The Funeral
By Matt James Reviewed by Yvonne Mes This beautiful picture book reveals a child’s understanding of death and shows her feelings and thoughts leading up to and during the day of a funeral. ‘A few days earlier, there had been a phone call.
The Starlight Watchmaker
by Lauren James reviewed by Yvonne Mes From the author of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe and The Quiet at the End of the World The Starlight Watchmaker tell the story of friendship between an android and a wealthy student at an
The Runaway Pea
by Kjartan Poskitt illustrated by Alex Willmore reviewed by Claire Monsour It's time for tea, the dinner has been served - but one mischievous rogue pea has decided to ping himself off the plate in search of adventure! Thus starts an amazing journey across
The Good Thieves
by Katherine Rundell reviewed by Mia Macrossan A new book by Katherine Rundell is always an event. Her previous novels, including The Explorer and The Wolf Wilder have all been very popular and now here is The Good Thieves, a fast- paced
The Tiny Star
by Mem Fox and Freya Blackwood reviewed by Mia Macrossan Little children are famous for asking difficult questions - ones adults may think they are too young to fully understand the answer. Children ask questions where the adult may not be confident
IBBY Australia Honour List books 2019
IBBY Australia proudly announces its selection of two books to be included in the biennial IBBY Honour List for 2020. One highlights Indigenous history and the environment, and the other, the experiences of a teenage asylum seeker. Every two years an
Lottie and Walter
by Anna Walker reviewed by Kerry Neary Where would children’s picture books be without friendship stories? Some include imaginary friends, like Lottie and Walter, latest release from magical author-illustrator Anna Walker. Lottie has a secret. Of course, I can’t tell you what it
Argh! There’s a skeleton inside you!
by Idan Ben-Barak illustrated by Julian Frost reviewed by Kerry Neary The idiosyncratic creators of the 2017 sensation Do not lick this book!, Idan Ben-Barak and illustrator Julian Frost, are back with Argh! There’s a skeleton inside you!, done in the same loopy
BumbleBunnies: The Sock (BumbleBunnies, Book 2)
by Graeme Base reviewed by Kerry Neary The second title in Graeme Base’s new series for early readers BumbleBunnies, has been released. It’s called The Sock and is another domestic super-hero story in the vein of The Pond, first title in the
Dippy’s Big Day Out (Dippy the Diprotodon, #1)
by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley with Ben Smith Whatley reviewed by Kerry Neary If a book is a major success it makes sense to do at least one follow-up. Arguably the best example of that theory in recent times has been the
Under The Same Sky
written by Robert Vescio illustrated by Nicky Johnson reviewed by Kerry Neary Two solitary children seem to sense each other’s presence but wonder if they ever will meet. The words and the illustrations tell us they are on opposite sides of the world
My Dad is a Dragon
written by Damon Young Illustrated by Peter Carnavas reviewed by Maria Parenti-Baldey This is the latest in a collaboration which has resulted in six titles each featuring a special member of the family, Nanna, Pop, Mum, Sister and Brother have all had their
The Longest Night of Charlie Noon
written by Christopher Edge reviewed by Leslee Anne Hewson This adventure story is fascinating because of its historical references and science input. Edge wrote a complicated but accessible story which included factual information about codes and code-breaking – The Freemason’s Code, Morse
Eco Rangers Series
#1 Pelican in Peril #2 Microbat Mayhem written by Candice Lemon-Scott Illustrated by Aska reviewed by Maria Parenti-Baldey Two snappy adventure stories with Eco Rangers, Ebony and Jay. In Pelican in Peril, the kids rescue an oil-covered pelican, Poseidon, who becomes an unexpected hero.
Dream Riders : Frankie
by Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder Reviewed by Sarah Custance Laura Bloom and Jesse Blackadder are two award-winning writers who live in country Australia. In their new collaborative series ‘Dream Riders’ they have let their passion for country life and horses shine
A Flight of Dragons
What is the collective term for a lot of dragons? Apparently terms used include : a flight of dragons; a weyr of dragons; a school of dragons; or a wing of dragons. The term 'weyr' comes from Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders
Max’s Dinosaur Feet
by Lana Spasevski illustrated by Penelope Pratley Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zabri Max has a great idea. He pulls on a pair of dinosaur slippers and begins to charge around the living room. The stomping and smashing is bound to wake his baby
The Hand, the Eye and the Heart
by Zoe Marriott reviewed by Zewlan Moor From the last line of the first page of The Hand, the Eye and the Heart, “And so I heard the assassin speak,” I was hooked. From that first chapter, I knew I was in
Sick Bay
by Nova Weetman reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Sick Bay is Nova Weetman’s eighth novel and she has again written a heart-warming story of a developing friendship between two girls who each have their own particular problems. Meg and Riley are two girls
Boy
by Phil Cummings illustrated by Shane Devries reviewed by Claire Monsour Boy is the story of a young boy, named "Boy", who lives in a village in a land ruled by a powerful king. The kingdom is being terrorised by a fire-breathing dragon.
Leaping Lola
by Tracey Hawkins illustrated by Anil Tortop reviewed by Sandy Driessens How lovely is this image of a cow leaping in the moonlight and the black and white cow hide print on the end papers. But what is the story behind it? With clip-clopping
The Troll Heart #2 The Witching Hours
by Jack Henseleit illustrated by Ryan Andrews reviewed by Sandy Driessens WARNING: DO NOT look for fairies. You will not find them. And if you do. YOU WILL REGRET IT. In this, the second book of The Witching Hours series, this warning still
Thimble
by Rebecca Young illustrated by Tull Suwannakit reviewed by Sandy Driessens Attracted by the delightful, gentle illustration on the cover, then tracing my finger over the embossed lettering of “Thimble” with running stitch not quite lining up, I knew this book was going
Moonwalkers
by Mark Greenwood illustrated by Terry Denton reviewed by Kerry Neary Fifty years ago the world was held spellbound by grainy images of a man stepping from a ladder onto the surface of our nearest neighbour in space. A thrill of anticipation reverberated around
Rogue The Vault #2
Written by A J Betts Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rogue, published in June this year is the sequel to Hive (2018). I read Rogue first and then was eager to read Hive. Both can be read on their own, but Betts does
Ask an Illustrator: Caroline Magerl
Caroline Magerl in conversation with Mia Macrossan Caroline Magerl was born in Germany but now lives in Buderim, Queensland. She is an illustrator who has worked for years drawing for educational publishers, newspapers and magazines. She came to the notice of the
Rodney
by Kelly Canby reviewed by Kerry Neary Younger children will be entranced by the visual treat of colour pattern and white separation in this story of a small tortoise with his head figuratively in the treetops. How Rodney would love to join
The Bogan Mondrian
by Steven Herrick reviewed by Dajo Finlayson From the very outset this book had me captivated. The vibrantly coloured front and back covers caught my attention as I’ve always been a fan of the Dutch artist Piet Mondrian’s work. His wonderfully abstract,
It Sounded Better In My Head
by Nina Kenwood reviewed by Mia Macrossan This delightful debut novel deservedly won the 2018 Text Prize for fiction. It is the affecting story of Natalie and her friends in that limbo of time between finishing year 12 and starting university. Natalie
Young Dark Emu: A Truer History
by Bruce Pascoe reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowdnes Young Dark Emu is the latest offering from prolific indigenous author Bruce Pascoe of the Bunurong Clan, Kulin nation. This non-fiction picture book is an adaptation for young readers of the award winning Dark Emu,
