See Hear: There’s Magic All Around You. What Can You See? What Can You Hear?
written by Tania McCartney illustrated by Jess Racklyeft reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zabri This colourful picture book is a playful catalogue of the senses of sight and hearing. It is delivered in the format of a book flipped halfway, as SEE starts at the
Lessons of a LAC
written by Lynn Jenkins illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zabri This picture book is aimed at addressing the problem of anxiety and worry. We are introduced to Loppy, a peculiar-looking creature with stringy limbs and exaggerated eyes and lips. He lives
Where Does A Giraffe Go To Bed?
written and illustrated by Craig MacLean reviewed by Leslee Anne Hewson This picture book is the second book written and illustrated by Craig MacLean and published by Angus & Robertson. It is the bedtime book sequel to his debut book, What Noise Comes
The Legends series
by Michael Panckridge reviewed by Lucy McGinley You can tell Michael Panckridge, the author of The Legend Series, enjoys sport. He has packed these books with action, sporting challenges and quizzes galore. Right from the start, when you flick past the updated
My Sister
written and illustrated by Joanna Young reviewed by Sandy Driessens This beautifully illustrated picture book draws you into a gentle world of sisterly affection from the moment you touch the textured cover. Little red hearts on the cover and end papers prepare
Pugs Don’t Wear Pyjamas
by Michelle Worthington illustrated by Cecilia Johansson reviewed by Sandy Driessens With a front cover that indicates that pugs DO wear pyjamas, this book looks like it has a sense of humour. Tom likes staying with his Aunt Roz and looks forward to meeting
Brotherband #7 The Caldera
by John Flanagan reviewed by Maria Parenti-Baldey Brotherband, The Caldera, 7, starts with the annual Maktig contest. Stig’s father, Olaf, arrives to ask Hal and his Heron brotherband fighters to save a 14-year-old emperor kidnapped by the pirate Myrgos. The action, tension
Bush and Beyond: Stories from Country
by Tjalaminu Mia, Jessica Lister, Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Jaylon Tucker illustrated by Tracey Gibbs reviewed by Danielle Freeland This is the collaborative work of the four indigenous authors and forms part of the Waarda series of Indigenous stories. The four stories within the book give a
Wait! (Books That Drive Kids Crazy, Book 4)
by Beck Stanton illustrated by Matt Stanton reviewed by Renee Hills Wait! is the fourth in a series of picture books by Beck and Matt Stanton that are billed as Books That Drive Kids Crazy! Other titles include This is a Ball, Did
Held in Love
by Dawn Casey illustrated by Oamul Lu reviewed by Lucy McGinley This illustrated blessing, Held in Love, is the perfect gift for new parents. The author and illustrator will charm you with their peaceful book about unconditional love. Held in Love would be just
The Bear in our Backyard
by Emma Middleton illustrated by Briony Stewart Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Spoiler alert. The Bear in our Backyard is a companion picture book to last year’s popular The Lion in our Living Room. Whereas the lion was an imaginative version of their father,
Sage Cookson’s Literary Launch
by Sally Murphy illustrated by Celeste Hulme reviewed by Danielle Freeland Literary Launch is the fifth book in the Sage Cookson series by Sally Murphy. The daughter of television chefs, ten-year-old, Sage, shares her parents’ passion for travel and love of food. When
Looking Up
By Sally Murphy Illustrated by Aśka Superska Reviewed by Lyn Halliday As an author of over 40 children’s books, Sally Murphy demonstrates just why she is so successful in this heart-warming story about a boy’s quest to understand and heal a broken relationship. At
Dungzilla
by James Foley reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Two scientist/engineering girls accidentally resize a dung beetle so their whole town is threatened by a massive dung ball – who wouldn’t want to read it? Especially told comic book style through the attractive illustrations
All of Us Together
by Bill Condon illustrated by Dale Newman reviewed by Lyn Halliday If you fancy a visit to 1930s Australia, Bill Condon’s junior fiction novel All of Us Together is sure to transport you there instantly.Imagine facing the prospect of having to kill
