In this episode of Book bites, Annaleise Byrd reads the first chapter of ‘Losing the Plot’. This book features on the 5–6 book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠⁠here⁠.

Author website: annaleisebyrd.com

Publisher website: walkerbooks.com.au

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Losing the Plot’: Text copyright © Annaleise Byrd, 2024. Illustration copyright © Sofya Karmazina, 2024.

First published by Walker Books Australia. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Walker Books Australia.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Skye Melki-Wegner reads the first chapter of ‘The Deadlands #1: Hunted’. This book features on the 5–6 book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠⁠here⁠.

Author website: skyemelki-wegner.com

Publisher website: walkerbooks.com.au

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘The Deadlands #1: Hunted’: Text copyright © Skye Melki-Wegner, 2023. Illustration copyright © Phantom City Creative and Rich Deas, 2023.

First published by Walker Books Australia. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Walker Books Australia.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Danielle Binks reads the first chapter of ‘Six Summers of Tash and Leopold’. This book features on the 5–6 book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠⁠here⁠.

Author website: daniellebinks.com

Publisher website: hachette.com.au

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Six Summers of Tash and Leopold’: Text copyright © Danielle Binks, 2024. Illustration copyright © Astred Hicks, 2024.

First published by Hachette Australia. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Hachette Australia.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Skye McKenna reads the first chapter of ‘Hedgewitch’. This book features on the 5–6 book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

Author website: skyemckenna.com

Publisher website: hachette.com.au

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Hedgewitch’: Text copyright © Skye McKenna, 2023. Illustration copyright © Cover illustration: Saara Katariina Soderlund., 2023.

First published by Hachette Children’s Books UK.. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Hachette Children’s Books UK..

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Tristan Bancks reads the first chapter of ‘Cop and Robber’. This book features on the 5–6 book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠⁠here⁠.

Author website: tristanbancks.com

Publisher website: penguin.com.au

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Cop and Robber’: Text copyright © Tristan Bancks, 2022. Illustration copyright © Christabella Designs, 2022.

First published by Penguin Random House Australia. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Penguin Random House Australia.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Amie Kaufman reads the prologue and first chapter of ‘Lady's Knight’. This book features on the 9Plus book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠⁠here⁠.

Author website: www.amiekaufman.com

Publisher website: allenandunwin.com

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Lady's Knight’: Text copyright © Amie Kaufman, 2025. Illustration copyright © Elizabeth Wakou, 2025.

First published by Allen & Unwin. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Allen & Unwin.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Pip Harry reads the first chapter of ‘Drift’. This book features on the 7–9 book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠⁠here⁠.

Author website: pipharry.com

Publisher website: hachette.com.au

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Drift’: Text copyright © Pip Harry, 2025. Illustration copyright © Astred Hicks, 2025.

First published by Hachette Australia. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Hachette Australia.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Jasmin McGaughey reads the first chapter of ‘Moonlight and Dust’. This book features on the 9Plus book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠here.

Author website: jasminmcgaughey.com/about

Publisher website: allenandunwin.com

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Moonlight and Dust’: Text copyright © Jasmin McGaughey, 2025. Illustration copyright © Tori-Jay Mordey, 2025.

First published by Allen & Unwin. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Allen & Unwin.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Ross Curnow reads the first chapter of ‘Oscar vs the Grand Old Dude Named York’. This book features on the 7–9 book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠here.

Author website: rosscurnow.net

Publisher website: walkerbooks.com.au

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Oscar vs the Grand Old Dude Named York’: Text copyright © Ross Curnow, 2024. Illustration copyright © Josh Durham, 2024.

First published by Walker Books Australia. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Walker Books Australia.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.

In this episode of Book bites, Maryam Master reads the first chapter of ‘Laughter is the Best Ending’. This book features on the 5–6 book list, so if you enjoy it, make sure you track down the rest of the book, read it and then add it to your online reading record by Friday 18 September 2026!

Visit Listen @ The Arts Unit – NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge to access classroom-ready resources associated with this episode.

You can access the classroom-ready resource for this specific episode ⁠here.

Publisher website: panmacmillan.com.au

PRC book lists: online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/booklist/home.html

‘Laughter is the Best Ending’: Text copyright © Maryam Master, 2024. Illustration copyright © Astred Hicks, 2024.

First published by Pan MacMillan. This excerpt is used by arrangement with Pan MacMillan.

Background music licensed by Envato Elements.

© State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.