Deborah Abela is an award-winning author and trained as a teacher before becoming writer/producer of a national children’s TV show. She has since written 30 internationally published and awarded books, including the Max Remy series, her climate change trilogy – Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm – and The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee. The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is about the ..read more

Dr Vanessa Pirotta is a wildlife scientist, science communicator and author. Vanessa’s research is extensive, she has even used drones to collect whale snot, and computer algorithms and AI for the detection of illegal wildlife trafficking! Vanessa is the author of three books, with more on the way. Today we’re excited to be talking to her about her latest children’s book: Oceans at Night, illustrated by Cindy Lane. From the publisher: As night-time nears, a world of creatures comes alive in our oceans. Settle in and explore the wonderful world under the waves, and see what animals do from su ..read more

REVIEWED BY ANWEN, 10, WA Kelpie Chaos by Deb Fitzpatrick, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760993856 The publisher provided a review copy of this book. I think that Kelpie Chaos is a great book for all ages of readers because there is that thrill and excitement that many readers thrive with in their reading. It’s very clear and descriptive in a way that helps you create a picture in your mind but also lets you imagine what it looks like and what’s going to happen next. This book has a story that a lot of people would be able to relate to – an excited puppy racing about and the sick feeling that you ..read more

Nat Amoore has been a trapeze artist and circus performer, a podcaster, and now she’s an award-winning children’s author. Since Nat’s first book – Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire – was published in 2019, she’s published five more books and there are plenty more on the way! Today we’re pleased to be chatting about her latest venture: the Shower Land series, illustrated by James Hart. From the publisher: Felix hates Mondays. Dad’s yelling at him to get up. His little brother, Olly, is being super annoying. So when Felix shuts the bathroom door, he wishes he could get away. He turns on the ..read more

Sally Murphy is an author, poet, speaker and educator based in the South West of Western Australia. Sally has published more than 40 books, and we’re thrilled to be chatting to Sally about her verse novel: Queen Narelle, with illustrations by Simon O’Carrigan. From the publisher: Narelle is the queen of her household, ruler of the family and, most importantly, Maddie’s wisest and best friend. So when things are not going right for Maddie, and school feels like a lonely and sad place, it is Queen Narelle who regally watches, waits and listens to her favourite human in her time of ne ..read more

REVIEWED BY SKYE, 11, CALIFORNIA, USA Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate, St Martin’s Press, ISBN 9780312535636 Skye reviewed her own copy of this book. Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate is a heartfelt story about finding a true home away from home. An 11-year-old refugee named Kek migrates from Africa to America to live with his only living family members, his aunt and cousin. As curious as he is, English is not his native tongue and he finds that life in America happens to be a great deal different.  What makes this book so special is the poetry of the language and the way ..read more

Entries close 31 July 2024. Photo by Norma Mortenson on Pexels Our Young Book Reviewers’ Competition is back! The comp is open to Australian residents aged 12 or younger. Entries must be submitted by a parent, guardian or teacher (with parents’ permission). To enter: Review a children’s book from any genre. There is no word limit for reviews. ENTRY: FREE PRIZES:  All longlisted and winning reviews will be published at Alphabet Soup’s website: http://www.alphabetsoup.net.au. Winner of the Junior category (students in Kindy, Preprimary, Year 1 and Year 2) will recei ..read more

Fionna Cosgrove is a Western Australian writer with a taste for the wonderfully macabre. Her writing has been published in The School Magazine and anthologies, and she’s also the author of the Twisted Trails series for young readers. Today we’re chatting to Fionna about how she writes her Twisted Tales! About the Twisted Trails series: Will you end up a zombie’s breakfast? Or maybe coming face to face with a kelp-haired sea witch is more your style? Whatever your taste, you’ll find it in this wild and spooky interactive series … How will your story end? Well, that’s entirely up to you.  ..read more

REVIEWED BY GABRIEL, 13, NSW Jack’s Island by Norman Jorgensen, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760992958 The publisher provided a review copy of this book. Jack’s Island is a short novel by Norman Jorgenson featuring a boy named Jack. Along with his friends Banjo and Dafty, Jack finds himself causing mischief on their small island village off the coast of Australia during World War II. One day, whilst exploring near the cliffs, Jack and Banjo stumble across a Japanese helmet and a rifle. Could this discovery be the invasion they have been anticipating? With Pearl Harbor already bombed just no ..read more

Deb Fitzpatrick writes for adults, young adults and children. She loves using stories from real life in her novels and regularly teaches creative writing to people of all ages. Deb’s own dog is a kelpie, who is absolutely not a failed sheep dog. Today we’re talking to Deb about her latest novel, Kelpie Chaos. From the publisher: A kelpie puppy is about to be sent to the pound and Eli knows he has to do something. After adopting the flame-chested kelpie, now named Zoom, the family falls in love, but they soon learn there’s a lot involved in raising a dog. Especially a working dog, who is hard ..read more