“Pollution happens when we use too much of something, throwing things out of balance. …light pollution, or night pollution, happens when we use too much artificial light at night…” pg 5
Lights Out: Saving the Night Sky is a fascinating read that will open the eyes of many children and adults. The book begins with a Contents page and a well written Introduction where the author gives an accessible explanation of light pollution and its effects on nature, how the night sky has been used for centuries, plus the relatively simple answer to correcting the problem. This is followed by eight chapters beginning with Chapter 1 What is light? and ending with Chapter 8 What’s the light pollution solution? In the final pages are a glossary and index.
As this book is targeted towards middle to upper primary/early secondary students, each chapter has plenty of ‘white space’, bold headings, blocks of information with colourful photos, diagrams and images all clearly labelled. The information revealed is enlightening, relevant and at times, with a touch of humour to appeal to its audience. For example, written underneath the graphic image of a superhero is ‘Light is an energetic superhero …’ and later in the book our superhero returns in a ‘Lights, camera, action’ page sharing information about how we use artificial light.
The effects of light pollution on Australian wildlife are vast. Light during the night changes the routines of many creatures and how they look after their young as so many animals are nocturnal and come out at night. Others are crepuscular and thrive during twilight with the kookaburra laughing loudest at sunrise and sunset. Once these creatures are affected by bright lights for 24 hours, their life rhythms are impacted upon. Insects, bats, turtles, penguins plus many others are all at risk of continuing light pollution.
In the final chapter, the author offers a number of solutions - the first one being ‘Turn off the lights!’
But she goes further and mentions dark-sky sensitive lighting, creating dark-sky havens for wildlife, smart lighting for our streets. The Teacher Notes that accompany this book are vitally important to read and use in tandem with the text Lights Out, Marnie Ogg, 9781486319558 They give further insight into the topic as well as some excellent activities to use with students.
Kathryn Beilby
Reviewer Foot Note: As a regular nonfiction book reviewer, I am fortunate to read about ideas and issues that perhaps I have not considered before. Before I began reading Lights Out: Saving the Night Sky, I discovered that author Marnie Ogg … ‘is a dedicated dark sky advocate, raising awareness on light pollution’s impact on wildlife, human health and the environment. Founder of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance, her efforts helped create Australia’s first Dark Sky Park and Urban Night Sky Place. Twice honoured by Dark Sky International, Marnie also successfully led a Guinness World Records campaign to measure light pollution globally.’ This was new reading for me and I was keen to find out more. Further info can also be found at Discover Night Skies | Tours & Insights by Dark Sky Traveller & About Marnie Ogg - Dark Sky Tourism Expert
Themes Night Sky, Light, Light Pollution, Science, Conservation, STEM, Wildlife, Health & Wellbeing.
Leia Ham is a Singaporean author-illustrator and visual development artist now based in Los Angeles. This illustrated novel is her debut work, and is book one of the new Sparrow Xia series.
Sparrow is 12 years old and lives in a world where magic is essential, but only children have the power to use it. At some stage during childhood each child manifests their own unique power and is then sent away to study and hone their craft.
This is the first year that Sparrow is joining her big brother, Ainsley, at the Zenith Academy for Magical Development. But as family-favourite Ainsley strides confidently into his 2nd year at Zenith, wielding strong magic, Sparrow’s power is weak and she is apprehensive about what lies ahead.
Soon the strongest apprentice mages start falling ill, with their powers depleted. Sparrow is very worried Ainsley will be next and joins forces with new friends to investigate.
This story is magical and mysterious, but includes realism in the form of relationships and emotions that readers will feel. Most siblings know what it’s like to sometimes feel like you are the disappointing one who needs to live up to expectations. And most kids know how hard it is to fit in somewhere new, make friends and learn new things (including about themselves).
A key aspect of this novel is the illustrations. They are on every page - from vines down the side of a page right through to double-page spreads. The illustrations are anime-inspired and provide extra information to enhance the story, while also absolutely hooking the more reluctant readers.
This is a perfect next read for fans of the Nevermoor, Amari, or Wings of Fire series.
Themes Magic, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Power, Mystery, Fantasy.
