Inside the 2024 CBCA Notable Books

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Books for 2024 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 here and on the Inside the 2024 Shortlist page on the blog (once the shortlist is announced) until the […]

Ask Aunty: Seasons (An introduction to First Nations seasons)

Ask Aunty: Seasons (An introduction to First Nations Seasons) By Aunty Munya Andrews Illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis Published by Hardie Grant Explore Ask Aunty: Seasons by Aunty Munya Andrews with illustrations by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis is published by Hardie Grant Explore. Available in stores nationally from 15 November, RRP $24.99. “I love my culture and I love […]

Affirming, Fun Picture Books

Affirming, Fun Picture Books by Affirm Picture Books & More Reviews by Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog All books reviewed in this survey are published by Affirm Press There’s something magical happening at Affirm Press. A small independent press, they are absolutely punching above their weight by publishing many of Australia’s best picture book creators (as well […]

All About the Heart by Remi Kowalski, illus Tonia Composto

All About the HeartRemi Kowalski, illus by Tonia CompostoBerbayReviewed by Joy LawnReleased May 2023HardbackISBN 9781922610591RRP $25.99Category: Children’s picture book All About the Heart by Remi Kowalski, illustrated by Tonia Composto (Published by Berbay) (This review was commissioned by Books+Publishing and is reproduced with permission) All About the Heart by paediatric cardiologist Remi Kowalski and graphic designer Tonia […]

Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples by Isaiah Firebrace ill. Jaelyn Biumaiwai

Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples by Isaiah Firebrace, ill. Jaelyn Biumaiwai (Hardie Grant Publishing) Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2023 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2023 Notable Books Isaiah Firebrace is a Yorta Yorta and Gundit Jamara man whose formative years were spent on the banks of the Murray […]

ANZAC & Gallipoli Picture Books

ANZAC & Gallipoli picture books I reviewed these books for the SMH/The Age in 2015 – so it is a review of its time. Thanks to Susan Wyndham for commissioning the review. ***** Gallipoli books for children open an enlightening window on the reality of war SYDNEY MORNING HERALD/THE AGE April 25, 2015 By Joy […]

A is for Australian Reefs by Frané Lessac

A is for Australian Reefs by Frané Lessac Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2023 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2023 Notable Books A is for Australian Reefs by Frané Lessac (published Walker Books Australia) A is for Australian Reefs is the latest in Frané Lessac’s impressive body of picture books. Her books are distinctive for […]

inside the cbca 2023 shortlist

INSIDE THE CBCA 2023 SHORTLIST The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted Books for 2023 has been announced. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed, or interviewed the author or illustrator, on the blog. I will add to this list until the winners are announced in August. Also see the 2023 […]

INSIDE THE 2023 CBCA NOTABLE BOOKS

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Books for 2023 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 here and on the Inside the 2023 Shortlist page on the blog (once the shortlist is announced) until the winners […]

What’s the Big Idea? by Sue Lawson & Karen Tayleur

What’s the Big Idea?: Australian Inventions that Changed the World by Sue Lawson & Karen Tayleur (Wild Dogs Books) The inventions in this book are impressive and, in fact, mind-boggling. They begin with First Nations inventions such as yidakas (didgeridoos), fish and eel traps and fire stick farming, and continue through the eras to the […]