The third in the series about animals coping through extreme weather events, this book bristles with endeavour as the kangaroo can smell water far away and knows he must find it to survive.
The strong young kangaroo, Joseph knows his mob is in danger. They are all listless, nibbling at ever shrinking grass, no joeys being born. But Big Roo the leader of the mob is just as listless, and Joseph knows he must search for better feed and water. No one takes any notice as he leaves. He travels at nights, resting during the heat of the day. He sees other distressed animals , parched of water.
One night, he comes across two lights and tries to jump between them, falling to the ground, bouncing off the car. But he keeps going, he can smell the water close by.
When he finds it he munches the grass and drinks large amounts of water, when he notices a mob watching him. The leader of the mob comes over and after a few sorties, leaves him to drink. A grey kangaroo joins him, and later, when it rains he takes over as the leader, and he joins the mob, contented.
Snell’s wonderful images show the kangaroos and their body shapes throughout the story. Decidedly skinny and undernourished, Joseph must leave his mob to look for food. The readers will recognise the flora and fauna seen along his journey, and be concerned for him when confronted by the leader of the new mob. The Australian bush is shown in its changeability, from parched desert to flooding rain. The powerful image of the car which Joseph tries to leap over, becomes clear to the readers when they read Jackie French’s notes at the end, while the illustration recalls all those animals seen as road kill. I loved Snell’s images of Joseph across the top of several pages, giving movement and a sense of purpose to the journey. And the episode with the car in the half light at night is full of anticipation for the readers wondering whether Joseph will be able to avoid the car and survive.
Based on a true story of a lone kangaroo which came to Jackie’s property, the story of survival in our desperate times of drought is uplifting. A teacher's guide is available.
Themes Drought, Kangaroos, Survival.
Fran Knight
When the mountain wakes by Matt Shanks
Affirm Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781923419056. (Age:6+)
This large format picture book is deceptively sophisticated in its message. With very few words the graphic novel leans on the images to tell a story from the beginnings of time through to a future of hope. It follows a mountain which slumbers as various forms of life and civilizations come and go in a cycle of creation and destruction until a silence in the world wakes it and loneliness sends the mountain searching “for a song”. The thousands of years the mountain spends searching fruitlessly, shifts our perspective from our own brief timelines to consider more long-term thinking, that just when we think there is no hope, life will surprise us. The lovely illustrations carry the story of the cycle of life, not dwelling unduly on destruction and a young reader will take away positive feelings about the resilience of nature. At a time when anxiety about climate change and destructive events can overwhelm us it is good to see books like this and Tull Suwannakit's Higher Ground expressing hope for the future. Best read by or with an adult to guide and explain the many geological and historical references and to guide a discussion, it can stand alone as a picture book, and the mountain is a very appealing character.
Themes Nature, Environment, Resilience..
Sue Speck
We fell apart by E. Lockhart
Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761182426. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
Lockhart’s latest book We fell apart returns to a setting closely related to that of her famous We were liars but with a different cast of characters. Not having read her earlier books, I was completely comfortable with her advice that this is a stand-alone story to be understood on its own. There are some spoilers though for readers of the two Liars novels. Her fans are sure to enjoy her unique writing style that almost twists into poetry in places. And she is master at portraying the inner world of Matilda, the uncertain adventurer caught in this latest mystery.
Matilda is a lonely teenager, abandoned by her single mother ‘following her heart’ with her latest lover, rejected by her boyfriend Luca for being obsessive and needy, and dropped by friends who have decided she is creepy and nerdy. Then out of the blue comes an email from famous artist Kingsley Cello claiming to be her father and inviting her to meet him at his home on Hidden Beach. The strange thing is, he is not there when she turns up, and instead she meets three unusual boys, her ingenuous half-brother Meer, handsome flawed celebrity Brock, and the scowling unfriendly Tatum. Hidden Beach itself is an anomalous world, a superficially free lifestyle confined within rigid constraints that Matilda finds herself constantly challenging. At its heart there is a mystery she is determined to resolve.
