Gardening + Flora
Flora (Oxford Dictionary)
noun
the plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
-
A book or other work detailing the plants of a particular region or habitat.
plural noun: florae; plural noun: floras

Staff Favourites: Monique
5 Minute Nature Stories
By Gabby Dawnay, Mona K
Discover the interconnectedness of nature with this tabbed, non-fiction story collection. Written by science writer and poet Gabby Dawnay, each read-aloud story celebrates everyday miracles in a woodland. A gift to inform and delight the youngest nature lovers.
Inside Peek:


Local Authors:
The Book of Australian Trees
By Inga Simpson, Alicia Rogerson
Trees tell stories about places. Australia has some of the tallest, oldest, fattest and most unusual trees in the world. They have changed over thousands of years, adapting to this continent's deserts, mountains, and coasts. Many have found clever ways of dealing with drought and fire.
Their leaves, flowers and seeds are food for birds, insects and mammals. Old trees have lots of hollows, which make good homes for possums, sugar gliders, birds and bees. But trees aren't just important for other animals, we need them too. What trees breathe out, we breathe in. They are a vital part of the Earth's ecosystems.
When you first stand in a forest, the trees all seem the same. But if you look more closely, they are each a little different, like people. This book is a love song to Australian trees, from the red ironbark to the grey gum, the Moreton Bay fig to the Queensland bottle tree.

Inga Simpson is an Australian novelist and nature writer. Inga grew up in central west NSW, and has lived in Canberra, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast hinterland, now settleing on the far south coast of NSW.
"When you first stand in a forest, the trees all seem the same. But if you look more closely, they are each a little different, like people."
NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOKS:


You will find me where land meets sea…
Saltmarshes are full of energy and life. They protect our coastlines, and provide food and shelter for migratory birds and microscopic plants and animals. Most of all, saltmarshes are places of discovery and wonder.
With lyrical text and captivating illustrations Secrets of the Saltmarsh offers a close-up look at the fascinating world of saltmarsh wetlands.
Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 5–9.


You carry hope and future needWith careful footprint, plant the seed.
Breathe... Yes, breathe.
Embark on a lyrical, meditative journey through nature's tapestry, where every step you take leaves a legacy of wonder and protection for the environment. Explore forests and mountains, cities and fields, and animals in their natural habitats as you ponder the footprint humans have left on the Earth.
From CBCA award-winning creators Phil Cummings and Sally Soweol Han.



Mushroom lover Katya Arnold has packed this comprehensive introduction with scientific information and quirky details. Her passion makes these wonders of nature exciting and immediate. A walk in the woods will never be the same!

Looking after the trees is important for keeping Country happy and healthy. First Nations People have cared for the trees on Country for thousands of years. In return, the trees look after the people and provide them with gifts of seeds, flowers, wood and more. This creates the balance between giving and taking from the land.
Featuring stunning artwork by Sandra Steffensen, The Trees is a powerful and timely story to help future generations manage our landscapes and ensure that they thrive. At the back of the book, you will find lyrics to a song written by author Victor Steffensen with the title, ‘We are the Trees’, and a QR code to watch the song's YouTube video.
This book is the follow-up to Victor Steffensen’s Looking after Country with Fire, which explains Aboriginal burning practices for children.

In 101 Ways to be an Eco Hero, the follow up to 101 Small Ways to Save the World and The Plastic Problem, you'll find practical tips and projects that will help you, along with your friends and family, to protect our Earth for future generations. You'll also find out how you can use your voice to encourage businesses and governments to make the right decisions for our environment.
Tips for kids include:
reusing, recycling, and upcycling
avoiding food waste
protecting the local environment through activities such as litter collections
Projects for kids include:
building an insect hotel
making a herb garden
creating a tote bag for shopping
Advice for families includes:
collecting rainwater for watering the garden
getting solar panels
using low-energy appliances
About Lonely Planet Kids: Lonely Planet Kids - an imprint of the world's leading travel authority Lonely Planet - published its first book in 2011. Over the past 45 years, Lonely Planet has grown a dedicated global community of travellers, many of whom are now sharing a passion for exploration with their children. Lonely Planet Kids educates and encourages young readers at home and in school to learn about the world with engaging books on culture, sociology, geography, nature, history, space and more. We want to inspire the next generation of global citizens and help kids and their parents to approach life in a way that makes every day an adventure. Come explore!

