10 Quirky Questions with author Christopher Cheng

1. What's your hidden talent?

I used to play the piano and guitar well (separately, not together... I'm not that talented) and I used to sing!

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Mine is not a WHO (Dr.) it's a what... a DARLEK

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
More than a few authors and illustrators have feasted within these walls so these are five who haven’t:
William Shakespeare; Agatha Christie; Charles Dickens; CS Lewis; Marcia Williams (feasting at Marcia’s abode has been exquisite on many occasions so it would be awesome to do the same here. And I would cook).

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
Tardis (yes it was first on TV but it's also in the Dr Who books!)

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Think, think, draft, edit, rewrite. And No.6 would be awesomethanks (one word) to my editor.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
I Cried Reading His Book!

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
The photo of my very best friend - my wife; the view of my neighbourhood (okay that's not an object but it could be objectified); my numerous numbered notebooks holding story drafts / ideas /
outlines; my plethora of writing implements (2B lead pencils and fountain pens); a poster of NSW native bees.

8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet, by Jaclyn Moriarty, Allen&Unwin (you MUST read this).
Was it real, that cavernous empty feeling that echoed within the protective skeleton that was his body.

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
CS Lewis. Which came first: the lion, the witch or the wardrobe?

10. Which would you rather do: Never write another story or never read another book?
Never write another story - NO. Never read another book - NO. Never write another story - NO.
Never read another book - NO. Never write another story - NO. Never read another book - NO.
Hideously impossible to answer.

Christopher Cheng is an award-winning author of many children’s books including non-fiction, picture books and Chinese-themed historical fiction titles. He is co-chair of the Advisory Board for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a recipient of the Lady Cutler Award for Children’s Literature. Christopher is also an ambassador for the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature. For more information, see www.chrischeng.com.

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Review: Chico the Schnauzer

Chico the Schnauzer is a happy frolic of a book. Written by Taryn Brumfitt, 2023 Australian of the Year, it highlights a positive body image message.

The story follows Chico as he escapes through a gate that's left open and goes on an adventure.

Chico meets and greets a bunch of other dogs including Banjo the Border Collie and Ginger the Golden Retriever.  

As he plays games with each of his new canine friends, Chico is wowed by their special skills.

Gary the Greyhound is fast! Much faster than Chico, but Chico can leap in the air and catch a frisbee. 

Penelope the Poodle might be able to walk on her two back feet, but Chico can sing.

As Chico travels the neighbourhood, he discovers all the dogs have something they can do to show off. He also learns that although he can't always do what the other dogs can do, he has special talents of his own.

Taryn Brumfitt and her global Body Image Movement have a mission to help people embrace their bodies and celebrate all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and abilities. Using the familiarity of a cast of lovable dogs is a great way to introduce this concept to young children. 

Levi George has provided the illustrations in his picture book debut, with images that capture the active and individual personalities that can be found in each dog you meet. They're colourful and friendly, and just like real dogs, their eyes communicate a lot.

Chico the Schnauzer is a book perfect to share at home or at school, a reminder that everyone is unique and special, just the way they are.

Title: Chico the Schnauzer
Author: Taryn Brumfitt
Illustrator: Levi George
Publisher: Puffin, $ 19.99
Publication Date: January 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761343988
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Ask Aunty Seasons

Aunty Munya Andrews is an Aboriginal Elder from Bardi Country in the Kimberley region, with a great deal of knowledge to share. The co-director of Evolve Communities, she runs classes on cultural awareness, which have a flow-on to this striking book.

Aunty Munya introduces First Nations Seasons, which will undoubtably be followed by more glorious books of this kind. Stunning illustrations by the extraordinary talent of award-winning artist and illustrator Charmaine Leddon-Lewis, complement the excellent text, and command the attention of the reader.

All over the world, seasons have always guided planting and growth, in accordance with the movement of the oceans and tides, the stars, and the full moon. Aunty Munya presents in a friendly, intimate tone, her six seasons, their cultural names, and how to identify their change.

I loved how this information is revealed in a way that young and old, can gain knowledge of the language and its expression, (noted and explained at the end of the book) and the dedicated inter-connectedness of the First People with their Ancestors, Country, the earth below, and the skies above.

Information about the Bardi People travels with the text and fascinating visual story. The elements play a big part in the changing seasons. Wind makes trees bend and seas whip up froth and waves, as the wet season begin with the new year. Bush food becomes scarce, and turtles leave.

The Bardi people depend on these signs to know what food they can and can’t source until the next seasonal change.

