Fremantle Press 50 Years: If I Could Eat the Stars & WA Writers

Fremantle Press 50 Years If I Could Eat the Stars & WA Writers Fremantle Press is now fifty. I’m celebrating by focusing on one of their new books for children, If I Could Eat the Stars (and other poems), and highlighting some of the amazing Western Australian creators who have contributed to the anthology. So, […]

Make Them Say Poo: a gross book perfect for giggles by Stephen (Steve MinOn), illustrated by Rudi de Wet

Make Them Say Poo: a gross book perfect for giggles by Stephen (Steve MinOn), illustrated by Rudi de Wet (Affirm Press, Simon & Schuster) Make Them Say Poo: a gross book perfect for giggles is a subversively funny picture book filled with hidden surprises. It delights in trickery, wordplay and fun. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, […]

Spotlight on Jo Dabrowski Inside the CBCA Shortlist

Spotlight on Jo Dabrowski Inside the CBCA Shortlist Dear Broccoli Shortlisted 2026 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Written by Jo Dabrowski, Illustrated by Cate James (Affirm Press) The Thing About Christmas Shortlisted 2026 CBCA Early Childhood Written by Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Briony Stewart (Little Book Press) The Making of Martha Mayfield Notable Book […]

Once I was a Giant by Zeno Sworder

Once I was a Giant by Zeno Sworder Published by Thames & Hudson Australia “At daybreak the wanderer scrambled through my branches to warn the birds and tunnelled underneath my roots to warn the insects. Before leaving they called out goodbye. ‘Sun seeker. Sky dancer. Life maker. Thank you.’” (Once I was a Giant by […]

Skipping to Sammy’s Beat by Coral Vass, ill. Blithe Fielden

Skipping to Sammy’s Beat by Coral Vass ill. Blithe Fielden New Frontier Publishing Coral Vass speaks to Paperbark Words blog about her life, career and Skipping to Sammy’s Beat, her new picture book for children aged 3-6 years. I’m Coral. I love writing for children. I also love books, chocolate, good coffee, the theatre and the beach. […]

Myra in the Middle by Seetha Dodd

Myra in the Middle by Seetha Dodd, illustrated by Peter Cheong Published by UQP Seetha Dodd writes a guest author post about her impressive debut children’s novel, Myra in the Middle for ‘Joy in Books’ at Paperbark Words. When my sister was born, I was exactly three years and eleven months old. I had been […]

The Belly of a Wolf by Julianne Negri

The Belly of a Wolf by Julianne Negri (UWA Publishing) “Musty books, ink-scratched drawings black and white with gashes of red. Look, it’s us, Wolf gasped. inhaling the pages. Hunting different versions of the story. Rummaging dog-eared collections of fairytales. Searching columns on contents pages, hungry for our title. In op shops, secondhand bookshops, the […]

The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin

The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin (Scribe Publications) I was transfixed while reading Elisa Shua Dusapin’s new literary novel, The Old Fire. Translated from the French by Aneesa Abbas Higgins, the author disrupts what seems to be a cosy, country atmosphere with discordant layers between sisters, who haven’t seen each other for years, waiting […]

Inside the 2026 CBCA Shortlist

INSIDE THE CBCA 2026 SHORTLIST The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted Books for 2026 have been announced from the Notables list. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed, or interviewed the author or illustrator, at PaperbarkWords blog. I will add to this list until the winners are announced in August. Congratulations to those […]

The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks by Fiona Harris

The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks by Fiona Harris Affirm Press, Simon & Schuster Extract from Gracie’s diary in The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks at PaperbarkWords blog 4 pm After a very average start, I’m happy to report that today turned into one of my top five birthdays of all time. My best friends, […]