About Shirley's Imaginarium Series

 
“These modern days practically everyone has a modern garden, sophisticated, smooth, spotless and spangled with spectacular sculptural splashes of extravagant displays. How boring! Ugh.
Miss Shirley’s garden was not. It was delightfully disarrayed, undecluttered, undecisive and dotted darlingly with dabbled notions of delicate  imaginary worlds, dazzling and daffy.
You see Miss Shirley had lived a lifetime of doing studious, sophisticated, successful, stupendously sane, serious and sanitized stuff. The worthwhile kind, but with no room for living playfully. Now she felt in her old, tired toes that her long ignored imaginings of all things around her, had to have their say. So, she let them, along with her mobile camera to  capture somewhat blurry glimpses of the extraordinary lives of the inhabitants of her garden.
This series is her record of the life of animate and inanimate things she gave home to in her Imaginarium situated in a quiet coastal town lying by the big wide sea caressing a bit of Australia in a “Place where the sea makes a noise” – Kiarama or more familiarly known as Kiama.
But as there would always be much beyond her garden that would entice her imagination, you may find her whimsiness in other literary expansions beyond this series.
For now, it is time to welcome you to the beginnings of Shirley’s Imaginarium.”

Shirley’s Imaginarium Series by Diann Rodgers-Healey is a special heart-warming whimsical series for children 7-12 years old, with charming stories embellished with colourful pictures of the imaginary goings on between everything alive and static in an Australian small rural garden. The stories bring simple lessons home about friendship, belonging, self-expression, and togetherness. The five books comprising the Series is a celebration of Australia flora and fauna, novelty and yesteryear objects intertwined in a gently nostalgic and vibrantly captivating narrative to inspire children’s imagination and appreciation of nature.

Order of books in the Shirley’s Imaginarium Series, published in 2024 and 2025.

1. Wocky’s Party for Colourful Birds Only

2. The Great Debate Over Having a Special or Ordinary Name!

3. When Mr Toad Wanted Everyone To Notice Spring in the Garden

4. Standing Up To The Bully

5. Friends With Differences

Availability in Schools & Libraries

Shirley's Imaginarium Series is listed in the AUSTLIT database, a unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling. As such it is available to members of subscribing libraries, universities, schools, educational institutions, and other organisations. The National Library of Australia, most Australian state libraries, almost all Australian universities and many schools and other organisations subscribe to AustLit.
AUSTLIT listing

Review Comments

Wocky’s Party For Colourful Birds Only

“Unity in diversity. This is a very good read for kids as they are growing into a very diverse and populated world with a need for all of us to come together…”
Laura

“A fun read. A lovely story with an Australian flavour.” Nazhat Shameem

“It is a delightful story about being inclusive and kind, a message that is universal and very relatable. When Wocky decides to have a party, he only invites colourful birds and as a parent, I can still remember how difficult it was if your child was the one who did not receive an invitation to a birthday. Wocky learns what it means to miss out, to be the one on the outside, a very timely lesson where so many young children are anxious and struggling with friendships and belonging.” Jo Skinner

“What a thoroughly beautiful children’s book! It is clear that Diann has put much colour and care into crafting this clever creation. Her use of different 50 language techniques and extensive but digestible vocabulary creates an exciting and informative reading experience for young audiences. The effort she has taken to create the scenes from her own garden and incorporate them into the book is admirable. An enjoyable read for children and adults alike! I know this one will be a staple for my daughter’s literary education.” Brigit Healey

“Wocky’s Party for Colourful Birds Only is a delightful book, which children would enjoy reading, or better still, having it read to them. The imaginative story line introduces the readers to many of the birds found in the Kiama area, The plot raises a serious issue that children will easily relate to – who to invite and not invite to a party. This is resolved in a way that children would applaud and appreciate. It conveys a loving message that we are all alike irrespective of size, colour or nature. This is a message children can take into their world of play or, if it is read as a bedtime story, into their world of dreams.” Michael Barbato

“A fun read for all the children within.” Philip Healey

The Great Debate Over Having a Special or Ordinary Name!

“I have enjoyed this simple revisiting of our trip out west and will now be able to forgive Diann the constant requests to stop the car and photograph the wildlife.”
Philip Healey

“Curiosity and creativity win! A beautiful book with so much heart. I would recommend this book to anyone curious to explore the world in a different, imaginative light” Natalie Scanlon

When Mr Toad Wanted Everyone To Notice Spring In The Garden

“An adventure waiting to be read! I highly recommend this book!” Natalie Scanlon

“Great books. So many beautiful birds and animals to work with.” Mary Tetley