Shout Out: Emperor of the Eight Islands (#1 & 2 The Tale of Shikanoko)

Eight years ago, Lian Hearn published the final book in the 'Tales of the Otori' series. Translated into 40 languages and selling more than 4 million copies worldwide, this series captured the imagination of a generation of readers, as they entered the world of feudal Japan and followed — across five spell-binding books — an epic tale of intrigue, romance, betrayal and magic.

Now Lian Hearn has gone back in time, to 300 years before the Otori series, to create a new saga that explores the bitter feud of two rival clans as they each seek to have their own champion crowned Emperor of the Eight Islands. Full of treachery and deceit, and rich in sorcery and adventure, it's an intricate tale that explores a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

Emperor of the Eight Islands is actually books 1 and 2 in the series, with books 3 and 4 to be published in August 2016 as Lord of the Darkwood.

Title: Emperor of the Eight Islands (#1 & 2 The Tale of Shikanoko)
Author: Lian Hearn
Publisher: Hachette, $29.99 RRP
Publication Date: March 2016
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780733635137
For ages: 16+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

Meet the Illustrator: Stephan Britt

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Hopefully something I would've liked when I was a child.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Lots and lots of colors, patterns, vintage toys, knick-knacks, books for inspiration, art on the wall, windows to look out of and my fat cat Leroy purring happily on my lap.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Watercolors, pen and ink, tempera, crayons, etc. I tend to use the cheapest supplies and paper possible, as I feel the pricey stuff stifles my spontaneity.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
 While there are literally countless illustrators whose work constantly amazes me, Richard Scarry, "Jolly" Roger Bradfield, and Tomi Ungerer are certainly at the top of the list!

Review: The Story of Snowflake and Inkdrop

This beautiful flip-book (where two stories starts at either end and meet in the middle) is a triumph of beautiful design and illustration, carried aloft with a whimsical story about leaving the comfort of home and forging out into the world to meet the new and exotic. It's also, in some ways, about both friendship and rebirth.

We first meet Snowflake (or if you pick up the book the other way, you'll first meet Inkdrop), who has been fluttering down from the clouds for a very, very long time. Snowdrop wonders where it will land--and is mostly uncertain.

It floats from place to place, from playground to circus and finally finds itself sailing towards its fate--a black inkdrop soaring down the street. The two blend and their fates collide.

Interview: Author Katherine Paterson

KBR team member Jo Burnell had the pleasure of interviewing author Katherine Paterson about her novel The Great Gilly Hopkins, first published in 1978. The 2015 movie based on the book (starring Sophie Nelissa, Kathy Bates, Julia Stiles and Octavia Spencer and Glenn Close) has recently been released on DVD.

Gilly’s story was written more than two decades ago but it is as relevant today as it was in the 1970s. What is your secret to creating timeless tales?

I don’t know if I have any secret. I have inside me the child I was and her very intense feelings. I think that is what connects to young readers. Our hearts haven’t changed as much as our technology.

Your characters jump off the page and into our hearts. Do you have particular techniques that help you create such vibrant, rounded characters?

I learned long ago that the deeper I go inside myself, seeing both the good and the bad, the deeper my reader will connect from his/her own life’s experience. The reader is always my co-author.

Review: George the Bilby Chef and the Raspberry Muffin Surprise

George the Bilby is a fine cook. He can cook just about anything but his great love is sweet treats (I know how he feels!). As he bakes cakes, he sings a little tune.

Today is Betty the echidna's birthday and George is keen to bake her something really special. He knows Betty loves raspberries but snaffling some little red jewels from the vine and then shipping them home, proves somewhat difficult.

With a little help from his local friends, however, and lots of shenanigans along the way, George finally has his special treat ingredient.

12 Curly Questions with Soraya Nicholas

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 
I’ve always been kind of scared of cats, especially their claws! But I’ve been so brave over the last few months and trapped some wild and stray cats (super scary stuff!) so they could be taken to the vet and be checked over before being released again.

2. What is your nickname?
I don’t have one! But my name is kind of hard to say so lots of people get it wrong. It’s pronounced “SO”-“RAY”-“A” so it’s actually pretty easy to say once you know that.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Having bugs crawl all over me!

