Keeping the kids entertained on wet weekends and holidays won’t be a problem with this amusing book of games at the ready. Nostalgic for a return to the family entertainment of pre-TV days, when a night at home meant board games, cards and wordplay rather than CSI, NCIS and TMZ, authors Jones and Tsintziras have brought together a panoply of parlour games for a modern audience. You’ll find Consequences, Hangman, Dictionary and other paper and pen games with pictures, words and numbers; action games like Hide and Seek and Blind Man’s Buff; card and dice games from Go Fish to Pig Dice; and word games like 20 Questions involving guesses, words and stories.

This must-have perfume guide has been hailed as a masterpiece of criticism and invective ever since its original publication in 2008, and over 400 new fragrances have been added to the original 1500 in this updated paperback. Perfumes: The A–Z Guide is the culmination of Luca Turin’s lifelong obsession and rare scientific flair and Tania Sanchez’s stylish and devoted blogging about every scent that she’s ever loved and loathed. Together they make a fine and utterly persuasive argument for the unrecognised craft of perfume-making. Perfume writing has certainly never been this honest, compelling or downright entertaining.

Packed with hundreds of entertaining and thought-provoking ideas to get discussions firing, these two sets of card games are just the thing to reinvigorate the dying art of conversation. Ideal for book clubs, writing groups and social gatherings, the aim is to help articulate opinions, exchange views and stimulate conversation rather than play a competitive quiz. The literary edition asks open-ended questions like ‘Is there a book that took you out of your comfort zone?’ or ‘What book best describes your relationship?’ to get readers thinking about the books that matter to them. Similarly, the travel edition promotes discussion about culture, language, travel experiences and tips, posing intriguing questions like ‘Where is your ideal pristine wilderness?’ and ‘When have you felt yourself to be an innocent abroad?’.

Packed with hundreds of entertaining and thought-provoking ideas to get discussions firing, these two sets of card games are just the thing to reinvigorate the dying art of conversation. Ideal for book clubs, writing groups and social gatherings, the aim is to help articulate opinions, exchange views and stimulate conversation rather than play a competitive quiz. The literary edition asks open-ended questions like ‘Is there a book that took you out of your comfort zone?’ or ‘What book best describes your relationship?’ to get readers thinking about the books that matter to them. Similarly, the travel edition promotes discussion about culture, language, travel experiences and tips, posing intriguing questions like ‘Where is your ideal pristine wilderness?’ and ‘When have you felt yourself to be an innocent abroad?’.

Question: What has 360 pages, more than 170 number, word, picture and logic conundrums, and looks like a secret medieval manuscript? Answer: Enigma 2. With its authentically smudged and aged pages, grainy textured paper, illuminated drop capitals and softly padded cover, Enigma 2 is not only an absorbing book of puzzles and riddles – it’s also lovely to look at and hold. Like the bestselling Enigma 1, its puzzles range from the silly and straightforward to ‘move three matches and make a square’ brain-teasers, ‘choose a number between one and 63’ dilemmas and curious, exasperating and infuriating quizzes that will have you whiling away the wettest of afternoons. Special offer: Buy Enigma 1 with Enigma 2 (total RRP $79.90) for only $49.95!

This year’s Jukurrpa Aboriginal art diary is illustrated with examples of the finest contemporary Aboriginal art from 15 communities in the central and Western Desert regions of Australia. Art centres and communities represented include Balgo Ernabella, Hermannsburg, Papunya Tula Artists, Irrkerlantye Arts, Keringke Arts, Spinifex Arts, Tjungu Palya Artists, Tjala Arts and Warlukurlangu Artists. The calendar features high-quality reproductions of 13 different artworks by established and emerging artists from central Australia, stretching from the far Western Desert to the southern Anangu Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands.

This year’s Jukurrpa Aboriginal art diary is illustrated with examples of the finest contemporary Aboriginal art from 15 communities in the central and Western Desert regions of Australia. Art centres and communities represented include Balgo Ernabella, Hermannsburg, Papunya Tula Artists, Irrkerlantye Arts, Keringke Arts, Spinifex Arts, Tjungu Palya Artists, Tjala Arts and Warlukurlangu Artists. The calendar features high-quality reproductions of 13 different artworks by established and emerging artists from central Australia, stretching from the far Western Desert to the southern Anangu Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands.

This year’s Jukurrpa Aboriginal art diary is illustrated with examples of the finest contemporary Aboriginal art from 15 communities in the central and Western Desert regions of Australia. Art centres and communities represented include Balgo Ernabella, Hermannsburg, Papunya Tula Artists, Irrkerlantye Arts, Keringke Arts, Spinifex Arts, Tjungu Palya Artists, Tjala Arts and Warlukurlangu Artists. The calendar features high-quality reproductions of 13 different artworks by established and emerging artists from central Australia, stretching from the far Western Desert to the southern Anangu Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands.

A collection of 100 postcards, each featuring a different and iconic Penguin book jacket. NB: December release.

Engages readers in having them define all the different things a book can be: an experience, a diversion, an illusion, a game or a puzzle.