There are lies, confusions, trauma, decay, and slowly, gradually, romance. The missing father is not going to fill the gap in Matilda’s life; she has to find her own inner strength, and take responsibility in her relationships and her decisions. It is a combination of coming-of-age and mystery novel delivered in the unique style which has made Lockhart a deservedly popular YA author.
Good Morning, little eggs, one, two and three. But wait – four? This doesn’t belong to me! It landed in my nest without a sound. Whose egg could this be, so smooth, white and round?
The beginning of this gorgeous story is set in a striking dawn sky. An Australian magpie has found a surprise smooth, white round egg in their nest and begins a wondrous journey across the rooftops to find out where the egg might belong. First to be visited is the willie wagtail’s nest built in a garden shed with web, but their eggs are smaller with spots. Then onto the ducks but they have not yet laid their eggs. Next are the kookaburras but their eggs have already hatched. The swallows nests are made of mud and sit under the windowsill. But their eggs have spots and freckles. The honeyeaters have a nest on the patio but their eggs have red spots.
All through this perfectly rhyming narrative, a myriad of birds in a variety of different nests are visited by magpie until the very end at dusk when who do they find perched on the gutters? And whose chick is now sharing the neighbourhood nest with three magpie hatchlings?
Neighbourhood Nest is a beautiful picture book to share with children of all ages. The illustrations are simply stunning and perfectly complement the text. From the partly embossed birds on the front cover, the endpapers showing the eggs with other objects from nature, the detailed full page illustrations in vibrant colour and great detail, this will be a book to treasure. There is also an opportunity to spot some items hidden in a nest as well as further accessible information about all of the backyard birds mentioned in the story.
A must-have book for a home, school or public library.
Themes Nature, Birds, Nests, Australian Backyards, Bird Spotting.
Kathryn Beilby
Frog, Log & Dave: A brush with evil by Trent Jamieson & Brent Wilson
Penguin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761347085. (Age:5+)
Following on from Book 1, Frog Log and Dave’s band now have a drummer, Pollutodude, and call themselves the Quad Bikes. Poor sales and reviews of their second album mean they need to keep their day job as delivery drivers in the much-modified Excalivan. Meanwhile Count Evil Von Evil is plotting revenge for having his plan to pollute the city thwarted by Jeremy in book one. Pigeon Jeremy is the band’s most devoted fan but probably loves his job at the Toothbrush Instruction Writing Company more, so Count Evil Von Evil’s first move is to buy the factory and make Jeremy in charge of research and development. When the Count orders a large shark to be delivered to the factory, the Quad Bikes get drawn into his evil plan.
With bold, colourful cartoons and plenty of action there is nothing subtle about the team’s adventures. Quirky humour with running jokes that build on the previous book’s characters and some sound effects that cry out to be read aloud, make this a must for young readers looking for a series. At 160 pages this graphic novel is long enough to engage the reader and fast paced enough to maintain interest. Just for a bit of fun there is a page at the end of this quality, hardback edition on how to draw the Frog character and colourful endpapers packed with jellybabies hiding clues from the story.
Text Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922458926. (Age:12+)
Cursed by Marissa Meyer is a dark romance/thriller fantasy book set in Germany, where a girl, Serilda, is trapped in a large castle betrothed to the evil Alder King, while she is a spirit separated from her pregnant, human body. She, and her secret lover/best friend Gild, who is also separated from his body, try to find their bodies to put themselves back in their human bodies and escape the Alder King. Meanwhile, they try to escape twisted beasts, demons that roam the hallways, and looking after children that Serilda is connected to, and try to stop the Alder King from collecting his monsters to resurrect his huntress wife.
This novel is quite captivating, always keeping you on your toes, trying to guess the mysteries that will keep you up at night. Cursed is impossible to put down, and it is extremely entertaining, and I can guarantee that you will love this book. This book is recommended to those who enjoy mystery, thriller, and dark romance.
