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Zana Fraillon on Song of a Thousand Seas
Zana Fraillon is an award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Her work has been published in over 15 countries and is in development for stage and screen. Today we're chatting to Zana about Song of a Thousand Seas, her latest verse novel, with illustrations by Aviva Reed. The publisher provided Alphabet Soup…
Book review: Wonder
Wonder by RJ Palacio, Random House UK, ISBN 9780552565974 REVIEWED BY EMILY, 10, New York, USA Emily reviewed her own copy of this title. Wonder by RJ Palacio is an incredible book. It is about the main character, Auggie Pullmen and the challenges he has to face at a real school because of a facial…
Book review: D-Day Dog
D-Day Dog by Tom Palmer, illustrations by Clohosy Cole, HarperCollins, ISBN 9781781128688 REVIEWED BY Arjan, 11, NSW Arjan reviewed his own copy of this title. D-Day Dog is a book that teaches kids about the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944. Eleven-year-old Jack has an admiration for war heroes, particularly men on D-Day. But his…
Kristy Nita Brown on The Hole Truth
Kristy Nita Brown is a Western Australian author writing junior fiction books and delivering creative writing, independent publishing and film making workshops at libraries and schools. Today we’re pleased to be chatting to Kristy about the second book in her Mavey and Beth’s Double Act series: The Hole Truth, illustrated by Alison Mutton. The author provided Alphabet…
Kylie Howarth on Kev and Trev: Snot Scary Jungle Stories
Kylie Howarth is an award-winning, internationally published children’s author-illustrator from Western Australia. Kylie has swum with whale sharks, manta rays and humpback whales in Ningaloo, piranha and pink dolphins in the Amazon, braved scuba diving with lionfish in Egypt, marine iguanas and hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos Islands and encountered great white sharks in South Africa.…
Book review: Escape From Marigold Manor
Escape From Marigold Manor by Rachel Jackson, Riveted Press, ISBN 9781763526068 REVIEWED BY ELLA, 9, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this title. Escape from Marigold Manor is a detective book with lots of cases, which the reader sometimes has to help solve. This is not the kind of book I would usually…
HM Waugh on The Surface Trials
Teams of kids on an alien planet competing to get into Starquest Academy, three clues and only three days to find their way to the finish line. Today we're chatting with HM Waugh about her latest book: The Surface Trials. HM Waugh is a children's author, educator and environmental scientist with a long-term love of…
Book review: Higher Ground
Higher Ground by Tull Suwannakit, New Frontier Publishing, ISBN 9781922326997 REVIEWED BY MARLEY, 9, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this book. Higher Ground is a picture book about a grandma, brother, sister and one rabbit who get stranded on a really tall apartment building in the rooftop garden, because of a huge…
Book review: Meet the Mubbles
Meet the Mubbles by Liz Pichon, Macmillan Children's Books, ISBN 9781035068326 REVIEWED BY EDITH, 9, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this book. Meet the Mubbles is a vibrant comic book adventure for younger readers aged between 6–8. I had lots of fun reading this book because of the detail, colour and interesting concepts on…
Julia Lawrinson on Trapped!
