Group Hug!: A Collective Noun Safari
By Andy Fackrell Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Have you heard of a flamboyance of flamingos? Perhaps a bloat of hippos or even an implausibility of gnus? Wilbur is on a journey through his local zoo, visiting his favourite animals and discovering the wonderful
Song of the White Ibis
By Phillip Gwynne and illustrated by Liz Anelli Reviewed by Sarah Custance Phillip Gwynne is an Australian author with over 20 books to his name, spanning from picture books to YA. Song of the White Ibis is an interesting picture book as it
The Imagineer
By Christopher Cheng Illustrated by Lucia Masciullo Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Christopher Cheng has written more than 40 books for children. The recently released - Wombat, Bear and Rat, and The Imagineer have been listed in the Children's Book Council of Australia 2022 Notable
A Best Friend for Bear
by Petr Horàcek Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Black Bear is feeling lonely, so he decides to look for a friend. Luckily, he meets Brown Bear, who is in the same situation! The bears decide to search for a friend together. They search
A Feather on a Wing
Written and illustrated by Maria Speyer Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Are you there? It’s so lonely in the dark!” The lights are off, it’s bedtime and a little girl calls to her sister, who shares her room. Sensing her fear, the older sibling
Great Big Softie
By Kaye Baillie and illustrated by Shane McG Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Kaye Baillie is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction picture books, one of her books, When the Waterhole Dries Up, has been shortlisted by the Children’s Book
The ABC Kids Guide to Loving the Planet
Written by Jaclyn Crupi Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Margarite Igras This delightful and informative picture book is aimed at young children and packed with ideas and activities on how to care for our planet. The book is child focused with adult
Seal Child
By Robert Vescio and illustrated by Anna Pignataro Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sydney based author Robert Vescio has written over a dozen picture books and has achieved international success with actor Tom Hardy reading Under the Same Sky as a bedtime story
Sophia the Show Pony
By Kate Waterhouse and illustrated by Sally Spratt Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Waterhouse is an Australian journalist, model, and media personality. Sophia the Show Pony is the debut picture book for both Waterhouse and illustrator Sally Spratt. Sophia is a show pony,
Main Abija – My Grandad
By Karen Rogers Reviewed by Sue Wright There are books that fictionalise events in history to make history accessible, and then there are books which play an important role in recovering history and connections that have been lost. Main Abija – My Grandad by
Wombat Can’t Sing
By Katie Stewart Reviewed by Sarah Custance Author/illustrator Katie Stewart was born in the UK and moved to Australia when she was 9. Having lived on a farm for a great deal of her life, Stewart’s picture books are all about Aussie
Whisper on the Wind
By Claire Saxby and illustrated by Jess Racklyeft Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Claire Saxby has almost 30 books to her name, ranging from non-fiction to picture books and novels. Whisper on the Wind is one of her latest picture books
Eyes That Speak To The Stars
Written by Joanna Ho Illustrated by Dung Ho Reviewed by Margarite Igras This poignant picture book is a companion to Eyes That Kiss In The Corners . Eyes That Speak To The Stars is about accepting who you are, your heritage and your
The Love That Grew
By Sarah Ayoub Illustrated by Mimi Purnell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Sarah Ayoub's first picture book, her previous titles, Hate is Such a Strong Word, The Yearbook Committee and The Cult of Romance are all for YA readers. It is also
Wild Life: The Extraordinary Adventures of Sir David Attenborough
By Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and Helen Shoesmith Reviewed by Sarah Custance Leisa Stewart-Sharpe is an Aussie born author who now resides in the UK, she mostly writes non-fiction as well as regular picture books, and sometimes combines the two together as you will
Miimi Marraal: Mother Earth
Written and illustrated by Melissa Greenwood Reviewed by Des. Crump Melissa Greenwood is a Gumbaynggirr artist who shares a warm story of the connections between mothers, babies and Mother Earth. The text is rich in imagery and cultural knowledge while the beautiful illustrations
A Blue Kind of Day
By Rachel Tomlinson Illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey Reviewed by Margarite Igras A caring, family orientated picture book, written by psychologist Rachel Tomlinson with amazingly expressive illustrations by Indigenous Australian Tori-Jay Mordey. It is aimed at young readers and presents the challenging subject of
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
By Mary Lee Donovan Illustrated by Lian Cho Reviewed by Margarite Igras This verse story is a global journey celebrating the rituals and cultures associated with welcoming family, friends, and strangers into our home. It is laden with information about hospitality, from the
The Smart Cookie
By Jory John and Pete Oswald Reviewed by Sarah Custance Picture Book writing team Jory John and Pete Oswald are at it again in their new book The Smart Cookie. This is part of their series of books which include, The Bad
Under the Moonlight
Written and illustrated by Susannah Crispe Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Susannah Crispe is a Canberra-based children's book author and illustrator, with a background in zoology and a passion for beautifully crafted books. Under the Moonlight is all about overcoming a fear of
Let’s Build a Backyard
By Mike Lucas & Daron Parton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mike Lucas is an engineer who writes children's books which include Let's Build a House, Vanishing and Olivia's Voice, a 2018 CBCA Notable book. In Let's Build a Backyard he takes the
Alfie the Brave
By Richard Harris Illustrated by Simon Howe Reviewed by Sarah Custance Some may know Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris, not for writing children’s books, but for his work as a member of the international cave-diving team that rescued a young soccer team from rising
The Velveteen Rabbit
By Margery Williams Bianco Illustrated by Helene Magisson Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran The Velveteen Rabbit, a classic tale written by Margery Williams Bianco, first published in 1922, has no doubt enjoyed a cosy place in many hearts, children and adults alike. This edition
Marmalade the Orange Panda
By David Walliams Illustrated by Adam Stower Reviewed by Sarah Custance David Walliams is a powerhouse of children’s literature, his middle-grade fiction books have sold over 45 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 55 languages. Marmalade the Orange Panda is Walliams’
Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest
Written by Diane Lucas and Ben Tyler Illustrated by Emma Long Reviewed by Des. Crump Diane Lucas moved to Kakadu in her late twenties; Ben Tyler is a Bininj man from Kakadu while Emma long is an accomplished art educator living in Darwin.
Story Doctors
Written by Boori Pryor Illustrated by Rita Sinclair Reviewed by Des. Crump Boori Monty Pryor was born in Townsville, North Queensland. His father is from the Juru people of Cape Upstart from the Bowen region. His mother is a descendant of the Gurubana
The Unfunny Bunny
By Adrian Beck and illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author and TV producer Adrian Beck is known best for his children’s book series such as, Derek Dool, Stuff Happens, Little Legends (co-written with Nicole Hayes), and Kick it
Dogs in Disguise
By Peter Bently and John Bond Reviewed by Sarah Custance Perfectly paired in this wonderfully outrageous rhyming picture book, Dogs in Disguise, is author Peter Bently and illustrator John Bond. The book can be neatly described in its opening lines of: “Dogs
Amma’s Sari
By Sandhya Parappukkaran Illustrated by Michelle Pereira Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the second book by this creative team who produced the CBCA Notable book The Boy Who Tried To Shrink His Name, about a boy whose very long name causes him
Binky the Bowerbird
Written by Barb Cromie Illustrated by Nandina Vines Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Binky the Bowerbird is on a mission to find his true love. His parents have tried to teach him all the skills required to face the world and find a mate, but
