Just in time for this year’s CBCA 2025 Book Week Theme: Book An Adventure, this glorious new picture book from talented SA author and poet Kristin Martin, will delight both children and adults. Beginning and ending with endpapers silhouetting childhood friends against a setting sun, this adventurous and playful story will provide reminders of those long summer holidays spent outdoors where time had no routine.
The poetic rhyming verse is skilfully constructed and floats across as the pages as the children follow their imaginations and joyfully engage with each other. The clever use of bold and larger text to place emphasis on key words provides an opportunity to introduce new concepts and vocabulary for younger readers.
The softly muted pastel illustrations by Nicky Johnston are full of life and capture beautifully the friendship and the fun the children experience. The energy and vitality that these young friends display and their creative thoughts and play will hopefully encourage other children to head outside and enjoy time outdoors.
Where Shall We Travel Today? is a wonderful read aloud and definitely deserves a place in public and primary school libraries.
Morris and the magic of stories by Didier Lévy & Lorenzo Sangió
Thames & Hudson, 2023. ISBN: 9780500653258.
Morris the cat's favourite food was mice, but he was tired of having to run around all day to hunt them. He decided it would be much better if he were to lure them to him by reading them stories, just like magic. But no matter what story he chose - sad, funny, boring - he and the mice got so involved in it that when it ended, he was no longer hungry and the mice sauntered off, safe. Just like magic.
Morris even tried writing his own story - but after many attempts at trying to make one up, he decided he wasn't a story teller at all. But when he shared his own story about a cat who tried to catch mice by reading to them and who, as usual, came to listen, he found that he couldn't eat them after all. They had all become friends through the magic of stories.
Was Morris going to starve? Or did the mice have a surprise for him?
Ever since I reviewed Wolfgang and the Magic of Music and learned of this predecessor, I've been waiting for it to arrive because it seemed to be at the very essence of what we do - share the magic of stories to anyone who will listen - and I was not disappointed because it echoes my current situation. At the start of the year, I volunteered to read to the littlies at the local preschool each week so I could leave the books with them and try to shrink the piles I have collected, but now they give me more than I give them in the form of cuddles and smiles and the inevitable shout of recognition in the supermarket aisle! Love it. The magic of stories. And it spans time and space as 2,204,658 registered participants in 16 632 locations took part in ALIA's National Simultaneous Storytime last week and already excitement is mounting as CBCA Book Week approaches. And that's just in Australia!
This is one for all ages. Little ones will just love it for the story itself while those who are older can share their own stories of stories that have significance for them for whatever reason, and maybe create a display of the titles to encourage their friends to read more widely. There is the opportunity to introduce genre as they share sad, funny and boring stories, particularly in the build-up to the Book Week theme - or just celebrate the magic of the printed word that can be revisited over and over or lead you to new places altogether.
Barbara Braxton
Wolfgang and the magic of music by Didier Lévy & Lorenzo Sangio
When Wolfgang posts a notice on a big tree in the forest about wanting to start a band, he is very disappointed that no one comes to join until, just as he gives up and decides to take it down, a rabbit appears and asks to audition. Even though Wolfgang has more culinary ideas about the rabbit than musical, nevertheless he listens and rather than seeing Rex as a tasty snack, Wolfgang sees him as the perfect partner. The Big Bads group is born. They are an immediate hit, and their fans come to listen from all over the forest. And even though sometimes Wolfgang's tummy rumbles, all it takes is for Rex to start playing and the music overwhelms them.
This is a story about how the most unlikely of friendships can be formed through the shared love of something common like music or sport, that offers much food for thought for those wanting to look beyond the storyline and charming illustrations. So while little ones will enjoy identifying some of their favourite fairytale characters who make up the audience, perhaps even listening and moving to the sort of music that some of the newly-formed bands create, older readers could delve a little deeper. Why might Wolfgang have struggled to find band members? Could there be more to the Big Bad Wolf than his reputation? After all, even Little Red Riding Hood comes to listen to The Big Bads Play. Are characters, or even real people, one-dimensional? What is the meaning of "stereotype"? What can we learn about characterisation from this story that we can apply to our own?
