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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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Words Matter – Anita Fitch Pazner & Sophie Casson
The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, and the White Rose Resistance The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, and the White Rose Resistance New South Books Publisher: Groundwood Books 9781773069708 January 2026 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 While I have known of Hans and Sophie Scholl for many years, as would anyone who follows groups such as…
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The Santa Klaus Murder – Mavis Doriel Hay
New South Books Imprint: British LibraryJanuary 2016Edition: New edition, ISBN: 9780712356305ISBN 10: 0712356304Series: British Library Crime Classics AUD$22.99, NZD$27.99 Shortly before Xmas and just as I was scheduling the last of the Countdown posts, the marvellous New South Books sent me a parcel of 3 classic books which I pounced upon as some kind of delightful Christmas present…
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My First Book of Zen: simple wisdom for children – Tracy Gallup
New South Books Tuttle Publishing 9784805318980 September 2025 AUD$29.99 As you might expect, this one very much speaks to my Buddhist soul. It is gentle and soothing, a tranquil taste of what it means to be both mindful and meditative in our daily lives. Over the years I’ve had several books that were focused on…
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Picture Book Month Bonus: Heart of Ice: a journey into Antarctica’s frozen realm – Joy McCann
New South Press 9781742237800 / November 2025 / RRP $34.99 This is one of the rare reviews that I’m writing before I’ve actually finished reading the book – simply because it fits so neatly with the earlier post and the lovely kids’ non-fiction book. I confess that this is really slack, particularly because I had this book as an…
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Good Golden Sun – Brendan Wenzel
New South Books Publisher: Scallywag Press May 2025 9781836300304 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 This one would be an excellent springboard into your UoI into those Earth/Sky/Weather type topics as while it is not informational per se, it provides a great opening gambit for conversations about why the sun is important and what it means to life on…
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My Friend May – Julie Flett
New South Books Greystone Kids June 2025 ISBN 9781778401718 RRP: 29.99 How can I not absolutely love this one? Based on a true story and about a little girl and her friend, her black cat May, my first thought was of The Kid and Whiskers aka The Demon Spawn. This pair has been together for…
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No One is Home – Mikolaj Pa. Illustrated by Gosia Herbs.
translated by Scotia Gilroy New South Books Publisher: Greystone Kids September 2025 9781778402180 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 Last year I reviewed No 5. Bubblegum St from this same pair of creators in a week of ‘happy-ness’ reviews. This one seemed a perfect fit for today’s slightly bonkers books, and I love it just as much as I…




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