Educational and inspiring, Ask Aunty Seasons is another stepping stone towards cultural awareness, and the benefits of a different perception to land and life.

Title: Ask Aunty Seasons
Author: Aunty Munya Andrews
Illustrator: Charmaine Leddon-Lewis
Publisher: Hardie Grant, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 15 November 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781741178852
For ages: 5 – 10
Type: Picture Book

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Meet The Illustrator: Evie Barrow

Name: Evie Barrow

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Hand-drawn with heart, celebrating colour, kindness, texture and imperfection.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
Pencils, paper, sharpeners, erasers, macbook, scanner and a solid lineup of creative, crime and psychological podcasts.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I love experimenting with mediums. Graphite and coloured pencils are probably my all time favourites. Beyond that - all pastels - soft, hard, wax, water-soluble, oil - I love them all.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Alice Neel, Ben Shahn, Pace Taylor 


Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
There are many - ahh, to be a time traveller! I’d love to visit the Renaissance period to chat with brilliant polymath Leonardo. Visit the early-mid 20thC, UK to meet the Bloomsbury group at Charleston, and similarly Heidi, Melbourne when it was also residential.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?

A love for drawing, 80’s Saturday morning cartoons, artful picture books and a love for books and printed pages.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
Sure, the area I work most is at a desk in our spare room. It doesn’t have great natural light, so I always have a lamp on. To the left of the desk are art-draws with a printer and scanner on top. The cushions on the floor belonged to our cat. This photos is from February. She passed in May. I still miss her heaps. I chose this photo because the chaos on the desk is a better representation of how it looks when mid-project. In reality I just tidied. Our house is old, and this room gets cold. The heater to the left of the desk and rug on the floor help keep it a bit cosier. The shelves above the desk have a mix of artworks, toys, books and mediums I like to have within reach. On the wall are original-artworks and prints by various artists, including Jodi Wiley, Yoshitomo Nara, Rachel Victoria Hillis, Jess Quinn, Sandra Eterovic. On the desk, an old-school lightbox, lamp, MacBook, pencils, markers, papers, notebooks, water, coffee, snacks, mess.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

I really enjoy problem solving, research, character development and working out colour palettes.

 What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Be kind to yourself and become friendly with your inner-critic as they’re hard to evict. Practice drawing, heaps. Draw what you love. Be open to learning. You will learn something from every client project or personal piece you do. Keep going! It’s a long game.

 
Evie Barrow is a character-driven illustrator specialising in picture books. She studied and worked in graphic design for 13 years before focusing on illustration. Her first published illustrated book was in 2019. She has since made 11 with Walker Books, Hardie Grant, Scribble, Affirm Press and more. As a kid, she borrowed Meg and Mog a lot. Today, she still enjoys stories about witches and cats. She loves cats, the colour green, and walks under towering trees.

For more information, please visit Evie's website or follow her on instagram.

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Guest Post: Independent Publishing Q&A with Kristy Nita Brown

A couple of years ago, Kristy Nita Brown released her first junior novel with resounding success. She did it all herself. 

Today we delve a little deeper into her independent publishing journey and her second junior novel, Mavey and Beth's Double Act. Welcome back, Kristy!

What is independent publishing?
With independent publishing, the author takes on the duties of the publishing company – printing, distributing, marketing, and everything in between. 

An author who independently publishes has full control over their work and their rights. They set the recommended retail price and earn a more substantial slice of the sales pie. 

On the flip side, it’s a hefty responsibility. 

The author oversees every step of the publishing process, from selecting illustrations, setting budgets, choosing printers and paper quality, selling, promoting, administration and post-sales services and feedback.

Why did you choose independent publishing over the traditional model?
I won’t lie. The allure of traditional publishing has always been there for me. I sent Looking for Lily (2022) out to traditional publishers when I finished it, but patience isn't my virtue. So while I waited for a reply, I explored independent publishing options to keep the momentum going. I felt confident I had a great story so I went for another round of edits, selected an illustrator, toured local printing facilities, and inked a distribution deal. When I finally received a rejection from the traditional publisher, it was a relief because my book was already in market.

Have you found the independent publishing process easier or harder for your second book?
With Mavey and Beth’s Double Act: Where’s My Whistle? (2023) I built on the groundwork laid by Looking for Lily. The brilliant Alison Mutton returned for illustrations. I stuck to local and ethical printing, and I continued with my national distributor. But this time round, I hosted a book launch at a local library which I hadn’t done before. I received glowing testimonials from renowned authors for the back cover and press materials, and inside, the book itself got a splash of colour and some interactive elements, including whistling facts, a craft activity, and a song kids can play on the recorder. It’s rewarding to see readers engage with the core theme of Mavey and Beth. It’s a blueprint for problem-solving.