While building connections through the universal language of music is not an uncommon theme in children's literature, and those focusing on unusual friendships even more so, stories that readily enable young writers to focus on their own storycraft are rarer and that is the real appeal of this one for me. Now I am keen to get my hands on its predecessor, Morris and the Magic of Stories.
Mark Greenwood calls himself a 'history hunter'. His author bio says he "enjoys searching for lost explorers and glittering treasure, delving into baffling mysteries and investigating famous cold cases".
He has now completed a 4-book History Hunter series which started in 2024 with The dragon's treasure and The vanishing. The final two books in this series are The wonder horse and The deadly diamond, both released in June 2025.
The History Hunter series is fabulous for middle grade readers, especially those who love a juicy story about true events!
This one is all about the famous racehorse, Phar Lap, and draws readers in immediately, as it starts with a chapter called The End, detailing the horse's tragic death at just 5 and a half years old.
Phar Lap grew from an unwanted, lanky and clumsy yearling into an inspiring success - winning 37 of his 51 races over 4 seasons. It was the Great Depression, and the people loved their new equine hero. But amid the success and love for this winning horse there were also dangers lurking, with some people prepared to go to extreme lengths to stop Phar Lap from winning.
The way this book is written is completely captivating from start to finish (yes, even for those who have no interest in horses or horse racing!). It is written in a conversational style which engages instantly, while also maintaining historical accuracy. It shares the full story behind the headlines, and includes fascinating tidbits of information, such as the superstition that resulted in Phar Lap's naming.
The final few pages of this book include extra resources: Phar Lap statistics, and a list of 'more to explore' including 12 books, 2 films, a podcast and 4 websites. There is also a sneak peek chapter of The deadly diamond - all about the Hope Diamond.
A day in this girl’s life is vividly recreated by author/illustrator, Jillian Packer, reflecting her own childhood, when she lived on a farm near Port Lincoln in South Australia. Each page exudes the warmth of the family as the girl says good morning to all the people and animals that make up her day. She must do chores with the family, helping milk the cows, collecting eggs, helping Gran with picking the fruit, and so on, until she is chore free and able to go down to the beach. What a wonderful world is here before her. She and her dog, Maggie explore the beach and the small rocks nearby, they collect shells and seaweed, say hello to the little yellow fish that swim by, acknowledge the sea anemone, pretend they are dining together and dance in the shallows. As the sun begins to disappear, and a sea breeze cools the air around, she knows it is time to return home. She retraces her steps, saying good night to all the things she saw in the morning. In the warm kitchen, tea is ready and the family sits together, talking of their day, marvelling at the little treasures the girl has brought back from the beach. The day is done, and they sit on the front veranda looking out over the sea, then off to bed, lulled by the sound of the sea nearby.
This is a beautiful homage to the power of the beach, giving a child’s view of what she finds and how she spends her day. Reflective and mesmerising, the child fills her day unaware of time passing by. She measures her time by the sun, and when it begins to disappear she knows it is time to go home. An unhurried and treasure filled day is passed by the girl and her dog.
The illustrations are wonderfully peaceful and involving. Filled with detail, kids will love picking out the things they might find at the beach and pore over the endpapers to list the things she finds.
Themes Beach, Farms, Family, Relationships, Farm animals.
Fran Knight
Book your ticket to adventure by Sarah and Emily. Illus. by Dan Nav
Sarah and Emily Authors, 2025. ISBN: 9781763534377.
There is a quote attributed to Mason Cooley that pretty much sums up this book as well as the 2025 CBCA Book Week theme - "Book an Adventure".
Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.
Using jaunty rhyme and bright illustrations, it celebrates the different places and times that a reader can visit when they pick up a book to read, making it is the ideal companion to spark reading adventures not just for this year, but whenever an escape is needed. Whether it's back in history to the battle fields of Gallipoli or forward to the future of life on other planets, or maybe somewhere in the Australian Outback or mysterious canyons in faraway places, there are adventures to be had, mysteries to solve and laughter to be shared.
