Mo and Crow
By Jo Kasch Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Mo lives in a little house high on a hill, protected by a thick stone wall that is stronger than both the wind and the rain. It keep out everything that Mo
The Golden Tower
By Belinda Murrell Reviewed by Sarah Custance Belinda Murrell is a popular Australian author known for her many middle-grade time-slip novels such as The Ivory Rose, The Ruby Talisman, The Locket of Dreams, The Forgotten Pearl, and many more, as well as
Tinsel
By Sibeal Pounder Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sibeal Pounder is the award winning author of the Witch Wars series as well as the Bad Mermaids books. Her newest book, Tinsel, puts an imaginative twist to the classic ‘Santa Claus’ story by asking
The Edge of Thirteen
By Nova Weetman Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This is the third book about Clem Timmins, following on from the award-winning The Secrets We Share and The Secrets We Keep. Clem is thirteen and navigating changed family and friendship dynamics, as well as being
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
HUGO The boy with the curious mark
By Yohann Devezy Illustrated by Manuela Adreani Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Hugo was born with a curious mark. It looked like a rainbow. His family told him not to worry about it. Someday, they said, it will just disappear.” But it didn’t, it
Zinnia Jakes: The Tumbling Tortoises
By Brenda Gurr Illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff Reviewed by Sarah Custance This is Australian author Brenda Gurr’s second early readers book and the sequel to Zinnia Jakes: The Crumbling Castle. Famous and elusive cake maker Zinnia Jakes is back, this time she has won
The Sad Ghost Club: Volume 1
By Lize Meddings Reviewed by Sarah Custance Lize Meddings is a UK author and keen advocate for raising awareness for mental health. The Sad Ghost Club is her first graphic novel. This is the story of an ordinary day in the life of
The Lost Soul Atlas
By Zana Fraillon Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Zana Fraillon is the award winning author of The Bone Sparrow among other creative novels. In The Lost Soul Atlas she delivers another powerful story that, while firmly embedded in the fantasy genre, also provides
Bears Don’t Wear Shoes
Written and illustrated by Sharon Davey Reviewed by Margarite Igras Bears Don’t Wear Shoes is the first title Sharon Davey has both written and illustrated herself. Born in England she has a background in theatre design and has illustrated a range of
Tinsel: The Girls Who Invented Christmas
By Sibeal Pounder Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sibeal Pounder is the award winning author of the Witch Wars series as well as the Bad Mermaids books. Her newest book, Tinsel, puts an imaginative twist to the classic Santa Claus story by asking
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
