Scar Town
Scar Town by Tristan Bancks is a gripping, fast paced thrilling read full of action, mystery and suspense that had me on the edge of my seat till the very last line with a conclusion that will shock the reader, one you never see coming. This story is set in Scarborough, a town of mystery […]
Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan
Pearly Woe’s tummy bubbles with worries and she grapples with this as an Adventurologist in training. Self-doubt and pestering worries have no place when you are accompanying your experienced Adventurologist parents and grandpa to the fictious Kingdom of Anachak in a mountainous, dense jungle beside the Mekong River to the remote village of Ban Noa […]
A Friend for Ruby
Title: A Friend for Ruby Author: Sofie Laguna Illustrator: Marc McBride Publisher: Allen and Unwin Publication date: 29 August 2023 RRP: $24.99 A Friend for Ruby by Sofie Laguna, illustrated by Marc McBride and published by Allen and Unwin is a story about friendship, connection and resourcefulness. It could serve as a gateway to conversations about a […]
Sonam and the Silence
Title: Sonam and the Silence Author: Eddie Ayres Illustrator: Ronak Taher Publisher: Allen and Unwin Publication date: Paperback edition published in 2023 Additional notable information: A comprehensive teacher resource can be downloaded from the Allen and Unwin website here. Sonam and the Silence written by Eddie Ayres, illustrated by Ronak Taher and published by Allen and Unwin tells […]
The Gift
The Gift by Michael Speechley begins with a curious young girl, Rosie, intrigued by the home over the road which appears to be neglected and has fallen into disrepair. There is little evidence of who lives in this home, most people in the community believe the derelict home to be unoccupied, but Rosie is convinced […]
Ten Blocks to the Big Wok
Title: Ten Blocks to the Big Wok Author and Illustrator: Ying-Hwa Hu Publisher: University of Queensland Press – UQP Publication date: 28 February 2023 Themes: Counting, Chinese culture, Mandarin, visual literacy, slowing down and family bonds. Additional notable information: Teachers’ notes can be downloaded from the UQP website here. In the joyful picture book, Ten Blocks to the […]
Books for Harmony Week
Harmony Week celebrates the richness of diversity and all of the different cultures in Australia. Australia is a culturally diverse country and is home to the oldest continuous culture on earth and the most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics from the 2021 census reports that just over seven million people, 27.6 per cent […]
Little People Big Emotions
Title: Little People Big Emotions Author: Kylie Mort Illustrator: Tiina Morton Publisher: Serenity Press Publication date: October 2022 Additional notable information: Parent and teacher notes are included at the back of the book in addition to a QR code to scan to access a study guide Teaching notes including discussion questions as well as English, Drama and […]
What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking
What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking by Tina Oziewicz and Aleksandra Zając is a glorious picture book that deeply contemplates 31 feelings in the most evocative and mesmerising way. In this book the feelings vividly come to life through endearing, furry, round, plump creatures that are depicted with the most expressive facial expressions and […]
Finding You
Finding You, masterfully written by Robert Vescio and exquisitely illustrated by Hannah Sommerville is a heartfelt, tender story about new beginnings and how these often involve courage and being open to possibilities. It’s a story about the beauty in the unexpected, the journey of friendship, unbreakable bonds that form between people and pets as well […]