It can serve as an introduction to the various genres found in primary school library collections with students encouraged to read more widely, identify the common elements of each genre and perhaps build a display of suggestions for their friends to read, but mostly it just celebrates the joy of reading and that regardless of your preferences, you will find something in the library that appeals and offers you a ticket beyond the four walls enclosing you. And even better, the ticket is free, readily available and never expires.
Barbara Braxton
How to survive 1985 by Tegan Bennett Daylight
Simon & Schuster, 2025. ISBN: 9781761429712. (Age:12+)
Written by Tegan Bennett Daylight, How To Survive 1985 is a must-read to acknowledge and appreciate how much we Australians have evolved. The book follows Shannon and her friends as they are transported back in time to 1985. The diverse group tackles issues like racism and homophobia as they search for a way to get back home. And what happens when Shannon seeks out her mum? Will she be appreciative of her future daughter’s identity? Or is the battle against conservative ideologies a long and hard one?
The book is written simply and captures how young people think and act and the values they hold close effectively. It raises awareness on present-day issues like global warming and presents the idea of unity in diversity through the various characters of different genders, backgrounds and abilities, making it suitable for young readers aged 12 and above. The use of Gen-Z slang and references to 80s pop culture also make it an endearing read for all age groups.
Readers accustomed to fast-paced, action-packed books may find the book to drag out needlessly. Several parts of the book simply exhaust the word count without adding to the plot. However, the themes and ideas conveyed by the book make it a memorable read, one that prompts reflection on how far we've come - and how far we still have to go. How To Survive 1985 is not just a time-travel tale; it’s a reminder of the importance of compassion, inclusivity, and the courage to challenge outdated norms.
Themes: Coming of age, Friendship, Time travel
Jyothika B. (Student)
The Paperbark Tree Committee by Karys McEwen
Text Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9781922790705. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
The Paperbark Tree Committee is the gentle story of Art and his younger brother Hilary, who are best friends negotiating growing up, moving house, and a dysfunctional family. Mum and dad are divorced, and dad has a new partner, Sally. When mum accepts a job overseas, Dad decides to move the boys and Sally from their home in Queensland to Melbourne as he feels a change in scenery will help with his writing.
Art starts at a new school and is targeted by the bully. He struggles to fit in and find his place and as dad is in “the writing zone” this means the only adult available is Sally who tries to help and give comfort, but Art worries she won’t stay if Dad doesn’t change his ways. The Paperbark Committee is a secret meeting place for Arty and Hilary to help sort things out but Art thinks he needs to solve his problems on his own, after all both parents are too busy to help him and Hilary has new friends and interests so Art feels that he can only rely on himself.
The story shows Art trying to cope with a range of issues, not least of which is letting other people in and asking for help which isn’t always a bad thing. However, the consequences of trying to solve big problems on your own can be worse than the issue itself.
I really enjoyed this book as it showed the problems that younger children face and the coping mechanisms they use to get through the rough patches. I think that younger readers will relate to Art and Hilary in different ways to an adult reader and feel heard as they relate to Art’s struggles and family life and see how one person’s action can have an impact on others around them.
I would highly recommend this book as a class text, read aloud or independent novel. The characters are all well developed, not all are likeable in some instances, but the author has made them work. The story is gentle but doesn’t avoid some big topics and is written in such a way that children and adults will be able to take something away from it.
It could be a useful conversation starter for readers to open up about problems or issues that they are facing. Teacher's notes are available.
This book sets the reader up as the world’s greatest detective who has been invited to Marigold Manor for the occasion of Captain Marigold’s daughter’s birthday. Unfortunately, the reader doesn’t know either of these people and upon waking in a locked room they are confronted by codes, locked doors, puzzles, hidden clues and cats! The only way to escape is to solve the mystery and prove to Captain Marigold that they are worthy of the title "World's Greatest Detective".
