Aussie Kids Books

I am officially hooked on this well crafted new series for middlegrade readers (aged 8+), which shines a light on friendship, family, adjusting to change, managing anxiety, and finding your place in the world. It's the way these universal themes are dealt with that feels fresh and unique. For me the beating heart of these stories is the narrator, Michaela, whose voice is warm, funny and perfectly pitched for the intended age group. Michaela keeps lists in order to manage her

Peter's new release for middle grade readers, My Brother Ben, is a gently beautiful story that shines a light on the bond between brothers. It's one of my top picks for middle grade books published this year. Peter kindly agreed to answer some questions about My Brother Ben and his writing process for the book. My Brother Ben Published by: UQP, September 2021 Luke and his big brother Ben spend the summer on the banks of Cabbage Tree Creek. Quiet Luke sketches birds, while Ben

You know how sometimes you start reading a book and get that almost instant feeling that it’s going to be the type of book that makes your heart sing? That’s exactly how I felt when I started reading this beautifully heartfelt book for middle grade readers. I wanted to slow down and savour every sentence. This gently written story shines a light on the enduring bond between brothers. Luke and his big brother Ben spend their summer days in and around the water at Cabbage Tree

Tiger Daughter is a powerful and captivating read and is one of my top picks this year for middle grade readers. The story is told through the eyes of Wen Zhou, the only child of Chinese immigrants. Through her intimate first-person perspective, we are drawn immediately into her world. It quickly becomes clear that Wen’s home life is somewhat strained – she has high expectations placed on her by both parents. Not only this, but due to her father’s volatile and controlling beh

So I might be a little (ok, a lot) obsessed with this beautifully designed encyclopaedia, which is a 2020 CBCA shortlisted book. There is something so captivating about it - the front cover alone inviting an immediate tactile response with its shiny green embossed lettering (I can't stop stroking it actually!) My kids love non-fiction books – there is something they find endlessly fascinating in learning real facts about the world around them. They are also drawn to researchi

I absolutely adored Samantha's latest release for middle grade readers, Devils in Danger. Samantha kindly agreed to answer some questions about this book and her writing process - with some very insightful responses. Devils in Danger Published by: UQP, August 2021 Eleven-year-old Killarney thinks school is boring. She'd rather be exploring the wilderness around her Tasmanian hometown or helping her hairdresser mum. When strange things start to happen - ear-splitting screams i

This beautifully crafted middle grade novel captivated me from the opening page, where we meet the narrator, 11-year-old Killarney, and her mum. They are just finishing up dinner when a terrible scream explodes through the air. What on earth could it be? The reader is hooked in straight away, wanting to find out what exactly is going on. This exciting opening sets the scene for a character-driven story about a young girl who discovers a wild Tasmanian Devil denning under her

This middlegrade novel is beautifully written and completely engrossing - I read it over a couple of days, reluctant to leave the world of SJ (Samantha) behind because her voice was so authentic - raw and honest and funny - and I felt so invested in her welfare. This one has been on my radar for a little while now (published in 2019) - and I'm so glad I read it. Thirteen-year-old Samantha and her family have moved from Broken Hill to a new town and a new school, and Samantha

I absolutely adore verse novels and have been eagerly anticipating this new verse novel by Sherryl Clark. Mina and the Whole Wide World is a gentle and touching story which illuminates the enduring power of kindness and friendship. Mina can't wait to move into her very own bedroom - she even has a box of special stuff to put in her new room, including the globe of the world she found at a garage sale. But her dream of having her own space is shattered when her parents make th

This middle grade book is the perfect reminder that families are all different, and shines a light on the importance of embracing differences within family units. Thirteen-year-old Abigail has been in and out of foster care and is about to return home to live with her parents. However, she's established a safe life and routine with her carer Katherine and her Naval officer husband Lawson, who provide stability, care and routine. Will Agatha find a way to stay with Katherine w

I was so excited when I heard that Kate Gordon had written a companion novel to her beautifully haunting story The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn - and I'm happy to say that I loved Melodie Rose as much as I love Wonder. Where Wonder was shadows and loneliness, Melodie Rose is light and stardust. While the two girls are very different, both earn the love of the grouchy unearthly crow Hollowbeak, who ultimately sees the beauty at the heart of both girls. This story starts with Melo

This beautifully crafted verse novel for middle grade readers is truly a work of art - from the charcoal-smudged illustrations depicting the aftermath of bushfire, to the artful way in which words are placed on the page. I absolutely adored Kirli's exquisite picture book 'The Incredible Freedom Machines' and this verse novel is just as breathtakingly beautiful. Bindi is 11 years old and enjoys hanging with her friends, creating art, and playing hockey (even though her hockey

This is a beautifully written story about navigating change, shifting family and friendship dynamics, and finding your place in the world. It perfectly captures that awkward transitional stage between childhood and adolescence. Clem has just started Grade 8 and everything is starting to change - her two besties are now all about boys and bras and Instagram. Clem feels underdeveloped and unsure if she is ready for boyfriends and makeup and the slippery world of social media. M

I absolutely devoured this heartfelt, funny and brilliantly written story, which has all the essential ingredients for the perfect middle grade novel, including: An endearing protagonist: Vivian, who wants nothing more than to compete one day in the Olympic Games, is funny, determined and very likeable. An engrossing plot: When Vivian discovers that she is good at cross country running she feels like she's edging closer to her dreams of becoming an Olympian. However an illnes

Mr 8 loved this book and wanted to share a quick review, so here it is: "I loved this book because the author had some very creative ideas. The stories were a little bit scary but mostly funny. They made me laugh and also kept me interested. The pictures were great as they added humour. My favourite story was The Scanner, about a security scanner at the airport which turned people into skeletons! Kids who like funny, spooky stories with cool pictures and lots of creative idea

This is a beautifully crafted magical story for middle grade readers which made my heart feel like bursting with all the sadness and beauty within its pages. We follow the story of Meixing who has come with her family to a New House in the New Land. Meixing's parents have high expectations for her - wanting her to succeed in learning the New Language and go on to excel at school. But Meixing's entire universe is rocked by loss and grief - amplifying her feelings of displaceme

This beautiful little book was awarded the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 1999, and this is the 20th anniversary edition of the book. For such a small book, this story really delivers an emotional punch. My Girragundji is told from the point of view of a young boy, on the cusp of adolescence. He lives with his seven sisters and three brothers and is just starting to notice girls. We learn that he is passionate about football. The boy's voice is lively with humou

This is an empowering, moving and beautifully articulated story of loss and grief and family love, of finding your inner strength against what seems like impossible odds. Fourteen-year-old Nia lives in the slums of Jakarta, along the train tracks. She yearns to go to high school and become a writer – but instead spends her days running the family food cart and looking after her younger brother. Things begin to change after Nia is involved in a bus accident; Nia miraculously s

This enchanting story for middlegrade readers is at once both uplifting and heartbreaking. It has the dreamy flow and rhythm of a fairytale, with writing that is at times beautifully lyrical. Many times I paused to linger over a sentence that seemed rich with meaning and colour. It is impossible not to almost immediately feel a rush of empathy for our lonely narrator, Wonder Quinn, who each school year yearns for a true friend, but is ignored by the other girls at Direleaf Ha

I love this beautifully crafted middle grade novel not only for its story of adventure and mystery, but also for its compelling, unique female protagonist, Neoma, who shines a light on the ways in which girls can be strong, funny, smart and courageous. In this post-climate change narrative, Neoma finds herself sailing across the risen sea, her only passenger a hungry crocodile. Her mission is to rescue her best friend Jag from the people of the Valley of the Sun, whose presen