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 […]
Read More A Walk in the Dark Jane GodwinA Feather on a Wing by Maria Speyer Danish artist, illustrator and author Maria Speyer’s debut picture book in English is A Feather on a Wing. It has an ethereal feel yet is grounded in a sister’s love, nurturing nature and access to a world constructed with care and warmth that is growing and inclusive. […]
Read More A Feather on a Wing by Maria SpeyerThe Sydney Launch of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by Matt Ottley It was both a privilege and heartrending joy to attend the launch of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by Matt Ottley at the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney’s Paddington last night. The movie of the work, composed by Matt and performed by a full […]
Read More The tree of ecstasy and unbearable sadnessMatt Ottley and his books Interview with Matt Ottley at PaperbarkWords I have been a long-time admirer and collector of Matt Ottley’s work. Matt has an exceptional reputation for his artistic and sophisticated picture books. There are too many to list but include Teacup (written by Rebecca Young), Mrs Millie’s Painting, What Faust Saw, Luke’s […]
Read More Matt Ottley and his BooksJess Racklyeft speaks about her new picture book, Big World, Tiny World: Forest at PaperbarkWords: Jess Racklyeft on Big World, Tiny World: Forest Big World, Tiny World: Forest was inspired after watching the way my children would find a little universe in a tiny mossy garden – naming snails and building them houses – finding […]
Read More Big World, Tiny World: Forest by Jess RacklyeftInside the CBCA Shortlist “So you will gather it into your hands and cast it gently upon the air.” (How to Make a Bird) How to Make a Bird written by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Matt Ottley (Walker Books Australia) is shortlisted for the CBCA 2021 Picture Book of the Year. It is an exceptional, […]
Read More How to Make a Bird by Meg McKinlay & Matt OttleyGraeme Base is one of Australia and the world’s foremost picture book creators, renowned for Animalia and The Waterhole, amongst other treasures. His new book, The Tree (Puffin Books) is a fable. It begins timelessly, “This is the story of …” The tale is perfectly formed and elegantly illustrated to show the tree as a […]
Read More The Tree by Graeme Base“I am your mother and I want to make your life less painful in any way I can. Your journey will ebb and flow, like a river searching for the sea. You will not, I know, be dragged under. Like any journey, it will begin with the first step. You will meet your guides along […]
Read More The Forest of Moon and Sword by Amy RaphaelBook Review Fathoms: the world in the whale ‘The world as we once knew it has of course disappeared. Now too, quietly, the world as we don’t know it yet – a nature we’ve barely met – slinks away.’ (Fathoms) Fathoms by Rebecca Giggs (Scribe Publications) gives a powerful insight into whales but has ultimately […]
Read More Fathoms by Rebecca GiggsReviews of Natural History Picture Books from Walker Books Australia Kookaburra by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Tannya Harricks Inside the CBCA Shortlist Dry to Dry: The Seasons of Kakadu by Pamela Freeman, illustrated by Liz Anelli Two new outstanding picture books in Walker Books (Australia) Nature Storybooks series are Kookaburra and Dry to Dry. Like […]
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