Most Popular Books by Phillip Gwynne

''Deadly, unna?'' He was always saying that. All the Nungas did, but Dumby more than any of them. Dumby Red and Blacky don''t have a lot in common. Dumby''s the star of the footy team, he''s got a killer smile and the knack with girls, and he''s a Nunga. Blacky''s a gutless wonder, needs braces, never knows what to say, and he''s white. But they''re friends... and it could be deadly, unna? This gutsy novel, set in a small coastal town in South Australia is a rites-of-passage story about two boys confronting the depth of racism that exists all around them.

A delight for parents to read aloud, and for children to chant along, this gorgeously illustrated picture book will encourage young children to have fun and feel safe in the water. ''Ruby Learns to Swim is a great book. I read it to my kids at bedtime - a well written story that reinforces a strong message about learning to swim, which I believe is a must for kids of all ages.'' Michael Klim.

Call me Bin Chicken Call me Tip Turkey Call me Picnic Pirate... But... there is a lot more to my song than you might think. And maybe I''ve got something to teach you too.

Max, Lily, Boaz and Jesse are stuck in Kids'' Club at an island resort, forced to watch endless Pirates of the Caribbean re-runs while their parents relax by the pool. After eight days they decide to break out and let the real fun begin ...

Rick Bickworth has decided he is average. Not good, not bad, just average. Then makes a discovery - he is born to bake! The problem is, Rick is now in competition with his mum. How can he keep baking and keep the peace?

Stuff Happens is an important new series for boys about everyday challenges. Created by Susannah McFarlane, the series editor, the series is written by established authors Tony Wilson, Andrew Daddo, Philip Gwynne, Will Kostakis, Scot Gardner, Justin D''Ath, James Roy, Pat Flynn and Alex McDiarmid. Each book features a different character and follows them as they overcome a particular everyday challenge. Aimed at boys aged between 7 and 11, the Stuff Happens series explores those everyday struggles in life that boys can sometimes be reluctant to express: quarrels with mates, a bad day at school, fear of disappointing mum and dad, rejection and not fitting in. Stuff Happens. Real-life stories for boys. Suitable for beginner and newly confident readers. Stuff happens sometimes. Everyday stuff. At school, at home, with sport, with mates. For Michael it happened when he thought he was letting his parents down. Michael is the best swimmer in the school, probably the state, maybe the country. He trains all the time, determined to do his best for himself, for the coach, for his parents, for everyone. Then one day he sees a skater fly down the hill on a board and he starts to wonder if there is more to life than swimming. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-features/books-for-boys-series-stuff-happens-helps-show-boys-how-to-deal-with-their-emotions/story-fni3wj64-1227246165147 Praise for Stuff Happens ''Stories about boys, aimed at boys and containing real-life stories of their school and home life are rare. Even rarer are those that have readily identifiable characters and situations, and engage, amuse and inform. But here they are.'' ''An exciting new series written specifically for boys aged from seven to eleven . . . great additions for school libraries and for engaging reluctant boy readers. Outstanding!'' Read Plus ''The fantastic Stuff Happens series.'' reviewZOO ''I love a book that talks in a kid''s voice. It makes us feel important and special. The thing I like the most about these books are that they tell different perspectives of everyday things in life.'' Mr 10 – Readingtree.com.au ''The awareness of the emotional life of boys is slowly being recognised as a critical factor into the development of boys to be strong and courageous sensitive men. Stuff Happens explores feelings and emotions in an entertaining and humorous way, allowing boys to understand that it is OK to express emotion. This can only be positive! I highly recommend and love the books!'' Deborah Jepsen, Educational and Developmental Psychologist – Melbourne Child Psychology / School Psychology Services ''As a mum to two boys aged 8 and 10, I was thrilled to find a book series that provided very real ''boy dilemmas'' and connected feelings and behaviours, which can be really confusing for boys. What was even more exciting was how much the boys ate it up. My eldest read the first book in one sitting and I was back at the bookshop the next day to buy the entire series! My youngest loved being read to and was so engaged and interested in all the characters and their issues. Can''t wait for the next instalment.'' Marita Evans – Mum to Rupert, 10, and Henry, 8

