Middle Grade

Books by First Nations Authors and Illustrators for Children to Teens

By Megan Daley | Sep 12, 2023
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We are a nation with a long history of storytelling and we are incredibly fortunate to have so many talented First Nations Peoples writing and illustrating books for our young people. Books…

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The Middle Grade books featured on Your Kid’s Next Read in 2022

By Megan Daley | Nov 26, 2022
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Over the year that was 2022, we have featured MANY a book on the Your Kids Next Read podcast. So the obvious end of year activity was getting the Teen-Elf (aka Pudstar)…

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The Middle to Upper Primary Books Featured on Your Kids Next Read

By Megan Daley | Nov 26, 2022
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Since the very start, we have featured MANY a book on the Your Kids Next Read podcast. So I have collated some of the favourites, in age groups, because who doesn’t love…

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Books to boost body image and self love in kids

By Lana Hallowes | Nov 13, 2021
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Guest post. Standing in front of the mirror, head tilted. She squints, focuses, dwells. She hones in on all the ‘flaws’ – and the tween girl looking back at her agrees with…

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5 things your child’s teacher librarian wants you to know

By Lana Hallowes | Jul 16, 2021
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Guest post. I don’t know about you, but I really haven’t the faintest idea of what happens in the six hours my kids are at school – five days a week. I…

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15 books all boys should read before age ten

By Lana Hallowes | May 31, 2021
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Guest post. When I envision the future, my sons all grown up and my face more lined than I’d like, I hope they have become men who are kind, gentle, respectful of…

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Books to Support Earth Hour

By Megan Daley | Mar 4, 2021
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For some years now, the girls and I have taken part in WWF’s Earth Hour. Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney and has become a global movement to protect our planet.…

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Everyone belongs: Books to read for Harmony Week

By Lana Hallowes | Mar 4, 2021
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School playgrounds across the nation will soon turn orange, as little ones celebrate what it means to be inclusive with Harmony Week. In 2023 Harmony Week runs from March 20 – 26…

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Book People: Kirli Saunders

By Megan Daley | Dec 3, 2020
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I interviewed Kirli Saunders in 2018 when her first book, ‘The Incredible Freedom Machines‘ was released (see here for that interview) and I have followed her work with interest ever since. Her…

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Book People: Kate Gordon

By Megan Daley | Oct 28, 2020
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Kate Gordon’s writing in ‘Aster’s Good, Right Things’ is at times so authentic that it makes you wince with the pain and anguish of it all but ultimately wraps you up in…

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Best ‘lap armchair’ books for boddlers

By Megan Daley | Sep 16, 2020
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Bedtime reading is something I feel incredibly passionate about, in fact I have pretty much a whole chapter in my book devoted to it and I still read to my 10 and…

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Mashed Potato Reads for Troubled Times

By Megan Daley | Sep 3, 2020
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When the world feels like the grown ups aren’t in charge (on a global scale!) and everything feels a bit scary – sometimes comfort foods and comfort reads are what is called…

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Top 50 Books Celebrating Pride Month

By Megan Daley | Jun 5, 2020
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The LGBTQI+ community across the world celebrate Pride month (June each year) in all manner of different ways. I celebrate most occasions with books (and cake), so I’m celebrating with 50+ books…

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Book People: Corinne Hall

By Megan Daley | May 15, 2020
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Books which inspire young people to dream big and aim high with sport are always going to capture attention, and so it is with ‘Victress’ – a truly beautiful collection of stories…

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Reading Diverse Time Periods

By Megan Daley | May 7, 2020
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One of PudStar’s (12 years old) favourite books of the last few years has been ‘The Mulberry Tree’ by Allison Rushby. She’s read it a few times now and went on to…

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New Book Gifts for 11 – 13 Year Olds this Christmas

By Megan Daley | Oct 27, 2019
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Gosh I love this age group for reading. I was talking to some teacher librarian friends the other day and we were discussing our fav reading age for children’s literature. Mine is…

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Supporting Reading Differences

By Megan Daley | Sep 18, 2019
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It would be easy to assume that with several teacher librarians and a few academics in the family, my journey with reading within my extended family has been *seamless* and full of…

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Two Years is Such a Very Short Time

By Megan Daley | Apr 28, 2019
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Two years is such a very short time in #grieftown. When my brother died unexpectedly in 2012 I spoke about feeling like I was in a place, far from everyone else and…

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