When the Mountain Wakes by Matt Shanks

When the Mountain Wakes by Matt Shanks Affirm Press, Simon & Schuster “Somewhere, towards the beginning of time … a mountain rose from the ocean and came to rest above the clouds. Life sang a lullaby, and the mountain slept for many millions of years. Until one day … ” (When the Mountain Wakes) When […]

Odder by Katherine Applegate, ill. Charles Santoso

Odder: An Otter’s Story by Katherine Applegate & Charles Santoso Long months pass, and it is finally time, Odder knows, for the pup to move on. From her rooftop perch, she watches the cage open, hears the leap into sweet waves, feels the joy of a loved one set free.’ (Odder, words by Katherine Applegate, […]

Tim Winton & Juice

Tim Winton & Juice Legendary Australian novelist Tim Winton was introduced as a ‘prophetic voice’ before his brilliantly composed, erudite and literary-rich Richard Johnson lecture, ‘Exiles at Home: what our contempt for nature is costing us’ hosted by cpx in Sydney. Winton acknowledged First Nations Peoples such as Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann as our original Australian prophets, as well […]

The Garden at the End of the World by Cassy Polimeni and Briony Stewart

The Garden at the End of the World by Cassy Polimeni and Briony Stewart Published by University of Queensland Press Inside the CBCA Notables The Garden at the End of the World is a 2024 CBCA Notable Book Guest author post by Cassy Polimeni about her original, inviting and Reassuring picture book, The Garden at the […]

Look Me in the Eye by Jane Godwin

Look Me in the Eye by Jane Godwin Author Interview at PaperbarkWords “ ‘I can never spot the cameras,’ I say. ‘What, are you blind?’ says Mish. Maybe I am, I think. Blind to all the things Mish sees. Maybe we’re all blind. Who knows what anyone else is doing, saying, thinking?” (Look Me in […]

World by Martine Murray & Anna Read

World by Martine Murray & Anna Read (published Parachute Press) World is a 2024 CBCA Notable book in the Picture Book of the Year category. Congratulations. Chloe Hooper describes World in her cover puff as, “A wise and generous fable with a vital message”. Martine Murray first came to my attention in 2001 with her novel […]

Granbad by Penny Tangey & peter Baldwin

Reviews > GranbadPenny TangeyUQPReviewed by Joy LawnReleased August 2023HardbackISBN 9780702266232RRP $24.99Category: Children’s picture book Granbad by Penny Tangey, illus Peter Baldwin (UQP) 13 June 2023 Unlocked content from the archive. Books+Publishing (This review was commissioned by Books+Publishing and is reproduced with permission.) Grandad is a rebel who breaks so many rules the family call him ‘Granbad’. He […]

Mother Earth: Poems to celebrate the wonder of nature by Libby Hathorn, illus Christina Booth

Mother Earth: Poems to celebrate the wonder of natureLibby Hathorn, illus by Christina BoothLothianReviewed by Joy LawnReleased July 2023HardbackISBN 9780734421555RRP $24.99Category: Children’s picture book Mother Earth by Libby Hathorn, illus Christina Booth (Lothian Children’s Books) (This review was commissioned by Books+Publishing and is reproduced with permission.) Libby Hathorn and Christina Booth are the respected […]

BERANI by Michelle Kadarusman

BERANI by Michelle Kadarusman (published by Allen & Unwin) Everything Michelle Kadarusman writes is thoughtful, original and important. Music for Tigers (I also reviewed for The Australian) Girl of the Southern Sea The Theory of Hummingbirds Michelle tells us more about her latest middle-fiction novel, Berani, at PaperbarkWords blog: Environment, conservation and how we interact […]

Say Hello? & The Bear and the Little Green Thing

The Bear and the Little Green Thing by Diandian Say Hello? by Sung Mi Kim Book Reviews by Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog Although very different in style and tone, these two picture books share a message about relating to others. They consider unexpected, reluctant and thwarted friendships and acquaintanceships when characters are too […]