Iliad

Iliad is the cornerstone of the Western canon. Set in the final days of the Trojan War, Homer’s poem recounts a formative moment in not only Greek culture, but in that of the West as a whole. This cover features a ancient mosaic from Aphrodisias in Caria, a Greek sanctuary in Denizli, Turkey dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite.

Publisher: Imperium Press

Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings: A Glossary

This is the third edition of the late F.A. Sharr's popular dictionary, updated by A.S. George with the names of some 2,000 plants that have been added to the State's flora since the previous edition. The cover features a vector illustration of the Green Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos viridis)  and the Cat's Paw (Anigozanthos humilis). Their scientific names are written repeatedly inside their respective illustrations both to symbolise the texture of the hairs on the plant and to reinforce that the book is a dictionary of scientific plant names.

Publisher: Four Gables Press

Perth Fish: Explore, Identify, Enjoy!

A fun educational book introducing children to the wonders of the deep written by Dianne McLean and Michael Taylor. With 179 colour images, 112 illustrations, and a description of 106 fish species, Perth Fish provides an introduction to unique marine life found off our coast. With an introduction into the diversity of life found in the ocean, the threats that face it, and some of the efforts that are made to protect our marine life; this book aims to inspire future generations to explore, identify and enjoy the world’s oceans. The book is free for Perth school children.

 Publisher: University of Western Australia Oceans Institute

A Man of His Time: The public life of Robert Mitford Rowell

This 272 page book is the biography of Robert Rowell, who was a stock, station and shipping agent in Derby, from 1938-1970. He was the most influential businessman and community leader in the West Kimberley during his full-time residency there. Photo of Oscar Range by Jiri Lochman.

 Publisher: David Hough & Associates

Drawn to the West: A creative journey with artist Derek L. Newton

Derek Newton is an English-born artist living and working in Perth, Western Australia. He is a member of the Watercolour Society of WA and the Australian Society of Marine Artists and his works have featured in several exhibitions. This sketchbook is the result of countless hours working en plein air while exploring the sights along the highways and byways of Western Australia.

Publisher: Wanneroo Heritage Art

Van Hell: Johan Van Hell (1889-1952) schilder en graficus

This book is a catalogue of the works of Johan Van Hell, a Dutch painter, graphic artist and musician. It is written in Dutch and is only available in the Netherlands. In 2016 the second edition was created by Cave Design and published in the Netherlands by Terra for an exhibition of Johan Van Hell's work held at Museum More (Museum of Modern Realism) from 9th October 2016–12th February 2017.

 Publisher: Terra, The Netherlands

A Celebration of Contribution: Tales of the courage, commitment and creativity of Modernians 1911-1963

This 336 page hard case black and white book provides fascinating biographical snapshots of 166 former students of Perth Modern School whose achievements have enriched the local community, the state, the nation and, in some cases, the world. Available only from Perth Modern School.

Publisher: Perth Modern School

Swanning Around Perth: An exploration of the Black Swan in our city

This pictorial book is a collection of short stories about the weird and wonderful uses of the iconic Black Swan in Perth's culture from the Dreamtime to the present day. It was co-written by Alex George and Charmaine Cave. The first edition was published in 2014. Due to demand a second edition was published in April 2016 and is now available from Four Gables Press and selected local bookshops.

"Anyone who is interested in the art and culture, and how the swan inspired local art, architecture, government, education and performing arts, will love this beautifully coloured illustrated book." – Myra Peggy Rose

Publisher: Four Gables Press

Sole Survivor: A Life on Borrowed Time

Brian Walley was an RAF Whitley bomber pilot during World War II. He was shot down into the North Sea during a raid on Berlin in November 1941. Rescued by the Germans, he spent the next three and a half years as a POW. Now a 94-year-old pensioner living in Australia, this book is his remarkable life story.

Publisher: Four Gables Press

A Primer of Botanical Latin with Vocabulary

This cover is inspired by the traditional method of preserving botanic specimens by pressing them, labelling them with their Latin name and mounting them on paper for future reference by botanists and scholars. This centuries old practice is still in use today.

