Aussie Kids Books

Book Reviews

Welcome to my blog! This blog is a celebration of Australian children's fiction - including young adult, middle grade, junior fiction, and picture books.

Read on for my reviews!

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The Opposite of Disappearing: Short Stories in Uncertain Times, edited by Laura Norris & R.A Stephen

Sandy

18 hours ago
2 min

The Opposite of Disappearing: Short Stories in Uncertain Times, edited by Laura Norris & R.A Stephen

I am so honoured to have my short story, Between Spaces, included in this collection of contemporary short stories for young adult...

1 view0 comments

Worst Week Ever! Monday, by Eva Amores & Matt Cosgrove

Sandy

6 days ago
2 min

Worst Week Ever! Monday, by Eva Amores & Matt Cosgrove

Monday is not a popular day of the week for any of us. But for Justin Chase, the narrator of this book, this particular Monday is shaping...

8 views0 comments

Sandy

Nov 23
2 min

Paws, by Kate Foster

The doggy star of this heartwarming and gently humorous book is Kevin, a sweet-natured cockapoo. Kevin belongs to Alex, the...

5 views0 comments

Bailey Finch Takes a Stand, by Ingrid Laguna

Sandy

Nov 19
2 min

Bailey Finch Takes a Stand, by Ingrid Laguna

This heartfelt and moving book for middle grade readers is a story of family and friendship and loss and caring for the environment. It...

6 views0 comments

Two Houses, by Frieda Parks; illustrated by Mithini Wathsala

Sandy

Nov 15
1 min

Two Houses, by Frieda Parks; illustrated by Mithini Wathsala

I love to support indie authors and today I'm giving a shout-out to Frieda Parks, Aussie author of the gorgeous picture book Two Houses....

1 view0 comments

The Underdogs (books 1 & 2), by Kate & Jol Temple; illustrated by Shiloh Gordon

Sandy

Nov 15
2 min

The Underdogs (books 1 & 2), by Kate & Jol Temple; illustrated by Shiloh Gordon

"I really like these books because they make me laugh. I like that there is a mystery to solve, it keeps me interested in the story. The...

9 views0 comments

Sass and Traz Save the Library, by Michelle Worthington; illustrated by Naomi Greaves

Sandy

Nov 12
1 min

Sass and Traz Save the Library, by Michelle Worthington; illustrated by Naomi Greaves

If you love libraries and books, then you'll love this fun action-packed adventure story. Sass and Traz are twins who don't always agree...

4 views0 comments

The Book for Happy Hearts, by Maggie Hutchings; illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

Sandy

Nov 9
2 min

The Book for Happy Hearts, by Maggie Hutchings; illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

Warning: I am going to rave about this book a little bit because it's just so beautiful, and I highly recommend you buy multiple copies...

6 views0 comments

How To Repaint a Life, by Stephen Herrick

Sandy

Nov 9
2 min

How To Repaint a Life, by Stephen Herrick

I was fully immersed in this young adult novel from the very beginning. It's a story of friendship, family, kindness, and courage. Isaac...

16 views0 comments

Sandy

Nov 2
2 min

Are You There Buddha? by Pip Harry

Did you read Judy Blume books when you were a teen? I sure did - and I loved 'Are You there God? It's me Margaret,' which was one of the...

8 views0 comments

Mary had a Monstersaur; written by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Peter Bath

Sandy

Oct 25
2 min

Mary had a Monstersaur; written by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Peter Bath

I love this gorgeously 'scary' version of the well known children's rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb. In this version of the story, it's not...

13 views0 comments

Sandy

Oct 19
2 min

Lucy and Copper, by Mandy Foot

This beautifully heartfelt story celebrates the special bond between children and animals, and tells a story of learning to adjust to...

5 views0 comments

Hometown Haunts: Flash Fiction challenge

Sandy

Oct 17
3 min

Hometown Haunts: Flash Fiction challenge

To celebrate the upcoming release of Hometown Haunts (a collection of spooky stories for YA readers published by Wakefield Press), the...

17 views0 comments

The Curiosities, written by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie

Sandy

Oct 11
2 min

The Curiosities, written by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie

This picture book is a work of art, from the lyrical text, to the stunning and evocative illustrations. I love a multi-layered picture...

22 views0 comments

Michaela Mason's Big List of 23 Worries/Michaela Mason's Big List of Camp Worries, by Alexa Moses

Sandy

Oct 10
3 min

Michaela Mason's Big List of 23 Worries/Michaela Mason's Big List of Camp Worries, by Alexa Moses

I am officially hooked on this well crafted new series for middlegrade readers (aged 8+), which shines a light on friendship, family,...

25 views0 comments

The Australian Climate Change Book, Written by Polly Marsden, illustrated by Chris Nixon

Sandy

Oct 8
2 min

The Australian Climate Change Book, Written by Polly Marsden, illustrated by Chris Nixon

Do you have kids who might be anxious or curious about climate change? Or are you looking for a book that helps explain climate change in...

6 views0 comments

Australian Backyard Birdies, by Andy Geppert

Sandy

Oct 8
2 min

Australian Backyard Birdies, by Andy Geppert

Fun, quirky, memorable, entertaining, colourful - these are all words the kids and I came up with to describe Australian Background...

4 views0 comments

Where’s My Dinosaur? by Ashling Kwok; illustrated by Jasmine Berry

Sandy

Oct 4
2 min

Where’s My Dinosaur? by Ashling Kwok; illustrated by Jasmine Berry

This engaging new picture book is captivating from the very first page, when our young narrator tells us that ‘there’s something growing...

41 views0 comments

Sandy

Oct 1
2 min

Tell Me Why, by Archie Roach

Tell Me Why is a raw, heartbreaking, yet ultimately uplifting account of singer/songwriter Archie Roach’s life. Archie was forcibly...

8 views0 comments

Author Q&A: Peter Carnavas (My Brother Ben).

Sandy

Sep 28
4 min

Author Q&A: Peter Carnavas (My Brother Ben).

Peter's new release for middle grade readers, My Brother Ben, is a gently beautiful story that shines a light on the bond between...

28 views0 comments

Aussie Kids Books

The Opposite of Disappearing: Short Stories in Uncertain Times, edited by Laura Norris & R.A Stephen

Worst Week Ever! Monday, by Eva Amores & Matt Cosgrove

Paws, by Kate Foster

Bailey Finch Takes a Stand, by Ingrid Laguna

Two Houses, by Frieda Parks; illustrated by Mithini Wathsala

The Underdogs (books 1 & 2), by Kate & Jol Temple; illustrated by Shiloh Gordon

Sass and Traz Save the Library, by Michelle Worthington; illustrated by Naomi Greaves

The Book for Happy Hearts, by Maggie Hutchings; illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

How To Repaint a Life, by Stephen Herrick

Are You There Buddha? by Pip Harry

Mary had a Monstersaur; written by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Peter Bath

Lucy and Copper, by Mandy Foot

Hometown Haunts: Flash Fiction challenge

The Curiosities, written by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie

Michaela Mason's Big List of 23 Worries/Michaela Mason's Big List of Camp Worries, by Alexa Moses

The Australian Climate Change Book, Written by Polly Marsden, illustrated by Chris Nixon

Australian Backyard Birdies, by Andy Geppert

Where’s My Dinosaur? by Ashling Kwok; illustrated by Jasmine Berry

Tell Me Why, by Archie Roach

Author Q&A: Peter Carnavas (My Brother Ben).

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