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Library and Educational books online - Books for LibrariesBooksurf is an online bookshop specialising in educational books for libraries, be they schools, municipal, or other libraries. Find all the latest educational books, including the current Premiers Reading Challenge lists, all at 20% off the recommended retail price.
Schools and municipal libraries are welcome to fill in our SIGN UP form and receive a 30 day credit account with a user name and password
Because of the generous discount we give to our customers we need to get maximum discount from the publishers which means they supply books to us as FIRM SALE. Therefore all items purchased on the Booksurf website are non returnable. Returns will only be accepted if items are received damaged or misbound. |
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YOUNG ADULT NEW TITLES AVAILABLE ( not necessarily recommended) |  Winter Song by Jean-Claude Mourlevat
One voice is the weapon against tyranny in this powerful hymn to courage and freedom. Four teenagers escape from their prison-like boarding schools to take up the fight against the tyrannical government that murdered their parents fifteen years earlier. Fleeing across icy mountains from a pack of terrifying dog-men sent to hunt them down, only three of the friends make it safely to Jahn's Restaurant, the headquarters of a secret resistance movement. It is here they learn about courage, freedom and love, and discover the astonishing power of one voice as the battle begins - to free a depressed and terrified nation from a generation of cruelty, and to save their captured friend, forced to fight to the death in a barbaric ancient game.
|  The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen
| Cool That Anger! by
The Life Skills series, for pupils at Key Stage 3, is designed to equip students with the skill sets they need to move confidently into the adult world and achieve success in the workplace and balance in their lives! Some titles support and reinforce core curriculum skills and project-based learning while others promote practical skills and emotional intelligence. A sophisticated magazine style layout draws students in particularly lower ability readers, and real-life examples of the practical uses of skills are given.
|  Running on the Cracks by Julia Donaldson
This is a runaway thriller for Jacqueline Wilson fans, by the author of The Gruffalo. 14-year-old Leo runs away from her aunt and uncle's home, where she has been living since the sudden death of her musician parents. Leo is driven away by the disturbing behaviour of her uncle. But she is not just wanting to escape her life: she wants to discover the secret behind the feud between her father and his Chinese family.Leo's journey is peopled with a cast of fabulous characters: 12-year-old Finlay, who can never get anything right and is always in trouble Mary the manic depressive, who provides a hideaway for Leo Rab, the grumpy cornershop owner and Marina the no-nonsense doughnut lady, both of whom give Finlay work - and plenty of unsolicited advice! Julia Donaldson has crafted a funny, moving, heart-stopping thriller with characters that will stay in your heart long after you have turned the final uplifting page.
|  The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd
It's January 1st, 2015, and the UK is the first nation to introduce carbon dioxide rationing, in a drastic bid to combat climate change. As her family spirals out of control, Laura Brown chronicles the first year of rationing with scathing abandon. Will her mother become one with her inner wolf? Will her sister give up her weekends in Ibiza? Does her father love the pig more than her? Can her band the dirty angels make it big? And will Ravi Datta ever notice her? In these dark days, Laura deals with the issues that really matter: love, floods and pigs. The Carbon Diaries 2015 is one girl's drastic bid to stay sane in a world unravelling at the seams.
|  Dragon Horse by Peter Ward
Set in ancient China, two brothers fight the classic battle between good and evil as the Shadow-without-name attempts to break free from an eternal imprisonment by utilizing the strength and power of the famed dragon horses. Rokshan and An-Lushan are drawn into this centuries-old struggle, along with a young girl destined to become the Spellweaver of her nomadic tribe. And as An-Lushan is pulled towards the dark, Rokshan must embark upon a dangerous journey into the lands of the Wild Horsemen - where he is to meet the great stallion Stargazer and, ultimately, must learn the innermost secrets of the dragons.
|  The Twilight Companion by Lois H. Gresh
The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer follows an unlikely couple: Bella, a gawky teenager, and her boyfriend, Edward, a vampire who has sworn off human blood. Seductive and compelling, the four-book series has become a worldwide phenomenon. With legends and lore about vampires and werewolves, insight into the lives and loves of the characters and loads of exclusive facts and quizzes, this guide is a must-have for fans of the Twilight series. This book has not been authorized or endorsed by Stephanie Meyer, Little, Brown and Company, or anyone involved in the Twilight movie.
|  Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
Cammie returns in Book 3 of the Gallagher Girls series, but this semester comes up against national political activists and risks losing her cover in order to save her best friend - a major political target - from being kidnapped. But are the kidnappers political extremists or something more sinister? And why has Zach, Cammie's mysterious (and totally hot) crush, suddenly returned?
