The Lost History by Melanie La’Brooy

The Lost History by Melanie La’Brooy The Lost History follows the The Wintrish Girl in the excellent ‘Talismans of Fate’ middle fiction high fantasy series by Melanie La’Brooy. The series stands out for its beguiling storylines deftly layered with light and dark threads. These are entertaining, intelligent books. Both are published by UQP (University of […]

The Robbery Written and illustrated by Joaquin Camp

The Robbery Written and illustrated by Joaquin Camp Picture book published by Berbay Publishing “The plan was very simple: Thief 1, Thief 2 and Thief 3 would dig a tunnel … and rob a bank at night.” (The Robbery) The Robbery tells a surprising tale about three thieves. They look similar but have distinct personalities […]

The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage by Charlie Archbold

The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage by Charlie Archbold Author Interview at PaperbarkWords “Now, if us Sugarcane Kids know anything from our adventures it is that mysteries are layered like fat sandwiches. And when Dad drops me at the golf course, something tells me I’m about to get a big dose of salad filling.” […]

Timeless by Kelly Canby

Timeless by Kelly Canby (Fremantle Press) Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 Notable Books Timeless is the WINNER of the CBCA 2024 Picture Book of the Year category. “ ‘If only we had more hours in the day,’ Emit (whose parents turned back time to name him) was told […]

Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolfer ill. Tony Flowers

Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolferill. Tony Flowers (Walker Books Australia) Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 Notable Books Scout and the Rescue Dogs is shortlisted in the CBCA 2024 Book of the Year Younger Readers category. Congratulations on having yet another of your books CBCA shortlisted, Dianne […]

That Bird Has Arms by Kate Temple & Jol Temple, ill. Niharika Hukku & Ronojoy Ghosh

That Bird Has Arms by Kate Temple & Jol Temple, illustrated by Niharika Hukku & Ronojoy Ghosh (published by Little Hare, an imprint of Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2024 Notable Books Kate and Jol Temple have made a remarkable impact on the children’s book world. Their […]

Lights Out, Little Dragon! by Debra Tidball & Rae Tan

Lights Out, Little Dragon! by Debra Tidball & Rae Tan (published HarperCollins Australia) Debra Tidball is a children’s author of award-winning picture books. The Scared Book won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Australia and New Zealand, and is a CBCA Notable Book. When I See Grandma won the Caleb Award and both books have been shortlisted for the […]

This is My Book by Tim Harris & Heidi McKinnon

This is My Book by Tim Harris & Heidi McKinnon Published by Penguin Random House Tim Harris is one of the best of the many good guys of Australian children’s literature. He is well known and loved for his series fiction that spans Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables, Exploding Endings, Toffle Towers and Ratbags. His first picture […]

Listen, Hippo! Written and illustrated by Gabriel Evans

Listen, Hippo! Written and illustrated by Gabriel Evans Published by Puffin “’I’m feeling sad,’ said Billy. My thoughts are whirling and twirling like a pinwheel. I think what I need is – ’ ‘Aha! As your best friend I know exactly what you need,’ said Hippo.’” (Listen, Hippo!) I jumped at the offer of an […]

Clever, Funny, Thinking Picture Books

Picture Book Reviews by Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog Books published by ABC Books, HarperCollins Australia & Working Title Press 2023 has produced a really great stash of picture books from ABC Books, Working Title Press and HarperCollins, as well as the reissue of some of the latter’s contemporary classics. The following books should be bought, borrowed […]