Themes: Thriller, mystery, dark romance, fantasy, and myths.
Ella-Rose D. (Student)
Heist: The remarkable robot robbery by Joel McKerrow
The oddball collection of heisters introduced in The Great Chocolate Caper are back again to protect the world. Or are they? In the good tradition of magical sleight-of-hand tricks they use all their talents to take the attention away from the ‘magic deception’ they are about to perform. These pre-teenagers use their planning skills and their robotic talents to save the aliens from destruction by humans. How the tides have turned! The Sydney Opera House becomes both the site for the National Robot Battle and possibly the biggest news story ever. But will they all survive to overcome the enemy?
This is an adventure story that kids will love. The small band of friends are weird and intelligent, just as likely to throw funny verbal barbs at one another as they are to save the world (or the aliens within, including Saph who lives symbiotically within Andy McGee, one of the hapless crew). This story involves incredible cooperation, intelligence and planning to enable the young team to outdo adults who are intent on eliminating alien life. With all the complications of an Oceans 11 story, this is just an action-packed adventure with a culmination that is set within the Sydney Opera House. It is a book that 10-14 year old readers will devour eagerly, and will be delighted that there is another Heist story in the pipeline (as will I!). It is both funny and exciting, a combination that young readers will love.
Themes Robots and robotics, Aliens, Friendships, Heist stories, Computer programming, Ability and disability.
Carolyn Hull
The shadow bride by Shelby Mahurin
Electric Monkey, 2025. ISBN: 9780008582524. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
The Shadow Bride, written by Shelby Mahurin, is the second book in The Scarlet Veil duology, following The Scarlet Veil. This fantasy novel continues the story of Célie, who awakens as a vampire after sacrificing her life. She must now navigate a haunting new existence filled with darkness, power, and emotional turmoil. As old enemies rise and the boundaries between life and death collapse, Célie and the vampire king Michal are forced to confront their pasts while fighting to save their world.
Mahurin’s writing style is one of the strongest aspects of the novel. Her language is beautifully detailed, creating vivid imagery that allows readers to feel as though they are standing beside the characters. The world she has crafted feels alive, rich with atmosphere and emotion. Each scene is written with such precision that it becomes easy to sense the characters’ feelings and perspectives, making the story deeply immersive and emotionally engaging.
However, despite its strengths, The Shadow Bride can be quite confusing if read on its own. The plot heavily relies on the events of The Scarlet Veil, which establishes the characters, world, and conflicts. Without that background, it is difficult to follow certain developments or understand the emotional weight behind the characters’ actions. The pacing can also feel intense at times, with many revelations and emotional shifts occurring in quick succession.
Overall, The Shadow Bride is a beautifully written and emotionally charged conclusion to Mahurin’s duology. Her storytelling and character depth are remarkable, and her ability to blend fantasy, romance, and tension makes the novel stand out. However, it is not a book that can be fully appreciated without reading its predecessor first. I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoy dark fantasy and character-driven stories, as long as they begin with The Scarlet Veil to truly understand and enjoy the journey.
Rating: 3/5
Shubhrang (Student)
Childish by Morris Gleitzman
Penguin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761343759. (Age:Yr4-8 Middle School, Age 8+) Very highly recommended.
Arkie’s opening thoughts are of the new sensory delights he’s rapidly come to appreciate at the local Chinese takeaway - owned by his new best friend’s family. Arkie is a self-reliant 11 yr old country kid living temporarily with his Nan while his parents try to sell their drought-stricken farm. But chaos greets him when ordering dinner for he and Nan.
Dot’s badly injured on the restaurant delivery bike and while Mr & Mrs Chen and Phyllis race to the hospital, Mr Liu the cook, holds the fort. Arkie helps by going to retrieve the bike. Morris Gleitzmann uses Dot’s traffic accident in Chapter 1 to introduce us to the narrator and so many of the characters in the book.
