By Gisela Ervin-Ward Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray True South is the debut novel for experienced education writer Gisela Ervin-Ward. It includes all the desirable key ingredients of a gripping middle-grade mystery, such as buried treasure, family secrets, and compromised […]

By Sarah Lane & Patrick Corrigan Reviewed by Mia Macrossan ‘ It was a beautiful day in Blue Bottle Bay when the fish all gather together to play.’ Here’s a story about a friendly shark who has no idea that […]

By Li chen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Hooray! The wonderful Bedective Deans…oops Detective Beans, that clever, daring favourite professional kitten sleuth is back. He’s been sorting through his top-secret files and put together a collection of stories about his many […]

By Jessica Townsend Reviewed by Helen Gearing Sunshine Coast author Jessica Townsend explores themes of family belonging, secrecy, and shame in the gripping fourth installment of her middle-grade fantasy series Nevermoor. ‘Silverborn’ sidesteps from high fantasy to murder mystery as […]

By Aura Parker Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Aura is a creator whose previous published books include Meerkat Splash,  Meerkat Christmas, The Silly Seabed Song and Goodnight Glow Worms now published as a board book. Her work is characterised by a joyful energy, […]

By Kristin Martin & Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray With the competing pressures of busy lives and a crowded school curriculum, some commentators are saying it has never been more important to foster the soft skills associated with […]

By Lucile de Pesloüan, illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn, translated by Helen Mixter Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Lucile de Pesloüan is from Montreal in Canada and previously wrote the graphic novel What Makes Girls Sick and Tired. Jacques Goldstyn is a […]

By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Imagine being a young girl travelling the world in an old wooden caravan pulled by a horse that decides where they will go and which seems to have magical […]

By Maria van Lieshout Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Maria is a Dutch-American illustrator and graphic novelist.who has written many picture books for children.  Her graphic novel Song of a Blackbird is inspired by historic events, including those that affected her own […]

Emma loves all things sci-fi, fantasy and horror, but has a particular soft spot for reading and writing YA. Her debut YA novel Anomaly was published by Affirm Press in 2024 after an early draft was selected for the Varuna and Affirm Press […]

The beauty of picture books is the opportunity to illustrate aspects that the text does not include. After completing her illustration degree at Leeds Arts University in 2021, Blithe now lives in Brisbane, Australia. When not drawing, she can be […]

‘It’s about supporting the text, enriching it, trying to surprise.’ Mia Macrossan talks to Hélène Magisson who is a critically acclaimed Australian illustrator of many books for children. Before Hélène turned to book illustration, she was a painting restorer in […]