Kids' Book Review is a 100% voluntary children’s literature and book review site that supports and features authors, illustrators and publishers Australia-wide and internationally.
Founded by Australian author/illustrator, Tania McCartney in 2009, it is run by a small team of women who have decades of experience in the children's book industry, with roles such as author, publisher, editor, illustrator, bookseller, blogger, book designer, typesetter, speech pathologist, teacher, librarian, children's literature academic, psychologist, early childhood educator, IT techie, digital content creator, magazine editor and columnist, education specialist, mother and book lover.
We cover news, reviews, interviews, articles, guest posts, events, specialist literacy articles and much more, attracting readers from all over the world including teachers, librarians, industry professionals, and of course - parents and kids.
KBR consistently falls into the top 700,000 - 900,000 websites worldwide (Alexa), and has over 600 referring domains, with a PR Quality listed as 'strong'. It frequently ranks #1 in a Google search for 'reviews, books, kids, children's books' and was ranked no. 23 in the Top 100 Review sites worldwide in October 2016. In December 2017, KBR was honoured as the world's #1 kidlit site by Feedspot. We achieve an average of around 80,000 hits per month, with a peak of 249,395 for the month of November, 2017, and we are proud to be one of the most respected literary sites on the web. As of September 2023 KBR is ranked #2 in the top 25 Best Australian Children's Book Blogs and Websites by Feedspot a honor we humbly attribute to our dedicated team of reviewers and contributors.
We receive books from major Australian publishers, indie publishers and international publishers for review, and we use our considerable social networking skills to further promote and enhance any book appearance on KBR. People from all walks of life rely on KBR when making their bookish decisions, from parents, grandparents and carers to booksellers and government and literature organisations.
For more information on our review policy see POLICY.
The Team
Kids' Book Review is run by a literary line-up of seriously book-loving Australian women, with contributions, over the years, from a number of other wonderful book-addicts. Keep reading to learn more about us, and see our CONTACT page for contact/book review details.
Tania McCartney
Sarah Steed
Senior Reviewer + Consultant Librarian
Canberra
Sarah is a librarian, genealogist, reviewer and lifelong book lover. She’s been writing for Kids’ Book Review for ten years, and has 28+ years experience working in various public library roles. Sarah was the recipient of the Dromkeen Librarian’s Award in 2016 and the Marjorie Cotton Award in 2000. She loves uncovering and exploring bookish places (see her Bookish Places posts from around the world, right here) and dreams of one day having a book published. Her reading interests range from picture books and mysteries, to history and biographies, and more. Read Sarah's KBR reviews and articles here. and 12 Curly Questions here.
Penny Harrison
Reviewer + 12 Curly Questions Editor
Melbourne
Penny Harrison is a children’s author, book reviewer, journalist and photographer. For almost 20 years, she has been writing for magazines and newspapers, covering everything from gardening, wellbeing and sustainable living to art & design, interiors and books. Nowadays, she is a regular contributor to the Herald Sun’s Home Living section, Country Life magazine and House of Wellness magazine. She also reviews children’s books for the CBCA’s Reading Time newsletter. Her first children's picture book, Dance with Me, was released in October 2016 and her second is due out early in 2018. Penny lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, by the Yarra River, with her husband and two young children, along with an ever-growing menagerie of dogs, cats, chickens and bunnies. When she is not reading or writing, you'll find her pulling weeds in the garden and attempting to meditate. You can read her KBR reviews and other posts here and her 12 Curly Questions here.