While Mr Liu prepares Nan and Arkie’s order, Arkie notices a dangerous flaw in the local roads including one near the crumpled bike. He will learn that challenging his local government and several other departments is a convoluted bureaucratic barrier. How will they stop being childish, and share responsibility to coordinate repairs to unsafe roads that endanger the community? The hopeless lack of interoperability means several attempts at advocacy but his whole school is behind Arkie, Dot and the Chen’s.
The timeless and particularly Australian themes are as prolific as our giggles when unpacking any Gleitzman’s book – each one capable of sustaining meaty classroom discussions. Childish is no different as Gleitzman weaves an amusing yet plausible narrative based on the premise that kids can fix anything – a hook which has dominated children’s books for centuries. Arkie and Dot have the determination and growth mindset to tackle any problem step-by- step and see it through, proving that children are often not childish or in fact the only childish characters.
A delightful tale of a child overcoming his misgivings at having to dance at his auntie’s wedding, while also shining a light on the customs of the Samoan community. Many Samoans live in New Zealand and Australia, as well as other countries around the world. Keeping their customs alive is a large part of their socialising, and here a wedding takes central stage.
The wonderfully bright illustrations showcase many of the customs of the Samoan community, and eager eyes will seek out these differences to weddings we know. Filo’s house is being transformed into a wedding venue with every pair of hands working to put up garlands of flowers, setting tables for the feast, while Filo and his cousins practise their part in the ceremony: presenting the siva fa’ataupati, a dance which emulates killing mosquitoes. But this is the first time Filo has been old enough to be part of the performance. The group has been practising for two weeks, but Filo keeps having butterflies in his stomach. He asks his father who tells him that he had butterflies before the first time he danced, as did his grandma. But when his auntie walks down the aisle, he has butterflies. Then when Aunt Rosie and Aunty Eve say their special vowels, he has even more.
They throw petals over the women, and everyone sits down to eat, until the time comes for Filo and the others to dance. The children dress in their special necklaces, and have makeup put on their faces. The butterflies are everywhere, but Dad gives Filo the thumbs up. The group stamp their feet, slap their thighs and work together to present their dance. When the dance is finished then the whole wedding party joins in. Filo’s butterflies have all flown away.
This delightful tale about courage and sharing concerns, will appeal to younger readers as they learn about Samoan customs as Filo learns to suppress his concerns about doing something for the first time.
Crimson Velvet Heart is an unusual, perplexing and enigmatic novel to describe. While it is a story that imagines the life of Princess Marie-Adelaide of Savoy, a shadowy historical figure, it is unusual for an historical novel because it leaves a kind of shimmering and visceral after-taste - even a bad taste in the mouth... The book has been described variously as "visionary", "astounding" and "extraordinary" and these descriptors are apt.
Carmel Bird is a multi award-winning Australian writer (three times short-listed for the Miles Franklin award and winner of the Patrick White Literary Award). In Crimson Velvet Heart she has wrought, out of the mists of time, a story about the mother of King Louis XV that is both imaginative, grounded in research, conveying love and devotion and somehow delivering an atmospheric power that is quite hard to describe. Partly this may be due to the oddness of the narrative voice. In part, the story is told through the voice of one of the sisters in the convent of Sainte Odile in Paris. As Bird tells us, "Her name is Clare, and she believes herself to be chosen by God to document the life of Princess Adelaide of Savoy." Sister Clare begins her story at its end, four years after the death of Adelaide..."The good sister is a most trustworthy storyteller," states Bird. Sister Clare calls Marie-Adelaide "her dearest childhod friend"... They spent their childhood together at the college of Saint-Cyr. Despite Marie-Adelaide's capricious nature (which could be described as extremely manipulative and very cruel at times) Clare remains a staunch defender.
