Small Acts
Themes relating to true friendship, kindness, vulnerability, courage and finding your place, plus four inspiring autistic characters that are relatable and make a difference combine to make Small Acts by Kate Gordon and Kate Foster, an engrossing and powerful story. This book gifts readers an insight into the varied ways autism may present and the […]
Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria: Bravepaw 1
Title: Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria: Bravepaw 1 Author and illustrator: L.M. Wilkinson and illustrated by Lavanya Naidu Publisher: Allen and Unwin Publication date: 03 September 2024 Themes: Adventure quests, bravery, friendship, good versus evil, against the odds, gemstones and crystals A comprehensive teaching resource and activity sheet are available on the Allen and Unwin website […]
Summer of Shipwrecks
Title: Summer of Shipwrecks Author: Shivaun Plozza Publisher: University of Queensland Press Publication date: September 3, 2024 Themes: Friendship, change, integrity, courage, adventure, coming of age, divorce, shipwrecks Comprehensive teachers’ notes are available on the University of Queensland Press (UQP) website here Summer of Shipwrecks by Shivaun Plozza and published by University of Queensland Press explores with […]
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat
Title: The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat Author: Charlie Archbold Publisher: Text Publishing Publication date: 31 May, 2022 Themes: Friendship, environment, stereotypes, good versus evil Comprehensive teaching notes are available at Text Publishing here The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat by Charlie Archbold is a suspenseful middle grade mystery novel that sees Andy, Eli and […]
The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books
The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books by Lara Cain Gray, illustrated by Timothy Ide and Lorena Carrington and published by MidnightSun Publishing is a stunning deep dive into picture book goodness. This innovative A-Z guide creatively explores the power of picture books, the science behind them and includes fascinating details about the history of this […]
Huda Was Here
Title: Huda Was Here Author: H Hayeck Publisher: Allen and Unwin Publication date: April 2023 Brother and sister, Huda and Akeal, return in the stand-alone sequel, Huda Was Here by H Hayeck and published by Allen and Unwin. The siblings are bolder with their calculated plans full of mischief, mayhem and courage. This story sees Huda hatch […]
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five
Title: How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five Author: Carla Fitzgerald Publisher: University of Queensland Press Publication date: July 2024 Themes: Kindness, compassion, selflessness, confidence, friendship, humility and hope Comprehensive teachers’notes are available from University of Queensland Press (UQP) here How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five by Carla Fitzgerald and […]
Timeless
Timeless by Kelly Canby and published by Fremantle Press, the 2024 CBCA Picture Book of the Year, cleverly explores the concept of time through the eyes of a curious, young child, Emit (time spelt backwards). He reflects on the concept of time, how it is elusive, how it appears that there is never enough and […]
Every Night At Midnight
This is a tender story about Felix who feels he does not fit in at school and has a unique secret, the actions he takes because of this, the loneliness and isolation he experiences, his two very different identities and finding his tribe, or pack, in Felix’s case in the most unlikely way. Every Night […]
Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra
Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra by Cassy Polimeni, illustrated by Hykie Breeze and published by UWA Publishing is a new delightful, heart-warming junior fiction series. Cassy’s perfect word choice, use of the right tempo for the story’s voice and length, as well as audience engagement with a fun layout and creative fonts, together with […]