Sandy
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...
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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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...
17 views0 comments
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...
7 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...
28 views0 comments
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...
23 views0 comments
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...
20 views0 comments
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...
64 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...
25 views0 comments
Sandy
- Aug 1, 2021
- 2 min
Devils in Danger, by Samantha Wheeler
This beautifully crafted middle grade novel captivated me from the opening page, where we meet the narrator, 11-year-old Killarney, and...
5 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jul 24, 2021
- 2 min
The Unwilling Twin, by Freya Blackwood
Freya Blackwood can really do no wrong when it comes to picture books - and The Unwilling Twin is no exception. This fun and charming...
29 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jul 16, 2021
- 3 min
Sensitive, by Allayne Webster
This middlegrade novel is beautifully written and completely engrossing - I read it over a couple of days, reluctant to leave the world...
16 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jul 16, 2021
- 2 min
You Are the Magic, by Jordana Borensztajn; illustrated by Paul Gorn
This beautiful collection of inspiring and empowering rhymes for children will make your heart sing. Each rhyme is a sparkling...
22 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jul 4, 2021
- 2 min
Mina and the Whole Wide World
I absolutely adore verse novels and have been eagerly anticipating this new verse novel by Sherryl Clark. Mina and the Whole Wide World...
63 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jun 29, 2021
- 2 min
Henry Hamlet's Heart, by Rhiannon Wilde
This young adult novel by debut author Rhiannon Wilde broke my heart in the best possible way. I loved it from the very first page -...
15 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jun 26, 2021
- 1 min
Everything We Keep, by Di Walker
This middle grade book is the perfect reminder that families are all different, and shines a light on the importance of embracing...
35 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jun 17, 2021
- 2 min
The Ballad of Melodie Rose, by Kate Gordon
I was so excited when I heard that Kate Gordon had written a companion novel to her beautifully haunting story The Heartsong of Wonder...
19 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jun 13, 2021
- 2 min
The Coconut Children, by Vivian Pham
Set in Sydney's southwest suburbs in the 1990s, this is a raw, beautiful and heartbreaking story of love and coming-of-age. At the...
8 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jun 6, 2021
- 3 min
Bindi, by Kirli Saunders & Dub Leffler
This beautifully crafted verse novel for middle grade readers is truly a work of art - from the charcoal-smudged illustrations depicting...
28 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jun 4, 2021
- 2 min
School of Monsters series, by Sally Rippin & Chris Kennett
This fun and colourful series for kids just embarking on the process of learning to read has really captured the attention of both Mr 4...
24 views0 comments
Sandy
- Jun 1, 2021
- 2 min
The Boy From the Mish, by Gary Lonesborough
'The Boy From the Mish' by debut author Gary Lonesborough is a beautifully articulated and heartfelt own voices story that will stay with...
13 views0 comments