Chris' Books

Here they are ... the Chris Cheng books.

60 Classic Australian Poems
Random House Australia, 2009, ISBN 9781741664140
Illustrated by Greg Rogers

Australian poets have a wonderful way with words and their poems bring to life the iconic Aussie characters and unforgettable landscape that are part of our Australian heritage. Many of these – Mulga Bill, Clancy of the Overflow, The Ant Explorer, M'Dougal, the Shearer's Wife and Mr Smith – are larger than life. And the poets who created them AB Paterson, CJ Dennis, Thomas E Spencer, Louis Wesson and DH Souter – have become heroic figures in our pantheon of stars.

The 60 poems in this collection appear in their original, or near original, form and are wide ranging in their subject matter: animals, the countryside, the struggle of bush life, early transport, sport, growing old, being young and having fun with words! But whether they are humorous, serious or playful they are simply a joy to read!

No matter if we grew up reciting these classic poems at school, quote from them on important occasions or are meting them for the first time there is no doubt that these classic poems embody what it is to be Australian.

The Melting Pot
Scholastic Australia, 2007; ISBN 9781865049755

It is 1903 and the colonies of Australia have just united as a federation under one flag. One of the first acts of the new parliament is the Immigration Restriction Act (the White Australia Policy), that restricted entry of certain types of people to Australia.

Melting Pot is the diary of Chek Chee, a Chinese boy living in Sydney's Chinese community. He is the son of a mixed marriage, trying to fit into two cultures. And for Chek Chee, life is unusually different. Not only are the Chinese about to suffer the threats and racism imposed by the new immigration policy, but Chek Chee must face being an outsider amongst the Chinese as well, as his mother is a white Australian - racism on multiple levels.

Melting Pot is an exciting story that deals with the struggle between two cultures, family relations, and treading the fine line between honesty and crime.

Download the information sheet

Locally Wild
Pluto Press, 2007, ISBN 9780980292459.
View full sized cover

This pet care book features the usual stars ... fish, birds, mammals and even some reptiles ... but they are not your often kept fish, birds and mammals. This is not your ordinary everyday pet care book. No way ... this book is about keeping amazing pets like lizards and snakes and possums and gliders and frogs and stick insects. Come and meet the common and not-so-common Aussie animals that might just become your next pet.

When we think of pets we usually think of dogs and cats but native animals can become unique family members as well. Wherever you live in Australia there are native animals that can be looked after as pets. There will also be wild animals living locally that you can attract to your yard by creating the types of habitats in which they live. Whether you have a big backyard full of trees, live in an apartment three floors up or want to get into a community or school project, you'll find an animal to suit you. It's easy when you know how.

You'll find out what animals you can keep and whether you need a licence or not in your state where they can live and how to keep them happy and healthy. And there's loads of information at the back of the book to make it all easy.
So go locally wild!!!

William's Backyard
Rigby Educational Publishing, 2007, ISBN 9780731274888
Illustrated by Bettina Gutheridge

William lives in a cool house with a turret. He loves his home and his street but he longs for a backyard. When William decides that a vacant block of overgrown parkland should become the community backyard, he discovers that making it happen is more difficult than he thought.

How will William handle the obstacles ahead of him? Can he win the community’s support? What would you do?

30 Amazing Australian Animals
Random House Australia, 2007, ISBN 9781741661910
Illustrated by Greg Rogers

Australia is an extraordinary country and many unusual creatures call it their home. On land and in the sky, underground and underwater, that's where you'll find them. This non-fiction collection of animal stories, lovingly places each amazing animal in the spotlight - with fascinating facts, scientific names, figures and breakout boxes, to help bring them to life.

Thirty of our most amazing animals have been selected from a parade of potential stars, from bilbies to dugongs, from koalas to death adders, from cicadas to kookaburras, from crocs to goannas. And you'll find some invaders too. So beware!

Also includes lists of animals group names, faunal emblems for our states and territories, and organisations to find out more information.

