Showing results by narrator "Una Byrne" in All Categories

The Troll Bridge tells the story of a young boy, Joel, and his encounter with the Troll who lives under a bridge. The greedy Troll charges everyone and everything that crossed the bridge and grew very wealthy. When disaster strikes however he needs the kindness of strangers to save him from a damp and miserable end.

Jupiter, the psychopath from Portrait on Wicker, has escaped the institution for the criminally insane and is out for revenge against Judith McCain and Tracy Carr, who were responsible for putting Jupiter away. The convict's rap sheet lengthens with identity theft, kidnapping, and murder of a loved one. Being a former cop, Jupiter knows what the police will do next. Will Judith and Tracy have enough time to figure out what Jupiter wants?

George MacWhirtle Fleck's life is fairly ordinary until he falls off a roof. Suddenly, his childhood dreams of his body in flight come rushing back to him in a conscious reawakening of his belief in his own latent power. Despite therapy and the frustration of his wife, George cannot be dissuaded from his growing obsession to fly - and the lines between his dream life and his waking life begin to blur. A talking crow opens the way for George to travel the world, and then, he meets a mythical stargoose that takes him beyond his wildest dreams into a realm of breathtaking wonder.

Laila Byrne made a final promise to her friend. She will travel more and work less. After sticking a pin in a map of the world, she heads off to Ireland. Laila's trip doesn't work out as planned, but the mix-up results in a chance encounter with a handsome Irishman, Alasdair. Alasdair spends all his waking hours trying to figure out how to keep his family's century old pub, The Empress of Ireland, open for business.

Rex tells the story of a kid who struggled at school, but who found the drive and motivation to carve out a hugely successful career as an Aussie Rules footballer and then as a major media figure. Along the way Rex talks about his years in the police force, his National Service, the ups and downs of his business and professional life, the dramatic legal case against his former manager, his loving family, and, of course, lots and lots of football and fishing.

How did Terry Daniher save a famous Melbourne stately home's priceless chandelier from crashing to the floor? What happened when Lou Richards gave big Simon Madden a massage? Is Billy Brownless any good at making milkshakes? And what did James Hird want with the Fish at 3am, one hour after surgery? Paul Salmon - the Big Fish - reveals all in More Fish Tales.

John Howard has the loudest voice in Australia. He has cowed his critics, muffled the press, intimidated the ABC, gagged scientists, silenced NGOs, censored the arts, prosecuted leakers, criminalised protest and curtailed parliamentary scrutiny. Though touted as a contest of values, this has been a party-political assault on Australia's liberal culture. In the name of "balance", the Liberal Party has muscled its way into the intellectual life of the country. And this has happened because we let it happen.

When Mal Brough and John Howard announced the Northern Territory intervention in mid-2007, they proclaimed a child abuse emergency. In this riveting piece of reportage and analysis, Paul Toohey unpicks the rhetoric of emergency and tracks progress. One year on, have children been saved? Will Labor continue with the intervention? What are the reasons for the social crisis and how might things be different? Toohey argues that the real issue is not sexual abuse, but rather a more general neglect of children.

Sometime this century, after 4 billion years, some of Earth's regulatory systems will pass from control through evolution by natural selection, to control by human intelligence. Will humanity rise to the challenge? This landmark essay by Tim Flannery is about sustainability, our search for it in the 21st century, and the impact it might have on the environmental threats that confront us today. Flannery discusses in detail three potential solutions to the most pressing of the sustainability challenges: climate change.

Steve Byrne has established himself as one of the premier stand-up comedians of his generation.

Lachlan Macquarie is credited with shaping Australia's destiny, transforming a harsh, foreboding penal colony into an agricultural powerhouse and ultimately a prosperous society. He also helped shape Australia's national character. An egalitarian at heart, Macquarie saw boundless potential in Britain's refuse, and under his rule many former convicts went on to become successful administrators, land owners and businesspeople.

Inspired by the works of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, Garth Nix's Newt's Emerald is a lighthearted Regency romance with a fantasy twist. After Lady Truthful's magical Newington Emerald is stolen from her she devises a simple plan: go to London to recover the missing jewel. She quickly learns, however, that a woman cannot wander the city streets alone without damaging her reputation, and she disguises herself as a moustache-wearing man. During Truthful's dangerous journey she discovers a crook, an unsuspecting ally and an evil sorceress - but will she find the Emerald?

Shane has spent the last five years pining for his cousin’s best friend, Megan. Then he finds a diary behind a brick in his family home and discovers a newfound ability to see things that are hidden and his life gets complicated. When asked to lead the annual Yule celebration, he must juggle his newfound abilities with his desire to finally gain the attention of the woman he loves while fending of the help of the ghost of his great, great, great-grandmother. Ghosts, galas, and a healthy dose of passion are served up in a festive Yule basket to help him chase his heart’s desire.

In this edition of the Montessori at Home Guide series, you, the parent or caregiver, get 101 practical activities to help your 2-6 year old learn in a Montessori-inspired way. A. M. Sterling's 101 Montessori-Inspired Activities for Children Ages 2-6 contains favorite activities along with activities submitted for inclusion by well-known Montessori bloggers such as Anastasia of the Montessori Nature blog, Diane from the When Hippos Talk blog, and more.

Ian Sullivan, a studious and dutiful thirteen-year-old, finds solace and escape from the baking heat of the Australian outback by immersing himself in classic works of fiction. At first, he thinks he has found a kindred spirit when Anthony Messina, the son of the new town butcher, joins St. Kieran’s for the start of the 1963 school year. And as a bonus, Anthony’s sister Sophia seems to like him as well.

When the rich and handsome Gregg and his fiancé the peppy, mysterious Emmie decide to take a drive to meet the parents, they had expected a five-hour journey of sunshine and top-40 tunes on the radio in their convertible. But then came a summer storm. It was indeed the storm of the century, but far from simply a meteorological event it also creates an inner turmoil of epic proportions as they try to solve and survive an impossible situation that was beyond their grasp.

Sparkles and the dragon embark on an unforgettable journey that will teach them the true meaning of friendship. "Sparkles and the Lost Dragon" is not just a story; it's a journey into a world where kindness and courage make all the difference.

Discover how Sparkles helps Azura the mermaid recover her treasured necklace from an octopus who is a bully. Through courage and a dash of unicorn magic, Sparkles embarks on an adventure that will teach him and his new friends the true value of friendship, kindness, and the strength to stand up for what is right.

In this audiobook for 4-6 year olds, Sparkles has to save her home from mischievous goblins. Faced with the impending danger of the forest being burned down, the little unicorn rallies her friends together to stop the goblins and preserve the beauty of their enchanted home. Azura, the magical mermaid, the friendly dragons and the woodland animals join forces with Sparkles and together, this diverse group of friends, forms an unbreakable bond, demonstrating the power of unity and friendship.

The cast of characters includes Consuelo and Sophia, who are two devilishly clever old ladies. They are the Box Girls. They were raised in a very isolated way by their parents for the sake of safety, as if raised in a box. They developed special skills in their isolation that serve them well. Together they own Magnus Detective Agency.