Review search
The Real Cowgirl (Isabelle Duff, illus Susannah Crispe, EK Books)
Released June 2024
The Real Cowgirl tells the story of young Sal, who wants to be a ‘real’ cowgirl, ‘with boots and a hat just like Dad’s’, but doesn’t yet have confidence in... Read more
Fragile Creatures (Khin Myint, Black Inc.)
Released June 2024
Debut author Khin Myin’s Fragile Creatures is a remarkable memoir in many ways. Myin’s writing is gracious and honest; at its core, his life story is devastatingly sad. The opening chapter reveals... Read more
The Very Polite Knight (Ian Smith, Affirm)
Released June 2024
Finn is not like other knights in the kingdom. While Boris, Ethel and Walter are busy with scaring, fighting and stealing, Finn prefers gardening and reading. He is quiet, kind... Read more
Looking for Eden (Caroline Overington, HarperCollins)
Released June 2024
The latest offering from award-winning journalist and bestselling author Caroline Overington is a lopsided thriller. The novel opens as finance hotshot Clare returns to small-town WA following the suicide of... Read more
Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat (Li Chen, Penguin)
Released June 2024
From the creator of the beloved ExtraOrdinary Comics, Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat is the debut graphic novel from Aotearoa New Zealand comic artist Li Chen. For... Read more
Queen of Dogs (Joe Weatherstone, Walker)
Released June 2024
Eleven-year-old Maddy feels like she doesn’t fit in at school or at home with her sporty family. She’d rather be hanging out with her dog, Gusto. When Gusto disappears, Maddy... Read more
Good Hair (Yvonne Sewankambo, illus Freda Chiu, Walker)
Released June 2024
Good Hair is a sweet picture book all about celebrating diversity—through hair. When Birungi is reluctant to go to school after struggling to do her hair, she declares she hates... Read more
My Father’s Suitcase (Mary Garden, Justitia Books)
Released June 2024
Mary Garden’s My Father’s Suitcase , with its no-holds-barred tone embodies the Anne Lamott epigraph, ‘If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better’. Readers... Read more
Shadows of Winter Robins (Louise Wolhuter, Ultimo)
Released June 2024
Louise Wolhuter’s second novel, Shadows of Winter Robins, is cinematic and engrossing from the get-go, spiked with suspense and twists aplenty. Wolhuter is clearly a writer in command of her... Read more
The Little Clothes (Deborah Callaghan, Viking)
Released June 2024
At 38 years old, Sydney lawyer Audrey—single, childless, unseen and undervalued—is the protagonist of Deborah Callaghan’s debut novel, The Little Clothes. As we follow her struggles at work and in... Read more
Lights Out, Little Dragon (Debra Tidball, illus Rae Tan, HarperCollins)
Released June 2024
Lights Out, Little Dragon is an interactive bedtime book for toddlers aged 3+ and their caregivers, with a cute and relatable character that is just too busy to go to... Read more
Sharkman and Blowfish: World Domination (David Woodland, Berbay)
Released June 2024
Sharkman and Blowfish: World Domination is a fast-paced graphic novel by artist and film designer David Woodland (Ernie’s Journey). Woodland initially drew everything by hand, and the illustrations feature meticulous line-work.... Read more
My Efficient Electric Home Handbook (Tim Forcey, Murdoch)
Released June 2024
Energy plays a big part in our lives today, especially as the world faces a climate crisis. Electrification emerges as a solution, but managing our home’s energy can feel complicated... Read more
What’s Murder Between Friends (Meg Gatland-Veness, Pantera)
Released June 2024
Hallie has always dreamed of being an actor. Thanks to her drama teacher, Ms Lovelace, the school is finally putting on its first show. When Hallie’s class stumbles upon Ms... Read more
Love from Scratch (Amy Hutton, S&S)
Released June 2024
Amy Hutton’s new romance, Love from Scratch, reunites readers with the gorgeous actor Ethan from her previous book, Sit, Stay, Love. Ethan, once terribly fearful of dogs, is now filming... Read more
The Immortals of Australian Rugby Union (Gordon Bray, Gelding Street Press)
Released June 2024
The current crop of Wallabies may have lost their lustre, but Gordon Bray’s latest offering, The Immortals of Australian Rugby Union, harks back to a golden age of the sport.... Read more
How Babies Are Made (Philip Bunting, Scholastic)
Released June 2024
An engaging first look at human reproduction, How Babies Are Made features Philip Bunting’s signature friendly illustration style and the sense of humour common to both his fiction and nonfiction... Read more
Magic Counting (Nabeel Khan, illus Tete Garcia, Scribble)
Released June 2024
Magic Counting is a beautifully illustrated book that goes beyond the basics of counting, exploring the magic that can be found in the world of numbers. While counting from one... Read more
Drop into the Ocean (Karen Wasson, illus Marta Tesoro, Hardie Grant Explore)
Released June 2024
Drop into the Ocean: A tour of the world’s oceans and seas is exciting, colourful, entertaining and insightful. Packed with fun facts and well-researched information, it’s the type of book... Read more
What’s That? Australian mammals (Myke Mollard, Woodslane)
Released June 2024
This educational picture book for young children begins by telling us that every modern mammal descended from a common ancestor from around 180 million years ago, and that it’s up... Read more
