Most Popular Books by Ursula Dubosarsky

Three sisters growing up in post-World War II Sydney, Australia, deal with their mentally unstable father, their possibly unfaithful mother, and the defecting Russian spy who lives next door.

Literature Circles Year 7.

When their teacher goes missing during an outing, eleven girls grapple with the aftermath in this haunting, exquisitely told psychological mystery. The Vietnam War rages overseas, but back at home, in a year that begins with the hanging of one man and ends with the drowning of another, eleven schoolgirls embrace their own chilling history when their teacher abruptly goes missing on a field trip. Who was the mysterious poet they had met in the Garden? What actually happened in the seaside cave that day? And most important — who can they tell about it? In beautifully shimmering prose, Ursula Dubosarsky reveals how a single shared experience can alter the course of young lives forever. Part gripping thriller, part ethereal tale of innocence lost, The Golden Day is a poignant study of fear and friendship, and of what it takes to come of age with courage.

Students take turns bringing home the class chameleon and writing about how he spent his visit.

In her hand was a hinged wooden box with a black clasp. On the lid was a painting of a white bird with a long neck, its wings stretched out in flight. Fred rubbed it with her fingers, wiping away the dust. ''The Game of the Goose,'' she read slowly. ''Open it,'' said Rowley . . . Fred, Rowley and Rabbit hardly knew each other before the game. But the game changed everything. It took each of them on an adventure – a terrifying, wonderful journey that they would remember for ever.

A psychological thriller, a desperately moving and ultimately uplifting tale of childhood innocence. . . As small children, growing up at the property called Abyssinia, two sisters played with their dolls house together, side by side, always. Grace loved Mary and Mary loved Grace. But inseparable bonds can be unexpectedly shattered. When this happens to Grace, she is plunged into a dark and mesmerising world, a world full of bells and the ringing sky, of odd little children, strange events and frighteningly bizarre grown ups. ''. . . wonderfully atmospheric. . . brilliantly evokes the often-shadowy place of childhood. . .'' -The Age ''Ursula Dubosarsky is the most graceful, most original writer for young people in Australia - probably in the world.'' - Sonya Hartnett

Here is the story of the Terrible PLOP, with a bear and a rabbit, and a hop hop hop. But what is the PLOP? And where does it hide? Open the book and look inside ... ''Hilarious, original and energetic.'' The Sunday Age From award-winning author Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrator Andrew Joyner comes an irresistible picture book about a little rabbit who learns that some things in life aren''t as scary as they seem. Based on a Tibetan myth, a sound in the forest sets all the animals running for their lives from the Terrible Plop. Children will be charmed by the wonderful zany energy of the illustrations and the rollicking rhyming story.

Becky only wants fairy bread at her birthday party. But there''s so much left over, and she won''t throw it out. So Becky thinks of some very strange things to do with it all. Suggested level: primary.

Here is the story of the terrible plop, with a bear and a rabbit and a hop hop hop.

Hook them on reading for life, with the fully illustrated adventures of Mary and Marcus. Contains five hilarious and silly stories, perfect for emerging readers! Mary is the happiest panda in the world. She loves to sing and dance and play the ukulele. But sometimes things get out of hand! Lucky she has her best friend, Marcus the snake, to help her out. From Australian Children''s Laureate Ursula Dubosarsky and award-winning illustrator Andrew Joyner comes five madcap stories about two very different friends.

Becky has reached the point in her swimming lessons when she has stopped being a Frog and has moved up to be a Platypus. She has to go into the deep end, and she''s not at all sure that she''s ready for it. She wishes she could be a Frog for just a little while longer.

Coco Carlomagno is the well-respected, if somewhat easily startled, Chief of Police in Buenos Aires. Alberta is his more sensible cousin. Together they crack the cases that confound this puzzling city. Coco''s nerves are all a-jangle. Deep in a cemetery in Buenos Aires, the tomb of the famous, much-lamented tango singer Anibal Manzana has everyone baffled. It is talking! Could it be haunted? Luckily Coco has his commonsensical cousin Alberta on hand to help. Can they unravel this ghostly riddle?

