I have had this idea before - to collect the catalogues of book shops in my city and compare their children's book recommendations. Here is a quote from my previous post (2019): I enjoy comparing the books for children which the shops are promoting.  Shops in this city mostly list titles that are already popular with children and well known to their parents.  It would be so good to see them extending these choices to showcase other books that really deserve to be discovered by young readers. We speak English in Australia so we can offer our children the very best books from so many ..read more

  Take a look at Sara Acton's portfolio Sara Acton is an award-winning author and illustrator. Sara grew up in the Cotswolds in England and always loved drawing, especially people and other strange creatures. She studied BA Hons Fine Art and trained as an Art Teacher in London. After teaching and practicing art in England and New Zealand Sara moved with her family to Australia. Her first picture book Ben and Duck won the 2012 Children's Book Council of Australia Crichton Award for new illustrators.  Sara Acton has generously donated an original art piece for our IBBY Australia M ..read more

Ben is an orphan. Each Sunday, when he was young, the orphans were taken for a walk along the canal. On this day Ben aged just four, is not wearing shoes and so he his hurt when he steps onto some glass. Another orphan, a boy named Sam aged eleven, stops to help the little boy. Moored on the canal there is a narrowboat.  "The boat was red and green, with her name Sparrowhawk, painted in gold on a scarlet panel. Above the letters a bird of prey few, tough and graceful, orange eyes glinting and blue-grey wings outstretched." The owner of the boat, Nathan, helps Ben with his foot and h ..read more

"Some people don't notice rocks. They walk by, head in the air, hands in their pockets, missing the magic underfoot." So what can you do with a rock? Skip it on the pond. Drop it and hear the different sounds the rock will make depending where it lands and of course how hard you throw it. You can collect rocks and then sort them - that's my favorite page. You can study them - you might even find a fossil. You can change your rocks by decorating them or using them for a craft piece (collage). Best of all you can share your rocks with a friend.  The final pages of this book have all the r ..read more

Wombat Liz Duthie’s illustrations are earthy and realistic, capturing the curiosity and charm of Australia’s much-loved wombat. They complement the text focusing on the wombat’s unique way of life and endearing quirks. My favourite illustration is the image of a wombat staring from the front cover  through a heart-shaped burrow. Reading Time Liz Duthie is an internationally published children's book illustrator, visual artist and art educator based in Djaara Country, (Castlemaine, Victoria). Her first picture book, “Wombat” by Christopher Cheng, (Walker Books Australia and Candlew ..read more

I wrote this story to explore the many challenges that our world presents for our children. We all have different homes and places where we live (cities, towns, villages), but for some children they are forced to leave for different reasons, and that can be hard. Vikki Conley It is interesting to ponder the passing of time in this story. When we first meet Salim he has just been born. He hears the boom boom boom of his mother's heart but there is also the boom boom boom all around. We know this is a dangerous place when we read that the mother and child need to begin their journey to a safer ..read more

  When you see the cover of this book do you immediately think of the famous poem - that's good because the words of the poem are sure to resonate as you are reading this riveting novel by SF Said. Tyger Tyger, burning bright,  In the forests of the night;  What immortal hand or eye,  Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies.  Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire? And what shoulder, & what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat. What dread hand ..read more

  "Space offers us new worlds to conquer, new territories to colonize, and endless resources to take." These are the words of Mrs Surya. At first they sound glorious to the audience and to the team of kids who have come to meet this famous millionaire but slowly the truth behind this sentence is revealed. You could use this sentence to introduce this book to your readers aged 10+. Think about the words conquer, colonize and take. Colonize is especially poignant when you consider this book is set in India and they were colonized by the British. Now look at this statement by Mrs Surya ..read more

Yes, it is my Birthday so let's celebrate with some Happy Birthday picture books! Happy Birthday, Moon Blue Kangaroo! David McKee Tacky the Penguin Melrose and Croc: A hero's Birthday Sometimes Cake Where does Thursday go? Billy's Bucket Bread and Jam for Frances There's a Hippopotamus on our roof eating cake A library book for Bear Carmela full of wishes The Birthday Invitation ..read more

Blurb from the illustrator web page: There once was a king who hated bath time so much that he never washed. He was a very smelly king! The king finally consents to bathe in the river but no matter how clean he is, his feet stay dirty. The people sweep away all the dirt in the land - but the air is choked with dust. The dust gets washed away but now the land is flooded with water. An enormous tapestry is sewn to cover the whole kingdom but now nothing will grow on the land... What is to be done? This book would be a wonderful read aloud for Grade One or Two in your school library and it is ..read more