Everyone in Rick Bickworth''s class is good at something, except him. One day, though, Rick discovers that he was born to bake. And there''s nothing average about that-especially when it puts him in competition with his mom at the Royal Show! Our popular series offers a reading buffet for every appetite and skill level. When you dish up just the books kids are ready for, they''ll bite, and grow into voracious readers. The three drool-worthy selections on our menu start with Nibbles, appetizer-sized portions for new readers. Bites give a larger helping of more advanced reading to the kids who are ready for more. Finally, they graduate to full-sized middle grade novels we call Chomps. Dessert, anyone? Each book has a bite taken out of it, indicating its reading level to parents while tipping off kids that they''re in for a real treat. Written by a host of top-notch, award-winning children''s authors!

Nukkin Yais the sequel to Deadly, Unna?. Fifteen-year-old Gary Black, ''Blacky'', isn''t sure what he wants or where he is going. The one thing he does know is that he wants to escape the small country town he''s grown up in

Book four of the high-octane thriller series, and this time the challenge is international! Dom has three more Herculean tasks to perform...or lose a pound of flesh. In this instalment he must find and bring home an expert underwater archaeologist from the other side of the world.

Dom Silvagni a de la chance : il vit au soleil, ses parents sont riches et il est promis à une brillante carrière sportive. Mais le jour de ses 15 ans, son univers bascule. Il apprend que sa famille a une dette envers la Mafia... une dette dont il est l''héritier ! Dom est contraint d''exécuter six contrats pour ces criminels, ou il subira un terrible châtiment.

Dom voudrait se concentrer sur sa prochaine course mais La Dette a d''autres plans pour lui. Son nouveau contrat ? Trouver et dérober le Cerberus, un prototype de smartphone high-tech qui ne semble exister qu''à l''état de rumeur sur Internet. La mission paraît impossible : comment Dom pourrait-il voler quelque chose qui n''existe pas ? Mais il sait bien qu''on ne plaisante pas avec La Dette...

Pour son deuxième contrat, Dom doit éteindre toutes les lumières de la côte australienne durant l''opération «Une heure pour la planète». Son plan est de s''introduire dans la centrale nucléaire de Diablo Bay et de pirater le système informatique.

Dom n''ira pas à Rome : à une place près, il a manqué la qualification pour les jeux Olympiques de la jeunesse. Mais La Dette se moque des règles sportives. Elle exige qu''il se rende en Italie. Et ce que La Dette exige, elle l''obtient. Une fois à Rome, Dom recevra son quatrième contrat : trouver E. Lee Marx, le célèbre archéologue sous-marin, et le convaincre de l''accompagner en Australie. Mais ce voyage au pays de ses ancêtres sera surtout l''occasion pour Dom d''en apprendre davantage sur sa famille ; de sombres révélations qu''il n''obtiendra qu''au péril de sa vie...

Trois mois se sont écoulés depuis que Dom est revenu des Jeux mondiaux de la jeunesse à Rome. Il attend de recevoir son cinquième contrat mais La Dette tarde à se manifester. Il est néanmoins persuadé que l''organisation mafieuse va lui demander de mettre la main sur l''or de Yamashita. Ce trésor serait enfoui au fond de l''océan, près des côtes australiennes... Comment arriver à le localiser ? Et surtout, existe-t-il vraiment ou bien n''est-ce qu''une légende ? Dom n''a pas d''autres choix que d''essayer d''en savoir plus. Mais il n''est pas le seul sur la piste de l''or.

Après toutes les épreuves qu''il a traversées, Dom est bien décidé à s''accorder un peu de repos. Il ne veut penser à rien, et surtout pas aux innombrables mensonges qui entourent le passé de son père. Mais la mort rôde dans la ville, et les sombres secrets de la famille Silvagni remontent un à un à la surface. C''est le moment que choisit La Dette- - pour lui communiquer son sixième et ultime contrat. En le découvrant, Dom est glacé d''horreur ... Est-il vraiment prêt à tout pour reprendre le contrôle de sa vie ?