Luis and Pablo have always lived in a cabin deep in the woods, foraging for food and enjoying the company of friends who drop by. It is a place that, according to Luis, is spectaculous. Realist Pablo points out that no such word exists, but Luis insists it does as he said it. Luis is a big, gentle bear with a tendency towards philosophical musings which he makes into songs for his small friend Pablo, a grumpy mole happiest with his head in a book. When Luis wonders why they never go to shows and entertainment Pablo points out that there are no shows in the woods just nature. He also tells Luis the shocking story about his great-great-great grandfather who left the woods and never came back. When Luis gets a surprise letter in the mail telling him he has won two tickets to the big city’s theatrical production of The Weary Mermaid he is delighted and eventually persuades Pablo to join him. The unprepared pair take a bus to the city where they have unexpected adventures, meet interesting characters and solve the mystery of Pablo’s ancestor. Returning home they find friendship and culture through song and storytelling about their new experiences.
This beautifully produced graphic novel with colourful cartoon figures in rich and varied scenery with equally interesting and funny dialogue takes us on a journey about stepping out of our comfort zone so we can fully appreciate what we have and not be afraid of trying new things. There are pages at the end about how to draw Pablo and Luis (rather like Winnie the Pooh in many ways) and there is a fun map at the beginning. A great book to read with younger children and any age will enjoy the philosophical banter between the characters.
Themes Graphic novel, Friendship, Adventure.
Sue Speck
The Great Dawn Choir by Sarah Speedie. Illus. by Cindy Lane
The glorious cover of morning colours plus well-known Australian birds will hook readers immediately to The Great Dawn Choir. With the bright endpapers showcasing the different types of feathers, this delightful picture book will appeal to readers both young and old.
The striking double page glossy spreads are a joy to ponder over. The brilliant detail of the birds and the colourful backgrounds displayed, along with the skilfully rhyming text, will encourage readers to think about these familiar birds in a deeper way.
There are some excellent examples of onomatopoeia with words such as the sulphur-crested cockatoo’s Caw!, the magpie’s Ordle!, the rainbow lorikeet’s Tweet!, the fairy-wren’s Chitter! and Ha! from the kookaburras. Each vibrant page is a joy to read aloud and the final verse and images are just beautiful. There is also additional information about each of the birds portrayed in the narrative. A perfect learning opportunity for further research.
This wonderful book is a visual delight and definitely deserves a place in a home, school or public library.
What do you do when you want some friends, but you are a shark, the animal that everyone runs from. In this cute tale, you keep on trying, eventually succeeding in changing people's minds by your perseverance. Each double page shows the shark in a different situation, the first down deep in the ocean where a range of fish are doing their best to get away from him. Next a group of pirates are about to open their treasure chest when the shark pops out, ready to be friendly but finds they all run away. Over the page is Benny Bunny’s birthday party, all going well until Shark makes his appearance. No matter how friendly he is, everyone runs away when he appears. Even in space!
So he hops into bed with a book telling him how to make friends, and sends out invitations to all the animals in Blue Bottle Bay. They are intrigued at who could have set up. But a party is a party, so they go along, only to find it is Shark who has surprised them all with a party for everyone. They decide that he is not so bad after all and settle down to a pleasant party afternoon.
Cute illustrations will catch the attention of the reader as they spot the different animals, and laugh at the detail the illustrator Patrick Corrigan has included. I love the space ship with its dice hanging from the rear vision mirror, and the shark popping out of the vampire's coffin, and the messy party at the rabbit’s house after Shark makes his appearance.
Repetition and rhyming lines all add to the enthusiasm of the audience as this read aloud story is read over again to the delight of all.
From his early childhood Casper (known as Cas, who is now 12-years-old) has known what it is to be abandoned and to eke out an existence with little support from an emotionally absent father and a completely absent mother. His Aunt Mel, and her immediate neighbourhood, has provided the only love and stability for him for some time, but his father now wants to re-enter Cas’ life. Cas is far from ready to accept him back into his life and takes the opportunity to run. But in doing so he places himself into danger in the bush, far from any support. A chance rescue, from another father and his daughters living a re-wilding life in the bush, saves his life. But they too are on the run, and before he knows it he must run again. Can he survive the wild? Or is there hope for a future for any of them?
