Review: Go Home Cheeky Animals

In this second book by the award-winning team Johanna Bell and Dion Beasley , Go Home Cheeky Animals celebrates the diversity and indigenous culture of the Northern Territory.

The story centers on a family living in Canteen Creek in the Territory where there are cheeky dogs everywhere. 

Mum doesn’t like them and always shoos them away, but when her back is turned Grandpa continues to feed them until it gets out of hand.

Mayhem descends as feeding the dogs soon leads to a whole lot more cheeky animals arriving. 

Gangs of goats, droves of donkeys, herds of horses, bunches of buffalo, caravans of camels all arrive to eat, drink and cause chaos.

Review: The Snow Laundry

In this dystopian world the administration controls absolutely everything and the population know not to challenge the status quo.

Besides it could be a lot worse – many of the country’s homeless are forced to work in the towers with no possibility or hope of escaping. But while their new home is a prison, they are fed and warm.

17-year-old Ally is just of those people enslaved in the towers. Working long hours in the laundry, each day the same, she is resigned to her fate. 

Though there are many people who still exist in the tunnels that are barely surviving, Ally believes she has the better situation; her vote was the price of safety.

Birthday celebrations are in full swing for the Towers Overseer when Ally’s boyfriend Bon goes missing. One minute he was laying beside her in bed, the next he is gone, only leaving behind drawings.

Review: The Comedienne's Guide To Pride

Sydney based author Hayli Thomson delivers a topical but relatable debut novel about being true to yourself.

Dilemma – on one hand the opportunity of a lifetime, but to accept it will mean telling everyone who you really are?

Taylor Parker has always wanted to be a comedian. So when Taylor is accepted as a finalist for a diverse writers’ internship at Saturday Night Live – she is equal parts excited and anxious. The opportunity will turn her world upside down.

To win, Taylor will need to come out about both her secrets – she wants to be a comedian and also a lesbian.

On top of that Taylor has a crush on Salem’s most bewitching actress – out and proud classmate Charlotte Grey.

Review: The Lesbiana's Guide To Catholic School

Transferring to a new school is never easy, but 17 year old Yamilet Flores is ready for a fresh start where she controls the truth.

After being outed by her crush and ex best friend at her last school, Yami has new priorities and lots of trust issues.

Her priorities are simple - keep her brother out of trouble, make her mother proud and above all else - don’t fall in love no matter who she meets! 

Admittedly being one of only a few Mexican students in a mostly Caucasian and very rich Catholic school means blending in will certainly be a challenge.

Yami does her best to fake being straight, often applying her own logic – WWSGD, what would a straight girl do? However, she can’t help noticing one of the other students, Bo, who is openly gay.

Review: Kill Joy

This novella takes us back to where it all began for Pippa Fitz-Amobi as part of the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy.

It’s the event of the year but Pip is not in the mood for a party and certainly not one that requires her to dress-up and play a character. Her friend Connor has invited her to a 1920s murder mystery party to celebrate Reginal Remy’s 74^th Birthday. Pip’s character is the fictional detective Celia Bourne, and along with the invitation is her character guide that promises the night will be one to remember.

Together with other friends, they are all travelling to Remy Manor, home to Reginald Remy on the private island called Joy situated off the west coast of Scotland. Which in reality is Connor’s house, but for the sake of atmosphere and authenticity, let’s believe it really is an isolated, windswept island full of mystery and secrets.

Review: The Merciless Ones

In this riveting sequel to The Gilded Ones, the story picks up six months since Deka discovered who she really is and freed the goddess in the ancient kingdom of Otera.

War is raging across the Kingdom with an unknown dark force growing – Deka and her army must stop it before it’s too late.

Deka of Irfut Village of Bith, the Nuru is the one full blooded daughter created by the mothers to free the deathshrieks and alaki from the tyranny of the Jabu (Gilded ones).

However, the greatest threat may just be Deka herself as she holds the power to remake her world or destroy it.

In this new instalment of this epic fantasy nothing is what it seems and while Deka is tasked with saving her people. Her people now treat Deka as a monster and a traitor. In her quest to free the remaining Goddesses, she starts to see a strange symbol appear.

