My Mum is a Bird by Angie Cui, ill. Evie Barrow

My Mum is a Bird by Angie Cui, ill. Evie Barrow Guest Author Post by Angie Cui Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog about your imaginative, affirming picture book My Mum is a Bird, Angie. As a debut author, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I first began writing My Mum is a Bird. […]

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 […]

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 […]

Brave in Every Which Way by Maddy Mara

Brave in Every Which Way by Maddy Mara ill. Lauren Degraaf Published by Affirm Press Author Interview with Maddy Mara Congratulations on the publication of your important, affirming picture book, Brave in Every Which Way, Maddy Mara, and thank you for speaking with Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords. Guest Author Post by Maddy Mara about Brave Every Which Way Maddy […]

100 School Days By Deborah Frenkel and Laura Stitzel

100 School Days by Deborah Frenkel and Laura Stitzel Published by Affirm Press Guest Author Post by Deborah Frenkel about 100 School Days Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog about your picture book 100 School Days, Deborah. You are having a heyday with your excellent picture books, The Truck Cat amongst them. Deborah explains in her […]

Saturday, Sunday by Natalie Kate Forbes, illustrated by Danny Snell

Saturday, Sunday by Natalie Kate Forbes, illustrated by Danny Snell Published by Affirm Press Guest Author Post by Natalie Kate Forbes about Saturday, Sunday Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog about your new picture book, Natalie. Saturday, Sunday captures many people’s weekends with its mixture of busyness and relaxation and will particularly resonate with young families. […]

DOG BEACH by Julie Murphy & Annie White

DOG BEACH by Julie Murphy & Annie White NLA Publishing Guest Author Post by Julie Murphy about Dog Beach Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog, Julie. The Story Behind the Story of DOG BEACH DOG BEACH is a short, rhyming picture book for ages 3 – 6. It features a range of dogs running amuck […]