Jane Godwin

A bright and fun picture book for pre-schoolers that explores early spatial concepts - up, down, over, through! - and the way children play, from highly awarded and respected Children's writer Jane Godwin and illustrator Kim Drane. I'm swinging high and swinging low. Up the steps. Stop and go! A simple and engaging picture book set over a morning in a playground where two young children spontaneously meet and play together. As they do, they explore spatial concepts - up, down, over, through! With pitch-perfect read-aloud text from highly awarded and respected Children's writer Jane Godwin and bright and exuberant illustrations from Kim Drane.

Splash into summer with this glorious love letter to the seasons. Combining Jane Godwin's sparkling text and Alison Lester's whimsical watercolours, Sing Me the Summer celebrates those precious everyday moments that stay with us forever.

From bestselling creators Jane Godwin and Terry Denton comes a quirky and inspiring book about celebrating who YOU are and the power and peace to be found in not trying to be anyone else. 'Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.' - Albert Einstein (or not, as it turns out ) So ... can a fish climb a tree? Can a horse drive a car? Can a baby bake a cake? And if they can't, what wonderful things can they do? From bestselling creators Jane Godwin and Terry Denton comes a quirky and inspiring book about celebrating who YOU are and the power and peace to be found in not trying to be anyone else. 'Godwin's succinct, well-worded text lends itself well to reading aloud during classroom and library storytimes ... Denton's colorful, playful illustrations brighten every page with multiple characters and intriguing details. An imaginative picture book.' - Booklist

A CBCA NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR OLDER READERS 2025running latedrop it off without meI type drop what off? I don't know what Mish is talking about.While I'm typing, another message appears. don't tell bellaBut I am Bella.Best friends Bella and Connie live on the outskirts of the city in an area that was once full of open fields and paddocks but is changing as the suburbs creep closer. And now there is Mish, Connie's cousin, who has to be included even though she is unfriendly and unpredictable. The pandemic lockdowns have lifted and the three teens are eager to explore their newfound independence. But with the world opening up, there has been a rise in surveillance, from apps that track their movements to voice recorders and hidden cameras. It feels like everyone is watching them. But when does 'watching' become 'watching over'?Do we have a right to know everything about those we love? Look Me in the Eye is a gripping tale of young teens navigating freedom and trust-building, privacy and secrets, in an era of parental surveillance.'An important novel that rings true to life' BOOKS+PUBLISHING'Captivating . . . Readers from middle school age to adults will find this story engaging and enlightening' READPLUSPraise for Jane Godwin's writing:'Fantastically tense in places, A Walk in the Dark is a great read for all kids ages 11 plus' Readings'Refreshingly unpredictable, bold and refuses to minimise the complex lives of [its] characters' Saturday Age'This book is a joy to read' CBCA Judges' report on When Rain Turns to Snow'Quality storytelling . . . gripping' The Australian Women's Weekly

From bestselling creators Jane Godwin and Terry Denton, Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree? is a quirky and inspiring book about celebrating who YOU are and the power and peace to be found in not trying to be anyone else.‘Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. – Albert Einstein (maybe) So … can a fish climb a tree? Can a horse drive a car? Can a baby bake a cake? And if they can’t, what wonderful things can they do? Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree? is a celebration of uniqueness and individuality, based on the well-known Einstein quote.

Isabelle and her best friends Harry B and Izzy are in Year Two and there are lots of adventures to be had: getting to know their new teacher, going to a school disco and sleepover, bridge-building in the forest, and even a baby to show the whole class!Isabelle loves being in Year Two, until . . . Harry has some news that shocks them all.How will Isabelle manage the rest of the year without Harry B by her side?A warm and relatable series about all the special little moments and big dramas of being seven. Jane Godwin, one of Australia's most respected writers for children, gently explores the trials and triumphs of friends, family and school life, with delightful illustrations by Robin Cowcher.'One of the best . . . junior Aussie titles is The Isabelle Stories, a gorgeous collection of four stories in one volume, stories about Isabelle and her world, about friends, family, school life and growing up. This is a brilliant title for beginning readers aged 5-8 (and a great read-aloud title) from Jane Godwin, one of Australia's most applauded writers for children' Paul Macdonald, The Children's Bookshop, Sydney'Jane Godwin has a great voice: deft, light and rich' The Age

Vinter och sommar åker Lilla Katt skolbussen, den stora röda, tillsammans med sin storasyster. Men en dag är storasyster sjuk, och Lilla Katt måste åka själv. Tyvärr somnar hon på bussen på vägen hem, och ingen märker det. När hon vaknar är bussen tom och det är mörkt ute. Så snart busschauffören inser vad som hänt, sätter han henne på en alldeles speciell plats längst fram i bussen och kör Lilla Katt hem.

