The Turnkey (Allison Rushby, Walker Books)
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Witnessing the turbulence and devastation of World War II during the London Blitz would prove challenging for any 12-year-old girl, but Flossie Birdwhistle is no ordinary girl—she is a ghost....
Mr Romanov’s Garden in the Sky (Robert Newton, Puffin)
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Thirteen-year-old Lexie lives in a grey housing commission flat in Melbourne and dreams of starting a new life on the Sunshine Coast. She’s struggling to deal with her junkie mum,...
A Walk in the Bush (Gwyn Perkins, Affirm Press)
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Iggy has to be coaxed out of his various hidey holes to visit the great outdoors. With his keen guardian (possibly a grandfather), Iggy is taken to the bush and...
1, 2 Pirate Stew (Kylie Howarth, Five Mile Press)
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
This book is all about the joy of playing in a cardboard box, which seems to have been largely replaced these days by more complicated activities, but is still a...
Dead ringer: ‘The Turnkey’ by Allison Rushby
Thursday, 6 October 2016
Allison Rushby’s middle-grade novel The Turnkey is a ‘page-turning mystery’ set in London’s Highgate Cemetery during the Blitz. Reviewer Maria H Alessandrino spoke to the author. Read her review here....
Jane’s addiction: Jane Covernton’s career journey
Wednesday, 5 October 2016
‘I had accidentally stumbled upon the job of my life,’ writes Jane Covernton about her entry into children’s publishing. The co-founder of Omnibus Books and more recently, Working Title Press,...
Gus Dog Goes to Work (Rachel Flynn, illus by Craig Smith, Working Title)
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Gus Dog Goes to Work chronicles all the tremendously exciting things a well-meaning sheepdog could possibly get involved with when (inexplicably) his owner doesn’t follow the usual routine of taking...
Our Dog Benji (Pete Carter & James Henderson, EK Books)
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Many kids are fussy eaters; many dogs are not. With this simple premise Pete Carter sets up his picture book, ably supported by illustrator James Henderson. Benji, the little boy’s...
Diamond Jack: History Mysteries Book One (Mark Greenwood, Puffin)
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Even as World War II rages, Jack Palmer spends his time on his boat wandering up and down the coast of Western Australia. Meanwhile, the Imperial Japanese army are on...
Lisette’s Paris Notebook (Catherine Bateson, A&U)
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
When Lisette arrives in Paris for the summer, she thinks she’s prepared. She has a great wardrobe, she’s staying with her mother’s psychic, and surely before long she’ll be checking...
Valentine (Jodi McAlister, Penguin)
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
A strange, black-as-midnight horse appears during a party. Frustratingly good-looking Finn throws a horseshoe at it, scaring it off before Marie can pat it and adding to the list of...
Role reversal: Nova Weetman on ‘Everything is Changed’
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Nova Weetman’s Everything is Changed (UQP) follows the unravelling of a friendship between two boys, told from alternating perspectives in reverse. Reviewer Jordi Kerr spoke to the author. What drove...
Poetry in action: Van T Rudd on ‘The Patchwork Bike’
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
The Patchwork Bike (Hachette, November) is the first collaboration between author Maxine Beneba Clarke and artist Van T Rudd, as well as being Rudd’s first picture book. His ‘stark but...
Everything is Changed (Nova Weetman, UQP)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Nova Weetman established her ability to portray complex friendships with Frankie and Joely, and with Everything is Changed, she takes it to the next level. The story follows the devastating...
The Sisters Saint-Claire (Carlie Gibson, illus by Tamsin Ainslie, A&U)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
The Sisters Saint-Claire by Carlie Gibson is a delightful story, enchantingly illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie. The whole production—from the neat little hardback to the detailed illustrations—is reminiscent of the popular...
All I Want for Christmas is Rain (Cori Brooke, illus by Megan Forward, New Frontier)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
All I Want for Christmas is Rain is the first collaboration between author Cori Brooke and illustrator Megan Forward, though each have several previous picture-book credits. There are plenty of...
Battle Royale: The Selwood Boys Book One (Tony Wilson, ABC Books)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Footy fans will love ‘The Selwood Boys’. The series kicks off with great characters and fast-paced game-play, making it the perfect suggestion for readers of Specky Magee and Crawf’s Kick...
Pocket Rocket: Ellyse Perry Book One, (Sherryl Clark & Ellyse Perry, Random House)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Not content with being one of the youngest sports stars to have represented Australia in cricket and soccer, Ellyse Perry can now add author to her impressive CV. In Pocket...
Girl Stuff 8-12 (Kaz Cooke, Viking)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Girl Stuff 8-12 is a spin-off from Kaz Cooke’s 2007 book Girl Stuff, which was written for teenagers. It’s a different beast to the original: Cooke has written new material...
A Most Magical Girl (Karen Foxlee, Piccadilly Books)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Set in Victorian London, A Most Magical Girl tells the story of prim and proper Annabel Grey. One day Annabel’s mother goes away unexpectedly and leaves Annabel with her aunts,...
Mrs Maver’s Magic Cat (Jacqueline Harris & Richard Ghent, illus by Don Ezard, Woodslane)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Cats are vain, self-centred creatures. Anyone who’s ever owned one knows that they all think they are magical, that doors open for them and food appears when they need it....
Meet the 2016 Inky Awards judge: Meleika
Thursday, 4 August 2016
Each year, a panel of teen judges from around the country select the shortlist for the Inky Awards for youth literature. Books+Publishing’s 16-year-old work experience student Alexandra Pixton spoke to...
Meet the 2016 Inky Awards judge: Tom
Thursday, 4 August 2016
Each year, a panel of teen judges from around the country select the shortlist for the Inky Awards for youth literature. Books+Publishing’s 16-year-old work experience student Alexandra Pixton spoke to...
Meet the 2016 Inky Awards judge: Cassandra
Thursday, 4 August 2016
Each year, a panel of teen judges from around the country select the shortlist for the Inky Awards for youth literature. Books+Publishing’s 16-year-old work experience student Alexandra Pixton spoke to...
Meet the 2016 Inky Awards judge: Brynnie
Thursday, 4 August 2016
Each year, a panel of teen judges from around the country select the shortlist for the Inky Awards for youth literature. Books+Publishing’s 16-year-old work experience student Alexandra Pixton spoke to...
Meet the 2016 Inky Awards judge: Ben
Thursday, 4 August 2016
Each year, a panel of teen judges from around the country select the shortlist for the Inky Awards for youth literature. Books+Publishing’s 16-year-old work experience student Alexandra Pixton spoke to...
Agatha and the Dark (Anna Pignataro, The Five Mile Press)
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Agatha is a cute half-pig, half-bear hybrid who likes wearing a red, hooded coat—just like Little Red Riding Hood, although Agatha is not happy with the bit in the story...
The Gobbledygook and the Scribbledynoodle (Justine Clarke and Arthur Baysting, illus by Tom Jellett, Viking)
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Small children clamour for repeat reads of their favourite books, and authors Justine Clarke and Arthur Baysting will have some very relieved parents on their hands with the release of...
If I Was a Banana (Alexandra Tylee & Kieran Rynhart, Gecko Press)
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Oh, how I wish to be ‘yellow and fat and full of banana’! At least, that’s how I feel after diving into the world of an inquisitive young boy in...
Molly & Mae (Danny Parker, illus by Freya Blackwood, Little Hare)
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
Molly & Mae is a sweet picture book that follows two girls, Molly and Mae, on a train journey. The journey symbolises the path of friendship, winding its way through...
