Emotions
Congratulations! 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: ‘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: ‘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: 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 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: ‘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…
READ MOREThis 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’,…
READ MORETitle: ‘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…
READ MOREA 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…
READ MOREIn 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…
READ MOREJazzy 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,…
READ MOREThis 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.…
READ MOREFor 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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