|  Dandelion Fire by N.D. Wilson
N. D. Wilson continues the story he began in 100 Cupboards. Henry York never dreamed his time in Kansas would open a door to adventure - much less a hundred doors. But a visit to his aunt and uncle's farm took an amazing turn when cupboard doors, hidden behind Henry's bedroom wall, revealed themselves to be portals to other worlds. Now, with his time at the farm drawing to a close, Henry makes a bold decision - he must go through the cupboards to find the truth about where he's from and who his parents are. Following that trail will take him from one world to another, and ultimately into direct conflict with the evil of Endor.
|  Six Feet Deep by Rose Impey
How many other boys had a mother prepared to be buried alive -- just to get into the record books? Jordan suspected that only he belonged to such a odd family. And the novelty of a bit of fame and freedom had worn off long ago. It's four months since he's seen his mum and all Jordan gets is pity from the neighbours and wisecracks at school. Even his friends seem to have changed. Plagued by nightmares, everything around Jordan is falling apart: his friends, his family, but most of all himself.
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CONFIDENT READERS NEW TITLES |  The Lost Island of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar
Three children. Alone on the ocean waves, after a fierce storm throws their parents from the Pamela Jane into the icy waters below. Maya, Simon and Penny now face a wild rescue adventure that will lead them to a truly magical place...Imagine an island with green mountains looming over pink sandy beaches and tide pools lit by the moon. An island with the darkest of secrets, where pirates lurk and jaguars roam - and a precious stone holds a power that is both wondrous and terrifying. This is where the children must go. No one from the outside has escaped the island before. Danger is everywhere. But they can't turn back now. Could you?
|  Christian the Lion by Anthony Bourke & John Rendall
'Do you hear that, little fellow?' Ace asked the lion cub excitedly. 'You're coming with us!' It's almost Christmas and as two friends search for gifts in London they come across the most unbelievable sight - a lion for sale in the famous store, Harrods. Unable to bear the thought of leaving the little cub, Ace and John take him home and name him Christian. A year of fun and mischief later, Christian has grown up and Ace and John must find him a new home back in his native Africa.
|  Bad News for Milk Bay by Moya Simons
|  Dumped by Meredith Costain
Michi is loving high school. She has heaps of friends from Pink HQ, and she's getting to know Amira and her group. But when Michi innocently talks to the boy that Amira likes, she gets excluded and bullied by her so-called friends. And things turn really nasty when Michi gatecrashes Amira's party. Ages 10+.
|  My Sister Has a Big Black Beard and Other Quirky Verses by Duncan Ball
My sister has a big black beard, My brother needs a bra...So begins one of the poems in this quirky, delicious and outrageously funny collection for kids by Duncan Ball, author of the Selby books. Sisters with beards, exploding bullies, a nightmare driving test, a girl whisked away by aliens, and poor old Uncle Norm who 'got sucked up in a lightning storm', these poems and many more in this book will have the kids reading and reciting with glee.
|  Switched by Sienna Mercer
Olivia Abbott is a cheerleader - pretty clothes, pretty hair and pretty perfect. Ivy Vega is definitely not the cheerleading type - black clothes, black eyeliner, pale skin. In fact she seems the exact opposite of Olivia - or she would be if she wasn't her twin!Meeting for the first time since being separated at birth, Olivia is about to discover that her long lost sister may just have some skeletons in her closet. But that won't put her off getting to know Ivy. After all, blood is thicker than water - and it's certainly tastier!This title combines the excitement of finding a long-lost sister with a hair-raising twist. Sink your teeth into Olivia and Ivy's fright-time adventure.
|  Ribblestrop by Andrew Mulligan
Roofless dormitories, distracted teachers and a lethally dangerous underground labyrinth - Ribblestrop's visionary headmaster is out of his depth even before the pupils arrive! And when they do - what a bunch! There's Sanchez, a Colombian gangster's son hiding from kidnappers Millie, an excluded arsonist and self-confessed wild child Caspar, the landlady's spoiled grandson the helpful but hapless Sam and his best friend Ruskin, plus a handful of orphans from overseas, who are just happy to have beds - even if they are located in a roofless part of the building...Anything could happen - and anything does!