Elizabeth Vercoe
Reviewer
Melbourne
Anastasia Gonis
Reviewer, Lifetime Honorary Member
Melbourne
Leigh van der Veen
KBR Founder
Canberra
Tania is an author, illustrator, designer and editor of over 35 years' experience, with around 65 books in print, published in 20+ countries. An experienced magazine editor/writer and independent publisher, she has an unholy addiction to picture books. Tania's creations include This is Home (a collaboration with Jackie French for the National Library of Australia), the multi-award-winning Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures (National Library of Australia), junior fiction series Evie and Pog (HarperCollins), I Heart the World, multi-territory Plume picture book series and Wildlife Compendium of the World (all Hardie Grant Explore), as well as the award-winning Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants (National Library Publishing). Tania has also created several puzzles, maps and greeting card ranges. Awards and shortlistings include the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, the World Illustration Awards, the Australian Book Design Awards, the SCBWI Crystal Kite for Aus/NZ, the Wilderness Society Awards and the CBCA Laurie Copping Award for Distinguished Service to Children's Literature. Tania is an advocate for juvenile literacy and is an ambassador for the ACT Chief Minister's Reading Challenge. The founder of Kids' Book Review, the 52-Week Illustration Challenge and The Happy Book Children's Book Podcast, she has lived in London, Paris and Beijing, and currently lives in Canberra with her family, a forest of artwork and a mountain of books. You can read all of Tania's KBR reviews and articles here and her responses to our 12 Curly Questions here. Check out Tania's bookish YouTube channel. which includes content for children and educators, and if you're a book-lover who's into style, check out her styling channel @stylingtan.
Canberra
Tania is an author, illustrator, designer and editor of over 35 years' experience, with around 65 books in print, published in 20+ countries. An experienced magazine editor/writer and independent publisher, she has an unholy addiction to picture books. Tania's creations include This is Home (a collaboration with Jackie French for the National Library of Australia), the multi-award-winning Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures (National Library of Australia), junior fiction series Evie and Pog (HarperCollins), I Heart the World, multi-territory Plume picture book series and Wildlife Compendium of the World (all Hardie Grant Explore), as well as the award-winning Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants (National Library Publishing). Tania has also created several puzzles, maps and greeting card ranges. Awards and shortlistings include the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, the World Illustration Awards, the Australian Book Design Awards, the SCBWI Crystal Kite for Aus/NZ, the Wilderness Society Awards and the CBCA Laurie Copping Award for Distinguished Service to Children's Literature. Tania is an advocate for juvenile literacy and is an ambassador for the ACT Chief Minister's Reading Challenge. The founder of Kids' Book Review, the 52-Week Illustration Challenge and The Happy Book Children's Book Podcast, she has lived in London, Paris and Beijing, and currently lives in Canberra with her family, a forest of artwork and a mountain of books. You can read all of Tania's KBR reviews and articles here and her responses to our 12 Curly Questions here. Check out Tania's bookish YouTube channel. which includes content for children and educators, and if you're a book-lover who's into style, check out her styling channel @stylingtan.
Senior Reviewer + Consultant Librarian
Canberra
Sarah is a librarian, genealogist, reviewer and lifelong book lover. She’s been writing for Kids’ Book Review for ten years, and has 28+ years experience working in various public library roles. Sarah was the recipient of the Dromkeen Librarian’s Award in 2016 and the Marjorie Cotton Award in 2000. She loves uncovering and exploring bookish places (see her Bookish Places posts from around the world, right here) and dreams of one day having a book published. Her reading interests range from picture books and mysteries, to history and biographies, and more. Read Sarah's KBR reviews and articles here. and 12 Curly Questions here.
Reviewer + 12 Curly Questions Editor
Melbourne
Penny Harrison is a children’s author, book reviewer, journalist and photographer. For almost 20 years, she has been writing for magazines and newspapers, covering everything from gardening, wellbeing and sustainable living to art & design, interiors and books. Nowadays, she is a regular contributor to the Herald Sun’s Home Living section, Country Life magazine and House of Wellness magazine. She also reviews children’s books for the CBCA’s Reading Time newsletter. Her first children's picture book, Dance with Me, was released in October 2016 and her second is due out early in 2018. Penny lives on the outskirts of Melbourne, by the Yarra River, with her husband and two young children, along with an ever-growing menagerie of dogs, cats, chickens and bunnies. When she is not reading or writing, you'll find her pulling weeds in the garden and attempting to meditate. You can read her KBR reviews and other posts here and her 12 Curly Questions here.
