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Picture Book Month Bonus: a little puff for us.
So along with my first published book being only weeks away now.. My foray into magazine writing continues a-pace with 3 articles published in the current Caloundra Chronicle (the attached are the proof copies with some typos), the second column for Inspiring Minds sent off and a forthcoming lead article in the YourTime over-55s community…
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Promises and Other Lies – Sue Whiting
Walker Books Australia September 2025 ISBN13:9781760658649 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 This was absolutely a crackerjack read and I ate it up over two nights. Sue Whiting has such a deft hand with writing narratives that tackle difficult and emotive issues with grace and sensitivity, and this is a prime example. You will all, I…
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Parrot Palace – Susanne Gervay with Pooja Mathur. Illustrated by Sarah Tabassum.
Big Sky Publishing Imprint: Little Big Sky March 2025 ISBN: 9781923300088 RRP: $12.99 When I had an email from the wonderful Susanne Gervay last year, asking if I would write teaching notes for a new book, quite naturally I was delighted. And when I first read Parrot Palace, I was even more delighted. This is…
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The Big Backyard Plan – Kirsten Ealand/Laura Stitzel
Affirm Press February 2025 AUD RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781922992444 What a delightful and happy-making book this is! Until I was 14, my family home was our house in the front corner of 3 regular-sized Sydney suburban blocks, with the rest of the land being taken up with the family business of A. Warren & Sons…
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Howzat Pat series #1 and #2 – Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley. Illustrated by Serena Geddes
Harper Collins Australia October 2024 I admit that I’m not quite the cricket fan I once was [though, of course, I went to see the Bradman Collection when we were in Adelaide a fortnight ago!] but it was still pretty exciting, and also a lot of fun to write teaching notes for these two titles,…
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Best Idea Yet: Willa and Woof # 8 – Jacqueline Harvey
Penguin Australia October 2024 Jacqueline Harvey continues to smash this series for younger readers with another exciting adventure from the ever-intrepid and resourceful Willa. Along with Tae and Woof, Willa has been officially helping at the Sunset Views retirement village next door. And the elderly residents are now also even more involved with Willa’s school…
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Dragon Folding – Christopher Cheng. Illustrated by Lucia Masciullo.
Penguin Australia September 2024 Grief is hard. And most of us know, in one way or another, some losses are harder to bear than others. I know that well, as does author Christopher Cheng. In a beautiful new book from this illustrious author, comes a narrative that explores the depths of grief, and how strength…
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The Silverback’s Song – Dannika Patterson and Nick Kohler.
Morningstar Books August 2024 Iona College presents…. ISBN: 978-0-6485778-2-9 RRP: $25.00 April seems such a long time ago now, when I was thrilled to hear from local author, Dannika Patterson, to ask if I might write some teaching notes for a very special new book. This picture book has been a project like no other…
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Helping Little Star – Sally Morgan and Blaze Kwaymullina. Illustrations by Sally Morgan.
Walker Books Australia July 2024 ISBN13:9781760658700 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 August 4 is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day so what a better to mark that than with some reviews of some wonderful new titles. What an absolutely charming story this is for Smalls! It is essentially quite simple but could easily develop into…
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