Foster a lifelong love of stories and storytelling in children of all ages with our family-friendly ebookshelf!
The Library has a huge range of free ebooks – 200,000 and counting! – which you can either read online or download for up to seven days.
To get started, browse our latest selection of ebooks suited to children aged 12 and under. You can also scan our monthly curated ebookshelf for some reading of your own, or browse for even more free ebooks !
For tips and advice, read our Get started guide or watch our video on using ebooks.
To access ebooks from home, you need to be a State Library member with a Victorian home address. (Terms and conditions of use apply.)
Party In A Jar: 16 Kid-Friendly Jar Projects for Parties, Holidays & Special Occasions Party In A Jar: 16 Kid-Friendly Jar Projects for Parties, Holidays & Special Occasions Vanessa Rodriguez Coppola and Jennifer Roberts
Gibbs Smith, 2014
Fun activities and perfect party favours for birthdays, holiday parties, and more! Party in a Jar features 16 kid-friendly craft projects that not only provide entertainment for pint-sized partygoers but also function as take-home party favours. From edible dino terrariums to holiday-themed gifts and centrepieces, these upcycled jar crafts are earth-friendly and sure to be the hit of your next get-together!
Action! Making Movies Sarah Garza
Teacher Created Materials, 2013
Action! With this entertaining book, readers are taken behind the scenes to find out what is needed to make a film. From the director to the actor, the director of photography to the costume designer, children will be fascinated to learn about the various aspects of motion pictures. With its vivid images, informational text, and impressive facts, this book will have readers engaged throughout as they discover amazing facts about all kinds of movies - whether it's comedy, drama, action, or horror.
Archaeology: Discovering the Past Archaeology: Discovering the Past John Orna-Ornstein
Oxford University Press, 2002
Archaeologists are detectives who use science and history to find out how people lived in the past. Archaeology takes you to archaeological digs all over the world to help answer such questions as 'Why is the past often buried underground?' and 'How do archaeologists know where to dig?'
Basketball: Science on the Court Basketball: Science on the Court Emily Mahoney
Greenhaven Publishing, 2017
Slam dunks, quick passes, and jump shots are all actions of scientific principles, and readers discover why as they explore the ways physics, biology, and other areas of science are applied in the game of basketball. As readers take in details from fact boxes, sidebars, and diagrams, they learn the combination of science, technology, engineering, and math on the basketball court. They'll also find fun photographs of some of the sport's biggest stars using science to score.
Kids' Container Gardening: Year-Round Projects for Inside and Out Kids' Container Gardening: Year-Round Projects for Inside and Out Cindy Krezel and Bruce Curtis
Chicago Review Press, 2010
With 18 projects Kids' Container Gardening will teach enthusiastic young gardeners how to create an assortment of container gardens that are simple to make, that are fun to work on, and that make great gifts. Organised by season, the books' chapters will help kids develop their green thumbs with projects ranging from 'Great big garden bowls for mum,' 'Father's Day fountains,' and other special occasion/holiday containers to sand art terrariums.
In addition to providing the basics on plants and gardening, this helpful guide also includes a glossary of terms, a listing of plants used in the book, a list of resources, and numerous photographs to show kids that they're proceeding on the right path as they create their individual containers.
The January Stars Kate Constable
Allen & Unwin, 2020
When twelve-year-old Clancy and her 14-year-old sister, Tash, visit their Pa at his aged-care facility, they have no idea that the 3 of them will soon set out on an intrepid adventure. Along the way there are many challenges for Tash and Clancy to overcome and in the process, they discover their own resourcefulness and resilience and demonstrate their heartfelt love for their grandfather.
Shake A Leg Boori Monty Pryor & Jan Ormerod
Allen & Unwin, 2010
From pizza shop to bora ground, here is a joyous celebration of food, dance and cultural understanding. When 3 young boys go to a pizza parlour and meet an Aboriginal chef who can speak Italian and make a deadly pizza, they're in for a surprise! All you fellas watching, come up, join in, warrima. Clap your hands, little ones. Stamp your feet, nannas. Get down and dance, you smart young things, mummas and daddas. Let's get the whole town dancing!
Boori Monty Pryor is a storyteller, dancer, writer and educator, and Jan Ormerod is an internationally acclaimed picture-book author and illustrator. This glorious book is the first one they have cooked up together.
Space Puzzles Dr. Gareth Moore
Lerner Publishing Group, 2016
Don't panic, but you're alone on a space ship roaring away from Earth! Solve a series of puzzles to pilot the ship to the Moon, then refuel for the return to Earth. Devised by an expert on brain training, these mental gymnastics will help you survive your outer space ordeal! You can't skip a challenge, but there are hints to help and full answers to get you on your way.
