Books We Love

We Need to Talk About Kevin

As the Earth Turned Silver

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Just Kids

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

May We be Forgiven

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We are inclined to love all books about birds beca

We are inclined to love all books about birds because - well, we reckon you can figure that one out 😉. This loveliness by @mattottleyart and @megmckinlay, however, deserved its own special post for taking our adoration to the next level. ‘How to Make a Bird’ is a picture book about making, loving, and letting go. It’s about the creative process and how it transforms us and lifts us up. While categorised as a picture book for little people, ‘How to Make a Bird’ would put a smile on any artist’s face, and remind them why they do what they do. 🎨

🐝 There are plenty of books about beekeeping an

🐝 There are plenty of books about beekeeping and the ecological importance of the honeybee, but what about their long and fascinating cultural history? Translated from the Swedish, author Lotte Moller enters the special place bees hold in our imaginations, from antiquity to the present, and guides us through that place with her encyclopaedic knowledge of her subject. Did you know, for instance, that in Ancient Greece and Rome, bees were thought to be messengers of the gods, able to slip between realms? 🐝 Containing a plethora of images and beautifully presented as a hardback edition, Moller’s year-long investigation into the history of bees amounts to a very special catalogue of illuminations and encounters. 🐝

Charles Troedel: the ubiquitous Australian lithogr

Charles Troedel: the ubiquitous Australian lithograph artist nobody knows... 🎨 We were recently browsing the @booksandpublishing news page when we spotted an article on the Victorian Premier’s History Awards. The winner was a book we’d never clapped eyes on, about an artist we’d never heard of, and a slice of Aussie history we knew nothing about... Well, now we do! This monograph explores the incredible output of artist and master printer Charles Troedel, whose iconic labels, posters, flyers, and brochure designs provide a social and cultural history of late nineteenth century Australia. Highly recommend this gorgeous hardback - dense with images - for art and history lovers alike.

🎄 CHRISTMAS BOOKS 🎄 We now have a cute displ

🎄 CHRISTMAS BOOKS 🎄 We now have a cute display of Christmas board and picture books at the front of the shop to get the fam in the festive spirit. There’s a range of classics (The Night Before Christmas; The Polar Express) and contemporary books (Bluey... all the Bluey) to pique your little peoples’ interest. We even have a compilation of Enid Blyton Christmas stories for the bigger kids. 🎄 For those playing at home, have a scroll through the “Christmas Books” category on our website. 🎄 Lord knows we need a little magic after the year that’s been! **Don’t worry, “magic” does not extend to playing carols in the shop... ever.**

The latest earth-conscious goodie from local legen

The latest earth-conscious goodie from local legend @natural_harry ❤️ This is Natural Harry’s third recipe book focussed on natural, low-tox, and resourceful living. NH is your go-to for simple recipes for things like soap, shampoo, gentle cleaning products, and various other home- and body- oriented elixirs. ‘Home’ has been produced as a beautiful hardback with photography from the talented @nikoleramsay. Would make a stellar Chrissy gift, just sayin...

OPEN 7 DAYS • From today, we are open 7 days a w

OPEN 7 DAYS • From today, we are open 7 days a week! Here for all your reading and Christmas gifting needs Monday to Friday 9:30am - 5pm, Saturday 9:30am - 4pm, and Sunday 10am - 3pm. Plus, of course, always open online...

• Non-fiction Ideas Gallery • It’s the time

• Non-fiction Ideas Gallery • It’s the time of year for wild and wonderful book ideas. Whether it’s the brother-in-law who loves golf, or your best friend’s neighbour who is really into science writing, we reckon there’s a book for them. So here’s a smattering of new release non-fiction books to get those cogs turning. For more info on each, just plug the titles into our online shop search bar to read the blurbs and review quotes :) • In order of appearance: A Letter To Layla by Ramona Koval; English Pastoral by James Rebanks; Olive, Mabel & Me by Andrew Cotter; General Sir Peter Cosgrove’s memoir; and The Second Life of Tiger Woods by Bamberger.