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Fast, fun, full of adventure, about animals, and friendship focused.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Passionate, Excited, Happy, Dedicated, Determined.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would be someone like Poppy, one of the main characters in Starlight Stables. She’s a great friend, loves going on adventures, she cares about animals, and she loves her family.

Review: Hannah and Sugar

Hannah’s life is predictable, safe. Every school day follows the same routine. But Sugar, Violet’s pet dog looks scary. She doesn’t figure in Hannah’s safe world. Hannah stays as far away from Sugar as she can.

But then Sugar goes missing all day and all night. Everyone is worried for Sugar. Even though Sugar is frightening, Hannah wonders about what it would be like to be lost, alone, sad and hungry.

Then she hears a little whimper.

Review: A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting

I'm sure you can hear my peeps of glee whenever I spot a new illustrated-by-David Roberts book on the market--whether snuck away in the quiet of my studio or flagrantly released in public in a bookshop. The peeps are that loud. No exception with this gorgeous new book about bears.

Most of us need a guide to bear spotting. I know I certainly do, and this young character probably needs it more than most. For, you see, bears are complicated creatures. At once ferocious and the next moment softer than the small and stuffed kind.

Review: Mother Bruce

When Bruce the grumpy bear sets out to cook a meal with his favourite food, eggs, he collects them from a local goose, because as far as he’s concerned shopping locally is important. Unfortunately for Bruce the eggs hatch into four goslings!

Bruce can’t rid himself of the goslings, no matter how hard he tries. They have imprinted on him, and follow him everywhere. Bruce the bear is now Mother Bruce. Being a parent to one is hard work, and being a parent to four is even harder, especially when you’re a grumpy bear.

Review: Awake Beautiful Child

What I love most about Amy Krouse Rosenthal's books is her ability to surprise. Her versatility as an author is quite profound, as is her sheer cleverness.

In Awake Beautiful Child, she takes the first three letters of the alphabet, including the title, and creates a deceptively simple narrative that utilises just three words--all beginning with A B and C.

To tell the tale of children from waking to bedtime with a series of three-word phrases is quite some feat, but Amy does it beautifully, resulting in a lovingly-crafted story that will appeal to both kids and adults.

Review: Johnny Danger - Lie Another Day

Looking for some fast paced espionage action with James Bond-style gadgets, badder than bad evil genius villains trying to take over the world, secret spy codes, and lots of side-splitting humour? Of course you are, and Johnny Danger fits the bill perfectly.

Join Jonathan Dangerfield on his second undercover mission as Johnny Danger. Of course, he’s more school boy than super spy, but that doesn’t stop him trekking through remote Amazonian jungles to find Dr Disastrous and thwart his evil plans to threaten the world with a Weapon of Gas Destruction.

12 Curly Questions with Diane Jackson Hill

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’m married to Michael Jackson!

2. What is your nickname?
Primary school – Hilly.

Secondary School – Croc (only found out a few years ago, but it was because of my smile – so guess that wasn’t so bad.

Now – Di.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Snakes! So glad I don’t live in Queensland. The bigger the scarier!

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Musical, honest, clever (I hope), minimal and mindful of illustration

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Emerging, passionate, hooked, creative, thoughtful

Tania's Picks: Stunning Picture Books, March 2016

Oh, the lure of the picture book.

If you're anything like me, it's swoon-time in the kids' section of any store, and herewith my recent purchases that had me breathless. Interesting that since I reconnected with illustration, many of my picks are wordless books (though I've always loved them and already have a huge collection).

Enjoy this feast! I hope the covers alone encourage you to seek them out. I promise you will be enamoured by each and every one--for their narrative, yes, but also for image and design and nuance and production values and sheer deliciousness.

All but the last three books are wordless.

Review: Marie Antoinette Serial Killer

People in Paris are dying unusual deaths. They are being beheaded by the ghost of Marie Antoinette. That’s got nothing to do with Colette’s school trip to Paris, right? Wrong.

This unlikely tale of French history mixed with the supernatural and a bit of contemporary sleuthing is founded on friendships past and present, good and not so great.

Collette hasn’t told her wealthy status-obsessed friends she’s been penniless since her parents’ separation. Her mother has saved for months so that Collette doesn’t miss out on the class trip to Paris. When packing, Collette stumbles upon a family heirloom, a medallion, which she decides to take with her to Paris. Perhaps she’ll use it to find out about her French roots.

