The Hatmakers
By Tamzin Merchant Illustrated by Paola Escobar Reviewed by Sarah Custance Tamzin Merchant is a British actor best known for playing period roles. The Hatmakers is her first novel and…
The Golden Tower
By Belinda Murrell Reviewed by Sarah Custance Belinda Murrell is a popular Australian author known for her many middle-grade time-slip novels such as The Ivory Rose, The Ruby Talisman, The…
Salih
By Inda Ahmad Zahri Illustrated by Anne Ryan Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In the last decade there have been many stories written for children about people suffering loss and hardships…
Hello and Welcome
Written and illustrated by Gregg Dreise Reviewed by Des Crump Gregg Dreise is a proud Kamilaroi and Euahlayi writer and illustrator who shares stories and culture through his colourful books.…
The Detective’s Guide to Ocean Travel
By Nicki Greenberg Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Picture book author Nicki Greenberg’s debut middle grade novel, The Detective’s Guide to Ocean Travel, is a riveting mystery story set aboard the…
Punching the Air
By Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam Illustrated by Omar T. Pasha Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri This powerful and emotional verse novel inspired by the experience of co-writer Yusef Salaam…
With the Fire on High
By Elizabeth Acevedo Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri This delectable novel about a teen mum with an almost supernatural talent for cooking had me hooked from the start, and cheering…
Blue Flower
By Sonya Hartnett Illustrated by Gabriel Evans Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Each morning when she wakes up, the little girl doesn’t want to go to school. There are so many…
Early One Morning
By Mem Fox Illustrated by Christine Davenier Reviewed by Margarite Igras A little boy decides he wants a couple of things for breakfast. What could it be? He waves goodbye…
Cinderella Liberator : A Fairy Tale Revolution
By Rebecca Solnit Illustrated by Arthur Rackham Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In 1892 someone found 345 variants of the Cinderella story. Here is one more written by Rebecca Solnit which…
Can You Do This?
By Michael Wagner Illustrated by Heath McKenzie Reviewed by Margarite Igras. In this wildly imaginative story about sibling rivalry, I can see a mental subtitle on each page saying these activities…
Tinsel
By Sibeal Pounder Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sibeal Pounder is the award winning author of the Witch Wars series as well as the Bad Mermaids books. Her newest book, Tinsel,…
The Coloured Echidna
By Eunice Day Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Eunice Day is an Aboriginal Elder from Blackwater. The Coloured Echidna is one of the twelve new picture books for Queensland’s youngest readers…
Oswald Messweather
Written by Dimity Powell Illustrated by Siobhan McVey Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Oswald Constantine Dorian Messweather is a young boy who hates his name because it is confusing and messy.…
The Girl Who Speaks Bear
By Sophie Anderson Illustrated by Kathrin Honesta Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sophie Anderson loves to write stories inspired by different folklores and cultures. Her previous novels are The Castle of…
Into the Wild
Written by Robert Vescio Illustrated by Mel Armstrong Reviewed by Sandy Driessens The cover of “Into the Wild”, is so engaging, it makes you want to soar with the blue…
The Bird in the Herd
by Kathryn Apel Illustrated by Renee Treml Reviewed by Jillian Custance Here is another charming title by Kathryn Apel, who has published work, mostly in verse, for children across age…
The Edge of Thirteen
By Nova Weetman Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This is the third book about Clem Timmins, following on from the award-winning The Secrets We Share and The Secrets We Keep. Clem…
One Lone Swallow
by Corinne Fenton Illustrated by Owen Swan Reviewed by Jillian Custance Corinne Fenton is the Australian author of over a dozen picture books. For One Lone Swallow she has once…
Good Question : A Tale Told Backwards
By Sue Whiting & Annie White Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Remember the story of Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky and their mates who were on their way to tell the King…
Time for Adventure, Daddy
Written & Illustrated by Dave Hackett Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Come on, Daddy, it’s time for an adventure!” “But I have more jobs to do,” says Daddy. This cheerful story,…
Friday Barnes #9: No Escape
By R.A. Spratt Reviewed by Sarah Custance R.A. Spratt is the well-known Australian author of the Nanny Piggins, Peski Kids, and Friday Barnes series of books. Friday Barnes: No Escape…
The Daring Princess
Susanna Davidson Alessandra Santelli Reviewed by Barbara Braxton This is a re-telling of the Grimm fairy tale, The Iron Stove, in which a princess frees a prince from an iron…
The Biscuit Maker
By Sue Lawson Illustrated by Liz Annelli Reviewed by Margarite Igras This gentle story explores the relationship of food and members of a busy community. Benedict Stanley lives with his…
The Secret Library of Hummingbird House
By Julianne Negri Reviewed by Analucia Malta The Secret Library of Hummingbird House is Julianne Negri’s debut novel where she draws on her own experiences going through divorce and custody…
Ten Little Yoga Frogs
By Hilary Robinson and Mandy Stanley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This bright, colourful, traditional rhyming counting book has the added bonus of all the characters doing yoga and an invitation…
My Summer With Grandad
Written and illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tom is a UK based illustrator who has worked for various publishers. The Caveman Next Door was his debut as…
Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature
Produced by The Natural History Museum Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The Natural History Museum has a whole exhibition based on the theme of real and fantastical animals and the relationships…
The Best Mum
By Penny Harrison & Sharon Davey Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Everyone loves their mum but sometimes you can’t help yourself looking at other people’s mums and comparing. In this…
HUGO The boy with the curious mark
By Yohann Devezy Illustrated by Manuela Adreani Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Hugo was born with a curious mark. It looked like a rainbow. His family told him not to worry…
