> Skip to content
Play sample
  • Published: 2 February 2021
  • ISBN: 9781760147631
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 96

What Zola Did on Thursday




From the author of Looking for Alibrandi comes this gorgeous series to engage and entertain newly independent young readers.

A wonderful children’s series celebrating community, sustainability, diversity and family from the bestselling author of Looking for Alibrandi. Fun, heartwarming stories full of mischief, humour and feeling, sure to charm and engage newly independent young readers.

Zola loves living on Boomerang Street with her mum and her nonna. Every day of the week is an adventure. But Zola has a problem. No matter how much she tries, she can't keep out of trouble. Like on Thursday, when she and the gang form a band and upset their cranky neighbour, Mr Walton . . .

Collect all seven stories in the series – one for every day of the week!

‘Highly recommended . . . Full of humour and brimming with the close ties of family, [and] . . . community, children will love reading of Zola and her life.’ Fran Knight

'I don’t know about you but I am getting incredibly fond of Zola and her neighbourhood. This little series is just truly delightful and I know that little readers must love being able to make connections with their own family, friends, schools and communities . . . Your newly independent readers both boys and girls will just adore these stories and they would make fabulous read-alouds for either classroom teachers or teacher-librarians paired with some activities and action plans. Highly recommended for little readers from around six years upwards.’ Sue Warren

  • Published: 2 February 2021
  • ISBN: 9781760147631
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 96

Other books in the series

About the authors

Melina Marchetta

Melina Marchetta is an internationally bestselling and award-winning author in more than twenty countries and eighteen languages. Her eighteen books range from beloved young adult fiction and fantasy through to contemporary and crime fiction, and works for younger readers. Her much-loved Australian classic Looking for Alibrandi swept the pool of literary awards when it was published, and was also released as a film, adapted by Marchetta, winning an AFI Award and an Independent Film Award for best screenplay, as well as the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Award and the Film Critics Circle of Australia Award. In 2009 Marchetta won the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association. Her most recent novel is The Place on Dalhousie. She lives in Sydney.

Deb Hudson

Deb Hudson is passionate about drawing bright, happy and colourful images that evoke emotion and thought in the viewer – the dreamy, joy- and wonder-filled moments of the everyday. She has been drawing and creating since she was a little girl and lives in the fabulous city of Melbourne with her husband, three kids, energetic border collie and a bright yellow canary.

Praise for What Zola Did on Thursday

This sweet and funny story explores neighbourhood communities, kindness and respect. As always, Zola is a friendly and mischievous protagonist who loves her friends and family, but always seems to find herself in trouble. What Zola Did on Thursday is filled with more beautiful illustrations by Deb Hudson and this collectable series is looking fantastic on our shelves . . . This is another wonderful addition to Melina’s delightful new series, bound to become an Australian classic.

Better Reading

Awards & recognition

YABBA Children's Choice Awards

Shortlisted  •  2022  •  Fiction for Younger Readers

Discover more

Article
Bold, wise and funny girls

The best books for educators to share on International Women’s Day 2021

Article
What Zola Did on Thursday activity pack

Colouring pages, word search and a spot-the-difference.

Article
Binge-worthy books: the ten best kids' series that will keep on giving

Just like a good TV show, a beloved book series can lift our mood. Here are some of the best for kids.