves on Mount Erebus. From the bubbling volcanoes of Hawaii to the frozen seas of the Antarctic, Our Islands reveals how life can survive in even the most extreme conditions and why these isolated lands are often home to animals and plants found nowhere else on Earth.  Combined with visits to old pirate hide-outs, colourful carnivals, windswept cliffs and untouched rainforests, this breathtaking tour of our planet's most remarkable islands is the perfect read for young explorers and budding environmentalists alike.  Our Islands is the first book in Our Wonders, a new non-fiction series from best-selling author Yuval Zommer. Each book will take young readers on a journey to some of the world's most unique natural habitats to discover how they formed, why they're special, and to meet the remarkable animals and plants that have made these places their home. Including islands, forests, mountains, rivers, and deserts, the Our Wonders series nurtures next-generation environmentalists by immersing them in the most fascinating examples of each habitat.

Inspired by the true story of his father's cousin, Michael Rosen presents an astonishing wartime story of perseverance and hope in the face of horrors and hardship. Beginning in 1939, young Solly in London exchanges letters with his teenaged cousin, Bernie, in Poland. While Solly is evacuated and tries his best to adjust to life in the English countryside, Bernie's parents know that as Jews they're not safe staying in Warsaw, so they send Bernie to the Russian-occupied side of the country in the hope that he'll be safer there. Soon, though, he is arrested and sent off to a forced labour camp in Russia. As the cousins exchange sporadic letters, they try to keep their spirits up, trading jokes and observations about the world changing all around them. Then Bernie seizes the opportunity to join the "Anders Army" and fight the Axis powers, and tells Solly all about his experiences in Iran and eventually Italy, where he fights alongside the British at the famous Battle of Monte Cassino. Will Bernie survive this war and find a safe place to call home?

Running With IvanYearning to escape the new family he never wanted, thirteen-year-old Leo Arnold is transported to wartime Europe where he must draw on his courage to save himself and those around him. From award-winning author Suzanne Leal comes a gripping timeslip novel inspired by true stories.Thirteen-year-old Leo Arnold hates his life. He doesn't want a new school, a new house or a new family. And he definitely doesn't want to be sharing a room with his new stepbrother, Cooper. What Leo wants is to be somewhere else, far away. So when he uncovers an old music box and turns the key, he is astonished to find himself in Prague, surrounded by whispers and fears of a second world war. A war that ended decades ago.In Prague, Leo meets Ivan, a Czech boy, and the two become friends. But when World War Two finally erupts, the unimaginable becomes real and the boys are imprisoned. Fearing the worst, Leo and Ivan frantically search for an escape. A search that sends them running. Running against time. Running for their lives.PRAISE"... the very best tradition of the time slip, of one era seeping into another, one culture and dangerous set of events invading another" - Tom Keneally AO"... dramatic, big-hearted story" - Ursula Dubosarsky"... a moving exploration of courage, friendship and commitment" - Sophie Masson AM"... a remarkable feat of storytelling" - James Moloney"Immersive and sensitive historical fiction, Running with Ivan is perfectly pitched for readers 10 to 12; imagine The Messenger crossed with Playing Beatie Bow." - Books + PublishingAWARDSShortlisted - 2023 NSW Premier's History Awards (Young People's History Prize)Longlisted - 2024 Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction

The third volume of the graphic adaptation of Yuval Noah Harari's global phenomenon and smash Sunday Times number-one bestseller tackles the question of the driving force of humanity's fate- is it empire, money, religion - or something else entirely - that unites us?<p>Sometimes history seems like a laundry list of malevolent monarchs, pompous presidents and dastardly dictators. But are they really the ones in the driving seat? Sapiens- A Graphic History - The Masters of History takes us on an immersive and hilarious ride through the human past to discover the forces that change our world, bring us together, and - just as often - tear us apart.Grab a front-row seat to the greatest show on earth and explore the rise of money, religion and empire. Join our fabulous host Heroda Tush, as she wonders- which historical superhero will display the power to make civilisations rise and fall? Will Mr Random prove that luck and circumstance prevail? Will Lady Empire convince us of the irrefutable shaping force of conquerors? Or will Clashwoman beat them all to greatness by reminding us of the endless confrontations that seem to forever plague our species?In this next volume of the bestselling graphic series, Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen and Daniel Casanave continue to present the complicated story of humankind with wit, empathy and originality. Alongside the unlikely cast of new characters, we are rejoined by the familiar faces of Yuval, Zoe, Professor Saraswati, Bill and Cindy (now Romans), Skyman and Captain Dollar. As they travel through time, space and human drama in search of truth, it's impossible not to wonder- why can't we all just get along?This third instalment in the Sapiens- A Graphic History series is an engaging, insightful, and colourful retelling of the story of humankind for curious minds of all ages, and can be browsed through on its own or read in sequence with Volumes One and Two.Praise for Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens-'I would recommend Sapiens to anyone who's interested in the history and future of our species.' Bill Gates'Interesting and provocative . . . It gives you a sense of how briefly we've been on this Earth' Barack Obama'Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last . . . It may be the best book I've ever read' Chris Evans'Contains a remarkable piece of information on almost every page and reminds us that we should be grateful to be human.' Matt Haig'Sweeps the cobwebs out of your brain . . . Radiates power and clarity, making the world strange and new' Sunday Times 'Provocative and fascinating and opinionated...it makes the familiar seem unfamiliar. It altered how I view our species and our world.' Guardian</p>

See Inside The Solar System An out-of-this-world tour of our Sun and its planetsBlast off to explore our Solar System - from the fearsome heat of the Sun to the freezing distant planets, plus moons, asteroids and more. Discover how humans are planning to visit Mars, what you would weigh on Jupiter and what makes Venus so deadly.Chapters in this book include:- Meet the Solar System- The Sun- Mercury- Venus- Earth- Mars- Jupiter- Saturn- Uranus- Outer edge- Beyond the Solar System- Amazing facts

See Inside The Universe Discover planets, stars and galaxies and explore intergalactic space.What's the universe made of? Where did everything come from? Lift the flaps in this fascinating book to reveal some of the amazing discoveries that astronomers and physicists have made in their quest to unlock the mysteries of the Universe. Curious young minds will be fascinated to discover planets, stars and galaxies and explore intergalactic space, with over 70 flaps to lift. Includes explanations of some of the biggest questions in the universe, including 'What happened during the Big Bang?' and 'What lies out in the far reaches of space?'. A mind-expanding book sure to fascinate young space enthusiasts.Chapters in this book include:- Where is the Universe- Our place in space- The beginning...- ...and the end- What's everything made of?- Seeing the Universe- A brief history of astronomy- Wonders of the Universe- The big questions