From sweet little toadstools to giant puffballs, mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes. With over 10,000 mushrooms in the world, some are cute and colorful, while others may look super adorable but are actually deadly. No matter the kind, it’s time to celebrate all types of mushrooms with The Little Book of Mushrooms.
This book is a collection of everything you need to know about 75 of the world’s most unique mushrooms. With information on their etymology, geographic location, characteristics, and culinary or healing powers, this book is the perfect companion for amateur mushroom hunters, cottage-core fans, or anyone just looking for a beautifully illustrated book on some of the most incredible fungi around the world.

In Mystical Mushrooms, explore the magical properties, mythological connections, and symbolic qualities of ever-intriguing fungi.Go for a walk in the woods on any given summer day and you may find yourself surrounded in fungi galore as they lay nestled among the ferns and trees. After a rainstorm, peek out in your backyard and you may see tiny spores sprouting from the grass, forming what is known as a fairy ring. Mushrooms grow in all shapes, sizes, and colors and-depending on where you live-you might find some that are conducive to magic practice. Mystical Mushrooms enters this realm, exploring the magical properties, mythological connections, and symbolic qualities of the fungi that so intrigue us. Author Aurora Kane takes you on a journey through the mystical universe of mushrooms. From ancient traditions to the concept of fairy rings, Kane reveals how mushrooms have long been entwined with the supernatural in art, literature, and religion. This includes topics surrounding: Magical History Spells Symbolism Spirituality Coupled with stunningly depicted artwork, Mystical Mushroomsexplores the qualities of over 35 species of mushroom, displaying a range of compelling subjects surrounding the true power of these fabulous fungi.

Who is home in the hollow?
Tree hollows are very special places that provide animals, both big and small, with a space to nest and feel safe.
Explore life in a tree hollow in the Australian bush and meet the native creatures who come to call a hollow a home. You’ll be surprised just how many choose to move in!
You’ll also discover the important role tree hollows play in the environment and how we can help protect them. Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 5 to 9.
'In Australia almost 350 species of animal need a tree hollow for resting, nesting or hiding. This book is sure to pique curiosity, stimulate imagination, spark conversation and foster conservation, by illuminating the parade of diverse animals homed over the evolution of a single tree hollow. With dreamy illustrations and lyrical prose Life in a Hollow is sure to become a treasured go-to.' — Abbie Mitchell, author of A Hollow Is a Home (CSIRO Publishing, 2019)
Interactive books:



Have fun creating outfits for different outdoor activities, such as pony trekking through mountains, cycling in a forest, going for a ramble along clifftops, star gazing on a clear, crisp night and lots more.

Does climbing a tree, building a bug hotel, spearing a bullfrog, stalking wild animals, and scouting for petrified wood sound more fun than homework or chores? If so, this guide is your perfect companion to endless summer days and rainy fall afternoons alike. Filled with advice, insights, and activities to inspire wonder and excitement about the natural world, Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars is a curious kid's treasure trove, filled to the brim with outdoor projects, skills, and adventures complete with illustrations. The book presents a ton of fun and exciting ways to explore the natural world, like
. building an outdoor exploration kit
. identifying constellations and navigating using the sun and stars
. collecting fossils and other geological wonders
. tracking animals and following weather patterns
. making your own compass
. growing your own fruits and vegetables
. building survival shelters and primitive hunting weapons
. fishing, hunting, and foraging for wild foods
. making cool art projects using natural materials
A must-have guide for budding naturalists, scientists, gardeners, anglers, foragers, and hunters, Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars helps get kids out into nature, imparting lifelong knowledge and skills along the way.


In 101 Ways to be an Eco Hero, the follow up to 101 Small Ways to Save the World and The Plastic Problem, you'll find practical tips and projects that will help you, along with your friends and family, to protect our Earth for future generations. You'll also find out how you can use your voice to encourage businesses and governments to make the right decisions for our environment.
Tips for kids include:
reusing, recycling, and upcycling.
avoiding food waste.
protecting the local environment through activities such as litter collections.
Projects for kids include:
building an insect hotel.
making a herb garden.
creating a tote bag for shopping.
Advice for families includes:
collecting rainwater for watering the garden.
getting solar panels.
using low-energy appliances.

Have you ever wondered how you could help save the planet?
If you're a Little Environmentalist who is curious about composting, you're about to DELVE INTO THE DIRT with Puffin Little!

