Starting Secondary School: The Essential Handbook for every Australian family by Michael Carr-Gregg & Sharon Witt

Starting Secondary School (Penguin Random House Australia) by child and adolescent psychologist and founder of Canteen, Michael Carr-Gregg and experienced teacher and founder of the Resilient Kids Conference, Sharon Witt is a practical, easy-to-read guide. It is aimed at parents with a child entering Year 7 in secondary school but is also useful for parents […]

How to Grow a Family Tree by Eliza Henry-Jones

“Life hasn’t stopped just because something difficult has happened. Something strange and unexpected. Life keeps trucking on …” (How to Grow a Family Tree) Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Eliza. Where are you based and how are you involved in the world of Australian literature? I’m based on a small farm in the Yarra […]

The Book of Chance by Sue Whiting

Inside the CBCA Shortlist “Sounds to me like a young girl who was hurting and feeling let down by her friends. I think you should try to reach out to her and see if you can make amends. Show some grace. Some kindness.” (The Book of Chance) Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Sue. Thanks […]

Izzy and Frank by Katrina Lehman, illustrated by Sophie Beer

Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Katrina and Sophie. Your new picture book Izzy and Frank (Scribble) is a thoughtful and refreshing tale for young children about the friendship between a girl and a seagull and how life changes. Where does your lovely introductory image of Izzy’s island home without corners and a “a staircase […]

The Resilience Project by Hugh Van Cuylenburg

The Resilience Project: Finding Happiness Through Gratitude, Empathy & Mindfulness (Ebury Press, Penguin Random House Australia) is an inspiring book about creating happiness and well-being by practising gratitude, empathy and mindfulness. These three attributes, combined with listening, showing your own imperfections and vulnerability and other behaviours, can turn lives around. Hugh is an Australian who […]

Ursula Dubosarsky & Ask Hercules Quick

Ask Hercules Quick by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Andrew Joyner Ask Hercules Quick is a beautifully imagined and composed story by esteemed author Ursula Dubosarsky about Hercules who does odd jobs to save for a box of magic tricks. The story incorporates humour and intrigue and, while complete and satisfying, provides space for children to […]

Ghost Bird by Lisa Fuller

Inside the CBCA Shortlist Ghost Bird is an exceptional YA debut by Wuilli Wuilli woman, Lisa Fuller. It explores the relationship between Stacey and her very different twin Laney, who disappears. Stacey seems to share some of Laney’s experiences through nightmares and she resolves to find her despite times of deeply unnerving danger. Thank you […]

Bold Tales for Brave-Hearted Boys by Susannah McFarlane

I thoroughly enjoyed Susannah McFarlane’s previous book Fairytales for Feisty Girls and Susannah has now written a companion book, Bold Tales for Brave–Hearted Boys. Both these books are full of child-appeal and are lovely gifts. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Susannah. A pleasure, thanks for the opportunity! Where are you based and how are […]

Phillip Gwynne & The Lords of Melody

Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Phillip. You are very well known for your YA novel Deadly, Unna? Why do you think this struck such a chord? It certainly has been a popular novel, 250,00 copies sold and still going strong. And now it is being translated into Mandarin. So next year some kid in […]

Brisbane Writers Festival 2019 Tony Birch, Melina Marchetta & Melanie Cheng

At this year’s Brisbane Writers Festival I was fortunate to moderate the memorable session, People in the Margins. Melina Marchetta, Melanie Cheng and Tony Birch discussed their recent novels The Place on Dalhousie, Room for a Stranger and The White Girl respectively to explore the lives of people living on the margins of society. These […]