Sunday Shelfie - The Boy Who Lost His Laugh

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome Dimity Powell and Heidi Cooper Smith. This week we are celebrating their wonderful new picture book The Boy Who Lost His Laugh.

Tim is always losing things when he travels — he is a foster child, and often moves from one family to the next. One day he realizes he has lost something very precious: his laugh. Then he moves in with the Lee family, and some news arrives that might just help Tim find his laugh again. 

The Boy Who Lost His Laugh takes a sensitive look at foster care from the child’s perspective, and shows how humour and love can help you bounce back and find what you’ve been looking for all along.

Written by Dimity Powell
Illustrated by Heidi Cooper Smith
Published by EK books 

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Picture Book Podium : Easter edition!

Welcome to the 'Picture Book Podium'. These four new gems are getting us excited for Easter! Buns, bilbies, bush turkeys and bunnies! 

Guest Post: Catherine Bauer on Juniper's Painting and the Passing Of Storms

In the dairy section of my local supermarket one recent Saturday morning, I was deep in thought and struggling to decide between two yoghurt flavours. Stick with the familiar or try something new?

An ear-splitting screech interrupted these thoughts and seconds later, a fully laden trolley slammed into my back, almost knocking me off my feet.

Stifling an expletive, I turned to see a crimson-faced, tight-fisted child prostrate on the floor, screaming his lungs out as his equally crimson-cheeked Mum rushed to retrieve the trolley and apologise profusely.

'Sorry, sorry,’' she sputtered. 'He wants an ice-cream.’

Guest Post: Emma Cameron on Never Missing the Chance to Share Stories or Knowledge

There’s always the chance for a story. And anyone who knows me, knows I never miss a chance to share one. Or, better still, share a lesson in telling stories.

Last month, I had the most splendid array of bruising on three fingers and half the palm of my left hand. What a fantastic opportunity to have some fun!

‘What happened?’ asked one of my writing students.

‘Wanna hear a story?’ I replied.

She nodded.

‘A boxing match,’ I said. ‘Well … not much of a match, really. He swung, I ducked. I swung, he didn’t.’ I shrugged. ‘He hit the dirt.’

Guest Post: Jodie McLeod on The Power Of WOW

Birds are an inspiration for books: Jodie McLeod (left) with illustrator Eloise Short

The first time I saw a lyrebird I was completely gobsmacked. I’d just moved to the Blue Mountains, and I’d heard of these strange creatures and their ability to imitate everything from other birds to chainsaws and crying babies, but I hadn’t really considered the outrageousness of that idea.

Then, one misty Mountains morning, a cacophony of birds sounded in my backyard. Well, not birds, but – bird. A lyrebird. Putting on a spectacular show, just for me.

WOW.

Guest Post: Fiona Dalwood on When Ghosts Hide In Plain Sight

I used to look out of the train during my commutes and notice graffiti in unusual places. 

How did someone manage a giant wheat paste on a wall without being seen? Did a hooded figure dangle someone upside down from the thirty-second floor? Had they taught themselves to draw and write upside down? 

These short glimpses sparked countless questions—moments that felt magical in their mystery or mildly frightening, depending on how tired I was.

Review: One Koala One Hundred Trees

I could not love this book more if I tried. And it’s not just because koalas happen to be very, very cute.

Dad and I find an injured koala on our property …

Dad says keeping koalas safe will be a big job.

I need a plan and help from some friends …’

There is so much to digest and reflect upon in this book – for everyone, not just picture book aged readers.

Review: Childish

There’s a lot of childishness in this book. Also copious amounts of humour and heart which are the welcome hallmarks of Morris Gleitzman narratives. 

Like many of Gleitzman’s tales, Childish is a collision of inane and razor-sharp intellect, resulting in an invitation to think deeper and go further.

Arkie and Dot are phenomenal kid heroes. Arkie is from the bush. Dot is city minded and part of her family’s dumpling dynasty located within the city burbs. 

With things going sour in the bush, Arkie is jettisoned to live with Nan in the city until his parents can sell the family farm and join him.

