Raymaŋgirrbuy dhäwu When I was a little girl
By Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is a beautifully told story of an idyllic childhood presented in two languages, Djambarrpuyŋu and English, making it one of a small but growing collection of dual language resources available to children, parents
Clutterbugs
By Maura Pierlot & Maya Bora Reviewed by Meg Rowe In a world obsessed with acquiring more and more ‘stuff’ Clutterbugs message that less is best is a timely and important one. Maura Pierlot’s imaginative rhyming narrative, coupled with Maya Bora's vibrant
Too Many Dogs
By Maura Finn & Lucinda Gifford Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Percy is tired of being one dog all alone in a house FULL OF CATS! He’s leaving for a magical place where he can be free: THE DOG PARK. Percy always gets
Learning Country
A First Nations Journey Around Australia's Traditional Place Names by Ryhia Dank Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ryhia Dank is a Gudanji/Wakaja woman who grew up in a remote community in the Gulf of Carpentaria. She got to know her Country though the stories
Taking the Long Way Home
By Jake Hope and Brian Fitzgerald Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jake, the author of Lola Loves Walking and Cheesed Off!, is an active reviewer and a passionate advocate for libraries, books and reading. Brian has illustrated numerous books and won the Bologna Fair
Lulu is a Rhinoceros
Written by Jason Flom with Allison Flom & illustrated by Sophie Corrigan Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Lulu is a rhinoceros – that’s not necessarily what she sees when she looks in the mirror, but it is how she feels. In her heart and
No More Room in the Bed
By Deborah Abela & Marina Verola Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Deborah Abela has won many awards for her work including the KOALA, YABBA, Aurealis and Speech Pathology Awards and the Maurice Saxby Award for service to children’s literature. Marina Verola is the
Our Dance
By Jacinta Daniher, Taylor Hampton & Janelle Burger Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Taylor Hampton, a Ngiyampaa/Wiradjun man has a passion for educating young people about Aboriginal culture and has teamed up with Jacinta Daniher, an early childhood educator and Janelle Burger, a
The Colt from Old Regret
By Dianne Wolfer Illustrated by Erica Wagner Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson Dianne Wolfer, the creator of many Australian themed historical fiction and award-winning picture books, responds to Banjo Patterson's poem The Man from Snowy River, by imagining the tale from the colt's perspective
Koala Koala
By John Williamson & Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a picture book version of the song by Australian entertainer John Williamson augmented and extended by the colourful illustrations of Jonathan Bentley. Koalas are a popular topic for Australian children's
Don’t Trust Fish
By Neil Sharpson & Dan Santat Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Neil Sharpson debut picture book. He has written adult novels and writes Unshaved Mouse, a comedic review blog mostly focusing on animated film and comic book movies. His team mate Dan
You Are Not a Pup!
By Annaleise Byrd & Sandra de la Prada Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Annaleise Byrd has written two sparkling portal fantasies for junior middle grade Losing the Plot and Down the Plot Hole and this is her first foray into picture books. Her
We’re Moving Away
By Nina Nill Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Nina Nill is best known as an illustrator in the children’s literature world, having brought two highly praised picture books to life with author Ali Rutstein. Here, Nina is both author and artist of
Maggie the Dragon: Chase Your Dreams
By Tony Armstrong & Emma Sjaan Beuker Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray In the same colourful creative universe as 2024’s George the Wizard, Maggie the Dragon is a tale of self belief and acceptance from popular TV personality Tony Armstrong and illustrator Emma Sjaan Beukers.
Boodja Barna: Land Creatures
By Jayden Boundry & Tyrown Waigana Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jayden Boundry is Wadjak Balardong Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji and a Noongar language teacher who has teamed up with Tyrown Waigana, a Wardandi Noongar and Ait Koedhal multidisciplinary artist and graphic designer. This
We’re Going to the Zoo
Taronga Conservation Society Australia Illustrated by Cate James Reviewed by Mia Macrossan 'Today is a special day. We're going to the Zoo!' begins this charming and informative account of mum and two children spending the day at Taronga Zoological Park. They do the
Jo and the No
By Kyle Mewburn & Judy Watson Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Kyle Mewburn is a multi-award-winning author of over 40 books for children, including picture books and junior fiction series. Judy Watson is a multi-award-winning artist, writer and illustrator of many picture books and
I Dreamed of You
By Sharna Carter & Gabby Grant Reviewed by Mia Macrossan ' I dreamed of your sweet giggles as you'd skip and hold my hand'. This is one of those picture books celebrating a parent's hopes and dreams for a child. It shows an
Odder
By Katherine Applegate & Charles Santoso Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This American writer has won awards too numerous to mention, including the Newbery medal for The One and Only Ivan. Odder, another story about animal welfare, is about the life of an
The Noisy Noisy City
By Andrew Kelly & Hélène Magisson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Andrew Kelly is a Melbourne environmentalist and writer of numerous children's stories including Little Lon and Peregrines in the City . Hélène Magisson is a Brisbane illustrator, originally from France where she worked
Creature Corridors
By Billie Rooney & Anke Noack
Reviewed by Sandy Driessens
“We share the world with many creatures. Some move by day, others by night. In a town bustling with cars and buses, kangaroos thump, thump as if to say, ‘This road is too dangerous. How can we cross to the other side?’”