Wonderfully funny illustrations support this hilarious text about a turtle who falls into a hole.
Embarrassed, she lies on her back when two other turtles look in and offer help. Initially she refutes their help, but one looks into the hole and tells her that she too had fallen down a hole, and her friend helped her out. A connection between them is formed. Now something could be done. Readers will love providing possible ways to get the turtle out of her hole, sympathising with the little animal pulling her legs under her shell, lying miserably at the bottom of the hole. When it starts to rain, the turtle is waiting for the two rescuers to do something as the water pools at the bottom of the hole. Readers will understand that the turtle is anxious about the water, and wonder along with the turtle, how the two can get her out. Astute readers will see the rising water level in the hole and predict what the turtle’s solution might be. The rain answers her problem and they are reunited again. But then another turtle falls in. This time our turtle offers help, just as the two who rescued her offered their help.
A chain of good Samaritans is forged, one good deed pre-empting another. Children will love discussing what they can do to help their classmates and friends when it is needed. The illustrations are hilarious, showing an aggrieved turtle at first almost resenting the offer of help. She does not want to talk about it is her response to the two turtles above ground. But her body language shows the readers how distressed she is, wonderfully shown as she falls down, a wide eyed look on her face, limbs akimbo.
This is a great tale to initiate discussion about helping others, being a good Samaritan and a good citizen. The illustrations support the sparse language beautifully, the looks on their faces reflecting the range of emotions felt by someone in need and those who help.
Themes Helping, Turtles, Volunteers, Humour.
Fran Knight
A hat for every Harriet by Jess Horn. Illus. by Zoë Bennett
Jess Horn's website says she writes "stories that celebrate imagination, inclusion and the wonderfully different ways we see and experience the world". Her debut picture book Bernie thinks in boxes was a CBCA Notable in 2025. This new picture book continues Horn's unique exploration of neurodiversity and inclusion for children.
Harriet instinctively feels that she needs to be a different Harriet for each situation she comes across, so she wears lots of different hats. She has a hat for Following, a Calm Down hat, a cone-shaped Get-To-The-Point hat and many more.
She manages her emotions by choosing just the right hat, and this helps her stay in control and know what to expect. But when her class decorates the school hall Harriet has too many jobs and too many hats, and becomes overwhelmed.
Her friend Bernie suggests she doesn't need to be anyone but herself. This idea is confusing to Harriet - who even is she without the hats? What will happen? Will anyone notice? She takes a breath and joins her class as Just Harriet.
This is a gorgeous book about just being yourself. It has a gentle humour and positivity to it, with so many opportunities to pause and talk to young children about the story. There are fabulous teacher notes available too, covering themes, concepts, rich vocabulary, questions, and creative responses.
Perfect for adding to a reading list on wellbeing or social-emotional learning for pre-schoolers through to Year 3 or 4.
Themes Identity, Belonging, Friendship, Emotions.
Kylie Grant
Five voices by Tamara Moss
Allen & Unwin, 2026. ISBN: 9781761182761. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
Five Voices is an engaging, addictive new entry to the YA whodunnit genre. A group of five friends create a popular podcast that involves them playing board games while discussing controversial topics and debating them. After the podcast’s members are doxxed, one of the group is found dead. The other members try to unravel the mystery of how their friend died, while their friendships are fractured in various ways. What makes this mystery novel great is the strong coming-of-age story amongst the mystery, with several characters feeling realistic in a novel that feels quintessentially Australian slice of life in its descriptions.
Tamara Moss does a great job of weaving the mystery elements through a coming-of-age story about Australian young adults finishing Year 12, discovering their identity and starting their adult lives, giving the story some emotional heart. The four main characters are diverse and distinct from one another, with time taken to develop their individual storylines to make them engaging and sympathetic characters. One of the most interesting elements is the dynamics of the characters’ relationships and how different characters navigate complex familial and friend relationships throughout the novel. The author has thoughtful things to say about difficult topics including parental abandonment, self-harm, bullying and parasocial relationships. These topics are discussed in an empathetic way from multiple characters’ perspectives, giving them depth and nuance.
