Announcement: National Centre for Australian Children's Literature - Keeping The Story Alive!

The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature Inc. (NCACL) formerly the Lu Rees Archives, is a comprehensive collection of resources about Australian authors, illustrators, publishers and their creative works. The collection has books, artwork, ephemera, authors’ papers and manuscripts, and author and illustrator research files.

The collection* includes over 57,546 books. Some 5,577 of these books are in overseas translations in 79 languages. It holds a unique part of Australia’s cultural and literary heritage. And they are now 50 years young!

Publishers, authors and illustrators, foreign dignitaries and ambassadorial staff, researchers, teachers, students, and the members of the Australian community visit. Access to the collection is available during opening hours. 

Announcement: Caldecott Medal Winners

Erin Entrada Kelly, Rebecca Lee Kunz win Newbery, Caldecott Medals

Erin Entrada Kelly, author of The First State of Being, and Rebecca Lee Kunz, illustrator of Chooch Helped, are the 2025 recipients of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals, the most prestigious awards in children’s literature.

Kelly and Kunz were among the award winners announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA’s LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience held January 24 – 27 in Phoenix. The Newbery and Caldecott Medals honor outstanding writing and illustration of works published in the United States during the previous year.

Announcement: A Very KBR Christmas Wishlist 2024

As the world seems to grow more confining and life more confounding, we here at KBR take a moment to ponder, as always, the pure simplicity of childhood. It's wonderment, its curiosity. Its magic. Despite all the madness, it is hard to imagine a world without these precious notions. 

And so, this year's Team's Christmas Question was simply:

If you could ask Santa for one thing and one thing only for Christmas, what would it be? 

Grab a fruit mince pie or two or three, sit back and enjoy our team's responses. 

From all of us to all of you who have read, shared and enjoyed our reviews and features throughout 2024, a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May your New Year be filled with light and joy and a magic that sustains and endures forevermore. 

Announcement! New Junior Reviewer

Fear not, you are not seeing double. We are super excited to introduce another new Junior Reviewer into our illustrious KBR family. 

Last week we met the delightful, Elle Freestone. Now it's time to put your hands together for the utterly fearless and fabulous, Asha Freestone. 

Like her sister, Asha will be sharing her enthusiastic love of all things literary with us in the months to come. 

We simply can't wait to read more, Asha! Meanwhile, welcome! Discover more about Asha via her 12 Curlies, below.

Announcement! New Junior Reviewer

The thing about children is that unless they are Peter Pan, they grow up. Unfortunate for us if one of them happens to be a Junior Reviewer. 

Fortunately, there are still plenty of kids who love reading and love sharing their thoughts about a great read with others. Ellissa Freestone is one of them. 

Elle read and wrote stories from a very young age. Creative writing has always come easily to her with a poetic writing style that often invokes intrigue. Novels are binge read between her other passions of drawing, basketball, and singing, both privately and choral. Elle also studies piano to a current grade 4 AMEB standard whilst excelling in her high school studies. Discover more about Elle from her 12 Curly Questions responses below. Meantime, welcome Elle!

Announcement: KBR Christmas Book Inspired Joy

Over the years KBR, along with our many publishing friends, conduct some truly wonderful Giveaways. At times, the bookish prizes and gift packs make us drool with envy. Whilst we can't enter ourselves, we can 'pretend' so this year's Very Merry KBR Christmas Question assumes a Christmas competition flavour, a bit like plum pudding but even more satisfying! Here's what we asked the team and their very merry answers. Enjoy! And have yourselves a wondrous and wonderful Festive Season.

Tell us in 25 words or less about your favourite Christmas book and how it adds joy to your Christmas traditions.

Tania McCartney (KBR Founder): The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, paper-engineered by Robert Sabuda. We love a pop-up book in our house; it’s so magical and impressive – I mean, how does Robert do that?? We’ve had this book forever and we also have a pop-up card set based on the book that I often pin to the wall in the shape of a tree. It’s a delight to walk past and pop a card open. Moore’s poem is timeless, and no matter how many times I read it, I’m enchanted. Have a magical Christmas, and thank you for making KBR so special – it wouldn’t be the same without our readers! (Tania clearly broke the 25 words limit but as it's Christmas, I'll allow it. Ed.)

Dimity Powell (Managing Editor): PS:Who Stole Santa’s Mail? by Dimity Powell! Self-indulgent and cheeky but chock full of cheer, magic and sizzling Aussie summer Christmas vibes, condensing my most treasured Christmas feels into a jolly perennial fave!

Shaye Wardrop (Senior Editor): Ayla’s Christmas Wish by Pamela Jones and Lucia Masciullo. New favourite = Ayla’s Christmas Wish. Love how it explores fun Australian traditions that make a summer Christmas in the heat so unique. 

