How to Survive 1985 by Tegan Bennett Daylight

How to Survive 1985 by Tegan Bennett Daylight (Simon & Schuster) “ ‘There’s a lot more buildings in 2025,’ I said to Julia as we walked along the Quay to the bottom of George Street. It was such a weird feeling, like the twenty-first century was a kind of hologram hanging over the 1980s.” (How […]

The Paperbark Tree Committee & the Right Book for the Right Reader by Karys McEwen

2026 CBCA Shortlisted Book We welcome Karys McEwen and The Paperbark Tree Committee, her new middle-fiction novel to Paperbark Words. You can see that there’s a perfect synergy between the book’s title and setting and the blog. Karys’s protagonist is even called ‘Art’! Karys also shares her valuable expertise about the right book for the […]

Higher Ground by Tull Suwannakit

Higher Ground by Tull Suwannakit Author/illustrator Interview at PaperbarkWords “There was no one. Just us. ‘Never lose hope,’ Grandma said. ‘Life can be meaningful even in the darkest of days.’ “ (Higher Ground) New Frontier Publishing Thank you for speaking to ‘Joy in Books’ at PaperbarkWords, Tull. You must be thrilled with the final […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Frog, Log & Dave Almost Save the Day! by Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson

Frog, Log & Dave Almost Save the Day! by Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson Penguin Books The first in the new Frog, Log & Dave graphic novel series by Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson has arrived. It is really good – an interesting story, funny, generously illustrated and well designed. It sets up the action […]

From Middle Grade to Picture Books by Pip Harry

From Middle Grade to Picture Books by Pip Harry On the occasion of multi-awarded Pip Harry’s Over and Under? picture book being announced as a CBCA 2025 Notable Book and the publication of The Inside Dog, Pip writes about moving from middle-fiction to picture books. Guest Author Post by Pip Harry for Paperbark Words blog […]

The Buried Life by Andrea Goldsmith

The Buried Life by Andrea Goldsmith (Transit Lounge) ‘His interest in death had come about, somewhat to his surprise, when he was exposed to religious belief for the first time. Both his grandparents were avowed atheists, and he didn’t attend religious instruction at school. But at university he met people of faith, and he was […]