Here Comes Stinkbug! by Tohby Riddle

Inside the CBCA Shortlist This is the 30th and final of this year’s CBCA shortlisted books that I have written about for PaperbarkWords blog. I have included a synopsis and ideas to use in the classroom for each book. Congratulations to all the shortlisted creators and we look forward to celebrating the winners and honour […]

Heads and Tails: Insects by John Canty

Inside the CBCA Shortlist Heads and Tails: Insects (Berbay Publishing) is cleanly and consummately designed to appeal to young children and either elicit or nurture their interest in insects. The form of the clues in the narrative is deliberately repetitive, with every sentence beginning with the word, “I”. The book begins: “I live in a […]

Rainbow Bear by Stephen Michael King

Inside the CBCA Shortlist Rainbow Bear (Scholastic Australia) overflows with family love, especially the love between a father and his children. It is full of gentle humour, founded in the natural rhythms of day and night, night and day; watched over by the celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars – Stephen Michael King […]

The Dress-Up Box by Patrick Guest & Nathaniel Eckstrom

Inside the CBCA Shortlist The Dress-Up Box (Hardie Grant Egmont) is a story about home, family, friends and using your imagination. The Frolleys rent the house next door to their best friends, the Choong family. They have a frog pond, bird bath, bamboo forest, haunted shed and a dress-up box. When the Frolleys have to […]

Tricky’s Bad Day by Alison Lester

Inside the CBCA Shortlist Tricky’s Bad Day by Alison Lester (Affirm Press) is shortlisted in the Early Childhood category of the CBCA 2019 awards. It is engaging whilst being full of observations and wise understanding about the life of a young child and his or her family. Tricky is a young cat/child; still young enough […]

Noni the Pony Rescues a Joey by Alison Lester

Inside the CBCA Shortlist Noni the Pony Rescues a Joey (Allen & Unwin) is set in the Australian bush and is aimed at toddlers and children in pre-school and junior primary. It is told in simple rhyming text and its major themes are helping others and Australian native animals. Noni the Pony lives near the […]