🗓 2021 ART CALENDARS 🗓 We’re big lovers of

🗓 2021 ART CALENDARS 🗓 We’re big lovers of the @blueislandpress_au art calendars. These calendars are designed and printed in Australia on super thick, archive-quality paper, which means you can cut out your favourite works and frame them once the month/year is over. Artists in our range include: Henri Matisse, Sandi Rigby, Kit Hiller, Margaret Olley, Paloma White, Delvine Cockatoo-Collins, Annie Franklin, and more. Jump across to the ‘calendars’ category on our online shop to view the full range.

NAIDOC WEEK • NAIDOC Week is a celebration of Fi

NAIDOC WEEK • NAIDOC Week is a celebration of First Nations peoples, who have lived on and cared for Country for over 65,000 years. • First Nations philosophy, art, language and culture inform many of the most vibrant books and writing in Australia, and it is a privilege to be able to connect readers with these stories every day in our little shop, which is situated on Wadawurrung (Wathaurong) Country. • Pictured here is Emily Kame Kngwarreye’s art monograph, published this year by @thamesandhudsonau. Kngwarreye (1910-1996) was and is one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists. From Utopia in the Northern Territory, Kngwarreye came to painting later in life and produced over 3,000 works over an eight year period. •

Can’t wait to welcome back our Melbourne book lo

Can’t wait to welcome back our Melbourne book lovers when we reopen tomorrow. We’ve missed you!

Behold the gloriousness of The Dragon Ark 🐉 The

Behold the gloriousness of The Dragon Ark 🐉 There are some children’s books that are so stunning they make our jaws drop, and this is one of them. The artwork is exquisite (and INSANELY detailed), and the concept behind the book is genius. The Dragon Ark takes its reader on a quest to find and save the rarest dragon in the world, and in doing so communicates important messages about endangered animals and their need for protection. This would be a fabulous way to spark conversations with young people about animals and their environments, and the responsibilities we have as humans to look after these creatures and places. 🐉 Swipe for some pics of the internals.

AUSTRALIAN READING HOUR • THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER • @australiareads is a nation-wide reading and advocacy event. Every year, Australia Reads encourages all Australians of all ages to set aside one hour to escape into a book. Whether picking up a book for the first time in a long while, or plunging back into your favourite pastime, Australia Reads raises awareness of the importance of literacy. • Visit the website and get involved, and let us know what you will be reading! If you haven’t decided yet, well, we can always help with that... 🙂

What we’ve been reading • Chief Book Bird Anna

What we’ve been reading • Chief Book Bird Anna has recently read and loved Sarah Moss’ latest novel, Summerwater. Told over twenty-four hours and set in the Scottish highlands, Summerwater traces the tensions and kindnesses caused by a ruined holiday. It is meant to be the longest day of summer, but it rains and rains and rains. Families and couples are cooped up in their cabins - talking, reminiscing, arguing - slowly become aware of the makeshift community around them in the holiday park, and the dramas unfolding in their neighbours’ huts. Seething, explorative writing, Sarah Moss’ latest offering is a triumph.

Yes! We are open today, Melbourne Cup Day. Furnish

Yes! We are open today, Melbourne Cup Day. Furnishing you with bookish goodness 10am - 5pm. • This is also your last week to enter our fifth birthday giveaway draw, courtesy of @thamesandhudsonau. Spend over $30 in store or online before 5pm Friday 6 November to enter. The winner will be announced on Saturday 7th. The books (and a puzzle) included in our giveaway stack are:
• The Secret Life of Stars
• 299 Cats and a Dog (puzzle)
• Rone: Street Art and Beyond
• Human Nature: Planet Earth in Our Time
• The Life & Love of the Forest

💙 Gary Ablett is off the field and onto the she

💙 Gary Ablett is off the field and onto the shelves! The recently retired Geelong Cats player, who played his last game at the Grand Final last week with a BROKEN SHOULDER (ouch!), has just released his autobiography. In his book, Ablett talks about his journey to football stardom, the triumphs and trials along the way, as well as his family, father (the famous Gary Ablett Senior) and personal life. Definitely one for the footy fanatics out there. 💙