A sister and brother face the hardest year of their lives and discover the healing power of nature in this compelling tale from master storyteller Paul Jennings.Emily loves the bush and the native animals on her family's reforested property, particularly the beautiful rainbow lorikeets that nest in one of the tallest trees. But then her father is diagnosed with a terminal illness, and Emily's world enters a tailspin.Her twin brother, Alex, refuses to accept the truth. His coping mechanism is to build elaborate additions to his treehouse in the superstitious belief that it will avert disaster - leaving Emily to deal with harsh reality on her own.When Alex secretly adopts a feral kitten, going against everything that's important to Emily, the siblings' emotions reach boiling point - with potentially dangerous consequences for them all.A moving story of family, loss and love, from one of Australia's most beloved storytellers.

Twisting and compelling tales from Australia's master storyteller – all three Different books in one volume. From one of the all-time greats of Australian children's books, bestselling author Paul Jennings, come three twisting tales of intrigue. The forest is dense and dark. And the trail full of unexpected perils. The dog can't move. The boy can't talk. And you won't know why. Or where you are going. You will put this story down not wanting the journey to end. The trickiest teller of tales and the master of surprise endings will take you into dense and dark forests, across vast oceans and on to lands of the imagination far from home. All the Different stories together in one volume: A Different Dog A Different Boy A Different Land Paul Jennings is best known for his funny, shocking, amazing short stories that usually end with a twist in the tale, starting with his first short story collection, Unreal!, which has sold over 600,000 copies. Since then, Paul has written over 70...

It's unbearable . . .The bird's perch is swinging to and fro and hitting me on the nose.I can see my eye in its little mirror.Unbearably weird . . .You have the foulest feet ever.There are flies for lunch.A goat swallows your opal.And you have lived before.

The Paul Jennings phenomenon began with the publication of Unreal! in 1985. Thirty years and nine million books later, young readers all around the world continue to devour his stories.In this special volume, Paul has personally selected 30 tales from his entire collection to mark the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his first book.You'll find a girl made of ice, a dog who digs holes in the cemetery, a see-through boy, magic lipstick, a haunted toilet, a lie detector at school, two musical spirits who try to save a lighthouse – and lots, lots more.Unbelievable, unmentionable and uncanny, these classic stories will surprise you, leave you tongue-tied, spook you, make you cry and have you laughing out loud.

Christopher is twelve thousand miles from home. The pub has a dirt floor and the owner is as rough as guts. The forest hides snakes, feral pigs and a dark secret.Mysterious, bold and strange.Expect the unexpected. And watch your step.Enter this place and you will be different for ever.A twisting tale from Australia's master storyteller.

Children all over the world can't resist the special magic of a Paul Jennings story - for over twenty years he has entertained and enthralled young readers.This special collection of Paul's trickiest stories proves yet again that he is the master of unexpected twists and turns!

Hedley Hopkins has a few problems: he is the new kid at school, straight off the boat from England in the 1950s. The only friends he has made are the kids at the Loony Bin especially bald headed, long armed Victor. But if he could just fulfil a dare and dig out the hideous skull hidden in a grave in the sand dunes, he could impress the bullies at school and become their friend. But Hedley is not so sure. Weird things are happening to his body. Is he being punished for his terrible actions? And if his uptight parents ever found out what he was up to, they might blow up.Full-moon murderers, an open grave, religious conversions and sexual awakening meld sometimes poignantly, sometimes hilariously in this riveting, stunningly original account of growing up in 1950s Australia. This coming of age tale is Paul Jennings at his very best!For more information visit www.doyoudare.com.au

I hear a dragging sound followed by my father's limping appearance at the door.I look at him in horror.He's starting at me, glasses askew, waving the birds' nest.'You imbecile. You left me hanging there.What were you trying to do? Kill me?'If only he knew. I'm not trying to kill him.I'm trying not to kill him!'The tender yet unsparing depth of characterisation in the novel is matched by the limped beauty of the writing, the sensual evocation of the snowfields setting and the compelling nature of the story.'Weekend Australian'A dark, gripping tale.' The Age'The ending is a dramatic as they come.'Sydney Morning Herald

'If you've got a bad deal,' his father used to say, 'get out of it and move on.'When he finds himself in a cruel orphanage Anton does just that, and hides on an ocean liner. Fear and desperation are his only companions. And this time there is no escape.Or is there?Two other passengers have secrets of their own. When nothing is what it seems, can they help each other? Or will they sink into a sea of troubles?You'll never know. Until the last page.Another top story from Australia's master of the trick ending.

Paul Jennings' books are enjoyed by millions of children throughout the world.From the hugely popular UnCollected series comes this special selection of tales — a showcase of Paul's storytelling talents at their very best . . . and weirdest!

Even before all this happened I had never been like the other kids. I tried not to be seen. If I climbed a tree or hid among the bins, no one could find me. 'Where's What's His Name?' they'd say.Then, one weekend, I got what I wanted. First, I blended in with things. But on the second day I changed.I mean, really changed.The hilarious story of a boy with an unusual problem, from children's book legend Paul Jennings. Includes fantastic look-and-find colour illustrations.

It's Unreal . . .the flies were up to my armpits and they were still falling.I was scared out of my wits. I didn't want to drown in a sea of flies.It's all a bit much really.A reunion of bones.The irresistible kisser.Wonder underpants.Cow-dung custard.

The Paul Jennings phenomenon began with the publication of Unreal! in 1985 and, eight million books later, readers all around the world continue to devour his stories.This special edition anthology boasts twenty of Paul's spookiest, fun-filled yarns, hand picked by the author for a spine-tingling reading experience.

I'm Uncovered . . .I try to hide my nakedness with my hand.But it doesn't work.Everyone can see.Also on show . . .Bad rabbit habits.Rapt — in toilet paper.Birds with teeth.A live face on the wall.

Unbelievable?Maybe.But I'm telling you it's true.The crusher had pushed all the air out of my lungs. It was squeezing me tighter and tighter. I knew I had only seconds to live.Believe it or not . . .A kid can grow younger.Birds can bury you.Ghosts have exams.There are eyes in the milk.From the one and only Paul Jennings