Frankie Best Hates Quests
By Chris Smith and illustrated by Kenneth Anderson Reviewed by Sarah Custance UK author Chris Smith is best known for the Kid Normal series that he co-wrote with Greg James, the duo has also written The Great Dream Robbery. Frankie Best Hates
The Goodbye Year
By Emily Gale Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian writer Emily Gale is the author of the very well received books, The Other Side of Summer, We Are Out With Lanterns, the Eliza Bloom Diaries, Steal My Sunshine, and Girl, Aloud. She also
Seven Days
By Fleur Ferris Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Seven Days is Fleur Ferris’s second middle grade novel and an enjoyable thriller for the target age group. When Ben Parker, the only son of divorced parents, is forced to spend a week of his school
The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat
Written by Kate Temple Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Kate Temple has written more than twenty books with her writing partner Jol Temple, including the Bin Chicken picture books, Room on Our Rock and The Underdogs junior fiction series. The Business of Being
Whalesong
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Gordon is the Australian award-winning author of middle-grade novels, The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn, and Aster’s Good Right Things, along with YA novel Girl Running, Boy Falling which were all either a Notable or
The Christmas Bum Book
Written by Kate Mayes Illustrated by Andrew Joyner Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kate possibly has a fixation on bums as she has also written The Bum Book and The Easter Bum Book and here she is now with The Christmas Bum Book again
A Very Playschool Christmas
By Jan Stradling and Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The iconic children's program Playschool has been on TV for more than forty years encouraging generations of Australians to wonder, to feel and to imagine. Jan has worked for the ABC for
Meerkat Christmas
By Aura Parker Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Aura is a creator whose previous published books include Meerkat Splash, Goodnight Glow Worms and The Silly Seabed Song. Her work is characterised by a joyful energy, a sense of fun and lots of play. This
Tjitji Lullaby
Written by Michael Ross and Zaachariaha Fielding Illustrated by Lisa Kennedy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tjitji is a word in the Anangu Pitjantjajara Yankunytjatjara languages that means 'child' so this is a song to sing a young child to sleep. The rhythm is
Best Books of 2022
At this time of year we ask our reviewers to select the best books they have read this year. Here is the result which should provide some wonderful holiday reading and maybe some ideas for seasonal gift giving. Just click
Zola and the Christmas Lights
By Melina Marchetta and Deb Hudson Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Zola loves living on Boomerang Street with her mum and her Nonna and next door to her cousin Alessandro in a little house in a little street in a little suburb in a
An Odd Dog Christmas
By Rob Biddulph Reviewed by Barbara Braxton It’s Christmas and Odd Dog is running out of time to find the perfect present for her pal… But then she steps into a Christmas arcade which looks very promising until she meets a new
The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan
By Felice Arena Reviewed by Liane McDermott In 1942, in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, a girl lies in the dark and prays. She prays for her family. She prays for her friends. She prays for the war to be over. And she prays for
Tatty Mouse Rock Star
By Hilary Robinson and Mandy Stanley Reviewed by Margarite Igras Hilary Robinson is a London based author who has written many children books, especially her Mixed Up Fairy Tales. Tatty Mouse is a lift-the-flap board book series aimed at toddlers, with a
The Last Kids on Earth 8: The Last Kids on Earth and the Forbidden Fortress
Written by Max Brallier Illustrated by Douglas Holgate Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Finley, aged 9, who loves reading books! Jack Sullivan and his friends – Quint, Dirk and June – are on a quest to take down Thrull’s fortress and get information from
The Amazing Maurice
By Terry Pratchett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Terry Pratchett is the author of over 41 Discworld novels for adults and many stories for children including the five novels featuring the young witch Tiffany Aching - The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full
Waiting for the Storks
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a companion volume to the award winning We Are Wolves and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief which are also set during World War II and present challenging events from that time
A Tiny Light
Written and Illustrated by Alison Lester Reviewed by Mia Macrossan When you go to bed tonight, be sure to leave a tiny light, so Twinkles in the Milky Way can find you when they come to play
The Raven’s Song
By Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble Reviewed by Liane McDermott Two highly acclaimed and awarded writers, Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble, deliver an absorbing and thought-provoking novel encompassing elements of fantasy and science fiction. True to Bren MacDibble’s writing of climate change
Noongar Boodja Waangkan (Noongar First Words)
By Jayden Boundry, illustrated by Tyrown Waigana Reviewed by Liane McDermott Jayden is a Noongar language teacher and cultural consultant, didgeridoo player, traditional dancer and storyteller. Tyrown, is a multidisciplinary artist and designer, including painting, illustration, sculpture, animation and graphic design. Both
The Burpee Bears
Written by Joe Wicks c-written by Vivian French Illustrated by Paul Howard Reviewed by Margarite Igras Joe Wicks is well known as an author of several cookbooks as well as the founder of a fitness focus group called Lean to 15. This is his
The Offline Diaries
By Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene Reviewed by Sarah Custance Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene, the award-winning duo behind the critically acclaimed Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible, are now back with The Offline Diaries: As Told by Ade and
The Great Fox Illusion
By Justyn Edwards Reviewed by Sarah Custance Justyn Edwards is an author from the UK, The Great Fox Illusion is his debut novel all about magic and the storytelling behind a successful trick. The Great Fox Illusion is the first book in
Cursed Tales: The Pharaoh of Asco Express
By Jake R. Wilson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Cursed Tales: The Pharaoh of Asco Express is UK archaeologist and author, Jake R. Wilson’s debut novel and the beginning of the Cursed Tales series. When 11-year-old Wesley steps foot into the odd Asco Express
Mr Chicken All Over Australia
Written and illustrated by Leigh Hobbs Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Leigh Hobbs was a popular Children's Laureate for 2016/17 and Mr Chicken All Over Australia, is the latest in the series that includes Mr Chicken Arriva a Roma, Mr Chicken Lands on
The science of the Earth : the secrets of our planet revealed
Contributors: Philip Eales, Gregory Funston, Derek Harvey, Anthea Lacchia, Dorrik Stow; foreword by Chris Packham Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another encyclopedia about the earth - this one impressive for its beautiful images, clear attractive design, legible well written text, and
Africana : An encyclopedia of an amazing continent
Written by Kim Chakanetsa Illustrated by Alabi Mayowa Reviewed by Mia Macrossan A long time ago I spent a year working for the UNECA in Addis Ababa. One of the things that experience taught me is that Africa is huge, vast, with many,
The Trouble with the Two-Headed Hydra: Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters 2
By Karen Foxlee Illustrated by Freda Chiu Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Karen Foxlee has written many award winning children's books including Dragon Skin, Lenny's Book of Everything, A Most Magical Girl and Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy. All are remarkable for their in
Amazing Animal Journeys
Written and illustrated by Jennifer Cossins Reviewed by Mia Macrossan A book by Tasmanian writer/illustrator Jennifer Cossins will guarantee a wealth of carefully researched information, a sensitive age appropriate text and stunning illustrations throughout, the whole creating a work that will inspire
The Silver Sea
Written by Belinda Murrell Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Belinda Murrell is a prolific author of middle grade fantasy, time slip and adventure stories, including the Sun Sword Trilogy, Pippa's Island and Lulu Bell series. Murrell and her sister, Kate Forsyth, have also
