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 […]

Inside the 2024 CBCA Notable Books

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable 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. NB I will add reviews and interviews here and on the Inside the 2024 Shortlist page on the blog (once the shortlist is announced) until the […]

inside the cbca 2023 shortlist

INSIDE THE CBCA 2023 SHORTLIST The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted Books for 2023 has been announced. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed, or interviewed the author or illustrator, on the blog. I will add to this list until the winners are announced in August. Also see the 2023 […]

INSIDE THE 2023 CBCA NOTABLE BOOKS

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Books for 2023 have been announced. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed or interviewed the author or illustrator at PaperbarkWords blog. NB I will add reviews and interviews here and on the Inside the 2023 Shortlist page on the blog (once the shortlist is announced) until the winners […]

Iceberg by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

Iceberg by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft Inside the CBCA Shortlist Author & Illustrator Interview Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2022 CBCA Notable Books “In the pale morning an iceberg calves – shears from a glacier and plunges to the ocean in a haze of sparkle-frost. The iceberg is flat-topped, sharp and […]

Open Your Heart to Country by Jasmine Seymour

Open Your Heart to Country by Jasmine Seymour Jasmine Seymour has won her second Prime Minister’s Literary Award in the Children’s Literature category. Open Your Heart to Country has won the 2023 award. Cooee Mittigar: A Story on Darug Songlines (written by Jasmine Seymour, illustrated by Leanne Mungo Watson) won the 2020 award, as well […]

Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist

Inside the CBCA Shortlist The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Shortlisted Books for 2022 has been announced. Follow the links to those I have already reviewed or interviewed the author or illustrator on the blog. I will add to this list until the winners are announced in August. Congratulations to those creators who have […]

When You’re Older by Sofie Laguna, illustrated Judy Watson

When You’re Older Illustrator Interview Judy Watson is an exceptional illustrator. She won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award (Children’s Fiction) in 2012 for Good Night, Mice! (written by Frances Watts) and has excelled in other collaborations with Frances and also Lesley Gibbes, Lisa Shanahan and other notable Australian authors. Her new picture book, When You’re […]

The tree of ecstasy and unbearable sadness

The Sydney Launch of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by Matt Ottley It was both a privilege and heartrending joy to attend the launch of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by Matt Ottley at the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney’s Paddington last night. The movie of the work, composed by Matt and performed by a full […]

inside the 2022 cbca notable books

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Books for 2022 have been announced. Follow the links to those books I have already reviewed or interviewed the author or illustrator at PaperbarkWords blog. NB I will add reviews and interviews on the Inside the 2022 Shortlist page on the blog until the winners are announced […]