Armed with typical Aussie bush stoicism, Arkie’s straightforward integrity matches Dot’s can-do, uncompromising disposition and grit beautifully. This is a merry match despite its infancy and one that is a delight to follow as the friends try their best shake local council and the utility companies into action.

Guest Post: Heather Preusser on Using Cartoons As Mentor Texts

How did my predilection for highlighters and praying to 'the salty snack gods' lead to selling my debut chapter book series? 

In 2018, I participated in Marcie Colleen’s Crafting the Chapter Book Class through The Writing Barn. Four years later, Erinn Pascal at Andrews McMeel acquired HEDGEHOG WHODUNIT, my chapter book series about a sleepy hedgehog and tireless rat solving animal antics in City Zoo.

As part of Marcie’s class, she encouraged us to think like cartoonists. (Finally, watching television counted as productivity!) 

Because I was drafting a story set in the zoo, I dove into re-watching one of my all-time favorite cartoons, The Penguins of Madagascar, a spin-off of the Madagascar movies that aired on TV between 2008-2014.

Review: Reach For The Sky

Stories that quietly set your soul soaring are not always abundant. 

To relay a tale based on true life with the perfect balance of sensitivity and fact without sinking into a mire of sentimentality requires a deft narrative voice and strong will, attributes Singaporean author, Evelyn Sue Wong has in spades.

Reach For the Sky records the story of her father and his big sky dream; to fly. 

I am not unfamiliar with notions of ‘dreaming big and flying high’, being well acquainted with a plucky little pigeon (aka Pippa) with similar aspirations. The major difference between Robert Shun Wong and afore mentioned pigeon however is that one has wings and one had to build his own. And build them, he does.

Guest Post: Aaron Uscilla on Equipping Kids with Critical Lenses: A Look at the Sayings We Use

We all do it. We pepper our conversations with little nuggets of wisdom, those common sayings passed down through generations. 

Curiosity killed the cat, we might warn a too inquisitive child. Or, Blood is thicker than water, we say to emphasize family loyalty. 

These phrases are catchy, memorable, and roll off the tongue so easily. They seem to wrap up big ideas in neat little packages.

But what if these familiar lines are only part of the story? What if the wisdom we think we are sharing is, well, a bit incomplete? 

Review: We Saw What You Started

Creating an instant sense of place. Inviting an immediate connection with someone you’ve never met before. Enticing your nerves to tingle with curiosity. 

These are the elements of the holy trinity that a great story begins with and, I’m delighted to say, qualities Carla Salmon has nailed in her debut YA novel, We Saw What You Started.

Nightmares don’t need passports … lines like this set up a delicious air of intrigue and uncomfortable concern. What is it exactly that US teen, Otto is fleeing from? How does it influence his assimilation into his new Aussie coastal home in Red Sands and how will his past implicate his future?

Salmon deftly sows seeds of secrecy, while plunging the reader headfirst into a dire and dangerous situation; an unchecked bushfire. Now, any Aussie worth their salt knows this is not the sort of calamity to mess around with and yet as we dive deeper into this story, the threat of fire occurs, again and again.

Guest Post: Ellie Royce on Making Memories

A story is often inspired by memories. The older we get, the more we have to inspire us!

I have many fond recollections of time spent with my grandparents, the smell of bacon frying on a Sunday morning as my Poppa made breakfast, walking with him to the shop at the end of the street on a Friday afternoon to spend about 2 dollars on a huge, newspaper wrapped parcel of fish and chips that fed the whole family (there were usually about eight of us, according to my memory!)

Guest Post: Maura Pierlot on The Problem of Plenty with Maura Pierlot

International award-winning children's book author, playwright and filmmaker, Maura Pierlot visits us today on the eve of her latest picture book release, Clutterbugs; a book that creates a nuanced look at creating vs consuming. Here's why she pursued this concept.

We live in an age where our self-worth is often built on what we have rather than who we are. The problem of plenty. 

Buried in our ‘stuff’ is the notion that property and possessions will improve our lives, but the converse is usually true. 

Abundance diminishes value. The more we have, the less content we seem to be. From every vantage point, fulfilment appears out of reach.

Guest Post: Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern on Writing Stories From Treasured Moments

When I was around five years old, my mum volunteered at a local charity shop/thrift shop. I remember unpacking boxes of donations with her and a team of other volunteers. 