Initially this was a distressing tale of distrust and emotional abandonment for a young pre-teen, but quickly it moved into a chase through densely wooded mountains to evade re-capture and a survival story with new companions who had their own escape story. There were many tense moments when ‘run!’ was the response to the stress of new uncertainty. This was a compelling adventure story and although the heart-breaking background for Cas and his rescuers would be troubling for some young readers, it is reminiscent of some of the works of Tristan Bancks, Nat Amoore and even Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet. Hard social stories are not softened, they are not given intricate or intrusive detail but are combined with a gripping ‘lost’ experience in the Australian bush setting in difficult dangerous terrain. The emotional journey for Cas has a growth trajectory that enables hope for a future. Readers aged 9-14 will enjoy the story and the impressive way Sarah Armstrong escalates tension from almost the first page.
Gabrielle Bergmoser has created an exhilarating sequel that takes readers deeper into the thrilling multiverse she first introduced in Andromache Between Worlds. This action-packed follow-up is brimming with suspense, shifting loyalties and unexpected twists that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.
The story begins with high stakes as Andromache and her family are informed that archenemy, Vincent Black has escaped from prison. This reignites a highly dangerous mission for brave heroine, Andromache. Determined to track him down and put an end to his dark plans, she is initially thrilled to be reunited with her loyal friends, Tobias and Rylee. But their joyous reunion quickly fades as Andromache uncovers secrets that force her to question everything and everyone. Who is truly on her side… who is hiding something….and what are their motives?
Bergmoser masterfully builds tension as Andromache is plunged into a series of parallel worlds, each with its own rules and dangers. The line between friend and foe blurs as the trio faces betrayals, shifting realities and harrowing challenges that test their courage, friendship and inner strength. As the danger escalates, Andromache must rely on her instincts and resilience to survive; even when the truth becomes harder to face than the enemy.
Andromache is a compelling protagonist who is courageous, curious and committed. Her inner turmoil adds depth to the high-risk adventure, making her journey gripping and emotionally engaging. Tobias and Rylee add further complexity to the quest with their insight, thoughts and observations; making the group dynamic such a strong kinship.
The story is again fast paced and vivid, capturing the dizzying shifts between worlds and the emotional weight of trust betrayed. This sequel deftly blends science fiction, fantasy and emotional drama, creating an exhilarating and thought-provoking read.
Andromache in the Dark is a thrilling continuation of Andromache’s journey. It will certainly appeal to early adolescent readers who love imaginative adventure, strong friendships and stories that find you lost in a maze of deception.
The girl with a feather in her hair by Eleanor Pearson & Julie Spencer
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781923306066. (Age:3+)
Gentle water colour illustrations hug each page as the girl explores her natural environment, images of recognisable elements of Australia’s flora and fauna catching the readers’ attention. Magpies, parrots and cockatoos, along with red flowering eucalypts, wattle and scribbly gum can be found on the pages, as the girl wonders through the landscape.
She whispers to the ladybirds, reaches for butterflies as she dances with her shadow. She rescues a beetle from a puddle, watches the ants on the anthill and slips a heart shaped stone into her pocket. She looks up noting the huge array of greens, searching for the sky above the canopy.
The dandelion on the front cover has seeds blown across the page, encouraging little fingers to feel them as they open the book. Inside they will see the beautiful gum trees and the bright colours of the bush, and follow the little e girl and her journey through the bush, under the trees, seeing the insects and the birds, crossing a stream on the fallen log.
The girl with the feather in her hair eventually comes to rest at the edge of the pond, sitting quietly with her mother as they feel the water and see what is under its surface.
Themes Environment, Australian flora and fauna, Eucalypts.
This delightful book with its gorgeous green cover of a generational family relaxing on the branches of a tree is a wonderful read-aloud for young children. The beginning lines of “Family’s warm, like hot buttered toast. Family’s here when you need them most” are a perfect introduction to family life in a variety of different homes.
Families can be blended, far away, small or large but family offers so much to a young child. It is a place where children can play, be supported, be encouraged, be safe and most importantly be loved. The illustrations are in soft tones and perfectly complement the text while adding extra visual interest for the reader.
It’s time to muster the cattle. Mum’s in the ute. Charlie’s in the chopper. Dad leads the jackaroos. Sis rides canters on the wing. Everyone has a job, everyone except me...
The lives of children in the rural and remote regions of Australia are very different from those of kids in the city and this offers a small insight into one aspect of that as the Brahman cattle are mustered, loaded onto the road trains to be taken to the saleyards, and everyone has to lend a hand. That is, unless you are deemed to be too young - and even city kids can relate to that.