With 32 different possible paths to follow and a Case File list in the back of the book for the reader to track their progress, this is a book that is designed for those readers who love Escape Rooms and puzzles, although be careful because if you fail you might get trapped in the Manor forever.
The author’s experience as an intelligence analyst shines though as the reader engages in both the story and the puzzles as they try to reach a satisfactory conclusion to each storyline. Readers can move through the story without solving puzzles with a bit of back and forth, but it is much more fun to solve the mystery one page at a time.
This was such a fun book to read and one that can be picked up repeatedly as the reader chooses a different path or storyline. I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books as a young reader, but this is on a different level. This is an escape room for one with many different options for stories and endings. I loved all the puzzles, although I had to Google one of them to work it out. Not a book for a class to read together or aloud but certainly one that independent readers will enjoy and embrace.
Themes Mystery, Choose Your Own Adventure, Codes, Puzzles, Detectives.
Mhairi Alcorn
The war within me by Tracy Ryan
Transit Lounge, 2025. ISBN: 9781923023390. (Age:Adult, young adult)
Jeanne de Navarre, daughter of the King of Navarre, may be only twelve in 1541, but her royal connections make her a prime candidate for a marriage of political importance. When her uncle, the King of France, proposes she marry the Duke of Cleves, a foreign prince, she declares she would rather enter a convent than leave France for such a marriage. However, the betrothal takes place and, thanks to provisos inserted by her politically savvy mother, the marriage is never consummated and eventually annulled. Such a start ensures Jeanne, like her mother, is constantly feeling the political pulse of the royal court and a new King of France, in 1547 means there are many shifts in alliances and royal favour. Jeanne has her sights on the handsome and valiant Duke Antoine de Bourbon, the Duke of Vendome, even though she is warned that he is shallow and irresolute, a prediction that may come back to her in the future. Set against this is the religious conflict growing at this time. Jeanne, like her mother, is an adherent of the new religion, but the Pope has decreed that it is heresy for people to pray in their own language and read the scripture. France at first allows for tolerance but political alliances are tied up with religion, especially when the young king marries the catholic Mary Queen of Scots. Jeanne fiercely stands by her religious principles, often quoting the Bible and she becomes embroiled in the religious wars between the Catholics and the Huguenots, followers of Calvin in Geneva.
This, the second in the Queens of Navarre trilogy, closely examines a turbulent time through the life of Jeanne, Queen of Navarre. It is a time where shifting alliances can be a life-or-death game. Extremely well researched, there is a list of people at the end and four pages of references. It would have been helpful to have a map showing where places were at this time, I looked up Navarre and it is now in northern Spain near San Sebastian, not at all where I imagined it to be, other locations remain a mystery. Tracy Ryan’s meticulous research shines a light on another powerful woman, a story that needed to be told.
Themes Historical fiction, Sixteenth Century France, Women in history, Religious wars.
Sue Speck
Odder: An otter's story by Katherine Applegate
University of Queensland Press, 2025. ISBN: 9780702269158. (Age:6+) Highly recommended.
Odder is the story of a little sea otter who is swept away from her family and rescued by an aquarium. After many months of rehabilitation and learning how to be an otter she is released near to a group of sea otters. Over time she swims and blends with the sea otters but also interacts with humans. After another incident where she again needs human help to survive it is decided that she cannot be released and so remains at the aquarium helping other baby otters to learn the skills needed to be wild and free.
This beautifully illustrated picture book is based on the verse novel of the same name by Katherine Applegate. It is a beautifully told story that will enchant the reader and draw them into the world of Odder. The reader will rejoice when she is released and joins a wild group of sea otters. They will mourn her loss of freedom and applaud her helping and sharing her knowledge with baby otters so that they may taste the freedom that has been denied to her, due to her link to humans and the injuries inflicted on her.
As someone who loves otters, this is a beautiful story of how humans help and care for injured wildlife, but it also shows the ways that this intervention can impact wild animals in a negative way. I loved the way the verse reflected the novel of the same names style of writing, making this a great read aloud and independent read. The text is easy to follow, and the illustrations link the reader to the text in a meaningful way. Certain to be a favourite in any library.
