An Artist’s Eyes
Written by Frances Tosdevin Illustrated by Clémence Monnet Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Mo’s eyes and Jo’s eyes look the same. But Jo’s eyes are different. Mo has an “artist’s eyes”. She sees colours in a dazzling array of shades that conjure images of objects
Ouch: Tales of Gravity
Kate Simpson Andy Hardiman Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Over 350 years ago, Isaac Newton saw an apple fall from a tree and he began to wonder why it fell straight down rather than floating upwards or sideways. Being a person of very great
Piano Fingers
By Caroline Magerl Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Caroline Magerl burst upon the children's literature world in 2001 when she won the the CBCA Crichton Award which aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children’s book illustration with
When You’re Older
By Sofie Laguna Illustrated by Judy Watson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sophie Laguna is an Australian author with over 20 published works, ranging from novels to picture books, and Judy Watson is a multi-media artist who’s work scales from print-making, printing, video and
Ouch! Tales of Gravity
By Kate Simpson Illustrated by Andy Hardiman Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury If you have ever wanted a clear, simple explanation of the nature of gravity, for younger or older readers, Ouch! Tales of Gravity is the book for you. In this easy-to-read picture book,
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
By Beatrix Potter Reviewed by Mia Macrossan It is 120 years since a famous rabbit in a little blue jacket made his first appearance. Generations have grown up following Peter Rabbit's desperate adventures in Mr McGregor's garden, pondered the fate of his
That Cat
By Jacqueline Harvey Illustrated by Kate Isobel Scott Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jacqueline Harvey is perhaps better known as the author of the popular Alice-Miranda and Kensy & Max series. Here she has produced a zany rhyming sequence featuring cats in many different
Lion Is That You?
By Moira Court Reviewed by Margarite Igras Author and illustrator, Moira Court, has created this captivating picture book of discovery. The reader is led to believe that there could be some lions in the Australian bush. Lions, that once belonged to a
Born to Run
By Cathy Freeman Illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Cathy Freeman is a Kuku Yalanji and Birri Gubba woman who now lives in Melbourne although she grew up in Queensland. Her unforgettable win at the 2000 Sydney Olympics was the highlight
Backyard Beasties
By Helen Milroy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Born and educated in Perth, Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She is Australia’s first Indigenous doctor of medicine but is also a talented creator
The Boy and the Elephant
By Freya Blackwood Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This sensitive wordless picture book by multi award winning artist and storyteller Freya Blackwood can be enjoyed and shared by all ages. A boy lives in a city where everything is fast and loud but amidst
Mrs Koala’s Beauty Parlour
By Catherine Jinks and Tania McCartney Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The first book of Catherine Jinks that I read was Pagan's Crusade (1992) which grew out of her love of medieval history. Since then she has written many award winning novels including
Tiny Wonders
By Sally Soweol Han Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian-Korean author and Illustrator Sally Soweol Han, has created this sweet and magical picture book about a little girl who wants to bring some happiness, colour, and wonder to her fast-paced, grey, town. Her
Scaredy Bath
By Zoe Foster Blake & Daniel Gray-Barnett Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author, Zoë Foster Blake, has written this fun twist on bath time, from surprisingly, the bathtub’s point of view. The main character is Scaredy Bath, who has to learn to
Rabunzel
By Gareth P. Jones Illustrated by Loretta Schauer Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Rabunzel has a teeny tufty tail, a twitchy nose and two wide brown eyes. She also has VERY long ears – so long that her mother worries they will make her
The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read
Written by David Sundin Illustrated by Alexis Holmqvist Translated by B.J. Woodstein Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Ah, what a beautiful fabric bound, gold embossed fairy tale story this appears to be. But no! … it’s The Book that Did Not Want to be Read. The
Tala The Bengal Tiger
By Beverly Jatwani Illustrated by Sunita Chawdhary Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is the second book in the Together we can change the world series. Beverly Jutwani has woven her Indian heritage of spices, village life, and the night sound of wild animals,
A Tale of Two Dragons
By Geraldine McCaughrean Illustrated by Peter Malone Reviewed by Barbara Braxton The kingdoms of Arbor with its lush forests, and Pomosa rich with farmland, are separated by a high, thorny hedge and they have no love between them. But at night, the children
Christmas in Australia
By John Williamson Illustrated by Mitch Vane Reviewed by Mia Macrossan John Williamson is a well-known Australian entertainer and here is a popular song of his, Christmas in Australia, available in picture book format. It is charmingly illustrated by Mitch Vane. What little plot
Hello Baby!
By Shelly Unwin Illustrated by Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This attractive book is firmly aimed at parents of a new born. It’s the kind of book you give at a birth or naming party, but it is lovely to share with
Green is for Christmas
By Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Green Crayon claims that he is THE Christmas colour in the box. The other crayons have to disagree. No candy canes or Santa without Red, no snow without White, no bells or
Twelve Little Festive Frogs
By Hilary Robinson & Mandy Stanley Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Twelve Little Frogs frolicking in the snow. Based on the classic “Twelve Days of Christmas”, with a nod to “Pass the Parcel”, these little frogs, the first whose name is One, travel
Just Like Me
By Tess Osborne & Zoe Osborne Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “A new girl started at my school today. She’s just like me.” The new girl has a dog like me, a family like mine and feels sadness and happiness just like me. The
Mr Men: Mr Men and Little Miss in Australia
By Roger Hargreaves Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran The colourful Mr Men and Little Miss characters created by Roger Hargreaves have come together in a picture book, and they are going to Australia! It doesn’t matter if your kids are familiar with the Mr
Christmas Always Comes
By Jackie French Illustrated by Bruce Whatley Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Christmas Eve, 1932 and both drought and The Depression have driven Joey's family into living and droving on the "long paddock", that narrow strip of land between the road and the farmers'
What Do You Do To Celebrate?
Written by Ashleigh Barton Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This is the third picture book collaboration between Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek. The first two, What Do You Call Your Grandpa? and What Do You Call Your Grandma?, were highly
Little Bilby’s Aussie Bush Christmas
By Yvonne Mes Illustrated by Jody Pratt Reviewed by Mia Macrossan We first met Little Bilby in Little Bilby's Easter Egg Hunt, and now he and his friends are travelling through the bush accepting Christmas gifts from various iconic Australian animals with which
Stellarphant
By James Foley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan James Foley makes picture books, middle-grade novels and comics for kids. He is the author/illustrator of the popular My Dead Bunny, In the Lion, and The Last Viking. Many of his titles have won honours,
Bluey: Sleepytime
By Joe Brumm Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bluey is familiar to many from the award-winning preschool ABC TV show about the six year old blue heeler pup, and her family, Chilli her mum who works at airport security, Bandit her dad, an
Rosie the Rhinoceros
By Jimmy Barnes Illustrated by Matt Shanks Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Rosie is a rhinoceros But she's not one of those fierce, scary, armour-plated monsters that amble across the African plains always ready to charge unwary travellers. She's charming and pleasant and always
