Kogarah Bay author's strangest tales and most incredible encounters

Aliens, Ghosts And Vanishings: Strange and Possibly True Australian Stories is a collection of ghost yarns, odd happenings, unexplained disappearances and things found where they shouldn’t really be.

Read about the investigations and weigh up the facts – do you believe the official explanations for these weird and wonderful events?

Tarakson introduces her collection of bizarre, eerie, or often inexplicable events by telling readers to keep an open mind without being too gullible, while at the same time not being too sceptical to allow for other possibilities. 

‘‘The book is aimed at children and teens and recounts mysterious events that happened in our own backyard,’’ Tarakson said.

‘‘It was inspired by a real event I experienced - a mysterious figure standing on the doorstep of my Kogarah Bay home, who promptly vanished before my eyes.

‘‘The book recounts creepy and bizarre stories, but it also encourages critical thinking skills.’’

Australia has had its fair share of such weird happenings with some of these contained in Tarakson’s book.

In 1949 a young couple were rowing on the Hawkesbury River when they saw a bull drinking from the river suddenly pulled below the water by a mysterious creature.

In 1988 on the Nullabor Plain the Knowles family claimed they were chased by a strange glowing object that landed on their car roof and lifted them into the air.

Did a UFO drag a family’s car off the road in the middle of the outback? How did rocks rain from the sky in WA? 

And what became of the prime minister who went into the surf and was never seen again?

The book contains entertaining illustrations by Richard Morden which add further intrigue to some of Australia’s great mysteries.

Tarakson will be doing a book signing for kids at Berkelouw Cronulla on February 25 at 1 pm.