Australia’s precious native animals travel to find food, shelter and safe places to breed. Whether it is on land, in the sky or in water, because of human habitation and construction, the journey is more difficult and dangerous. However, across highways, through farming land and by waterways, wildlife corridors have been and continue to be built to help these animals reach safe havens.
In her debut work, Billie Rooney has written an educational story, semi-hidden as a warm children’s picture book. She skilfully parallels the animal and human habitat and how they interact. Her use of onomatopoeia brings the animals to life with the ‘snuffle, snuffle of platypus’ and the ‘scuttle, scuttle of red crabs’. Though not rhyming, her subtle use of alliteration provides a sense of rhythm to the animals and their habitat. She closes with a description of wildlife corridors, the corridors mentioned in the story and a glossary of terms, completing the educational component.
Award-winning illustrator, Anke Noack complements the tenderness of this story with images that typify the characteristics of specific animals, in colour, texture and facial expressions. The cover and endpapers are delightful, highlighting the stars of this book. She bleeds the human habitat into the natural habitat, in double page spreads, portraying the corridors with almost architectural detail whilst softening the images with native plants.
Produced by the CSIRO, this is a beautiful educational book that will appeal to young readers. Not only does it deal with major construction it also speaks to the importance of providing havens in our own back yards. It will engage them with their surroundings and also give them hope that we can share our world safely with many creatures. It should have a special place in homes, libraries, schools and early education centres.
CSIRO Publishing 2025 Billie Rooney Anke Noack
Bush Bubs
By Helen Milroy Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “So many joeys, puggles and pups. Let’s look after our precious bush bubs.” Australian native animals range in size, characteristics and habitat, but when we talk about their babies, with their special names, they become particularly
Volcano
By Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft Reviewed by Sophia Evans ‘Deep in the ocean, far beyond the reach of even the brightest sun, the earth quakes.’ Thorough research is interwoven with lyrical language to bring the journey of a new mountain to life.
The World We Can Build
By Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin, & Daniel Gray-Barnett Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The World We Can Build comes to us from the team behind award-winning title Come Over To My House (2022), and continues that book’s plea for a more
Hatch
By Heidi Cooper Smith Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Heidi Cooper Smith is a Brisbane based Illustrator and also author of her own picture books, Six Sleepy Mice, Too Many Ducks, Odd Sock Sid, and Secrets of the Seasons. At first glance, Hatch appears
My Mum is a Bird
By Angie Cui & Evie Barrow Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This clever subtle story, so beautifully extended by its sensitive illustrations, is a perfect package of artful storylelling, emotional engagement and gorgeous artwork. It's a remarkable achievement for Melbourne based debut author
My Mum is the Best!
By Nic McPickle & Tommy Doyle Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This creative team also published the companion volume, My Dad Is the Best, while Nic McPickle is also the author of Fire Truck Santa and Tommy Doyle, an illustrator, ceramist and graphic designer,
Bigfoot vs Yeti, A Love Story
By James Foley Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Bigfoot vs Yeti (A Love Story) is the latest release from multi-talented author and illustrator James Foley. Like his previous hits My Dead Bunny and Stellarphant, this is a surprising, unconventional picture book that
The Big Backyard Plan
By Kirsten Ealand & Laura Stitzel Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Kirsten's second picture book after her charming debut Like a Gannet. She says: When I write, I often start with an emotion and go from there and my books often
Cassowary Dad
By Beverley McWilliams & Julian Teh Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson ‘Tap, tap, CRACK! Three stripy chicks hatch from forest green eggs
