2025 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards SHORTLISTS
Check out the incredible titles shortlisted for the 2025 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards! Books are awarded for their impact on language and literacy development in the following categories: Age-related award categories are: Birth to three years/ Three
Guess How I Was Born
By Suzanne Gervay & Carolyn Daly Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Presented with the Lifetime Social Justice Literature Award for her body of work by the International Literacy Association and an Order of Australia, Susanne Gervays's books are recognised all over the world.
Frog Squad #3 Sink or Swim
By Kate and Jol Temple Illustrated by Shiloh Gordon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This excellent series continues to delight and engage emerging and reluctant readers in the adventures of a team of elite rescue frogs who we first met in Frog Squad 1
Wait a Minute!
By Shelly Unwin & Lana Azore Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Time to go! Wait a minute! I’ve got to tie my sh … sheep together.” Ah, the morning rush for parent and child to leave home and be on our way, to our
Brock the Croc: Make It Snappy!
By Adrian Beck & Dean Rankine Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Brock the Croc: Make It Snappy! is the second instalment of an action-packed series written by Adrian Beck and illustrated by Dean Rankine - both prolific and popular Australian creators. It
Sonny & Tess
By Nova Weetman Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Nova Weetman is an exemplary storyteller. There are several check boxes we’re accustomed to ticking when reviewing novels for young readers - the language, the messaging, the trigger warnings. But the best writing for
R. I. P. Nanny Tobbins
By Lucie Stevens Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lucie Stevens is children's author, freelance writer, editor and publishing consultant. R. I. P. Nanny Tobbins, about a young girl coping with an unruly ghost, is her debut middle grade novel. Nine year old Albertine's cosy
Rival Darlings
By Alexandra Moody Reviewed by Lucille Rose Rival Darling, the first in the Darling Devils series, is a YA contemporary romance following the drama filled lives of two Minnesota high school students. Violet has one rule: never date a jock. And before
The Monsters Next Door
By Kate Alice Marshall Reviewed by Helen Gearing Marshall is a trusted voice in the American horror landscape, writing suspenseful books for children and adults. Her previous middle grade titles include the Secrets of Eden Eld trilogy, which follows a trio of
Nightweaver
By R M Gray Reviewed by Ayesha Uddin Nightweaver is a debut YA fantasy novel in the popular Romantasy genre. The ambience is grimdark, the pace is relentless and the narrative shot through with a sense of menace that rarely abates. The story
Lucky
By Amelia Tonta and Peter Baldwin Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Lucky is a dynamic new picture book by Amelia Tonta (formerly publishing as Amelia Mcinerney) and illustrated by Peter Baldwin. It is an imaginative and laugh-out-loud celebration of optimism in the
Anna’s War
By D J Taylor Reviewed by Jenny Ruge Anna’s War is a compelling YA historical fiction novel by debut author, DJ Taylor. Set in German-occupied Holland in the later stages of World War II, the story was inspired by the childhood memories
I Don’t Need a Little Brother
By Nat Amoore & Nathaniel Eckstrom Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray I Don’t Need a Little Brother is the debut picture book for Nat Amoore, who is well known for action-packed, humorous middle grade writing - and even better known for super high
True South
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 friendships. Set
Surprise Shark
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 maybe he frightens
Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town
By Li chen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Hooray! The wonderful Bedective Deans
Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow: Nevermoor 4
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 13-year old Morrigan
Goodnight Glow Worms
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, a sense
Where Shall We Travel Today?
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 literacy in
The World of Maxime
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 Canadian illustrator
Mim and the Mother Muddle (The Travelling Bookshop, #6)
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 powers that mean
Song of a Blackbird
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 family, during
The Year We Escaped
By Suzanne Leal Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another gripping World War II story from the author of Running with Ivan, a CBCA Notable book. We first meet Klara Gold, a Jewish child, living in a Germany changing under Hitler's leadership. Klara
Shortlist 2025 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction
It is with great pleasure that we announce the shortlist for the 2025 Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction. Here are three outstanding works of children's historical fiction, where research and knowledge underpin exciting and relatable stories guaranteed to
Beyond Harry Potter: 50 Fantasy Adventures stories for girls
From A Mighty Girl, 50 well known and well loved and some not so familiar stories, many available in your local library or favourite book shop. Here is a list of titles well worth exploring. Each title is annotated and
Raymaŋgirrbuy dhäwu When I was a little girl
By Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is a beautifully told story of an idyllic childhood presented in two languages, Djambarrpuyŋu and English, making it one of a small but growing collection of dual language resources available to children, parents
Clutterbugs
By Maura Pierlot & Maya Bora Reviewed by Meg Rowe In a world obsessed with acquiring more and more ‘stuff’ Clutterbugs message that less is best is a timely and important one. Maura Pierlot’s imaginative rhyming narrative, coupled with Maya Bora's vibrant
Too Many Dogs
By Maura Finn & Lucinda Gifford Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Percy is tired of being one dog all alone in a house FULL OF CATS! He’s leaving for a magical place where he can be free: THE DOG PARK. Percy always gets
Learning Country
A First Nations Journey Around Australia's Traditional Place Names by Ryhia Dank Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ryhia Dank is a Gudanji/Wakaja woman who grew up in a remote community in the Gulf of Carpentaria. She got to know her Country though the stories
Taking the Long Way Home
By Jake Hope and Brian Fitzgerald Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jake, the author of Lola Loves Walking and Cheesed Off!, is an active reviewer and a passionate advocate for libraries, books and reading. Brian has illustrated numerous books and won the Bologna Fair
