Super-Frog Saves Tokyo by Haruki Murakami

Super-Frog Saves Tokyo by Haruki Murakami Translated from the Japanese by Jay Rubin Illustrated by Seb Agresti, illustrated and designed by Suzanne Dean Published by Harvill, Penguin Random House Illustrated Short Story for adults Book review by Joy Lawn (Joy in Books) at Paperbark Words blog “Katagiri found a giant frog waiting for him in his apartment […]

TIWI IN PARIS by Glen Farmer Illortaminni

TIWI IN PARIS by Glen Farmer Illortaminni Thames & Hudson TIWI IN PARIS by Glen Farmer Illortaminni, a story of resilience, humour and home “I needed to get back to my Country and back to my family. I prayed for my angel to take me home. My middle name is Gabriel so I knew that […]

A Song for the King by Katrina Nannestad & Freya Blackwood

A Song for the King Written by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Freya Blackwood Published by ABC Kids, HarperCollins Children’s Books Picture Book review by Joy Lawn (Joy in Books) at Paperbark Words blog “Joy! Love! Peace!” (A Song for the King) A Song for the King is the best Australian Christmas book since 2008’s Applesauce and the […]

The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation curated by Jennie Orchard

The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation curated by Jennie Orchard The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation: essays on nurturing a passion for reading. Inspired by Robert Macfarlane, curated by Jennie Orchard, contributors include Matt Ottley, Alice Pung, Nardi Simpson, Shankari Chandran, Michael Morpurgo, Tristan Bancks, William Boyd and others. Published by […]

Between by Anna Walker

Between, written & illustrated by Anna Walker Published by Scribble “Between day and night Between near and far …” (Between by Anna Walker) Interview with Anna Walker about Between Between is a poetic, artistic picture book for all ages. It evokes the imaginative, the intangible, the profound… Thank you for speaking about your powerful, contemplative picture […]

The Pull of the Moon by Pip Smith

The Pull of the Moon by Pip Smith UWA Publishing Pip Smith writes about The Pull of the Moon, her YA novel about detention on Christmas Island, for PaperbarkWords blog. I didn’t realise this at the time, but work on my young adult novel The Pull of the Moon began in January 2010, when I […]

Crimson Velvet Heart by Carmel Bird

Crimson Velvet Heart by Carmel Bird Transit Lounge Crimson Velvet Heart is the twelfth novel from the accomplished Australian writer Carmel Bird. It revivifies the dynasty and descendants of Louis XIV in 17th century Versailles. The following extract for PaperbarkWords blog is from the start of novel: A Child Is Born in Savoy from Crimson […]

The Adventures of Pongo & Stink by Lisa Nicol & Karen Blair

The Adventures of Pongo & Stink by Lisa Nicol, illustrated by Karen Blair (Penguin) Thanks to the inimitable Lisa Nicol who has written the funny, honest and beautifully composed origin story of her new junior fiction novel, The Adventures of Pongo and Stink for Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog. The Adventures of Pongo […]

This Season’s Draft by Jason Gent

This Season’s Draft by Jason Gent (Allen & Unwin) I read Jason Gent’s This Season’s Draft about a group of older teens preparing for the AFL draft in one sitting. I was transfixed. This novel takes the perspective of each protagonist, is easy to read while packing an emotional punch and is ideal for schools […]

The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal, ARA Historical Prize Winner

The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal, ARA Historical Prize Winner The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal (HarperCollins Australia) has just won the 2025 ARA Historical Prize – children’s/young adult book. This comparatively new award showcases historical novels where “most of the narrative takes place at least 50 years ago.” Mark Macleod, Chair of […]