Books and reading

Top 10 titles

Check out the collection spotlights in our library catalogue to find our curated collections and new releases coming soon.

Top 10 adult fiction

Browse our curated collection of adult fiction books we are loving right now.

Top 10 adult non-fiction

Browse our curated collection of adult non-fiction books we are loving right now.

Coming soon

Look out for these new releases. Place a hold on them now.

Visit our library catalogue

eBooks and eMagazines

Onkaparinga libraries provide free access to eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines. For more information check out our Online Resources page.

Ngaityu Muitu Tantu

The Ngaityu Muiyu Tantu (My Feelings Bag) was designed by a team from all over Adelaide to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to read, sing and yarn with their little ones. Six hundred bags are being distributed via Kalaya Children’s Centre, Taikurrendi Children’s Centre and other centres across Port Adelaide Enfield and Onkaparinga.

For more information visit our partner PAE Libraries to borrow a bag visit our catalogue.

Reading challenges

Get involved in reading challenges at Onkaparinga Libraries! We run our challenges through Beanstack - you can register online or at any Onkaparinga library branch. Beanstack is also available on the App Store and Google Play. 

The Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge

This annual challenge encourages school-age children to read during the summer break, using Beanstack to record the books they’ve read. Complete the challenge and attend the finale party with the Mayor to collect your certificate and a book of your choice! You can also take part in the many optional challenges for your chance to win some more great prizes. Register online or sign up at your local Onkaparinga library. Don’t forget to download the Beanstack app to keep track of your reading progress!

1001 Books Before School 

Can you complete the challenge? 1001 Books Before School encourages a lifelong love of reading in little ones by encouraging shared reading experiences before starting school! 

1001 Books Before School FAQs(PDF, 75KB)

Find a good book

Have you read all your favourite fiction author’s books? Not sure what to read next?

Our Writes Like guides below will help you find other authors in the same genres.

• Australian Authors(PDF, 2MB)  - True blue reads.

• British Crime and beyond(PDF, 1MB) - The best of crime authors.

• Classics(PDF, 1MB)  - From around the world.

• Historical Fiction(PDF, 2MB) - Bringing the past to life.

• Humour(PDF, 1MB) - Have a laugh.

• Horror & Supernatural Fiction(PDF, 2MB) - Shapeshifters to classic horror.

• Ladies of Crime(PDF, 2MB) - Starring the ladies.

• Military and Espionage Fiction(PDF, 1MB) - War, spies, technothrillers and more.

• Romance Fiction(PDF, 1MB) - From chick lit to rural romance.

• Scandinavian Crime(PDF, 1MB) - The best crime writers from Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Finland.

• Young Adult(PDF, 2MB) - From Dystopian to Steampunk.

Helpful websites

• Which book - Unique way to find out what you feel like reading next!

• Literature map - find authors you might like.

• Fantastic Fiction - Lists of your favourite authors books or series.

• Goodreads - Track your reading, connect with other readers, and find new authors and suggestions for what to read next.

• The StoryGraph - Track your reading, connect with other readers, and choose your next book based on your mood and favorite topics and themes.

• Library Thing - Catalogues your own library and connects you with other people who read the same books.

• Better Reading - A source of independent book recommendations for Australian readers and their families.

• Good Reading Magazine- Helps readers around Australia discover the best authors, books and writing from here and across the globe.

• Bookstr - Connecting books with people.

For teens

• LoveOzYA-  Australian Young Adult Fiction book lists, news, resources, events, and more.

• Epic Reads - Information on books and authors, plus blogs, quizzes, videos and more.

For kids and parents/caregivers

• Premiers Reading Challenge - A literacy engagement program to encourage reading and improve literacy levels in South Australia.

• Raising Literacy Australia- Programs that support the development of literacy in Australia.

• National Centre for Australian Children's Literature - Unique, comprehensive and free resource of books for children by and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

   

Literary Awards

Check out the award websites below to find award-winning books and authors. 

Australia

• Miles Franklin Literary Award- awarded each year to a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases.

• Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards-  Awarded each year to books that have made an outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature.

• Prime Minister's Literary Awards- celebrates outstanding literary talent in Australia and the valuable contribution Australian literature and history makes to the nation's cultural and intellectual life.

• Australian Book Industry Awards- celebrates the achievements of authors and publishers in bringing Australian books to readers.

International

• The Booker Prize - Awarded to what is, in the opinion of the judges, the best novel of the year written in English and published in the UK and Ireland.

• Nobel Prize for Literature - Awarded annually to an author from any country who has produced outstanding work and made significant contributions to literature. 

• The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction - For distinguished fiction published in book form during the year by an American author, preferably dealing with American life

• Women's Prize for Fiction- The UK's most prestigious annual book award celebrating and honouring fiction written by women.

• CLIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals - The UK's longest running children's book awards, recognising outstanding reading experiences created through writing and illustration in books for children and young people.

• National Book Award - Awarded to the best literature in the United States. 

• Nebula Award - Recognises the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States.

• Bram Stoker Award - Presented annually by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in dark fantasy and horror writing