New Releases by Rebecca Macauley

As the Kazoo household settles down for the night, Ella Kazoo is wide-awake and ready for adventure. She begs for a drink and another bedtime story, and sits up in bed chatting with her teddy. Sleep is a no-go zone for Ella Kazoo! Family tensions mount as Ella ignores her mother s pleas to stay in bed. She would rather set out on an adventure on the high seas, chasing Captain Shut-eye and his pirates. But when Ella finally captures the pirate ship Dread, she discovers that at bedtime the fearsome Captain Shut-eye and his pirates love nothing more than getting in their jarmies and getting some rest! More information and teachers'' guide available at www.ellakazoo.com.au

Collecting Colour tells the story of a day spent collecting colour in the Top End of the Northern Territory, narrated by a white Australian girl, Rose. Rose s best friend Olive s mother, Karrang, makes beautiful coloured baskets, mats and bags from leaves from the pandanus palm a tall, thin tree with very long, spiky leaves. Rose and Olive spend a day out bush helping to gather the pandanus leaves and stringy bark for making into strong bags and baskets. They collect the colour that the bags will be bright yellows and pinks, from special plants and berries. It is a hard day s work for Rose, but the results are worth it. Collecting Colour, featuring stunning collage illustrations on Nepalese paper, is a feast for the senses and is also a fascinating insight into the way of life of fibre artists, who produce beautiful, original work in often difficult conditions. Ages: 3+ Price: $28.99 HB

The most fundamental of all rights is an asylum seeker''s right to freedom. Zallah and her mother have escaped their war torn country and are looking for safety in Australia. Instead of freedom they find themselves in a refugee detention centre. Zallah struggles with the reason for this punishment. A True Person is a moving story which highlights the bond between Mother and Daughter in times of adversity. For Zallah there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we celebrate with her as she realises what it means to be A True Person.

Elizabeth thinks living in a block of flats is like living in a castle. Wearing her tiara, she waves at her neighbours from her balcony and they, in turn, greet her as Your Highness. Then one day she finds a pile of packing boxes in the kitchen. Is this the end of her reign? This book is for children aged 6 to 9.

In 2025, in the wake of global environmental devastation, the members of one surviving family encounter a teenaged boy from a mysterious clandestine community.