Music for Tigers by Michelle Kadarusman

Music for Tigers by Michelle Kadarusman Michelle Kadarusman writes about her new novel Music for Tigers at PaperbarkWords: As an Australian living abroad, you are heightened to any mention of home in North American media. It doesn’t happen that much and when it does it’s somehow personally reaffirming. It’s one of the quirks of living […]

The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling

The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling Book Review ‘Christmas Eve is a night for miracles and lost causes.’ (The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling) J.K. Rowlings’ The Christmas Pig, illustrated by Jim Field, published by Little Brown and Hachette Children’s Group, is a magical way to embrace the Christmas season. The outer jacket illustration in […]

Wandi: the very true story of the baby dingo who fell from the sky by Favel Parrett

Wandi: the very true story of the baby dingo who fell from the sky by Favel Parrett Author Interview “Most Humans do not understand us. It seems like Humans often kill things they don’t understand – things they are frightened of.” (Wandi) Favel Parrett is well known for her beautifully crafted novels for adults, Past […]

The Verse Novels of Kathryn Apel

The Verse Novels of Kathryn Apel Author Interview “Why can’t we all just be friends?” (Too Many Friends) Australia is a leader in verse novels for young readers and Kathryn Apel is one of our major writers in the field. Kathryn’s engaging and affirming verse novels, Bully on the Bus (2014), On Track (2015), Too […]

My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas

Author Interview My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas “I thought we had this connection, the bird and me. Like we were both lost and out of place.” (My Brother Ben) Peter Carnavas first delighted readers with his picture books, which include The Children Who Loved Books, Jessica’s Box and Sarah’s Heavy Heart. Then he wrote […]

Devils in Danger by Samantha Wheeler

Devils in Danger by Samantha Wheeler Writing Devils in Danger, published by UQP, 2021 I was in Tasmania a few years ago on a fund raising walk for the Wilderness Society. We were spending 7 days in the Tarkine, an area of pristine wilderness where I hoped to see plenty of Tassie wildlife. We saw […]

IBBY 2022 HONOUR BOOKS

The IBBY (Australia) Honour Books have been announced. These two books – one for Writing and one for Illustration – will be Australia’s nominations in the prestigious biennial international awards. The recipients are the extraordinary Vikki Wakefield for Writing and Philip Bunting for Illustration. Vikki’s award is for her YA novel This is How We […]

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (published by Candlewick Press & Walker Books Australia) Author Interview “There will one day come a girl child who will unseat A king and bring about a great change.” (The Beatryce Prophecy) Kate DiCamillo’s books for children are amongst the best in the world. Titles […]

Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee

Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee (published by A&U) Author Interview “If you find a dragon you need a friend.” (Dragon Skin) Every new book from Karen Foxlee comes to us with great anticipation. She brings magic into the world in both her realist and fantasy stories. Her books resonate with […]

The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna, illustrated by Marc McBride

The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna, illustrated by Marc McBride Author and illustrator interview with Sofie Laguna and Marc McBride “The Song of Lewis Carmichael is written by Sofie Laguna with pictures by her husband Marc McBride, who is well-known for illustrating Emily Rodda’s best-selling Deltora Quest series. Sofie Laguna is equally acclaimed. […]