Review: Four Bad Unicorns

Inspired by her own childhood, Roald Dahl prizewinning author and illustrator Rebecca Patterson has created a quirky fun story that tackles the theme of disability and inclusion with warmth and humour that will resonate with both children and parents.

Unicorn mad sisters Frankie and Connie love playing everything with unicorns - unicorn cereal for breakfast, unicorn speed, unicorn yawning and dreaming of unicorns when they finally go to sleep at night.

Review: Legendarium

Enter the world of fast paced gaming in this adventurous sequel to Wonderscape. We meet back up with friends Arthur, Ren, Cecily and their robo dog Cloud as they navigate this magical world at breakneck speed.

This story is a mashup of video games and history in this time travel action adventure.

As they try to return home and to their own time, the friends are pulled even further into the

future. What they find is the video game they have entered is actually real life – where they must enter a tournament to regain, the key to get home.

Once they enter the ISports tournament they find themselves in a series of mini quests that enable them to pass each level in order to win. 

On their travels they encounter outlaws, pirates, Vikings and hidden temples each with their own dangers, clues and riddles.

Review: Hey, Water

This easy to read non-fiction book is a celebration of water that has something for everyone. Colourful illustrations showcase all the different forms of water; fog, steam, clouds, icebergs that children will be able to identify with.

Author Antoinette Portis takes us on the journey of a young girl as she discovers how versatile water is and the different sizes and shapes it appears in. 

This simple introduction to water explores how we use water in everyday life, sometimes without realising it.

Review: Lifel1k3

The first in a series, Lifel1k3 is a mashup of romance and action-packed thrills set in a futuristic world.

To say Eve is having a bad day would be an understatement. In fact, she cannot remember a worse one, though there are lingering nightmares that may trump this day. Of course, that would mean she could access her memoires, but instead they were replaced by a cybernetic implant. 

On the run from the local gangster to pay back money she has just lost; Eve is trying desperately to keep her Grandpa alive. Then the robot gladiator she has been building for months is reduced to a smoking wreck. And if that wasn’t enough, Eve discovers she can somehow destroy machines with the power of her mind which triggers a whole new host of enemies on her tail.

Just when you think that is all you can cope with, Eve stumbles across the deadliest robot ever built. Ezekiel, a handsome android called Lifel1k3, simply because they resemble humans and not just how they look, but also how they behave.

Review: Interned

As the world teeters on the brink of war in 1914, two young girls of German heritage will have their entire worlds turned upside down. Based on true events this historical story centres on a forgotten moment in history.

Greta is the daughter of a successful German businessman and enjoys a privileged life in Singapore. While Tilly is the daughter of a German born baker living a modest life in Brisbane.

With the outbreak of war in Europe, friends and neighbours treat them like the enemy. Harassed in the streets, possessions defaced, and unwelcome gifts left at their doorsteps. Both girls are taken away from lives, their homes as they know it are confiscated and they are interned in a camp in rural New South Wales.

Review: Rock Star Detectives

Australian comedian Adam Hills has delivered his debut children’s novel. This must-read story combines comedic flair with inclusive characters that celebrate our individuality. Illustrated by Luna Valentine, Rock Star Detectives won’t disappoint.

Twelve year old singing sensation Charley Parker is living the rock star dream. Along with her budding comedian, social media whizz and best friend George, the pair have achieved international stardom.

But it doesn’t always go to plan . . .

When a series of art thefts occur in the same cities that they are performing in, the pair quickly become the prime suspects. Charley and George soon find they are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Review: The Shadow Arts

Following on from Monstrous Devices comes the thrilling next instalment in this rollercoaster adventure series.

Four months on from their last adventure, memories start to resurface as do old enemies. Just when life is getting back to normal, Alex finds himself on another adventure crossing the globe to find answers.

Not a lot has changed, Alex is still being harassed by the school bully, Kenzie, that is until he starts giving Alex warnings about possible dangers that lie around every corner. Alex is confused and taken aback by the bizarre behaviour – it should have acted as a warning . . .

Then when he least expects it, his grandfather appears out of the shadows to enlist his help in finding his life-long friend Harry who is missing. Finding Harry will not be easy, the catch being they will have to solve the mystery Harry was working on at the time of his disappearance.

