BOWERBIRD BLUES by Aura Parker

BOWERBIRD BLUES by Aura Parker On Writing and Illustrating BOWERBIRD BLUES Guest author/illustrator post at PaperbarkWords blog by Aura Parker My latest creation, Bowerbird Blues is a picture book about longing, searching and love. A story which has slowly simmered along over the last few tumultuous years and means a great deal to me. My […]

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 […]

Book of Curious Birds by Jennifer Cossins

Book of Curious Birds by Jennifer Cossins Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2022 CBCA Notable Books Interview extract by Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog (adapted from an interview in Magpies magazine) & how to use the book with children. I interviewed Jennifer Cossins while she was creating Book […]

My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas

Author Interview My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas “I thought we had this connection, the bird and me. Like we were both lost and out of place.” (My Brother Ben) Peter Carnavas first delighted readers with his picture books, which include The Children Who Loved Books, Jessica’s Box and Sarah’s Heavy Heart. Then he wrote […]

Australian Backyard Birdies by Andy Geppert

Andy Geppert writes about his new book, Australian Backyard Birdies: I thought I loved birds more than anyone else…. until my daughter Harri came along, that was. Harri was an early bird herself. She used to wake up before most roosters and our daily ritual was to go straight outside onto our small back deck […]

Busy Beaks by Sarah Allen

Inside the 2021 CBCA Shortlist Most books shortlisted for the 2021 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood award are fiction. Busy Beaks by Sarah Allen (Affirm Press) has broken the mould in fine style. It is a superb non-fiction picture book about Australian birds. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Sarah. Congratulations on Busy […]

How to Make a Bird by Meg McKinlay & Matt Ottley

Inside the CBCA Shortlist “So you will gather it into your hands and cast it gently upon the air.” (How to Make a Bird) How to Make a Bird written by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Matt Ottley (Walker Books Australia) is shortlisted for the CBCA 2021 Picture Book of the Year. It is an exceptional, […]

Ruby Tuesday by Hayley Lawrence

“Everything is quiet in the forest. For the first time in years, I don’t dream of falling when I close my eyes. No, I dream of flying.” (Ruby Tuesday) Ruby Tuesday is a thoughtfully composed tale about Ruby who lives in a forest near a small Australian town with her disabled mother. They are both […]

The Theory of Hummingbirds by Michelle Kadarusman

“Hummingbirds and angels don’t need two good feet. They have wings.” (The Theory of Hummingbirds) The Theory of Hummingbirds by Michelle Kadarusman (UQP) is an intriguing middle fiction novel with appealing, idiosyncratic protagonists Alba and Levi. It has an important message, told in a refreshing, imaginative way. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Michelle. Hello, […]