Review: I am Brown

'I am brown. 

I am beautiful 

I am perfect’ 

I am Brown is an inviting and poetic picture book that celebrates pride, culture and diversity.

The colour palette is rich and warm, highlighting the children and their beautiful brown skin tones, hair types and eye colours.

Hear from kids all over the world about what they like to eat and what they wear. Learn about the languages they speak and the places they go to pray. 

See their hopes for the future, their passions and gifts, and that no two children are exactly the same.

Review: Wanted: The Cutest Baby in the World

Sometimes, it is worth reading the author’s dedication first: 

‘For tired parents everywhere – your tiny master criminals are lucky to have you’.

Davina Bell’s dedication sums up the entire premise of Wanted: The Cutest Baby in the World better than any blurb could.

When the detective arrives at Mum and Dad’s house, it's very late at night, which is okay because everyone’s awake anyway. 

Meet the Illustrator: Brenton E. McKenna

Name, title, location
Brenton E. McKenna, Author/Illustrator, Broome, Western Australia

Describe your illustration style in ten words or fewer.
Manga, Marvel and Disney meet Kimberley kid bush graffiti.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My blue graphite pen, an empty scrapbook and heaps of random reference material.

Review: Sketch

Sketch is an impactful story, a picture book for older readers, created by Canadian illustrator and political cartoonist Jacques Goldstyn. 

It shares a message of hope for anyone who feels alone, out of place or misunderstood. 

Right from when Sketch was born, there was something different about him, both in looks and actions. 

In his home town, which is neat and picture perfect, and everything and everyone have their place, Sketch just doesn’t seem to fit in. 

Review: Australian Geographic - World's Most Freaky

If you love animals and love being able to wow your friends with random fun facts, then Australian Geographic’s World’s Most Freaky is for you.

 
Sorted by world regions and with plenty of ‘freaky’ animal facts clearly sectioned with a photo and a small amount of text, this book allows readers to either dip in and out or devour the details from cover to cover.

The facts within are not intended to horrify, repulse or make you cringe – as the title word ‘freaky’ may imply – but rather to intrigue, fascinate and elicit the ‘wow – no way!’ factor. The whole point is to open your eyes to the uniqueness and tenacity of nature, with a side dose of awareness, so we can all step towards conserving these beautiful creatures for generations to come.

 

Sunday Shelfie - Valerie: Australia's Bravest Sausage Dog

Happy #sundsyshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome Lucinda Gifford. This week we are celebrating Lucinda’s delightful picture book Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog.

Join Valerie on her unforgettable journey and discover just how far a brave little dog can go!

Living the beach life and riding the swells. 
Practising backstroke and digging up shells.
Dining on oysters and fancy ice cream... 
Valerie knew she was living the dream.

All over Australia and all around the world, people fell in love with Valerie - the bold-hearted dachshund who escaped a campground on Kangaroo Island and roamed the wilderness for over 500 days before being reunited with her loving owners.

Written and illustrated by Lucinda Gifford
Published by Allen and Unwin

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12 Curly Questions with children's author Julianne Negri

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.

My natural hair colour is dark brown.

2. What is your nickname?
When I was little, my family called me Fizzgig.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Easy. Vampires. So scared of vampires!

4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Don’t need ten, just one: chaotic. Although that’s six words...

Review: Learning You By Heart

Some books beg to be read aloud while you’re snuggled up with the ones you love. Sarah Wallace’s newest book, illustrated by Michelle Conn, is one of those books.

A lullaby for a precious child, Learning You By Heart captures a mother’s absolute devotion to her child as she delights in every smile, every touch and every breath.

 
Learning something ‘by heart’ usually refers to the rote memorisation of times tables, spelling words or scientific formulae at school. It involves close observation, repeated actions and intense focus.

Review: The Game of Oaths

It's 1896 in Paris, where the Game of Oaths is held annually underneath the glittering spectacle of the magical Cirque des Ombres. But behind the sparkling spectacle, the circus performers are bound to the ringmaster Enchanteur Jean-Pierre by magical contracts - meaning the performers can never leave. 

Every year, 12 performers are chosen to take part in the Game of Oaths, an underground, brutal tournament watched by the elite - however, only the winner will make it out alive. 

Haunted by the death of her sister in the game the year prior, when seventeen year old Falan is selected to take part, she only has one thing on her mind - revenge. 

As she is thrown into a world of shifting alliances, dangerous magic and blood-thirsty opponents, Falan must decide who she can trust to help her win the game and fulfil her quest for revenge. 

Review: The Not So Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau

Like most people I opened The Not so Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau knowing very little about the man beyond the typical mime gags. After reading, I was actually disappointed in myself that I had never learned more, for Marcel Marceau was a truly exceptional human being. From fleeing his home in Strasburg as a child and watching friends and family being marched off to concentration camps, to joining the French Resistance and being instrumental in saving countless lives. This was all before becoming a world famous performer who was still touring the world, well into his 80’s.

