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
Finding Francois
By Gus Gordon Reviewed by Margarite Igras Gus Gordon has written and illustrated a most imaginative and charming book set in France, about two characters Alice and Francois, meeting, and building a long-distance relationship through regular short messages sent to each other.
The Lost Smile
By Nadia King Illustrated by Nelly Aghekyan Reviewed by Margarite Igras Nadia King's charming picture book captured my attention from the first page. I was eager to learn where this story would go, what lesson will be learned about a child who wakes
There’s a Ghost in this House
By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist whose acclaimed picture books have been translated into over fifty languages and his artwork has been exhibited in many prestigious art galleries. I would be beside myself with joy
Cat Dog
By Mem Fox Illustrated by Mark Teague Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The latest hardback picture book by national treasure Mem Fox, illustrated by Mark Teague, is a cleverly constructed question and answer story that is unexpected in many delightful ways. The opening So there
Mummy! Where Are You?
By Charmaine Oates Illustrated by Jelena Jordanovic-Lewis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is South Australian mum-of-three Charmaine Oates' debut picture book inspired, she says, by her son Hamish. Jelena has illustrated eight picture books, each in a delightfully colourful and quirky style. Today is
Spooky Books for Halloween for Readers in Primary School
Reading Resources for parents and teachers Here are lists of recommended reading arranged alphabetically under headings that you will find useful when looking for books on particular topics. New To celebrate Halloween here are some titles that children in primary school may enjoy.
The Curse of the Vampire Robot
By Graeme Base Reviewed by Sarah Custance Picture book legend Graeme Base has done it again with his fantastic new book The Curse of the Vampire Robot. With such well known and loved books like Animalia and The Eleventh Hour along with