Arabella's Alphabet Adventure

Australian author Suzy Zail has created this delightful picture book with a unique storyline. 

Set in a library, this story is about the book itself – Arabella’s Alphabet Adventures.

Arabella’s Alphabet Adventures is the most popular book on the shelf and has the honour of being the most borrowed book – quite an achievement.

But Arabella wants to be more than just an ABC book. Especially a book that has been drawn in, pages ripped and read by sticky fingers covered in jam.

As a Librarian, this gem of a picture book is close to my heart – the story is clever, relatable and innovative. The storyline demonstrates the power of words and the journey of discovering where you belong – something we all search for in life.

Review: Backyard Beasties

First nations author and illustrator Helen Milroy has created another standout picture book that celebrates the creatures that can be found in our backyards. 

From warm blooded to cold blooded, feathered and clawed animals – children will be exploring their backyards like never before.

Our backyards are brought to life in this striking and vibrantly illustrated picture book. 

The stunning artwork celebrates the author’s indigenous culture and draws the reader into its depths.

Review: Bushlife

Immerse yourself in this unique non-fiction picture book celebrating the Australian bush by contemporary artist and author Pete Cromer. 

Featuring bold and beautiful animal portraits of birds, mammals and reptiles.  It is the perfect book for young animal lovers.

Children will love exploring a diverse range of 18 Australian animals - the artwork collages alone are worth spending time with in this book.

Review: The House At The Edge of Magic

When all is lost, sometimes life can surprise you and bring you strawberries.

That’s what happens to Nine, an orphaned pickpocket who struggles to escape her life of poverty in the Nest of a Thousand Treasures.

Her luck takes a turn for the better (or so she hopes) when she steals a house-shaped ornament from an interesting, but mysterious woman’s purse.

Fascinated by her discovery and unsure of what it actually is, Nine innocently knocks on its tiny door. To her amazement the tiny house ornament grows and grows until it resembles a real life-size house.

But beware, this house is far from normal – instead she finds magic, mystery and a witch’s curse. The quirky residents include Flabberghast, a wacky young wizard who is obsessed with hopscotch and Eric the troublesome troll who is emotionally attached to his feather duster.

Review: When Days Tilt

One world – two rulers.

Welcome to London, 1858 - where Queen Victoria sits on the throne and rules over the British Empire. 

But in the shadow City of Donlon, the Green Witch rules over her own kingdom where time and the ability to alter it is the ultimate power.

With a blazing comet streaking across the night skies which people are referring to as God’s angry hand, the people of London are anxious. Loved ones are disappearing in flashes of light, with some people reappearing but with empty eyes and souls and no memory of what has happened to them.

In a routine visit to her mother’s grave, fourteen year-old Ava encounters a strange man, Malaikah who has wings and a power to alter reality. 

Review: Ginger Meggs

Iconic Australian literary character Ginger Meggs is celebrating his 100^th birthday and you are invited back into his larrikin world with the release of four new adventures.

Created by Jimmy Bancks in 1921, his great great nephew, Tristan Bancks picks up where he left off. These stories are illustrated by the current cartoonist of the Ginger Meggs comic strip, Jason Chatfield. 

Originally syndicated in over 100 daily newspapers in Australia and the world. Ginger Meggs is one of the oldest running comic strips in the world.

These four new rambunctious adventures showcase Ginger Meggs and his friends as fun-loving larrikins who always find themselves in trouble one way or another.

One of the stories, Dead Man’s Hill finds Ginger and his best mate Benny debating over claims made by snooty sneak Eddie Coogan. Eddie reckons he rode all the way down Dead Man’s Hill in his billycart with no problems. So up for a challenge the two friends build their own death-defying cart and attempt the hill.

Review: The Bench

The launch of this picture book follows the tradition of other famous members of the Royal family in publishing books that carry a message close to their heart.

Written by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and illustrated by Caldecott-winning and bestselling artist Christian Robinson – this story celebrates the bond between father and son.

The simple but elegant illustrations are softened by the use of watercolours. The illustrations convey a sense of reflection - much like having children in our lives. It changes how adults look at the world and their lives.

Depicted from the eyes of the mother, this story was first written as a poem.