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.)
The sloth who came to stay The sloth who came to stay Margaret Wild and Vivienne To
Allen and Unwin, 2017
Reading age: 2-6 years
Short-listed: CBCA Book of the Year, Crichton Award for New Illustrators, 2018.
Amy's family is speedy! They are always in such a rush that there is no time to talk or play - until the afternoon Amy brings home a sloth. Then things start changing very, very slowly ...
A timely tale about enjoying the little things in life from award-winning author Margaret Wild.
Maybe tomorrow Boori Monty Pryor and Meme McDonald
Allen & Unwin, 2010
Reading age: 13 years and over
Boori Monty Pryor's career path has taken him from the Aboriginal fringe camps of his birth to the catwalk, the basketball court, the DJ console, and now to performance and storytelling around the country. 'You've got to try and play the whiteman's game and stay black while you're doing it,' his brother used to tell him.
With writer and photographer Meme McDonald, Boori leads you along the paths he has travelled, pausing to meet his family and friends, while sharing the story of his life, his pain and his hopes, with humour and compassion.
Pip and Houdini J. C. Jones
Allen & Unwin, 2017
Reading age: 8-12 years
Pip has one clue about the whereabouts of her birth mother, Cass - an old postcard from Beautiful Byron Bay. She's been settled with the Brownings, who are planning to adopt her - at least, that's until Pip gets into trouble once again! Now, Pip is sure she won't find a home with the Brownings. There's only one place she might belong, and that's with her mother.
With her faithful hound Houdini by her side, Pip sets off north to find out once and for all what became of Cass. It's a journey filled with interesting people, including a mysteriously musical young woman and a friendly, sun-bitten surfer. But as Pip draws ever-closer to Byron Bay, is she prepared for what she will find when she gets there?
Pip and Houdini is a warm-hearted adventure story about a feisty girl and her escape-artist dog exploring the world.
The blue cat Ursula Dubosarsky
Allen & Unwin, 2017
Reading age: 10-14 years
A boy stood in the playground under the big fig tree. 'He can't speak English,' the children whispered. Sydney, 1942.The war is coming to Australia - not only with the threat of bombardment, but also the arrival of refugees from Europe.
Dreamy Columba's world is growing larger. She is drawn to Ellery, the little boy from far away, and, together with her highly practical best friend Hilda, the three children embark on an adventure through the harbour-side streets - a journey of discovery and terror, in pursuit of the mysterious blue cat...
Bubble trouble Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Polly Dunbar
Quarto Publishing Group UK, 2020
Reading age: 4-7 years
Little Mabel blew a bubble and it caused a lot of trouble... Such a lot of bubble trouble in a bibble-bobble way. For it broke away from Mabel as it bobbed across the table, where it bobbled over Baby, and it wafted him away.
When little Mabel's bubble gets away from her, it's her baby brother who gets into trouble. Soon he's floating out of the house, above the fence, and all over town! It's up to Mabel, Mother, and the rest of the townspeople to get him safely back down. Who knew that so much trouble could come from one little bubble?
That Christmas feeling Lili Wilkinson and Amanda Francey
Allen & Unwin 2018
Reading age: 3-5 years
Dottie is waiting for the Christmas feeling to arrive - that fizzy, excited feeling, where everything is a bit magical. But this year, Dottie, her brother, Jem, and their dog, Shortbread, are staying with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma and Grandpa are trying hard, but Christmas just isn't the same... A gorgeous, heart-warming story about misplacing the Christmas spirit, and finding it again.
Wombat, Mudlark and other stories Wombat, Mudlark and other stories Helen Milroy
Fremantle Press, 2019
Reading age: 7-10 years
From a falling star to a lonely whale, an entertaining lizard to an enterprising penguin, these Indigenous stories are full of wonder, adventure and enduring friendships.
Told in the style of traditional teaching stories, these animal tales take young readers on adventures of self-discovery and fulfilment.
The naughtiest reindeer takes a bow The naughtiest reindeer takes a bow Nicki Greenberg
Allen & Unwin, 2018
Reading age: 3-6 years
Shhhhhhh! Look at those reindeer, all tucked up in bed, getting their rest for the big ride ahead. Silent night... Well, not quite. While all the other reindeer are sleeping, Ruby sneaks off with the present-laden sleigh in an attempt to get a head-start on the Christmas deliveries. Disaster!
So when she crash-lands at George and Amelia's house, she abandons the presents to join them in the school concert. What could possibly go wrong? And what will Santa do when he discovers his sleigh (and all the presents) are missing? Will he be able to save Christmas? Ruby the reindeer makes Christmas Eve more entertaining than ever before!