Can you share one positive and one negative thing about independent publishing that you’ve discovered on your journey?
One of the most empowering aspects of independent publishing is having total control over the entire process. Being involved in every step means I can tailor my book exactly to my vision and audience, from the cover design to the pricing and marketing strategies. I also keep a larger share of the sales.

However, a negative includes the sheer volume of responsibilities that come with this control.

How do you book speaking events and workshops in schools and libraries?
My local library gave me my first shot. Even though I’ve had a lot of public speaking experience as a TAFE Lecturer with a Bachelor of Education and training in Instructional Intelligence, I was nervous. But it went well, so I reached out to another nearby library, leading to an on-the-spot booking. Then, word got out, I guess, because my bookings snowballed. I think the energy and excitement that I have for books and reading really comes through in my workshops. I get a lot of great feedback from teachers and librarians about how captivated the kids are.

What are your proudest achievements?
Looking for Lily was shortlisted in the 2023 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award. In 2024, I'll be working with Sasha Wasley in the Path to Published mentorship on a middle grade novel. And, in incredibly exciting news, Sean E. Avery and I have just been awarded a grant from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries to deliver a program we’ve created called The Book Builders Challenge. We’ll work with primary school students to create their own books, and the winner will be professionally published. We’re also creating a resource that will go out to teachers to help them run their own version of the program.

To find out more about the process of self publication, read Kristy's first Guest Post.

Visit Kristy's website or connect with her on Instagram. You'll also find her on Facebook.

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Winner: Julius Squeezer

Our lucky winner is ...

Seetha Dodd, NSW

Congratulations!

You have a copy of Julius Squeezer by Mary Anastasiou and Marina Verola, Enjoy!

Thank you to ALL who entered. We received a jungle-full of intriguing, humorous and rhythmic entries but this one took the snake, er cake! 

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Bookish Places: Story Bank

The Kids' Book Review Bookish Places posts are a chance to celebrate museums, galleries and other places with a connection to children's literature and reading. The posts are compiled by KBR's Consultant Librarian, Sarah Steed, our intrepid traveller and hunter-gatherer of amazing places! 

Did you know that PL Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, was born in Queensland?

The Story Bank building, at one time the Australian Joint Stock Bank, is today a heritage-listed, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious museum about stories and storytelling. Its emphasis is on the life of Maryborough’s famous resident, PL Travers and her popular character. 

The Story Bank (Image credit: Visit Fraser Coast)

Born in 1899, Helen Lyndon Goff took the stage name of Pamela Lyndon Travers in the 1920s when she was an actor and dancer. Soon after, Mary Poppins burst into life and captured the imagination of readers. 

Although PL Travers lived in Maryborough for only a few years, it is an eminently suitable place for her life and work to be recognised and preserved for the enjoyment of visitors.

The Story Bank also explores the process of storytelling through various mediums including illustration, painting, sculpture and objects, performance, animation, and more. Using Mary Poppins as inspiration these art forms can be found exhibited throughout the Story Bank, as well as outside the building itself.

Exploring stories inside Story Bank (Image credit: Visit Fraser Coast)

Historic information display at the Story Bank (Image credit: Visit Fraser Coast)

 There’s lots to see and do at the Story Bank including:

• Exploring the dynamic, interactive, and imagination-filled displays. 
• Talking to costumed volunteers and learning about PL Travers and Mary Poppins.
• Standing against the measuring tape and discover which description you match.
• Viewing pictures and documents from PL Travers' estate. 
• Reading or listening to a story.
• Having your photo taken with the Mary Poppins statue on Richmond Street, just outside the Story Bank.
• Plus, if your name is Mary, or a derivative of Mary, you’re entitled to sign the Mary Register.

Visit the Mary Poppins statue (Image credit: Visit Fraser Coast)

 

The Story Bank is located on the corner of Kent and Richmond Streets in Maryborough, on Queensland's Fraser Coast. Be sure to check out the Story Bank website before you visit to see what’s on. There’s even a ‘Tea with Mary’ tour of the town which finishes with morning tea at the Story Bank.

Interested in taking a Bookish Places trip around the world with Sarah? Enjoy this sensational map, also created by Sarah, and check out our other Bookish Places posts here.

