The Wayward Witch and the Feelings Monster: Polly and Buster Book One (Sally Rippin, HGE)
Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Polly is an unusual witch—she can’t read spells because the letters get jumbled and so she makes mistakes. Buster is an unusual monster—emotions make him shrink and swell. They are...
Mammoth Mistake: Starring Olive Black Book One (Alex Miles, illus by Maude Guesne, Affirm Press)
Monday, 27 February 2017
Mammoth Mistake is the first book in a new series by author Alex Miles, who, among other things, has written for the hugely successful ‘Zac Power’ series. Olive Black is...
The Things We Promise (J C Burke, A&U)
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Gemma can’t wait for her brother Billy to return from New York. An up-and-coming hair and make-up artist, Billy has promised to help Gemma get ready for her school formal,...
Diamond Jack: History Mysteries Book One (Mark Greenwood, Puffin)
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Even as World War II rages, Jack Palmer spends his time on his boat wandering up and down the coast of Western Australia. Meanwhile, the Imperial Japanese army are on...
A Most Magical Girl (Karen Foxlee, Piccadilly Books)
Wednesday, 31 August 2016
Set in Victorian London, A Most Magical Girl tells the story of prim and proper Annabel Grey. One day Annabel’s mother goes away unexpectedly and leaves Annabel with her aunts,...
There’s Not One (Jennifer Higgie, Scribble)
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
This luscious picture book offers such pleasures that small children (and their grown-up read-aloud machines) will be drawn towards it. Its simple story—that while there are billions and zillions of...
Words in Deep Blue (Cath Crowley, Pan)
Tuesday, 5 July 2016
Since her brother Cal drowned 10 months ago, Rachel has failed Year 12, lost all her friends and watched her mother become consumed by grief. Desperate to get away, she...
Pandamonia (Chris Owen, illus by Chris Nixon, Fremantle Press)
Tuesday, 10 May 2016
Pandas are adorable creatures right? So soft and furry and on-trend with their black and white colours. They also don’t do very much except laze around and chew on bamboo...
Forgetting Foster (Dianne Touchell, A&U)
Thursday, 5 May 2016
Brutally honest and unflinching in its examination of the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on an entire family, Forgetting Foster is a beautiful, heart-wrenching book that will stay with you. Seven-year-old...
Introducing Teddy (Jessica Walton, illus by Dougal MacPherson, Bloomsbury)
Wednesday, 6 April 2016
Introducing Teddy is a charming picture book about a young boy and his transgender teddy bear. First-time author Jessica Walton has teamed up with illustrator Dougal MacPherson on the book,...
Dreaming the Enemy (David Metzenthen, A&U)
Thursday, 3 March 2016
Governments randomly selecting young people, training them to fight and then sending them off to kill is an age-old YA trope. So when the protagonist in David Metzenthen’s novel, Johnny...
Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters: Squishy Taylor Book One (Ailsa Wild, illus by Ben Wood, Hardie Grant Egmont)
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
The first book in this new series by Ailsa Wood throws you straight into the action, when Squishy (real name Sita) discovers a boy hiding out in the carpark of...
