Aliens, ghosts and vanishings: Strange and possibly true Australian stories by Stella Tarakson

Ill. by Richard Morden. Random House Australia, 2016. ISBN 9781925324969
Australia really is a 'story country' and the tales, tall and true that have been collected in this volume prove just how rich and diverse this nation is. Even our unofficial national anthem focuses on a ghost so why wouldn't there be a wealth of stories about mythical creatures, mysterious locations, haunted places, UFO sightings, bizarre disappearances and strange happenings?
From bunyips and yowies to Azaria Chamberlain and the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, this is a collection that will absorb the lover of the weird, wonderful and utterly mysterious, some familiar and others not so. Ostensibly for those 10 and over, its clear format, short chapters and abundant illustrations will appeal to any independent reader who is interested in finding out more about the strange and unusual that this country has on offer.
As well as the stories themselves, there are pages with extra information, and some of the sources the author used for her research are included for those who wish to investigate further. Identified as a Notable Book in the 2017 Eve Pownall Award for Information Books, I know a couple of young readers who are going to be having to do scissors-paper-rock to see who reads this one first.
Barbara Braxton