The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants by Suzanne Houghton

The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants by Suzanne Houghton CSIRO Publishing The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants: guest author/illustrator post by Suzanne Houghton at Paperbark Words blog Growing up I was always surrounded by plants. My dad loved his garden and I was often helping out in any way I could. It was no surprise […]

Inside The CBCA 2025 Shortlist & Winners

INSIDE THE CBCA 2025 SHORTLIST & WINNERS The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted Books for 2025 have been announced. 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 creators who […]

The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood

The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood (HarperCollins Australia) Inside the 2025 CBCA Shortlist 2025 CBCA Shortlist 2025 CBCA Notable Books Freya Blackwood is one of our most accomplished and highly regarded picture book creators. Two of her books are shortlisted in the 2025 CBCA Picture Book of the Year category: The Garden of […]

Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm by Samantha-Ellen Bound

Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm by Samantha-Ellen Bound Affirm Press Samantha-Ellen Bound writes about Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm, the fourth and final book in her middle-fiction series. Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog about Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm , Samantha-Ellen. Tell us about writing Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the […]

Hazel’s Treehouse by Zanni Louise, illustrated by Judy Watson

Hazel’s Treehouse by Zanni Louise & illustrated by Judy Watson Walker Books (Australia) “‘What’s today?’ asks Odette, sitting up stretching. ‘Sunday,’ says Hazel with a yawn. Poky lies on her chest. This morning, Poky is the colour of mandarins and sunsets. It’s a warm and snuggly colour for an echidna.” (Hazel’s Treehouse) The pairing of […]

Parrot PALace by Susanne Gervay

Parrot Palace by Susanne Gervay OAM with illustrator Sarah Tabassum and consultant Pooja Mathur Big Sky Publishing Susannne Gervay writes about her new junior fiction novel, Parrot Palace My beautiful picture book, Elephants Have Wings, illustrated by Anna Pignataro, fosters social inclusion and cohesion and spurred me onto writing my junior fiction Parrot Palace. Diversity, […]

Frog, Log & Dave Almost Save the Day! by Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson

Frog, Log & Dave Almost Save the Day! by Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson Penguin Books The first in the new Frog, Log & Dave graphic novel series by Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson has arrived. It is really good – an interesting story, funny, generously illustrated and well designed. It sets up the action […]

From Middle Grade to Picture Books by Pip Harry

From Middle Grade to Picture Books by Pip Harry On the occasion of multi-awarded Pip Harry’s Over and Under? picture book being announced as a CBCA 2025 Notable Book and the publication of The Inside Dog, Pip writes about moving from middle-fiction to picture books. Guest Author Post by Pip Harry for Paperbark Words blog […]

The Big Backyard Plan by Kirsten Ealand and Laura Stitzel

The Big Backyard Plan by Kirsten Ealand and Laura Stitzel Published by Affirm Press Guest Author & Illustrator Post by Kirsten Ealand and Laura Stitzel Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog about your picture book The Big Backyard Plan, Kirsten and Laura. The Big Backyard Plan is a story about four friends – Azumi, Theo, Bree […]

The Buried Life by Andrea Goldsmith

The Buried Life by Andrea Goldsmith (Transit Lounge) ‘His interest in death had come about, somewhat to his surprise, when he was exposed to religious belief for the first time. Both his grandparents were avowed atheists, and he didn’t attend religious instruction at school. But at university he met people of faith, and he was […]