Aster’s Good, Right Things
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Gordon, an Australian librarian and writer, is the author of Girl Running, Boy Falling, Juno Jones: Word Ninja, and The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn which is the first in a trilogy of books. Aster’s
Footprints on the Moon
By Lorraine Marwood Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lorraine is a much awarded author of children's novels including Leave Taking and collections of poetry. Here she has written a verse novel about loss and finding your own voice in her signature understated style. The
Positively Izzy
By Terri Libenson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Positively Izzy is the second book in the Emmie & Friends series written by American award-winning cartoonist Terri Libenson. In this book we follow the lives of two very different 13 year old girls, Izzy, who
Just Jaime
By Terri Libenson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Terri Libenson is the award-winning cartoonist of The Pajama Diaries and the Emmie & Friends series of which Just Jaime is the third novel. This book can be read on its own but I would
Invisible Emmie
By Terri Libenson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Terri Libenson is an American author/illustrator and creator of the Reuben Award-winning comic strip The Pajama Diaries. Invisible Emmie is the first book in a new series called Emmie & Friends, with each book delving
Ruby and Graham
By Lucy Barnard Reviewed by Jillian Custance Lucy Barnard is the author and illustrator of a number of children’s picture books, including Squirrel’s Busy Day, and I’m Bigger Than You. Ruby and Graham is the story of two friends with differing personalities and
Future Friend
By David Baddiel Illustrated by Steven Lenton Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro This interesting tale of time travel, cloning, friendship, compassion and environmental care entertains the reader through regular humour and unique characters. Rahul Agarwal is a lonely genius. He creates inventions with
Windows
Written by Patrick Guest Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri If there were a tale we could hold to commemorate the trials and tribulations of this strange year, let it be this one. As the COVID-19 pandemic clears the streets of
Vlad’s Bad Breath
By Rory H. Mather Illustrated by Jesus Lopez Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri Vlad is a pint-sized vampire who doesn't want to brush his teeth. After stinking out close family members in delicious rhyme, he gets help from his other ghoulish friends and
The Ickabog
By J K Rowling Illustrated by the winners of The Ickabog Illustration Competition. Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is modern fairy tale although set in an imaginary world. It was first published free online for children stuck at home, unable to go to school or
The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Gordon is an Australian librarian turned author whose previous works include: Three Things about Daisy Blue, Girl Running, Boy Falling, and Juno Jones: Word Ninja. The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn is one of her
One Christmas Wish
by Katherine Rundell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This clever, funny and poignant story is one that will be read again and again at Christmas or any time since its universal themes give it a timeless appeal. It's Christmas Eve, Theo's parents have to
The Wolf’s Secret
By Myriam Dahman and Nicolas Digard Illustrated by Julia Sarda Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Myriam grew up in Morocco but now lives and works in Paris. Her co-writer, Nicolas Digard is a French writer for televisions and books for children but this is
Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale : Starfell #2
By Dominique Valente Illustrated by Sarah Warburton Reviewed by Sarah Custance British author Dominique Valente had her first novel Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day published last year in 2019 and now the sequel Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale has
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
Funny Kid Belly Flop (Funny Kid #8)
Written and illustrated by Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Matt Stanton is an Australian author with over 28 books to his name and the writer of the popular picture book ‘This is a Ball’ which he co-wrote with his wife Beck
Death Sets Sail
by Robin Stevensreviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the last in the Murder Most Unladylike Series. Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells are two young girls who go to a boarding school in England in the 1930s. They are the Wells & Wong
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst
by Jaclyn Moriarty reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the third book in the Kingdoms and Empires series. Moriarty is brilliant in that each of the titles in this series, The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone and The Slightly Alarming Tale
Skunk and Badger #1
by Amy Timberlake illustrated by Jon Klassen reviewed by Mia Macrossan This first in a series of stories about an unlikely and extraordinary animal friendship is filled with humour, whimsy and some heartache. Amy Timberlake, a much-awarded US writer, is ably supported by the
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
Before the Beginning
by Anna Morgan reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul” Mark 8:36 This quote opens this gripping coming-of-age story from Anna Morgan author of All that Impossible Space, and provides
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
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure
by Jeff Kinney, reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the second title in a new series by Kinney, the author of the popular Diary of A Wimpy Kid series, the first being Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal.
The Painted Ponies
by Alison Lester reviewed by Mia Macrossan A new book by Alison Lester is always cause for celebration. The Painted Ponies doesn’t disappoint. It’s starts with Matilda who loves to stay at her Grandma Lucky’s house with the pony called Luna, the
The Sloth and the Dinglewot
by Nicole Prust illustrated by Amanda Enright reviewed by Barbara Braxton Down near the banks of the lazy lagoon, Where the trees slowly swayed in the light of the moon, A family of sloths slept soundly asleep As the birds of the sunrise started to
Extraordinary!
by Penny Harrison illustrated by Katie Wilson reviewed by Sandy Driessens Of course, a cover with sparkly metallics sprinkled all over a creature-filled forest makes me immediately desire this book. Does the rest of the book live up to the cover? … well
Bear Was There
written and illustrated by Sally Anne Garland reviewed by Sandy Driessens A huge bear and a tiny mouse gazing at each other with kind, gentle eyes is a delightful image that would draw a child of any age to this lovely book
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