Using shifting points of view as the narration, podcast transcripts are used between chapters to great effect, that provide greater understanding to the mystery element and the dynamics of the podcast members. The novel is engaging and easy to binge, with plenty end of chapter cliffhangers that make you want to keep reading. A highly recommended young adult thriller for teenagers and adults alike.
Allen & Unwin, 2026. ISBN: 9781761182303. (Age:11-15) Highly recommended.
Basketball is the game that bonds Harry and his Dad together like glue. Harry dreams of one day making elite teams on the international stage, but in the meantime he is training hard to make the try-outs for the Firsts - the best team at his school. But a tragic accident and the loss of his Dad upends Harry’s life, and everything spins out of control for a while. Every part of basketball reminds Harry of his Dad and he misses him deeply. A new team for Harry is a route to a return to the game (although without his best mate) but even here Harry must learn new ways to play that might honour his Dad.
This is a very moving book. Great grief combined with basketball is a sombre but powerful combination. Dealing with a death in a loving family has many levels of pain, and this book plumbs those depths, but in a way that encourages, and hopefully promotes empathy and understanding. Male readers aged 11-15 will connect with the basketball story and the desire to excel, but there is opportunity to gain insight into relationships marked by grief and the tragedy of loss. Even best friends can be hurt in the aftermath. The carefully drawn comparison between a ‘hard nut’ coach and a gentler encourager is also powerful for sports enthusiasts. A connection with a girl who also understands the loss of a parent (outside the Counsellor’s room) is also important in Harry’s growth. This was a stirring book, and I loved its ability to weave joyfully and strongly across the basketball court, as well as address the sadness of grief.
Themes Basketball, Grief, Family, Friends.
Carolyn Hull
Really Rubie: A diary by Maddie Frost
Walker Books, 2026. ISBN: 9781529534078. (Age:9-11) Recommended for reluctant readers.
Rubie is not always filled with confidence, but her friendship with Riley gives her the boost she needs at school. And knowing that Riley will be with her gives her the confidence to face Summer Camp for a whole month. But at the last minute, Riley breaks an ankle and Rubie must face camp on her own. Can she survive solitude and embarrassment when everyone else seems to be connected and confident? Fortunately for Rubie she finds a Riley-like replacement in Eliza, but in doing so she also breaks promises she made to Riley. Growing up, maturing and finding confidence in independence is all part of Rubie’s Summer Camp experience.
This is a story for girls in the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries, with naive and comic illustrations and a very light-hearted diary-style narrative from the perspective of a pre-teen. It has an uncomplicated plot centred around the USA cultural experience of Summer Camp. Breaking promises and a ‘first kiss’ for the naive central character create complications. There is perhaps a slight discord between the innocence of the Year 5 characters and their naivety in friendship, and the burgeoning ‘romance interest’ and their obsession with makeup and fashion, but this is a USA story, so perhaps this different cultural background explains this slight discomfort. This is still a gentle and humorous story that young readers aged 9-11 will enjoy. The central character enjoys creating graphic-novel style art and eventually attempts new things. Her camp experience does give her opportunity for personal growth, so there are hints for readers about maturing through challenges.
Themes Childhood, friendship, US Summer camp, Confidence, Art, Promises.
Carolyn Hull
Fussy Duck by Luke Newell
Scholastic, 2026. ISBN: 9781761725838. (Age:3+)
Frog is in a dither trying to solve the problem posed by his first customer, Fussy Duck. Frog offers an array of delicious food, all of which are rejected. He then offers an array of music, again rejected. Duck is his first customer, so Frog wants to make an indelible impression, but he is hampered at all points by Duck’s fussiness. Even toys and books are rejected.
Told in rhyming pairs of lines, readers will have great fun predicting the rhyming word, and trying to work out how Frog can tempt Duck. And rejecting food, music, games and a different venue, see Frog about to explode.
But then the thing wanted by the Fussy Duck is revealed, causing everyone to laugh with relief. He is not a Fussy Duck but a kind considerate Duck watching over his ducklings.
