Be Kind & Go Wild
By Anna Pignataro Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anna Pignataro is an artist and author/illustrator of over eighty books for children. The first picture book she illustrated, I'm In the Sky and I Can't Come Back by Holly Young Huth, won the Crichton
Alphabetter
A Better You and Me, from A to Z By Maura Pierlot & Jorge Garcia Redondo Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author, playwright and ethicist Maura Pierlot, has written an alphabet book with a difference. She has combined the alphabet with purposely selected
A Wish For Baby
By Caz Goodwin & Sara Acton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Caz Goodwin is the author of the Little Matilda and Daisy series as well as Grace and Mr Milligan. Here she has teamed up with the prolific Sara Acton, whose lively illustrations
My Heart
By Katrina McKelvey & Deb Hudson Reviewed by Margarite Igras Katrina McKelvey is a former primary school teacher and President of the CBCA Newcastle. Deb Hudson says her illustrations are inspired by the joy and wonder-filled dreamy moments of the everyday.
Little Book Baby
By Katrina Germein and Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Katrina Germein and Cheryl Orsini are prolific contributors to Australia’s picture book industry, with a reputation for humorous and heartwarming stories for young readers. Little Book Baby explores the social and
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
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
Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep?
By David Metzenthen Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David has long been a writer of award winning middle grade books such as Boys of Blood and Bone, One Minute's Silence and Augustin and the Hot Air Balloon which was long
Amazing Dad
By Alison Brown Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Alison Brown is the creator of Amazing Mum and the soon to be published Amazing Brother so we can see that she has a thing going for looking at and presenting families in all their
Find Spot: An Australian Adventure
By Eric Hill Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Spot and his mum and dad are camping near a billabong and exploring the Australian outback, its colours and creatures. As they paddle down the creek they discover all the colours that can be found
Our Dragon
By Mem Fox & Linda Davick Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mem Fox shot to fame with her instant classic Possum Magic way back in 1983. She has worked with many different illustrators such as Judy Horacek for Where is the Green Sheep?
Stories of the Night
By Kitty Crowther Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kitty is a Belgian illustrator and writer who won the 2010 Astrid Lindgren Award, the biggest prize in children’s literature. In Stories of the Night she tells in words and pictures three little stories all
Say Hooray
By Renae Hayward & Rebecca Mills Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Renae’s second children’s book, her first was Barking Mad. Rebecca is a prolific graphic designer and illustrator, whose illustrations have have been used in puzzles, on clothes, stamps and even surfboards. In
Amazing Mum
By Alison Brown Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Alison Brown is an English writer and illustrator who has also written the companion title Amazing Dad. Amazing Mum show mums in action – snuggling in bed reading a book to her children, magically finding
Duckling Runs Away
By Margaret Wild and Vivienne To Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another miniature masterpiece from Margarite Wild who has been writing for children for ever and never gets it wrong. She has published over seventy picture books for young children, been
The Last Crayon
Written & illustrated by Fifi Colston Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Fifi Colston is a New Zealand writer, illustrator, wearable arts designer and costume props maker for the film and television industry. Her previous work that she wrote and illustrated herself include Where's
Going To Big School
Written by Laura Sieveking Illustrated by Danielle McDonald Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Making the transition from home, kindy or daycare to ‘big school’ is a huge milestone for kids and families alike. My youngest starts high school this year and, to
Koko and the Coconut
By Turia Pitt & Celestine Vaite Illustrated by Emilie Tavaearii Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Caught in a grassfire while competing in a 100 km ultramarathon in 2011, Turia suffered full thickness burns to 65 per cent of her body but she survived to
Sleep Through the Night (Teeny Tiny Stevies)
By Byll Stephen & Beth Stephen Teeny Tiny Stevies Illustrated by Simon Howe Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sisters Byll and Beth Stephen are the band, Teeny Tiny Stevies which won an ARIA Award for the 2020 Best Children's Album 'Thoughtful Songs For Little People'. Now
I Can Be A Matilda
By Kyla May Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a companion to I Can Be A Socceroo also by the Australian illustrator, writer and designer Kyla May, and also part of the merchandise to cheer on the Matildas in the FIFA Women's
I Can Be A Socceroo
By Kyla May Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This official Football Australia licensed merchandise is part of a publishing program in the lead-up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ hosted by Australia and New Zealand. This board book is aimed at the
Meerkat Christmas
By Aura Parker Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Aura is a creator whose previous published books include Meerkat Splash, Goodnight Glow Worms and The Silly Seabed Song. Her work is characterised by a joyful energy, a sense of fun and lots of play. This
Tjitji Lullaby
Written by Michael Ross and Zaachariaha Fielding Illustrated by Lisa Kennedy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tjitji is a word in the Anangu Pitjantjajara Yankunytjatjara languages that means 'child' so this is a song to sing a young child to sleep. The rhythm is
Tatty Mouse Rock Star
By Hilary Robinson and Mandy Stanley Reviewed by Margarite Igras Hilary Robinson is a London based author who has written many children books, especially her Mixed Up Fairy Tales. Tatty Mouse is a lift-the-flap board book series aimed at toddlers, with a
A Tiny Light
Written and Illustrated by Alison Lester Reviewed by Mia Macrossan When you go to bed tonight, be sure to leave a tiny light, so Twinkles in the Milky Way can find you when they come to play
It’s Time All Possums Went To Bed
Written by Jacqui Halpin Illustrated by Gavin Scott Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is a playful and beautiful Australian bedtime time story, that oozes with the love between mother and child. With every excuse Milly comes up with, mother is there willing to
I’m a Dirty Dinosaur Hide and Seek
A Lift-the-flap book Created by Janeen Brian and Ann James Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Janeen Brian and Ann James are the creators of the award winning I'm a Dirty Dinosaur(2019), famously illustrated using real mud. Now here is a sequel, a lift-the-flap book
This Little Joey
Created 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 a award winning list of titles that range from board books for
Floof
Written and illustrated by Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Heidi is the creator of There's No Such Thing, Baz and Benz, It's a Long Way to Shop and I Just Ate My Friend which was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of
A Feather on a Wing
Written and illustrated by Maria Speyer Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Are you there? It’s so lonely in the dark!” The lights are off, it’s bedtime and a little girl calls to her sister, who shares her room. Sensing her fear, the older sibling
