The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books by Lara Cain Gray ill. Lorena Carrington & Timothy Ide

The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books Written by Lara Cain Gray and illustrated by Lorena Carrington and Timothy Ide Author Interview with DR Lara Cain Gray at PaperbarkWords Thank you for speaking to ‘Joy in Books’ at PaperbarkWords, Lara. I’ve seen adult resource books about picture books but nothing like The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Book. It’s fabulous and has so much […]

Country Town by Isolde Martyn & Robyn Ridgeway, illustrated by Louise Hogan

Country Town by Isolde Martyn & Robyn Ridgeway, illustrated by Louise Hogan Published by Ford St Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 CBCA Winners Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 Notable Books Country Town is the WINNER of the CBCA 2024 Eve Pownall Award. At the time of writing it is also […]

A Wish for Baby by Caz Goodwin & Sara Acton

A Wish for Baby by Caz Goodwin & Sara Acton “I wish for you, dear little one, enchanting dreams each night. And days that bring surprises, full of wonder and delight.” (A Wish for Baby) (A Wish for Baby is published by Affirm Press) A Wish for Baby is an exquisite picture book for babies. […]

Inside the CBCA 2024 Winners

Inside the CBCA 2024 Winners As I have done every year for almost thirty years now, this year I’m again actively, and in depth where possible, writing about and promoting the CBCA Shortlist and Winners. Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist 2024 CBCA Winners & Honour Books CBCA Winner, Honour & Shadow Judging announcement The winners […]

Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart

Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart (Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette Australia) Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart is the popular WINNER of the CBCA 2024 Book of the Year: Early Childhood category. “See, I’m okay! It’s my own special way, That’s how I do it – I do it all day!” (Gymnastica Fantastica!) Author/Illustrator Interview: Briony Stewart Congratulations on Gymnastica Fantastica! being […]

Bear and Duck are Friends by Sue deGennaro

Bear and Duck are Friends by Sue deGennaro (Published by Little Hare an imprint of Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 Notable Books Bear and Duck are Friends is an HONOUR BOOK in the CBCA 2024 Book of the Year Early Childhood category. “Duck loved trying […]

Rock Dogs by Sally Barns & Anil Tortop

Rock Dogs by Sally Barns & Anil Tortop Published by Affirm Press Guest author post about Rock Dogs by Sally Barns for Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog As much as I would love to be able to tell you that the idea for this story came from somewhere meaningful, I can’t. It wasn’t inspired by a personal story of […]

Digger Digs Down by Johanna Bell, illustrated by Huni Melissa Bolliger

Digger Digs Down by Johanna Bell, illustrated by Huni Melissa Bolliger (Published by University of Queensland Press) “Digger digs deep, deep into the ground. Down down down goes Digger until …” (Digger Digs Down) Digger Digs Down is an exceptional picture book. Both the deceptively simple written text and the sumptuous illustrations work together to […]

Imagine a Time by Penny Harrison & Jennifer Goldsmith

Imagine a Time by Penny Harrison & Jennifer Goldsmith “Imagine a time when all the world STOPS, when all of the clocks no longer TICK-TOCK. And all of the maps are starting to fade, as the need to be somewhere drifts far away.” (Imagine a Time) (Imagine a Time is published by New Frontier Publishing) […]

Pamela Allen

My interview with Pamela Allen to celebrate her 90th year and the publication of her new book, Mr McGee and his Hat is in the Weekend Australian newspaper Saturday 20 July 2024 https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/pamela-allen-still-drawing-for-kids-at-90/news-story/d4a365a71a38c8199bf0153bbb14bbfa Interview with Pamela Allen reproduced in full at the end of this review. More about Pamela Allen and my review of Mr […]