Told by the one-who-is-too-young in simple text accompanied by vibrant illustrations which echo the palette of the Outback, this is a story that has a uniquely Australian flavour to it that is going to appeal to those who live the life, those who aspire to, and those who are keen to adventure beyond the city limits. Perfect for this year's CBCA Book Week theme.
The silken thread is a delightful, warm and magical story about cross cultural friendship, overcoming grief and hope. It's a book that this writer would give or read to her grandchildren. That is a high recommendation.
Gabrielle Wang has written an award-winning body of work and was our Australian Children's Laureate for 2022 to 2023. Born in Australia of Chinese (Victorian Gold Rush) heritage, Wang's books blend "... Chinese and Western culture with a touch of fantasy". The silken thread (written and illustrated by Wang) takes this pattern as it weaves a tale of Moonie in Melbourne, Little Dipper on Chongming Island in China and J.M Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy (1911). What a delightful tale! Wang has imaginatively recreated the story of her grandparents when they were children and imagined what might have happened if they had met then. Her mum grew up in Carlton Melbourne in the Depression years of the 1930s and her father's job as a child was to take care of the silkworms on the family's farm in China. Wang drew on what historical records she could find and on her mother's memoir to create this work of fiction which magically captures the time and place.
The silken thread is imaginary silk from a magical cocoon which enables Moonie and Little Dipper to connect, visit and develop a friendship across continents and oceans. It is a metaphor for the threads of friendship and the ties that bind. Moonie's household is sad. Her mother (Ma Mi) has had to leave the children and go away. Wang doesn't tell us why. Perhaps she is physically unwell; perhaps it is a mental condition. Will she come back or has she left forever? The tension is there. Moonie's father employs an awful woman (Miss Yip) who starts to take over the household and "care of the children". Unhappiness descends. Tapping shades of the evil stepmother in Cinderella, Moonie's father seems unable to stand up to this woman and protect his children. Meanwhile, in China, Little Dipper, a Chinese peasant boy wins a scholarship but his efforts to get to school are sabotaged by troublesome ghosts. The silken threads of friendship help both to strive for their dreams in a magical manner reminiscent of the dreamlike visitations of Peter Pan.
The realities of life are tough and they are there in The silken thread but they are dealt with with such wisdom in the gentle, skilled hands of Gabrielle Wang. The characters are delicately drawn and the perspective alternates in an authentic manner between the two main characters. Being children the cares and concerns are those of children. The interactions between the characters are warm and delightful. LongMa, the Chinese cow is a sentient being. Ghosts inhabit the story, being there to help and hinder and to disappear when no longer needed. A way to handle grief and move on to a life of your own is woven in.
A lovely extra are the paper-cut doll silhouettes and patterns for outfits that can be copied and cut out at the back of the book.
The silken thread is a magical story with roots in reality (a tribute to the magical realism genre) that offers wisdom and comfort through the eyes of Moonie and Little Dipper, two very relatable characters who overcome grief and disappointment through friendship.
This book is a gem for school libraries and homes. It would make a great classroom read-aloud for year 5+ especially if classes are working on cross cultural understanding and/or dealing with grief.
Author/illustrator James O’Hanlon is a scientist with a passion for mysterious animals and uncovering their secrets. Sid and the very hard to find Squid is an amusing and enjoyable rhyming story that tells of Sid’s journey of discovery looking for the elusive colossal squid. Sid crosses every special creature off his list and the clever endpapers, both front and back, reflect his discoveries.
Beginning with an introduction to various creatures Sid has uncovered on his bucket list, the narrative then leads into his obsession with finding the squid with some amazing facts and a detailed diagram of the squid. While he is searching Sid finds all sorts of sea creatures but not the one he is desperate to uncover. However there just might be a colossal squid hidden in plain sight on the pages!
This wonderful read will be enjoyed by all ages. The rhyming text is skilfully constructed and the big, bold and bright illustrations will appeal to all readers. The insertion of a mention of farts is sure to bring a laugh from young children when read aloud. More valuable facts about the colossal squid are shared in the final pages.
This delightful story is a must-have for all school libraries. With a humorous twist and an engaging storyline, it will be appreciated by all.
I was reminded of the old rhyme,’Ten in the bed…’ as I began this book, but found that it is a story so different and funny that I was laughing out loud from the second page.