Readers will love looking at the things offered by Frog, wondering why they are all rejected, feeling pleased when the reason Duck is so fussy is revealed. Readers will applaud the Duck and his concern for his offspring, supporting the theme of parenthood being discussed with them.
Cute illustrations support the text, encouraging young readers to look more closely at the detail on each page. Some of the efforts made by Frog are revisited on the last endpaper, recalling for readers the laughs they have had while reading.
A lovely read aloud, sure to be a crowd pleaser, encouraging discussion not only about food and games but the roles we all play in our lives.
First published October 1, 1982, The blue sword, Newbery Medal Honour Book, an ALA Notable Book and An ALA Best Book for Young Adults is still in print after many years. It is one of my favourite fantasy books, one that I revisit every year, particularly when I need a well written, feel-good story with great characters, a wonderful setting and a fight between good and evil.
Harry Crewe is an orphan who arrives to live in Damar where her brother is stationed with a military contingent. The Free Hillfolk inhabit the mountains and are rarely seen, until Corleth, their King comes to ask for help to repeal a horde that is threatening their borders. This help is refused by the General in charge, but Corleth has recognised that Harry is special and takes her to his kingdom where she is destined to wield the legendary Blue Sword, Gonturan, Dragon killer, and train to be an elite Rider.
The blue sword is set in what closely represents colonial India in the 19th century. Harry is living with Sir Charles and Lady Amelia and trying very hard to fit in. She is used to managing her father’s estate, but as a woman, did not inherit on his death, instead she is desperately trying to hide her feeling of inadequaqcy, with only social activities to fill her time. When she arrives in Corleth’s kingdom she begins to realise that in her background is a link to the Hillfolk and that she has a vital part to play in its defence. Harry is a stalwart character, brave and loyal, but able to act on what she believes is important.
Readers will revel in the story of a young woman who once tried to fit a British ideal of feminine behaviour, coming into her own, learning to ride and fight as an elite warrior. Her gradual acceptance into the group of King’s Riders, a slow burning romance and some gripping battle scenes will keep the reader turning the pages.
People aged 10+ to adult who enjoy fantasy books will want to pick The blue sword up if they haven’t read it and anyone who likes a romantasy will be happy to find a fantasy that is memorable, one which I believe outclasses many others on the market. An essential novel for the fantasy collection in all libraries as is the companion volume, Newbery Medal winner, The hero and the crown.
Themes Fantasy, Quests.
Pat Pledger
Latitude: A World Atlas from North to South by Philip Parker. llus. by Bill Bragg
Latitude: A World Atlas from North to South written by British author, historian and respected researcher Philip Parker, is a valuable addition to books about mapping for younger readers.
Set out succinctly with bold headings, accessible text, maps, labelled illustrations, diagrams and images, this informative non-fiction picture book is the perfect introduction for familiarising children with the concept of lines of latitude. With a thoughtful Publisher’s Note and an enlightening introduction, both young and old will be captivated by the snapshots of information shared throughout this engaging read.
The World Map and Key & Table of Contents clearly show the ten lines of latitude showcased in the text. Beginning with Zone One: Latitudes 90°00’ to 66°33’ North: The Arctic and ending with Zone 10: Latitudes 66°33’ to 90°00’ South: The Antarctic, each carefully constructed double page spread is full of interesting and entertaining facts complemented by striking pen and ink images. For example, Zone Two: Latitudes 66°33’ to 47°34’ North: The Far North considers that "...this region has an age old tradition of storytelling through long cold winter nights…" and included in the list of three children’s writers are Astrid Lindgren, Brothers Gimm and Hans Christian Andersen.
Australia features in Zone Seven: Latitudes 0° to 23°26’: Tropic of Capricorn where Galarrwuy Yunupingu is mentioned as well as the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef. Also in Zone Eight: Latitudes 23°26’ to 44°00’: South of the Tropics there are brief facts about two sacred sites: Burringurrah and Uluru. Many of the featured landscapes, people or places of interest in each of the latitudinal zones are numbered and highlighted on a detailed map to enable readers to pinpoint exactly where they can be found.
This absorbing book would be an ideal gift for a child who is fascinated by maps, as well as being a wonderful resource for a classroom, school or public library.