A sudden rain deluge, a flooded gold mine, and a father trapped underground. Today we're excited to be talking to Julia Lawrinson about her latest book: Trapped! The Entombed Miner of Bonnie Vale. Julia is an award-winning author of more than a dozen books for children and young adults. Her books are often about friendship,…
Book review: Lexie Moon and the Word Burgling Bungle
Lexie Moon and the Word Burgling Bungle by Melissa Garside, illustrated by Lauren Mullinder, Riveted Press, ISBN 9781763526037 REVIEWED BY EDITH, 9, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this book. This book centres around the main character, Lexie Moon, who builds a contraption that takes someone's words and gives them to someone else…
Book review: Little Bones
Little Bones by Sandy Bigna, illustrations by Tamlyn Teow, UQP, ISBN 9780702268878 REVIEWED BY MARLEY, 9, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this book. Little Bones is about a girl called Bones and she loves collecting animal bones for her collection. She doesn't have many friends at school and people think she's a…
Rachel Jackson on Escape from Marigold Manor
Rachel Jackson draws on her extensive experience as an intelligence specialist to create twisty branching plotlines. She’s also a sucker for good puzzles and bad jokes – subject matter that she shares generously with her readers in the Solve It Your Way series published by Riveted Press. Today we're chatting to Rachel about her latest…
Book review: Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra
Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra by Cassy Polimeni, illustrated by Hykie Breeze, UWA Publishing, ISBN 9781760802899 REVIEWED BY ELLA, 9, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this book. Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra is a fiction book with lots of facts about frogs. The story is about Ella, who moves house…
Kitty Black on Rise of the Witch
Funny, scary, a dash of magic – Rise of the Witch is the first book in the new Everglade series by Kitty Black, with illustrations by Rebecca Crane. Kitty is already the author of numerous picture books and today we're chatting about the creation of her first novel. The publisher provided Alphabet Soup with a…
Renée Treml on The Thylacine and the Time Machine
Renée Treml is an award-winning writer and illustrator based in Fremantle, WA. She has written and illustrated several picture books including the award-winning Once I Heard a Little Wombat, and Wombat Big, Puggle Small, which was read on ABC’s Play School. Renée is also the creator of the hilarious graphic novels featuring Sherlock Bones and Ollie and Bea. Today we're…
Book review: Crunch
Crunch by Kayla Miller, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760655181 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book. I recently read Crunch and I LOVED it! It is a must read for any avid readers from the age 8 to 12. This graphic novel is part of the Click series. The…
Tull Suwannakit on Higher Ground
Tull Suwannakit is an award-winning illustrator and author with a background in animation and fine art. When Tull is not writing and illustrating, he runs art classes and workshops for children and adults at his art school in Melbourne. Today we're excited to hear from Tull about his latest book: Higher Ground. The publisher provided…
Melissa Garside on Lexie Moon and the Word Burling Bungle
Melissa Garside lives south of Sydney with her family, their hilarious golden retriever and some entertaining free-ranging chooks. When she’s not writing or teaching, she enjoys getting her hands dirty in the garden, immersing herself in nature and using her family as guinea pigs for her recipe-free kitchen experiments. Today we're chatting to Melissa about…
Book review: Act
Act by Kayla Miller, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760654931 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC Aashi reviewed her own copy of this title. You should always stand up for what you believe, right? Olive thinks that it is unfair that kids have to miss out on field trips just because they are expensive. She knows she…
Deb Fitzpatrick on Tawny Trouble
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 loves bushwalking with her family. When she can, she sneaks away to a shack in the karri forest of the south-west of Western Australia. Today we're…
Book review: Funny Kid Belly Flop
Funny Kid: Belly Flop by Matt Stanton, HarperCollins Publishers, ISBN 9780733340604 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book. Meet Max, a professional prankster. He is always trying to make people laugh and have a blast. This means he gets in trouble a lot. Max is on another adventure where…
Angie Cui on My Mum is a Bird
Angie Cui was born in Harbin, China and now lives in Melbourne with her husband and two children, whom she calls the ‘ABC Family’ – four people, three cultures – Australian, Bangladeshi and Chinese (her kids are Australian-born, and her husband is originally from Bangladesh). She loves the rich culture of her family’s languages and enjoys using them…
Book review: Thea Stilton and the Chocolate Sabotage
Thea Stilton and the Chocolate Sabotage by Elisabetta Dami, Scholastic, ISBN 9780545646567 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10 VIC Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book. The Thea Sisters set off on an adventure to Ecuador. They are visiting Paulina's old friend, Antonio, who runs a chocolate factory. He runs Choco Loco with his cousin Hector. …
Sandi Parsons on Salty
Sandi Parsons is an avid reader, writer and storyteller. She lives in Western Australia with some problem puppies and many teetering stacks of books. Today we're chatting to Sandi about her latest book: Salty. The publisher provided Alphabet Soup with a reading copy of Salty. From the publisher: Dara longs to have a best friend, someone she…
