Hello World by Lisa Shanahan & Leila Rudge ABC Books, HarperCollins Publishers LISA: Picture books often grow out of a wild hotchpotch of memory, keen observation and deeply felt emotion. With regards to Hello World, I was certainly inspired by my own memories of parenting little ones. Like most kids, my three boys were often […]
Read More Hello World by Lisa Shanahan & Leila RudgeExit Through the Gift Shop by Maryam Master, illustrated by Astred Hicks Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist Exit Through the Gift Shop is a stand-out middle-fiction novel for mature children in upper primary and for readers in junior secondary school. The combined title and cover are eye-catching. The voice of 12-year-old Ana is striking, memorable […]
Read More Exit Through the Gift Shop by Maryam MasterThe Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) winners and honour books for 2021 have been announced. Follow the links to those I have already reviewed or interviewed the author or illustrator on the blog. Congratulations to those creators who have been commended in this way. Older Readers WINNER The End of the World is Bigger […]
Read More CBCA 2021 WinnersJane Godwin and Gabriel Evans talk about their thoughtful and wistful picture book, Little One. Jane: The story of Little One came from my own memories of a treasured toy (‘toy’ feels like too insignificant a word for these important transitional objects!) and those of the young people around me. It’s a story of how […]
Read More Little One by Jane Godwin and Gabriel EvansAndy Geppert writes about his new book, Australian Backyard Birdies: I thought I loved birds more than anyone else…. until my daughter Harri came along, that was. Harri was an early bird herself. She used to wake up before most roosters and our daily ritual was to go straight outside onto our small back deck […]
Read More Australian Backyard Birdies by Andy GeppertLiterary Panels – The Ten Tenets Thank you to the literary community for the open and constructive discussion following our recent blog post, Are Literary Panels a Bad Idea? This is still being discussed and I was inspired to think a bit deeper about book judging and literary panels. I am not saying that it […]
Read More Ten Tenets for Literary PanelsWhere the Magic Happens by Amanda Christensen & Coral Vass, illustrated by Nicky Johnston I found the picture book, Where the Magic Happens very moving, instructive and hopeful, not only for young children with brain cancer but also for their families. In fact, it helps all readers understand what a young cancer patient may experience. […]
Read More WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS by Amanda Christensen & Coral VassBook Review The Tokyo Olympic Games and the hints of spring flowers peeping through the cold earth make this an ideal time to feature Narisa Togo’s When the Sakura Bloom. I also adore blossoms and have been longing to find some time to savour and share this beautiful picture book. Japan is, of course, well […]
Read More When the Sakura Bloom by Narisa TogoOn writing When Days Tilt by Karen Ginnane This book had the gestation of a small planet and it assumed various forms during its long development. However, a few conceptual structural beams have remained unchanged, such as: London as character. Time, and how people use it. Filling your own time on this earth as best […]
Read More When Days Tilt by Karen GinnaneI have closely followed Nova Weetman’s writing for children and young adults since her 2014 YA debut The Haunting of Lily Frost and was on the Aurealis judging panel when it was shortlisted. I reviewed Nova’s second YA novel Frankie and Joely for the Weekend Australian, as well as Everything Is Changed and her first […]
Read More The Edge of Thirteen by Nova Weetman
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