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Review: Murtagh

Christopher Paolini has returned with a new novel following on from the events of his previous best selling Inheritance Cycle books. Murtagh follows the lives of Murtagh and his dragon Thorn, outcast from society following their previous actions.

Having devoured the Inheritance Cycle repeatedly as a child, it brings me great joy to revisit the world that brought me so much childhood wonder. Despite being set in the same world, following the events of the previous Inheritance Cycle books, it felt fresh and exciting, particularly due to the change of protagonist.

The book is well-paced, easily digestible and the prose is simple and suitable for young fantasy readers. 

Despite being heavily-plot driven and packed full of action and adventure, Murtagh's introspective moments, healing and growth throughout the story still shine through.

Overall, it's a well-balanced and exciting addition to the Inheritance Cycle and is a great read for those wanting to continue this journey.

- Reviewed by Ella McCartney

Title: Murtagh
Author: Christopher Paolini
Illustrator: Cover art by John Jude Palancar
Publisher: Penguin, $32.99
Publication Date: 7 November 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241651346
For ages: 12+
Type: Fiction

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Review: Murtagh

Christopher Paolini has returned with a new novel following on from the events of his previous best selling Inheritance Cycle books. Murtagh follows the lives of Murtagh and his dragon Thorn, outcast from society following their previous actions.

Having devoured the Inheritance Cycle repeatedly as a child, it brings me great joy to revisit the world that brought me so much childhood wonder. Despite being set in the same world, following the events of the previous Inheritance Cycle books, it felt fresh and exciting, particularly due to the change of protagonist.

The book is well-paced, easily digestible and the prose is simple and suitable for young fantasy readers. 

Despite being heavily-plot driven and packed full of action and adventure, Murtagh's introspective moments, healing and growth throughout the story still shine through.

Overall, it's a well-balanced and exciting addition to the Inheritance Cycle and is a great read for those wanting to continue this journey.

- Reviewed by Ella McCartney

Title: Murtagh
Author: Christopher Paolini
Illustrator: Cover art by John Jude Palancar
Publisher: Penguin, $32.99
Publication Date: 7 November 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241651346
For ages: 12+
Type: Fiction

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12 Curly Questions with author Lucy Hawkins

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. 

I have a tingly feeling that everything’s going to be OK. And then when it isn’t, I’m absolutely flawed. But the next day my fingers tingle and I think, everything will be OK. I’ve probably just got a B12 deficiency.

2. What is your nickname?
My husband calls me by my maiden name, Holdsworth. Lots of friends have called me that over the years come to think of it. I’m quite cheeky so perhaps they’re just keeping me in line. I’m also ecstatic to be called mummy; that’s the best.

3. What is your greatest fear? 
Same as all parents I expect - something happening to my children. I’ve never been worried about myself.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words. 
Banter. Funny, honest conversations between characters you feel you know.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Passionate, well-intentioned, irreverent, happy, grateful.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Circe, the Greek goddess who gets in trouble for being sincere and is banished to a remote island as punishment but discovers she actually quite likes being alone and gardening. I’m laughing as I write this - what a crazy old crone I am.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?

1889. Jules Verne has written Around the World in Eighty Days and it set the Victorian world alight. It was a time of momentous innovation and global travel and a journalist called Nellie Bly decides to beat Phileas Fogg’s journey time and she does in 72 days! I would have loved to be her companion.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
You’re so lucky you don’t have to go to school. Or watch Top Gear.

9. Who is your greatest influence?
Everyone who soldiers on whilst still being kind. Whenever I encounter one of those people it reminds me what it’s all about. A waitress gave me an extra biscuit with my tea yesterday and it really influenced the mood of my day.

10. What/who made you start writing?

Going to an academic girls’ school where we were all being educated to be lawyers and doctors and I failed at everything. Except writing, that was where I excelled and where I could escape Latin and algebra.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
It’s two words and inappropriate, but whenever my kids or I say ‘bum cheeks’ we fall over laughing. Interestingly ‘bum’ doesn’t have the same effect, it needs the cheeks.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
My daughter and I are currently reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and neither of us want it to end.

Lucy Hawkins is an Australian artist and debut author based in Victoria. The Salvager's Quest (RRP $16.99) is available now, online and in all good bookstores. You can visit her website at https://www.lucyhawkinsart.com.

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Review: Our Family Dragon

Celebrating family, culture and tradition, Our Family Dragon takes readers on a joyful journey with a young boy and his family.

They’re getting ready for Lunar New Year, and there’s lots to be done. Hanging lanterns and decorations, so much cleaning, cooking all sorts of delicious foods and lots of waiting for the dragon to arrive.