We used to play games, guessing where items may have come from and who may have owned them before. I would get excited to see where the donation may end up, who would take it home next. 

I loved the idea that an item could be treasured by one person and then treasured again by another.

Memories of these special moments with my mum were the inspiration behind my new junior fiction series, Ariana Treasure.

I like to write from experience and fortunately I loved keeping diaries growing up. To this day, I still journal. Reading records of my younger days (messy handwriting and all) always brings so much joy. It sparks ideas and ignites my imagination. I adore the curiosity and wonder we all innately have within us in those early years of life – something I hope we never lose but at times we waver from. My diaries help bring me back to those precious treasured moments.

Guest Post: Claire Thompson On Inspiring Young Readers With Real-Life Kid Stars

As soon as I dived into the world of picture books, I knew I wanted to write true stories. And not just any true stories—stories starring amazing real-life kid heroes changing the world.

Kids who stood up, shook things up, and never gave up. Young activists, artists, eco-warriors, entrepreneurs, inventors, rock stars, and scientists.

Guest Post: Q & A with Meredith Rusu on The Creative Process by Nia Shetty

There’s a Robot in My Socks by Meredith Rusu is a light-hearted story that skillfully captures the wonders of childhood while addressing the complexities of emotions in a fun, engaging way. 

The book follows Jamie and her trusty robot companion through a delightful adventure that showcases how even ordinary items, like socks, can spark extraordinary moments. 

Rusu’s book is filled with playful humor, vivid imagery, and a creative blend of the real and the imaginary, making it a perfect read for young children and their parents who are navigating their own big feelings.

One of the standout features of this graphic novel  is how themes of comfort, emotion, and the occasional chaos of childhood are wonderfully mixed. 

Through the imaginative lens of a child’s world, Rusu touches on separation anxiety, the need for routine, and the importance of emotional expression, all with a charming robot by Jamie’s side. The vibrant illustrations by Martín Morón bring Jamie’s world to life with bright colors and whimsical designs, perfectly complementing the story.

Now, let’s hear from the author herself, Meredith Rusu, as she shares insights into the inspiration, characters, and creative process behind There’s a Robot in My Socks in our exclusive KBR interview:

Guest Post: Lara Cain Gray asks - Are You Reading the WHOLE Picture Book?

Writer and librarian Lara Cain Gray visits today to highlight the importance of all the parts of a picture book beyond the words. Covers, endpapers and even the white space on a page play a part in fully experiencing a book, with learning and literacy benefits. Get ready to be enthralled and enlightened. 

We talk a lot about the role kids’ books play in developing literacy. But ‘literacy’ isn’t just about decoding the dots and squiggles that make words. 

Being literate means enjoying a whole range of comprehension and problem-solving tools that may begin with children’s books, but soon become integral life skills. 

Guest Post: Stephanie Ward on Allen The Alien - You Are Welcome!

As a child, I was amazed by aeroplanes (and still am). Where are they going? Are the travellers heading off on an adventure or coming home? Can I come along? 

I was born and raised in a lovely, smallish-sized town, but the minute I was accepted into a university in 'the big city' I jumped at the chance. I haven’t stopped moving since – visiting all seven continents, traveling to dozens of countries and living in four countries. I’m always the new kid on the block.

Review: Laughter Is The Best Ending

Out of tragedy comes beauty. Hardship and discomfort often result in sublime enlightenment. 

Award-winning Maryam Master’s beautiful midgrade fictions reflect these simple truths; sentiments with which she boldly begins her latest novel.  

You’re not supposed to laugh at funerals.

This sharp opening line sets the scene for slight absurdity, questionable motives and tenuous friendships in a novel that zings with wit and winsomeness. Ziba, more commonly addressed as Zee, is a curious outsider. 

Her frames of reference revolve around her literary heroes like Oscar Wilde. She shuns human contact and all of its trivialities. 

She doesn’t mince words or waste meaning on thoughtless conversation combining her linguist acumen with thirteen-year-old sass that renders her more catus than kitten to cuddle up to. In short, she is a loner with no friends at least none that still breathe.