Caution! This book contains deadly reptiles by Corey Tutt. Illus. by Ben Williams
Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761181030. (Age:7-12) Highly recommended.
The vibrant striking cover of Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles offers an immediate hook to explore this fabulous book. With appealing endpapers showcasing many different types of reptiles, children are in for a reading and viewing treat with a difference. This beautifully presented book provides fascinating information from twenty First Nations Language Groups about some of the unique reptiles that inhabit their Country.
The contents page clearly defines each Language Group and the reptiles are listed below in the traditional name with the English name in brackets. Before viewing the listed reptiles, the AIATSIS map is presented followed by a welcome from author Corey Tutt and more detailed information about turtles, lizards, crocodiles and snakes, complete with a How You Can Help section.
Each Language Group section in its own colour, begins with the traditional name and the language spoken. A small labelled map shows where this place is located in Australia along with a pronunciation guide. There is also a thoughtful request to acknowledge the Elders and Traditional Owners of this Country. Every reptile discussed has its traditional name first followed by the English name and its body measurements. It is then ‘stamped’ with endangered, least concern and/or venomous. The facts about the reptile are included under the headings of What does it look like?, What makes it DEADLY (as in awesome), Favourite Feeds, Predators and prey, How does it breed? The accompanying illustration of the reptile provides a colourful highlight. In the final pages is a glossary, information about the author and illustrator plus acknowledgements and resources.
This is a truly inspiring book about reptiles and has been a part of First Nations language revitalisation: 'the act of bringing back the use of a language that has very few speakers or writers.’ An important resource for all primary/middle schools and public libraries.
Themes First Nations, Language Groups, Reptiles, Country, Facts.
Kathryn Beilby
Aslan and Benny by Jemima Shafei-Ongu. Illus. by Jade Goodwin
Aslan is fearless, living up to misname, the lion in The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. He can cycle down a hill very fast on his bike, find his brother when he goes missing, battle with his friends in outer space. He loves going to his cousin’s house on Sunday. Here they have a family barbecue and the children play together all day long. But one Sunday they go to Yenge’s house, he finds they now have a dog, Benny. Aslan is terrified of the dog and will go nowhere near him. He spends his time at his cousin's house on the staircase, a place the dog is not allowed to go. He watches while the rest of the children play their games.
On one Sunday Yenge talks to Aslan about being scared. They make up a funny song about the dog, and Yenge tells him that sometimes she is scared. She shares with the him the simple remedy of breathing, an exercise which calms the mind and concentrates the body on something other than the problem. Mum reminds him of places where he was initially scared but now is fearless.
The next Sunday with the smell of fresh baklava filling the room, Aslan ventures into the kitchen. He is aware of his fear, but contains it, he practises his breathing and reaches out to the dog. He is surprised how warm and bristly the dog feels. Now they are the best of friends, and looks forward to Sundays at his cousins’ house.
This charming tale of overcoming fears will have resonance with many children whose lives are confined by worries. Breathing exercises have more prominence in recent books, and children are encouraged to try meditation to help them focus. It is wonderful to see a book which represents our wider community, and offers different words for children to learn and be familiar with.
Vivid and bright illustrations by First Nations artist Jade Goodwin, illustrator of Ash Barty’s Little Ash series and picture book, My Dream for You cover each page, promoting a loving family centred group of people.
Jemima Shafei-Ongu is a Sydney-based writer promoting inclusion and representation in children’s literature. Jemima explores themes of belonging and connection, and these themes come shining through in this book which includes some Turkish words, a guide to their pronunciation offered on the last page.
Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761068621. (Age:10-15) Recommended.
Sibling relationships can be hard at times but as the eldest of five children in the Lai family 12-year-old Abby has a lot to contend with. They embarrass her in front of her friends, take her stuff and eat her snacks. She takes any opportunity to get away from them but when friends Monica and Julia come over to hang out at Abby’s place she is so annoyed with her siblings that she gets into a fight with them, behaving childishly, causing more embarrassment. But even worse is to come, Julia gets chicken pox and after the two-week incubation period the Lai children start to come down with the virus.