Everyone gets ready to eat. There’s a knock on the door. Could it be the dragon?

This book is like an invitation. It invites readers to share a special time of year with a family and learn all about their culture.

The details are special and delicious. You’ll learn about the food that’s cooked, several Lunar New Year traditions you may not have known about, and new words that are dotted throughout the book.

We’ve made dumplings spring rolls and long life noodles; a hotpot of mushrooms, dried oysters and veggies.

We’ve cooked Eight Treasure Rice and sweet round tāng yuán for dessert, that look like family gathering around the table, all together again.

This is the kind of book kids will love to read together as a class or with friends. Most kids will recognise at least one of the traditions and some kids will know them all. Everyone will delight in sharing their experiences.

Beautifully written by Rebecca Lim, the language is flowy and descriptive, yet stunningly simple. Lim gets all the facts into the book, but the story doesn’t read like non-fiction. It’s full of heart and excitement as the little boy eagerly awaits the arrival of the dragon.

A special twist at the end also provides a nice surprise.

Cai Tse’s illustrations are also beautiful. They’re filled with colour and detail. The characters — the family we get to meet— come alive on the pages.

This is a captivating picture book that will engage audiences while it shares a story about a special yearly tradition.

Title: Our Family Dragon
Author: Rebecca Lim
Illustrator: Cai Tse
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $24.99
Publication Date: 28 November 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761180637
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Books

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Meet The Illustrator: Aniek Bartels

Name: Aniek Bartels

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Colorful, hand and heart made, chubby, playful and uplifting.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My big pink donut mug, plants, drawing tools, my pink HÅG Capisco chair.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Gouache is my all time favourite!

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
The Printed Peanut, Mark Janssen, Rachel Victoria Hillis

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I think pop art.

I would go have a cup of tea with Andy Warhol and be greatly inspired by this colourful time. If a time machine existed I would have travelled to this time long anyway because of the music.

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I was always very encouraged as a child by those around me to draw. That was my way of relaxing and I think I was pretty good at it. The books by the Dutch writer Annie M.G. Schmidt with the drawings by Fiep Westendorp made me realize that drawing could also become my profession later on. So since childhood this has been my dream.

 
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
Attached you can find some photos of my workspace. I moved here this year. It was always my dream to have a colourful, inspiring studio of my own. This place is part of the Stookplaats, a cool building in my hometown Hilversum. It is an old salt warehouse transformed into workspaces where inspiring sustainable brands have now been set up. I work at a big, pink desk with drawing tools and material all over the place.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

It may sound crazy but I think the part when it is finished. While illustrating, I am constantly working on my curiosity about the end result. In fact, I already have a picture in my mind before I even touch the paper with my brush. I always hope that the end result will be as successful as how I imagined it.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

It may be a cliché but I would say practice a lot and don't be afraid to make things you don't like. By experimenting, your own style will develop. And keep looking around you. Inspiration comes from all sorts of places. The neighbour's dog with a crazy haircut, an awesome colour combination that you put on that morning or the cloud composition in the sky. I often take a snapshot of it for later.

 

Aniek Bartels is a Dutch illustrator who opens the doors to the enchanting world of children and guides them towards personal growth, love for nature and promoting sustainability.


For more information, please visit Aniek's website or follow her on instagram.

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Review: First Mate Lenny

First Mate Lenny is a fun adventure story wrapped in reality.

Author Elayna Carausu is a sailor. She’s travelled the world many times on her boat, sharing her adventures. But when her first son Lenny joins the sailing team, things changed.

This is Lenny’s story.

In the cabin of a home on the sea, Mama leans over Lenny.

‘Welcome,’ she whispers, as lapping waves rock the boat like a cradle.

The story explores the world through Lenny’s eyes as he grows up on a boat. He must learn to swim, learn to walk on a boat over rollicking waves and learn to be brave when faced with dangers.

As he gets older, he becomes first mate and takes on knew responsibilities, like tying knots and checking the crew. And when a new baby brother comes along, Lenny has even more important things to do.

This is a loving picture book written by a mother for her son, but Carausu’s writing invites you to be part of the story. From the first page you are welcomed to board the boat with Lenny and be there with the family as he learns about the world.

Peppered throughout the book are also terms and labels to bring you further into life at sea. Terms like 'port', 'starboard', place names and animal names too.

Picture books based on true stories are challenging to get right, but I found First Mate Lenny to be highly engaging, entertaining and a joy to explore. Carausu injects so much emotion into the story, making you feel what Lenny does. Fear, anticipation, frustration, wonder — you’ll feel it all by Lenny’s side.

