Colin Thiele

Magpie Island by Colin Thiele introduces us to a magpie who is launched into the sky like a bolt from a catapult. He whizzes above the hill, then sweeps down in a fierce circle around the she-oaks, his wings cutting through the air like knives. Marooned alone on an island, Magpie is a sad, lonely figure, a castaway reminiscent of...

Pinquo is a fairy penguin who can swim, skip, and dive faster than the blink of an eye. When Pinquo is wounded, the children Kirsty and Tim take him to Dr Piper, and they all look after Pinquo until he is ready to go to sea. Later, the penguin with the droopy walk and kinky flipper comes back into their...

One of Australia's favourite stories - everyone knows that birds like Mr Percival never really die. Ages 10+.

For forty years, Australian children have been captivated by this timeless, unforgettable tale of friendship between a boy and Mr Percival, the pelican. Commended by the Children's Book Council of Australia in 1964, Storm Boy has profoundly touched generations of readers and become a classic work of Australian children's literature.

Bruno Gunther lives on a farm in South Australia, where adventures spring up like wheat shoots. He has to cope with his stern dad, his mother and family, and trickiest of all is the new teacher in town, who is too alert for comfort. Then there are the local arguments that all seem to flare up around complicated bits of...