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, […]

Confessions of a Minor Poet by Phil Brown

Confessions of a Minor Poet by Phil Brown (Transit Lounge) “I was transplanted from a school like the one in Goodbye, Mr. Chips to one more akin to Lord of the Flies. But while my outward life tended to be surfing, partying and reading Tracks magazine, I retained a rather bookish inner life. I was […]

When the Mountain Wakes by Matt Shanks

When the Mountain Wakes by Matt Shanks Affirm Press, Simon & Schuster “Somewhere, towards the beginning of time … a mountain rose from the ocean and came to rest above the clouds. Life sang a lullaby, and the mountain slept for many millions of years. Until one day … ” (When the Mountain Wakes) When […]

Run by Sarah Armstrong

Run by Sarah Armstrong Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing When I was a kid, I used to dream of heading off into the wilderness and surviving by my wits. Sadly, the closest I ever came to that was building a treehouse up the back of our 13-acre block on the Central Coast of New South Wales […]

The Locked Room by Adam Cece

The Locked Room by Adam Cece Published by Penguin Books Australia Adam, congratulations on your riveting new YA novel, The Locked Room, which is set in an escape room. It is a highly appealing concept and will hook in many readers, including those who may not read many books. Thank you for writing this interesting […]

Godaku Tjukurpa

Godaku Tjukurpa Tjitji Tjutangku Nyakula Kulintjaku Various contributors Interview about Godaku Tjukurpa with Louise Sherman, head of the Australian Languages Team (ALT), Bible Society Australia Thanks to speaking to ‘Joy in Books’ at Paperbark Words blog about Godaku Tjukurpa, Louise. Congratulations on the publication of this beautiful and important children’s book and for its shortlisting […]

I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough

I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough (A&U Books for Children and Young Adults) I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough is the WINNER of the CBCA 2025 Book of the Year: Older Readers category. “Back in my room, I stare at myself in the mirror of my wardrobe. As I sip my glass of water, […]

The Great Undoing by Sharlene Allsopp

The Great Undoing by Sharlene Allsopp (Ultimo Press) “…there are other forms of history. There are songs and laments – poetry. There are ancient songlines. There is continued existence. There is thriving where there was once only surviving. I drew a deep breath as I walked on that silent country, thinking these thoughts, searching for […]