Review: The Boy Maeve

How often have you read the opening lines of a book and instantly been drawn in? And how often has that initial spark of intrigue been maintained throughout the entire story as it turns and twists in every possible direction?

The Boy Maeve by Kai Ash does exactly that.

Intriguing from the first sentence to the last, this debut novel is an unusual blend of coming-of-age, contemporary queer fiction, magical realism and mythology.

Maeve was adopted as a toddler and remembers little, if anything, of his birth parents or early years.  He’s a loner with his life made more difficult in the knowledge that he’s a boy in a girl’s body – and nobody will acknowledge it.

Review: The Flying Machine of Dreams

Poetry is seriously under-rated. Poetry for kids – even more so. 

Sure, plenty of picture books are in rhyme but what we’re talking about here is poetry collections (or anthologies if by different authors).

Kate Wakeling’s The Flying Machine of Dreams could well be the poetry collection to change this!

With her glorious collection of 17 poems, each one delightfully illustrated by Viviane Schwarz, Kate covers a wide range of topics that kids think, question and dream about.

Sunday Shelfie - Howl-o-ween

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome Emma Bowd and Lara Porter . This week we are celebrating their spooktacular new picture book Howl-o-ween.

Be bold! Be brave! And come and meet the ghosts and ghouls with furry feet . . . 
Who’s the scariest beast on Spooky Street?!

It’s Howl-o-ween on Spooky Street and the children and the dogs dress up to go trick or treating. But will they be brave enough to visit the scary beast at number three? 

A rhyming tale celebrating Howl-o-ween, where Halloween is celebrated by dressing up dogs in spooky costumes and meeting all the neighbourhood pups.

Written by Emma Bowd
Illustrated by Lara Porter
Published by Penguin Books Australia  

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Review: What If You Could?

What if the things that make someone feel different, uncertain or even inadequate could actually become their greatest strengths?

In What If You Could?, Jacinda Ardern adapts the ideas and experiences from her memoir A Different Kind of Power for a younger audience, offering an accessible and encouraging look at her journey from childhood to becoming Prime Minister of New Zealand. Through a series of short chapters, Ardern shares moments from her life that demonstrate that success rarely follows a straightforward path - and that the qualities we sometimes see as weaknesses can be incredibly powerful.

Insecurity, overthinking, worrying and empathy are all explored through Ardern's experiences, challenging the idea that being strong means being confident, fearless or certain. Instead, the book suggests that listening, caring about others, adapting to unexpected circumstances and remaining true to personal values can be equally important forms of strength.

Review: S.I.G.M.A. 1: Web of Spies

Kids as heroes, solving mysteries and crimes under the noses of adults, goes way back – well before the likes of that ‘Famous Five’, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. And it never gets old.

S.I.G.M.A. 1: Web of Spies is bestselling adult thriller author, Tim Ayliffe’s first foray into middle grade fiction territory and this book will hit with a bang – particularly for fans of Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series.

Meet Year 9 student, Oliver (Ollie) Speed – your everyday hero whose primary goal is to come back from his disastrous performance in the previous year’s cross-country event to beat his arch-rival, Tank. He trains every day, reluctantly accompanied by his friend George’s drone, and is feeling confident he can redeem himself this year. 

Review: The Mushroom and the Flower

In a quiet forest, a mushroom with the brightest pink cap is the centre of attention. Animals gather near her for protection from the rain, shade from the sun or just as an ideal resting place. There is no doubt this stunning plant is ‘a masterpiece of nature’ and enjoys immensely her radiant features.

When a small flower slowly begins to emerge one summer’s day, raising the interests of the creatures of the forest, the mushroom is not pleased that she is no longer the centre of their attention and admiration.

Review: The Frumpling

What can I say. From the gorgeous front cover I was instantly intrigued and wanted to know who or what was a Frumpling. Then I read the opening page and instantly fell in love with this sad lonely creature. A creature that is avoided by everyone that passes by. Everyone but one, that is.

What follows is a tale of atonement, friendship and togetherness.

Review: How to Get Rid of a Princess

Why on earth would you want to get rid of a princess? 

Aren’t they sweet? Beautiful? Charming and gracious?

Apparently not!

An initial glance through How to Get Rid of a Princess may have you wondering about gender stereotypes – sweet little girls (aka princesses) going ga-ga over shiny bling and tea parties. 

Review: The Rebound

For many young readers, sport is far more than an after-school activity. It's friendship, identity, belonging and a place to escape when life becomes difficult. Fiona Harris taps into this beautifully in The Rebound, a heartfelt middle-grade novel that blends the excitement of basketball with an honest exploration of grief, resilience and personal growth.

