|
|
|
 
For a complete list of all publications by Meredith,
please visit the Complete Bibliography page.
Bed Tails
(Penguin)
 |
There are two in the bed . . .
Mum and Dad are slumbering,
snoring, rumbling,
tucked up cosily and peacefully in bed . . . |
Until a scary storm outside brings everyone into Mum and Dad’s bed, one by one.
Will they ever get a good night’s sleep?
'Children's tale up with the best' - Amanda Horswill, Brisbane Courier Mail
'Funny and attractive, full of life and lively action ... a delightful romp' - Reading Time
‘with its bouncy rhyme and infectious rhythm... the illustrations reflect the exuberant text. A humorous read aloud for 3 to 7 year olds.’ -- Magpies
A Year in Girl Hell
(Hardie Grant Egmont)
Four girls, one year.
One hell of a time. |
Starting Year 7 and working out who you are in a new world of cliques and boys can be tough – especially when the people you thought would be your best friends for life begin to seem more like enemies ... A series about growing up and fitting in.
Book One: Crushed
 |
It’s the first year of high school and everything’s changing. One of my besties is in a different class and the other has started hanging out with the shiny people. I’m torn between sticking with my old friends or getting the shinies to like me. But there’s a gorgeous boy in the cool group that I can’t stop thinking about.
Will I fit in or be Lexi the Loser forever?
High School is shaping up to be HELL! |
'A heart warming story about friendship that matters and how being true to yourself helps you find it. Highly recommended.' - Reading Time
‘An insightful and realistic exploration of issues familiar to the teen years... It captures the teenage voice and will be popular with readers’-- Magpies
‘an insightful glimpse into the dramas of approaching the teenaged years’
-- Susan Whelan, suite101.com
Book Two: Dumped
 |
Even though I’ve made some great new friends, I’m not quite sure where I fit in, And when girls at school start sending me nasty emails, my world’s turned upside down.
Am I turning into Michi the reject? |
Book Three: Burned
 |
I’ve always been there for my friends when they need me. So where are my friends now that I need them? My grandfather is really sick and my supposed besties are too busy to notice.
Will I always just be Mia in the middle? |
Book Four: Trashed
 |
I’ve finally made it into the shiny group. It’s great being the centre of attention, but I still need to prove myself. And maybe the only way is by doing the shinies’ dirty work.
Do I want to become Alysha the Queen of Mean?
|
Dog Squad
(Walker Books: Lightning Strikes)
 |
For the Dog Squad there’s no job too small, no mission too dangerous.
Especially if there’s cash involved.
But when they take on Operation Collect Big-time things don’t go to plan.
Has the Dog Squad bitten off more than it can chew? |
‘Fast-paced, fun-filled entertainment . . . [a] mini-masterpiece.’
-- Jo Burnell, The Reading Stack
‘Perfect for readers who want short chapter books that are fast paced, full of giggles and excitement and are great reads.’ -- Chris Cheng, New Kidz Books in Oz
Science at Play
(Five Mile Press)
Simple and entertaining introductions to early science concepts:
Light, Forces, Weight, Heat.
‘A wonderful and creative way to promote scientific literacy amongst the very young’ -- David Lampard, Science Communicator, That Science Gang
My Baby Love
 |
Come to me,
my baby love,
my morning child,
my bright-eyed dove . . . |
A joyful celebration of mother-baby love, from waking at dawn to playing,
meal-times, bath-time and finally – sleeping at dusk.
‘a beautifully crafted picture book . . . a wonderful gift for expectant mothers or new parents, as well as very young children.’ -- Leonie Jordan, Bookseller & Publisher
‘utterly enchanting. Quite simply, this book is exquisite.’ -- Veronikah Larkin, Melbourne’s Child
‘warm loving and reassuring . . . visually beautiful’ --
Magpies
‘a celebration of motherhood. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.’ --
The Reading Stack
‘a glorious celebration of the joy and bond between a mother and her young baby’ --
Chris Cheng, New Kidz Books in Oz
No Noise at Our House
(Windy Hollow Books)
 |
You have to be ever so quiet when
you come to our house.
There are animals living here.
Wild animals.
They're sleeping now.
And you couldn't - wouldn't -
want to wake them up.
Would you?
|
‘Costain’s rhythmic text and direct address to the reader will entice a rousing read aloud.’ -- Magpies
‘the clever, crafted text and visually vibrant illustrations bubble with excitement on each opening’ --
Graham Davey, Reading Time
Rosie and the Bunyip
(Puffin Aussie Nibbles)
 |
Is it a bunyip? Or a roznesserus? Can Rosie solve the mystery of the scary howling noise down by Ghost Gum Creek?
'an enchanting story about imagination and how it can get away from you. Rosie is lively and inventive. Another great Australian book for early readers.' - Tina Cavanough, Magpies
|
Rosie to the Rescue
(Puffin Aussie Nibbles)
 |
Rosie loves the shiny red fire engine that lives next door. Only one thing could be better – a fire engine of her own! |
V-Kids
(Rigby)
|
Meet the V-Kids – five best friends who often find themselves in interesting situations. But they’re always up for a bit of a challenge – just like you!
