Five on Friday: Favourite Reads This Week
'My Sunbeam Baby' by Emma Quay
'Another Book About Bears' by Laura and Philip Bunting
'Help Around the House' by Morris Gleitzman
'Limelight' by Solli Raphael
'The Things That Will Not Stand' by Michael Gerard Bauer
Review + Teachers’ Notes: ‘Puddle Hunters’
Title: 'Puddle Hunters'
Author: Kirsty Murray
Illustrator: Karen Blair
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Age Range: early childhood
Themes: puddles, weather, rain, sunshine, families, siblings, play.
Ruby and her brother Banjo wait for the rain to stop and the fun to...
Review + Teachers’ Notes: ‘Want to Play Trucks?’
Title: 'Want to Play Trucks?'
Author: Ann Stott
Illustrator: Bob Graham
Publisher: Walker Books
Themes: gender stereotypes, ethnicity, play, free play, social skills, toddlers, trucks, sandpits, family, society.
Click on title links or cover image to purchase.
Jack likes trucks. Alex...
Review of ‘Claris The Chicest Mouse in Paris’
Author/Illustrator: Megan Hess
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
Ages: 3+
Age Range: early childhood - lower primary
Themes: Parisian, Paris, adventure, journey, fashion, courage, compassion, friendship
Click on title links or cover image to purchase.
Acclaimed Australian fashion illustrator, Megan Hess, has...
2018 Environment Award for Children’s Literature Shortlist
I'm a fan of literary awards as it helps to separate the wheat from the chaff in a literary sense and they help when parents or educators are looking to purchase some quality titles....
Review of ‘Bird Builds a Nest’
Another review by my ever obliging ecologist neighbour, Dr Sam Lloyd. I pass on to her titles that I know will be RIGHT up her alley. Sam is an ecologist and manager for South...
Raising a Reader: The Kindergarten and Home Connection in Early Literacy
This evening I am talking to parents at Red Hill Kindergarten about the important role they play in creating a sense of wonder around reading. Enquiries regarding education and/or parent talks can be made...
Review of ‘Finn’s Feather’
I feel like I've been waiting for this book for a long time, having read it in manuscript form some time ago and having followed Rachel Noble's own journey with grief since the loss...
Review of ‘A Boat of Stars’
Title: A Boat of Stars: New Poems to Inspire and Enchant
Editors: Margaret Connolly and Natalie Jane Prior
Publisher: Harper Collins
Age Range: babies – middle primary
Themes: poetry, rhyme, language, anthology, family, feelings, Indigenous, animals, food, identity,...
Six Aussie Picture Books to Hug Tight
Today's guest post is from the wonderful Sandy Fussell, an award-winning, bestselling Australian children's author, who is also the in-schools Literary Festival Co-ordinator at The Story Crowd, children’s book reviewer for the Sunday Telegraph Funday supplement...
A Literary Easter Gift Supporting MND
My parents regularly attend talks at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane on many and varied topics and the latest one was on Motor Neurone Disease (MND), with Wayne Patterson as a guest speaker. MND or...
Easter Gifts Part Three: Peter Rabbit
One of the very first books I ever owned was a beautiful collection of Peter Rabbit books and I have all things Beatrix Potter ever since. Every year our Year Three teacher has a...
14th Feb Books About Love!
I’m not a fan of Valentines Day and all that jazz, I do love books about love. There is nothing better than settling into bed with a small, freshly washed child and reading a...
612ABC: Bookworms
They invited me back! He of the lovely voice, Mr David Curnow, emailed me recently to invite me back for another year of monthly chats about all things children's and YA books. I really...
Your Kid’s Next Read
If you're looking for the 'next book' for a child, tween or teen, the Your Kids Next Read Facebook group is the place where all the cool kids are hanging out. The lovely Allison...
Review of ‘The Day You Came Into the World’
My first child has a lovely baby book, full of anecdotes, photos and locks of hair. Second child has an empty baby book...totally empty. Not a thing.
Fortunately ChickPea is a resilient second child and...
The Children’s Book Council of Australia 2016 Short List
I've not been at an announcement of The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlist since I was national VP quite some years ago now. The excitement in the room is palpable and to be...
Book People: Kate Ritchie
Kate Ritchie is probably much better known to all of you as 1/3 of the nations number one drive show. Or perhaps you remember her fondly as Sally Fletcher, who Ritchie played on Home and Away between...
Top Ten Early Childhood Books of 2015
...according to me anyway!
Oh me, oh my how I wish I was a clever as the authors and illustrators of the books below! How cleverly they manage to capture the attention of children and...
Preparing for a New Sibling With Books
Preparing for a New Sibling with Books
Review of 'Too Busy Sleeping'
Over the years, I've been asked on numerous occasions for books which will assist when introducing the idea of a new sibling. I have...