Reading Challenge – New Beginnings theme

Page 1 of the Reading Challenge (there are 3 pages in total): Do your students or children get stuck in a reading rut, or need inspiration to discover their next read? This themed reading challenge titled, New Beginnings, is designed to help combat these frustrating scenarios. This fun reading challenge is divided into three sections: […]

Grandad’s Camper

Grandad’s Camper written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate is a celebration of love, intergenerational bonds between a grandfather and granddaughter, storytelling, making cherished memories and finding possibilities. First, it must be said, pause when you open the cover to take in the glorious, front endpaper (which is different to the back endpaper). The story starts […]

Aussie Big Achiever Series of Books

The Aussie Big Achiever series containing three books written by Richard Simpkin, illustrated by Debra O’Halloran and published by Boolarong Press give readers a highly engaging insight into the lives of three iconic Australians, Ash Barty, Cathy Freeman and Steve Irwin, who all had and achieved big dreams. These books begin with a dedication that […]

Saving the Butterfly

Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper and illustrated by Gill Smith sensitively explores, through the eyes of two children, the different responses and emotions refugee children may experience as well as the trauma and barriers they endure when seeking safety in their new homeland. In this picture book a brother and sister are the only […]

Refugees

Refugees by Brian Bilston and illustrated by José Sanabria is a  picture book containing Brian Bilston’s powerful poem, titled, ‘Refugees’, which can be read from top to bottom and then read backwards,  from the last line to the top of the poem to convey two opposing points of view about refugees. It contains two voices. […]

Picture Books for SeaWeek

2022 SeaWeek from March 5 to March 13 is an opportunity to educate, inform and foster an appreciation for the sea and the theme this year is Our SEArch – what will you discover? Sea Country by Aunty Patsy Cameron, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy and published by Magabala Books  transports the reader back to Aunty […]

Tiny Wonders

Title: Tiny Wonders Author and Illustrator: Sally Soweol Han Publisher: University of Queensland Press – UQP Publication date: 1 February 2022 Themes: Hope, patience, flowers, beauty, joy, Grandmothers, slowing down, community and action. Additional notable information: Teachers’ Notes can be downloaded from the UQP website here. Tiny Wonders by Sally Soweol Han is an uplifting […]

The Rat-Catcher’s Apprentice – New Release Book from MidnightSun Publishing

Title: The Rat-Catcher’s Apprentice Author: Maggie Jankuloska Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing Publication date: March 2022 Themes: family – including non-traditional families, belonging, resilience, the plague in France in 1665 and class structure. The Rat-Catcher’s Apprentice, a historical novel for upper primary and lower secondary school students by debut author Maggie Jankuloska is a gripping novel that […]

Your School is the Best!

Your School is the Best! by Maggie Hutchins and illustrated by Felicita Sala draws the reader from the very beginning of this story (including the endpapers) into the vibrancy, colour, diversity, rich experiences, fun, friendship and adventure that children enjoy in a primary school setting. This story is told from the point of view of […]