Sue Warren
Reviewer
Brisbane
Sue was born and raised in Sydney but has lived in Queensland since 1985. She was educated at St George Girls’ High School but left school early. A mature age student she became a primary teacher and within a few years also a teacher-librarian and is passionate about children’s literature. Sue is many things including, teacher-librarian, creative genius, kids book devotee, blogger and all-round zanster (All right, we made up that word but think it sums up Sue pretty well). You can sum up more for yourself from her 12 Curly Questions interview here.
Reviewer
Brisbane
Sue was born and raised in Sydney but has lived in Queensland since 1985. She was educated at St George Girls’ High School but left school early. A mature age student she became a primary teacher and within a few years also a teacher-librarian and is passionate about children’s literature. Sue is many things including, teacher-librarian, creative genius, kids book devotee, blogger and all-round zanster (All right, we made up that word but think it sums up Sue pretty well). You can sum up more for yourself from her 12 Curly Questions interview here.
Reviewer
Melbourne
Liz is a believer in the power of creativity to connect, align, uplift and empower - especially in childhood. For her, Kids’ Literature embodies all of these important things within the wonderful structure of imagination and delight. An artist and author herself, Liz derives great joy in witnessing the vision and quiet genius of those who write for children. She is passionate about hard-copy books and mindful of the privilege inherent in commenting on these works.
Discover more via Elizabeth’s website or her 12 Curly Questions KBR interview, before immersing yourself in her absorbing reviews, here.
Discover more via Elizabeth’s website or her 12 Curly Questions KBR interview, before immersing yourself in her absorbing reviews, here.
Reviewer, Lifetime Honorary Member
Melbourne
Anastasia Gonis has been reviewing books for over twenty years. Her reviews and interviews have appeared in Bookseller & Publisher, Good Reading magazine, Australian Book Review, The Age, The Herald Sun, AllWrite, and many other publications. Anastasia currently writes both articles and reviews. Anastasia recently contributed to a beautiful new book from Text Publishing - Grandmothers: 21st Century Essays by Grandmothers. She loves all books, in particular children’s books which for her, contain beauty and joy between the covers. You can read her KBR reviews and articles here.
Occasional Reviewer
Blue Mountains
Leigh van der Veen, a primary teacher, creates stories and art in the Blue Mountains. Her writing has featured in Australian and international educational publications for over fifteen years. Leigh’s writing has also placed in competitions run by CKT and KBR. She uses vivid language to explore the lives of her quirky, lovable characters in uplifting stories. Leigh is the founder of In a Nutshell Book Reviews. Enjoy her KBR reviews right here and learn more about this master of juggling-all-things via her 12 Curly Questions Interview.
Leigh van der Veen, a primary teacher, creates stories and art in the Blue Mountains. Her writing has featured in Australian and international educational publications for over fifteen years. Leigh’s writing has also placed in competitions run by CKT and KBR. She uses vivid language to explore the lives of her quirky, lovable characters in uplifting stories. Leigh is the founder of In a Nutshell Book Reviews. Enjoy her KBR reviews right here and learn more about this master of juggling-all-things via her 12 Curly Questions Interview.
Nia Shetty
Reviewer
Texas, USA
Reviewer
Texas, USA
Nia is a young Texan from the US who has been reviewing her favourite genre with us since 2021. She is an avid reader, a budding author of poems and short stories, and loves relaxing with TV shows and books. Nia can also be found swimming competitively. In 2020, during the start of the pandemic, she started reviewing books @niaspage2page to encourage others to read, and she runs book drives to help her community. Discover more about Nia in her fabulous 12 Curly Questions Interview.