Review: AFL 2016 Season Handbook

The 2016 AFL Season kicks off tonight with archrivals Richmond and Carlton going head to head in the season opener at the MCG.

Perfect for young footy fans, this must-have season handbook is part info book, part activity book.

Kicking off with two double-page spreads on each team, complete with their season fixtures, the book also includes pages to tally The Brownlow Medal, the Qualifying, Elimination, Semi and Preliminary Finals (so many finals!) as well as the Grand Final, of course, and the Premiership Cup.

Meet the Illustrator: Megan Forward

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Fairly natural and lifelike drawings from observation, with everyday details and my favourite things included, and a slightly subdued palette.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
A pencil, cartridge for roughs and playing, good quality paper for the final art, my watercolour travel set, inks, charcoal, and good light.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
The humble pencil I think would be my top item

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Freya Blackwood’s drawing style and clever layout; Harley Jessup’s drawings in Grandma Summer; Beatrix Potter and E.H. Shepard for their drawings, the colours, and the level of detail they manage to capture. (that’s four, but there’s plenty more!)

Review: Rockhopping

Trace Balla's first book, the award-winning Rivertime, was just one of those books I kept strangely, weirdly missing. Everyone else was raving about it, and I just never ran into it. Happily, when I did, I was as entranced as every other soul who had done the raving.

It's a truly divine book, and in this follow-up, Trace has once again created a serene yet lively tale that weaves its way around the heart and soul of our natural world, sneaking into the crevices of rocks and tree trunks and the gaps between leaves, with humour and warmth and beauty.

Review: Rebel of The Sands

Amani is a sharp-shooting, smart-talking sixteen-year-old living in the desert town of Dustwalk (very 'Wild West'). The surrounding desert is home to the Buraqi, magical horses created from the very sand itself that can only be trapped in mortal form through contact with iron. The Buraqi are part of the immortal First Beings. It was the brightest and most powerful of these, the Djinn, who made the mortal world — including humans.

Dustwalk itself, however, is far from magical. It's a dirt poor, dead-end town where it's a daily struggle just to survive. The warmongering Sultan who rules them is power-hungry, wanting only to control more land and subjugate the surrounding populations. One of his sons, however, is determined to stop his reign of terror. Known as the Rebel Prince, no one knows where Ahmed's stronghold is, or where he'll strike next, but his rebel forces are increasing in number.

Review: Not Just a Piece of Cake

Anecdultory is how Hazel Edwards describes storytelling. This is exactly what this fascinating memoir is filled with – lots of stories about her travels through writing and life. Its light-hearted and humorous tone invites the reader into all the stages and places that Hazel has ventured.

She shares her creative process and progress through children’s books, and reveals the questions that kids frequently ask, and her answers to them. This part is highly entertaining reading. Her curiosity and uninhibited ability to question anyone and everyone is often the source of many ideas that become books.

12 Curly Questions with Meg Caddy

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I’m very picky about mugs. I have two identical tea mugs: giant ones, with Shakespeare quotes written on them. No one else is allowed to use them, and I loathe drinking out of any other mugs.

2. What is your nickname?
I have a lot of nicknames, but most people call me Megsy, Mogsy, or Bugsy.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I am terrified of sharks.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Historical, wolfy, haphazard, researched, YA, fantastical, swashbuckling, questing, evolving, familial.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer. 
Learning, hopeful, dedicated, ambitious, punctual.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would be Gandalf the Grey, because of his spectacular hat.

Review: Eye to Eye

Eye to Eye is everything you would expect from a Graeme Base book - eye-catching, imaginative and full of stunning artwork. It represents the freedom, courage and fearlessness of childhood, and reflects children’s longing to discover and examine their world closely.

A silhouette of the child narrator opens this slide-show of images. An eye appears. Whose eye? The following double spread shows a close-up of the majestic Bald Eagle as it soars through the sky. A miniature image of the boy in an early model plane hovers overhead. It sees what the eagle sees: snow-capped mountains, valleys, plains, and rivers etched in the landscape.

Review: Annabel's Dance

A mob of sheep lived on a farm high in the mountains. They all looked the same with neat, cream-coloured wool. They all stood together in the fields in cold weather to stay warm. They all lined up when they were supposed to when it was time to shear their wool.