Review: Australian Geographic - World's Most Extreme

Would you rather be a capybara and stay underwater for up to five minutes or a bee hummingbird and fly backwards with incredible precision?

From the moment I picked up Australian Geographic: World's Most Extreme, I was hooked. This is the kind of non-fiction title that invites readers to dive straight in and explore.

Several features immediately caught my attention. The title sparked my curiosity, the textured cover added another layer of appeal, and the animal-print endpapers had me smiling before I even turned the first page.

The format makes this book highly accessible for readers of all ages. Each continent is explored, allowing readers to travel the world and discover fascinating creatures. Clear headings help readers navigate the text, while intriguing subheadings encourage them to keep reading. Fast fact inserts provide bite-sized information, and the stunning photographs bring every page to life.

For educators, this book offers countless opportunities for classroom learning. It provides a wonderful springboard for geographical investigations as learners explore where animals live around the world and compare continents, environments and ecosystems. The fascinating facts and measurements throughout the book create authentic opportunities for mathematical thinking as learners compare, estimate and order sizes, speeds and weights.

Science lessons can be enriched through investigations into living things, adaptations, habitats and the remarkable features that help animals survive in their environments. The stunning photographs also make this a valuable resource for art, encouraging learners to examine colour, texture, scale, composition and the power of photography to tell a story.

One of the strengths of this title is its ability to spark wonder. Readers will find themselves sharing facts, asking questions and making connections long after they close the book.

This is one title in a series, and I can confidently say I need every single one on my shelf.

Highly recommended for classrooms, libraries and curious readers who love discovering the incredible world around them.

Title: Australian Geographic -World's Most Extreme
Creator: Australian Geographic
Publisher: Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
Publication Date: 28 April, 2026
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781761218064
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Non-fiction

Review: Daddy Bear

There’s something extra special about a child’s relationship with their father. 

And there are some things, like this relationship, that simply can't be celebrated enough.

Rory H. Mather and Helene Magisson capture the essence of this relationship in their delightful picture book, Daddy Bear – a gentle and heartwarming peek into a child’s beautiful bond with their daddy.

Review: Survival Show

Set in a future shaped by climate disaster, inequality and society’s obsession with entertainment, Survival Show by Juno Dawson transforms the familiar world of reality television into something far more sinister.

After devastating floods destroy their home, Taryn Beck and her family are forced to relocate as refugees. Struggling to survive in a society where food, housing and healthcare are increasingly limited, the pressure on Taryn’s family becomes unbearable — especially when her younger brother Jenson relies on medication to stay alive. Desperate for a way to support her family, Taryn auditions for Starmaker, the country’s biggest reality television show.

At first, Starmaker appears to offer everything audiences love about talent competitions: glittering costumes, dramatic performances, celebrity judges and the promise of fame. But beneath the glitz lies something much darker. In this dystopian future, contestants are literally competing for their lives, with eliminated participants executed as part of “Project Population”, a government initiative designed to reduce the strain on society’s resources.

Sunday Shelfie - The Frumpling

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome Jo Vanderborgh and Jo Beasley.

This week we are celebrating their delightful picture book The Frumpling. 

The Frumpling lived a lonely life, this book will tell you why.

He smelled and looked so squaffy, every beast just walked on by.

Except for one . . .

An endearing tale of help from unlikely friends . . . and the transformative power of a good wash!

Written by Jo Vanderborgh

Illustrated by Jo Beasley

Published by Walker Books Australia 

Visit Picture Book Book Club  @picturebookbc on Instagram. 

Review: Green Cities: How Green Infrastructure Helps Heal the Planet

Green Cities: How Green Infrastructure Helps Heal the Planet, a book by Sheila Boudreau and Katy Dockrill, is an introductory exploration of nature in the urban environment, emphasising the importance of green spaces and green infrastructure.

It’s got a modern, yet retro feel, and is filled with bright illustrations, colourful text boxes, and lots of green to match the theme. The design uses plenty of subheadings and every turn of a page offers visual elements. 

It starts by looking at the history of cities and how city planning can be transformed and improved by working with biodiversity and even creating a walkable city. It also considers the impact of climate change and the way building cities can contribute greenhouse gases, heat islands, and the risk of water pollution.

Review: Fearless Finn

Finn is a young modern day knight in shining armour. He is on a hero quest to defeat a dragon that has caused chaos in his village. Donning his home made armour of a cardboard breastplate, saucepan helmet, saucepan lid for a shield and a broom for a sword, he sets off on his mission to find and conquer the fire-breathing dragon that has left a path of destruction.

But when he finally meets the foe, he discovers that this dragon is not as dangerous or fierce as he first thought. Can Finn be the hero perhaps in a completely different way?