Evie and the Animals
by Matt Haig illustrated by Emily Gravett reviewed by Mia Macrossan This heartwarming story introduces a young girl who has the special talent of being able to understand and talk to animals a la Hugh Lofting's Dr Dolittle. (I don't think it is
Pages & Co.: Tilly and the Bookwanderers (Pages & Co., Book 1)
by Anna James illustrated by Paola Escobar reviewed by Mia Macrossan This literary story is aimed at those who have already read a fair bit because characters from several famous children’s stories feature in the plot. 12 yr old Tilly lives with her
Vognox the Viking and the Island of Skeletons
by Nick Falk illustrated by Tony Flowers reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the laugh out loud highly illustrated, almost graphic novel of a very reluctant Viking adventurer. Vognox is frightened of everything. He doesn’t want to go outside because there are horrible
The Time Travel Diaries
by Caroline Lawrence reviewed by Sarah Custance Caroline Lawrence is the author of the award winning ‘Roman Mysteries’ series, first published in 2001 and since translated into 14 different languages. Lawrence loves delving deep into history for her novels and tries to
Tricky’s Bad Day
by Alison Lester reviewed by Claire Monsour Poor Tricky is having a bad day. It all starts when he wakes early and tries to get himself some milk; but a spill and a slip wake the whole family! From then on, nothing seems
The Dark
by Lemony Snicket illustrated by Jon Klassen reviewed by Claire Monsour Lazlo was afraid of the dark. The dark lived in the same house as Lazlo, and it liked to creep around into different nooks and corners. Most of the time, the dark
La La La : A Story of Hope
by Kate DiCamillo illustrated by Jaime Kim reviewed by Kerry Neary A most unusual book about the way music can move our lives, La La La: a Story of Hope, is written by enigmatic international author Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Korean born
The Monster Who Wasn’t
by T C Shelley reviewed by Sarah Custance T.C. Shelley has been an English Teacher and ‘The Monster Who Wasn’t’ is her first novel. Throughout the book there are various hints that at least one sequel if not a whole series is
The Year We Fell From Space
by Amy Sarig King reviewed by Mia Macrossan Amy Sarig King has published many critically acclaimed young adult novels under the name A.S. King, including Please Ignore Vera Dietz, which was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and Ask the Passengers, which
All of the Factors of Why I love Tractors
by Davina Bell illustrated by Jenny Lovlie reviewed by Melissa Salisbury All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors is another delightful rhyming book by Davina Bell that celebrates the wonderful, and sometimes frustrating, obsessions children can develop with their favourite subject
The ABC Book of Musical Instruments; 123 Tea Party
The ABC book of musical instruments 123 tea party Illustrated by Ailie Busby In association with the Hampshire Cultural Trust and Jane Austen’s House Museum reviewed by Kerry Neary The charming illustrations in these companion board books have been inspired by the leisure interests of
Who’s Afraid of the Quite Nice Wolf?
by Kitty Black Illustrated by Laura Wood reviewed by Kerry Neary Let’s get whimsical. Whimsy is that typical feature of stories for the young that leaves readers feeling upbeat and chuckle-happy. It can begin with the cover. Take the title Who’s afraid of
Joy
by Jasmeen Ismail illustrated by Jenni Desmond reviewed by Kerry Neary It’s the illustration rather than the title that foretells the whimsy in Joy. The cover picture is a spirited kitten chasing a ball of string across the page as it unravels across
Books That Drive Kids Crazy #5 The Book That Never Ends
by Beck & Matt Stanton reviewed by Kerry Neary The series is called Books that drive Kids Crazy. To that they can add adults. This is #5, in a series that included such wonders as Did You Take the B from My
Three Puffin Nibbles: Scruffy’s Day Out, The Littlest Pirate and Fairy Bread reviewed by our young reviewer, Felix Freeman (Grade 2)
Reviewed by Felix Freeman and Yvonne Mes It is wonderful to see these books published again! Puffin Nibbles are short simple stories by some of our most trusted authors and illustrators. The stories range from the fantastical to the everyday, but
The Dragon in the Library
by Louie Stowell illustrated by Davide Ortu reviewed by Sarah Custance Louie Stowell is an English author of many books, both fact and fiction, for children as well as being the Editorial Director at Ladybird. The Dragon in the Library is her first
Allergic Alpaca
written by Kiah Thomas illustrated by Connah Brecon reviewed by Kerry Neary For a reviewer it’s always a thrill to receive an alphabet book that is more than the usual letters, matching words and pictures and Allergic Alpaca, is such a book. Alpaca enjoys
Fly
by Jess McGeachin reviewed by Kerry Neary Sometimes children’s stories take a leap of the imagination but children are so used to this from their let’s pretend games it doesn’t bother them. In Fly, Lucy finds a small bird that can’t fly.
The Australian Survival Guide
by George Ivanoff reviewed by Mia Macrossan Even if you think Australia is trying to kill you, The Australia Survival Guide can save your life! Australia is famous the world over for the deadliness of many of its native species so Ivanoff's
Scoop McLaren Detective Editor
by Helen Castles Reviewed by Sarah Custance Helen Castles is a real life newspaper reporter with ‘Scoop McLaren Detective Editor’ being her first published book, the beginning of a series. Helen has wonderfully blended her actual reporter experience as (I’m sure you
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