War is a constant background to the human story. The young princess was married to secure strategic alliances between countries and to provide a male heir. This was Adelaide's lot. The hardship of multiple pregnancies and still births and loss are par for the course. Court gossip is vicious, behaviour is debauched and alliances are shaky. Adelaide appears to play a strategic game herself but she is enigmatic. She wears a mask. A parallel love story exists for Clare the narrator - a tale of love and loss and behind that tale is the struggle between Catholicism and Protestantism. Another underlying influence running throughout the story is the telling of folk tales and fables including the tales of Charles Perrault. Parallels can be drawn between these stories and the court lives of the protagonists. Clare keeps a crimson, heart-shaped velvet pincushion and in it she places a pin for every time she prays for her love just as the old queen's pincushion marked every Protestant conversion. The kestrel is a motif that throughout the story seems to represent the freedom that these women do not have.
The young princess lives in a gilded palace. The thrilling and delightful Versailles with its Hall of Mirrors and enormous menageries and gardens and the constant round of royal parties is a luxurious backdrop, yet poverty is rife, war decimates the population and disease and filth are barely masked by perfumes. Adelaide herself has a mouthful of rotten teeth and Louis IV has a hideous fistula connecting his mouth to his nose. Medicine and dentistry were at a primitive stage.
Crimson Velvet Heart is an interesting book which leaves us with many questions. Some are very big questions. Was Adelaide a spy - born and trained to be as slippery as her father Victor Amadeus of Savoy? What was the nature of the relationship between Adelaide and Louis IVth? Much is insinuated... the story ends with a very strange dream. What is Bird suggesting really happened?
Bird brings grotesque and magnificent 17th century France to life and places her protagonists within the historical events in this time of dynastic, religious and imperial war. Intrigue within and bloodthirsty fighting outside are rife as Louis XIV aims to expand French territory across Europe. The constant warfare subjects his people to poverty whilst he maintains a lavish lifestyle. On his deathbed he tells his heir..."I have loved war too well; do not copy me in this, nor in the lavish expenditures I have made." Carmel Bird places this (in part) as an epigraph in the front matter.
At the back of the book, a list of the historical characters accompanied by their birth and death dates and principal relationships and roles is included. A timeline from 1140CE - the birth of Peter Waldo, known as the first Protestant to 1719CE - the death of Madam de Maintenon (the secret wife of Louis 1V) is included. An extensive list of sources is testimony to the extent of Carmel Bird's research.
Crimson Velvet Heart is recommended for those who enjoy books about the lives of historical figures that are both literary and imaginative and underpinned by historical research.
Themes 17th century France, Louis X1V, Princess Marie-Adelaide mother of Louis XV.
Wendy Jeffrey
Immortal consequences by I.V. Marie
Electric Monkey, 2025. ISBN: 9780008694203. (Age:16+)
Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie is a dark academia fantasy book in a boarding school that’s situated somewhere between life and death, where six students compete in a dangerous competition known as the Decennial for a chance to leave purgatory and ascend to a new life. Marie beautifully captures the moody, mysterious and eerie vibe of what dark academia is, paired with wonderfully haunting moments that further draw you into the book. The main themes throughout this book includes identity, ambition and power, as every character is fighting for their chance to ascend no matter the costs while also battling with the past memories of themselves and battling who they were and who they want to become. While the storyline and premise of the book kept me engaged, throughout reading it felt as though there were fragments missing as the world-building seemed incomplete, making it hard to fully grasp the academy’s purpose and functions of the world they are in. The romance element was also a bit weak as it was obvious which characters would end up together, so there wasn’t much chemistry or build-up throughout the book in the making of these relationships. However, it was an interesting book to read, it kept me engaged in the sense that it does keep you on your toes especially in the beginning and towards the end as there are scenes filled with tension and makes the reader wonder what’s going to happen. This book it best suited for readers 16+, as it deals with some violence, emotional trauma and mature undertones.
