Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge

Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge INSIDE THE CBCA 2026 SHORTLIST (Macmillan Australia) “Though she’d loved those stories, they weren’t the real reason she’d latched on to Savita – at least, not in in recent years. Something about Savita’s immortality made Kel feel safe in a way that nothing else could. No matter what […]

Storm by Claire Saxby and Jess Racklyeft

Storm by Claire Saxby and Jess Racklyeft (Allen & Unwin) Author piece about Storm from Claire Saxby for Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog Jess and I have been lucky enough to work on several books together with the fabulous A&U publishing team. Trusting that Jess will find the spaces between my words and […]

Why, Oh Why? The Story of Rainbows, by Roy G. Biv (Tim Hurburgh)

Why, Oh Why? The Story of Rainbows, by Roy G. Biv (Tim Hurburgh) Hardie Grant Custom Roy G. Biv (Tim Hurburgh) writes about his picture book The Story of Rainbows for Paperbark Word blog. Growing up outside Hobart on the River Derwent, life was full of wonder. We were endlessly curious about the natural world […]

The Peach King by Inga Simpson, ill. Tannya Harricks

The Peach King: A contemporary fable about the resilience of nature written by Inga Simpson, illustrated by Tannya Harricks Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette Australia Interview with Inga Simpson & Tannya Harricks about The Peach King “When Little Peach Tree was just a sapling, not much more than a stick bending in the breeze, all they could […]

Another Year Around the Sun by Katrina Germein, ill. Alice Lindstrom

Another Year Around the Sun by Katrina Germein, illustrated by Alice Lindstrom Affirm Press, Simon & Schuster Another Year Around the Sun – Creators’ Inspiration Katrina Germein In thinking about the inspiration for Another Year Around the Sun, I can’t pinpoint one moment; even revisiting my drafts doesn’t help. It’s just there. A story about […]

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 […]

This Bird by Astred Hicks

This Bird: Noticing Our Urban Birds by Astred Hicks, with Holly Parsons CSIRO Publishing Guest author post by author-illustrator and freelance book designer extraordinaire Astred Hicks about her new book This Bird for ‘Joy in Books’ at Paperbark Words Astred Hicks & This Bird Underneath its jacket, This Bird is a love letter to my family […]

I am a Magpie, I am a Currawong by Bridget Farmer

I am a Magpie, I am a Currawong by Bridget Farmer (Black Cockatoo Books) I am a Magpie, I am a Currawong, written and illustrated by Bridget Farmer, is shortlisted for the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year: Eve Pownall Award. Congratulations on I am a Magpie, I am a Currawong being shortlisted by the CBCA, […]

We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold

We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold Thames & Hudson “We live in a bus and we stop whenever we like.” (We Live in a Bus) We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold is a 2025 CBCA shortlisted Picture Book of the Year. Congratulations on your warm, joyous book and its CBCA shortlisting, […]

A Farm by the Sea by Jillian Packer

A Farm by the Sea by Jillian Packer Published by Berbay Books Jillian Packer writes about her tender, timeless picture book, A Farm by the Sea, to describe how childhood, and the place where you live, grows you into the person you become. Many of her illustrations artfully pay homage to ‘millefleur’ – design style […]