|  Seriously Sassy by Maggi Gibson
Thirteen-year-old Sassy is a true twenty-first century girl. She's puzzling out the mysteries of parents, boys and why people can't be more like dolphins, and confronting big questions like ...Can she become a singer - songwriter and save the world too? (More importantly, can she get Dad to pay for a demo?) Should she trust her dolly-goth best friend to give her a makeover without making her look like one of the undead? And does sharing a chocolate chip muffin with Magnus Menzies mean true love, or just a mid-morning snack?
|  Captain Cook's Apprentice by Anthony Hill
When young Isaac Manley sailed on the Endeavour from England in 1768, no one on board knew if a mysterious southern continent existed in the vast Pacific Ocean. It would be a voyage full of uncertainties and terrors. During the course of the three-year journey, Isaac's eyes are opened to all the brutal realities of life at sea - floggings, storms, press-gangs, the deaths of fellow crewmen, and violent clashes on distant shores. Yet Isaac also experiences the tropical beauty of Tahiti, where he becomes friends with a Tahitian girl. He sees the wonders of New Zealand. And he is there when the men of Endeavour first glimpse the east coast of Australia, anchor in Botany Bay, and run aground in the Great Barrier Reef.
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EARLY READERS & PICTURE BOOKS NEW TITLES |  The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket
There's dreadful news from the symphony hall--the composer is dead! If you have ever heard an orchestra play, then you know that musicians are most certainly guilty of something. Where exactly were the violins on the night in question? Did anyone see the harp? Is the trumpet protesting a bit too boisterously? In this perplexing murder mystery, everyone seems to have a motive, everyone has an alibi, and nearly everyone is a musical instrument. But the composer is still dead. Perhaps you can solve the crime yourself. Join the Inspector as he interrogates all the unusual suspects. Then listen to the accompanying audio recording featuring Lemony Snicket and the music of Nathaniel Stookey performed by the San Francisco Symphony. Hear for yourself exactly what took place on that fateful, well-orchestrated evening.
|  What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson
With all the MOOing and HISSing, QUACKing and NEIGHing, and BAAAing and CLUCKing, the farmyard is full of noise. But when Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len hatch a plot to steal the fine prize cow, it's the quietest animal of all who saves the day! A marvellous new rhyming tale from the creators of the best-selling The Princess and the Wizard and Sharing a Shell.
|  Stanley Paste by Aaron Blabey
Stanley Paste is small. Really small. And he hates it. But when a new girl arrives at school, Stanley learns that perhaps being small is not so bad after all.
|  Our Daft Dog Danny by Pamela Allen
In the winter, we love to visit Uncle Peter and his dog Millie at the beach. But the day we took our dog Danny with us, everything went wrong! Until Toby had a good idea...
|  The Greatest Sheep in History by Frances Watts
Ernie and Maud are thrilled to be attending the National Superheroes Conference with the other superheroes from Baxter. But when the conference is disrupted by Chicken George - the most terrifying and villainous chicken anyone has ever seen - it will take more than just an ordinary superhero to save the day. Ages 7+.
|  Refugees by David Miller
Two wild ducks become refugees when their swamp is drained. Their journey in search of a new place to live exposes them to danger, rejection and violence before they are given a new home. Shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2005. Ages 4+.
|  Journey of the Sea Turtle by Mark Wilson
The Australian sea turtle, the loggerhead, is a brave and beautiful creature and faces many dangers throughout its life. Follow the journey of one remarkable animal in this stunningly illustrated picture book. It follows the journey of the sea turtle hatchling, from the beach of her birth and the predators there, to the dangers she faces at sea.
|  Impressionists by Rosie Dickins
A new title in Young Reading Series Three, which is aimed at children whose reading ability and confidence allows them to tackle longer and more complex stories. Today, Impressionist paintings draw blockbuster crowds to museums and art galleries, and sell for millions at auction. But who were the artists that painted 150 years ago, why did they upset people and how did they come to be known as the Impressionists? Developed in consultation with Alison Kelly, who is a senior lecturer in education and an early reading specialist from Roehampton University. Beautifully produced hardback with ribbon marker.
|  The Terrible Greedy Fossifoo by Charles Fuge
When the terrible greedy Fossifoo clatters into the Great Green Forest, it spells TROUBLE! He tears up ALL the trees, eats ALL the fruit and berries, and frightens away ALL the forest creatures. All alone in the empty forest, the Fossifoo soon feels sorry for all his bashing and crashing. But will he be able to change his ways and make the forest beautiful again before it's too late? A stomping story about caring for the environment and each other.
