A Little Spark is a delightful book that is warm and heartbreaking at the same time. It is about growing up, relationships and family. Caitlyn Carson is a 13 year old girl who lives an ordinary life and loves writing. Her parents are split, and she lives with her mum and her mum’s partner Sam. Every second weekend she goes to her dad’s place and they do some incredible and imaginative things. Cate has a great relationship with both her parents, but she likes to keep her worlds apart. ‘I don’t tell Mum and Sam anything about my weekends with Dad. It would be giving them tickets into that world ..read more

Wild Bush Days is a historical adventure story that takes us back in time to tell us an inspiring tale based on a little-known lady bushranger – Jessie Hickman. “There’s a whisper among these ghosts, these craggy shadows on the hill. The song of a forgotten past, it tells of wild bush days…” It follows two young girls as they go exploring, and the reader learns of Hicksmans past. She was raised in the circus in the early 1900’s and then became a bushranger. The two modern day explorers have their own adventures climbing over rocks and dealing with bandits (in the form of two young boys). Pen ..read more

Lionel Poops is a funny board book with quirky humour that reads perfectly for a young audience who may be in need of some toilet training tips. Lionel is bouncing on the trampoline when all the sudden, he feels the urge to poop. But, Lionel does not know exactly where to do his business, so ends up traipsing all over the world from cows to Paris to the sun itself to do his ‘doo’. ‘No, Lionel No!’ Will he ever make it to the toilet? My toddler roared with laughter at this one. The repetition is effective by making each page readable and fun for its intended age group. I cracked up reading it ..read more

The Comet is an incredible book with phenomenal illustrations about home and belonging. Nyla and her father live a fun beautiful life near the sea ‘where the trees tower tall and I can count a hundred stars.’ Nyla and her dad spend lots of time together and do fun things like cook delicious feasts, make up stories and drawings, and spend time in nature. One day, her dad gets a new job, and they have to move to a new place. One where Nyla can’t hear the sea, there is lots of grey and she can only count seven stars – the city. Nyla does not like this place at all, she feels alone and lost. Th ..read more

Great and Small is an incredibly cute book about the underdog (or under-unicorn, I should say). It proves how important it is to give things a shot, and the significance of inclusion and diversity. The story follows a tiny unicorn, Eunice, who is very small but has very large dreams. She desperately wants to compete in the Great Unicorn Games, but the other unicorns don’t even bother to help her sign up when she can’t reach the sign-on sheet. This doesn’t deter her and with a little encouragement from some friends, she signs up anyway. This does not, however, mean that she wins anything. In ..read more

You may be familiar with the humble blobfish – the animal that has been deemed by some as the ‘Ugliest Animal in the World’ (a harsh and cruel title, at that). But what you might not know about blobfish is that they can be incredibly funny, full of life, and make great friends. This blobfish lives deep, deep, deep in the sea (as blobfish do), and all they want is a friend. But sadly, no one really wants to be friends with them. This is a true waste, because they would make a great friend. Blobfish is seriously funny, and loves to tell jokes. So one day, they decide to swim up ..read more

Seal Child is a book about a child who gets lost after a bad storm, and goes on a long journey, but manages to find a friend along the way. This small child, the protagonist of the story, lives a peaceful life on an island. But one day, a storm hits, and their life is thrown into chaos. They are terrified of the storm and are all alone. That is until they find an unlikely friend, who is also lost and alone without their family… a baby seal. The child then manages to find an abandoned boat and goes to sea to get away from the storm. Together, the child and the seal make their way across open ..read more

V.E. Schwab’s new novel Gallant is a gothic tale that mixes a range of genres, from middle grade to YA, and mystery to horror, that will intrigue and win over the hearts of whoever reads it. Olivia Prior is a 17-year-old orphan who is very different from all the other girls at Merilance School for Independent Girls. Firstly, she is a mute. Secondly, she can see ghouls. The other girls think her odd and she is painfully lonely. Olivia has always wanted a family and a place to call home, but the only thing she has of her family is an illustrated diary from her mother. It is filled with mysterio ..read more

The days where you can walk into a shop and buy a pet are long gone, but in this Emporium, Mr Price is selling pets, and you would not believe the mischief he gets up to. He might seem like a trusty fella – but don’t let his moustache, quiffed hair-do and side glances fool you, he is quite the crook! ‘Lately I’ve been thinking that I’d really like to get a fluffy, fuzzy, cuddly-wuddly, friendly little pet’ The story begins with a young girl who is looking for the perfect pet – ‘Lately I’ve been thinking that I’d really like to get a fluffy, fuzzy, cuddly-wuddly, friendly little pet ..read more

Little Matilda is a sweet book all about an adorable little kitten who just wants to make a friend! ‘Little Matilda was terribly bored, and its hard to be good when you’re being ignored. Lonely but hopeful, she set out to find, a friend she could play with, a friend who was kind.’ Matilda is bored. She is a little kitten who just wants to play, but can’t find anyone to play with. First she tries with Freda the fish, who rudely blatantly ignores her, then she tries with a guinea pig, a kangaroo and an emu, and even a frog! But everyone is too busy with their own games, and poor Matilda is left ..read more