


We’re delighted to announce that Ian Irvine’s fabulous fantasy quartet, The Sorcerer’s Tower, published by Second Look as an omnibus in 2017, now has its own Featured Book pages on the United Publishers of Armidale website. This includes an information page about the book, the author Ian Irvine and the illustrator DM Cornish, and a link to buy the book, and also a great activities page which includes a lively video reading by Ian of a chapter from the book, and some great writing and art activities. All free to download and use in schools, libraries, and by families.

We are delighted to announce that Ursula Dubosarsky’s The Boy Who Could Fly And Other Magical Plays for Children (illustrated by Amy Golbach) has been shortlisted for the 2020 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, in the 8 to 10 year old category. Congratulations, Ursula and Amy, on this very well-deserved award for a very special book we are very proud to publish!
The Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards which are held every year, aim to promote quality Australian books that help children get the best, most literate start in life.
Books are awarded for “Best Book for Language and Literacy Development” in the following categories:
Each book is judged on its appeal to children, interactive quality and ability to assist speech pathologists and parents in communication and literacy development.
We are pleased to announce that Ian Irvine’s exciting fantasy quartet ,The Sorcerer’s Tower, which we published in omnibus print form in Second Look in 2017, has now also been released in ebook format, published by the Santhenar Trust. You can get it as an omnibus ebook edition, or as the separate four books.
And of course you can still buy the print edition!

We are very pleased to announce that our next Second Look title will be a brand new edition of Pamela Freeman’s fun space adventure novel for children 7-10, The Fastest Ship in Space.
The new edition, out in May 2018, features lively new cover and internal illustrations by Yvonne Low. Cover reveal coming later!
About the book:
For Katie, exploring the far reaches of the Solar System in her family spaceship is just ordinary life – but living on Earth, now THAT would be exciting! There seems no way she and her brother, Sam, will ever see Earth, until they accidentally end up on the fastest Ship in space, on its way to the Moon. But will they ever get there? Space Station security, smugglers, space pirates – not to mention their parents – all see ready to stop them. Katie and Sam aren’t going to be pushed around. Neither is their gran…
Originally published under the title of Ship-Born by Koala Books in 2002.
About the author:
Pamela Freeman is an award-winning author of more than 30 books for both adults and children. Her children’s books include the much-loved Victor’s Quest and its sequel Victor’s Challenge (Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Fantasy) and the Princess Betony series which is set in the same universe, as well as science fiction, family drama and non-fiction picture books. Her most recent children’s book, Desert Lake, won the ASO Librarian’s Choice Award, was highly commended in the Educational Publishing Awards, and was shortlisted for four other awards. Pamela also writes historical fiction for adults as Pamela Hart.
About the illustrator:
Yvonne Low is an illustrator, writer, and award-winning artist. Her book illustrations have featured in Sophie Masson’s Jack of Spades(Eagle Books), and in the anthology A Christmas Menagerie(Christmas Press), edited by Beattie Alvarez. Her work
has also featured in The School Magazine, she has illustrated for ABC Commercial and her work can be seen at http://www.scbwi.org, http://www.thestylefile.com
and on her website http://www.yvonnelow.com.
Website: http://www.yvonnelow.com
Twitter: @YLcreate
Today is the official release day for our new title, a brand new omnibus edition of Ian Irvine’s fabulous fantasy quartet for younger readers, The Sorcerer’s Tower. Internal illustrations by D.M Cornish, new cover illustration by David Allan. Available in all good bookshops, and distributed by Dennis Jones and Associates.
It’s our great pleasure to reveal today the gorgeous cover of the brand-new omnibus edition of Ian Irvine’s fabulous fantasy quartet for young readers, The Sorcerer’s Tower.
The cover illustration is by David Allan.
Internal illustrations are by D.M. Cornish.
The book will be launched on September 15 in Armidale.

Reading Time reviewer Mem Capp highly recommends the book. Here’s the review:
Max Fatchen grew up on the land, a fact reflected in his poems full of humour, fun and keen observation. Using a range of poetic styles, from couplet, to limerick, to prose poetry, he revels in family fun and folly, dances in the woodshed, and the joy of a flooding creek after times of drought; especially when it means being late for school.
A journalist and writer of more than 20 books, Fatchen wrote novels, picture books and poetry. This new edition of his much loved favourites has an introduction by Janeen Brian and playful black and white illustrations by Kathy Creamer.
An important addition to any home or school library. Highly recommended for ages 5+.
Well-known children’s poet and novelist Di Bates has published a fabulous review of A Pocketful of Rhymes in Buzz Words. Here’s an extract:
What a wonderful idea it was of Australian publisher Christmas Press to introduce a second imprint to re-introduce children’s books which were popular in their day and/or which have gone on to become classics. Hence this collection of poems, his 13th book, written by Max Fatchen, first published in 1989 by Omnibus, is now given new life with an introduction by award-winning author/poet Janeen Brian, and illustrations by Kathy Creamer.
You can read the whole review here.