inside the cbca 2023 shortlist

INSIDE THE CBCA 2023 SHORTLIST The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted Books for 2023 has been announced. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed, or interviewed the author or illustrator, on the blog. I will add to this list until the winners are announced in August. Also see the 2023 […]

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Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong

Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong Author Interview ‘I’ll tell you another secret … about Simta. Everyone in this city wears a mask. They pretend they’re someone braver, smarter, more cunning: whatever mask best suits them. Wear it well and no one will see you – not the real you. They’ll only see what you want […]

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The hotel witch by Jessica Miller

Jessica Miller is creating highly original middle-fiction. Her previous books were Elizabeth and Xenobia and The Republic of Birds. Jessica’s books are fantasies with a dose of black intrigue. Jessica writes about her new work, The Hotel Witch, for Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog. It’s funny how things creep into a story, after you […]

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The Fix-It Princess by Janeen brian

Janeen Brian is a highly regarded author based in South Australia. She has a strong backlist of over 100 books for young readers. Some of many highlights are the picture books I’m a Dirty Dinosaur (illustrated by Ann James), Where Does Thursday Go? (illustrated by Stephen Michael King), Where’s Jessie? (illustrated by Anne Spudvilas) and […]

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Sensitive by Allayne L. Webster & IBBY

Book award season has begun! IBBY Australia congratulates Allayne L Webster and Asphyxia whose respective books Sensitive and Future Girl have been selected for the 2023 IBBY international catalogue of outstanding books for young people with disabilities. These books were selected from the following Australian nominations. The ten titles nominated by IBBY Australia are: The […]

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INSIDE THE 2023 CBCA NOTABLE BOOKS

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Books for 2023 have been announced. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed or interviewed the author or illustrator at PaperbarkWords blog. NB I will add reviews and interviews here and on the Inside the 2023 Shortlist page on the blog (once the shortlist is announced) until the winners […]

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Running with Ivan by Suzanne Leal

RUNNING WITH IVAN by SUZANNE LEAL Published by Angus & Robertson (HarperCollins Australia) “Take it from me, Leo, at thirteen you can do almost everything. Never forget this. Difficult things, courageous things: they are all possible, even at thirteen. No, especially at thirteen.” (Running with Ivan) Suzanne and I first met while judging the NSW […]

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Crows Nest by Nikki Mottram 

Crows Nest by Nikki Mottram  Author Interview at PaperbarkWords “I guess people usually end up as products of their environment, and in Crows Nest, the women end up becoming victims – usually by being trapped in dysfunctional relationships. And the men metamorphosise into something else.” (Crows Nest)   I am loving reading new Australian crime, […]

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The Wish Sisters by Allison Rushby

The Wish Sisters by Allison Rushby, illustrated by Karen Blair, published by University of Queensland Press Allison Rushby is part of the famous Brisbane writing Rushby duo. Allison’s mother, Pamela Rushby, is the awarded author of When the Hipchicks Went to War, The Horses Didn’t Come Home and The Ratcatcher’s Daughter. Allison is the author […]

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