Grace and Mr Milligan by Caz Goodwin, illustrated by Pip Kruger

Grace and Mr Milligan by Caz Goodwin, illustrated Pip Kruger Guest author: Caz Goodwin Could you tell us about your new picture book, Grace and Mr Milligan? Grace lives next door to old Mr Milligan and his goat Charlie. They are the best of friends. But when Charlie passes away, everything changes. Grace is disturbed […]

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 […]

Fix-It Ninget by Sarah Dabro and Luca French

Fix-It Ninget co-written by Sarah Dabro, co-written and illustrated by Luca French (published by Five Mile) Author interview with Sarah Dabro and Luca French ‘There was a Space Ninget who loved building things, She made gadgets and robots and rockets with wings.’ (Fix-It Ninget by Sarah Dabro and Luca French) Luca French’s Ninget Universe animation […]

Swim, Shark, Swim! & The Voyage of Whale and Calf

PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT SHARKS AND WHALES Swim, Shark, Swim! by Dom Conlon & Anastasia Izlesou The Voyage of Whale and Calf by Vanessa Pirotta, illustrated by Samantha Metcalfe (CSIRO Publishing) Book Reviews by Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog ***** Swim, Shark, Swim! by Dom Conlon & Anastasia Izlesou It is the perfect time of year to read a […]

Our Dreaming by Kirli Saunders & Dub Leffler

Our Dreaming by Kirli Saunders & Dub Leffler (A Scholastic Press book from Scholastic Australia) Book Review by Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog The inclusively titled picture book, Our Dreaming, is by the dream team of Gunai Woman Kirli Saunders and descendant from the Bigambul people of South-West Queensland, Dub Leffler. Their previous collaboration is the verse novel, […]

Calm, Sleepy, Joyful Books

Calm, Sleepy, Joyful Books Book Reviews by Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog Most of these picture books are calm or sleepy books that help children relax and unwind. There is also an empathetic book about a grandma with dementia and a Play School Christmas book. All the books are published by ABC Books, except one by HarperCollins. A […]

Egg by Clare Atkins & Harrison Vial

Egg by Clare Atkins, illustrated by Harrison Vial Clare Atkins is an exceptional Australian author who writes across a range of platforms, including YA novels, scriptwriting and now a stunning picture book, Egg (University of Queensland Press). Clare has a big heart and is able to embody her characters and their situations thoughtfully to create […]

Iceberg by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

Iceberg by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft Inside the CBCA Shortlist Author & Illustrator Interview Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2022 CBCA Notable Books “In the pale morning an iceberg calves – shears from a glacier and plunges to the ocean in a haze of sparkle-frost. The iceberg is flat-topped, sharp and […]

luwa tara luwa waypa: three kangaroos three Tasmanian men by Dave mangenner Gough, illustrated by Samantha Campbell

luwa tara luwa waypa: three kangaroos three Tasmanian men by Dave mangenner Gough, illustrated by Samantha Campbell Dave mangenner Gough is a proud trawlwoolway man – descended from Bungana (chief) manalargenna’s oldest daughter woretemoeteyenner of north-east Tasmania. Dave has strong personal connection to lutruwita Tasmania and its people. Dave is an artist, curator and cultural […]

Open Your Heart to Country by Jasmine Seymour

Open Your Heart to Country by Jasmine Seymour In a surprisingly short time Jasmine Seymour, who is a Dharug woman belonging to the Burubiranggal people (descended from Maria Lock and Yarramundi), has carved a significant place for her picture books in our children’s literature canon. She is not only multi-talented as both an author and […]