The blizzard of Blobs: Miles and Jones book 2 by Sam Smith & Cesar Lador
Hachette, 2025. ISBN: 9781869715588. (Age:5-8)
Flying blobs of smelly goo are falling out of the sky and threatening to ruin the Park, another curse put onto the park by the villain of this story Glam-Evil. This is the second book in a Graphic novel series about friends Amelia Miles and Shackleton Jones, aka Miles and Jones. After vanquishing Glam-Evil’s pet anacondas in the first book called The Anaconda Attack, the kids team up with Shackleton’s dad Sam and Amelia’s mum Meg to put a stop to the villain’s evil plans. Avoiding the globs and entering a damp, dark cave they are faced with a river of magma to cross and then Glam-Evil parent-napping the adults as part of her wicked plot.
Dealing with the magma, a giant whirlpool and an exploding volcano adds up to an exciting adventure showing teamwork is the key to saving the day. It is aimed at children over 5 who could enjoy the story by just following the picture clues, to older children who will use the text and enjoy it even more. The black and white cartoon style illustrations are varied and well-drawn to follow the action. A clue to the next adventure is given in the last few pages to keep interest in the series.
Themes Friendship, Parks and reserves, Villains, Graphic novels.
Killer potential, the debut novel by Los Angeles-based Hannah Deitch is a compelling, twisty murder mystery/adventure of the queer crime subgenre where two female main characters (Evie Gordon and Jae) lend LGBTQ+ representation to the story in an arguably surprising type of relationship formation whilst on the run. Deitch, like her chief protagonist Evie Gordon, was a SAT tutor and an academic so she writes from experience of the academic world. The reader learns of the lives of the Los Angeles super-rich through the eyes of Evie as she tutors their children in their homes.
Deitch uses Evie and later Jae as first person narrators. The narrative voice begins with great spunky clarity through Evie's thought-provoking commentaries and internal thoughts coloured by her potty-mouth and ruthless decision making. Evie is funny, sharp, uncouth and rough; not a totally likeable central character. Even though she has graduated from an elite university as a whip-smart, straight A student, she feels socially apart as a scholarship student on the edge of the society of her peers. In order to fit in, she becomes an excellent faker and mimic-a chameleon. Killer potential interrogates the notion of education as a provision or step-ladder to upward social mobility. Her suffering parents are a tragic sidenote in the narrative. The silent Jae emerges as a less successful later narrator. Deitch uses Jae's internal monologue to fill in the gaps about her origins and motivations.
Killer potential is overwhelmingly an escape story. Evie discovers her rich employers brutally murdered in the mansion where she tutors their daughter. The modern-day mansion is an important setting, bookending the narrative. Designed with hidden interior walls, rooms and passages, the interior of the house is central to the plot and reminiscent of stories of concealed rooms in ancient homes in the vein of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte with the secret room on the third floor of Thornfield Hall and J.K Rowling's Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets. Houses with creepy, interior secret rooms have long been a fascination for people.
Through a series of rapid-fire unfortunate events and decisions, Evie becomes a chief suspect on the run, trying to outrun and outsmart a nation-wide manhunt. With her on the run is the silent woman who she found locked up inside the walls of the mansion. The two women become increasingly close as they flee across America as fugitives, living outside the law and surviving through their combined skill-sets, by their wits, cunning and brutality. Once a gifted student, Evie becomes the wanted killer on the cover of every magazine, newspaper and TV news program. Her aim is to find the real killer in order to redeem herself. More and more killings happen and the characters change and harden, becoming more desperate and ruthless. Always there is the impending possibility that the daughter in the coma who witnessed much will awaken...
This reader had trouble with various unbelievable aspects of the plot including Evie's decision to not dial 000 immediately. Being an intelligent girl, stupid decisions led her on the slippery slope of the whole story. And the police must have been totally incompetent and the public must have been blind to allow two women to achieve such a long road trip across America, spanning almost the entire continent. Still this is writer's licence and all in the service of story.
