Frances Bloom (Frances Bloom, #1)
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Marina Zlatanova Reviewed by Helen Gearing Katrina Nannestad, best known for her much-awarded WWII middle-grade novels, returns to junior fiction in her latest work, Frances Bloom. With comical black-and white illustrations by Marina Zlatanova, who won a 2020
All About Antarctica
A Fact Book About the Southernmost Continent By Marc Martin Reviewed by Claire Monsour If you don’t like picture books with busy pages and lots of small text: this book may not be for you. But if, like me, you have a highly
The Story Writer’s Handbook
Adventures in Creative Writing By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Claire Monsour Nannstad writes in the introduction to this book, “My hope is that the spaces in this book will prove too small for your galloping creativity”. Full of inviting creative
Crossing
By Catherine Norton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Catherine Norton's first novel, Crossing, was joint winner of the Patricia Wrightson Prize in the 2015 NSW Premier's Literary Awards. It was also a CBCA Notable Book. She was born in the UK but grew
Unfairies
By Huw Aaron Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This rollicking and irreverent graphic novel, the first in a series, by Welsh cartoonist, author and illustrator and now graphic artist, Huw Aaron is a total treat to read. In this deep dive into fairyland,
The Boy and the Dog Tree
By Fiona Wood Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Fiona is the three time winner of the CBCA Older Reader category. Recently she has started writing for middle grade with How to Spell Catastrophe and this her latest The Boy and the Dog Tree,
Phoenix
By Kimberley Brubaker Bradley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kimberley is the author of the Newbery Medal winning The War That Saved My Life which is aimed at older middle grade readers. Here is the start of a new series, Ride On, for
Neeka and the Storm (Wilder Zoo, #2)
Written by Tina Strachan Illustrated by Max Hamilton Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Tina Strachan is an Australian author who lives on the Gold Coast. After spending twenty years working and researching within the veterinary, zoo and wildlife conservation and research industry, Tina is
The Sunbird Younger Readers’ Edition
Written by Sara Haddad Illustrated by Baraa Awoor Reviewed by Zewlan Moor I am old Give me back the stars of childhood That I may chart the homeward quest Back with the migrant birds, Back to your awaiting nest. Mahmoud Darwish This verse by Palestine’s most famous poet pre-empts
Mission Moon: An Illustrated Guide to Space Exploration
By Sarah Mühlebach, translated by Marshall Yarbrough Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Space exploration is always a popular topic with young children and here is a compact overview from the first satelites to space travel today. Mühlebach, a Swiss writer and illustrator, has filled
Mega Rich Guinea Pigs
By Kate and Jol Temple Reviewed by Claire Monsour Kate and Jol Temple are experts on the wacky, funny, and heart-felt, and their latest collaboration is no exception. The world’s richest man, Mangus McAloon, just exploded into a million pieces in a rocket
The Making of Martha Mayfield
By Jo Dabrowski Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Jo Dabrowski is an Australian author who has proven her capabilities as a diverse writer for children’s books. With her back-and-forth letters between boy and Broccoli in Dear Broccoli (2025) and the hilarities of awkward
Nush and the Stolen Emerald
By Jasbinder Bilan Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Jasbinder Bilan is a British middle grade author whose family moved from their farm in India to Nottingham, England when she was eighteen months old. She has worked as a teacher and studied a masters
Wednesday: A Novelisation of Season One
Adapted by Tehlor Kay Mejia Based on Wednesday Season One episodes written By Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Kayla Alpert, April Blair, Matt Lambert Based on the characters created by Charles Addams Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This novelisation of the hit Netflix series is
The Adventures of Pongo and Stink
Written by Lisa Nicol Illustrated by Karen Blair Reviewed by Zewlan Moor What adorable pigs! This is honestly a perfect read-aloud for Prep to Year 4. I hope it fills many Christmas stockings this year, and many classrooms in 2026. Pongo and Stink are
Up, Up, and Away: The History of Aviation
