Guest Post: Danuza Silva on Heartbreak, Healing and Writing For Children

Gold Coast based children’s author Danuza Silva is on a mission to improve the mental health of children. What began as a personal coping mechanism soon became a message Danuza knew needed to be shared with children everywhere ...

For a long time, I believed life had already thrown every curveball it could at me. I grew up marked by losses, first my parents and grandparents, all passing when I was very young, and later the grandmother who raised my siblings and me after we lost our parents.

From childhood, I understood resilience not as a choice but as a necessity. I dreamed of creating the kind of loving family I never had the chance to grow up with, one full of warmth, stability, and affection.

And, for a while, I had it. I married a wonderful man and we were blessed with our beautiful daughter, Sophie. Life felt whole. 

Review: Wombat Dreaming

What a gorgeous book this is. As well as a purring rhythmic narrative from master crafter Caz Goodwin, the illustrations from emerging artist Zoe Bennett are to die for. 

Well, maybe we don’t need to be that dramatic but you know what I mean.

Lil desperately wanted

to join in the class.

But each time she tried,

She’d land PLONK on the grass.

Review: Rosie's Garden

Rosie’s favourite thing in the world to do, is to dig. She finds all manner of mysteries deep in the ground, and forges new friendships when she’s in the community garden, next door to her little stoop and green front door.

There’s Mr Delagatti who collects seeds, Annika who plays the violin, and even Esmerelda the chicken, who likes worms for breakfast!
But then, things change for Rosie. 

A large company with noisy, powerful machines takes over the precious little garden and builds a towering skyscraper in its place. Where will the friends go? 

Review: Mavis The Little Plane Spotter

This picture book is an absolute gem. Opening it is like stepping into a gorgeous moment of history. 

I was instantly entranced by the end-papers with their hand-drawn memorabilia, the silhouettes of friendly and enemy planes and many other interesting tid bits.

Then, I turned the page and was gobsmacked to learn that both author Angela Toniolo and illustrator Shannon Melvillle, are the direct descendants of women who performed as enemy plane spotters during the second world war. 

I got goosebumps on my goosebumps, and the story hadn’t even begun!

Review: Tilly In A Tangle

This multi-layered book is sheer delight and well deserving of its CBCA 2025 notable listing.

What do we do when things get in a tangle?
Do we tussle and struggle? Or do we try something different?

We all have a little bit of Tilly inside us - an adventurer who is happy, headstrong and independent.

We all need to push our own boundaries now and then, for interest’s sake if nothing else. And we’ve all experienced being in a tangle, a tight spot or a pickle, because we wouldn’t be human if we hadn’t.

Review: Hugs Still Feel The Same

What a beautiful, gentle yet powerful book this is.

Told with a strong sense of peace and comfort, this story is perfect for young children needing to make sense of trauma or life challenges – from a natural disaster event through to things like moving house or changing schools.

It is also perfect for curious children who are not living through such challenges. The clever construction means that it offers a variety of insights and messages, depending on the need and perspective of the reader.

Review: The Five Rules Of Friendship

Sometimes, the ‘simple’ things shine the brightest of all.

With its warm, friendly voice alongside bold and colourful illustrations, this picture book is deceptively simple, very practical and completely engaging.

From the creator of ‘Life Lessons For Little Ones,’ ‘The Five Rules Of Friendship’ is exactly that: five practical, useful and solid ideas around how to be a friend, and how to treat a friend.

In clear and chatty language with no hint of judgement, the book reminds us that friendship can be awesome when it’s good, and downright tricky when it’s not-so-good.

Winners: This Is Not A Sad Book (But It's OK To Feel Sad)

Our lucky winners are ...

Julie Burberry, QLD

Jenny Catalano, QLD

Joseph Spagnolo, NSW

Congratulations!

You have each won a copy of this touching and practical guide to coping with grief, loss and hard times, This Is Not A Sad Book by Elizabeth Vercoe and Grace Fraraccio.

Thank you to ALL who entered. We were moved by your your feel good answers.

Review: This Is Not A Sad Book (but it's OK to feel sad)

This is definitely not a sad book. It’s not even an arduous book to read but by golly, it is a book that unashamedly tackles some of the heftiest emotions that a young person, indeed anyone, has to face. 

Grief, loss, depression, anxiety, uncertainty. Big hard-to-deal-with feels that demand big help.

This Is Not A Sad Book is that help. In short, it’s a lighthouse of hope, explanation and tactics to apply when one finds oneself or someone they know, in a dark, scary, perilous place. 

Giveaway: This Is Not A Sad Book (But It's OK To Feel Sad)

This Is Not A Sad Book is truly not a sad book!

It's actually a practical, compassionate guide full of strategies and ideas to support yourself or someone else through grief, loss and hard times.

In some parts you might even find yourself smiling.

Most importantly of all – the stories, tips and advice in these pages are a reminder that even in our darkest hours, there is a way through.

KBR's very own, Elizabeth Vercoe teams ups with Melbourne-based illustrator, Grace Fraraccio to create a warm tender book that empowers young people to create space for feeling and healing. Originally published twenty years ago as, The Grief Book, with Kerry Abramowski, this revised Children's Book Council of Australia Honour Book edition is deeply personal and endearing. 

Thanks to the generous folk at Affirm Press we have not one but THREE copies of this incredible, warm-hearted guide through grief, loss and hard times to giveaway!

For your chance to win a copy of this touching and practical award-winning title simply tell us in 25 words or less what makes you feel better when you are having a bad day?

Review: Louder Than Hunger

For many teenage boys, there’s nothing in the world that’s louder than hunger (I’ve seen six-packs of bread rolls be devoured by ravenous teens before we’ve even left the supermarket carpark).

