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Daisy and Bug: Treehouse Troubles – Kim de Haan
Perentie Press Kim de Haan 9781923543072 April 2026 AUD$15.99, NZD$16.99 To be honest, I said, I’m not a huge fan of graphics. I have reviewed some that were extraordinarily great but, in general, yeah nah – not for me, so I usually avoid them. ‘It’s just a little one for younger kids’. Well, it is…
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Lila MacKay is Very Misunderstood – Gill Sims
Harper Collins Australia December 2025 If you have followed and shrieked with laughter over Gill Sims’ FB posts Peter and Jane over the years or read her books e.g. the Why Mummy Drinks series , you will know instantly that this book is utterly hilarious. It is pure Gill Sims, with less sweary bits. Written…
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Bertie’s Theory of Ice Cream: a 44 Scotland St novel – Alexander McCall Smith
New South Books Publisher: Polygon 9781846977169 December 2025/Hardback AUD$39.99, NZD$44.99 My holiday reading was for pure pleasure, and not necessarily review books – just books that I had been wanting to read for my own interest or enjoyment. However, when it comes to Alexander McCall Smith, and particularly the Bertie books, that can very happily…
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There’s a Prawn in Parliament House: The Kids’ Guide to Australia’s Amazing Democracy – Annabel Crabb
Allen & Unwin September 2025 A & U Children 9781760637750 $24.99 This is one from last year’s pile which was read at the time, thoroughly enjoyed but I ran out of time and space for the review before the break. And, frankly, maybe that’s a good thing. Because if there was ever a time this…
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Romeo V Juliet – R. A. Spratt
Penguin Australia February 2026 Imprint: Penguin ISBN: 9781761349744 RRP: $16.99 If Hamlet is Not OK made you laugh a lot and cast Shakespeare into a different light altogether, verily forsooth! just wait till you get thy hands on this tome. I truly wish this had been around the last time I taught R&J [though I say…
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This is an Elf – Beck & Matt Stanton
Harper Collins Australia August 2025 Earlier this year I reviewed the 10th anniversary edition of This is a Ball and just as that one and many other Stanton bursts of hysterical humour have entertained kids (and adults) over the past decade, so too will this one. Kids LOVE proving you wrong. And they especially love…
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Just a Dog (new edition): Michael Gerard Bauer
Scholastic Australia November 2025 9781761127816 $15.99 Xmas gift for middle grade kiddos It’s been a while – 2011, we first met Mister Mosely and since then his award-winning fame has travelled the world, and it was a joy to re-visit his gentle nature, his quirky adventures, and his family. We know how much the kiddos…
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Mrs Claus – Renee Price. Illustrated by Travis Price.
Simon & Schuster Publisher: Affirm Press August 2025 This is another I’ve been sitting on since August but it’s worth the wait. I wish you could see how shiny the cover is because that’s just completely gorgeous. Aside from that the first thing that struck is me that glorious mid-century vibe about the illustrations –…
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How to Train Your Teacher- Bethany Walker. Sophie Kent.
Scholastic Australia December 2025 Imprint: Scholastic UK ISBN: 9781761727023 ISBN-10: 1761727028 RRP: $19.95 This is loads of fun and gives Smalls a humorous viewpoint on being at school, as it explains from the kiddos’ perspective how a teacher works and what to expect. It’s a completely different approach to a ‘new to school’ book. Whether it’s helping…
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