The Smuggler’s Curse
By Norman Jorgensen Fremantle Press 2026 Teaching Notes Reviewed by Helen Gearing Norman Jorgensen, whose 2008 debut middle-grade novel ‘Jack’s Island’ and 2011 best-selling picture book ‘The Last Viking’ (with illustrator James Foley) were both highly awarded, has crafted another edge-of-your-seat, high-action adventure in
History Hunter: The Crystal Skulls
By Mark Greenwood Fremantle Press 2026 Teaching notes Reviewed by Helen Gearing In the sixth installment in the popular non-fiction, mystery series for readers 10 years and older, award-winning children’s author Mark Greenwood explores the phenomenon of life-like skulls carved from crystal quartz which
Serendipity
Written and illustrated by Gabbie Benda Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Serendipity is a girl who has it all. She’s class captain, plays a lead role in the school play, and is the star shooter in her basketball team. She puts this
Nanny Tobbins and the Midnight Plan (Nanny Tobbins, #2)
By Lucie Stevens HarperCollins 2026 Reviewed by Sandy Driessens 1851, LONDON. The Great Exhibition is coming to a close. It has been magnificent. Albertine, and her father, a designer commissioned by Prince Albert, are enjoying a last look at the beautiful garden when
The Secrets and Scandals of Melody Moss
By Helen Dallimore Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Helen Dallimore is a NIDA-trained actress, singer, director and writer from Sydney. Amongst her many claims to fame are that she starred opposite Idina Menzel as Wicked’s original Glinda in London’s West End, and
Treeshape
Written and illustrated by Trace Balla A & U Children 2026 Reviewed by Jess Galatola Reading Treeshape left me feeling deeply connected not just to the natural world, but to something even bigger. A cause. A charge. A shared responsibility to be a custodian
Our Marvelous Memory
How Your Brain Works By Helena Haraštová and Dita Vopřadová Translated by Andrew Oakland Albatros 2025 Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Helena Haraštová is a writer and literary editor from the Czech Republic. Specialising in children’s non-fiction, she has written and edited over thirty children’s books
Our Incredible Imagination
How Your Brain Works By Helena Haraštová and Dita Vopřadová Translated by Andrew Oakland Albatros 2025 Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Helena Haraštová is a writer and literary editor from the Czech Republic. Specialising in children’s non-fiction, she has written and edited over thirty children’s books
Lighthouse Girl
Created by Dianne Wolfer & Brian Simmonds Fremantle Press 2010 Teaching notes Teaching activity Reviewed by Margarite Igras This prolific award- winning Australian author has written over 27 books for both children and young adults, but she is best known for her WW1 “Light” series –
Meet the Author: Jackie French
by Mia Macrossan Jackie French AM is an Australian author, historian, ecologist and honourary wombat (part time); 2014–15 Australian Children' Laureate; and 2015 Senior Australian of the Year. Instead of hobbies she has written over 200 books which have sold millions of
The Epically Awesome Odyssey, as told by Nanny Piggins
By R A Spratt Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan R.A Spratt is a prolific author in the junior fiction and middle grade space, with numerous best-selling books in the Nanny Piggins and Friday Barnes series, The Peski Kids books, several anthologies of short stories such as the
Pterosaurs of the the Desert Ocean
By Andrew Plant CSIRO Publishing 2026 Teacher Notes Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Andrew Plant trained as a zoologist, but has been an illustrator and author for over 30 years. In this meticulously researched work he reveals a magical world of Australian dinosaurs living 100
Scare B’n’B
By Catherine Doyle Illustrations by Rachael Dean Bloomsbury Childrens Books Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Catherine Doyle is an Irish writer of fantastic fantasy adventures for young readers. Her novels include The Lost Girl King, the award-winning middle grade Storm Keeper trilogy and the YA
Cleopatra: The Girl Who Would Be King (Heroes in the Ancient World, #1)
By Jackie French HarperCollins Classroom resource Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Our national treasure Jackie French styles herself as 'author, ecologist, historian, dyslexic and honorary wombat'. She must be one of the most prolific writers on the planet creating stories for children and adults notable
The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks
By Fiona Harris Affirm Press Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Fiona Harris is an author, scriptwriter, and actor who has worked in publishing, television, and theatre. She has published many books for children, including Sleepover BFFs and The Rebound, and is the co-author of