Can Jake silence the voice in his head?

Written in a combination of non-rhyming poetry and prose, this elegant and unique verse-novel is propulsive and compelling.

A dark yet hopeful book, Louder Than Hunger takes us into the inner sanctum of teenage male mental ill-health in a no-holds-barred way. 

With incredible momentum, we witness almost a year of Jake’s life In rehab, and are privy to the unadulterated voice inside his head. It is impossible to ignore.

REVIEW: The Dog Who Danced On The Moon

From a front cover with tactile pops of silver and shininess, to a joyful text that simply begs to be read aloud, The Dog Who Danced On The Moon is just glorious.

There once was a boy called Jeremy Grace

Who had a remarkable interest in space.

He was quiet and shy, very often alone,

Just him and his dog, spending time on their own.

Young Jeremy has big dreams and a dancing dog for a best friend.

Review: Penny Draws A Class Trip

This fourth and final book in the Penny Draws series is breezy, compelling and delightful.

New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard delivers us yet another page-turning, quip-wielding, laugh-inducing series of events and mishaps that propel 11-year-old Penny and her friends into their school trip and beyond. 

As with the previous books, Penny’s writing style is a doodle-diary of letters and pictures to her beloved dog Cosmo. The line drawings that accompany her words ensure that every page is visually dynamic and easy to move through, for both skilled and reluctant readers.

In this adventure, Penny and her classmates are whizzing off on a bus for a weekend school trip to New York. 

There, they will meet and workshop with famous author Billy J Plumberry, who also just-so-happens to be the namesake of their school.

Review: Sincerely Yours, Anna Sherwood

One summer internship. Two complete opposites. And a connection neither expected…

Anna Sherwood is an intern about to start a 12-week stint over the summer holidays. It’s her dream job.

But an unexpected fling the night before she’s due to begin, adds an extra layer of complication to an already chaotic situation. Especially when the very cute boy turns out to be her new boss’s son – and she soon realises she can’t stand him!

Sincerely Yours, Anna Sherwood, is a book about finding yourself and trusting your gut along the way.

An endearing rom-com set in London, it walks us through matters of the heart – good, bad and ugly. 

Review: Paper Flower Girl

This exceptional and utterly original book shows what can happen when you don’t follow your heart. 

It is a story about ‘being prepared for the worst and hoping for the best.’

It’s always a joy to be surprised – astounded, even - by creative offerings that speak directly to both the head and the heart. 

This book from Dirt Lane Press is one such offering. From the first lines of Paper Flower Girl, there’s a strong, true voice that rings out and compels us to strap in for the ride.

Review: Penny Draws a Secret Adventure

Penny Draws A Secret Adventure is the third in the Penny Draws series from NY Times best-seller, Sara Shepard. Like it’s predecessors, this book is also a humorous and quirky wander through the life of a middle-grade, sometimes-angst-ridden child who has rather wonderful powers of observation.

The book is set out as a diary or letters to Penny’s dog, Cosmo. Penny’s secret super-power is to doodle, and one of the absolute joys of this book are the line drawings which so beautifully sum up the situations that she finds herself in. 

These drawings are an integral part of the narrative – you don’t read one without the other, which is genius when it comes to reluctant readers.

Guest Post: Chelsea Luker on A Journey Into The Autistic / ADHDer Experience

In a world that often feels like it's not built for everyone, Square Me, Round World: Stories of growing up in a world not built for you offers a refreshing and insightful perspective on the lives of Autistic/ADHDer individuals. 

As an author, psychologist, and advocate, I’d like to share a personal journey that has led to the creation of this book aimed at bridging the understanding gap and fostering inclusivity.

I am deeply passionate about advocating for the rights and well-being of Autistic and ADHDer individuals. 

Review: Penny Draws A School Play

Penny Draws A School Play is the second in the Penny Draws series from NY Times best-seller, Sara Shepard. It’s a delightful wander into the life of the middle grade reader, with all the particular quirks and shininess this entails.

Penny is a doodler, so when she is cast as a bat in the school play - which worries her, even though all she has to do is flit – she doodles to ease her anxiety and make sense of things. 

And hers are not just any old random doodles. They’re diary entries to her lovable dog, Cosmo.

Navigating life in grade five is hard enough at the best of times. 

But when your best friend has gone to the dark side (befriended the mean girl), your mum is pregnant with twins, your family is moving house, there’s a Big Foot on the loose in the woods behind your place and you have to be in the school play … well, things can get a little bit tricky. Especially if you’re prone to worry or anxiety, which Penny is. So, Penny draws. 

Review: Vlad: The Fabulous Vampire

As any vampire worth his garlic salt will tell you, vampire-esque activities are not wholly confined to Halloween. 

Indeed, for Vladislav Varnaby Roland Dragul,Vlad for short, being a stylish vampire is a year-long occupation.

Vlad is a horrifically huge fashionista you see. Fashion is his passion.

Review: Elegy For An Elephant

Elegy For An Elephant is, quite simply, magnificent. The words. The illustrations. All of it.

‘Those who leave live on through our living…’

We all have questions that need to be answered when someone we know dies, and quite particular questions when that death is from suicide. 

This book asks questions from a child’s perspective and answers them clearly, with a reassuring sense of strength and comfort.

Elegy For An Elephant pays homage to a family who are looking to understand their great loss. It’s powerful, beautiful, visceral and totally appropriate for children over seven years old. Supported and endorsed by child grief professionals, this book fills a vital gap in helping children to understand - and to navigate – their own grief and loss.