Timeless
By Kelly Canby Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kelly is an award winning artist whose works include The Hole Story, which won the 2018 Western Australian Premier’s Book Award for Writing for Children, and Littlelight . She is also responsible for the vibrant
Spaceboy
By David Walliams and illustrated by Adam Stower Reviewed by Sarah Custance David Walliams is the much acclaimed UK author of over 30 picture books and novels, including The Boy in the Dress, Gangsta Granny, Fing, and The World’s Worst Children series.
Always, Clementine
By Carlie Sorosiak Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Carlie is the author of two novels for young adults, If Birds Fly Back and Wild Blue Wonder and two other middle grade novels My Life as a Cat and I, Cosmo. She is very much concerned
Family All That You Dream It To Be (Teeny Tiny Stevies)
By Byll & Beth Stephen Illustrated by Simon Howe Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The Teeny Tiny Stevies have written many cheerful popular songs for children. This particular picture book is a reimagining of their song, Family (Love is Love). A girl and her mum
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
Dear Greta
By Yvette Poshoglian Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Yvette Poshoglian is the author of over forty books for children and young people, including the Ella and Olivia series. Born and raised in Sydney, Yvette taught secondary English in southwest Sydney and now manages
Willa and Woof 3: Grandparents for Hire
By Jacqueline Harvey Reviewed by Liane McDermott Australia’s much loved and honoured children’s author, Jacqueline Harvey, of the popular Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose, and Kensy and Max series, produces another endearing junior fiction series—Willa and Woof. Mimi is Missing and Birthday Business are
Our Home On Wheels
A Big Trip Around Australia Written by Jessica and Stephen Parry-Valentine Illustrated by Ashlee Spink Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The authors have a passion for filmmaking and photography, they are well-known for their YouTube travel series: Flying the Nest is a popular travel channel
The Burpee Bears
Written by Joe Wicks c-written by Vivian French Illustrated by Paul Howard Reviewed by Margarite Igras Joe Wicks is well known as an author of several cookbooks as well as the founder of a fitness focus group called Lean to 15. This is his
Twice the Love
Written by Inda Ahmad Zahri Illustrated by Nabila Adani Reviewed by Mia Macrossan According to Twins Research Australia multiple birth numbers have remained relatively consistent in Australia over the last ten years with about 4,248 multiple births last year. That's a lot of
The House on Pleasant Street
By Sofie Laguna & Marc McBride Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This successful multi-award winning creative team has come up with a delightful story to celebrate Halloween, one that celebrates families of all kinds. Alby and his unusual family have just moved into the
Digging Up Dad And Other Hopeful (And Funny) Stories
By Morris Gleitzman Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Over 30 years ago, Morris Gleitzman was so overtaken by an idea for a story that he says came from nowhere that by the time the afternoon was up he had the outline completed and
The Jammer
By Nova Weetman Illustrated by Jessica Cruickshank Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Nova Weetman is the award-winning author of many middle grade and young adult novels. In The Jammer she delivers another deeply satisfying story about love, loss, grief, growing up, connections and finding your
Charlie’s Whale
By Libby Gleeson and Hannah Sommerville Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Charlie’s Whale is the latest release from multi award winning Australian author Libby Gleeson, brought to life by illustrator Hannah Sommerville with delicate seascapes and nuanced characterisation. The narrative focus is young Charlie, who
The Cult of Romance
By Sarah Ayoub Reviewed by Jane Swinton The highly acclaimed Sarah Ayoub shines a light on cultural disconnection in this tumultuous love story. The heroine, Natalie Saab is a smart, young, university student straddling the expectations of being Lebanese or being Australian
The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin
By Paula Hayes Reviewed by Sarah Custance Paula Hayes is an Australian writer of magical realism for middle-grade audiences. Her first book Lily in the Mirror was a Notable book for the 2017 CBCA awards. The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin is
A Little Spark
By Barry Jonsberg Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Most of Barry's novels are about complex family relationships negotiated by a teenage protagonist at the centre of the action. Here in his latest, A Bright Spark, he deals with the fallout from divorce. Cate is
How Do You Say I Love You?
Written by Ashleigh Barton Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Sandy Driessens People express their love with different gestures and words. Come on journey around the world and learn how love is expressed in diverse languages, traditions and across generations. Ashley Barton has
The Zebra’s Great Escape
By Katherine Rundell Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie Reviewed by Mia Macrossan What a treat this is, a new book by two award winning creators. Katherine is the author of The Explorers, The Good Thieves and One Christmas Wish and more, while Sara creates
The Wintrish Girl: Talismans of Fate #1
By Melanie La'Brooy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Melanie is a successful Australian writer of adult novels, this is her debut novel for children. A Wintrish Girl just snaps, crackles and pops with action, humour and invention. Set in the Empire of Arylia its
Milly and the Mulberry Tree
Written by Vikki Conley Illustrated by Deb Hudson Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Milly’s Mulberry tree is the centre of her world. One Day Milly helped her Papa plant a tree, right in the middle of the garden, “so it can grow with us”. As
How to Be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five
By Carla Fitzgerald Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Carla Fitzgerald is a Sydney-based author who has previously published the picture book Keeping Up with the Dachshunds. How to Be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five is her debut middle grade novel. The book opens
How to Repaint a Life – CBCA Honours Older Readers
By Steven Herrick Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Brisbane born Steven Herrick has been writing fiction, poetry and verse novels for young people for many years. His latest, How to Repaint a Life is an honour book in the 2022 CBCA Older Reader
My Baba is the Best
Written by Bachar Houli Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bachar Houli is a noted AFL football player and devout Muslim who has successfully promoted various community initiatives. This is his first picture book. It is a colourful depiction of Muslim family
Ninni Yabini
By Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Tyrown Waigana Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is a dual language book written in English and the language of the Noongar people of SW Western Australia. The story is based on a tale, passed down in the oral
But I’m NOT Hungry For My Dinner!
Written by Valerie Gent Illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan Reviewed by Claire Monsour Valerie Gent is a Paediatric Feeding Speech Pathologist and this is her first children’s book, dedicated to her two sons, who in her words, “have taught me all that I
Big Magic
By Sarah Armstrong Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sarah has published several books for adults included the Miles Franklin shortlisted Salt Rain. Big Magic is her first novel for children, with a sequel due in 2023. The 'big' magic in this book is passed
Cop and Robber
by Tristan Bancks Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tristan Bancks has written books for children and teens which include the thrillers Two Wolves, The Fall and Detention. He has won many awards and is the writer-ambassador for Room to Read. He has a
The Champ!
By Anh Do Illustrated by David Atze Reviewed by Sarah Custance Vietnamese-Australian author Anh Do has written some of the bestselling children’s book series over the last decade and created a devoted fan base of readers. For younger readers he has written the
Cuckoo’s Flight
By Wendy Orr Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Cuckoo’s Flight is a companion novel to the critically acclaimed Dragonfly Song and Swallow’s Dance, but totally successful as a standalone. All three are set in the Bronze Age Minoan civilization in Crete. This third
