The Encyclopedia of STEM Words
An Illustrated A to Z of 100 Terms for Kids to Know By Jenny Jacoby Illustrated by Vicky Barker Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Not so long ago, the word 'stem' referred to the major vertical shoot of a plant that bears buds and shoots with leaves and
Kaleidoscope of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life
Their Colours and Patterns Explained By Greer Stothers Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is an unusual and exciting book about dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, written by Canadian evolutionary biologist, Greer Stothers. It not only informs us about dinosaurs but draws upon new
Let’s Build a Backyard
By Mike Lucas & Daron Parton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mike Lucas is an engineer who writes children's books which include Let's Build a House, Vanishing and Olivia's Voice, a 2018 CBCA Notable book. In Let's Build a Backyard he takes the
Poo. Spew and Other Gross things Animals Do!
By Nicole Gill & Romane Cristescu Artwork by Rachel Tribout Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Talking about natural bodily functions and secretions can make some laugh, some squirm with embarrassment and others instantly curious. So this book that looks at not just poo, but also
Ouch! Tales of Gravity
By Kate Simpson Illustrated by Andy Hardiman Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury If you have ever wanted a clear, simple explanation of the nature of gravity, for younger or older readers, Ouch! Tales of Gravity is the book for you. In this easy-to-read picture book,
365 First Words & An Interesting Word for Every Day of the Year
By Dr. Meredith L. Rowe Illustrated by Monika Forsberg Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Did you know a 'cartographer" is a person who takes photos of cars? That was the definition given to a colleague recently by a young child as they were introduced
Backyard Beasties
By Helen Milroy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Born and educated in Perth, Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She is Australia’s first Indigenous doctor of medicine but is also a talented creator
Unleash Your Creative Monster: A Children’s Guide to Writing
By Andy Jones & Olaf Falafel Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Over my 50+ years working with children, and particularly following my passion for developing their literacy skills, I have been exposed to as many "magic bullet" pedagogies for getting them to write
Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life
By Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan Illustrated by Angela Rizza Reviewed by Mia Macrossan There are many books about dinosaurs published each year but this one is a standout for beauty within and without. I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its
Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life
By Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan Illustrated by Angela Rizza & Daniel Long Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This a really fabulous book about dinosaurs published by Dorling Kindersley. I know there are so many out there but this one is a stand out, it is stunningly
Book of Curious Birds
By Jennifer Cossins Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the latest information title by Australian author and artist, Jennifer Cossins, whose previous titles include the A - Z of Endangered Animals, 101 Collective Nouns, The Baby Animal Book and many more. All
The Supernatural Survival Guide
by George Ivanoff. Reviewed by Mia Macrossan George Ivanoff is a Melbourne author who’s written more than 100 books. The Supernatural Survival Guide is the latest title in his Survival Guide series which include The Australian Survival Guide and The Human Body
Maree Coote talks about writing historical fiction
'Historical fiction can also be the telling of a true story—based on real events—that is lifted it out of its time to reset the story as a universal tale. Born in history, immortalised in story.' Maree Coote is a writer, designer,
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature
By Sami Bayly Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sami Bayly is such a young writer and illustrator and here she is again with an impressive inspiring book that will enchant and engage young minds for years to come. She has been much lauded
Super Sporty Girls
Reviewed by Margarite Igras Be Inspired and Celebrate Australia’s Amazing Sportswomen This picture book is a compilation of some of Australia’s successful sportswomen with the aim of introducing a range of sports to young girls who need some inspiration and information for
We Go Way Back
By Idan Ben-Barak Illustrated by Philip Bunting Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Idan Ben-Barak is the author of Do Not Lick This Book and actually has a PhD in the history and philosophy of science. Philip Bunting is author and illustrator of many books
Yellow Truck Road Train
by Mandy Tootell reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mandy Tootell lives in Katherine in the Northern Territory with her husband, a road train driver, and her two sons. Although Mandy is primarily a printmaker, she enjoys a range of art-making. She is
This Book is Feminist
An Intersectional Primer for Next-Gen Changemakers Written by Jamia Wilson Illustrated by Aurélia Durand Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This colourful, attractive introduction to intersectional feminism for teens is in the same series as This Book is Anti-Racist. It is divided into chapters that show how
Kay’s Anatomy
A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human Body Written by Adam Kay Illustrated by Henry Paker Reviewed by Zewlan Moor It’s a great title. Any parents or teachers scanning the shelves will be sure to notice the title and be transported back
Ancient World Magnified
By David Long Illustrated by Andy Rowland Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David Long is the author of Pirates Magnified, Egypt Magnified and Castles Magnified. In Ancient World Magnified he covers significant ancient civilisations. It will appeal to everyone fascinated by ancient history, it even comes with
Terry Denton’s Really Truly Amazing Guide to Everything
By Terry Denton, Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Terry is famous as one of the duo who produces the wildly popular Treehouse series of books with Andy Griffiths. Here he is on his own, writing about, well, everything. He covers history and the science
Dragon World
By Tamara Macfarlane Illustrated by Alessandra Fusi Reviewed by Mia Macrossan 'Dragons have captivated the imaginations of people everywhere. They take many forms and represent many things' and this beautifully presented book gives a glimpse into that rich imaginative world that dragons inhabit. It
Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature
Produced by The Natural History Museum Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The Natural History Museum has a whole exhibition based on the theme of real and fantastical animals and the relationships between them. Unfortunately the museum is currently closed due to Covid restrictions
Azaria : A True History
Written and illustrated by Maree Coote Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson What happens when the truth gets lost? What happens when there is a gross miscarriage of justice perpetrated by the media and backed by questionable scientific evidence? Did the mother murder the
All Dogs Have ADHD
By Kathy Hoopman Reviewed by Yvonne Mes This delightful revised edition takes an inspiring and affectionate look at Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). With all-new images from the canine world, it explores a variety of traits that will be instantly recognisable to
All Cats Are On the Autism Spectrum
By Kathy Hoopmann Reviewed by Yvonne Mes This book explains a little of what it is like to be a person who is on the Autism Spectrum. It was first published in 2006 under the title All Cats have Asperger Syndrome. The change
The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First 100 Words
A lift-the-flap book by Eric Carle Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Eric Carle has a long and distinguished career as a children's picture book creator. His distinctive colourful style in his stories and illustrations are immediately recognizable. He is especially notable for The Very
Is This Your Egg?
Written by Ella Kris Illustrated by Emma Cracknell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This title is one of the twelve new picture books for Queensland’s youngest readers published as part of First 5 Forever, an early literacy program initiated by the Queensland Government and
The Little Queenslander’s Alphabet Book
written by Sally Scudamore Illustrated by Sophie Beer Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This large format alphabet book is firmly aimed at young Queenslanders. Each letter of the alphabet introduces a Queensland animal performing some activity somewhere in Queensland. Alliteration is the guiding principle so
Quidditch Through the Ages Illustrated Edition
By J K Rowling; Kennilworthy Whisp Illustrated by Emily Gravett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This magnificent edition is a must for any Harry Potter fan. It is incredibly detailed encouraging hours of browsing and just gorgeously illustrated by Emily Gravett. The book invites readers
