How to Sail to Somewhere by Ashleigh Barton

How to Sail to Somewhere by Ashleigh Barton Lothian Children’s Books (Hachette Australia) Author Interview with Ashleigh Barton about How to Sail to Somewhere ‘I have used to go there with my mum. She loved books. She said they were the adventure you could have when you couldn’t have an adventure. Whatever that means.’ (How […]

Poem: Know a River by Gregory Day

‘Know a River’ Poem by Gregory Day from Southsightedness Published by Transit Lounge, 2025 Southsightedness is a beautiful book and artefact. Know A River Know a river any river but know a river. Know that life passes at the river’s pace that staunch limbs get snagged till they twist and easy lissome fronds go floating […]

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. […]

Little Bones by Sandy Bigna

Little Bones by Sandy Bigna UQP Author Interview with Sandy Bigna about Little Bones “Keep going, Nico whispers as I get higher and higher. My legs are shaking so hard I don’t know how they’re even Supporting me. ‘Keep going,’ Bird echos Nico from inside my bag. My chest wants to explode from the thrashing […]

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 […]

Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm by Samantha-Ellen Bound

Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm by Samantha-Ellen Bound Affirm Press Samantha-Ellen Bound writes about Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm, the fourth and final book in her middle-fiction series. Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog about Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm , Samantha-Ellen. Tell us about writing Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the […]

Hazel’s Treehouse by Zanni Louise, illustrated by Judy Watson

Hazel’s Treehouse by Zanni Louise & illustrated by Judy Watson Walker Books (Australia) “‘What’s today?’ asks Odette, sitting up stretching. ‘Sunday,’ says Hazel with a yawn. Poky lies on her chest. This morning, Poky is the colour of mandarins and sunsets. It’s a warm and snuggly colour for an echidna.” (Hazel’s Treehouse) The pairing of […]

Parrot PALace by Susanne Gervay

Parrot Palace by Susanne Gervay OAM with illustrator Sarah Tabassum and consultant Pooja Mathur Big Sky Publishing Susannne Gervay writes about her new junior fiction novel, Parrot Palace My beautiful picture book, Elephants Have Wings, illustrated by Anna Pignataro, fosters social inclusion and cohesion and spurred me onto writing my junior fiction Parrot Palace. Diversity, […]