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Star of Deltora- Emily Rodda
Allen & Unwin ISBN:9781761182686 Imprint:A&U Children’s Sep 2026 RRP: $39.99 I’ll be honest – I had completely forgotten the original editions of this series and I’m thinking now that I must not have read them at the time. Quite likely because it came out at a time when I was working in purely secondary libraries…
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Witless Protection: Mega Rich Guinea Pigs #2 – Kate and Jol Temple
Harper Collins Australia June 2026 They’re back! and it’s another hilarious ride with the loaded GPs as they find themselves, once again, in the throes of a dastardly plot to steal their fortune. Of course, we all know it’s going to be the ‘other’ side of the family who are behind it all. It all…
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All the Blues in the Sky – Renée Watson
Winner of the Newbery Medal Bloomsbury August 2026 ISBN 9781547605897 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $19.99 This is such a beautiful and poignant verse/prose novel that explores grief as it impacts on a young person. And yes, we know that happens often and even just this year, I’ve had several books in which a child…
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Ash Flies High: Kimberley Kickers #3 – Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler with Ash Johnson. Illustrated by Samantha Campbell.
Harper Collins Australia I know many of you, along with kiddos, have enjoyed this series from Carl and Hakea, in conjunction with players from the ALF footy factory of the Kimberley, and I appreciate those of you who have commented on the reviews and the resources for the first one. It’s a great series on…
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The Big Switch: #2 It’s a Twin Thing – Kristin Darell. Illustrated by A. Yi
Penguin Australia From the super switched-on and sparky twin, Kristin Darell, comes the second in her terrific new series about twins, Abi and Brook. These girls are so likeable and their posse of friends, along with the readers, would agree. They are smart and funny, they are clever but not obnoxiously ‘swotty’ and they each…
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The Adventures of Squidape – John Stanton
Riveted Press Simon & Schuster July 2026 ISBN13: 9781923676046 LIST PRICE: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 When you read a debut novel that is not only hugely enjoyable but written by a fellow school librarian – it’s YAYYY!! This one is (strange as it may seem still) one of the several read in the past…
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The Lost Island – Samantha Wheeler. Illustrated by Anke Noack.
UQP August 2026 ISBN: 9780702271182 RRP: $17.99 We can always depend on Samantha Wheeler, on of our local authors, to deliver an engaging and thoughtful middle grade novel. Her ability to create characters to whom readers gravitate and put them into situations that enable those readers to explore emotions, attitudes and problem-solving has been amply…
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Running in Circles – Shivaun Plozza
UQP April 2026 ISBN 9780702271045 RRP: $17.99 It’s quite amazing, even after fourteen years of doing this reviewing thing, how there will be batches of books all with really similar themes for similar ages. It’s like some pervasive mist in the air inspired so many authors to independently come up with quite similar storylines. And…
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Nanny Tobbins and the Midnight Plan – Lucie Stevens
Harper Collins Australia May 2026 ISBN: 9781460766538 RRP; $18.99 Nanny Tobbins #1 was great fun and liberally laced with solid historical references. Now #2 continues the fantasy six months on with Bertie once again finding herself in the midst of misadventure. The Great Exhibition is over and as the remaining displays and exhibits are packed…
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