Round up your friends, put your heads together, and test your knowledge on all things Australia. Ideal for long road trips and summer holidays, Bumper Aussie Road Trip Quiz and Activity Book contains a whole stack of quizzes on Australian landmarks, geography, sport, politics, language, entertainment and more. So pit yourself against the best and become Australias number one quiz champion!
chapter books:

From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide. By turns funny, moving, surprising and dramatic, this is a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is enchanting.


The enchanting new addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling THE WILD ROBOT series from award-winning author-illustrator Peter Brown, packed full of glorious illustrations.
Roz the robot has made an unlikely home for herself on an idyllic island dense with forests, wildflowers and friendly animal inhabitants - including her own young son Brightbill the gosling. Life on the island is perfect, until a dying seal washes ashore and warns of dangerous, cloudy waters that are flowing towards the island, bringing new dangers for the animals.
Forced inland they will have to fight over fewer resources - and Roz realises that she must march into the waves and undertake an incredible undersea adventure to find a way to protect her beloved island and all who live on it ...
From bestselling author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed third book in his New York Times bestselling The Wild Robot series, exploring what happens when nature and technology collide.
Praise for The Wild Robot
'An Iron Man style fable for our age' - Piers Torday, award-winning author of The Last Wild
'A modern-day classic in the making' - Booktrust
[Peter Brown's THE WILD ROBOT was a #1 New York Times bestseller w/c 11th June 2023.]

The Enchanted Wood, The Magic Faraway Tree and The Folk of the Faraway Tree are the three magical stories in the Faraway Tree series by the world's best-loved children's author, Enid Blyton.
When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, that is the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? Come on an amazing adventure - there'll be adventures waiting whatever happens.
The Faraway Tree stories have been delighting readers for over 75 years. Look out for the other titles in the Faraway Tree series: The Faraway Tree, Folk of the Faraway Tree, and Up the Faraway Tree.

Jack and Sally are truly meant to be ... or are they?
Sally Skellington is the official, newly-minted Pumpkin Queen after a whirlwind courtship with her true love, Jack, who Sally adores with every inch of her fabric seams-- if only she could say the same for her new role as Queen of Halloween Town. Cast into the spotlight and tasked with all sorts of queenly duties, Sally can't help but wonder if all she's done is trade her captivity under Dr. Finkelstein for a different cage. But when Sally and Zero accidentally uncover a long-hidden doorway to an ancient realm called Dream Town, she'll unknowingly set into motion a chain of sinister events that put her future as Pumpkin Queen, and the future of Halloween Town itself, into jeopardy. Can Sally discover what it means to be true to herself and save the town she's learned to call home, or will her future turn into her worst... well, nightmare?

After Mary Lennox’s parents pass away, she is sent to a large, isolated house in Yorkshire to live with an uncle she has never met.
Ill-tempered, obstinate Mary dislikes her new home, but when she finds the key to a locked garden she realises there are fascinating secrets waiting to be uncovered at Misselthwaite Manor. With the help of new friends, Mary resolves to bring the neglected garden back to life – and her own transformation begins.
This perennially powerful, uplifting classic is regarded as one of the best children’s books of the twentieth century.

"Extremely enjoyable, very funny and easy to read!" The Guardian
"The silliest, craziest most awesome stories ever" K-Zone
Andy and Terry's 13-storey treehouse is the most amazing treehouse in the world! It's got a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank full of man-eating sharks, a giant catapult, a secret underground laboratory and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and shoots marshmallows into your mouth whenever you're hungry. Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!
Winner of the Australian Book Industry Award for Book of the Year for Older Readers 2011
Winner of KOALA Awards Best Fiction for Older Readers 2011
Winner of YABBA Awards for Best Fiction for Older Readers 2011
Fans of Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid will love the Treehouse series!

And, now, The 13-Storey Treehouse is in colour!
Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!

Join Andy and Terry in their newly expanded treehouse, which now features 13 brand-new storeys, including a dodgem car rink, a skate ramp, a mud-fighting arena, an anti-gravity chamber, an ice-cream parlour with 78 flavours run by an ice-cream serving robot called Edward Scooperhands and the Maze of Doom - a maze so complicated that nobody who has gone in has ever come out again... well, not yet, anyway.
Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!