Sue Warren: Above all the other 'favourites' is The Worst Kids in the World by Barbara Robinson - I've been sharing it with classes for 30 years,  never fails to make us all teary. (Her second entry, was  Jolly Christmas Postman, because the kids love 'letter books')

Ayla Wardrop (junior reviewer): The Christmas Pig by J K Rowling. I love the Christmas Pig because it’s an adventure and pigs are the cutest. Like in the book, we make our own Christmas decorations, too!

Elizabeth Vercoe: The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore is seared into my head, heart and vocal chords. It is excitement, joy, anticipation, fabulousness and cheer, all rolled into one.  

Sarah Steed (Senior Library Consultant): JRR Tolkien's Letters From Father Christmas was a gift from my mum which I like to browse to help get in the festive spirit.

Leigh van der Veen: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Transporting me to Christmas in Victorian London, A Christmas Carol, helps to remind me of the true meaning of the festive season. 

Penny Harrison (12 Curlie Questions Editor): Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, has always been a favourite festive classic of mine. This year, I’m planning to share it with my daughter.

 

 

Announcement: KBR's High Ranking News

Did you know ... as of September 2023 KBR is ranked #2 in the top 25 Best Australian Children's Book Blogs and Websites by Feedspot (second only to the global powerhouse of Kids' Lit, SCBWI. It's a honor we humbly attribute to our dedicated team of reviewers and contributors and of course YOU, the reader. It's a genuine privilege to be able to share our unashamedly ridiculous love of children's books with you all.

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'. With over 4 K Instagram followers and a social media presence that earns its place among some of Australia's best Kid Lit sites, KBR 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. 

Announcement: New Junior Reviewer - Meet Ayla!

Our reviewing team are passionate about sharing some of the best stories for children and teens with anyone who'll listen. 

It's one thing reviewing kids' books. It's another creating stimulating, entertaining and enthralling content for kids but it's something altogether special when kids share their true thoughts and feelings about a story with other kids. 

Which is why we are over-the-moon excited about the latest member to join our elite KBR team. Give it up for the delightful, book mad, soon-to-be-published-author, Ayla Wardrop everyone!

Reading Pictures, Drawing Words: A Database of Picture Books for Older Readers

The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature (NCACL) has launched a new database that will bring substantial opportunity for indulgence by older readers of picture books. The contribution of extensive knowledge from a vast range of children’s literature experts are the foundations and building blocks in the development of this database.

The aim of PBOR (Picture Books for Older Readers) is to reach a broad audience. It will benefit and encourage reluctant readers, those with visual rather than textual comprehension, those who prefer image analysis and varied literature style, or those who simply enjoy the beauty of picture books.

Along with design and layout, the above elements play a huge part in understanding and analysing the visual narrative of picture books. Able to address more sensitive topics appropriate to older readers, PBOR embraces non-traditional plot structure, welcoming the challenge and options of literary devices aimed at these age groups.

Not only for children, this database opens up new areas of exploration for people who adore picture books of all kinds, who read them to find the sometimes-hidden or disguised meanings in both image and text, or a combination of the two.

PBOR is easy to navigate, with its drop-down choices and search function. There is also a Guide to using the PBOR database, with free on-line resources available. On exploration, I found it easy to navigate through the subject headings, annotations and curriculum links that line up from grade 5 through to secondary school (Australian Curriculum Version 9).

PBOR is still in its early stages, so content will expand as books are added. Nevertheless, the database promises to prove a useful tool for reading and learning about picture books in schools.

The PBOR database can be accessed at https://www.ncacl.org.au/pbor-database. For further information email ncacl@canberra.edu.au

Announcement: A Very KBR Christmas 2022! Book to Movie Adaptations

It's time to hop aboard the fast train to Christmas once again. The clue to this year's KBR team's 'special delivery post' is in the title image: Our Favourite Book to Movie Adaptations. 

This proved a far trickier enterprise than it first appeared. Just as there are sooooo many wonderful children's stories, there are an equally bedazzling number of motion picture versions. Or stage productions. Or TV film series. And a smattering of not so brilliant ones as some of our team reveal.

Some choices are delightfully and profoundly obvious, others not, so sit back with your cup of festive cheer, ponder with us and enjoy a very Merry KBR Christmas!

12 Curly Questions with Brenton Cullen

We are delighted to introduce a vibrant new face to our renowned KBR family. Brenton Cullen is familiar figure in Kid Lit circles having reviewed and curated titles spanning every genre for years. 

His current passion is the compilation of children's books and their creators through the Golden Age of story writing, namely the 80s and 90s. 

We can't wait to see what Brenton shares with us in the months to come and today share a little bit more about him; the writer and advocate of great children's stories. Welcome, Brenton!

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I saw a ghost when I was ten. Nobody ever believes me, but I swear I did!

