Lights Out, Little Dragon! by Debra Tidball & Rae Tan

Lights Out, Little Dragon! by Debra Tidball & Rae Tan (published HarperCollins Australia) Debra Tidball is a children’s author of award-winning picture books. The Scared Book won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Australia and New Zealand, and is a CBCA Notable Book. When I See Grandma won the Caleb Award and both books have been shortlisted for the […]

This is My Book by Tim Harris & Heidi McKinnon

This is My Book by Tim Harris & Heidi McKinnon Published by Penguin Random House Tim Harris is one of the best of the many good guys of Australian children’s literature. He is well known and loved for his series fiction that spans Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables, Exploding Endings, Toffle Towers and Ratbags. His first picture […]

BIRDY by Sharon Kernot

BIRDY by SHARON KERNOT (Text Publishing) Sharon Kernot has now written and published two high quality YA verse novels. 2018’s The Art of Taxidermy is multi-awarded (see link at the end of this piece to my notes about it on the blog) and her new book, Birdy, shares some of the first novel’s distinctive thematic […]

Scar Town by Tristan Bancks

Scar Town by Tristan Bancks Published by Puffin (AU) an imprint of Penguin Random House Australia Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 Notable Books Scar Town is the winner of the prestigious CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Reader category and is also declared the winner by children, who […]

INSIDE THE CBCA 2024 SHORTLIST

INSIDE THE CBCA 2024 SHORTLIST The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted 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. I will add to this list until the winners are announced in August. Also see the 2024 NOTABLE BOOKS at […]

Cora Seen and Heard by Zanni Louise

Cora Seen and Heard by Zanni Louise (Published by Walker Books Australia) Zanni Louise is a beautiful writer and, true to form, has written a beautiful piece here about putting herself into the story. Guest author post by Zanni Louise about her new children’s middle fiction novel, Cora Seen and Heard, for Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog Putting Yourself in […]

The Garden at the End of the World by Cassy Polimeni and Briony Stewart

The Garden at the End of the World by Cassy Polimeni and Briony Stewart Published by University of Queensland Press Inside the CBCA Notables The Garden at the End of the World is a 2024 CBCA Notable Book Guest author post by Cassy Polimeni about her original, inviting and Reassuring picture book, The Garden at the […]

Listen, Hippo! Written and illustrated by Gabriel Evans

Listen, Hippo! Written and illustrated by Gabriel Evans Published by Puffin “’I’m feeling sad,’ said Billy. My thoughts are whirling and twirling like a pinwheel. I think what I need is – ’ ‘Aha! As your best friend I know exactly what you need,’ said Hippo.’” (Listen, Hippo!) I jumped at the offer of an […]

The Kindness Project by Deborah Abela

Kindness as a Superpower The Kindness Project a middle grade verse novel by Deborah Abela Increasing in popularity, verse novels are a very important and innovative form. Of course, we have some standout verse novelists from the adult list with Dorothy Porter, Les Murray, Alan Wearne and others. Equally significant are our verse novelists for […]

Nightsong by Sally Soweol Han

Nightsong by Sally Soweol Han Published by University of Queensland Press Book review by Joy Lawn (Joy in Books) at PaperbarkWords blog Who is Sally Soweol Han? Sally Soweol Han is a new talent and the author-illustrator of two acclaimed picture books. Tiny Wonders won the 2023 CBCA New Illustrator of the Year. Nightsong is […]