Books in the V-Kids series:
Kite Challenge
The New Kid
Puppy Problems
Camp Crisis
Finals Fever
Kie-Yuh!
Rubbish!
Finders Keepers
Goal
Harmony Day
T-Day
Welcome to Wattlevale
The Platypus Secret
Fair Enough!
House of Horrors |
The Really Big Beliefs Project
(Curriculum Corporation)
 |
Emma Barnard and Thomas Cho (from class 6W) have chosen to write about people’s beliefs for their class project. They’ve talked to family, friends and people in their neighbourhood to discover how their daily lives are informed and affected by their beliefs. Emma and Thomas look at Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Judaic and secular, as well as Shinto and Taoist, beliefs.
"An excellent book which will spark much discussion and thought in the classroom" -- Austral Ed Book News
|
Doodledum
Dancing
(Penguin)
 |
Here's a book of giggly, wiggly, squiggly poems
You can munch them for breakfast
You can crunch them for lunch
You can gobble them for dinner
But most of all -
You can read them out loud
And share them with your friends
Again and again . . . |
‘Exuberance in celebrating the familiar world of the very young leaps from every page of the book. Children will meet it first as a ‘read aloud’ treat and later as a ‘read-by-myself-treasury.’ -- Reading Time
‘Costain’s use of language is great fun. Her words, snap, hum and jiggle, making this book a joy to read out loud.’ -- Sydney Morning Herald
‘A book for dipping into and enjoying over and over.’ -- Readings
‘Filled with rhyme, rhythm and playful language. A lovely book to dip into or read from cover to cover.’ -- Queensland Library Services
‘Come and doodledum dance with the delightful poems in this book!’ -- Good Reading
‘The fantastic use of language accompanied by fun and vibrant illustrations make this one perfect to read aloud. I loved it!’ -- Pages and Pages
• Shortlisted for the Early Childhood category in the 2007 CBC Awards
• Nominated for the Lower Primary category of the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards
It's
True: Hauntings Happen and Ghosts Get Grumpy
(Allen & Unwin)
 |
What would you do if your furniture threw itself downstairs or
strange faces appeared on your kitchen floor? Or if you saw a
festering green hand appear behind you in a mirror? Has your best
friend ever read your mind?
Explore the secrets of the supernatural,
examine the evidence for aliens and marvel at mysteries of the
mind. Which actor watched his own funeral? And what did Laila find in
the depths of the cellar?
Spook your friends with spine-chilling
stories and freaky phenomena!
‘This book is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about supernatural beings.’ -- Ross, aged 12, Perth, WA |
Ali,
Goal Attack
(All Stars #8)
(black dog books)
 |
I felt like I'd been on the sidelines all my life. I didn't even have
my own position on the team. What a loser. But then Stephanie turned
up, and everything changed.'
Ali, Goal Attack is the eighth book in the
All Stars netball series, which tells the story of the team's first season.
‘This book is really enjoyable and I couldn’t put it down for ages.’ -- Joel, Year 8, Perth, WA |
Maddy, Goal Defence
(All Stars 1: Black Dog Books)
 |
‘What could I do when I didn’t make the netball team? There
was only thing – start my own. But that isn’t as easy as it
sounds. I mean, where do you start?’
Eight girls, eight books, eight points of view. The fast-paced All
Star netball series tells the story of the team’s first season.
‘a lively, fast-moving, easy-to-read and very appealing sports series. Recommended.’ -- Magpies |
Josie,
Wing Attack
(All Stars 3: Black Dog Books)
 |
‘My sister is getting married and the whole house is going
crazy. I just want to play netball. Oh and I like to win too.
It’s the most important match of the season – against the
megaserious Cyber Grrrls. So come on. Let’s get on with it.’
Eight girls, eight books, eight points of view. The fast-paced All
Star netball series tells the story of the team’s first season. |
Oliver’s
Egg
(Puffin Aussie Nibbles)
 |
Will Oliver’s chook ever lay an egg? He’ll have to wait and see! |
Dog-gone!
(Little Ripper Reads: Five Mile Press)
 |
Meet Deefer, the Dopey, Destructive, but Devoted and unDeniably
aDorable Dog. Deefer is a lot of fun, but his bad habits get and TJ
into a lot of trouble! |
Avoid
Being a Convict Sent to Australia
(The Danger Zone: Koala Books)
 |
Find out all the gory details of how British convicts ended up on
chain gangs and tied to whipping posts in the new colony of Sydney Cove.
"...an excellent educational offering, suitable for home or school"
-- Aussie Reviews
|
50
Famous Australians
(Puffin)
 |
The triumphs, the tears, the tantrums and the tantalising facts about
fifty famous Australians are all here in one bumper volume. From Ned
Kelly to Kylie Minogue, their personal stories and achievements have
helped shape the face of Australia – in one way or another!
‘An excellent addition to the growing ranks for special collections in many school libraries.’ -- Viewpoint |
 |
Four friends. Best friends forever. Then along came Eartha and the
sandpit war ...