Rojda Z. (Student)
The girl and the ghost: Family secrets by Jacqueline Harvey
French chateaus, a first kiss, friends and cave paintings all combine with a ghostly touch in the second book in The Girl and the Ghost series. I loved the first book in the series, and this is equally delightful. Josephine (aka Jet) is feeling more at home in her new surroundings in France. The chateau she lives in has progressed in its restoration and she is looking forward to a visit from her friend Harriet (aka Hat) - but will Hat be able to communicate with Jet’s friend, the ghost Louis? Jet and Gabriel are also acknowledged for their solving of the art mystery from book 1 in the series. Her growing connection to Gabriel is giving her tingles. Her desire to find out more about her late mother also sets her on a strange path into the past. And Louis, the late Dauphin Prince, is joined by another mysterious figure from French history. And all the time it seems that the threats to their lives have not disappeared.
Jacqueline Harvey has written a gentle mystery set within the wonders of French life and history. It also includes the naive delight of the coming-of-age growth of Jet and Gabriel. The ghosts are never scary, and their existence has unusual rules that are delightfully fascinating. I love Jacqueline Harvey’s ability to craft a story that is intelligent and mysterious but also totally appropriate for a pre-teen or early teen audience, with the introduction of a growing romance meaning the series can appeal to readers beyond pre-teen years and avoids the worst of teen angst. (A healthy relationship with a step-parent is also a pleasure to read.)
Themes French history, Ghosts, Family, Friendship, Mystery, First romance, Pre-historic art, Palace of Versailles.
Carolyn Hull
My story, Our Country by Ryhia Dank
Harper by Design, 2025. ISBN: 9781460765531. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
“Our most important book is our Country. Our stories live in the land, which is why our lands are sacred.”
Gudanji/Wakaja artist and author Ryhia Dank has created a vibrant and engaging picture book of First Nations history and culture by reflecting and sharing her own family story. The bright blue cover with the depiction of a river flowing through, references the big songline and importance of water for the Gudanji family. This river image continues throughout the book but there are also contemporary influences in the artwork alluding to the present day and in the words of Ryhia Dank… “It’s a way of showing that our stories are ongoing and still alive.”
The narrative of this gentle book flows smoothly beginning with the meaning of stories and how in the old days when there was no paper or books, First Nations people used ceremony, rock carvings, drew patterns in the sand, painted cave walls and sheets of bark to pass on their stories. For Ryhia and her family living with Country and how it is taken care and what can be learnt from it, is of vital importance. While many stories are shared of past times, the book also talks about the present and how to look after Country for the future.
My Story, Our Country is a significant book to share with younger students about First Nations history and culture. A valuable resource for a school or public library.
After reading The Very Stinky Fly Hunt, you may rethink how you feel about those pesky annoying insects. This fabulous light-hearted story is a treasure trove of simple facts shared in an entertaining story full of poo and places to find it. The topic of bodily functions is always a great hook for young readers and is the perfect way to engage the audience with important new information.
This story is written about Dr Keith Bayliss a dipterist who studies Australia’s flies at CSIRO’s Australian National Insect Collection in Canberra. There are over 25,000 fly species in Australia but fewer than 7,000 of those have been named scientifically. This is Keith’s job. To find out everything he can about flies and in this particular book, Keith is researching the Clisa australis, a unique fly that eats poo. His journey to find this elusive fly takes him to many different environments both inside and out. He sets up special traps, chases flies with nets and visits pit toilets in national parks. At first he does not have any luck but eventually traps one in a rainforest.
Throughout this book there is an opportunity for children to learn new facts, follow Keith’s journey, think about the questions Keith is always asking himself and perhaps change their mind about the value and benefit of flies in our daily lives. The appealing full page colour illustrations complement the well-spaced text and add visual interest to this highly engaging factual story.
In the final pages there is further information about Dr Keith Bayliss, Searching for the Clisa australis, a glossary, and the equipment needed by a dipterist.
