Synopsis
How To Be Brave When Battling A Troll is an adventure/fantasy book for readers 6-8 years old. Identical twins Molly and Eva are sent to stay with their artist Aunty Maxine in the country. On the very first day at their auntie’s house the sisters meet Oriel the teenage witch, and her bear cub Snuffles, after they fall out of one of Aunty Maxine’s paintings. Oriel and Snuffles were cast into the painting by a mischievous Tundra Witch who set a troll after them. Oriel needs the help of the twins to cast a spell in order to repel the troll, and return to her home in the icy mountains with her clan, the Sierra Witches. The girls, with the artistic help of Aunty Maxine, must return to the painted world and battle the troll. To conquer the troll, they must overcome their personal fears. Learning to work as a team, be brave in the face of darkness, and smelliness the girls vanquish the troll by stopping the spell caster, Faina, the Tundra Witch. The story ends with the twins returning home to Aunty Maxine ready for a new school year, and Oriel and Snuffles returning to their homelands. Aunty Maxine promises to unite the friends once she learns to harness her magical abilities. She creates new adventures for the girls, and Snuffles, to have in unexplored painted worlds.
Synopsis
Betty Learns to Fly is all about Betty the house-cat’s journey outside of her small garden in suburban Taringa. She has supervised time outside with her owner/friend Hilda. Betty’s home backs onto a piece of protected bushland as Hilda knows that cats and wildlife do not mix. Betty is quite content in her garden and home, as there are many windows overlooking the bush allowing her a great view of the activity around her. Sometimes though she gets bored, and she is envious — especially of the currawongs which swoop and sing amongst the branches of the eucalypt and leopard trees. One day Bright-Eye, a cheeky currawong talks to Betty. She inspires her to escape the garden in search of the secret of flight. If Betty can discover the location of Mother Currawong, then she may have a chance at learning how to fly, with help from ‘the wise lady of the trees’. After jumping the garden fence Betty meets many characters who help, mock, and hinder her journey. She meets a disgruntled scrub turkey, an annoying gang of noisy minors, two ringtail possums, one scary powerful owl, one terrifying carpet python and Mother Currawong. Will the threats of the bush be worth the risk? Are cats meant to fly? If she can find Mother Currawong, then Betty’s journey may end up answering many of life’s lessons. A story of adventure, friendship, communication, and courage. Betty learns to fly will teach children that having big dreams can be rewarding, but being thankful for our own capabilities, and gardens, is vital.