Set in 1998, before immunization was common in Indonesia, most adults caught the disease, they call ‘watery pox', in childhood and, like Abby’s parents, have developed immunity. The Lai children must undergo 7 to 10 days quarantine at home together, jail time with no escape. As the illness progresses Abby sees her siblings suffering and unnaturally quiet with fevers. Fact pages deliver bulletins on how the disease progresses and the children get over their fevers but are still quite itchy and grumpy. As the eldest and responsible daughter Abby tries to help her mother and look after her sisters and brother with mixed results, and of course she gets the blame when things go wrong. As they pass through the blistering and itching phases everyone has to adjust and adapt. Abby worries about what her friends at school are saying about her after the childish outburst, added to that, they seem to think that Abby ‘likes’ classmate Sandy, so embarrassing. Contrary to Abby’s expectations they do all survive their jail time and they may even have grown closer through the experience. Abby negotiates some difficult conversations with her friends and is able to return to school with confidence.
The hilarious family chaos is beautifully captured in vividly dynamic graphics, full of action and 1990’s references like boardgames, Nintendo, cassette players and TV without a remote. The information on the virus is well delivered and the author’s note mentions that a vaccine became available in 1995 so most people now do not get chickenpox.
Themes Sibling relationships, Chickenpox, Friendship, 1990s Indonesia, Memoir.
Sue Speck
My language rights: A child's right to their language by Judy Thompson and Tete Garcia
My Language Rights provides a look into the array of languages in our homes, schools, streets and cities. These different languages reflect our culture, contain our stories, keep our memories safe, and are tantamount to the passing on of a way of life from one generation to another. In Australia the diverse range of languages reflect our culture, confirming the multicultural nature of our society where 40% of people are born overseas. A walk down any street will mean listening to language other than English spoken by passers by. Languages reflect their background, their culture, their attachment to past generations, all revered through the use of the language.
Each double page has a statement about language, and the accompanying illustration reflects the truth of that statement. On one we have a group of children saying hello in different languages, and the illustration shows those children calling out their hello in their own language, with something about them also shown, which for astute readers will make them more aware of the culture that child reflects. A poignant page tells us that sometimes people stop using their own language. An arresting illustrations shows the word ‘forgotten’ and reasons for the loss of language are given. In Australian it is most upsetting to see that Indigenous languages, once numbering over 300, have now almost all been lost, partly through government regulation, but also because these people were moved from their land and so lost sight of their language within its context, and we can see this narrowing repeated across the world.
After that, positive statements are made about language: my language should be heard on television, seen in print, seen on signs, and treated with dignity. All of these lead to the most important page, of being able to share language. From this comes all the other comments about protecting language, being able to sign, sing and speak language. Every person has the right to use their own language.
The Declaration of Human Rights covers lots of rights but not language and this is the focus of this book, to highlight what this right is and how important it is for people everywhere to be able to use their own language.
PEN’s International Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights upholds the right of every child to speak its own language, recognising language rights as a fundamental human right.
Themes Multiculturalism, Diversity, Language.
Fran Knight
Our world of wild wonders by Jevita Nilson. Illus. by Jess Racklyet
Jevita Nilson and Jess Racklyet have once again combined to create another delightful factual narrative. Their first book Our World is Full of Wonder explored magnificent natural wonders of our world. Their second book Our World of Wild Wonders explores the unique animals that live in our world.
The gorgeous blue cover showing our Planet Earth surrounded by some well-known creatures is an enticement to explore this book. The narrative begins with images of zebras racing across a double page with a whale below and an eagle above. The poetic text accompanying the soft yet vibrant illustrations on this first page goes as follows:
‘There is a world of wild wonders where mighty wings soar in dappled skies, herds of hooves pound endless plains, and giants glide through sun-kissed waters. Shall we go explore?’
Throughout the book, readers are introduced to natural environments and the diverse animals that inhabit each place. Some of these include a murmuration of starlings in the evening skies of the British Isles, goats climbing on the sheer cliff face of the European Alps, pods of dolphins off the coast of New Zealand, an echidna searching for safety in the face of a wildfire in Australia, chameleons in Madagascar.
This book is a visual delight with the stunning illustrations perfectly complementing the expressive and highly accessible text. In the final pages is a map of where each of the twelve creatures can be found and further valuable information. There is also a glossary. This is a fascinating book to share with young children.
Fans of psychological thrillers are likely to find Seven sisters a taut, gripping story. Naomi is a young woman whose sister had been murdered and the man who committed the crime got away with it. When her grief counsellor, Mia, suggests that she might find a group helpful in overcoming her loss, she is at first sceptical but decides to give it a try. In the group she meets Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy, other women who have also suffered disappointment at the hands of the justice system. Together with Mia, they concoct a plan of revenge, each helping to kill one of the men who have murdered their loved ones.