Six-year-old Isabelle doesn't have any brothers or sisters. But she does have her dad, her cat Steve, her friend Harry B, and her baby cousin, Bibi, who she's very good at looking after. And then along comes Isobel, a new girl at school. They have the same name, but will they be friends?Four gentle stories in one volume, all about Isabelle and her world, its trials and triumphs, its small moments and big dramas: friends, family, school life and growing up, from Jane Godwin, one of Australia's respected writers for children, and with delightful illustrations by Robin Cowcher.'Jane Godwin understands what it is to be a child or young person, what matters to them at different ages and stages' Living Arts Canberra

A gripping and suspenseful rite-of-passage novel about five teenagers and one night that will change them all, from award-winning author Jane Godwin.'A brilliantly woven tale, deliciously tense from first page to last. This is classic unputdownable Godwin' DAVINA BELL'It's just a walk in the dark. What is there to worry about?'That's what the head teacher, Johan, says. And so the Year Nines from Otway Community School set out on an overnight hike, with no adults.But doesn't Johan know that a storm is coming?When five teenagers head in to the forest that late afternoon, none of them is aware what the night will bring. Each will have to draw on their particular strengths to survive. Each will have to face the unknown, battling the elements, events beyond their control, and their own demons. It's a night that will change everything.Set in the rainforest of Victoria's Otway Ranges, A Walk in the Dark is about friendship, trust, identity and family, consent and boundaries, wrapped in a compulsively readable, suspense-filled adventure.Five head into the forest, but will all five make it out?'Quality storytelling . . . gripping' The Australian Women's Weekly'Unique and intriguing' Better Reading'Fantastically tense in places, A Walk in the Dark is a great read for all kids ages 11 plus' Readings 'Suspenseful and exciting . . . Extremely engaging . . . highly relatable and real. This novel has everything to keep the audience enthralled. No reader will be able to put the book down until the very end' ReadPlus'This is deft, intuitive writing, deeply sympathetic, non-judgemental, canny. Jane Godwin understands what it is to be a child or young person, what matters to them at different ages and stages. Importantly, she values these concerns, treats them with due respect and creates stories in which her book people mature and blossom through the overcoming of self-doubt and their fear of the new and unknown. Good lessons for adults there, too' Living Arts Canberra

In times of major uncertainty for children, this book will be a simple and heartwarming reminder about all the comforting things that are important to remember. The story begins with reminders to not forget the practical daily things like making your bed, brushing your teeth, remembering your coat and watching out in the street, but then the focus moves to things like remembering to smile and to lend a hand when you can, to smell the flowers and listen to the music of the trees. The text is deceptively simple and yet incredibly effective and poignant.

Let's find some animals - off we go! Would you like to meet them and say hello? Join dynamic duo Jane Godwin and Jane Reiseger on a fun and bright adventure to learn all the ways that animals say hello. Look out for the sneaky little mouse along the way!

In this warm and humorous exploration of families, much-loved children’s author Jane Godwin has teamed with internationally acclaimed Argentinian creator Yael Frankel. Together, they weave a colourful celebration of all the differences that make every family unique.So many families,some big and some small.Each one is different,let’s look at them all!You’ll be sure to recognise a family just like yours!

A BIG ISSUE BOOK OF THE YEAR This beautifully written rhyming text, matched with exquisite illustrations, explores love, loss, memory, and the power objects can hold. Arno had a horse, it was brown and it was black. He took it with him everywhere, but did he bring it back? When Arno loses his precious toy horse, all the kids in town help him to look for it. They look everywhere, but will Arno ever see his horse again? A touching story about loss, memory, and the mysterious ways we feel connected to those we love.