Tinsel: The Girls Who Invented Christmas
By Sibeal Pounder Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sibeal Pounder is the award winning author of the Witch Wars series as well as the Bad Mermaids books. Her newest book, Tinsel, puts an imaginative twist to the classic Santa Claus story by asking
Aster’s Good, Right Things
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Gordon, an Australian librarian and writer, is the author of Girl Running, Boy Falling, Juno Jones: Word Ninja, and The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn which is the first in a trilogy of books. Aster’s
How to Avoid Witches/Roald Dahl
By Kay Woodward Illustrated by Quentin Blake Reviewed by Junior Reviewer, Ramona Naulty, aged 11 Inspired by Roald Dahl's spine-tingling story The Witches, this is a fun, interactive activity book suitable for kids as young as 5 to . . . everyone else. This helpful
Footprints on the Moon
By Lorraine Marwood Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lorraine is a much awarded author of children's novels including Leave Taking and collections of poetry. Here she has written a verse novel about loss and finding your own voice in her signature understated style. The
Code Name Bananas
By David Walliams Illustrated by Tony Ross Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro David Walliam’s latest children’s book, Code Name Bananas is a heart-warming tale of overcoming grief, parental death, living in war and animal kindness. David Walliam’s history as an actor, writer
Future Friend
By David Baddiel Illustrated by Steven Lenton Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro This interesting tale of time travel, cloning, friendship, compassion and environmental care entertains the reader through regular humour and unique characters. Rahul Agarwal is a lonely genius. He creates inventions with
Little Gem
Written and illustrated by Anna Zobel Reviewed by Mia Macrossan 'All Gem wanted was to be a good witch who helped people, but every time she tried a spell it went wrong somehow.' This is main idea in Anna's debut novel about a
A Tale of Magic
By Chris Colfer Reviewed by our Junior Reviewer, Leonard Cavallaro This is one of Chris Colfer's many bestselling books, his most iconic series being The Land of Stories. The themes here are equality, magic, witchcraft, corruption and medieval life. Brystal is fourteen and
The Ickabog
By J K Rowling Illustrated by the winners of The Ickabog Illustration Competition. Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is modern fairy tale although set in an imaginary world. It was first published free online for children stuck at home, unable to go to school or
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
The Fowl Twins – Deny All Charges
By Eoin Colfer Reviewed by Sarah Custance Eoin Colfer is a name recognised by any good book worm as the author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl novels along with over a dozen other children/middle-grade books. Deny All Charges is the second book
The little mermaid and other fairy tales
By Hans Christian Andersen Illustrated by Minalima Reviewed by Mia Macrossan First published in 1837 Andersen's fairy tales quickly became popular and have been reprinted many times. This is a gorgeous new edition of the perennial favourite is a sturdy hardback with full
The Boy, the Wolf and the Stars
By Shivaun Plozza Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This foray into fantasy is the first middle grade novel by Shivaun who has previously written the YA novels Frankie, a CBCA Notable Book and Tin Heart. At the centre of most fantasy novels is a
The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Gordon is an Australian librarian turned author whose previous works include: Three Things about Daisy Blue, Girl Running, Boy Falling, and Juno Jones: Word Ninja. The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn is one of her
One Christmas Wish
by Katherine Rundell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This clever, funny and poignant story is one that will be read again and again at Christmas or any time since its universal themes give it a timeless appeal. It's Christmas Eve, Theo's parents have to
Zoe , Max and the Bicycle Bus
By Steven Herrick Reviewed by Sarah Custance Steven Herrick an award winning Australian author of over 25 books for children and young adults. He has achieved widespread critical acclaim for his verse-novel YA books. Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus is his
The Wizard in My Shed: The Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild
By Simon Farnaby Illustrated by Claire Powell Reviewed by Leonard C. This is Simon Farnaby’s first children’s book. He has written and starred in various family TV shows and films including Horrible Histories, Paddington and Paddington 2. Rose lives with her mother and brother
Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai Reviewed by Leonard Cavallaro Remy Lai’s debut junior fiction Pie in the Sky is an engaging tale of overcoming language barriers and accepting difference. Remy Lai has a major in painting and drawing which is evident in the artistic representations
A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth
By Francesca Gibbons Illustrated by Chris Riddell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Welcome to a brilliant new voice in middle grade fantasy fiction. Francesca Gibbons' debut A Clock of Stars is the first in a trilogy titled The Shadow Moth. It is brimming with
Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale : Starfell #2
By Dominique Valente Illustrated by Sarah Warburton Reviewed by Sarah Custance British author Dominique Valente had her first novel Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day published last year in 2019 and now the sequel Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale has
Monstrous Devices
By Damien Love Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Damien's debut novel but it has been so successful that a sequel, The Shadow Arts, is on the way. Written with ease and sparkling invention Monstrous Devices centres on the adventures of 12 year
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
By L.D. Lapinski Reviewed by Sarah Custance L.D. Lapinski is a British author and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency is her first published novel. It is so popular that it is currently being translated into twelve different languages and the sequel The Strangeworlds
Beyond Belief
By Dee White Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Bryani-Rose, age 11 Beyond Belief is an engaging and informative novel set at the time of the Second World War, in 1942. Eleven-year-old Ruben is hiding from the Nazis in the Grand Mosque in Paris where
The Tindims of Rubbish Island
By Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sally Gardner is the award-winning author of many children’s novels. Her work has been translated into over 22 languages and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Her latest novel ‘The Tindims of
What Zola Did on Tuesday
By Melina Marchetta Illustrated by Deb Hudson Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Cousins Zola and Alessandro live next door to each other – there’s even a gate cut into the fence by their Nonno Nino before he died so they could be together as
Premeditated Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle #1)
By Elizabeth C Bunce Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This book is like the younger readers version of Alan Bradley’s Flavia De Luce mysteries and Philip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart quartet. It features an unconventional, intelligent protagonist, with that arch tone commonly found in
Funny Kid Belly Flop (Funny Kid #8)
Written and illustrated by Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Matt Stanton is an Australian author with over 28 books to his name and the writer of the popular picture book ‘This is a Ball’ which he co-wrote with his wife Beck
The List of Things That Will Not Change
by Rebecca Stead reviewed by Sarah Custance This is the amazing new book by award-winning author Rebecca Stead. Her other books include ‘First Light’, ‘Liar & Spy’, ‘Goodbye Stranger’, ‘When You Reach Me’ which won the American Newbery Medal in 2010, and
Catvinkle and the Missing Tulips
by Elliot Perlman illustrated by Laura Stitzel reviewed by Barbara Braxton Catvinkle lives in Amsterdam, with her barber-owner Mr. Sabatini, and she likes to think that the world revolves around her, as cats generally do. From her basket near the fireplace in what
The Silver Arrow
by Lev Grossman reviewed by Mia Macrossan A refreshing debut children’s book by Lev Grossman, an American who usually writes adult fantasy. It’s Kate’s birthday and she isn’t expecting much so when her wealthy uncle gives her a huge life size steam train
