TERENCE THE TOILET TRAVELS THE WORLD :: a toilet with a yearning for enlightenment :)

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TERENCE THE TOILET TRAVELS THE WORLD :: a toilet with a yearning for enlightenment :)

Ages 4 to grown-up
I mentioned to my adult children that I was going to do a top 5 on ‘poo’ books, and Terence the Toilet was the first book they each thought of!

When you’re a ‘bog-standard’ toilet, chances are there are magazines left in the bathroom with you – magazines that show ‘exotic bathrooms in exotic places all over the world’. And that can leave you feeling restless and unsatisfied. 

That’s what happened to Terence – and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that most of us have felt that way too after leafing through the magazines left in the bathroom.

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the joys of coming home from far away places, geographically or symbolically

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the joys of coming home from far away places, geographically or symbolically

ages 8 years to teen
For non-Australian readers: Along the Road to Gundagai is much-loved folk song written in 1922 and Gundagai is a small town a couple of hours inland from Canberra (Australia’s capital city). It’s a lovely memorable tune and in this book it’s given a whole new (and solemn) slant.

Here, it’s a young soldier musing on the words to the song and the completely beautiful illustrations show scenes from home and scenes of war.

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how ordinary people doing good things led to powerful, enduring wartime bonds

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how ordinary people doing good things led to powerful, enduring wartime bonds

ages 4 years to grownup

"They didn't even know us," said Adele. "But they died trying to help us."
Henri thought of his new soldier friends.

Do Not Forget Australia tells a true story through the eyes of a young, fictional French boy, Henri. His village, Villers-Breetonneux, was all but destroyed by the first ever tank battle between the British and the Germans. The Germans won, but Australian brigades followed the British and won the town (on 25 April, 1918 – Anzac Day). 

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a joyful, boisterous, poignant book with a completely satisfying ending

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a joyful, boisterous, poignant book with a completely satisfying ending

Age guide: 2 to 12 years. 
Mr. Nick has a passion—he loves knitting. He knits every morning on the train ride to work, and his friend Mrs. Jolley does too. When sickness strikes Mrs. Jolley, Mr. Nick puts his passion to work to serve and lift and love Mrs. Jolley. 

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a life that reminds us how beautiful the world is and how valuable we all are

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a life that reminds us how beautiful the world is and how valuable we all are

ages 4 years to grownups
A charming and incredibly pretty book about a woman who commits as a child to go to faraway places, live beside the sea and do something to make the world more beautiful. It's loved and used a lot by teachers, with good reason. It does a lot of work! 

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My Place: the interweaving of lives through shared experiences on one patch of earth

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My Place: the interweaving of lives through shared experiences on one patch of earth

ages 4 to grownup
There is so much that connects the human experience through the passage of time. Here the power of place is powerfully illustrated through the lives of consecutive children living on one plot of land over 200 years. It's a beautifully diverse group of children who are amusing and relatable and individually fascinating.
 

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THE TIME IT TOOK TOM :: how long does it take to paint a room?

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THE TIME IT TOOK TOM :: how long does it take to paint a room?

Age guide: 2 to 8 years ish
This is a simple story about different points of view, forgiveness, mistakes, work and overcoming. Also, it’s funny!

Tom is a little fellow who finds some red paint – then, in the space of just three hours, paints his entire living room red. Including the TV and the cat! He’s quite pleased with the result. 

Mum is not, but after a few wild exclamations she gets it together and they undertake a complete revamp of the living room – and finally everyone is happy with the result. Years pass, then one day Tom finds the blue paint.

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