In Wilam: A Birrarung Story, we enter an Indigenous world which is presented in full page colour illustrations in acrylics, by Indigenous artist Lisa Kennedy. As the Woiwurrung language does not translate directly into English, many of the words used in this stunning book are in their original language. There is a detailed glossary with … The post Guest Review: Wilam: A Birrarung Story appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

Despite its harrowing, heart-wrenching devastation, you can’t not be gripped by this piece of history that the world simply needs to know, to learn from, and by inspired by. Hadamar: The House of Shudders is a confronting story scattered with graphic conceptual imagery of an incomprehensible period dating back to 1938 – 1945 during World … The post Hadamar: The House of Shudders – Inspirational Beginnings by Jason K Foster appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

There are so many aspects that make our country great. From our exotic wildlife to our amazing landscapes and landmarks, and also our inspirational national treasures that become icons all over the world. With Australia Day fast approaching, it is a wonderful opportunity to not only research the past and celebrate the present, but also … The post A Little Taste of Australiana – Picture Books to Whet Your Aussie Appetite appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

Australian literature is the best. Over Christmas I’ve indulged in reading the literature for adults I can’t easily justify reading during the year (but read anyway) when I am focusing on YA and children’s lit for work – and also pleasure. I’ve been reading a mix of Australian and international fiction. I have to say … The post Flames by Robbie Arnott appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May is the follow up to the first book in her Scottish steampunk faerie series, The Falconer. Since I adored The Falconer so much, I went into this one with high hopes for another amazing and heart-pounding action adventures. It did NOT disappoint! In fact, I feel thoroughly exhausted right now … The post Review: The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

Having once been a must-read-the-books-before-watching-the-show purist, I’ve come full circle, watching A Discovery of Witches before I even knew there was a book of the same name to read. Clearly I’d missed the cultural zeitgeist memo, with Deborah Harkness’ All Souls trilogy, of which A Discovery of Witches is the first instalment, being popular enough … The post A Discovery of Witches (Times Two) appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

In Part 1 of the ‘preparing for school’ series, we focused our attention on themes relating to new beginnings and gentle steps towards independence and new friendships. This post will include picture books with beautifully heartwarming sentiments of embracing our own and others’ individuality, uniqueness and personal preferences, what makes us human and advocating for … The post Picture Books to Prepare for School – Part 2 appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

Girls of Paper And Fire by Natasha Ngan is a brutal and harrowing story, mixed with gorgeous writing and a lush setting and a heroine you can’t help but adore. It’s a dark premise, but it’s handled so well, and it’s also important to discuss. And how amazing it is to see YA shelves being filled with more … The post Review: Girls Of Paper And Fire by Natasha Ngan appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

There are some books you take a deep breath before opening, and Kate Wild’s Waiting for Elijah is one such book. That’s not because you don’t want to read it, but because you know it contains information that will upend your understanding of the complexity of life. Specifically: mental health and what we ask of … The post Review: Waiting for Elijah appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more

Solli Raphael is a phenomenal Australian slam-poet. I was fortunate to meet him at a Penguin Random House roadshow. He is a personable, thoughtful young man with an enormous talent. He is only thirteen. Solli is the youngest Australian to win the all-age poetry competition, the National Australian Slam Poetry Finals, held at the Sydney … The post Slam Poetry: ‘Limelight’ by Solli Raphael appeared first on The Boomerang Books Blog ..read more