A Walk in the Dark Jane Godwin

A Walk in the Dark by Jane Godwin A Walk in the Dark by Jane Godwin (Lothian Children’s Books) is my favourite of Jane’s excellent novels. It is genuinely exciting and high stakes, in a realistic way. It is also layered and meaningful as the group of Year Nine students tackle the ‘dropping’, a prepared […]

Cranky Chicken: Party Animals by Katherine Battersby

Cranky Chicken: Party Animals by Katherine Battersby Author / Illustrator Interview Congratulations Katherine on Cranky Chicken, your graphic novel for children being so successful that there is now a sequel, Cranky Chicken: Party Animals (published by Lothian Children’s Books/Hachette Australia). Thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords. I have loved your picture […]

Heroes, Rebels and Innovators by Karen Wyld, illustrated by Jaelyn Biumaiwai

Heroes, Rebels and Innovators: Inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People from History by Karen Wyld, illustrated by Jaelyn Biumaiwai Inside the CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2022 CBCA Notable Books Book review and ideas on how to use Heroes, Rebels and Innovators by Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords blog Heroes, Rebels and Innovators (Lothian Children’s Books) […]

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly Inside the 2022 CBCA Shortlist Inside the 2022 CBCA Notable Books A hat-trick for talented natural history illustrator Sami Bayly who has her third book, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature commended by the CBCA awards in the Eve Pownall non-fiction category. […]

Wandi: the very true story of the baby dingo who fell from the sky by Favel Parrett

Wandi: the very true story of the baby dingo who fell from the sky by Favel Parrett Author Interview “Most Humans do not understand us. It seems like Humans often kill things they don’t understand – things they are frightened of.” (Wandi) Favel Parrett is well known for her beautifully crafted novels for adults, Past […]

The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie

The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie, published Lothian Children’s Books Author & Illustrator Interview “Miro could swim with the stars and tickle the songs from the earth. He could whisper up waves and weave clouds to make stories for the wind.” (The Curiosities) Perfect confluence of words and illustrations makes The Curiosities […]

Pip Harry and Are You There Buddha?

“Everything is happening so fast, puberty is like a runaway train. Why can’t my body slow down for a second? So I can catch my breath?” (Are You There Buddha?) Pip Harry has a glowing backlist of YA novels – Because of You, Head of the River and I’ll Tell You Mine. She has followed […]

The Book of Australian Trees by Inga Simpson, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson

“Trees tell stories about places … When you first stand in a forest, the trees all seem the same. But if you look more closely, they are each a little different, like people.” (The Book of Australian Trees) I have read and loved all of Inga Simpson’s novels for adults – Mr Wigg, Nest and […]

When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke

Book Review Much of Maxine Beneba Clarke’s writing is poetic, and often throws unforgettable diamond-honed punches. I have read and valued a number of her books, beginning with her short fiction Foreign Soil, in which the first story refers to a bike that evokes searing memories as well as a mention of patchwork bikes. Her […]

Bandits by Sha’an D’Anthes

Sha’an D’Anthes is both author and illustrator of the new picture book, Bandits (published by Lothian Children’s Books). Bandits has great visual impact, is set in a slightly futuristic society and looks at significant issues in a highly appealing way. Thank you for speaking to PaperbarkWords, Sha’an. You have such an interesting name and pseudonym […]