Well, most of the sheep did those things. One sheep, Annabel, had wild and untamed wool the colour of mud. She didn’t seem to enjoy the same things as the other sheep and she definitely didn’t want to be shorn.

Annabel manages to avoid shearing time for several years, but eventually she can no longer hide. Will she be able to cope with the noisy, buzzing shears so that she can be wool-free and comfortable again?

Review: Archie: No Ordinary Sloth

It's a really lovely thing to follow authors and illustrators through their book journeys, and this is something I've been doing with Heath McKenzie for a while now, always admiring the clever, humorous and beautifully-observed characters and storylines he creates.

What I've loved about his journey is how his work has morphed and shifted. Although his style and narratives are still very much 'Heath'--they have definitely shifted over time, meaning that each and every book is a delightful surprise. I so love that.

And Archie is no exception.

Review: Death or Ice Cream?

Larkin Mills is an unusual place. If you live there you seem to have a much higher than normal chance of dying in quite extraordinary circumstances. On the other hand, you're also able to enjoy possibly the best ice cream in the world, made by Mr Morricone and available in such delectable flavours as Summer Fruits Suicide and Christmas Massacre.

For a bit of light entertainment, you can visit the steam fair, which runs on electricity supplied by eels. If you're a visitor and need a place to stay, the funeral parlour doubles as the town's only hotel. But whatever you do, if you meet someone carrying a large smooth egg, don't touch it.

Review: Their Fractured Light (Starbound Trilogy #3)

I began Their Fractured Light wondering if my many questions would be answered. The two earlier books in the Starbound series, These Broken Stars and This Shattered World,  were so different from each other, it was hard to imagine how the wide-ranging themes could converge and be resolved in one book.

I needn’t have worried. From the first page we had lift off. Once again I struggled to put the book down. High action, intrigue, issues of trust and betrayal keep the tension high.

LaRoux Industries has been the darling of the universe for decades but behind the company’s commercial façade lies an underbelly of dangerous experimentation that could bring the galaxy to the brink of destruction. Over the years it has left no trail to connect it to tragedies that have affected tens of thousands of lives.

10 Quirky Questions with Deborah Kelly

1. What's your hidden talent?
I can play the didgeridoo.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Mr. and Mrs. Twit (from The Twits, by Roald Dahl). They are horrible in every way - especially to each other - but hilarious!

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Nigella Lawson, Jeanette Winterson. Jumpha Lahiri, Jackie French and BKS Iyengar. The food would be great and the conversation fascinating. Plus, we could all do a little yoga after dinner!

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree! I would love to have friends like Saucepan, Moon Face and Silky! It would be so exciting to explore the different lands at the top of the tree, and to come down the slippery slide on a cushion afterwards!

Review: Star Wars - Before the Awakening

For all the Star Wars fans who have seen the latest movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, this book shares the story of three main characters, set before that movie starts.

Star Wars: Before the Awakening shares the backstories for Rey, Poe and Finn. The book begins as any good Star Wars story should, with the line “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away …” and readers learn the First Order is growing powerful and creating conflict, returning the universe to a time reminiscent of when the Jedi and the Republic fought the might of Darth Vader and his stormtroopers. Now the New Republic is returning to protect its citizens.

Review: Thanks for the Trouble

Musician and author Tommy Wallach has created another sensational novel which follows his exceptional We All Looked Up.  How glad I am that Thanks for the Trouble found me. It is told through the powerful and unique narrative voice of the leading character, Parker Sante.

Parker lost the ability to speak six years ago after the death of his father whom he idolised. He now communicates mostly by writing in notebooks and at times with sign language. He is a loner because of his problem, but being friendless gives him more time to write his stories. His mother longs for him to be normal again, but she, too, is an emotional cripple since her husband’s passing.

Review: The Day I Lost My Superpowers

I just adore picture books with strong lead characters, and this fabulous little chick is an absolute charmer when it comes to adventure and being utterly oneself.

The day she discovers she can fly, our little superhero decides to hone her superpowers.

She leaps from her bed to learn to fly. She makes food instantly disappear (though it never works with peas). She commands things to do as she wishes (most successful on plants, least successful on dogs), and she can even travel back in time. I'll let you read the book to find out how she does that one (gorgeous!).