|  Guess Who's Coming for Dinner? by Cathy Tincknell
A gluttonous pig and his good lady goose tell the story of what transpired the evening they were invited to dine at the mysterious Eatum Hall. This book was shortlisted for the 2005 Kate Greenaway Prize for illustration.
|  I Want to Go Home! by Tony Ross
The Little Princess has been moved to a new castle, where there is lots more room! But she just wants to go home to the old castle. But is the old castle still the same, now that it has new owners? A wonderfully funny and reassuring book that will ring true with anyone who has ever moved house with a toddler.
|  Posy by Linda Newbery
Follow the delightful Posy kitten as she bounces and pounces through her adventure-filled day. This beautifully illustrated picture book by an award-winning author and illustrator team is bound to be adored by cat lovers of all ages, everywhere!
|  The Master by Geoff Havel
|  Lunar Strike by H. I. Larry
Zac Power is the ultimate boy hero with a secret spying career. No mission is impossible for him. Ages 7+.
|  More Adventures According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
Ahoy, maties! As a classroom hamster I've had many adventures. My biggest was when my boat almost sank to the bottom of Potter's Pond. And that was before I met up with some scary-scary-scary pirates! My paw was still shaking when I first scribbled the tale in my notebook, and I left out a few details. But now I've written out the whole story, including my mysterious midnight trips to the library and the unsqueakably wonderful surprise at the end. Your adventurous pal, Humphrey.
|  The Wombat and the Grand Poohjam by Jackie French
The grand Poohjam of Stink'um knows exactly how to make kids do as they are told - that is, before the Princess of O'Straylia arrives in his court with her pet wombat. Ages 6+.
|  The Race Across America by Geronimo Stilton
Geronimo Stilton participates in the Race Across America on his bicycle with his friend Bruce Hyena.
|  Zac Power: Close Shave by H. I. Larry
Zac's favourite hair gel has been spiked with a hair-removing ingredient. The only antidote is being held for ransom. If Zac can't find the culprits, the entire town, including Zac himself, will be bald within a day. No one messes with Zac's hair. This time, it's personal!
|  Scratch Kitten and the Terrible Beasties by Jessica Green
Scratch Kitten has just escaped from a landlocked life as the pet and plaything of some spoilt children. Determined to get back to sea, he tries to swim aboard a passing ship. When he doesn't make it, he is rescued by Jock, a deck hand on a tiny fishing ship bound for the North Sea in search of herring. Scratch should be in heaven but instead, he and Jock have their work cut out for them, trying to keep The Rat Pack away from their rat-phobic captain. Will Scratch and Jock get the better of these Terrible Beasties, or will it be the other way around...?
|  Cows in Action by Steve Cole
Professor McMoo, Pat and Bo aren't just any old cows, they're time-traveling, super-clever cows in action who visit past and future, around the world to stop the evil Ter-moo-nators changing history...The Time Shed lands on a ship in the Caribbean in 1718, where Professor McMoo, Pat and Bo soon realize that the famous pirates, Blackbeard and Bluebeard are nowhere near as scary as Moo-Beard, the ter-moo-nator pirate who's captured them - and their ship. They'll need to fight with sword and cow-tlas to escape, but that isn't enough, the CIA still need to figure out what the FBI are up to, and face the real Blackbeard in battle. Bo is separated from the rest of the gang - can they do it without her? Or will they face a watery grave?
|  Water Fight Frenzy by Felice Arena
Meet the Stick Dudes! Fresh from their debut in Farticus Maximus and Other Stories That Stink, the Stick Dudes are heading out on their own in a series focusing on humorous antics during the average day in the life of an under-10 year old boy. Ben and his friends spend their first truly hot summer's day in the pool, where they encounter many adventures! Join Ben as he comes under attack from the Pirates of the Tang Sea, as he loses his shorts (how embarrassing!), as he joins his friends in an over-the-fence water-bomb war with the girls next door and more hilarious events!
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Premiers Reading Challenge
NSW
VIC
Following are the books that are available for the NSW and VIC PRC Challenges. The new titles for 2008 have been added to the beginning of the existing lists.
NSW 7-8 (2009 titles p 1-8)
NSW 5-6 (2009 titles p 1-8 )
NSW 3-4 (2009 titles p 1-7)
NSW K-2 (2009 titles p 1-7)
VIC 9-10 (2009 titles p 1-2)
VIC 7-8 (2009 titles p 1-4)
VIC 5-6 (2009 titles p 1-3)
VIC 3-4 (2009 titles p 1-3)
VIC P-2 (2009 titles p 1-2)
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