One dark and stormy night a whole host of animals want to join dad in his bed. At first the boy, startled by the booming, crashing noise outside, asks dad to join him in bed. Roaring, thumping noises cause the dog to run in, followed by the cat, then a family of rabbits. Each page gives another group of wonderfully descriptive words about the storm outside, while the animals have a group word describing their numbers. Once the dozen or so rabbits join the family in the bed, the sizzling noise outside prompts the horse to come inside. Monstrously large shadows cross the bed as a herd of moose asks to be accepted. A troupe of ballerinas pirouettes into the bedroom, followed by a school of piranhas.
By now kids will be laughing uproariously as the bed fills with this odd range of occupants.
Bright, vivacious illustrations fill every page, showing an increasingly overloaded bed, with a range of animals tucking in under the covers. I love the expression on their faces as each new group appears, and the next supplicant, a whale, causes a whole host of eyes to widen. Just when you think nothing more outlandish could appear, a spaceship crash lands, caused by the storm still raging outside. The aliens ask to come in as well. Again the illustrations are very funny, paralleling and complementing the text and its range of stormy words. But all good things must come to an end and the bed splits in two. Dad calls a halt to any further additions, and bids farewell to the occupants of his bed. But with them all gone, the storm is still going on, making him feel alone and uneasy. He shuffles out to the lounge where he finds all those who had been in his bed, keeping warm by the fire. He joins them, and is served treats by the aliens.
The group tells jokes and stories for the rest of the night, not noticing the passing of the storm.
Fun from start to finish, kids will love joining in with the refrain listing the guests as they get into dad’s bed. They will eagerly turn the page to see what new thing is asking for shelter, and laugh at the aliens, ballerinas, piranhas and the whale. They will learn a whole lot of synonyms describing the storm, and the names given for groups. The illustrations are hugely funny, and will evince much laughter from the audience when the story is read out loud, a treat for reader and listeners.
See inside wild places by Laura Cowan. Illus. by Rong Phanm & Vinh Nguyen
Usborne, 2025. ISBN: 9781805315551.
We know that the world is made of many diverse habitats and biomes, but that doesn't mean they are necessarily benign. For within them there are wild places providing homes to all sorts of dangerous and deadly creatures that have adapted to their environment while posing a great threat to those around them, including humans.
Whether it's the jungle environment of the Sundarbans that straddle the coasts of India and Bangladesh, the toxic waters of the lakes of Central Africa, the sandy stretches of the Great Victoria Desert here in Australia or another of the ten places featured in this new release from Usborne, readers are challenged to lift the flap to see what lies beneath. Whether it's an innocent looking worm attracting a bird on the deadly island of Queimada Grande, also known as Snake Island; the hostile northern reaches of North America where caribou annually make the longest land journey of any animal on the planet, or daytime in the impenetrable forests of Uganda, this is one that is going to appeal to those who like to live on the edge with their reading, who prefer non fiction and discovering the secrets of their world.
This year's CBCA Book Week theme is Book an Adventure and many have created displays inviting young readers to venture into the jungle, under the ocean, or to explore some other exotic place but there will be few who are expecting to have quite such an adventure as this, particularly as all the characters in this one are real!
But as well as knowing that, its interactive format and eye-catching illustrations, this is another one for those who don't think that the Book Week theme (or, indeed books) has anything to offer that will entice them into the library. Who among those who prefer non fiction, particularly that which explores the wacky and the weird of this planet, could resist journeying to these extraordinary places, perhaps even sparking further investigations of place or inhabitant, maybe even inspiring a bucket-list item? And if what's on offer in the limited space of a double-spread, then there are the usual Quicklinks to take the explorations further.
Cass Biehn, in Vesuvius, catapults the reader straight into the first century world of Pompeii immediately before the cataclysmic eruption of Mt Vesuvius. The reader is immersed into the tumultuous, religious, political and cultural world of that time and place. Not only is the ground heaving but deadly political machinations and commercial enterprises are seething away alongside old temples dedicated to various gods.
Into this seamy cauldron, two young boys enter. Felix, is a talented young thief, who has mysterious flashbacks to his origins which he tries to tamp down. The book opens as he dodges through the crowds with a stolen priceless relic- the supposed helmet of the god Mercury. Loren is a temple attendant, also of unknown origins, who can foresee the future but can't exactly read or comprehend what he sees. Neither boy seems to know their origins or why Felix has always featured in Loren's dreams or what Felix's ties to the helmet mean or what the nightmarish dreams mean. As the tremors grow, as the city is cast into confusion and chaos, as treachery and death is around every corner, the boys must figure out what their fates are as their longing for each other grows in a simmering, slow-boil romance. The narrative has the rumbling, impending feel of catastrophe about to explode mirroring the mountain behind the town.
