Peas and Quiet (Gabrielle Tozer, illus by Sue deGennaro, HarperCollins)
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Best known for her YA writing, Gabrielle Tozer’s first picture book tells the story of two peas called Pip and Pop, who live together in a pod. But all is...
The Sloth Who Came to Stay (Margaret Wild, illus by Vivienne To, A&U)
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Certain animals, such as lions and elephants, are ubiquitous in picture books—but there are hardly any with sloths in them. Perhaps Margaret Wild’s latest effort might start a new trend....
Cyclones and Shadows (Pat Dudgeon, Laura Dudgeon, Sabrina Dudgeon & Darlene Oxenham, Fremantle Press)
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
This sweet collection of stories from Fremantle Press’ ‘Waarda’ series will appeal to teachers, librarians and parents who want to talk with kids about the different experiences of people around...
The Elephant (Peter Carnavas, UQP)
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
The Elephant is the first junior-fiction novel from Peter Carnavas, who is well known for his gentle, heartfelt picture books. Olive lives with her Grandad, her Dad, and—even if no-one...
The Fall (Tristan Bancks, Random House)
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Following an operation to ease his scoliosis, 12-year-old Sam Garner secures the chance to stay with his father Harry (never ‘Dad’) in the city, to better understand and get to...
Marsh and Me (Martine Murray, Text)
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Joey Green is a nice, sensitive boy. He’s a bit of a loner, lacking in confidence and trying to find a way to fit in at school. One day, he...
My Lovely Frankie (Judith Clarke, A&U)
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
Tom has never forgotten his friend Frankie—even though he hasn’t seen him for over half a century. In 1950, when Tom is just 16, he thinks he feels the hand...
Living on Hope Street (Demet Divaroren, A&U)
Wednesday, 5 April 2017
Demet Divaroren’s YA novel Living on Hope St does not shirk from tackling the big issues that concern society today. Refugees, domestic abuse, racism, grief and bullying all feature in...
Do Not Lick This Book (Idan Ben-Barak, illus by Julian Frost, A&U)
Wednesday, 5 April 2017
What a fun, beautifully designed and repulsive book! Its premise is humble: let’s meet some microbes. It sits between educational text and narrative picture book, following Min the microbe on...
Ollie’s Treasure (Lynn Jenkins, illus by Kirrili Lonergan, EK Books)
Wednesday, 5 April 2017
Here’s a picture book that unpacks mindfulness and the awareness of transient moments in time. Ollie’s grandma knows he loves treasure hunts so she sends him a map. He enthusiastically...
Storm Whale (Sarah Brennan, illus by Jane Tanner, A&U)
Wednesday, 5 April 2017
Jane Tanner’s rich, textured, gorgeous illustrations work in parallel with Sarah Brennan’s equally complex and affecting language in this verse-narrative of three young girls who find a beached whale. Their...
The Great Zoo Hullabaloo! (Mark Carthew, illus by Anil Tortop, New Frontier)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
This is Mark Carthew and Anil Tortop’s first collaboration, though both bring extensive backlists in their respective areas. The Great Zoo Hullabaloo! is an energetic account of missing animals who,...
Ready, Steady, Hatch (Ben Long, illus by David Cornish, Ford Street)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Ready, Steady, Hatch has to be read aloud. That’s where the magic is, in the rhythm and cadence of this amusing tale. The story of a lost newborn chick unfolds...
Archie and the Bear (Zanni Louise, illus by David Mackintosh, Little Hare)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Archie and the Bear is the whimsical first collaboration between author Zanni Louise and illustrator David Mackintosh. It’s the story of a boy who is sure he’s a bear, and...
Boy (Phil Cummings, illus by Shane Devries, Scholastic)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Veteran children’s author Phil Cummings has produced over 60 books for young readers so he knows how to tell a simple story. The nameless titular character lives in a small...
Great Goal! Marvellous Mark! (Katrina Germein, illus by Janine Dawson, Ford Street)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Great Goal! Marvellous Mark! is a lively alphabet book for budding AFL champions. The story of a junior football game is woven into the alphabet book structure, capturing the joy...
A Cardboard Palace (Allayne L Webster, MidnightSun)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
A Cardboard Palace is the Dickensian story of 11-year-old Jorge, a Romanian boy brought to Paris to be part of a gang of child thieves. Jorge is a sweet, kind...
To the Lighthouse (Cristy Burne, Fremantle Press)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Isaac has finally talked his mum into a proper holiday—a trip to Rottnest Island, where he’s hoping for a proper adventure instead of a holiday care program. But he’ll still...
Finding Nevo (Nevo Zisin, Black Dog Books)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
As a young child, Nevo Zisin knew they were a boy—the only problem was they were born a girl. They were bullied for being a tomboy at their Jewish primary...
Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology (ed by Danielle Binks, HarperCollins)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Begin, End, Begin traverses the rough terrain of adolescence, pausing to wonder at some of the many beginnings and endings that young adults will encounter during their high-school years. This...
Heads and Tails (John Canty, Berbay Publishing)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Heads and Tails is an educational book for small children either at home or at school, incorporating a game into the narrative to make the animal information fun rather than...
Nanna’s Button Tin (Dianne Wolfer, illus by Heather Potter, Walker Books)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
I had a teddy who lost an eye, but my Nanna didn’t have a button tin. My daughter had a nanna who kept her buttons in a range of colour-coded...
Don’t Wake the Dingo (Sally Morgan, illus by Sarah Boese, Scholastic)
Monday, 27 February 2017
The rhythmic text, with frequent alliteration, makes this story perfect for reading aloud at bedtime. The dingo is asleep in a dim, dry cave, which is warm and comfortable. He’s...
The Beast of Hushing Wood (Gabrielle Wang, Puffin)
Monday, 27 February 2017
Ziggy Truegood isn’t looking forward to turning 12, and with a very good reason: every night for the past month she has dreamt she will drown on her birthday. With...
The Blue Cat (Ursula Dubosarsky, A&U)
Monday, 27 February 2017
Slow, dreamlike and meandering, The Blue Cat is a glimpse into life in wartime Australia. Set in Sydney in 1942, it follows Columba in her adventures with her force-of-nature best...
Jack of Spades (Sophie Masson, Eagle Books)
Monday, 27 February 2017
Prolific writer Sophie Masson’s latest book is a young-adult historical fiction, set in Europe in 1910. The book’s title refers to a card sent to 16-year-old English girl, Linda, from...
Sci-Fi Junior High (John Martin & Scott Seegert, Koala Books)
Monday, 27 February 2017
As the son of two supergeniuses, Kelvin Klosmo has Mighty Mega Supergenius-sized shoes to fill … The only trouble is his supergeniusness hasn’t quite kicked in yet. When Kelvin’s parents...
Night Swimming (Steph Bowe, Text)
Monday, 27 February 2017
Kirby Arrow and her best friend Clancy Lee are the only two 17-year-olds in their tiny town. Clancy wants to leave as soon as possible, but Kirby is determined to...
Remind Me How This Ends (Gabrielle Tozer, HarperCollins)
Monday, 27 February 2017
In Remind Me How This Ends, the author of The Intern, Gabrielle Tozer, swaps the high-pressure world of the fashion industry for a quieter and more introspective story about love,...
The Secret Science of Magic (Melissa Keil, HGE)
Monday, 27 February 2017
Melissa Keil has established herself as a powerful new voice in contemporary YA after winning the Ampersand Prize for her first novel Life in Outer Space and an Inky shortlisting...