Written and Illustrated by Tomáš SMOT Svoboda Translated by Andrew Oakland Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Tomáš SMOT Svoboda is a graphic designer and illustrator from Brno, Czech Republic. Although Tomáš has previously illustrated three books, Up, Up, and Away is his debut as
Ella and the Sleepover Safari
By Cassy Polimeni Illustrated by Hykie Breeze Reviewed by Helen Gearing The second title in a new junior fiction series by the author of the multi-award winning picture book The Garden at the End of the World, Ella and the Sleepover Safari is
The Puppy Project: Millie and Stella Best Friends Forever
By Josephine Moon Illustrated by Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Helen Gearing Josephine Moon’s second installment in the heartwarming Millie and Stella series continues exploring rich friendships, family relationships, and classroom dynamics in a story perfect for animal-lovers eight years and older. This time, the
My Name is Samim
By Fidan Meikle Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Fidan Meikle is an Azerbaijani-British writer and linguist based in Scotland. My Name is Samim, her debut novel, was inspired by the true story of an Afghan refugee boy. The author worked with Afghan photojournalist
The Awesome Physics in Your City
By The Amazing Theatre of Physics. Illustrated by Tomáš Kopecký Reviewed by Lauren Spencer The Awesome Physics in Your City is part of the ‘Science is all around us’ series and follows on from the first book, The Awesome Physics in Your Home.
The Disappearing Circus
By Kate Gordon and Helen Edwards Reviewed by Jenny Ruge Kate Gordon is the award-winning author of numerous books, including the Aster series, the Secret Detectives Club series, and My Brother Finch. Helen Edwards has published three previous novels including Legend of
Everything Under the Sun: All Around the World
A curious question for every day of the year By Molly Oldfield Illustrated by Folasade Adeshida, Neil Badenhorst, Belinda Chen, Sophie Escavy Lim, Marta Antelo, Fernando Martin, Juliana Eigner, Andrés Landazabal, Henry Rancourt, Francesca Tiley, Daniel Gray-Barnett, and Meg Rennie Reviewed by Mia
The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe
By Karen Foxlee Reviewed by Mia Macrossan A new book by Karen Foxlee is always something to celebrate and The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe is a wondrous and wonderful tale indeed, full of mystery and magic, inventive and memorable characters and
Rock Paper Incisors
By Amy Timberlake Illustrated by Jon Klassen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the third instalment in the adventures of Skunk and Badger, first encountered in Skunk and Badger #1, which was followed by Egg Marks the Spot: Skunk and Badger #2. Amy
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Fast and Slow Animals
Written and illustrated by Sami Bayly Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sami Bayly who describes herself on her website as ‘author and illustrator of all things weird and wonderful’, combines a deep knowledge and love of animals with a remarkable ability to write
The Lost Ponies: Millie and Stella Best Friends Forever
By Josephine Moon Illustrated by Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the first book in the Millie and Stella Best Friends Forever series by Noosa based Josephine Moon who usually writes adult novels. Jedda Robaard is an Australian author, illustrator and
There’s a Prawn in Parliament House: The Kids’ Guide to Australia’s Amazing Democracy
By Annabel Crabb & First Dog on the Moon Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Annabel Crabb is an ABC journalist, political commentator and host of TV shows including Kitchen Cabinet and Back in Time for Dinner. First Dog on the Moon is the
The Girl and the Ghost Book 2: Family Secrets
By Jacqueline Harvey, 2025 Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson Following on from her first, wonderfully appealing novel in this new series aimed at older readers, the award-winning Jacqueline Harvey has written this intriguing sequel to The Girl and the Ghost and has continued
Scarlet Morning
Written and illustrated by N D Stevenson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan N D Stevenson is a cartoonist and animation producer. He is the creator, and executive producer of the animated television series She-Ra and the Princess of Power and science fantasy graphic
Rosewood Then & Now
By Karen Tyrell & Megan Forward Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is a charming history snapshot of a small Queensland town aimed at primary school readers but can be enjoyed by people of any age. The book is an initiative of the