Book review: The Secret of the Stone
The Secret of the Stone by Kathryn Lefroy, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760994648 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC The publisher provided a review copy of this book. The Secret of the Stone is an exciting book about adventure and loyalty, packed with surprises. When Olive and her friends discover a mysterious stone, they realise it has…
Dianne Wolfer on Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady
Dianne Wolfer is the award-winning author of 26 books, including the acclaimed ‘Light’ series, adapted for stage, street theatre, and choirs! She lives on the southwest coast with her husband, Pete, and dog, Harry. Today we're thrilled to be talking to Dianne about her latest book, a biography of Robin Miller, Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady.…
Sandy Bigna on Little Bones
Sandy Bigna is a reader, a book reviewer and a writer. Today we're excited to be chatting to her about her debut book – a verse novel called Little Bones. From the publisher: Since the accident, eleven-year-old Bones spends her time drawing animal skeletons and scavenging for dead things to add to her collection. One…
Book review: Bigfoot vs Yeti
Bigfoot vs Yeti by James Foley, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760994983 REVIEWED BY MARLEY, 9, PALMYRA PRIMARY SCHOOL, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this book. Bigfoot vs Yeti is about a Yeti and a Bigfoot and how there was a great big mist and rift between their two colonies. The two colonies always hated each…
Book review, 11 Ruby Road: 1900
11 Ruby Road: 1900 by Charlotte Barkla, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760657949 REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 12, NSW Elizabeth received a review copy of this book. Dorothy raised the key to the lock, but the door creaked open before she could insert it. When ten-year-old Dorothy opened the door to her new home, she also opened…
James Foley on Bigfoot vs Yeti
James Foley makes picture books, novels and graphic novels for kids. He creates with pen and ink, pencil, charcoal, and watercolour and also uses digital tools for his work. Today we're excited to be chatting with James about his latest picture book: Bigfoot vs Yeti. From the publisher: The Bigfoots say it started when a…
Book review: The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage
The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage by Charlie Archbold, Text Publishing, ISBN 9781922790996 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC The publisher provided a review copy of this book. The Sugarcane Kids face a crisis: animals are mysteriously disappearing all over town, including Gloria, a beloved pet. Although the kids have their suspicions, the adults refuse…
Book review: The Vanishing
The Vanishing by Mark Greenwood, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760993962 REVIEWED BY MARLEY, 9, PALMYRA PRIMARY SCHOOL, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this book. The Vanishing is a non fiction mystery book about Frederick Valentich going missing in his aircraft. He was a very kind person and his life was going very well…
Book review: Penny Draws a Class Trip
Penny Draws a Class Trip by Sara Shepard, Text Publishing, ISBN 9781922790712 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC The publisher provided a review copy of this book. Sara Shepard has written a great story about Penny Lowry, a girl who loves drawing and writing. Penny is 11 years old and in 5th Grade. She was delighted…
Book review: The Journey
The Journey by James Norbury, Penguin Books Ltd., ISBN 9780241585382 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book. James Norbury has written a fantastic story about Big Panda and Tiny Dragon. These best friends are always there for each other and help each other every day by being themselves. Tiny…
Book review: Camp Crypt
Twisted Trails: Camp Crypt by Fionna Cosgrove, published by Fionna Cosgrove, ISBN 9780645723342 REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC Aashi received a review copy of this title. You pull off a prank, only meant to teach a boy a lesson, when the boy almost dies. The next thing you know, you are on a bus to…
Sally Murphy on The Riding Gallery
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: The Riding Gallery, illustrated by Martina Heiduczek. From the publisher: In Melbourne's St Kilda, as World War 1 begins, Anton (a German…
Book review: Leo and Ralph
Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas, UQP, ISBN 9780702266218 REVIEWED BY ANWEN, 10, WA The publisher provided a review copy of this book. Leo and Ralph is a wonderful book to read if you’re looking for a story about best buds doing whatever they can to be with each other. This book contains lots of…
Charlie Archbold on The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage
Charlie Archbold has been a teacher in Australia, the UK, and Indonesia, which has given her a trove of experiences to infuse into her stories. Charlie's books often explore themes of curiosity, community, and justice. Today we're chatting to Charlie about the second book in her adventure series: The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage.…
Book review: Into the Blue
Into the Blue by Cristy Burne, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760993870 REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 11, NSW The publisher provided a review copy of this book. For his school holiday, Blair went snorkelling at the beach with his cousin. Blair walked into the ocean slowly as he spat into his snorkelling mask. He and his cousin, Drew,…