Seams of Gold
National Museum of Australia, 2007, ISBN 9 781876 944 520
Illustrated by Donna Rawlins

It is the 1850s and Danny has been left with his Uncle while his father and mother travel back to China. His Uncle was a gold miner like many other Chinese men but now his skills are utilised by all the townspeople and the miners in stitching or repairing anything that requires his sewing skills and his special threads - even sewing the canvas tents. While with his Uncle, Danny learns to sew and is called upon to use the needle and thread when disaster strikes the touring Chinese Opera troupe.

"I wanted to tell him that sewing is women's work, not men's work."

But Danny knows that he has to respect his uncle and do as he says, even if that means joining him on a sewing trip to the goldfields. Danny would rather be anywhere else ... until he takes things into his own hands!

To see all the Making Tracks titles and to find out more about the original sewing basket that this story is based upon jump to the Making Tracks website.
Here you will also be able to work with an interactive the museum has designed around the Sewing Basket on which this book is based, and there are classroom ideas too.

New Gold Mountain
Scholastic Australia, 2005; ISBN 1865048518

Through the eyes of a Chinese boy Shu Cheong, we hear the story of life on the goldfields for the Chinese miners. Set in the years 1860-61 at Lambing Flat (Now called Young in NSW) the Chinese miners are successfully working hard to extract the precious metal but they have a different way of life to the other miners and they speak a different language and they mine very differently, often at sites other miners have abandoned. This causes much antagonism towards the Chinese miners and soon riots erupt.

"The white miners carried flags of their countries, but they also had a large new flag. I cannot forget that flag. It had a white cross over a blue square, stars, black coloured words that said ROLL UP on each side, left and right, and the words of hating-NO CHINESE-boldly displayed. Uncle saw the banner, and just for a moment he slowed. 'No. Not good,' he sighed. 'Must go quickly, and far.'

Tension grows between European and Chinese miners at the Lambing Flat goldfields in New South Wales. Twelve-year-old Shu Cheong records his thoughts and experiences as he witnesses the brutal anti-Chinese demonstrations held by white miners. But at the same time, he discovers that not all white Australians hold the views of the violent mob.

This is a story of hardship, but ultimately of hope, as it traces the Chinese experience of the Australian goldfields.

One child
Illustrated by Steven Woolman, Era Publications, 1997
ISBN 1863743219 (hc) ISBN 1863745084 (pb) ISBN
US edition published by Crocodile Books; ISBN 1-56656-330-5

One child is a picture book illustrated by the magical Steven Woolman. It is about kids, our planet and what one child can do. Global warming, habitat destruction, the accumulation of waste, pollution and many other environmental aspects are part of this title. A simple text with richly coloured illustrations drawing on the imagery of an old stained glass window that is gradually cleaned to reveal the beauty underlying the pollution. This is a hopeful book about the environment for young children. One child saw trees torn from the ground; saw oceans stained with waste, no longer blue and clean; saw skies choking, blocking the sun. What could just one child do about the devastation of our planet?

Winner of the Wilderness Society Picture Book of the Year, 1998
Shortlisted - Koala awards, 1998
Notable Book - Children's Book Council of Australia, 1998
Read the reviews

ZOO You Later
Illustrated by Kerry Millard, ABC for Kids, 2000; ISBN 0733305911

Zoos love telling us about the new babies being born, the new exhibits that have been built, the crazy things that animals do and the wonderful ways that the animals stay in their exhibits without the use of bars. Sometimes though, the animals don't follow the rules and decide to visit the world outside of their exhibits but you don't often hear about these zoo happenings.

Zoo You Later is the book that spills the beans, or should I say opens the gate on these not so well known zoo happenings. Read about an orangutan which climbed over a hot wire system to walk the zoo grounds; a python that escaped the zoo with the aid of a human accomplice; a lion that proved that it can walk on water; a bird which people said couldn't fly that did; or a mongoose that decided not to appear at the opening of the new residence. And all the escapes really happened. Kerry Millard's wonderful illustrations will give you many giggles too.

