Runt
By Craig Silvey Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Craig Silvey is an author and screenwriter from Fremantle, Western Australia. His award winning and best selling titles include Jasper Jones and Honeybee, both aimed at an older audience than readers of Runt. This is a
Scram! (Clarice Bean)
The True Story of How We Got Our Dog Written and illustrated by Lauren Child Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Who doesn't love Clarice Bean? Lauren Child started writing this hugely successful series way back in 1999. The first was the picture book Clarice
Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables: Join Forces
By Tim Harris and illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Sarah Custance Tim Harris is the much beloved author of the Exploding Endings series as well as the Toffle Towers and Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables series’ of books. Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables: Join Forces
The World’s Worst Pets
by David Walliams Illustrated by Adam Stower Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David Walliams needs no introduction as he has been a popular fixture in the children's book world for many years. His 'World's Worst' series has featured children, parents and teachers and now
Dogs in Disguise
By Peter Bently and John Bond Reviewed by Sarah Custance Perfectly paired in this wonderfully outrageous rhyming picture book, Dogs in Disguise, is author Peter Bently and illustrator John Bond. The book can be neatly described in its opening lines of: “Dogs
The Naughtiest Unicorn#10 On a Treasure Hunt
By Pip Bird Illustrated by David O'Connell Reviewed by Sarah Custance On a Treasure Hunt is the 10th instalment in The Naughtiest Unicorn book series by author Pip Bird. The series follows the misadventures of ever optimistic Mira and her UBBF (Unicorn Best
Gangsta Granny Strikes Again
Written by David Walliams Illustrated by Tony Ross Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Finley, aged 9, who enjoys funny books and likes to draw. This book is a sequel to Gangsta Granny. Quite a few precious things go missing from museums in ways that
Super Geeks 2: Planet Pancake
Super Geeks 2: Planet Pancake Written and illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Finley, aged 8 This book is about
Funny Kid Prank Ninjas (Funny Kid, #10)
Written and Illustrated by Matt Stanton. Reviewed by Sandy Driessens What! Max, THE funny kid is not even on the cover of his own book! Max’s outrage is on the fly papers and gives a clue to the rest of Book 10
Worst. Holiday. Ever.
By Charlie Higson Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Illustrated by Warwick Johnson-Cadwell Charlie Higson, author of the Young Bond books and The Enemy series, excels at humorous and heart-warming middle grade in Worst. Holiday. Ever. Twelve-year-old Stan is a shy, anxious, skinny kid from a
Stellarphant
By James Foley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan James Foley makes picture books, middle-grade novels and comics for kids. He is the author/illustrator of the popular My Dead Bunny, In the Lion, and The Last Viking. Many of his titles have won honours,
The Listies’ Teleportaloo
By Richard Higgins, Matt Kelly aka The Listies Reviewed by Sarah Custance The Listies (also known as Richard Higgins and Matt Kelly) are a comic duo based in Melbourne. They have made comedy shows for both adults and children, recorded three albums,
Cat Dog
By Mem Fox Illustrated by Mark Teague Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The latest hardback picture book by national treasure Mem Fox, illustrated by Mark Teague, is a cleverly constructed question and answer story that is unexpected in many delightful ways. The opening So there
Skulduggery Pleasant #14 Dead or Alive
By Derek Landy Reviewed by Leonard Cavallaro, aged 12. Leonard is an aspiring author with a love of fantasy. Who is your favourite character? Describe them and tell us why you like them. Arch-Cannon Damocles Creed is the perfect blend of intelligence and evil.
Megamonster
By David Walliams Illustrated by Tony Ross Reviewed by Isabela Newman, age 9 Who is your favourite character? Larker. I like her because she is so brave and always looks at things in a positive way. ( I also like her because she makes
Pawcasso
By Remy Lai Reviewed by Sarah Custance Remy Lai is the Brisbane based author of the critically acclaimed books Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall. Pawcasso is her first full length graphic novel. Jo is looking at a long and
Zoe , Max and the Bicycle Bus
By Steven Herrick Reviewed by Sarah Custance Steven Herrick an award winning Australian author of over 25 books for children and young adults. He has achieved widespread critical acclaim for his verse-novel YA books. Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus is his
The Story of the Little Mole who knew it was None of his Business
by Werner Holzwarth Illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch Reviewed by Sandy Driessens What appears to be the hairdo of a now-famous politician, on the head of this little Mole, is what attracted me to this story, first published in Germany in 1989. Of course,
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
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
Edie’s Experiments 2: How To Be the Best
by Charlotte Barkla illustrated by Sandy Flett reviewed by Barbara Braxton Edie has settled into her new school and is starting to make friends, despite her somewhat catastrophic early attempts (Edie's Experiments 1 How To Make Friends) to treat the process like a
Evie and Pog: Party Perfect!
by Tania McCartney reviewed by Sarah Custance Tania McCartney is a children’s book writer, illustrator, and editor. She is the founder of ‘Kids’ Book Review’ and the ‘Happy Book’ podcast. Tina has written and/or illustrated dozens of picture books and children’s information
The Runaway Pea
by Kjartan Poskitt illustrated by Alex Willmore reviewed by Claire Monsour It's time for tea, the dinner has been served - but one mischievous rogue pea has decided to ping himself off the plate in search of adventure! Thus starts an amazing journey across
Funny Kid #3 Prank Wars
Written and illustrated by Matt Stanton Reviewed by Lyn Halliday Stanton’s third book in the Funny Kid series grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go, taking you on a hilarious journey inside 11-year-old Max Walburt’s head — who really
Fart Monster and Me #1 & #2
By Tim Miller and Matt Stanton Reviewed by Lyn Halliday Just when you thought there was no more room in the bookstores for another fart book…. There’s another fart book. Actually, a series of them. Duo Tim Miller and Matt Stanton have teamed
Diary of a Wimpy Kid #12 The Getaway
by Jeff Kinney Penguin 2017 224 pages paperback $14.99 ISBN 9780143782797 Reviewed by Lucy McGinley Since there are already twelve books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series it is established that Jeff Kinney has found his market. The handwritten font, bold