Kovacic manages to steer the reader through the story, giving insight into the seven main characters and the men they are hunting. It is tautly plotted and each method of murder is different and believable. The suspense builds as each woman grapples with a means to take revenge. I was gripped with fear that the crimes would be discovered by the police, while struggling with the ethical dilemma of whether it is right to take the law into your own hands.
With themes of domestic abuse and its impact on family members, failure of the judicial system, and whether taking an eye for an eye is ever justified, readers are left with a memorable story, ideal for fans of Patricia Highsmith and Candice Fox.
Softie is the only bear in the library who has not been borrowed. All the others have had adventures and tell their stories each night after being returned. Softie gets up each morning, and sits on her shelf, waiting to be borrowed, but nothing happens.
One day she is borrowed, her library card filled out and stamped and filed. But going off with her new friend, KB, is not as great an adventure as she expected. She ends up a little scared, very sweaty and covered in potatoes.
KB takes her into her bed and cuddles her to stop her tears. She tells Softie about all the things in her room and what they mean to her. She tells Softie that tomorrow they will take notice of all the things they do, so that Softie can tell a story like the others. They eat delicious toast and jam, see the biggest daisy, meet a friendly cat and sit in the warm sun and read together. They write down all the things they have done during the day and go to sleep exhausted. The next day Softie is returned to the library and Stuffie, Softie’s friend, is waiting to hear how she went. At the end of the day, she sits in front of all the other bears and tells them what she did. They cheer her at the end of her story. The next morning, she gets herself ready and waits on the shelf, ready to be borrowed for her next story.
This charming book about resilience and being positive will be loved, especially with the many teddy bears shown on each page. Poor Softie feels left out and when she is finally borrowed things are not as she wants them to be. She must take time to see how different everyone’s adventure is and write down the story that she shares with KB.
Kids who feel overlooked or left out, will gain a positive outlook following Softie’s story. She felt just as they do and overcomes this making new friends to write stories about. She ends up on the shelf, with a positive look on her face, ready for her next adventure.
Pages are covered with all sorts of teddy bears, prompting the readers to compare these with the ones they have at home. What an opportunity for a Teddy Bear’s picnic or bringing your favourite bear to school when listening to the story. The endpapers are a delight, and the handmade clothes and furniture will give the readers another layer of interest while the read. Cat Rabbit is a textile artist and more of her work can be seen here.
As the human world continues to encroach, raze and build on the natural environment of both native Australian plants and animals, it becomes a dangerous place for creatures to live and move about safely. This newly released book, Creature Corridors, carefully tells the story of what needs to be done in order to allow our animal life to continue to thrive and share their environment with the human population.
Written as a factual narrative, this debut picture book written by author Billie Rooney, is an interesting and informative book explaining the term ‘creature corridor’ in clear and accessible text. For younger readers it is an engaging introduction to the needs of the animals to move around to find food, to breed and seek shelter. There is information about the different types of wildlife corridors already established in the form of metal, concrete or rope bridges, tunnels, newly planted trees, free flowing rivers and the pulling down of fences to allow animals access to safe areas.
The detailed full page illustrations are both colourful and striking in their detail and add to the message of the story. The shared information in the final pages about Wildlife Corridors and the Corridors in the story are valuable for further background information and research. There is a simple glossary perfectly pitched at this age group. An excellent book about a topic that may be unfamiliar to many children and adults.
The Australian bush is a new wild world for 11 year-old Alex, newly arrived from London with her mother Hailey, come to live with her mother’s Aussie boyfriend Art. It’s a culture shock for them both, with the heat and humidity striking them as they get off the plane, but for Alex it is especially hard leaving her home with its memories of her beloved father, Papa, who was taken from her by a fatal asthma attack. Feelings of panic can threaten to overwhelm her.
They make a fragile blended multicultural family in Australia. Alex’s mother is Irish and her father was Hindu Indian. Alex inherits her father’s dark skin and hair. Meanwhile, Art’s former wife is a Mirning woman, and his son Koen takes after her. Koen’s twin sister lives in Perth with their mother. There is a barely suppressed antagonism between Art and the teenage Koen as the boy shows his resentment at the situation he is in.