Review: Ruby Wishfingers - Skydancer's Escape (Ruby Wishfingers #1)

Nine-year-old Ruby Wishfingers has an extraordinary name and likes to think about extraordinary things, but her father tells her she should be focusing on ordinary things like school and homework and strawberry jam sandwiches.

When Ruby’s fingers start to itch and tingle, she can’t help but wonder if something extraordinary is going to happen. Granny Wishfingers tells Ruby that she has inherited the magical Wishfingers ability to have magical wishes come true, but Granny warns her that sometimes wishes aren’t as wonderful as they seem and advises Ruby to be very careful what she wishes for.

Of course Ruby can’t wait to make her first wish and she tries very hard to pick something that won’t cause any problems. She wishes that her favourite soft toy, a unicorn called Skydancer, would come to life. How much trouble could a sparkly unicorn cause?

Meet the Illustrator: Jess Racklyeft

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
 Simplistic, delicate (sometimes), emotive, scrappy, joyful, whimsical.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Pencil, watercolours, good watercolour paper (makes a huge difference!), beloved paintbrushes, computer, podcasts!

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I have always loved watercolour but I love experimenting and have a new favourite medium every month! I'm loving combining it all digitally, and learning more about digital work every month - it's an endless medium and so exciting.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Anna Walker, Quentin Blake, Michael Leunig

Book List: Twins and Multiples in Picture Books

Book List: Twins and multiples in picture books

Twins, triplets, or more can be a surprise. They also bring something unique to their families and their relationship with each other. Picture books featuring twins and other multiples can be a little scarce, so here are a few recommendations to help celebrate, and understand, their wonderful world.

For information about multiple births, visit the Australian Multiple Birth Association website.

Lilli-Pilli’s Sister by Anna Branford, illustrated by Linda Catchlove, Walker books, $24.95, 9781921977589.

Tim and Ed by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Andrew Joyner, Viking, $24.99, 9780670074631.

Review: Together Always

Pig and Goat are friends. Best friends. The kind of friends who are always together, who do everything together, and who know just what to do or say to help each other.

If ever Pig feels small, Goat tells tall tales. If ever Goat can't sleep, Pig hums. They know they will always stick together, side by side.

Until, one day, something changes for Goat. The peaceful orchard with Pig by his side is no longer enough. He wants adventure. Pig doesn't.

Review: Game On! 2016

Game On! 2016 is a celebration of gaming. Computer gaming. For those kids who love computer games, and there are many of them, this will be a book that will be pored over and well used for some time.

“All the best games. Amazing facts. Awesome secrets.” That’s how it is described on the cover, and Game On! is certainly packed full of information, pulled together “by gamers for gamers.” Their credits include years contributing to gaming magazines, participating in gaming conventions, and of course playing games.

The book itself is divided into many different categories, like the games themselves, gaming secrets, lists of cutest characters, weirdest games, gaming hoaxes and more, plus roundups of the best indie games, gaming jargon, and so on.

12 Curly Questions with Katherine Paterson

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 
Hardly anyone knows that I once voted for a Republican for president. (I was very young.)

2. What is your nickname?
I don’t have one now unless you count “Nana.”

3. What is your greatest fear?
That I will let fear stop me from something I know I should do or be.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
It changes in accordance with the story I am trying to tell.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer. 
Hmmm. Hopeful, simple, careful, funny, sad (when it’s appropriate to be funny or sad, but that’s more than a word)

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Well, in a good book, characters change and grow. I trust I have done the same—so maybe I’d like to be Natasha in War and Peace when she is as old as I am now.

Review: The Great Gilly Hopkins

When circumstance tears her away from her first loving foster family, Gilly is determined never to be hurt like that again. Over the years, she wreaks havoc wherever she is moved in the hope the authorities will eventually reunite her with her long forgotten mother. Gilly clings to an old photo and the occasional postcard her mother sends.

By the time Gilly is a smart-mouthed twelve-year-old, her social worker is running out of options. Enter Maime Trotter, a hippopotamus of a woman with a huge heart, William Ernest, a nervous rabbit of a boy and Mr Randolf, the blind, coloured neighbour who comes to tea each night. Try as she might, Gilly can’t help being gradually drawn into their circle.

As she fights against falling into the trap of caring, Gilly writes a letter that changes her future irrevocably. She only realises her mistake when it is too late.

