John Dickson

Is religion a pernicious force in the world? Does it poison everything? Would we be better off without religion in general and Christianity in particular? Many sceptics certainly think so. John Dickson has spent much of the last ten years reflecting on these difficult questions and on why so many doubters see Christianity as a major cause of harm, not...

Meet Craig Shanahan, the blind chef with his own café. When kids would ask Craig what it was like having one eye, he’d ask them what it was like having two. That was all he knew. He grew up loving cooking and studied to be a chef. When Craig lost vision in his good eye, he didn’t let that hold...

Surfing in the Dark tells the story of Matt Formston — a world champion surfer who is blind. Meet Matt and hear his amazing story of resilience as he follows his dreams no matter the obstacles. Matt always dreamed of becoming a professional surfer, but by the time he was five years old, he was almost completely blind. Matt never...

The Good, The Bad and The Silly is a taste of the intriguing history of Australia to alert young readers of the storytelling treasures to be unearthed in Australia’s settlement history. This is the newest addition to the successful and award-winning series – M is for Mutiny (CBCA shortlisted 2018), William Bligh: a stormy story of tempestuous times (CBCA shortlisted...

Meet Nikki Hind, the blind fashion designer with her own fashion label. When she was growing up, Nikki couldn’t see out of her left eye. That didn’t stop her from dressing up and making her own clothes, though. When she put on different outfits, she could be anyone. After a stroke during her pregnancy took away Nikki’s vision in her...

Age range 3 - 6 "Elephants bang into things and are rude and loud," says Buttonhole. Scribble and his friend Buttonhole are trying to work out many questions. But when they finally meet an elephant, is it what they were expecting? Have You Met Scribble?, written and illustrated by John Dickson, is a story about wonder and friendship, how it...

Who was Jesus Historical sources portray a person who was complex, multi-layered, and often contradictory to the tidy portrait that much of modern Christianity paints him as. Even the gospel accounts render him as both judge and healer, teacher and temple, servant and saviour. A Doubter's Guide to Jesus is a persuasive and often challenging investigation into the historical figure...

How many children have been kept awake wondering “what’s under my bed?” Under My Bed explores this fascination, as a sleepy young boy’s racing imagination wonders what’s really going on beneath his bed. Under My Bed is a fun, sharp and quirky book that demonstrates a valuable lesson: when confronted by our fears and anxieties, sometimes it’s much more fun...

A story about honesty and doing the right thing, even if that feels difficult. Taking something his sister treasured wasn’t seven-year-old Norton’s best decision. But returning and making it good proves to be harder than it looks. Fortunately, Norton has a caring family to light the way – though sometimes his older sister can be a bit tricky. Norton Took...