Announcement: Imagine The Wonder Of Picture Books Exhibition - NSW State Library

NSW State Library celebrates the changing world of picture books.

 

Some of the most beautiful picture books and original artworks in the State Library of NSW's collection will go on public display - many for the first time - in the Library's major new exhibition, Imagine ... the Wonder of Picture Books, opening Saturday 9 July. Stories and characters from much-loved Australian picture books will come to life in this celebration of children’s literature.

According to State Librarian John Vallance: 'Some of the very best books published today are for children.'

Imagine … the Wonder of Picture Books celebrates the powerful and changing world of picture books through original illustrations by 44 illustrators, video and audio content featuring established and emerging authors and illustrators talking about their work, inspirations and creative processes, as well as hands-on activities.

New Australian Children’s Laureate Announced

The Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation(ACLF) is delighted to announce Gabrielle Wang as the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2022-23. A talented artist and gifted writer of over 20 acclaimed books, Gabrielle Wang is the seventh Australian Children’s Laureate, since the program began in Australia in 2008.

An event to honour Gabrielle’s appointment as the new Laureate will be held at the State Library in Melbourne on Tuesday 8 March at 11am.

Gabrielle Wang: “When I was young my father used to say, ‘What can you learn from a story? They’re just made up.’ I didn’t say anything, but I knew he was wrong. Stories have the power to change us on the inside.

As Australian Children’s Laureate I will be encouraging young people to use their imagination by reading, writing and drawing. Nourish your imagination and a garden of delight will grow.”

The Laureate is the national ambassador for reading and Australian children’s literature. They speak on behalf of all creators and for the entire industry representing reading advocates, educators, librarians, booksellers and publishers. Appointed every two years to promote the importance and transformational power of reading, creativity and story in the lives of young Australians, the Children’s Laureate spends extensive time speaking directly with children, education specialists, government ministers and librarians, in both metropolitan and regional communities across the country.

Every Laureate has a theme for their two-year term: for Gabrielle’s it is Imagine A Story. Through this she will explore four main issues: Imagination, Cultural Diversity, Visual Literacy, and Audiobooks and Reading Aloud.

She says, “Through story we can be inside the head of someone else, even someone with a different culture or way of life to our own. By reading books about diverse characters by diverse authors, young people can not only gain knowledge but also learn tolerance and empathy.”

Gabrielle Wang is an award-winning author, illustrator and artist who lives in Melbourne. Her Chinese heritage has always featured in her work and in her first novel (The Garden of Empress Cassia), published in 2002, the protagonist faces the same problems that Gabrielle herself experienced growing up as a Chinese Australian. Her numerous books all contain elements of Chinese culture, philosophy and mythology and include a picture book and novels for children and young adults. Her work has received many awards and accolades including multiple Aurealis Awards and CBCA Notable Book commendations.

Now known as the ACLF, the not-for-profit organisation was founded in 2008 and launched the first Laureateship in 2012. This important role has been held by Australian children’s literature powerhouses including Alison Lester, Boori Monty Pryor, Jackie French, Leigh Hobbs, Morris Gleitzman and most recently Ursula Dubosarsky.

Children's Laureates are now active in Italy, Finland, The Netherlands, Ireland, Mexico, Sweden and Wales. There are Reading Ambassadors in New Zealand and the United States.

Chair of the ACLF, Bruce Ellis, said, “The Board of the ACLF is thrilled that Gabrielle Wang has been appointed the 2022–2023 Australian Children’s Laureate. As an author and illustrator of Chinese-Australian heritage, Gabrielle is bringing a fresh and exciting approach to the role. From our first conversation I have been impressed by Gabrielle’s commitment to encouraging children to use their imagination in all different ways – drawing, writing and reading. I can’t wait to see how she enriches the lives of young Australians through the power of story.”

To find out more visit www.childrenslaureate.org.au.

Announcement: Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Notables List

Where can you find cranky chickens, thoughtful coming-of-age stories and thrilling tales of Australia’s first scientists?

On the 116-strong Notables List for the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards.

CBCA National Chair Wendy Rapee said it was a “watershed year” with entries topping the 600 mark for the first time, and a longlist that “represents the exciting and wide-ranging landscape of Australian children’s literature as it stands today”.

“Hundreds of thousands of authors and illustrators, librarians, publishers, and book lovers of all ages wait in eager anticipation for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notables List, and they will not be disappointed,” Ms Rapee said.

“Our professional and passionate judges have recognised a diverse range of genres, a huge cast of engaging and authentic characters, and exciting places that readers will want to inhabit.”

Well-known names including Sally Morgan, Emily Rodda and Graeme Base are joined by debut authors including six new Indigenous creators on a particularly strong Eve Pownall Notables List. High quality production values, great research and inventive storytelling made it a brilliant year for these information books.

