Ava Spark by Alex Field

Ava Spark: Hello, I’m Here! by Alex Field, illustrated by Joanna Bartel New Frontier Publishing Guest author post by New Frontier Director Sophia Whitfield, who writes as Alex Field about Ava Spark and the life of her much-loved son Luke for ‘Joy in Books’ at Paperbark Words Ava Spark is largely inspired by my son’s life, […]

Somewhere Lost Anthology

Somewhere Lost Published by Just Write for Kids Q & A with Contributor Carla Hoffenberg for Paperbark Words with Joy Lawn Your recent story is part of a collaborative picture book project through Just Write For Kids – the hardcover anthology Somewhere Lost. Your piece, ‘Lost Sockville’, is included in the book as well as […]

GUS GORDON: Into the Bewilderness & picture books

GUS GORDON: Into the Bewilderness & picture books Author-illustrator Interview with Gus Gordon, featuring Into the Bewilderness, at PaperbarkWords “Is there more to this life? … Maybe we’re missing out on something here in the woods? What if there’s something else out there? Beyond the trees. Beyond the horizon, where the sun goes down into the […]

A Teaspoon of Light by Peter O’Connor, ill. Nisaluk Chantanakom

A Teaspoon of Light by Peter O’Connor, illustrated by Nisaluk Chantanakom WestWords/Dirt Lane Press “One night, while Marley slept, the world changed. It tore her cloth in half. When she woke, her memories were already sliding off. She tied a knot to try to stop them slipping away. But they kept slipping. She grabbed at […]

Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough

Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) Into the Mouth of the Wolf written by Erin Gough is shortlisted for the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers. Congratulations on Into the Mouth of the Wolf being shortlisted by the CBCA, Erin, and thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog. Author […]

Aggie Flea Steals the Show by Tania Ingram & A.Yi

Aggie Flea Steals the Show by Tania Ingram, ill. A.Yi (Scholastic Australia) “Or maybe my brain just made them up. My brain sometimes does stuff like that. Mum says I have a big imagination like Dad. Sometimes my big imagination gets me into trouble, though. Like the time I thought my new neighbour was a vampire. […]

A Wreck of Seabirds by Karleah Olson

A Wreck of Seabirds by Karleah Olson A Wreck of Seabirds by Karleah Olson is shortlisted for the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers. Congratulations on A Wreck of Seabirds being shortlisted by the CBCA, Karleah. It’s the best YA novel I’ve read in ages. And thank you for speaking to Joy in Books at Paperbark Words blog. Author Interview: […]

Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt Stanton

Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt Stanton (ABC Books) “ ‘Hello? Is this Organised Grime?’ Fluff says into the phone. ‘I’m looking for someone to clean our caravan. Yes, it’s urgent. There’s been an accidental food fight and … well, we have a fish with a poop problem.’ ” (Fluff: Mess Up!) Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt […]

The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn

The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn Hachette, Australia Finding a Wounded Foal by Robbie Coburn I have often read that the first novel an author writes is largely autobiographical; in our lives, we have arrived at a point where we can explore our history through the lens of our characters. I have been […]

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, […]