The narrator, Young Will, wants to be a swagman and go Waltzing Matilda with Ollie the shearer, who comes every year to help shear their sheep. Ollie is funny, knowledgeable, and the boy’s friend. But there is a lot for Will to learn before then. So, he must ask questions. They fly from his mouth as he watches Ollie dragging, heaving, and holding the sheep in place.  He is as quick as lightning! One night Will follows Ollie into the bush and observes how he sets up camp under the stars. That’s not all he sees. Bush creatures come out: wombats, kangaroos and possums. An owl hoots from a h ..read more

This book is absolutely divine – it’s like a perfect, illustrated love letter to all the children of the world. I love you when you’re brave. I love you when you’re done. I love you when you won’t wear pants. I love you when you’re fun. Little Love List brings us the very best of what is on offer in picture books today.  From the sweet idea of writing a ‘love list’ for a child to the playful, fresh and joyful illustrations, it’s easy to feel good about everything about this book – even the bad stuff!  In the book, a mother and child travel through the ‘little love list’ of all the w ..read more

Sidekicks is book one in a fantastic graphic novel series by the award-winning Dan Santat. Superhero Captain Amazing is tired and getting older. He needs help. And it's his pets, who are worried about him, are the ones who come to the rescue.  Captain Amazing, also known by his non-superhero name Harry, decides sidekicks could give him a helping hand. There's an eclectic group of humans and animals who want to audition for the role. Amongst Harry's pets, first up there's Roscoe the dog and Fluffy the hamster. They tend to squabble a bit. Then there's a brand new pet, a chameleon who Har ..read more

Today is a new day, today’s a fresh start. I move through this day with open mind and open heart. Affirmations for children to memorize, fill this gorgeous book. Rainbows make the end pages attractive. A stunning title page groups all the characters together in the rainbow colours that continue throughout the book.  Heather Dryden's stunning illustrations tell a parallel story to the text. A New Day is filled with joyful illustrations that accent the importance of play, sharing, and acceptance of differences in the world that surrounds us. The magic five are the core of the book. Breathi ..read more

How To Be Normal, Ange Crawford’s brilliant debut novel for Young Adult readers, is the winner of the Walker Books Australia Manuscript Prize. The narrator is seventeen-year-old Astrid, who has finished years of homeschooling with her father who lost his job and filled his life with controlling others’ lives.  Astrid is now starting High school. Her father is not happy about Astrid’s forthcoming schooling, nor the clothes her mother wears to work. He believes that social media is breaking everyone’s brain and making them hate. This is just one of his rants concerning capitalism and its ..read more

NY Times bestselling author of six books for teens, Morgan Matson, has struck some wonderful balladic notes of rhythm and narrative (along with the sweet harmony of teen love) to create a compelling read in The Ballad Of Darcy & Russell. The story begins with Darcy travelling home to LA from a music festival, when the bus breaks down. Both she and Russell find themselves stranded at a fairly remote bus station, where she asks to borrow his phone charger. And so the adventure begins.  For a narrative set over the course of just 24 hours, a lot goes on. Without giving the storylin ..read more

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. My parents love to remind me that when I was a kid, I’d fold paper into tiny books and fill them with stories. These were essentially bespoke (and often dirt-stained) zines! I was always mesmerised by books – not just their stories, but their shape, texture, and the magical feeling of holding a world in my hands. 2. What is your nickname? My dad lovingly calls me Poss, short for Possum, while many of my loved ones call me Bun, short for Bunny. Maybe there’s a children’s book in that – The Adventures of Two Unlikely Frie ..read more

Branson’s wealthy parents have arranged for him to go to a Jungle Escape to Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, while they set out for their annual skiing holiday. He joins three other equally spoilt, friendless, incorrigible youngsters: Victoria, a proper English Miss, (she’s the nicest) Elton, spoilt beyond words, and Addison, a Goth, with a boulder on her shoulder, whose mother is glad to see the back of her for two weeks. During the ride to their destination, Sal warns about the dangers they should be aware of – snakes, crocodiles, toads, and poisonous plants. Instead of the luxurious retr ..read more

What a beautiful, gentle yet powerful book this is. Told with a strong sense of peace and comfort, this story is perfect for young children needing to make sense of trauma or life challenges – from a natural disaster event through to things like moving house or changing schools. It is also perfect for curious children who are not living through such challenges. The clever construction means that it offers a variety of insights and messages, depending on the need and perspective of the reader. From the point of view of a small girl whose house is in the path of flooding, it takes us through he ..read more

Name: Lucia Masciullo Describe your illustration style in ten words or less. Whimsical characters, dynamic composition and traditional media. What items are an essential part of your creative space?  A large table, a wide bright window and lots of paper and art supplies: the more the better. Do you have a favourite artistic medium? Probably not: I love experimenting with new media whenever I start a new project, so I spend some time deciding what to use. I really enjoy the spontaneity of watercolour mixed with pencil or ink, as well as the consistent colour palette of acrylic or acryl ..read more