Crampton-Larking is particularly good at depicting Alex’s loneliness as the new girl in school, unable to make friends and in fear of the bullies who target her. The bushland near her house becomes a refuge, and she discovers the peace and tranquillity of the natural surroundings. Her world is brightened as she meets other kids who also have hideaways in the scrub, and she learns about the significance of Country to First Nations people and issues of climate change and its impact on the environment.
The theme of climate change is explored in a careful way, with emphasis on caring for the country and acting together to make positive change. Alex feels a connection with the global youth movement, ‘the billions that will make a difference’.
There are a number of serious themes in the book, family conflicts, bullying, colonialism and Aboriginal displacement, bushfires and climate change, but the author manages to keep the tone up-beat and easy to read. The emphasis on family and caring, good friendships and positive attitudes means that it stays appropriate for the middle-grade readership it is aimed at. The manuscript was a joint winner of the State Library of Queensland’s black&write! Writing Fellowship competition in 2019, and it’s great to now see it published and available to young readers.
Football Superstars: Kerr rules by Simon Mugford. Illus. by Dan Green
Wellbeck, 2024. ISBN: 9781804536520. (Age:6-10)
In this simple book Sam Kerr’s career and its highlights are presented in a youthful style. With cartoon-like and fun illustrations the journey to greatness is presented in a way that is accessible for 6-10 year olds. Written outside of Australia (the author makes a slight faux pas in his description of AFL ball handling - a ‘handpat’), the book is just a collection of facts, highlights and stats that might interest a sport lover.
This book is a quick read. It would be good for Silent Reading time at school - not challenging and easily consumed in small nibbles of information. There are no hints or clues about how to develop as a player from Sam herself, so this is just for those interested in Sam’s playing career.
This is a poignant and gripping story, a book that I will not easily forget! It follows the painful and fear-filled steps of young mother, Ciara, as she extricates herself from her marriage and the coercive control of an emotionally and psychologically bruising husband. Despite being set in Ireland, this is a universal story. Separated from her own family who live in England, she is alone in trying to solve her circumstances and feels the weight of her decision every day. With her two young girls, pregnant and homeless, she must strike out on her own while negotiating the ongoing criticism from her ex-husband and the difficulties of homelessness or temporary accommodation. The love of her children and the possibility of a life without fear is all that she can hold onto as she attempts to move forward. With profound resilience in the face of constant insecurity, Ciara is both strong and vulnerable. Her future must first negotiate courts, legal orders, housing applications, financial hardship, and job applications while pregnant. All this while fielding the regular threats and manipulation directed to her by her ex-husband and his family. When there are no external bruises it is difficult to prove abuse, but Ciara must persevere to protect herself and her children. Understanding the dynamics of power expressed badly is so clearly unveiled in this heart-rending story. I was often brought to tears as I journeyed with Ciara through the pain of her early time as a single mother and the abuse that she had endured. That she had survived was a testament to her ability to see love for her children as a motivation to keep moving forward.
This is a very painful story, but it is echoed by many women around the world, and it is powerfully written. Some women who are abused also carry physical scars or die before receiving help, but this book demonstrates that psychological distress can create awful marriages. Toxic masculinity can even be expressed by ‘nice men’. This book is an adult story, its subject is harrowing and yet there are elements that are worth reading to create empathy for those who struggle with abusive partners. A mature teen 17+ could also learn from the warning signs that this story flags, but this is not a love story and the hope that is possible must take a very tortuous route. I could not put this book down, but it has left me with an aching heart for all those who suffer in their relationships with controlling partners.
Twins Pew and Basket Church dream of escaping the miserable misfortune of their isolated orphanage. Or, even better, the return of their unknown parents. But even in their wildest dreams, they never imagined the truth, that they come from a family that can travel through time.
And so begins the story of how Time Travelling Twins battle against an enemy who likes to change history to gain riches for himself.
The twins after growing up in a terrible orphanage that has ultimately prepared them for their destiny escape through a portal and discover they have landed in 1877 amid George Washington’s camp as he fights in the American Civil War. They meet many different historical figures, but they also meet two other time travellers, one who is like them and a protector of time the other a time traveller who is trying to change time to benefit himself and he wants to get rid of the twins so he can continue his nefarious plan.
This story is a cross between historical fiction and fantasy with a bit of Lemony Snicket to flavour the pot. It is a fabulous read and one that will appeal to readers of The Magic Treehouse, and I Survived series. The history portrayed isn’t entirely accurate, but the information is there and the reader if interested can do further research; this does not detract from the story and the reader doesn’t need to know about this period in history to enjoy the book. Unfortunately, the book ends on a cliffhanger and the next book isn’t due out until late in 2025 so it will be a long wait but as the story is so enjoyable a second read before the new book is released could be made.
