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 […]

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 […]

Tim Winton Interview about Ningaloo

Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder written by Tim Winton illustrated by Cindy Lane Fremantle Press Interview with Tim Winton about Ningaloo “For those who come after” (Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder) Thank you for speaking about Ningaloo, your clear and powerful non-fiction picture book, with Paperbark Words, Tim. Your book’s subtitle is Australia’s Wild Wonder, and you describe Ningaloo […]

The Peach King by Inga Simpson, ill. Tannya Harricks

The Peach King: A contemporary fable about the resilience of nature written by Inga Simpson, illustrated by Tannya Harricks Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette Australia Interview with Inga Simpson & Tannya Harricks about The Peach King “When Little Peach Tree was just a sapling, not much more than a stick bending in the breeze, all they could […]

Another Year Around the Sun by Katrina Germein, ill. Alice Lindstrom

Another Year Around the Sun by Katrina Germein, illustrated by Alice Lindstrom Affirm Press, Simon & Schuster Another Year Around the Sun – Creators’ Inspiration Katrina Germein In thinking about the inspiration for Another Year Around the Sun, I can’t pinpoint one moment; even revisiting my drafts doesn’t help. It’s just there. A story about […]

Adventures on the Dreaming Path by Paul Callaghan

Adventures on the Dreaming Path by Paul Callaghan, illustrated by Dylan Finney Pantera Press Paul writes about the creation of his children’s book, Adventures of the Dreaming Path, a follow up to his ABIA Award winning and best-selling adult book, The Dreaming Path for PaperbarkWords blog: Introduction I belong to Worimi/Birpai Country – saltwater country, […]