Simon & Schuster, 2026. ISBN: 9781761827501. (Age:14-18) Recommended for YA Romance readers.
Finley is on the cusp of something new - graduation and college. What she doesn’t expect is that there are many new unexpected things ahead. Her relationship with Colin (the perfect boyfriend), and her connection to her normally cool and distant mother are about to be hit by a tornado of change. Her experience has for many years been in the seasonal warmth and security of life with her dad and stepmother and their younger children, her mother an occasional cool-change interruption to this normality. But a post-graduation trip with her mother, at the same time as Colin’s connection is broken, creates a whirlpool of change and inserts her into a family history and family circle that she knew nothing about. An unexpected holiday job, friendship connections and even a new romance are suddenly thrust into her world. But more than that she also comes to understand her mother, just as her mother needs her most. But is starting afresh, reconnecting when connections have been coldly broken, or even finding your place in life going to be easy for Finley, or will it all be dismantled in a moment?
This is a YA romance story that will appeal to readers aged 14-18. There is a romantic overlay to a USA-flavoured story of life within a complex family scenario. Relationships broken, repaired, altered and possible are all happening while a family home is being packed up and memories stored. The new romance for Finley happens within the context of her grief over a lost romance. There is a syrupy quality to this story, but for those who like ‘honey-flavoured’ storylines (although in this case it would be hummingbird food) and finding a route through the treacle of teen romance and family drama - this is for you. There are other dramatic back stories for other characters that reveal that emotional challenges are not just Finley’s personal property. Also, expect a few intriguing characters, an insight into a holiday location, a busy cafe scenario and corporate takeovers in a lakeside location!
Themes Romance, YA, love - lost and gained, Family, Relationships - new and old, Cancer.
Carolyn Hull
You belong by Liv Downing. Illus. by Mel Matthews
Albert Street Books, 2026. ISBN: 9781761181702. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
Step into a world of wonder with the beautifully crafted large board book, You Belong. Perfectly written by Liv Downing and complemented with creative illustrations by Mel Matthews it is a captivating read. This die-cut book invites young readers to look through the holes in each page, and experience a magical 3D, layered illusion of depth. Every turn of the page offers a new perspective, encouraging children to pause, explore and appreciate the world around them.
At its heart, this gentle and thoughtful story is about belonging, connecting and sharing the same wonderful world. It celebrates the idea of people sharing commonalities and encourages readers to feel peace and harmony; recognising that connecting with others will support our wellbeing.
Liv Downing’s short and beautifully written words create a sense of mindfulness, gentleness and kindness; inviting audiences of all ages to slow down and reflect. The story provides a wonderful opportunity to talk about respecting others, connecting and caring for our environment and appreciating the small wonders of everyday life. It gently reminds us that when we show kindness and care, we help create a world where everyone can belong together in harmony.
Mel Matthews’ illustrations are colourful, comforting and captivating, enticing readers to pause and look deeply. Each page is thoughtfully designed, with the die-cut layers creating a magical, layered illusion of depth and encouraging children to pause, wonder and appreciate the beauty of the world around them. The combination of the peaceful artwork and carefully chosen words create a calm and mindful reading experience that encourages curiosity, connection and wellbeing.
A wonderfully crafted book that is sure to become a treasured addition to any home, classroom or library collection. Filled with warmth, wonder and a meaningful message about belonging, it offers a gentle reminder that we are all part of something bigger, and that kindness, care and connection help us thrive in our world.
Themes Connection, Belonging, Our World, Respect.
Michelle O'Connell
Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2027 by Guinness World Records
2026. ISBN: 9781806500369. (Age:8+) Recommended.
Every person, both child and adult, who likes gaming is sure to become engaged as they flick through the Gamer’s edition of the Guinness World Records. Introduced by Max Baker, the youngest videogame developer (male), the book shows what can happen when passions are followed. The contents pages lists an Introduction, and How to be a Record Breaker, News, and goes continent by continent with information about record breaking in different countries. There is also a section on MVP, Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Product.
