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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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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...
Sandy
Sep 28, 20214 min read
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...
Sandy
Sep 23, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Sep 18, 20213 min read
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...
Sandy
Sep 17, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Sep 12, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Sep 4, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Aug 27, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Aug 24, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Aug 14, 20213 min read
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...
Sandy
Aug 6, 20215 min read
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...
Sandy
Aug 6, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Aug 1, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Jul 24, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Jul 16, 20213 min read
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...
Sandy
Jul 16, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Jul 4, 20212 min read
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 -...
Sandy
Jun 29, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Jun 26, 20211 min read
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...
Sandy
Jun 17, 20212 min read
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...
Sandy
Jun 13, 20212 min read
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