Drawn Onward
by Meg McKinlay illustrated by Andrew Frazer reviewed by Sue Wright I love small presses, and Fremantle Press is a pretty fabulous small press. Drawn Onward by Meg McKinlay and Andrew Frazer is one of the latest picture books from Fremantle Press,
Nanna’s Button Tin
by Dianne Wolfer illustrated by Heather Potter Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zabri A little girl is on a mission to find a button to replace Teddy's lost eye. It has to be just the right shape, the right size and the right
Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables Fight Back
by Tim Harris, illustrated by James Hart reviewed by Rebecca Sheraton Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables Fight Back is the second book in this series following on from the popular Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables published last year. Book Three, Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables Go Wild is
Storm Whale
by Sarah Brennan illustrated by Jane Tanner Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zabri This is a captivating story of three brave sisters working together to rescue a stranded whale. Sarah Brennan grew up in Tasmania and often saw whales washed up at her local
Yoga Babies
by Fearne Cotton illustrated by Sheena Dempsey Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson This lovely, gentle, and at times quirky picture book introduces children and parents to the calming nature of Yoga. The colourful, cheeky illustrations of the babies and their favourite toys or pacifiers
Happily Ever After: The Little Mermaid
by Alex Field illustrated by Owen Swan Reviewed by Maria Parenti-Baldey Happily, Ever After, The Little Mermaid is a retold story. It’s about Ariel, the little mermaid, who longed to see the world above. In this story Ariel is 14 going on
Beautiful Mess
by Claire Christian reviewed by Ayesha Uddin Life can get messy. For you, for me, and for practically every character in this book. The raw and intense read that is ‘Beautiful Mess’ explores the uncomfortable side of life, and how people muddle
Anzac Stories – Picture Books
To help commemorate ANZAC DAY on April 25, a solemn day of remembrance of those Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who have fought and died for their country, and is marked annually on the anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign
Ash Dresses her Friends
by Fu Wenzheng Ash Dresses her Friends is a classic picture book about a quiet but steadfast animal. Like Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, it has a striking cover in red, black and white, with decorative silhouettes of flowers. Where Ferdinand’s peers come
The Very Noisy Baby
written and illustrated by Alison Lester The Very Noisy Baby is a sweet early childhood picture book about a baby who mimics animals sounds. One by one people are drawn together in their quest to find their missing animal be it
Mopoke
written and illustrated by Philip Bunting This is an attractive picture book with stylised illustrations reminiscent of Jon Klassen and plenty of humour. The book is set out with the illustrations on the right of each spread on a black background and
Scarface Claw, Hold Tight!
by Lynley Dodd As an author honoured for her contribution to children’s literature, expectations for Dame Lynley Dodd’s long awaited next instalment were naturally high. Scarface Claw, Hold Tight! does not disappoint and Dodd delivers a fun lively tale that’s based
Mummy Fairy and Me
by Sophie Kinsella Puffin February 2018 176 pages paperback $11.75 ISBN 9780141377896 Reviewed by Zoe Collins Mummy Fairy and Me is narrated by a young girl called Ella: a fairy-in-waiting and the daughter of a hapless (possibly hopeless) Mummy Fairy. Mummy fairy - it must be
Diary of a Wimpy Kid #12 The Getaway
by Jeff Kinney Penguin 2017 224 pages paperback $14.99 ISBN 9780143782797 Reviewed by Lucy McGinley Since there are already twelve books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series it is established that Jeff Kinney has found his market. The handwritten font, bold
The World’s Worst Pirate
by Michelle Worthington illustrated by Katrin Dreiling Little Pink Dog Books 2017 32 pp hardback $24.95 ISBN 978-0-9946269-1- Reviewed by Maria Parenti-Bradley When The World’s Worst Pirate bobbed on my horizon, I thought what could possibly be different about this pirate book? It’s a gregarious