A delightfully funny detective story for 6 to 8 year olds and a new kind of puzzle book from a bestselling duo working together for the first time.

Theodora is fourteen when her father Elkanah has a mysterious vision. Soon after, he leaves his family and goes to live with his first wife Pearl. It is up to Theodora and her half-brother Samuel to bring him back. Meanwhile, Samuel''s grandfather Elias is dying, and Theodora begins to see a black cat that could not possibly be real. As present-day events collide with stories from a distant past, the world begins to seem a more complex place, full of uncertainty, great wonder and inspiration.

Join Becky as she builds a cubby, performs magic tricks, gives her toys a bath, makes fairy bread and puts on a puppet show. She might be hard to keep up with but she''s so much fun! From the combined talents of Ursula Dubosarsky and Mitch Vane comes this funny and delightful collection of Aussie Nibbles, featuring a much-loved character from the series.

A boy stood in the playground under the big fig tree. ''He can''t speak English,'' the children whispered. Sydney, 1942. The war is coming to Australia - not only with the threat of bombardment, but also the arrival of refugees from Europe. Dreamy Columba''s world is growing larger. She is drawn to Ellery, the little boy from far away, and, together with her highly practical best friend Hilda, the three children embark on an adventure through the harbour-side streets - a journey of discovery and terror, in pursuit of the mysterious blue cat ...

Coco is the well-respected, if somewhat easily startled, Chief of Police in Buenos Aires. Alberta is his more sensible cousin. Together they crack the cases that confound this puzzling city...Coco Carlomagno is trying to avert a national disaster. La Bella Cucharita, the highly strung world-famous opera singer, is due to make her return to the stage after an unfortunate nerve-wracking incident - but a strange message has her rattled. Who on earth would send La Bella Cucharita mysterious notes on the eve of such an eagerly awaited performance?..Luckily Coco is on the case, and with a little help from his logic-loving cousin Alberta, he can discover just who is behind the quivering quavers...

A hilarious and charming story about a boy and his amphibious friend who do a series of odd jobs for their eccentric neighbours, from an Australian Children''s Laureate and the bestselling creators of The Terrible Plop. Ursula Dubosarsky was the Australian Children''s Laureate 2020-2021 Hercules Quick wants to be a magnificent magician. He just needs a special box of magic tricks. But the box is expensive, and Hercules doesn''t have any money. Luckily, Hercules lives in a big apartment block with Aunt Alligator and his tadpole friend, Sylvie, and he has plenty of neighbours who are willing to pay for his help. Whether it''s babysitting for the Elks, spring-cleaning for Queen Claude, or helping Professor Calamari choose the perfect bow tie, no job is too odd for Hercules Quick! Join the enterprising Hercules on his neighbourhood adventures as he discovers that sometimes the best magic of all is not a trick. Praise for Ask Hercules Quick and The Magnificent Hercules Quick ''With its combination of unusual characters and colourful, detailed illustrations, this book is sure to capture the attention of readers aged six to nine.'' Books+Publishing ''A whimsical, funny story with eccentric characters all led by the enterprising and helpful Hercules. Andrew Joyner''s illustrations are equally fun with lots of details to pore over ... Perfect for newly independent readers.'' Reading Time

In Eric''s house there were too many elephants - in the living room, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, even in his bedroom! The elephants take up a lot of space, but Eric loves every one of them. So when his mum says they have to go, Eric comes up with a clever solution to a very BIG problem . . . From the creators of The Terrible Plop comes this delightfully energetic story, full of fun and exuberance.

Perplexing puzzles, mind-boggling mazes and cracking codes feature in this series of stories about a pair of guinea-pig detectives - Coco Carlomagno, the easily-startled Chief of Police, and his more sensible cousin, Alberta.

