The Thing About Oliver by Deborah Kelly

Inside the CBCA Shortlist “This new life doesn’t really feel like it fits.” The Thing About Oliver by Deborah Kelly (Wombat Books) is shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia in the Book of the Year: Younger Readers category. The Thing About Oliver is an appealing, although heart-wrenching, story for children told through the […]

Small Town by Phillip Gwynne, illustrated by Tony Flowers

“At school we learn about refugees. War. Famine. And persecution. People with nowhere to live.” Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords about Small Town, Phillip and Tony. Your new picture book Small Town (Puffin Books) tells an important story about a small town losing its residents and how renewal happens when refugees arrive. How would […]

The Secrets of Magnolia Moon by Edwina Wyatt

Inside the CBCA Shortlist The Secrets of Magnolia Moon by Edwina Wyatt, illustrated by Katherine Quinn (Walker Books Australia) is shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia in the Book of the Year: Younger Readers category. The Secrets of Magnolia Moon is an appealing story about Magnolia Moon told in lyrical, engaging writing. Congratulations […]

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

By Bryan Stevenson Book Review Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson (Scribe Publishing) is also a movie starring Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson and Jamie Foxx as Walter McMillan, the man Bryan tries to save from death row. Based on the powerful true story of young Harvard-educated African American […]

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, […]