Children’s Short Story Competition Shortlist Announced
2023 Children's Short Story Shortlist This year we had such an amazing number of stories entered into the chidlren's short story writing competition the judges decided to include a longlist as well as a shortlist. These writers are all commended for their
Penny Draws a School Play
By Sara Shepard Reviewed by Charlotte Barkla Oh, how I wish Penny Draws a School Play was around when I was a kid. Penny Lowry is in 5th grade and has a lot of changes in her life. Baby twin siblings on the
Ruby and the Pen
By David Lawrence. Illustrated by Cherie Dignam Reviewed by Helen Gearing Short chapters, lots of dialogue, larger-than-life characters, cartoon-style illustrations and a wallop of fun make David Lawrence’s latest middle-grade novel a solid choice for readers aged 8-11 who need some encouragement
These Little Feet
By Hayley Rawsthorne. Illustrated by Briony Stewart Reviewed by Helen Gearing ‘These little ears, so tender and dear. The songs they will love, the noises they’ll fear.’ As all book lovers know, there is a special, timeless magic to a good picture book
Not Here to Make You Comfortable
Reviewed by Lucille Rose Not Here to Make You Comfortable, written by the women of Penguin Random House Australia, is a collection of fifty women’s stories from across the globe. Ranging from the award-winning engineer, activist and author Yassmin Abdel-Magied to
Ash Barty Champion
By Ash Barty Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the Younger Reader edition of Ash Barty's official autobiography. She says It's a tennis story. It's a family story. It's a teamwork story. It's the story of how I got to where and who
The Dunggiirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale
By Aunty Shaa Smith with Yandaarra Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This children’s picture book with strong messages about caring for country and each other is the result of a collaboration between the Yandaarra Collective and the University of Newcastle. Yandaarra, a Gumbaynggirr word meaning shifting
How Do You Say Hello
By Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Mia Macrossan There are many different ways to greet and say hello to people. Language uses both speech and the body to communicate and that means there is an endless variety to investigate and
Creeping Beauty
By Andrea Portes Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Andrea Portes is the author of two adult novels and a number of young adult novels, including Anatomy of a Misfit. In this the re-telling of Sleeping Beauty, Princess Elizabeth ‘Bitsy” Roix is destined to live
Mr Chicken Goes to Mars
By Leigh Hobbs Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Leigh Hobbs is an Australian artist and author. He is best known for the humorous children's books which he has written and illustrated, including the Mr Chicken series, Horrible Harriet and Old Tom series. He
Dr Seuss’s ABC
Written and illustrated by Dr Seuss Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Theodor Seuss Geisel – better known to millions of his fans as Dr. Seuss wrote more than 40 children's books during a career that spanned over 50 years, including The Cat in
Nature Book Week
Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature The Wilderness Society's annual celebration of the best new nature-themed children's books are definitely worth a look at any time of the year. The winners are: Karajia Award for Children’s Literature: Looking after Country with Fire by Victor
Nightsong
By Sally Soweol Han Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Australian-Korean author and illustrator Sally Soweol Han, who won the 2023 Children’s Book Council of Australia New Illustrator award for her beautiful picture book Tiny Wonders, has created another book of wonders. In Nightsong, Han
Being Jimmy Baxter
By Fiona Lloyd Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Jimmy Baxter starts the story as Jimmy Branthwaite, a boy in Year 6. He and his mother are being driven to a safe house out of town for a “holiday.” It isn’t until his violent
Guardians: Wylah The Koorie Warrior 1 and Custodians: Wylah The Koorie Warrior 2
By Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard Reviewed by Sophia Evans Guardians: Wylah The Koorie Warrior 1 is a fantasy-adventure story inspired by First Nations history. It is a bit hard to classify as it attempts to merge fantasy, adventure, action, alternate history, and
Reading Australia – new resources
By Mia Macrossan Reading Australia – which turns 10 this year – is a Copyright Agency initiative to support the teaching and reading of Australian literature in schools. The website features 275 freely available resources written for teachers, by teachers, on
The Wish Sisters: The Running Wish; The Pet Wish
By Allison Rushby Illustrated by Karen Blair Reviewed by Helen Gearing A baby sister who can make wishes come true. A mischievous imp who likes to twist wishes and make them go wrong. A nosy neighbour. A very public sports carnival and fundraiser.
Just Because
By Matthew McConaughey & Renée Kurilla Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Just because I’m in the race, doesn’t mean I’m fully ready. Just because I’m shaking, doesn’t mean that I’m not steady. Using a series of rhyming couplets accompanying compelling vignettes, this new book could be your mindfulness
Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt
By R A Spratt Reviewed by Mia Macrossan R A Spratt is the hugely popular author of the Friday Barnes series, The Peski Kids and the hilarious Nanny Piggins series. Quite a few of the stories in this collection are retellings of
Liar’s Beach
By Katie Cotugno Reviewed by Liane McDermott New York Times bestselling author Katie Cotugno, who is best known for her ‘complicated, feminist YA love stories’, shifts her talents to a YA murder mystery—Liar’s Beach. Promoted as a fresh take on Agatha Christie’s
The Gargoyle
By Zana Fraillon & Ross Morgan Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Forced off his rooftop to make way for a new urban development in a barren cityscape, the old gargoyle packs a battered suitcase and boards an train going who knows where. But
The Spider and her Demons
By sydney khoo Reviewed by Mia Macrossan sydney khoo is a nonbinary and aromantic asexual writer, born to Malaysian Chinese parents. They are the recipient of Penguin Random House Australia's Write It fellowship which aspires to find, nurture and develop unpublished writers
The Daring Tale of Gloria the Great
Written by Jacqueline Harvey illustrated by Kate Isobel Scott Reviewed by Margarite Igras Jacqueline is one of Australia’s most popular authors having sold over two million copies of her Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose, Kensy and Max and Willa and Woof series. With her
That’s not my monster…
By Fiona Watt & Rachel Wells Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the latest in the updated editions of this popular series of touchy feely books published by Usborne. Touchy feely means that on each page there are panels with material inserts
Meet the Author: Zewlan Moor
By Mia Macrossan Zewlan (pronounced Shoolen) is a medical doctor who also has a literature degree and a passion for writing and sharing children’s stories. She started Byron Bibliotherapy after feedback from patients who found it helpful when she recommended specific fiction
Nothing Alike
By Zewlan Moor Illustrated by Peter Cheong Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Nothing Alike is the debut picture book for author Zewlan Moor. It cleverly tells the story of a white boy who cannot distinguish between two classmates of Asian origin – a
Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth
By Anna Fienberg Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anna Fienberg has written more than forty well-loved books for children and young adults and has won many awards including the Children's Book Council of Australia award for The Magnificent Nose and Other Marvels, the Victorian
Ming and Hilde Lead a Revolution #3 The Girls Who Changed the World
By Jackie French Reviewed by Helen Gearing Good historical fiction helps readers answer questions they didn’t know they had, and in her latest middle-grade novel, Ming and Hilde Lead a Revolution, Australian storytelling great Jackie French AM turns her attention to how
Granbad
Written by Penny Tangey Illustrated by Peter Baldwin Reviewed by Margarite Igras With a background in comedy, television and working in museums, Penny now writes fiction for young people. Granbad, her first picture book is a humorous story about a grandfather who actively
How to Hatch a Dragon
Written and illustrated by Nick Bland Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Nick Bland is the creator of the popular series that started with The Very Cranky Bear and includes The Very Itchy Bear. How to Hatch a Dragon is the first in a
