BIRDY by Sharon Kernot

BIRDY by SHARON KERNOT (Text Publishing) Sharon Kernot has now written and published two high quality YA verse novels. 2018’s The Art of Taxidermy is multi-awarded (see link at the end of this piece to my notes about it on the blog) and her new book, Birdy, shares some of the first novel’s distinctive thematic […]

Hello Twigs by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood

Hello Twigs by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood “Nature stuff is TREASURE!” (Hello Twigs: Let’s Find Treasure) The new Hello Twigs series of lively, humorous graphic novels for children has great appeal because of its familiar and yet unpredictable stories based around four friends (the familiar) who are twigs (the unexpected) who all have an […]

Mother Earth: Poems to celebrate the wonder of nature by Libby Hathorn, illus Christina Booth

Mother Earth: Poems to celebrate the wonder of natureLibby Hathorn, illus by Christina BoothLothianReviewed by Joy LawnReleased July 2023HardbackISBN 9780734421555RRP $24.99Category: Children’s picture book Mother Earth by Libby Hathorn, illus Christina Booth (Lothian Children’s Books) (This review was commissioned by Books+Publishing and is reproduced with permission.) Libby Hathorn and Christina Booth are the respected […]

BOWERBIRD BLUES by Aura Parker

BOWERBIRD BLUES by Aura Parker On Writing and Illustrating BOWERBIRD BLUES Guest author/illustrator post at PaperbarkWords blog by Aura Parker My latest creation, Bowerbird Blues is a picture book about longing, searching and love. A story which has slowly simmered along over the last few tumultuous years and means a great deal to me. My […]

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. […]

The Forest of Moon and Sword by Amy Raphael

“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 […]

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, […]

The Dam by David Almond & Levi Pinfold

The Dam is written by Carnegie and multi awarded medallist David Almond who wrote Skellig, Clay, Slog’s Dad and other renowned books. It is illustrated by Queensland-based artist Levi Pinfold who previously won the Greenaway Medal for Black Dog. Levi Pinfold has now been shortlisted for The Dam in what is probably the world’s most […]