I can see this being used in a classroom to talk about history and the ways that historian’s perspectives can change how we think about and remember the events of the past. It is also a good way to think about what would happen if one small event had happened and how this could have affected history. This is such a great book and one that will be a hit in any primary classroom.
Themes History, Family, Time travel, Fantasy, Good vs evil, Adventure.
Mhairi Alcorn
Little Love List by Summer Macon & Bethany May Clark
Bethany Clark, author of the hilarious You’ve Got Yoghurt In Your Nostrils, has written a charming book about the very special relationship that exists between a mother and child. With thoughtful words and glorious illustrations, this book will be one to be shared time and time again.
I love you when you’re muddy. I love you when you’re cross. I love you when you’re laughing. I love you when you’re the boss.
I love you when you’re brave. I love you when you’re done. I love you when you won’t wear pants. I love you when you’re fun.
The clever rhyme is bookended by a brief discussion about a list that begins in the mother’s pocket and is never ending. This long and lengthy list appears on each page and floats delightfully over the gorgeous illustrations of the mother and child. The use of repetition to encourage early word recognition and the sharing of feelings that small children may feel during the course of the day provides a ‘real world’ experience for young readers. The striking cover and dreamy endpapers add to the overall appeal.
A very special book for Valentine’s Day, a new baby or Mother’s Day.
Themes Babies, Mothers, Unconditional Love, Family Life.
Kathryn Beilby
Magic: The life of Earvin 'Magic' Johnson by Roland Lazenby
In 783 pages of intense detail this book interrogates the life and intensity of 'Magic' Johnson. From a family of hard-working and faith-inspired ordinary folk, (descendants of Southern slaves, now struggling to find their place in Lansing, Michigan) to the dizzy heights of the NBA in the Los Angeles Lakers Dreamtime team, we are given insights into the extraordinary life of Earvin Johnson II. This is a book for devotees of basketball and the NBA, filled with the genetically blessed and fanatically trained goliaths of the sport; this book details many astonishing aspects of the life of one of the stars of the game. Despite its length and my lack of basketball skill (one season as a poorly skilled adult player will never make me a devotee), I found the intricate detail of this book strangely mesmerising. Magic Johnson’s incredible drive to succeed was profoundly compelling. The world of the highly successful sports star is so far removed from most realities that this too is like peeking into a forbidden world that ordinary people enable but can never really understand. Johnson’s personal proclivities are a sad statement about the dangers of the ‘life of the rich and famous’, but it is the sheer joy of basketball played with passion and excellence that is the overriding highlight of the book.
The sheer length of this book means that few will persevere to journey through the 60+ years of a ‘magical’ life. As a reviewer I was often daunted by the intricacy and dense complexity of the facts and opinions of the many contributors to this work as they recount their experiences rubbing shoulders with Magic Johnson on court, in championship encounters and in his life in general. But someone who ‘lives and breathes’ basketball may well find this book an experience to remember, but will have to devote many hours/days/weeks to the endeavour. The sadness of HIV does impact the basketball journey but obviously has not limited a life in the same way that it impacted his career, but it should be noted that younger readers may be confronted by Magic’s choices. Consequently, because this is a weighty tome, this can be recommended to the stoic and passionate basketball tragic only. They will need to have reading stamina to persist (and muscles to carry the book too). For readers aged 16+.
Themes Basketball, NBA, LA Lakers Basketball team, Hopes and dreams, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Afro-Americans - 20th and 21st Century, HIV/AIDS, Biography.
Carolyn Hull
Hooray! It's our first day by Martha Mumford. Illus. by Cherie Zamazing
Bloomsbury, 2024. ISBN: 9781526660435.
It's the first day of school and the bunnies are rushing around getting themselves ready.
We're going to a new school. Come and join the fun!
But first, there are things to find and friends to say hello to on their way and they need the help of our youngest readers to find them.
As with its predecessors, this is another charming book in this series that allows our youngest readers to not only engage with familiar characters doing familiar things, but encourages them to interact with the text through repetitive phrases and predictable rhyme and the illustrations as they lift-the-flaps to help the bunnies find their things.
And even though the bunnies' new school might be a little different from that to which they are going, nevertheless the fun and excitement are the same and catching!
