The Schoolmaster’s Daughter
By Jackie French Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Fans of Jackie French will be happy to see another rip-roaring read, once again based on her own family history. The Schoolmaster's Daughter starts with a shipwreck when Hannah Gilbert and her family are sailing to
The Quicksand Pony
By Alison Lester Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This book was published 15 years ago and has now been reissued with a gorgeous new cover. The Quicksand Pony, set on a farm near the rugged Australian coastline is mainly about Biddy, devastated at having
52 Mondays
By Anna Ciddor Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anna Ciddor's previous novel, The Family With Two Front Doors was a CBCA Notable book in 2017. 52 Mondays is a fictionalised account of Anna's own Jewish childhood. . This is a nostalgic look at 1960s Australia,
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 for the main character until the end. Emoni Santiago is 17 years old.
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 arrangements to create a relatable and heartfelt story about friendship, family, the
Listen Layla
by Yassmin Abdel-Magied Reviewed by Zewlan Moor From the first few pages, main character Layla demonstrates her energy and irrepressible spirit by dancing around “like a whirling dervish from Sudan, the country of her birth.” She is singing in Arabic, while welding
Rudie Nudie Christmas
Written & Illustrated by Emma Quay Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Nine years after the success of Rudie Nudie (2012 Book of the Year for Younger Children Australian Book Industry Awards; Shortlisted for Children’s Book Council Australia Awards), Emma Quay has created a
The Wizard in My Shed: The Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild
By Simon Farnaby Illustrated by Claire Powell Reviewed by Leonard C. This is Simon Farnaby’s first children’s book. He has written and starred in various family TV shows and films including Horrible Histories, Paddington and Paddington 2. Rose lives with her mother and brother
My Dad Used to be so Cool
By Keith Negley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Keith Negley is a well-known illustrator who also writes and illustrates his own picture books for children which include Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too), Mary Wears What She Wants and this one. This is a story
What Zola Did on Tuesday
By Melina Marchetta Illustrated by Deb Hudson Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Cousins Zola and Alessandro live next door to each other – there’s even a gate cut into the fence by their Nonno Nino before he died so they could be together as
The Unwilling Twin
Written and illustrated by Freya Blackwood Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Freya Blackwood has been writing and illustrating for children since 2010 and any book with her name on the cover is sure to appeal to children and their parents. She won
We Are Wolves
by Katrina Nannestadt reviewed by Mia Macrossan This historical novel with a serious underlying theme is based on real events. Apparently thousands of lost, orphaned or abandoned children, called Wolfskinder, wandered alone in East Prussia at the end of World War II. They survived
The Goody
written and illustrated by Lauren Child reviewed by Mia Macrossan Former UK children’s Laureate, Lauren Child is famous for her Charlie and Lola picture books, the Clarice Bean series and the Ruby Redford detective series. I adore her books and The Goody
What Zola Did on Monday
by Melina Marchetta illustrated by Deb Hudson reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the first in a new series, by acclaimed Australian author, Melina Marchetta, most famous for her books for older children including Looking for Allibrandi, but here writing for emerging readers
Winston and the Wondrous Wooba Gymnastics Club
by Tamsin Janu reviewed by Sarah Custance Tamsin Janu is the multi award winning author of the ‘Figgy’ books, most notably ‘Figgy in the World’ which received much critical acclaim. In ‘Winston and the Wondrous Wooba Gymnastics Club’ Janu once again focuses on
The World’s Worst Parents
by David Walliams illustrated in glorious colour by Tony Ross reviewed by Sarah Custance David Walliams is a well known British comedian, actor, and writer. He is the author of over 20 children’s books including the acclaimed ‘The Boy in the Dress’, ‘Gangsta
Small Town
by Phillip Gwynne and Tony Flowers reviewed by Sarah Custance Phillip Gwynne is an Australian author of Young Adult novels, middle-grade novels, and picture books. Some of his works include ‘The Debt’ series, ‘Deadly Unna?’, ‘Stuff Happens: Michael’, and more recently ‘The
In the Key of Code
by Aimee Lucido reviewed by Mia Macrossan This debut novel combines computers, music and poetry into an original package for young middle grade readers. Told in verse that often roams across the page, takes over, dominates or quivers in a corner, this story
Aussie Kids: Meet Taj at the Lighthouse
by Maxine Beneba Clarke and Nicki Greenberg reviewed by Sarah Custance This is the newest instalment in the ‘Aussie Kids’ series written about Australian children by Australian authors. Some of the other titles include ‘Meet Zoe and Zac at the Zoo’, ‘Meet
100% Wolf
by Jayne Lyons reviewed by Mia Macrossan One of the few reads that succeeds in being laugh out loud funny, 100 % WOLF by Jayne Lyons is the story of Freddy Lupin, from a noble family of werewolves. He is looking forward to
My Dad Snores
by John Williamson illustrated by Peter Carnavas Something to enjoy on Father's Day or any time of the year. Irresistible rhyming text combines with fantastic illustrations by Peter Carnavas. Watch with your children :https://youtu.be/rryevgjZCIo
Wolf Girl 3: The Secret Cave
by Anh Do illustrated by Lachlan Creagh reviewed by Sarah Custance If you have children or work with children in any way, then I have no doubt you now no longer think of Anh Do as a T.V. personality or comedian but rather
Joey and Riley
by Mandy Foot reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mandy Foot has been illustrating other people's stories for many years but this is one she has written and illustrated herself. It is about a working dog who is also a beloved companion. Pet seems
The Unadoptables
by Hana Tooke illustrated by Ayesha L Rubio reviewed by Mia Macrossan This runaway adventure story touches the heart while stretching the imagination in many extraordinary ways. Five babies are left at the Little Tulip Orphanage in Amsterdam in 1880, one in a
As Fast As I Can
by Penny Tangey reviewed by Mia Macrossan Penny Tangey is a successful author with three well regarded novels to her credit: Two for older readers - Loving Richard Feynman , Clara in Washington and, for middle grade readers. - Stay Well Soon. As
The Lords of Melody
by Phillip Gwynne reviewed by Sarah Custance Phillip Gwynne has written many books in different genres that have achieved much critical acclaim such as his first novel ‘Deadly Unna?’, the picture book ‘Brothers from a Different Mother’, the junior fiction books ‘Jetty
Aussie Kids: Meet Katie at the Beach
by Rebecca Johnson illustrated by Lucia Masciullo reviewed by Mia Macrossan Congratulations to Puffin Australia for producing a new series aimed at emerging readers who are just gaining a bit of confidence aged 5 – 8. The Aussie Kids series of 8 books
This Is How We Change The Ending
by Vikki Wakefield reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes This fifth novel from award-winning South Australian novelist Vikki Wakefield tells the story of anti-hero Nate McKee, a kid from the wrong side of the tracks, as he journeys towards self-enlightenment and tries to escape
The Year the Maps Changed
by Danielle Binks reviewed by Mia Macrossan This debut novel is set in Sorrento in the Mornington Peninsula in 1999. It is an emotional drama that develops slowly gradually building up to an immersive picture of a family and community in conflict. Its
The Race for the Red Dragon: Children of the Dragon 2
by Rebecca Lim reviewed by Sarah Custance ‘The Race for the Red Dragon’ is the second novel in the ‘Children of the Dragon’ series by Rebecca Lim, the first being ‘The Relic of the Blue Dragon’. Rebecca Lim is the award-winning author