The third delightfully funny detective story and puzzle book for 6 to 8 year olds from a bestselling duo.

An eleven-year-old Australian girl feels terribly guilty about something she did three years ago when her English relatives were visiting--and now they are returning!

This beautiful full-colour book is a compilation of Honey and Bear and Special Days with Honey and Bear, reproduced in a B format. The ten short stories are exquisitely illustrated by the talented Ron Brooks, and each capture a small moment in the lives of these animal friends. In Honey and Bear - the silver-eyed bird and the cuddly, rotund bear - Ursula Dubosarsky has created characters that children will love, in the tradition of Winnie the Pooh, and Frog and Toad. The tales are the perfect length for beginner readers to attempt themselves, or to read aloud to younger children.

Dear Readers, You may not know me, but I know you. I am - the WORD SPY. Ever since I can remember, I''ve been listening to, speaking, reading, and yes, spying on words. The time has come for me to share with you some of the many things I have discovered. All you have to do is open this book... the wonderful world of words awaits! Join the Word Spyon an entertaining journey through the English language. Learn more about where the alphabet came from, find out what ATM stands for, make your own palindromes (it''s easy!) and impress your pigs by speaking Pig Latin. There are cartoons, riddles and a special code to solve along the way. Visit the Word Spy blog

One winter''s day my dad and I Went down to see the carousel. We stood and watched as round and round The little horses rose and fell. So begins the magical journey of a small girl and a wooden horse. A journey of music and mirrors, of green hills and sunlit skies, of wishes and freedom. From this much-loved author and brilliant new illustrator comes a glowing, timeless picture book that celebrates the enduring wonder of the carousel.

SHORT-LISTED: CBCA Book of the Year, Younger Readers, 2019 This is a story about a boy called Pender and a kangaroo called Brindabella, about how they became friends, and all the things that happened to them because of it. Pender and his father live in an old house made of honey-coloured stone in the bush by the river, with only the company of his father''s paintings and the loyal dog, Billy-Bob. Then, on one winter morning, a gunshot amongst the trees changes everything. When Pender rescues Brindabella from the pouch of her murdered mother, an unusual friendship blossoms between the lonely boy and the orphaned joey. But Brindabella is no ordinary kangaroo. And though Pender has saved her life, the untameable wildness of the bush--and freedom--call to her... Lyrical and unforgettable, Brindabella explores the brutal beauty of the Australian bush.

Perplexing puzzles, mind-boggling mazes and cracking codes feature in this series of stories about a pair of guinea-pig detectives - Coco Carlomagno, the easily-startled Chief of Police, and his more sensible cousin, Alberta.

This distinctly Australian Christmas story about the joy of giving and the importance of family was created by the highly acclaimed picture book team of Ursula Dubosarsky and Sue deGennaro. Ursula Dubosarsky is the Australian Children''s Laureate for 2020 - 2021. It''s Christmas time in Australia, and Reindeer has great fun giving presents to his friends -- Cat, Dog and Guinea Pig. But even when it''s warm and sunny outside, it''s hard to be far from home and family on Christmas Eve. Luckily, Christmas is a time for exciting surprises, and this year Reindeer might just get one of his very own . . . ''What''s inside -- what can it be? Open it and you will see!''

Ava loves playing shops. Can she get Billy to buy anything? This exciting new series, written by Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrated by Annie White, offers children their first experience of reading real novels. The stories are approximately 650 words, comparable with many picture books, but the books are structured like novels four chapters, each ending on a major development or twist. Above all, the stories are about real experiences in settings familiar to 5- to 7-year-olds. This series has both kid and parent appeal, and will be highly collectable.