Biehn writes well. The plot and action is absorbing. The characters are well developed. Vesuvius could well fit onto an "additional reading" list for the study of Roman history which can be a topic studied in year seven and later in the high school years. Biehn states in the Author's Note that..."Although heavily researched, I'm the first to admit that Vesuvius takes some creative liberties with history". Nonetheless, Biehn has created an integrated picture of what Pompeii could have been like at the time based on her own study. Thus the young history scholar may find that reading Vesuvius makes the period come alive in the way of all good historical fiction.
Biehn has also created a book that looks at the effects of early childhood trauma and the way that it shapes people. She considers queer people in history and queer readers of today. She reaches out to contemporary readers not only through the story of Vesuvius with its message of hope and struggle in the overcoming of difficult odds but also through the list of resources for people in need of support - in Australia-Q Life (+contact details) in the end papers and through the message in the Author's Note.
Wombats poo in cubes? by Dr. Audrey Shen and Briana Heinrich
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781922678270. (Age:3+)
Winston the baby wombat wonders why his poo is shaped like cubes. He asks the question of his friends, to find out why. Greta the cow has big, flat poos, Billy the goat offers a handful of small round poos, Charlie the cockatoo has white sloppy poos that make a splat on the ground, but his research does not answer his question, so he offers some reasons why this may be so.
Perhaps it is so that it does not roll away or roll into his burrow as it would if it was round. Perhaps they are square so he could play with them like a toy, or their brick like structure may enable small creatures to build a house. Or is it because he is not eating healthily, or perhaps the cubes reflect the shape of his stomach or his bottom. He asks his mum but she does not know and sends him to the Possumwood Wildlife Hospital to ask the staff.
Dr Audrey and Nurse Briana give him several reasons, telling him his stomach is not cube shaped but does stretch and move about to give his poo the shape it is. The oddly shaped poo could be left as a warning to other animals, or left to attract other wombat friends, because it would not roll away but stay in one place. But for whatever reason, the wombat is the only animal in the world with cube shaped poo. Winston feels very special as he leaves the hospital, and going home finds a little pile of cube shaped poo, so he knows there is another wombat nearby.
A cute story which will intrigue readers, especially those attracted by the topic spelt out loudly on the title page, the little wombat story is a great way to introduce this animal’s signature waste disposal. Accompanied by illustrations that will appeal to young readers, children will follow Winston’s story with interest and a laugh.
Themes Wombats, Australian animals, Poo, Humour.
Fran Knight
The girl and the mermaid by Hollie Hughes and Sarah Massini
Alina and her grandmother live in a lighthouse and lately the stories Gran has told to her granddaughter have dried up. She is forgetting the stories she loves to share. Alina is at a loss as to how to help. She peers over the rocks into the sea below and sees a mermaid who beckons her to follow.
The mermaid takes her past seaweed forests, splendid coral reefs, sunken treasure ships, their cargo spilling out over the ocean floor. Sea creatures swim around them; pufferfish, whales, dolphins and shark are joined by turtles, sting rays and squid. Something is glinting far below and they swim towards it. A light filled city comes into view and the merfolk lead Alina towards a well where all the stories are kept. All the stories Alina thought were lost forever, come together in a shell which she takes to the sea’s surface.
She knows that tales must fly to live and tips them into the light atop the lighthouse, so the light’s beam is always full of stories. Alina and her Gran sit on the bench outside the lighthouse, watching the stories as they fill the night sky. I love this idea of the stories filling the night sky, enabling Gran to hold on to her memories.
This charming story of the relationship between a young girl and her grandmother, shows how children can help their older family members manage their lost memories. The child and her grandmother are lovingly drawn, the girl recalling her grandmother’s stories of the mermaid and the animals in the sea, taking the plunge to the city below.
Beautifully illustrated with a huge amount of detail, children will love diving down with Alina noting all the things from the sea around her. Sarah Massini has an eye for detail which is first drawn with pencil, then transferred to Photoshop. Layers of watercolour and mixed media build up the images she wants to project, the stunning results eye pleasing for all.
I love the image of the mermaid, a fantasy creature with her scales and long hair, seaweed draped around her long fishy tail. And the city beneath the waves is a breathtaking sight, one I can imagine enticing little fingers to recreate. The illustrations perfectly match the rhyming stanzas, full of adventure and wisdom.
Themes Sea, Old age, Memory, Verse, Storytelling, Grandparents, Mermaids.