Jo Burnell
Past Editor and Lifetime Honorary Member
Melbourne
Jo Burnell is passionate about story. When she's not immersed in a book, she's either writing her own stories or editing for fellow writing enthusiasts. As a freelance editor, Jo specialises in manuscript assessments and children's literature. Jacinta Di Mase, literary agent, is currently representing two of Jo's manuscripts, one of which is a picture book about a toy fairy penguin. Her works in progress include a middle grade fiction series and a novel, which has been described as 'Home Alone meets Junior Master Chef with anger management problems'. You can read Jo's KBR reviews and articles here and her responses to our 12 Curly Questions here.
The best books, reviewed with insight, charm but without compromise. - author Jackie French
Just wanted to say thank you for the fantastic reviews you post. I utilise your blog as a trusted resource on a regular basis. As a bookseller, bloggers like yourself assist us so much in what we communicate to our customers. Your hard work is appreciated. Thank you for your passion. - Jacqui from Collins Booksellers and ABC Centre
You are doing a wonderful job with Kids Book Review and in a relatively short time have built a rock-solid reputation for excellent reviews and articles. - author Sandy Fussell
One of my favourite blogs, Kids Book Review was started by Canberra author Tania McCartney. It is full of interviews with authors/illustrators/librarians, book reviews, articles on literacy and reading, articles by children on why they like the books they like, profiles, links to other blogs, websites in the children’s literature world, writing tips, you name it! It is very easy to spend hours at this blog and everyone will get something out of it. I still marvel at {this} blog. It must take hours to provide all that content. It’s fabulous. - Buzz Words editor Vicki Stanton
I'm a big fan! - author/illustrator Felice Arena
I'm amazed by your site - there's a LOT of content on there. I've barely skimmed the surface, but I've already found so many interesting pieces and interviews. - author/illustrator Andrew Joyner
I really appreciate the obvious love and care you have for books and with which you put your website together. - British author/illustrator Grahame Baker-Smith
You have a really wonderful site and I have referred it to many friends with little people to buy for. - Karen Peace, mum
Past Editor and Lifetime Honorary Member
Melbourne
Jo Burnell is passionate about story. When she's not immersed in a book, she's either writing her own stories or editing for fellow writing enthusiasts. As a freelance editor, Jo specialises in manuscript assessments and children's literature. Jacinta Di Mase, literary agent, is currently representing two of Jo's manuscripts, one of which is a picture book about a toy fairy penguin. Her works in progress include a middle grade fiction series and a novel, which has been described as 'Home Alone meets Junior Master Chef with anger management problems'. You can read Jo's KBR reviews and articles here and her responses to our 12 Curly Questions here.
Just a small handful of the impossibly wonderful things people say about KBR . . .
The best books, reviewed with insight, charm but without compromise. - author Jackie French
Just wanted to say thank you for the fantastic reviews you post. I utilise your blog as a trusted resource on a regular basis. As a bookseller, bloggers like yourself assist us so much in what we communicate to our customers. Your hard work is appreciated. Thank you for your passion. - Jacqui from Collins Booksellers and ABC Centre
You are doing a wonderful job with Kids Book Review and in a relatively short time have built a rock-solid reputation for excellent reviews and articles. - author Sandy Fussell
One of my favourite blogs, Kids Book Review was started by Canberra author Tania McCartney. It is full of interviews with authors/illustrators/librarians, book reviews, articles on literacy and reading, articles by children on why they like the books they like, profiles, links to other blogs, websites in the children’s literature world, writing tips, you name it! It is very easy to spend hours at this blog and everyone will get something out of it. I still marvel at {this} blog. It must take hours to provide all that content. It’s fabulous. - Buzz Words editor Vicki Stanton
I'm a big fan! - author/illustrator Felice Arena
I'm amazed by your site - there's a LOT of content on there. I've barely skimmed the surface, but I've already found so many interesting pieces and interviews. - author/illustrator Andrew Joyner
I really appreciate the obvious love and care you have for books and with which you put your website together. - British author/illustrator Grahame Baker-Smith
You have a really wonderful site and I have referred it to many friends with little people to buy for. - Karen Peace, mum