“A huge number of entries for the Picture Books category show that our skilled, innovative book creators have been hard at work over the last 12 months despite – or maybe because of – Covid-19.

“Our judges were very happy to see so many characters who championed problem-solving and self-acceptance. The children in these books may be different from others, but they find a way to express their feelings and gradually learn it’s okay to be different.”

The Older Readers Notable books explore body image, sexuality, grief and love in a range of life situations, while the Younger Readers Notables reinforce resilience and the importance of the environment and families, in formats that include time slip and verse

The Early Childhood Notables reflect children’s connection with animals through engaging and playful stories about pets and Australian wildlife, also featuring diverse families and the regulation of emotions.

The CBCA is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians.

Regarded as Australia’s premier children’s literature award, the CBCA Book of the Year was established in 1946 and is now presented in six categories: Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Book, Eve Pownall Award and the CBCA Award for New Illustrator.

For the full list of CBCA Book of the Year 2022 Notables please visit their website.

Attention Harry Potter Fans - Miles Of Magic Photo Competition

We get more than a little excited here at KBR when the offer of free books is on the table so imagine our heart rates when we learned of this awesome opportunity to upgrade your book collection both at home and at school.

Our great friends at Bloomsbury Publishing Australia are delighted to launch the MILES OF MAGIC photo competition, which gives Australian and New Zealand Harry Potter fans the chance to win $1000 worth of books for their home library, PLUS another $1000 worth of books for their local school’s library.

To enter, fans are invited to take a photo of a Harry Potter book in a favourite location in Australia or New Zealand. And in max 100 words explain what the Harry Potter books, and what the photo location, means to them. 

Event: Geelong Arts Centre's 2022 Family Magic Program

Proudly supported by Major Artistic Partner, Deakin University, Geelong Arts Centre’s Family Magic program returns in 2022 with a diverse range of fantastic family-friendly productions.

Consisting of six brilliantly dynamic, engaging and accessible performances, the program is designed to captivate, inspire and entertain children under 12, as well as their parents, siblings, grandparents and carers.

Cover Reveal: This Is My Dad

Did you know, over 10% of households in Australia comprise of a single or primary parent and of those single parents, 82% of them are female? Similar figures exist in countries throughout, New Zealand, the Americas and Europe. 

Until I was promoted by a proactive teacher librarian during a Book Week visit to her school, I was only vaguely aware of these statistics. She highlighted a notable absence of mainstream picture books reflecting children who had never known a ‘father figure’ and or had no significant male model in their lives. 

Like other casual suggestions for book ideas from people in the frontline of education and child care, this was an idea I simply couldn’t let go.

Fortunately, I didn't and in a couple of short months, my latest picture book will hopefully help fill those literary gaps on school library and home bookshelves around the world. This story, illustrated  by Nicky Johnston with generous heart and unfettered affection, is a timely commentary on contemporary family dynamics and societal trends that highlights a situation many children experience within classroom set ups. And so without further ado, it's time to become acquainted with ... 

Announcement: Every Hero Has A Story...Females In Fiction

Every Hero Has A Story...
What started as a small school project has quickly become an international literacy initiative.

Hindi’s Libraries collect and donate new and gently used children’s books to more than 650 organizations throughout the world at no cost to recipients.

Together, they are able to continue Hindi's legacy and share her love of literature with thousands of children across the globe.

A Very KBR Christmas 2021 and A Delicious New Year!

As we all stumbled through another year of monumental change, frustration, despair and ridiculous joy, for the team here at KBR, one thing remained resolute: our love for story. All stories of course but, most emphatically, kids' stories. For the privilege of being able to share as many as we possibly could with you, we are humbly grateful. To all our contributors, publishers, creators, and fellow book lovers we thank you. 

And, because we too love a good Christmas tradition, this year's team question is one that raised many eyebrows and created as much polarisation as questions surrounding Covid! So tuck in your napkins, set aside your bookmarks and experience our responses to the question: Are you partial to reading while you eat or eating while you read and if so, what is your favourite thing to nibble on as you chow down your favourite book? 

Disclaimer: you may like to nibble on a wedge of shortbread or sip on a mulled wine as you read this, or not. The choice is unequivocally yours! HAPPY CHRISTMAS! 

Announcement: New KBR Team Member: Meet Elizabeth Vercoe!

Elizabeth Vercoe's evocative artwork and previous reviews have enthralled and entertained a wide audience for many years. Witty, articulate and achingly talented, Elizabeth lives life as she loves it: moment by precious moment. 

But can you guess whom she'd love to take to dinner? Read on to find out more about our newest contributor. And keep an eye out for Elizabeth's first review, coming soon.

It's with unbridled joy that we welcome yet another wonderful member to our KBR team. Great to have you aboard, Elizabeth!