I am not a gamer, but I was fascinated to read about Cosplay and all the different games from Mario and Link to Minecraft and Fortnite. Each time I opened the book I was intrigued by the fabulous photos and had to stop and read about different record holders and games. The local hero sections held my attention and I loved reading about young and old people who held records, like teen Romanian Horia Pachitj who has the fastest time to build a castle in Minecraft and the oldest streamer, Yang Binglin aged 89.
With stunning photography and mind-blowing records, this is a book that will be enjoyed as one to flick through and enjoy the trivia and facts, and one that could encourage gamers to think about setting their own records.
Themes Gaming, Encyclopedias.
Pat Pledger
The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon
Simon & Schuster, 2026. ISBN: 9781761429651. (Age:16+) Highly recommended.
Maiden. Mother. Matriarch. Lawhon takes the three stages of her protagonist’s life as the way to structure her novel, with episodes from each, followed by another three episodes, and so on. It becomes a way to build intrigue, with each episode leaving the reader charged to read the next three timeframes to find out what happened next. The downside is that there is sometimes confusion between eras as the reader has to maintain recollection of the three strands moving forward. An alternative, suggested by the author herself, is to read all of the Maiden chapters, then the Mother chapters, then the Matriarch, an assurance that they do in fact all work sequentially.
It is an interesting way to present the extended saga of Grace O’Malley’s life, a notorious pirate queen in sixteenth-century Irish history. Known to the Irish as Grainne Ni Mhaillem she defied convention and assumed command of her father’s ‘privateering’ business, making regular trading visits to Spain and resisting English conquest.
A poignant moment in the novel is when chieftain Eoin O’Malley has to come to terms with the realisation that his first-born son, the gentle Donal, has no heart for the sea, and it is his daughter Grainne, the girl who defiantly cuts off her long hair plait, who has the determination and courage to become his successor. She becomes a fearsome ship’s captain, uniter of clans, and leader of Irish rebellion against English rule.
Lawhon describes an era when children in adolescence were sent into ‘fosterage’ in a strategic placement with another family, an educative process to prepare them for adulthood. Girls especially were pawns in clan alliances. At age sixteen, against her will, Grace O’Malley entered an arranged marriage to strengthen allegiances. She endured domestic violence, yet she managed to assert her independence and defy convention to go on to become a fierce sea-faring leader, winning the loyalty and respect of her male crew. She is renowned for giving birth at sea, only to then stand on deck to rally her men against pirate attack. She also gained audience with Queen Elizabeth I in order to argue for the release of her imprisoned son, regain her stolen lands and continue her career at sea.
The story of Grace o’Malley is one easily buried and forgotten in the annals of history, only occasionally remembered in Irish folklore; so readers owe a debt of gratitude to Ariel Lawhon for her research, bringing to life a heroine who deserves recognition for her achievements, and presenting her story in all its complexity.
Duck, Mouse and Dog are alarmed that the humans in Redhill are being brainwashed by something called a podcast. They are also flocking to a new shop, owned by a mysterious man named Eon, “The Coffee Dome” which seems to be dispensing addictive drinks. To warn everyone of the danger Duck and his sidekick Mouse have taken over the local community radio station and are broadcasting Animal Hour, but no one has noticed. The humans are all connected to the podcast through their phones and earphones. To solve the problem Duck collects up all the unused radios from Redhill houses and distributes them to the animals. Still struggling for an audience, they come up with the idea of talkback radio and encourage the animals to take over the unused phone boxes in town and suddenly they are dealing with a lovesick cat, an overthinking dog, and an overwhelmed bunniemum whose bunnies all want their own devices. Eventually the animals do band together to save the humans from themselves, quoting the animal creed which includes ‘Survival belongs to the fittest, but we help the unfit too”.
This is the second in the new Duck series and fans will recognise Duck as the sidekick in the Funny Kid books. Here there is a three-panel comic strip on each page, breaking up the text into manageable chunks for developing readers and adding an extra dimension to the story. There are lots of sayings to look for “like water off a duck’s back”, “kill two birds with one stone” and great jokes that can be enjoyed by all ages. My ten-year-old grandson particularly liked the cartoon strips as they didn’t just illustrate the story, and he has reserved the first book in the series from the library.