Modern zoos are fantastic places where we can find out about the wonders of the animal kingdom. Make sure that you visit yours but don't be surprised if a strange looking animal comes up to you and says 'Zoo You Later'.

Read a sample chapter

Looking for a copy? I have loads! Send me an email for a signed copy. (Only $15.00 per book including postage anywhere in Australia)

Alpine Regions: In the Ecosystems of Australia series
Heinemann Library, 1998
ISBN 1863918671

These titles are in the Ecosystems of Australia series. The books investigate the plants and animals of this ecosystem and how they interact with each other. It also looks at the environment, what it was like long ago, how people have changed and are continuing to change it and what we can do to help in its conservation. Included are locator maps, regional and animal information, web addresses for further information, other references and a glossary.

Shortlisted for the Wilderness Society Book of the Year, 1999.

Rainforests: In the Ecosystems of Australia series
Heinemann Library, 1998
ISBN 1863918663

Shortlisted for the Wilderness Society Book of the Year, 1999.

The Eyespy Book of Party Animals
Scholastic Australia, 1995; ISBN 1863883665

Here is a book that celebrates 15 flashing, stunning, brilliant colourful animals and that lets us know why colour is so important to the animals whether it be on bottoms, on faces, on wings or wherever it is. Find out about the Corroboree frog, the Red faced Uakari, the Mandrill or the exquisite Golden Lion Tamarin.

There are masks to make, costumes to dress up in and preparations to make for a party in honour of the planet's true party animals.

The Eyespy Book of Rainforest Animals
Scholastic Australia, 1994; ISBN 1863881700

Create your own rainforest fun, rock to the rainforest rap and find out about 15 magical animals of the rainforest in this book shortlisted for the Wildness Society Book of the Year awards. Each of the featured animals has a indicator showing their home in the rainforest and includes one line of the Rainforest Rap.

This book made on from recycled paper and features such rainforest notables as Army Ants, Tent Bats, Orangutans and the Red Eyed Tree Frog.

The Eyespy Book of Endangered Animals
Scholastic Australia, 1991; ISBN 0868967939

The 15 Australian animals featuring in this book are at risk of becoming extinct, and it is we humans who have caused most of their problems. In this book you will find lots of information to help you set up your very own club to protect and save our native animals.

There are lots of fun things to make, games to play, ideas for fund raising activities, tips on protecting the environment and animal models to make.

The Eyespy Book of Night Creatures
Scholastic Australia, 1990; ISBN 0868965901

Here is the fascinating world of 15 Australian nocturnal animals of the night. You'll meet bilbies, possums, pythons, mice, quolls bats and many other amazing creatures.

Easily digested information with large photographic illustrations are followed by activity pages. There are games to play, food to prepare, stencils for animal masks and decorations - all with a nocturnal flavour for a nocturnal party.

Ginger Meggs & Friends Pet Care Book
Illustrated by James Kemsley
Scholastic Australia, 1992; ISBN 086896865X

Pets. Most kids want one but what is the best and correct way to look after them? Wwell in this book Ginger Meggs and his friends tell you: how to keep all sorts of pets including, cats dogs, birds and mice ... plus a few more of the more unusual pets like snails and ants, and butterflies and silkworms. There are even ideas for keeping a pet care journal.

And don't forget to check out Ginger's website at www.gingermeggs.com.

Stuntumble Monday
Teachers Resource Book with Libby Hathorn
Dove Publications

I have also written books for teachers and books that are in school reading and science series. You might see some of these:

Changes, in the Insight Series
How Does It Breathe? in the Is it Alive? Series
Working With Animals, in the Is it Alive? Series

Awards

Eyespy Book of Rainforest Animals, the Wilderness Society - Environment Award for Children's Literature, Shortlisted, 1994.
One Child, the Wilderness Society Picture Book of the Year, 1998, Winner. KOALA shortlist, 1998; Skipping Stones (USA), Picture Book of the Year, 1999, Winner.
Rainforests and Alpine Regions (in the Ecosystems of Australia series), the Wilderness Society, Book of the Year, Shortlisted, 1999.