Fiction
My lovely neighbour Dr Sam continues to write some beautiful reviews for Children’s Books Daily and this one is no exception! I love the ‘Welcome to the Museum’ series and they have…
READ MORETitle: ‘Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens’Author: Allison RushbyIllustrator: Bronte Rose MarandoPublisher: Walker Books AustraliaAge Range: lower primary (read aloud), middle primaryThemes: mystery, boarding school, historical fiction, paranormal. An enquiring mind…
READ MORECongratulations! You’ve made it through Christmas and New Year celebrations and now we’re heading right on into ‘Back to School Season’. Do your family decorate and cover the school books? I’m still…
READ MORETitle: ‘Big Love’Author: Megan JacobsonIllustrator: Beck FeinerPublisher: Walker Studio an Imprint of Walker Books AustraliaAge Range: babies, early childhood, lower primary.Themes: family, love, diversity. ‘Big Love’ is a soothing lullaby packaged and…
READ MORETitle: ‘Elsewhere Girls’Author: Emily Gale & Nova WeetmanPublisher: Text Publishing Age Range: from 10+, upper primary, lower secondary. Themes: friendship, family, courage, pressure, sport, elite sport, academics, timeslip, history, feminism, women, women…
READ MORETitle: ‘Enough Love?’ Author: Maggie HutchingsIllustrator: Evie Barrow Publisher: Affirm Press Age Range: lower primary, middle primary. Themes: family, family changes, family love, blended families, relationships, identity, step parenting, same sex relationships,…
READ MORETitle: ‘The Surprising Power Of A Good Dumpling’Author: Wai ChimPublisher: Allen & Unwin (2019)Awards: Shortlisted Best Young Adult Literature, Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2020 AU; Shortlisted Readings Young Adult Book Prize 2020…
READ MORETitle: ‘Coco: Big City Kitty’ (and series)Author: Laura BuntingIllustrator: Nicky Johnston Publisher: Scholastic Australia Age Range: early childhood Themes: city vs country, nature, insects, crafting, change, friendship, family. Sometimes you find a…
READ MOREAuthor and illustrator: Kylie HowarthPublisher: Walker BooksAge Range: Lower Primary, Middle PrimaryThemes: Ocean, climate change, Marine biology This week I am introducing ‘ChickPea Reviews’! Is it any surprise that the daughter of a teacher librarian is…
READ MOREAuthor and illustrator: Zeno SworderPublisher: Thames & HudsonAge Range: Babies, boddlers, toddlersThemes: Childhood, life, philosophy, self-identity I have gushed about ‘This Small Blue Dot’ since its release in August 2020 on my socials, to my kids,…
READ MOREAuthor: Mem FoxIllustrator: Christine DavenierPublisher: PenguinAge Range: Early childhood, toddlers, early primaryThemes: Farm animals, visual literacy, repetition Mem Fox needs no introduction – who hasn’t been begged to read, ‘Where is the Green Sheep’, ‘The Magic Hat‘,…
READ MORESeries Title: School of Monsters Author: Sally RippinIllustrator: Chris Kennett Publisher: Hardie Grant Age Range: beginner reader, early childhood. Themes: monsters, friendships, school, spooky, starting reading. Sally Rippin has been writing books…
READ MOREAuthor: Philip BuntingIllustrator: Philip BuntingPublisher: ScholasticAge Range: lower primary, middle primary, upper primaryThemes: Identity, philosophy Welcome to the Children’s Books Daily review team Clare Mellor! You can read more about Clare in her bio below this review,…
READ MORETitle: Tomorrow Girl Author: Vikki ConleyIllustrator: Penelope PratleyPublisher: EK BooksAge Range: early childhood, lower primary. Themes: mindfulness, anxiety, friendship, connection, curiosity, imagination, natural world.Teachers’ Notes: from the EK Books website here. Mindfulness…
READ MOREAnother fab review from Jazzy! Jazzy is one of the most sophisticated young readers I know and I really value her insights on the latest book she’s been reading. Today she’s reviewing…
READ MORETitle: ClaudetteAuthor + Illustrator: Hélène MagissonPublisher: Red Paper Kite Age Range: 5+, early childhood, lower primary, middle – upper primary as art study. Themes: puppets, puppeteers, makers, creativity, difference, freedom of thought,…
READ MORETitle: Looking for AlibrandiAuthor: Melina MarchettaPublisher: Penguin Australia (published 1992)Age Range: Young adult, AdultsThemes: Feeling Like an Outsider, Pressure, Immigration, Family Ties, Community and Tradition, Cultural Differences and Racism, Self-discovery Sophie Fu…
READ MORETitle: ‘Bear in Space’Author: Deborah AbelaIllustrator: Marjorie Crosby-Fairall Publisher: Walker Books AustraliaAge Range: early childhood, lower primary. Themes: friendship, difference, schools, kindergartens, imaginative play, space. I will always shout loudly and lovingly…
READ MORE