Sandra Eide’s illustrations also bring the joy-factor to the book. They’re bright and colourful. They’re gorgeously soft and beautifully textured.

Being able to see the world through someone else’s experiences is a special gift. But this is what First Mate Lenny gives to everyone who opens this book.

Title: First Mate Lenny
Author: Elayna Carausu
Illustrator: Sandra Eide
Publisher: Puffin, $24.99
Publication Date: 5 December 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761341175
For ages:  3 - 6
Type: Picture Books

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Review: Space Band

Imagine you’re in a band. You rock it hard with your pals, doing everything you can to be the best band in the world. But rocking is hard, and it takes sooooo much practice.

Still, you never give up. And when the chance comes to play in a comp that could win you tickets to the best rock concert of all time, you jump on it.

Except…. right before you’re about to play, you’re beamed into space to join the best band in the universe competition. A dream come true? Maybe. Except… there are some weird conditions for this rock competition, and they might mean never getting to go home again.

Join Goerge, Bash and Neila in this space musical adventure as they rock is out against aliens from across the universe. There’s non-stop action, bucket-loads of danger and twist upon twist, that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Tom Fletcher, author of The Creakers and The Danger Gang, puts the rock in rock band in this one. It’s light-hearted and fun. It’s entertaining. It’s addictive.

And as an added bonus, there is a QR code to scan for each of the band’s songs, so you can experience the rocking yourself, delivered by Fletcher’s own rock band McFly.

This is a great junior fiction/middle grade book for kids who love an easy fun-filled read. With loads of illustrations peppered throughout and an engaging layout, it’s more than just words on the page.

Action-packed fun with twists you won’t see coming, Space Band will rock your socks off!

Title: Space Band
Author: Tom Fletcher
Publisher: Puffin, $16.99
Publication Date: 7 November 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780241595930
For ages: 7 - 12
Type: Junior Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: Eighteen Summers

Let me tell you a tale of the stars and the sea,
of adventures we’ll have as you grow wild and free.

Eighteen Summers is a loving, rhyming picture book about life, love and growth. 

It’s written as a story from mother to daughter of the eighteen summers they’ll cherish together.

It explores the wonder and joy that’s to come as it all plays out on the pages through the gorgeous illustrations.

Summers of sunshine, and soft, buzzing flowers…
long lazy days where we slip through the hours.

As the daughter grows, the activities change, but the connection between mother and child remains ever strong as mum listens and watches and teaches.

You’ll grow wishful as wind, with a courage as strong,
and you’ll soon hear the call of the moon-voyage song.

This is a story of love, hope and wonder. Penny Harrison puts so much heart into this book and you feel it all as you read. It’s a beautiful story every mother will relate to, and every daughter will love to hear.

Leila Rudge’s illustrations are ‘oh my gosh’ amazing! Soft, rich colours in a joyful textured style. The details are exquisite and add so much depth and deeper storylines. The repeating origami elements are both beautiful and meaningful. Watch out for them and you’ll see added layers in the story.

A picture book for bedtime, warm hugs and gifts to a daughter, Eighteen Summers is a beautiful addition to your picture book collection.

For more books by Penny Harrison check out Little Coven, Extraordinary and Rainbow is my Favourite Colour. To see more Leila Rudge books check out Let me Sleep, Sheep, Definitely No Ducks! and Gary. 

Title: Eighteen Summers
Author: Penny Harrison
Illustrator: Leila Redge
Publisher: Hardie Grant, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 November 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761212505
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Books

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Australia Reads research

Did you know? Three-year-olds who can name a favourite book are better readers at age seven.

Of those children aged 6–8 whose parents no longer read books aloud at home, half (51%) did not want their parents to stop.

The top barriers to teens reading were the difficulty of choosing a good book (61%), followed by lack of free time (56%).

Exposure to larger home libraries in adolescence has a positive direct effect on adult literacy, numeracy, and information and communications technology skills.

These are just some of the findings of an Australia Reads research review.

Australia Reads is a not-for-profit collaboration between four organisations: the Australian Library and Information Association, Australian Publishers Association, Australian Society of Authors, and the BookPeople. The Australia Reads mission is ‘to get more people reading more books, more often …. [because reading] is the key to a healthier, happier and more connected nation’. It's a big mission, but an important one!

You can read more about the research review on the Australia Reads website where you can also subscribe to receive updates about Australia Reads news and information.


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