Jasmine and Georgia, and Emily and Su-Ping are friends. Best friends.
But Eartha, the school bully, puts their friendship to the test. Soon
the whole grade is involved in a war in the sandpit as each side
constructs and destroys their towns. More than feelings are hurt. And
then one morning, a peaceful resolution is found to the conflict.
‘A great book to read aloud and then discuss with the class. This plot is unfolding every day in every school throughout Australia.’ -- Magpies |
Freeing
Billy
 |
Benny loves the dog that lives nearby. But why is it so sad?
When Benny and Astrid find a howling dog behind a high fence at the
end of their street, they know they have to help it. They watch as
the dog gets thinner and thinner until it eventually escapes.
But will they be able to take it home? And who does the dog really
belong to? |
Get
a Life with Freddy and Fifi
 |
Got a problem? The fabulous Freddy and Fifi are here to help!
Ably assisted by their very chic cat, Fluffy, our heroes offer
totally excellent advice on all the things that plague a kids
life massive bullies, picky parents, fickle friends and hideous homework.
Dont even THINK of stepping out of the house without Freddy and Fifis
guide to surviving in the big wide world.
|
Welcome
to Japan
 |
This series of 18 books gives you an inside view of life in different
countries around the world. A child introduces their country and
tells the reader a little of what everyday life is like in that country:
Their schools / their families and homes / the cities and festivals /
the food and shopping / the sport and leisure.
The books also include maps, recipes, games, guides to common phrases
and numbers, and fact files.
Countries visited: France, Italy, Russia, China, Brazil, Japan,
USA, UK, Greece, Indonesia, South Africa, Germany, Israel, Egypt,
Canada, Mexico, Spain and India.
|
Musical
Harriet
Illustrated by Craig
Smith (Scholastic)
A CBC Notable Book, 1996 |
Harriet Finkelmeyer dreams of playing the trombone, wearing a serious
black dress and having flowers thrown at her feet. But Harriet has a
problem - her arms are too short.
Can a trombone-playing boy named Marvin, and
his dog, Byron, help Harriet realise her dream?
Musical Harriet was a Notable Australian
Children's Book in the Children's Book Council of Australia awards in
1996, and was adapted for television by ABC:TV for the Book Bug series.
‘Costain’s story of one girl’s dream and the determination with which she pursues it makes wonderful reading. The text reverberates with energy and excitement’ -- Brisbane Courier Mail
‘This book is full of humour and wonderful eccentric characters – truly great role models for kids.’ -- ABC Radio
‘A lively, funny captivating book.’ -- ABC
‘With every note, Harriet is a winner!’ -- Weekend Herald Sun |
Rock
Raps:
Five
Decades of Popular Music
(Little Ark True Stories
series: Allen & Unwin)
(with illustrations by
Terry Denton)
 |
When did rock'n'roll begin? Did it start with Elvis Presley? Or maybe
Bill Haley's 'Rock Around the Clock'? When the electric guitar was
invented in the 1950s, rock music took off. By the early sixties, the
Beatles and the Rolling Stones had arrived. And the world was almost
ready for Jimi Hendrix.
Rock music is guitars, drums and in-your-face vocals - played loud
and live. Take a tour behind the scenes to see what makes it happen.
Listen in to what roadies say about life on the road. Find out what
it takes to be a star, or how to get your band up and running. Rock
Raps takes you from the raw beginnings, through pop, punk, heavy
metal and disco fever - right up to rock and rap in the nineties.
A CBC Notable Book, 1998 |
The roots of rock / the first ever electric guitar / drum-solo tips /
guitar burning / hotel trashing / riot grrrls / freak tents and
festivals / getting out of the garage and into the music scene / rock
on the web ... and much, much more!
‘an impressively comprehensive and knowledgeable rundown on five decades of popular music’ -- Reading Time
‘A useful primer for those who want a crash course on who’s who and what’s what in the rock world.’ -- The Age
‘a little gem’ -- Viewpoint
Night
of the Voodoo Doll
Shivers series (ed. Paul
Collins) Angus & Robertson
 |
Parents always know best! Sound familiar?
Mardi is about to discover that there's an exception
to every rule. Join her if you will, as she gets into bed for a good
night's sleep... and ends up amongst the gravestones and zombies in a
graveyard in New Orleans - the voodoo capital of the world!
Night of the Voodoo Doll is back to back with Hell's
Gully, by Ann C. Whitehead. Two twisted tales to turn you
upside down! |
Robyn
Archer: Performer, writer, director
Makers
and Shakers series (Heinemann Library)
 |
Robyn
Archer is one of Australia's greatest contemporary stars. A chronic
asthmatic with the lung capacity of only a seven-year-old child, she
has worked long and hard to get to where she is today. Kicked out of
the school choir as a child, she grew up singing and dancing in a
hotel bar. She sang in the corners of dimly-lit coffee houses and
auditioned for overseas shows. She received rave reviews and now
commands the attention of the world stage for more than just her
singing. She is a multi-talented dynamo whose skills are now
constantly in demand. It seems there is little that Robyn Archer
cannot do. |
|
|