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom

10 Short Stories you must read this year cover

This whimsical cover for a collection of short stories by some of Australia's best writers was the winning cover for the inaugural Books Alive 2009 (now 'Get Reading') national campaign to promote reading in Australia. The book was a free give away with the purchase of a title from the '50 books you can't put down' list from all bookshops in Australia. It appeared in television adverts featuring Sir Michael Parkinson, Tom Keneally, William McInnes and Gretel Killeen.

Publisher: Australian Council for the Arts

Past, Present & Future:

Celebrating 100 Years of exceptional education at Perth Modern School

This commemorative pictorial book was issued in 2011 to mark the centennial year of Perth Modern School. It celebrates the lives and achievements of both the past and present students of Perth's oldest public school and looks forward to the direction the school will take in the future.

Publisher: Perth Modern School

Banksias

This definitive book includes all 78 known species of Banksia and explains how to find, recognise and grow these fascinating and iconic Australian plants. Written by Kevin and Kathy Collins and Alex George. Cover illustration by Celia Rosser.

Publisher: Bloomings Books, Victoria

Boans for Service: The story of a department store 1895-1986

Boans Ltd was a much-loved Western Australian retail chain. The cover typography is inspired by the final Boans logo and utilises the corporate colours of black and white (and red which was used earlier in the store's history).  The cover photo shows the iconic Perth store on Wellington Street in 1953. Due to popular demand this book was reprinted three times. Winner of Silver PICA Award 2009.

Publisher: The Estate of Frank Boan

Plant Life of Western Australia cover (2nd edition)

This cover design featuring Mangles Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii), the floral emblem of Western Australia, is for a new edition of this book (originally written by  J.S. Beard, the Foundation Director of the Botanic Garden at Kings Park, Perth, in 1990) and is a survey of the flora of the state.

 Publisher: Rosenberg Publishing, New South Wales

A Dream of Passion: The Centennial History of His Majesty's Theatre

This 360 page hard cover book was created in 2004 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of  His Majesty's Theatre, Perth. Filled with glorious colour photos and theatre ephemera it is a celebration of  Australia's only remaining Edwardian theatre and the numerous talented artists that have graced its stage. This book was a finalist in the 2005 WA Premier's Book Awards. A copy of the book was placed in a time capsule in the theatre's foyer to be opened for the bicentennial in 2104.

 Publisher: His Majesty's Theatre Foundation

Coral Reefs: Nature's Wonders

Written by Walter and Jean Deas, this 300 page soft cover book is a field guide for divers and anyone with a fascination for the world beneath the waves. It features over 460 full colour photographs and includes maps and technical diagrams. It also contains timely warnings about the impact of global warming.

 Publisher: WA Museum

Matthew Flinders and his Scientific Gentlemen

This 192 hard case book is compiled from journal entries from Matthew Flinders' 1801-1805 expedition to Australia in the HMS Investigator. It describes the principal people involved with this remarkable expedition and their work charting the coast and discovering and recording the plants and animals.

 Publisher: WA Museum

Kardinya Rising: The Story of a Modern Suburb of Perth, WA

This soft cover book is the story of the Kardinya district written by its residents, covering its evolution and growth into the suburb it is today.

 Publisher: Four Gables Press

The Children's House of Belsen

This book is the remarkable true story of Holocaust survivor Hetty Verolme, who at only 14 years of age was rounded up by the Nazis in the Netherlands and sent to the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp where she spent a hellish fourteen months with her two younger brothers and forty other young children.

 Publisher: Werma Pty Ltd

Australia's Spectacular Cowries

A 406 page hard case book which covers the two endemic genera of Cowries: Zoila and Umbilia. With photographs of over 600 shell specimens, each of the known variations of every species is illustrated in full colour. The book also includes detailed distribution maps and more then 250 photographs of the animals in their natural habitats, making it a must for marine biologists, divers and shell collectors. A limited edition version with an embossed buckram and leather cover with a central watercolour vignette of cowries on sponges was also produced for this title.

 Publisher: Odyssey Publishing, USA