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The Opal Dinosaur – Yvonne Mes. Illustrated by Sylvia Morris.
CSIRO Publishing August 2024 | $ 24.99ISBN: 9781486316793 Local Brisbane author Yvonne Mes has created a fascinating narrative non-fiction which kiddos will love, particularly that ever-present cohort of dino-philes. Turning the extraordinary discovery of opalised fossils in Lightning Ridge, by miner, Bob Foster, in 2019 into a drama-filled tale that outlines the fate of one…
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The Riding Gallery – Sally Murphy. Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek
Walker Books Australia July 2024 ISBN13:9781760657345 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Yes, I said not so long ago that I’m not a huge fan of verse novels, and there are only a few exceptions. Sally Murphy’s are one of those rare anomalies. Each one is so utterly absorbing, with such beautiful narrative flow that I…
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Tearaway Coach – Neridah McMullin/Andrew McLean
Walker Books Australia April 2024 ISBN13:9781760653170 Australia RRP:$26.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 I’m certain that everyone has caught onto Neridah McMullin’s stunning historical picture books, but then again, there are always some who are late to the party. This is the latest, and is both a rousing adventure and a fascinating slice of history that will…
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The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse – Geneviève Hopkins. Illustrated by Alexandra Heazlewood.
Brambleberry Press ISBN: 978064815520 RRP: $23.99 From the first moment I saw this book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. How could I not… as the daughter of an WWII RAF crewie, albeit different squadron and different aircraft? When absolutely adorable softie William arrived with my copy from Geneviève, I was…
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ANZAC Day 2024
I thought I’d put together a few ANZAC resources purely focused on the service of our First Nations men and women. I feel confident that most people would already have plenty of other books, activities, resources but perhaps not so many that focus on Blak Diggers. If you know of any others, I’d love to…
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Those Girls -Pamela Rushby
Walker Books Australia April 2024 ISBN13:9781760657840 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 Pamela Rushby’s books are always a treat. For me though, it’s a given that those historical fictions set in Brisbane are the most fascinating. Because I didn’t grow up here, I knew a bare minimum of the city’s history prior to moving here in…
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Anzac Ted -(10th Anniversary edition): Belinda Landsberry
EK Books March 2024 ISBN: 9781922539755 RRP: $29.99 Sometimes appearances are misleading, as adults we know that. So for some children who see a battered, raggedy and worn-out teddy bear with missing parts, it would be natural to be dismissive or even contemptuous. My own Tedward is, after 67 years, in a pretty sad and sorry…
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Silver Linings – Katrina Nannestad
Harper Collins Australia I cannot begin to tell you how impatiently I have waited to post this review. When I was invited to write teaching notes for a new Katrina Nannestad book, I was absolutely thrilled. Then, when I read the manuscript for this beautiful, funny, poignant, life-affirming narrative, I realised how easy it would…
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Our Country: Where History Happened – Mark Greenwood/Frane Lessac
Walker Books Australia September 2023 ISBN13:9781760653576 Australia RRP:$26.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 This is the second in this stunning series from talented couple Mark Greenwood & Frane Lessac. I have previously reviewed the first (twice! hardback and paperback!) Ancient Wonders and I know that many people took that first title to their hearts. In this new…
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Country Town – Isolde Martyn and Robyn Ridgeway. Illustrated by Louise Hogan.
Ford St Publishing September 2023 ISBN: 9781922696359 RRP: $19.99 I have always loved those English books that explored ‘Through Time’ e.g. A Street Through Time – the history nerd in me just revels in the minutiae from days gone by to the present. While this book doesn’t cover 12, 000 years as such, it does…
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