inside the 2022 cbca notable books

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Books for 2022 have been announced. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed or interviewed the author or illustrator at PaperbarkWords blog. NB I will add reviews and interviews on the Inside the 2022 Shortlist page on the blog until the winners are announced […]

Banjo Tully by Justin D’Ath

Author Interview Justin D’Ath writes about Banjo Tully, his new novel for middle readers for PaperbarkWords: Banjo Tully is my lockdown novel. I wrote it in 2020 when I needed a project to put some structure into my days. It isn’t about the pandemic, but that’s what gave me the idea. Remember how everything […]

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 […]

Elsewhere Girls by Emily Gale & Nova Weetman

Elsewhere Girls by Emily Gale & Nova Weetman “Here in the future I can swim every day if I want to. As much as I miss my family, things are easier for me here. There are more choices.” (Elsewhere Girls) Author Interview I am excited to hear from Emily Gale and Nova Weetman about their […]

Rainfish by Andrew Paterson

Rainfish by Andrew Paterson Author Interview “Outside, we ran, leaving the church behind us like a gigantic iceberg. I almost cried with relief to be in day-light with the birds and the wind rustling the branches of the trees.” (Rainfish) Rainfish is a beautifully crafted debut novel for middle-grade by Andrew Paterson, published by Text […]

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 […]

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. […]