Being an escape story, Killer potential very strongly channels Thelma and Louise by Susan Kollin in terms of the fugitive/violent clashes with the law and The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles in terms of the idea of young people on road trips across America. Few of these characters are particularly troubled by ethics or morals although a sense of fairness emerges at times in decisions made to recompense and/or allow certain hapless potential victims to survive. After a wild ride, the aftermath is probably the most realistic part of the story.
Edgy, racy, raunchy, raw and also very funny, Killer potential asks the question of all of us - do we all, given the right circumstances, have the potential to be a killer? With its very contemporary themes, setting and characterisation, Killer potential could easily be made into an action-packed TV-series. As a book, it is entertaining.
Themes Escape, Hiding, The fugitive, Murder, Queer crime, University debt, Social mobility, Lesbian romance.
Wendy Jeffrey
Lamingtons and dumplings by Pho Yann. Illus. by Annelies Billeter
Little Steps, 2024. ISBN: 9781922678898. (Age:5+) Recommended.
Connor an Australian boy who lives in the Alice Springs and Jianyu who lives in Beijing are pen pals who live in different parts of the world. The book shows how they learn about each other through the incredible world of technology, social media and the internet.
Lamingtons and Dumplings is a great description for this book as the boys learn about each other’s lives through the food they eat and the activities they do. The books perfectly contrast the difference between the boys’ lives through showing similarities.
Both boys get up and have breakfast, although they eat different foods, they both go to school, have lunch and do afternoon activities. The illustrations certainly help to show the differences in the boys lives.
This story allows children to see that while there are so many differences there are similarities that link us all. However, I found it to be too simplistic and at times it fails to show the true experience of a child living so far out of town on a farm.
I found this book to be a frustrating read as it was very short sentences that didn’t flow. The information is very basic, the characters are much older than the audience who would be reading this and I feel that this would have an impact on its popularity. I would recommend having this in the library but not as a class text or read aloud, rather as one to show children for comparison if they show an interest.
Themes Friendship, city vs country life, Comparing experiences.
Mhairi Alcorn
Rival darling by Alexandra Moody
Electric Monkey, 2025. ISBN: 9780008762247. (Age:13+)
Violet has always had one rule: never date a jock. That rule shatters when she’s forced to leave California and finish her last year of high school in Sunshine Hill, Minnesota - a town obsessed with ice hockey. Suddenly, she’s caught in a relationship with the local hockey team captain... until it crashes and burns. To prove she’s over it, Violet hatches a bold plan: fake-date his rival, Reed Darling, captain of the opposing team, known for his bad reputation and swoon-worthy charm.
Reed is used to being talked about, and not always the good kind. Rumors follow him like shadows, but underneath the confidence is someone determined to show Violet the truth. Despite the rivalry between teams, and his reputation as a heartbreaker, Reed agrees to Violet’s rules and plays along, until fake feelings start to get a little too real. Violet is smart, guarded, and beautifully flawed. She tries to keep her walls high, but how long can she keep them up with Reed slowly chipping away at them.
Rival Darling is an exploration of identity, trust, and how love can bloom in the most unexpected places, and from the most unexpected people. The characters are authentic, their fears, hopes, and emotional growth make them feel like real teens navigating the real messiness of first-time relationships, heartbreak, and love. Violet’s internal battle with vulnerability is particularly relatable, and Reed is more than just the classic bad boy trope, he’s layered, loyal, and low-key romantic.
The book is written in a relatable setting: the cold, tight-knit town where everyone knows everyone’s business. The plot is more character-driven than action-packed; it moves with satisfying tension between the characters, the kind that make you squeal into a pillow, or kick your feet, giggling. It’s about first heartbreaks, taking chances, and growing to become your own person outside of other’s expectations.
It shows clear themes of emotional growth, stereotypes, and the fear of vulnerability, and while it’s a clean romance, it doesn’t stop the author from showing the complicated feelings of love, heartbreak, and healing that everyone goes through at least once.
For fans books such as To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, or Better Than the Movies, Rival Darling is strong on the feels and swoon-worthy.