"Hilariously clever" - Australian Women's Weekly
WINNER of the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year for Younger Children 2014
Join Andy and Terry in their astonishing 39-storey treehouse! Jump on the world's highest trampoline, toast marshmallows in an active volcano, swim in the chocolate waterfall, pat baby dinosaurs, go head-to-trunk with the Trunkinator, break out your best moves on the dance floor, fly in a jet-propelled swivel chair, ride a terrifying rollercoaster and meet Professor Stupido, the world's greatest UN-inventor.
Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!
KOALA Awards for Best Fiction for Older Readers 2014, COOL Awards for Best Fiction for Older Readers 2014, YABBA Awards for Best Fiction for Older Readers 2014, WAYRBA West Australian Young Readers' Book Award 2014
SHORTLISTED for Indie Awards for Children's Book of the Year 2014

"Wildly entertaining" - Books & Publishing
Andy and Terry's incredible, ever-expanding treehouse has 13 new storeys, including a watermelon-smashing level, a wave machine, a life-size snakes and ladders game (with real ladders and real snakes), a rocket-powered carrot-launcher, a Ninja Snail Training Academy and a high-tech detective agency with all the latest high-tech detective technology, which is lucky because they have a BIG mystery to solve - where is Mr Big Nose???
Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!
"The silliest, craziest most awesome stories ever" - K-Zone ABIA Book of the Year 2015

Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!

"Brilliantly silly" - The Daily Telegraph
"Hilariously clever" - Australian Women's Weekly
Andy and Terry's amazing 65-Storey Treehouse now has a pet-grooming salon, a birthday room where it's always your birthday (even when it's not), a room full of exploding eyeballs, a lollipop shop, a quicksand pit, an ant farm, a time machine and Tree-NN: a 24-hour-a-day TV news centre keeping you up to date with all the latest treehouse news, current events and gossip. Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!
"It will be reread and reread... A fantastic ride" - The Australian

Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!

WINNER OF YABBA AWARD FOR FICTION FOR OLDER READERS 2018
WINNER OF KOALA AWARD FOR FICTION FOR OLDER READERS 2018
WINNER OF KROC AWARD FOR FICTION FOR OLDER READERS 2018
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPEECH PATHOLOGY BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD (FIVE - EIGHT YEARS) 2018
LONGLISTED FOR THE ABIA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN 2018

Join Andy and Terry in their wonderfully wild and wacky 104-storey treehouse. You can throw some refrigerators, make some money with the money-making machine (or honey if you'd prefer-it makes that too), climb the never-ending staircase, have a bunfight, deposit some burps in the burp bank, get totally tangled up in the tangled-up level, or just take some time out and relax in the peaceful sunny meadow full of buttercups, butterflies and bluebirds.
Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!
WINNER OF THE ABIA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN 2019
WINNER OF THE YABBA AWARD FOR FICTION FOR OLDER READERS 2019


WINNER OF 2021 WEST AUSTRALIAN YOUNG READERS' BOOK AWARD
WINNER OF THE YABBA AWARD FOR FICTION FOR OLDER READERS 2021
WINNER OF THE KOALA AWARD FOR FICTION FOR OLDER READERS 2021

Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!

There's also a hall of funhouse mirrors, which is the perfect place to hide from Mr Bunkoff who is trying to catch Andy, Terry and Jill in order to send them to SCHOOL.
But Anti-Andy, Terrible Terry and Junkyard Jill, their trouble-making opposites, are trapped in one of the mirrors - and they want out. (Oh, and Mr Big Nose wants them to write their book ... RIGHT NOW.)
Well, what are you waiting for? Can our heroes escape school, do battle with their doppelgangers AND meet their book deadline? Come on up to find out!

There are so many things to know. And so many things you didn't know you didn't know! This guide to the Treehouse is full of trivia, fun facts and behind-the-scenes details about all 169 levels, all the characters Andy and Terry have met, the places they've visited, and all the amazing gadgets and machines they've invented.
YOUNG ADULT BOOKS:

This brand new paperback edition contains exclusive bonus short story Joy. Set in the world of Lemon Trees, it features never-before-seen moments between Salama and Kenan.
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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DISCOVER BOOK OF THE YEAR
'This is an important book. Everyone should read it' - Elizabeth Laird, award-winning author of Welcome to Nowhere
'Wrenching and lyrical' - Samira Ahmed, New York Times bestselling author of Internment
'Hauntingly beautiful ... a must read' - Huda Fahmy, author of Huda F Are You
A year ago, before the revolution, Salama watched her brother marry her best friend, Layla, and wondered when her own love story might begin. Now she works at the hospital – helping those she can, closing the eyes of those she can’t. Layla and her unborn baby are all Salama has left.
Unless you count Khawf. But he’s a hallucination; a symptom of the horrors she’s seen. Every day he urges Salama to leave. Every day she refuses.
Until she crosses paths with Kenan, the boy with the vivid green eyes, who wants to stay and risk his life for everything Syria could be …

Orphaned as a child, Signa Farrow has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being - and each has met an untimely end. Her only remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy.
When a restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes the Hawthornes could be in grave danger, and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
But Signa's best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself. And as the mystery unfurls, Signa realizes their growing connection may be more irresistible than she dared imagine . . .

The captivating sequel to the Gothic fantasy Belladonna, in which Signa and Death face a supernatural foe determined to tear them apart.
A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He's hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago...and now he's determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.
Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate's past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate's unexpected games-all with their destinies hanging in the balance.
Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to the story of Signa and Death is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.
PRAISE FOR ADALYN GRACE
'Decadently atmospheric' Kerri Maniscalco
'Deliciously gothic' Renee Ahdieh
'Deadly gothic romance' Stephanie Garber
'Darkly romantic' Adrienne Young

The son of a drug king, seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter is negotiating life in Garden Heights as he balances school, slinging dope, and working two jobs while his dad is in prison. He's got it all under control - until, that is, Mav finds out he's a father. Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. Loyalty, revenge and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. So when Mav is offered the chance to go straight, it's an opportunity - in a world where he's expected to amount to nothing - to prove he's different and figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.

'Completely entrancing. I have never read anything like this book. It's full of magic - the real thing. And it's full of feminine power, dark mysteries and unforgettable characters. The luscious depth of the world-building and the effortless skill with which it is conveyed make me utterly jealous.' - Amie Kaufman
Maude is the daughter of witches. She spent her childhood running wild with her best friend, Odette, weaving stories of girls who slayed dragons and saved princes. But Maude grew up and lost her magic.
Then two weeks ago Odette went missing, and everyone believes she is dead. Everyone except Maude.
Maude is sure she can find Odette inside the ruins of an abandoned power plant built over an ancient magical forest - a place nobody else seems to remember is there.
Soon she discovers that wild magic is both deeply enchanting and terrifying. Can she find her friend - and stop the horrors of corrupted magic from overtaking everyone and everything she loves?
'A lush, spellbinding tale with dangerously enchanting characters, A Hunger of Thorns is filled with gorgeous emotion and sapphic yearning that will leave you breathless.' - CS Pacat
'Maude's quest will take you to deep, dark, festering places and bring you soaring back out into the light.' - Margo Lanagan
'Unlike anything else. Wilkinson creates a whole new kind of magic - enchantments woven from family, from living things, and from the marrow of Story itself.' - Scott Westerfeld
'Wilkinson crafts a lovely fairy tale of childhood fierceness, curiosity, loss and finding.' - Catherynne M. Valente, author of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Tally thought they were a rumor, but now she's one of them. A Special. A super-amped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.
But maybe being perfectly programmed with strength and focus isn't better than anything she's ever known. Tally still has memories of something else.
Still, it's easy to tune that out - until she's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.
Praise for Uglies
‘Fast paced, exciting and thought-provoking.’ The Bookseller's Choice
‘Superb sci-fi.’ Amanda Craig, The Times Supplement
‘Westerfeld introduces thought-provoking issues’ Publishers Weekly
‘The longing for fairy-tale beauty has never looked so sinister’ Amanda Craig, The Times
‘With a beginning and ending that pack hefty punches, this introduction to a dystopic future promises an exciting series.’ Kirkus *starred review*
‘This exciting story makes you realise how important it is not to judge people by appearances.’ Newcastle Upon Tyne Journal
‘This book is a real thrill-ride and the world utterly convincing.’ Trashionista.com
'Fun, and the many by-the-skin-of-your-teeth escapes and hoverboard chases, plus the non-stop action plotting were enough to catch my attention and have me eagerly wanting more.’ The Book Smugglers
Also by Scott Westerfeld:
Uglies
Pretties
Extras
