Wandi
By Favel Parrett Illustrated by Zoe Ingram Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “The thing I remember most is my mamma’s soft tail, warm and snug … I could hear my mamma’s heartbeat – strong and constant. Always there. But one day Mamma’s heartbeat changed.
Poetry Books for Children of all Ages – A Sampler
A new resource list compiled by Mia Macrossan It is in poetry that the child discovers the possibilities of language – its range, its flexibility, its infinite variety, and these anthologies provide a broad range of the poetry experience. Here is
Henry Hamlet’s Heart
By Rhiannon Wilde Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Start as you mean to continue. Rhiannon Wilde has followed that maxim to great effect in her remarkable debut novel, Henry Hamlet’s Heart which won the Queensland Literary Awards Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland
Wishyouwas: The Tiny Guardian of Lost Letters
By Alexandra Page Illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Alexandra Page’s first children’s book (and the first in a series), Wishyouwas: The Tiny Guardian of Lost Letters, is a charming story timed well for release in the lead up to Christmas. As
A Child’s War
Written by Ali Holborn Illustrated by Aaron Pocock Reviewed by Sandy Driessens The leather-bound journal with tape holding the spine and the images of light and dark, prepare you for a heart-wrenching ANZAC story of A Child’s War. But which is the child? “Troy
Christmas Always Comes
By Jackie French Illustrated by Bruce Whatley Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Christmas Eve, 1932 and both drought and The Depression have driven Joey's family into living and droving on the "long paddock", that narrow strip of land between the road and the farmers'
An Unexpected Hero: Pow Pow Pig 1
By Anh Do Illustrated by Peter Cheong Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anh Do has written many books for young people, all of them wildly popular. They are usually heavily illustrated, simply written with an easily accessible story and a message that appeals to
Australian Verse Novels Bibliographies
Exciting new resource lists from The National Centre for Australian Children's Literature An electronically linked team are delighted to advise of the completion of two new bibliographies on Australian Verse Novels. Verse novelists Sally Murphy and Kat Apel, and Centre volunteers, Ruth
What Do You Do To Celebrate?
Written by Ashleigh Barton Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This is the third picture book collaboration between Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek. The first two, What Do You Call Your Grandpa? and What Do You Call Your Grandma?, were highly
A Bedtime Full of Stories
Collected and retold by Angela McAllister Illustrated by Anna Shepeta Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Angela McAllister has written more than 80 books for children, so she knows what appeals. Here she has gathered together an eclectic mix of short stories that are perfect
Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life
By Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan Illustrated by Angela Rizza & Daniel Long Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This a really fabulous book about dinosaurs published by Dorling Kindersley. I know there are so many out there but this one is a stand out, it is stunningly
Following Frankenstein
By Catherine Bruton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has had an enduring impact on the hearts and minds of all who read her ground-breaking book. The monster created by Frankenstein out of plundered corpses has entered the public consciousness and
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is very much a companion volume to the award winning We Are Wolves, same topic, same illustrator, same book format but this time instead of seeing World War II from a
Little Bilby’s Aussie Bush Christmas
By Yvonne Mes Illustrated by Jody Pratt Reviewed by Mia Macrossan We first met Little Bilby in Little Bilby's Easter Egg Hunt, and now he and his friends are travelling through the bush accepting Christmas gifts from various iconic Australian animals with which
Worst. Holiday. Ever.
By Charlie Higson Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Illustrated by Warwick Johnson-Cadwell Charlie Higson, author of the Young Bond books and The Enemy series, excels at humorous and heart-warming middle grade in Worst. Holiday. Ever. Twelve-year-old Stan is a shy, anxious, skinny kid from a
Fozia and the Quest of Prince Zal
By Rosanne Hawke Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson This is the third book in a series by multi award winning Australian author, Rosanne Hawke, which began with Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll (2014) and its sequel Jehan and the Quest of the
Daughter of the Deep
By Rick Riordan Reviewed by Sarah Custance Rick Riordan is the international bestseller of over 30 novels including the much-acclaimed Percy Jackson series. Daughter of the Deep is the first in a new series for Riordan inspired by Jules Verne’s unforgettable character,
Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Cat
By Monica McInerney Illustrated by Danny Snell Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Monica McInerney is the internationally bestselling novelist of many novels and short story collections for adults. Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Cat is her first delve into children’s books. 10-year-old
Pony
by R.J. Palacio Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Looking at the attractive cover of this book, one could be forgiven for thinking that Pony, by R.J. Palacio, is a book about a boy and his pony. However, Pony is so much more. The
Stellarphant
By James Foley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan James Foley makes picture books, middle-grade novels and comics for kids. He is the author/illustrator of the popular My Dead Bunny, In the Lion, and The Last Viking. Many of his titles have won honours,
Bluey: Sleepytime
By Joe Brumm Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bluey is familiar to many from the award-winning preschool ABC TV show about the six year old blue heeler pup, and her family, Chilli her mum who works at airport security, Bandit her dad, an
The Astonishing Chronicles of Oscar from Elsewhere
A Kingdom and Empires book By Jaclyn Moriarty Illustrated by Kelly Canby Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the fourth title set in the Kingdoms and Empires aimed at middle grade readers. Her previous award winning titles are The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte
The Secret Battle
By Pam Rushby Illustrated by Fiona McDonald Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Pamela Rushby’s previous historical fiction novels have included The Ratcatcher’s Daughter (2014) and The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle (2020). In each, her love of history shines through and this also true
Rosie the Rhinoceros
By Jimmy Barnes Illustrated by Matt Shanks Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Rosie is a rhinoceros But she's not one of those fierce, scary, armour-plated monsters that amble across the African plains always ready to charge unwary travellers. She's charming and pleasant and always
Book of Curious Birds
By Jennifer Cossins Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the latest information title by Australian author and artist, Jennifer Cossins, whose previous titles include the A - Z of Endangered Animals, 101 Collective Nouns, The Baby Animal Book and many more. All
My Brother Ben
By Peter Carnavas Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The latest book by award winning Peter Carnavas is a touching story of two brothers set in an area north of Brisbane, around Cabbage Tree Creek and inspired by Peter’s memories of growing up near
Dragon Skin
By Karen Foxlee Illustrated by Dale Newman Reviewed by Mia Macrossan It is always something to celebrate when Karen Foxlee publishes a new book. She never writes the same thing twice. Each of her stories is different and come straight from the heart.
The Supernatural Survival Guide
by George Ivanoff. Reviewed by Mia Macrossan George Ivanoff is a Melbourne author who’s written more than 100 books. The Supernatural Survival Guide is the latest title in his Survival Guide series which include The Australian Survival Guide and The Human Body
Nelson 3 : Eggplants and Dinosaurs
By Andrew Levins Illustrated by Katie Kear Reviewed by Sarah Custance Andrew Levins is an Australian DJ, podcaster, restaurant owner, as well as the author of the Nelson series. Eggplants and Dinosaurs is the third book in the Nelson series following Pumpkins and
The School for Talking Pets
Written by Kelli Anne Hawkins Illustrated by Beth Harvey. Reviewed by Sandy Driessens The cover of this book says it all. There’s adventure, excitement, intrigue, talking pets and yes, “flying pigs”. Shy Rusty Mulligan enters a world-wide contest, to win a week at “Miss
