In Ecstasy
By Kate McCaffrey Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Sophie and Mia have been best friends since they started kindergarten, but by the time they get to the party that kicks off the wild ride that is In Ecstasy, things have already been changing
Annie and Maeve Are Definitely Not Friends
By Olivia Muscat Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Olivia Muscat is a Melbourne-based writer, performer, and disability rights advocate, and this is her debut middle grade novel. Muscat wanted to portray more accurately and honestly the experiences of people with disabilities, and she
Archie Can’t Sit Still
By Davilyn Lynch, Dani Vee & James Layton. Reviewed by Margarite Igras This fun, yet serious book, was written by two authors who were diagnosed with ADHD as adults. They wanted to use humour to breakdown the stereotypes of being neurodivergent and
Girls Like
By Katrina Germein & Deb Hudson Reviewed by Dimity Powell Girls. Creatures unto themselves, unique, uncompromising, spirited. Well that's exactly what they can and should be so depicted in this gratifyingly colourful celebration of what girls actually like. Turns out, there is
Green Cities
How Green Infrastructure Helps Heal the Planet By Sheila Boudreau and Katy Dockrill Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Sheila Boudreau is a landscape architect, urban planner and university lecturer specialising in green infrastructure. Katy Dockrill’s previous illustration work includes middle-grade book covers, picture books
A Lemon for Safiya
By Jemima Shafei-Ongu & Nisaluk Chantanakom Reviewed by Margarite Igras Jemima Shafei-Ongu is a Sydney based writer, teacher, and psychologist. She loves picture books claiming they nurture a special connection between a child and adult reader and has written a range of
Oceanforged 2: The Silent Island
By Amelia Mellor Reviewed by Helen Gearing Amelia Mellor, whose debut upper middle grade series ‘Grandest Bookshop’ was highly awarded by critics, readers, and booksellers alike has crafted another edge-of-your-seat adventure in the Oceanforged series. Aimed at a slightly younger audience (eight
My Wonderful Disgrace
By Angourie Rice and Kate Rice Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey The school ball is the ultimate dream for many high schoolers – fancy clothes, the date they’ve always dreamed of, feeling like it’s time to leap from school into adulthood. Amy has
To Activate Space Portal Lift Here
Be the First to meet Alien Life-Forms By Antoinette Portis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan I always knew that books were portals to another universe and here is proof. On opening, Portis, the creator of the acclaimed This is Not a Box, presents us with
Soccer I Just Love It!
By Alister Nicholson & Tom Jellett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Alister Nicholson is one of Australia's best-known radio and TV sports commentators. His first children's book, Cricket, I Just Love It!, was published in 2021. Tom Jellett is a Sydney-based illustrator, who for
Audrey Skips
By Andrea Rowe & Lisa Coutts Reviewed by Dimity Powell Unless you are familiar with Melbourne's skyline and Australia's recent past, you may not be acquainted with The Skipping Girl, aka Audrey. Audrey Skips is a beguiling picture book that changes all that. Based
Girls Who Play Dead
By Joelle Wellington Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Joelle Wellington is a New York-based author known for her YA thrillers. Her previous titles, Their Vicious Games and The Blonde Dies First, are mixtures of satirical horror and teen thriller. Wellington’s latest novel, Girls
Song Of the Saltings
By Rachel King Reviewed by Lucille Rose Song Of The Saltings is a grim, dark fantasy that follows the story of Lotta Salter, a daughter of the island of Brack, and Moss Smith, a hideling exile cast out from the village. The
Is This a Plum?
By Dan & Finn Ojari Reviewed by Barbara Braxton The fun starts on the front cover with the title, a cut-out that just invites you to open it and reveals
The Future Book
By Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray In the future, things are different. The sun is called the moon, and the moon is called the sun. Bananas are called apples. And apples? Well there’s no word for apples
Poster Boys
By Scott Woodard Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey It all starts when Nolan, one of prestigious Highview Grammar’s least popular year nine boys, smashes cool kid James’s nose on Winter Sports Day. James’s high-ranking political father has taught him how to get what
Belong
By Sharon Seymour & Freya Goldsmith Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray WestWords is a publisher dedicated to unique, diverse stories from the Western Sydney community. They are champions of lyrical multicultural storytelling, poetry, fine art illustration styles, youth writing, and other worthy
The Drover’s Son
By Leah Purcell & Dub Leffler Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian actor, director, playwright and novelist, Leah Purcell is well known for her many skills. She wrote and performed in an adaptation of Henry Lawson’s famous short story, The Drovers Wife and
Kid *
By Peter Carnavas Reviewed by Mia Macrossan 'There was once a small goat who lived on a farm, not far from a rugged mountain.' A new story from Peter is always a cause for celebration and Kid does not disappoint. What a warm
What Makes a Bird?
An Illustrated Guide to the Bird World By Nadeem Perera & Montse Galbany Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a glorious introduction to the world of birds, chockful of information presented in accessible nuggets of information and illustrated with a marvellous
Oh No!
By James Foley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan James Foley is well known for his original and unconventional take on life. His books for children are characterised by a zany humour, challenging ideas and memorable illustration. His CBCA Notable Bigfoot vs Yeti (A
The Raven’s Eye Rebellion
By Claire Mabey Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the sequel to The Raven’s Eye Runaways, 2024, which introduced us to an original fantasy world where only a privileged few are allowed to read, where books have enormous power for good or
The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien
By Ross Welford Illustrated by Harry Bridge Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ross Welford is a popular author of light-hearted middle grade novels such as Time Travelling with a Hamster. Here is the start of a brand-new series that is the familiar combination of
The Fast Lane
By Pip Harry & Katrin Dreiling Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Katrin Dreiling’s delightful illustration style often puts quirky animal characters front and centre. The cover says it all in the case of The Fast Lane, which pits Daisy the pig, a
A Flash in the Dust
By Meg Caddy Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey A Flash in the Dust is the fourth YA novel for Western Australian author Meg Caddy. With a handful of short- and longlistings for their first three novels, Weir, Devil’s Ballast, and Slipping the Noose,
The Day the Books Disappeared
Written by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard Illustrated by Dan Santat Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This clever, child-centered book highlights the absurdity of book banning. Arnold is passionate about planes and can't believe other kids in his class don't want to read about
The Magic Faraway Tree: The Story of the Film
Inspired by Enid Blyton, text by Emily Stead Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Nearly 90 years ago, as war clouds gathered over Europe and the world was swept up into a global conflict not seen since, English author Enid Blyton wrote the first
A Light on the Rocks
By Helen Edwards Reviewed by Jenny Ruge A Light on the Rocks is a magical historical novel from award-winning author Dr Helen Edwards. Her earlier works include Legend of the Lighthouse Moon and On Gallant Wings, both published by Riveted Press. Her
Tiny Good Things
By Gabrielle Tozer & Sophie Beer Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray ‘Tiny Good Things’ comes from the dream team who brought us ‘Before We Met’, Gabrielle Tozer and Sophie Beer. Each brings a sense of wonder to the early parenthood experience, particularly
Costa’s Garden: Fruit (Costa’s Garden, #2)
By Costa Georgiadis & Brenna Quinlan Reviewed by Margarite Igras Costa Georgiadis, the presenter of the ABC Gardening Australia show, has written this follow up book in the Costa’s Garden series. His first book focussed on the importance and joys of flowers.