Harry Portelli has always measured his life in basketball seasons. But when tragedy strikes his family, everything changes. Missing the tryouts for his school's top team leaves him questioning not only his future in the sport but whether he wants to return to the court at all. Instead, Harry joins the Redbacks - a team where his individual talent is undeniable, but where success will depend on far more than being the strongest player.

Review: Pterosaurs of the Desert Ocean

The opening pages of Pterosaurs of the Desert Ocean told me two things. My knowledge of prehistoric history was extremely lacking as was my knowledge of ancient Australia. There was no way I could even dare to consider having a conversation about the subject with an 8 year old. I would be roasted. There was only one thing to do…read on.

After a quick education about Australia’s inland ocean we are introduced to our main character, a Pterosaur named Ferrodraco. Her name, taken from the most complete pterosaur fossil found in Australia means ‘iron dragon’. A clever addition seamlessly weaved into the story.

Sunday Shelfie - The Festival of Ice and Snow

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome Angie Cui and Anna Wilson. This week we are celebrating Angie and Anna’s delightful picture book The Festival of Ice and Snow.

Every year, Grandpa takes us to the Festival of Ice and Snow – and every year, I can’t wait!

Two children and their beloved grandpa experience the wonder of Harbin’s Ice and Snow World, an enchanting place filled with super slides, tasty treats and huge ice sculptures illuminated by multicoloured lights.

Told in English and simplified Chinese, this picture book captures the fun of the winter festival and spending time with loved ones.

Written by Angie Cui
Illustrated by Anna Wilson
Published by UQP 

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Meet the Illustrator: Simon Howe

Name, title, location:
My name is Simon Howe. I'm the author/illustrator of four picture books and illustrator of many others. I live in the Macedon Ranges inVictoria, Australia.

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
I’d say my illustration style is painterly, cosy and inviting.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
An oil heater. Warm lighting. Lots of framed pictures on the wall. Endless cups of tea.

Review: Listening to the Quiet

Those of us with perfect hearing probably take it for granted, but what if you couldn’t hear or if someone you loved was losing their hearing? How would your life change?

Jacki’s mother is slowly losing her hearing. 

Jacki uses sign language to talk at home and Mama relies on flashing lights and vibrations to know what is going on around her.

Review: Ascension (Phobos #1)

Ascension by Victor Dixen is the first book in the Phobos series, a French, YA space odyssey that has stayed with me for a very long time. Although it has been published for ten years now, it is a book I rarely see mentioned. I feel it is time I give it a review! 

Six girls, six boys, one spaceship and a one-way ticket to Mars. As part of the Genesis programme, twelve young people are chosen to become the first humans to colonise Mars, while their every move is broadcast to millions of viewers on Earth. What begins as the world’s most extreme dating show quickly becomes something far more dangerous.

Among the contestants is 18-year-old Léonor, a young French woman who sees the mission as her chance to escape her past and start a new life. But with the contestants under constant scrutiny and secrets beginning to surface, Léonor soon realises there is much more to the Genesis programme than meets the eye…

Review: Old Bertie

This is 100% completely bonkers but I mean that in the most positive way possible. This is dystopia as you've never read it before. If you imagine - and forgive me for showing my age - humour such as that of Young Einstein or The Castle - that real Aussie kind of laconic style - or similar larger-than-life real life commentaries liberally laced with absurdism, you'll be getting close.

I don't know the work of Vincenzo Perrella and Dan Osborn in their other spheres of film/television/live performance but I'd certainly like to see some of it. I don't dwell on plot details if I can help it and realistically, this one is so convoluted and intricate, I'd have no hope of putting much of it in a review but I'm going to try to give you an oversight.

Imagine an isolated uninhabited island far from any other kind of land or humankind.

Next, imagine that island was literally stumbled upon by the survivors of a shipwreck.

Review: Shakespeare in the Orchard

A little bit of WWI history, a little bit of Shakespeare, teen friendships and falling outs and an Australian backdrop – there’s something for everyone in Shakespeare in the Orchard.

At fourteen, with his father killed in a horse accident and his older brother serving as a soldier in Egypt, Jack Thorning is the man of the house. Together with his mother, Ada, Jack is keeping the family apple orchard running in between school and army cadet training.

Like most of his peers, Jack is keen to ‘do his bit’ with the war effort, but despite his skill with a rifle, he is too young to enlist and, besides, his mother needs him. But still …