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The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks – Katie Kirby
Penguin Books Australia Somehow or other, I have completely missed Lottie Brooks until now but I’m glad we have met. I found this quite hilarious and can easily see why this series has been so popular with tweens. It’s reminiscent of the likes of Wimpy Kid or Tom Weekly but more like an older Clarice…
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Thunderhead – Sophie Beer
Allen & Unwin October 20249781761180958 RRP: $19.99 I do know I’m repeating myself but truly, 2024 has been a bumper year for Australian MG novels – they just keep on coming. This is another one that I ate up in two swift sessions. Thunderhead is not your usual protagonist. They are definitely in the unusual…
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Into the Ice: Reflections on Antarctica – Alison Lester & Coral Tulloch.
Allen & Unwin October 2024 ISBN:9781760526061 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $35.00 Honestly, it is a little hard for me to define this sumptuous book, but I am putting in here as a picture book – although, it is patently so much more than that. Really, it is an illustrated journal with these…
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Picture Book Month extra!! Cobweb – Michael Morpurgo
Harper Collins Australia RRP: $19.99 Once again Michael Morpurgo demonstrates exactly why he is a master of middle grade historical fiction, even at the venerable age of 80+. If you have read his memoir Such Stuff: a Storymaker’s Inspiration, you will already be aware that most, if not all, of Michael’s stories are sparked initially…
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For the Wild! More Taronga Presents… with Kristin Darell. Illustrations by Laura Wood.
Penguin Australia November 2024 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $14.99 Back in September I reviewed the first two books in this delighful new series Poo at the Zoo and Party Animals, and now it’s such a joy to present the next two. I’m absolutely loving this series for its cleverly disguised information, the very realistic look at…
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The One and Only Family – Katherine Applegate
Harper Collins Australia All good things must come to an end so they say [and of course, as a Buddhist, I do know that everything is impermanent], but I am, along with many others I have no doubt, sad to say goodbye to Ivan and his friends, and now family. It has given me such…
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Fallout – Lesley Parr
Bloomsbury Australia October 2024 ISBN 9781526648013 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $15.99 I have been a fan of Lesley Parr’s writing since the very first I reviewed, and this new one is another fabulous read. I ate it up over this past weekend, thoroughly immersed in Marcus’ troubled life in his Welsh valley in the…
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All the Beautiful Things – Katrina Nannestad
Harper Collins October 2024 RRP: $22.99 It goes without saying that Katrina Nannestad’s books are going to fly off the shelves. She just produces one amazing narrative after another. When I was asked to write notes for this new one, I was naturally delighted. I found the book not only completely engrossing but quite emotional…
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Be a Nature Explorer!: Outdoor Activities and Adventures – Peter Wohlleben. Translated by Jane Billinghurst, illustrated by Belle Wuthrich
New South Books Greystone Kids/David Suzuki Institute July 2024 9781771649698 AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 Nerdy kid me would have loved this book when I was a munchkin. I actually still love it now and really think I will try some of the suggested activities out [I wonder if I can coerce The Kid? she would also have…
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