Review: Amazing Animal Journeys

It's so lovely to see 'information' books done so beautifully, with stunning illustration and detailed yet thoroughly accessible text that doesn't dumb things down.

Amazing Animal Journeys follows the migration of a set of animals around the world, starting with a world map and plenty of arrows to give kids immediate perspective. Even for older children and adults, these journey revelations are fascinating.

Explaining firstly why animals migrate, we're then treated to the many and varied ways they do so, some travelling enormous distances, others relatively short distances. Some travel in massive packs, others in very small groups.

Review: Chip

Chip is absolutely crazy for fish and chips (who isn't??). The fish part is often missing, but plenty of chip scraps can often be found. Mmm ... delish. Even if they make his tummy ache.

Chip loves fish and chip leftovers so much, he--alas--becomes quite obsessed about snaffling them. Rude, even. Things get so bad, eventually the local fish and chip guy--Joe's Chip Van--knocks up a sign:

DO NOT FEEL THE GULLS

And so the scraps stop.

Review: Hattie Helps Out

It's Dad's birthday and Hattie is helping her mother to get everything ready for the party that night. There's a huge amount to do, but with Hattie's help it should easily get done in time.

So, Hattie makes the place cards while her mother does the laundry. Then together they bake the cake. Hattie's mum suggests Hattie has her afternoon nap while it cools, but Hattie doesn't think she needs naps anymore.

Review: Maisy Goes by Plane

Maisy is off to visit her friend, Ella, who lives so far away that Maisy must go by plane. This book is a wonderful resource to introduce young children to the procedures of the airport and what it is like to fly on a plane. While Maisy titles generally use quite simple language to appeal to a very young audience, Maisy Goes by Plane is a little more text heavy and introduces readers to some bigger words specific to the plane/airport setting (security, departure, captain, aisle, runway etc).

Starting with being dropped at the airport by her friend Cyril, the reader sees Maisy go through the bustle and hustle of the airport, to check her luggage, go through security and board the plane. The simplicity of the story creates a sort of checklist for how a flight proceeds, from finding the correct seat number, using the seat belts, listening to the stewardess’ safety talk, and then taking off. As it is such a long flight, Maisy and her fellow passengers read, sleep and have refreshments from the trolley, before Maisy discovers the wonderful excitement that is the tiny plane bathroom and the long line to use it.

10 Quirky Questions with Tristan Bancks

1. What's your hidden talent?
Hmmmm. I’m fairly good at hacky-sack. And I play a mean game of ‘Guess Who’.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
I love Roald Dahl’s villains. Boggis, Bunce and Bean and Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge are particular favourites. Dahl’s villains inspire me when I’m developingg characters like Deputy Principal Skroop, Giggles the clown, Dr Bent or Tom’s evil sister Tanya in the My Life books.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Can I have seven? Ernest Hemingway (The Old Man and the Sea), Roald Dahl (The BFG), Judy Blume (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing), Jack London (White Fang, Call of the Wild), Gary Paulsen (Hatchet), Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn), Jean Craighead George (My Side of the Mountain)

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
In my Mac Slater books that have just been re-released there’s a flying bike that I’d love to take for a spin. (Although it crashes quite often, so I might have a professional look it over before I take to the skies.)

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Early, freewritten, outdoors, puzzle-solving, crazy-making.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
‘Never talked down to readers.’

Review: Hijabi Girl

Unable to find any book characters in a hijab for school Book Parades, children’s librarian Ozge Alkan approached award winning author Hazel Edwards to write a story about one. And so, with collaboration, Hijabi Girl was birthed.

Hijabi Girl is a celebration of multicultural Australia. From diverse lunchbox snacks, to different cultural clothing, Hijabi Girl gives the reader a well-rounded view of what most Australian mainstream schools look like today.

Despite these differences, children are children wherever they are and whatever background they come from.

Review: Why Dogs Have Wet Noses

Noah is packing the ark with his two-by-two animals. The rain is about to come down and the very last animal on board is a dog with a soft black nose.

The ark sets sail on the swelling sea and the animals settle in for a long, and very cramped voyage.

It's a pretty full-on job looking after so many animals, but Noah does a sterling job ... until after twenty days at sea, the ark springs a leak!

Panicked, Noah does the only thing he can think of at the time. He grabs his faithful pooch and plugs his soft black nose into the hole. But can it hold? And what will come of the dog?