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

Sandy

Oct 25, 2021
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, 2021
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...

6 views0 comments

Hometown Haunts: Flash Fiction challenge

Sandy

Oct 17, 2021
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...

18 views0 comments

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

Sandy

Oct 11, 2021
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...

32 views0 comments

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

Sandy

Oct 10, 2021
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,...

26 views0 comments

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

Sandy

Oct 8, 2021
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, 2021
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...

9 views0 comments

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

Sandy

Oct 4, 2021
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, 2021
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...

9 views0 comments

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

Sandy

Sep 28, 2021
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...

31 views0 comments

Sandy

Sep 23, 2021
2 min

Food or Friend? by Rebel Challenger

Mr 4 and I are huge fans of Larrikin House's fun and engaging picture books - and this new picture book by Rebel Challenger is no...

13 views0 comments

Sandy

Sep 18, 2021
3 min

Half My Luck by Samera Kamaleddine

This own voices book for young adults is an engaging and enjoyable read from debut author and winner of the Matilda Prize Samera...

9 views0 comments

Sandy

Sep 17, 2021
2 min

My Brother Ben, by Peter Carnavas

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...

16 views0 comments

I Saw Pete and Pete Saw Me, written by Maggie Hutchings, illustrated by Evie Barrow

Sandy

Sep 12, 2021
2 min

I Saw Pete and Pete Saw Me, written by Maggie Hutchings, illustrated by Evie Barrow

I am a firm believer that picture books are not just for preschoolers, and can in fact be read and enjoyed, and utilised as a learning...

12 views0 comments

Stop the Dad Jokes, by Adrian Beck & Simon Greiner

Sandy

Sep 4, 2021
2 min

Stop the Dad Jokes, by Adrian Beck & Simon Greiner

How many times have you rolled your eyes and groaned when your dad comes out with yet another dad joke? Yeah – I’m with you – there are...

6 views0 comments

Sandy

Aug 27, 2021
2 min

Tiger Daughter, by Rebecca Lim

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...

16 views0 comments

Home, by Karen Hendriks and illustrated by Alisa Knatko

Sandy

Aug 24, 2021
2 min

Home, by Karen Hendriks and illustrated by Alisa Knatko

Home is an inspiring and poignant picture book, which shines a light on the largely unknown story of the expulsion of three million...

21 views0 comments

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, by Sami Bayly

Sandy

Aug 14, 2021
3 min

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, by Sami Bayly

So I might be a little (ok, a lot) obsessed with this beautifully designed encyclopaedia, which is a 2020 CBCA shortlisted book. There is...

19 views0 comments

Author Q&A: Samantha Wheeler (Devils in Danger)

Sandy

Aug 6, 2021
5 min

Author Q&A: Samantha Wheeler (Devils in Danger)

I absolutely adored Samantha's latest release for middle grade readers, Devils in Danger. Samantha kindly agreed to answer some questions...

32 views0 comments

Sandy

Aug 6, 2021
2 min

Ghostbear, by Paul McDermott

This picture book is really a work of art, from the front cover through to the final endpapers, and is really as much for adults as it is...

18 views0 comments

Aussie Kids Books

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).

Food or Friend? by Rebel Challenger

Half My Luck by Samera Kamaleddine

My Brother Ben, by Peter Carnavas

I Saw Pete and Pete Saw Me, written by Maggie Hutchings, illustrated by Evie Barrow

Stop the Dad Jokes, by Adrian Beck & Simon Greiner

Tiger Daughter, by Rebecca Lim

Home, by Karen Hendriks and illustrated by Alisa Knatko

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals, by Sami Bayly

Author Q&A: Samantha Wheeler (Devils in Danger)

Ghostbear, by Paul McDermott

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