The Other Side of the Clouds
By Matt Samuel & Tamlyn Teow Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is Matt’s debut Children’s picture book. After two decades in advertising and a former career as a primary school teacher,…
Tilly in a Tangle
By Magrete Lamond & Monty Lee Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Magrete Lamond is a multi-award-winning author and children’s book publisher. Lamond’s picture book, Paper-flower Girl, was shortlisted in the 2024…
The Five Rules of Friendship
By Jess Sanders Illustrated by César Barceló Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jess Sanders is the author of Life Lessons for Little Ones series which include You Can Do Hard Things…
The fingerprint code
By R. A. Stephens Illustrated by Em Hammond Reviewed by Renata Clarke R. A. Stephens runs publishing houses Wombat Books and Rhiza Edge, and also writes and edits individually both…
Nanny Piggins and the Origin Story
By R. A. Spratt Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury If you are already a fan of R.A Spratt’s humorous Nanny Piggins series, then you will love reading Piggins’ origin story. If…
Now for the Good News
By Jordan Artery [and 11 others] Illustrated by Rebecca King and Sarah Wiecek Reviewed by Ruth Bonetti It’s cool to be green and to help save the planet. We—all of…
Ethel the Penguin
By Ursula Dubosarsky Illustrated by Christopher Nielsen Reviewed by Meg Rowe You are in safe hands with acclaimed Australian author Ursula Dubosarsky – with over sixty books published for children…
Brave Kāhu and the Pōrangi Magpie
By Shelley Burne-Field Reviewed by June Paisa Perkins Shelley Burne-Field’s debut middle grade adventure children’s book is a triumphant shift from her accomplished poetry, article writing and creative non-fiction for…
Waiting for Santa
By Lucy Cochran & Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Waiting for Santa is the debut picture book for Australian author Lucy Cochran, teamed up with author-illustrator Heidi McKinnon, whose…
The Secret Garden Rewilded
By Anthea Simmons Illustrated by Rachel Dean Reviewed by Barbara Braxton In 1911, young readers were taken into the world of the imperious, emotionally-deprived Mary, animal-whisperer Dickon, and the apparently-doomed…
Taronga Presents
Written by Kristin Darell Illustrated by Laura Wood Reviewed by Helen Gearing Created in partnership with Taronga Conservation Society Australia, ‘Taronga Presents’ is a well researched junior fiction series for…
Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment
By Anna James Illustrated by David Wyatt Reviewed by Bethany Loveridge Chronicles of Whetherwhy is the newest middle grade offering from UK author Anna James. Readers may recognise James as…
Too Many Acorns
By Susannah Crispe Reviewed by Margarite Igras Susannah Crispe is an Australian children’s author and illustrator known for her beautiful book Under the Moonlight as well as the illustrator of…
Extreme Animal Facts
By Jennifer Cossins, Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson. Jennifer Cossins is the bestselling, CBCA award winning Tasmanian author and illustrator of nonfiction information books. These predominantly reflect her great passion for…
Comes the Night
By Isobelle Carmody Reviewed by Jamie Willis Isobelle Carmody is the internationally acclaimed and bestselling Australian fantasy author of The Obernewtyn Chronicles and The Gathering. She has written forty books and won countless awards,…
Tiny Tradies: Aussie Word Book
By Tami Sussman & Tom Jellett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a companion to Tiny Tradies 2023, which celebrates the working lives of very young people as they go…
The Christmas Star
Written and illustrated by Michelle Conn Reviewed by Margarite Igras Michelle is an award-winning Australian author and illustrator having won both the 2024 CBCA Shortlisted for New Illustrator and the…
The Welcome Cookies
By Kaye Baillie & Kirrili Lonergan Reviewed by Margarite Igras Award winning children’s author Kaye Baillie is known in Australia and internationally for both her fiction and non-fiction works. Titles…
Out of Bounds (The Too-Tall Tales of Alma T. Best, #1)
By Katherine Collette Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Katherine’s first middle grade novel and its a cracker! It is the very funny story of Alma, twelve years old and…
Are We There Yet?
A Journey Around Australia By Alison Lester Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Alison Lester has long been one of Australia’s national treasures with an impressive list of award winning children’s books…
Gentlest of Wild Things
By Sarah Underwood Reviewed by Lucille Rose Gentlest of Wild Things is a fantasy novel set amidst the perils of love, danger and most importantly, Desire. In Ancient Greece, the…
Goodnight, Joeys
By Renee Treml Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Since moving to Australia from the US in 2007 Renee has been inspired by the diversity of our wildlife and has produced an…
Cockatoo
By Kaye Baillie and Max Hamilton Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Cockatoo is a captivating nature story from Australian creators Kaye Baillie and Max Hamilton. Detailed, realistic illustrations support lively…
Prank Wars: Game On
By Louise Park, Mo Johnson & Jules Faber Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Prank Wars, Game On is the first in a new series created collaboratively by Louise Park &…
Sunny Finds His Song
By Cate Storey & Penny Watson, illustrated by Sarah Matsuda. Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Sunny Finds His Song is the third picture book by Cate Storey and Sarah Matsuda. After…
Nobody Likes Monday
By Kelly Lee & Amy Calautti Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author, librarian and teacher Kelly Lee is known for some of her more unusual picture book topics for the…
The Mosaic
By Deborah Kelly & Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Margarite Igras This book was inspired by the award-winning author’s personal experience of separation from her husband and the ensuing conversations she…
Into the Ice: Reflections on Antarctica
By Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch Reviewed by Margaret Mckay-Lowndes These reflections are the culmination of the creators’ many journeys, either as Arts Fellows with the Australian Antarctic Division…
Inkheart 4: The Colour of Revenge
By Cornelia Funke Reviewed by Helen Gearing With over twenty-five million copies of her books sold worldwide, Cornelia Funke is one of Germany’s most celebrated children’s authors. ‘The Colour of…