From the beginning of time, the WORD SPY has been creeping down hallways, hiding in shadows and journeying through different lands to discover everything there is to know about the English language. In her first book, The Word Spy, she shared with us the secrets she''d learnt about English, from the first alphabet in 4000 BC right up to the tricks of modern texting. In The Return of the Word Spy she continues the fascinating journey through language, with chapters on language families, how we learn to speak, grammar and written forms of communication. In an accessible, engaging style, the WORD SPY explains the meaning of nouns, verbs, pronouns, ''dead'' languages, word origins and other wordy wonders. Packed with cartoons, games, facts and puzzles, The Return of the Word Spy continues the WORD SPY''s fascinating journey through the English language.

Ava loves playing shops. Can she get Billy to buy anything? This exciting new series, written by Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrated by Annie White, offers children their first experience of reading real novels. The stories are approximately 650 words, comparable with many picture books, but the books are structured like novels four chapters, each ending on a major development or twist. Above all, the stories are about real experiences in settings familiar to 5- to 7-year-olds. This series has both kid and parent appeal, and will be highly collectable.

Has Becky''s wand made her little brother disappear?

Ava loves playing shops. Can she get Billy to buy anything? This exciting new series, written by Ursula Dubosarsky and illustrated by Annie White, offers children their first experience of reading real novels. The stories are approximately 650 words, comparable with many picture books, but the books are structured like novels four chapters, each ending on a major development or twist. Above all, the stories are about real experiences in settings familiar to 5- to 7-year-olds. This series has both kid and parent appeal, and will be highly collectable.

Ursula Dubosarsky is the Australian Children''s Laureate for 2020 - 2021 Lara had always wished she was a dog, and one day, just for a short time, she actually became one. This is how it happened. In a mulberry brick house on the harbour that Lara explores while her mother cleans, Lara meets Pierre, a boy about her age with a beautiful antique puppet theatre. With his puppets, he tells her a story about a boy whose family has been eaten by wolves. The boy is lost. He needs to find his grandmother. Lara takes the part of a dog, but suddenly she can no longer tell where she ends and Dog begins. Or is she Wolf? Caught up in Pierre''s story, Lara has to fight to protect her identity - and her new friend. Can she help Pierre find his way home? Pierre''s Not There is a lyrical, captivating and imaginative story that can be read on many levels.

Much more fun to be had with the English language at the hands of this literary duo. Discover hidden and silent languages, the secrets of grammar, dying words, and newborn words...

The sampler includes chapters from Ursula Dubosarsky’s The Golden Day, Patrick Ness’s More Than This, and Todd Mitchell’s Backwards. The Golden Day When their teacher goes missing during an outing, eleven girls grapple with the aftermath in this haunting, exquisitely told psychological mystery. More Than This From two-time Carnegie Medal winner Patrick Ness comes an enthralling and provocative new novel chronicling the life — or perhaps afterlife — of a teen trapped in a crumbling, abandoned world. Backwards An edge-of-your-seat thriller asks: Is it possible to fix a tragic future by changing the past — while experiencing life backwards?

"Geraldine hadn''t wanted the white guinea pig at all. But then a single, sudden act of sympathy exploded into something difficult and dangerous, like a kiss given to the wrong person."Winner of the New South Wales State Literary Award, the Victorian Premier''s Literary Award, and shortlisted for the Children''s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award.T A novel about childhood, change and the mystery of a missing guinea pig. Filled with Ursula Dubosarsky''s signature comic characters and situations as eleven-year-old Geraldine searches for belonging, both in her family and the wider world. "You''ll find yourself stopping to savour the small but penetrating insights offered on every page. It''s a wonderful piece of writing that improves on every reading." The Age"A sad tale? Actually not. You''ll be moved by the sudden warm ending, with its lightness and wit, this is a comedy of some depth." The ObserverURSULA DUBOSARSKY was born in Sydney and is the author of over 50 books for children and young adults. She has won multiple national literary prizes and has been nominated for both the Hans Christian Anderson and Astrid Lindgren international awards for children''s literature. Cover illustration and design by Amy Golbach

Children''s fantasy/adventure story about the adventures of Maisie and her Pinny Gig, whom she meets in her dreams.