Emotions
Title: ‘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…
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Author 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,…
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Author: 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‘,…
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Author: 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,…
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Title: 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…
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Another 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…
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Title: Untwisted: the story of my lifeAuthor + Illustrator: Paul Jennings Publisher: Allen and Unwin Age Range: YA – Adult Themes: Themes: autobiography, memoir, non fiction, writing, children’s writer, teaching, speech pathology,…
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Title: ‘When Rain Turns to Snow’Author: Jane GodwinPublisher: Lothian, an imprint of Hachette AustraliaAge Range: 12+, middle grade, upper primary, lower secondary.Themes: family, adoption, divorce, step parents, parents, siblings, family secrets, coming…
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This bestselling novel by John Green was published in 2012 and has since been made into successful movie. There is something truly remarkable about the pull of ‘The Fault in our Stars’,…
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Jazzy today reviews a novel that I devoured and adored, ‘It Sounded Better in my Head’ by Nina Kenwood. This is a beautifully gentle coming-of-age story about friendships, self-image and first love…
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Title: ‘White Bird’ Author: R. J. Palacio Publisher: Penguin Books Australia Age Range: middle grade*, YA Themes: bravery, kindness, courage, World War II, survival, family, found family, friends. Inspired by her blockbuster phenomenon…
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A sophisticated, funny and emotional illustrated middle-grade debut about immigrating to Australia, being upstaged by an annoying little brother, baking cakes and overcoming loss. Title: ‘Pie in the Sky’Author: Remy LaiPublisher: Walker…
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In my humble opinion, Jane Godwin is one of the heroes of the kidlit world in Australia. A former publisher (responsible for the wonderful ‘Our Australian Girls’ series no less), Jane has…
READ MOREEncouraging young people to read widely and enjoy a balanced literary diet is something that can add immeasurably to their reading and writing journey. For many of us, poetry and verse novels…
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Jazzy is one of the most sophisticated young readers I know and she always stretches herself to read outside of her comfort zone. Her latest book has been, in her own words,…
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This is ChickPea’s first official review on the blog and it’s appropriate that it be of ‘Polly and Buster’ as she’s deeply in love with this trilogy from bestselling author Sally Rippin.…
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For the quiet ones and for the noisy ones (to teach us how to listen)…‘A Quiet Girl’ by Peter Carnavas will gently (and quietly) settle in your soul. Title: ‘A Quiet Girl’…
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Twice a year I try to post a list of the adult books I am reading and enjoying. To be perfectly honest I do not read a huge number of adult books,…
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Title: ‘Girl on Wire’ Author: Lucy Estela Illustrator: Elise Hurst Publisher: Penguin Books Australia Age Range: 5+ (ageless) Themes: courage, resilience, emotional wellbeing, support, self-esteem Awards: CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2019:…
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Multiple-award-winning author Meg McKinlay’s latest middle grade novel places the reader at that tricky intersection where logic and science meet magic and hope, a place where many of us find ourselves when…
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