Wind Atlas: Everything you need to know about wind
By Sarah Zambello Illustrated by Susy Zanella Produced in collaboration with the University of Genoa Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This carefully researched and designed book is a companion volume to Wave Atlas: Everything you need to know about waves, by the same creators. Here again
Shmoof
By Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Heidi has collaborated with many writers to create memorable picture books as well as writing and illustrating her own. She is the master of restrained simple storytelling, combining an economy of style and colour with
The Girl and the Ghost
By Jacqueline Harvey Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson with thanks to Sue Warren for her inspiring insights A French village, new friends, a locket from the past, a local mystery to be solved and . . . a ghost. ‘Josephine’s heart is hammering. Her
One Word and a Bird
By Stephen Michael King Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray One Word and a Bird is the newest picture book from celebrated author/illustrator Stephen Michael King. It showcases the power of words, both in the sense of their impact on a page, and
Book of Hours
By Clare McFadden Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Book of Hours is a contemplative meditation on the quiet beauty of everyday life. It is marketed as a picture book for ages 3+, but will strongly resonate with adult readers as it moves
Your Body is Amazing
By Jess Sanders Illustrated by Christine Cuddihy Reviewed by Claire Monsour Dear Reader, there is no such thing as a perfect body. Every body is different and every body has its own strengths. What makes your body amazing is not what it looks
Sid and the very hard to find Squid
Written & illustrated by James O’Hanlon Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Of all the bugs and birds and beasts
The Frog’s First Song
By Jazz Money & Jason Phu Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Frog’s First Song is a visually arresting and thematically joyful picture book that celebrates connection. Written by award-winning Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrated by three-time Archibald Prize finalist Jason
Little One
By Jane Godwin & Gabriel Evans Reviewed by Claire Monsour “Ed has a teddy, Lola has a blanket, Penny has her Elly… But Little One is mine” There are plenty of picture books where a child loses a treasured toy, and is then
A Loo of One’s Own
A Mostly True Tale of Australia’s First Female Parliamentarians Written and Illustrated by Eleri Harris Reviewed by Zewlan Moor What a treat to read this book! A Loo of One’s Own is the debut picture book of award-winning cartoonist, Eleri Harris, whose second book,
Unhallowed Halls
By Lili Wilkinson Reviewed by Ramona Naulty, Age 16 After swiftly reading (and thoroughly enjoying) Lili Wilkinson’s Unhallowed Halls, I can safely say that this book is a brilliant introduction to the world of fantasy. The novel follows the story of Page
Who Might You Be?
By R. Henderson Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Who Might You Be? is a fresh, interactive picture book from Robert Henderson. This inventive author/illustrator previously brought us the delightful I See, I See, which invited readers to physically move the book around to explore
The World’s Worst Superheroes
By David Walliams Illustrated by Adam Stower Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Term 3 of the Australian school year is upon us and as usual, in many schools, the focus is Children's Book Week and its theme for this year, Book an Adventure. But
Wombat Dreaming
By Caz Goodwin & Zoë Bennett Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Each Sunday the animals woke with the sun and came to the creek for some yoga and fun.” Lil, desperately wanted to join in the yoga class, but when you’re a roly-poly wombat
Into the Bewilderness
By Gus Gordon Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Gus Gordon is one of Australia’s most respected author/illustrators of picture books, with over 80 titles sold into multiple territories. Not only are his books loved by children, they are the ones that pop
Moonboy
By Anna Ciddor Reviewed by Jenny Ruge Moonboy is the latest time-travelling adventure from multiple award-winner Anna Ciddor, author of The Boy Who Stepped Through Time and A Message Through Time. With over 50 books to her credit, Ciddor is well-known for
The Train at the End of my Street
By Tom Jellett Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Tom Jellett’s The Train at the End of my Street is a picture book for pure enjoyment, tapping into the timeless childhood fascination with trains. A young child narrates his interest in trains of
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
