Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne

Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne Christmas gift / book review A recommended gift book for Christmas is Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (published David Fickling Books). Noah Barleywater Runs Away was the first book I was commissioned to review for the Weekend Australian in 2010. The book […]

When You’re Older by Sofie Laguna, illustrated Judy Watson

When You’re Older Illustrator Interview Judy Watson is an exceptional illustrator. She won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award (Children’s Fiction) in 2012 for Good Night, Mice! (written by Frances Watts) and has excelled in other collaborations with Frances and also Lesley Gibbes, Lisa Shanahan and other notable Australian authors. Her new picture book, When You’re […]

The Boy and the Elephant by freya blackwood

The Boy and the Elephant by Freya Blackwood Picture Book Review Freya Blackwood is indisputably one of Australia and the world’s best picture book creators. Her works continually appear on the CBCA awards and winners lists and she has also won the international 2010 Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration. All of her books are standouts. […]

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 […]

Fathoms by Rebecca Giggs

Book 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 […]

Pierre’s Not There by Ursula Dubosarsky & Christopher Nielsen

Pierre’s Not There is full of wonder. It is a memorable and ground-breaking new story for 8-12-year-olds by Ursula Dubosarsky (published by Allen & Unwin). As well as being imaginative and relatable, it has a bold structure – the narrative becomes a puppet play. When I heard about this book, I was desperate to read […]

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 […]

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L.D. Lapinski

“You could travel to places you could never have imagined, see worlds on the edge of the multiverse. You could watch blue suns rise over mountains of red glass, see flowers the size of houses, hear the crunch of the ground as dragons hatch from hidden caverns …” (The Strangeworlds Travel Agency) Thank you for […]