Detective Beans & the Map of Mystery
By Li Chen Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Li Chen was born in Beijing, China, and moved to New Zealand when she was five. Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat, her first graphic novel was followed by Detective Beans
Mortal Engines: Bridge of Storms
By Philip Reeve Scholastic 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Philip’s first book was the epic YA steampunk Mortal Engines, 2001, which created a world of ‘municipal Darwinism’, where rampaging motorised towns and cities are on the move, attacking and eating each other, prowling around looking for
Ruby’s Web
By Ellen van Neerven Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Ellen van Neerven is a writer of Mununjali and Dutch heritage living on Yagera and Turrbal land. They have had multiple collections of short stories and poetry published. This is their first novel for
The Escape Game
By Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This book is unputdownable! From the very first page it features the entertaining, high energy voice of clever teens with interesting back stories and motivations, something I loved in Meyer’s Cinder, in the
Duck Look Who’s Talking! (Duck, #1)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Matt Stanton is the award-winning author and illustrator of multiple best-selling book series for children including Funny Kid, The Odds, Bored and Fluff, and many excellent picture books. His books have won awards including the
Hafsa’s Way
By Aisha Saeed Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Hafsa’s Way is the third of a loose trilogy of contemporary realist middle grade novels by Pakistani-American author, Aisha Saeed. The firs two, Amal Unbound and Omar Rising, have been exceptionally well-received, with multiple starred
Cities Going Wild – To Save the Planet
By Catherine Barr and Christiane Engel Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Catherine Barr is a prolific author of non-fiction picture books. Based in Hay-on-Wye, the Welsh ‘town of books’, she has previously studied ecology and journalism, and worked with Greenpeace and at London’s
Annie and Maeve Are Definitely Not Friends
By Olivia Muscat Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Olivia Muscat is a Melbourne-based writer, performer, and disability rights advocate, and this is her debut middle grade novel. Muscat wanted to portray more accurately and honestly the experiences of people with disabilities, and she
Green Cities
How Green Infrastructure Helps Heal the Planet By Sheila Boudreau and Katy Dockrill Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Sheila Boudreau is a landscape architect, urban planner and university lecturer specialising in green infrastructure. Katy Dockrill’s previous illustration work includes middle-grade book covers, picture books
Oceanforged 2: The Silent Island
By Amelia Mellor Reviewed by Helen Gearing Amelia Mellor, whose debut upper middle grade series ‘Grandest Bookshop’ was highly awarded by critics, readers, and booksellers alike has crafted another edge-of-your-seat adventure in the Oceanforged series. Aimed at a slightly younger audience (eight
The Drover’s Son
By Leah Purcell & Dub Leffler Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian actor, director, playwright and novelist, Leah Purcell is well known for her many skills. She wrote and performed in an adaptation of Henry Lawson’s famous short story, The Drovers Wife and
Kid *
By Peter Carnavas Reviewed by Mia Macrossan 'There was once a small goat who lived on a farm, not far from a rugged mountain.' A new story from Peter is always a cause for celebration and Kid does not disappoint. What a warm
What Makes a Bird?
An Illustrated Guide to the Bird World By Nadeem Perera & Montse Galbany Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a glorious introduction to the world of birds, chockful of information presented in accessible nuggets of information and illustrated with a marvellous
The Raven’s Eye Rebellion
By Claire Mabey Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the sequel to The Raven’s Eye Runaways, 2024, which introduced us to an original fantasy world where only a privileged few are allowed to read, where books have enormous power for good or
The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien
By Ross Welford Illustrated by Harry Bridge Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ross Welford is a popular author of light-hearted middle grade novels such as Time Travelling with a Hamster. Here is the start of a brand-new series that is the familiar combination of
