Category: Picture Books

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Alice-Miranda, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Futuristic Fiction, historical fiction, history, humour, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, series, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

April 2026 Round Up

Ashleigh

In April I read 20 books across fiction and non-fiction, and most of them were Australian authors. Many of them were review books, whilst a few were ones I had wanted to read out of interest or to know what had happened before reading the sequel. I read across various genres, and focused on the… Continue reading April 2026 Round Up

adventure, animals, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, Picture Books, Reading, Reviews

The Colours of Nature: Discover the beautiful colours that brighten our world by Catherine Barr, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

Ashleigh

Title: The Colours of Nature: Discover the beautiful colours that brighten our world. Author: Catherine Barr, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat Genre: Fiction Publisher: Bloomsbury Published: 4th November 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 48 Price: $32.99 Synopsis: Did you know that rainbows are actually circles not arcs?Or that there is a lizard with lime-green BONES?The universe is… Continue reading The Colours of Nature: Discover the beautiful colours that brighten our world by Catherine Barr, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

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Once Upon a Tomorrow by Karen Comer

Ashleigh

Title: Once Upon a Tomorrow Author: Karen Comer Genre: Fiction Publisher: Hachette Australia Published: 28th April 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: Price: $19.99 Synopsis: Three girls. Three fates. Three interwoven stories. Spanning a hundred years from the present to the future, three girls on the cusp of life search for truth and connection amid family dysfunction, climate… Continue reading Once Upon a Tomorrow by Karen Comer

#AussieAuthors2026, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

My Body is My Home by Jasper Peach, illustrated by Beci Orpin

Ashleigh

Title: My Body is My Home Author: Jasper Peach, illustrated by Beci Orpin Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 28th April 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: A joyful celebration of bodies of all shapes and kinds, with a gently inclusive message about being at home in your own skin. This… Continue reading My Body is My Home by Jasper Peach, illustrated by Beci Orpin

#AussieAuthors2026, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, Children's Literature, Fables, Fairytales, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Belong by Sharon Seymour, illustrated by Freya Goldsmith

Ashleigh

Title: Belong Author: Sharon Seymour, illustrated by Freya Goldsmith Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Dirt Lane Press/WestWords Children’s Published: 1st April 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages:28 Price: $24.95 Synopsis: A gentle tale about how finding friends and fitting in, written by Sharon Seymour and brought to life by Freya Goldsmith’s striking illustrations. Sharon Seymour ardently advocates for children’s… Continue reading Belong by Sharon Seymour, illustrated by Freya Goldsmith

#AussieAuthor2025, #AussieAuthors2025, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Who Might You Be? by Robert Henderson

Ashleigh

Title: Who Might You Be? Author: Robert Henderson Genre: Fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 1st July 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: Inspired by the popular puzzle tangram, this playful exploration of shapes and identity is also a pleasing rollicking rhyme perfect to read aloud. Today, I am this and tomorrow I'm… Continue reading Who Might You Be? by Robert Henderson

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Alice-Miranda, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Disney Reading Challenge, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

March 2026 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

During March, I read 24 books, and reviewed most of them. Two reviews are coming from Sisters in Crime soon. One review is for much later in the month, so all up, I reviewed 23 of the books I read in March. All but three of the books I read were by Australian authors, and… Continue reading March 2026 Reading Round Up

#AussieAuthors2026, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Connected: Networks for Kids by R.A. Stephens, illustrated by Tamlyn Teow

Ashleigh

Title: Connected: Networks for Kids Author: R.A. Stephens, illustrated by Tamlyn Teow Genre: Fiction Publisher: Wombat Rhiza Published: 1st April 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: Chloe has a dot on her shirt called a node. So do her friends and family. They are joined by lines called edges. The edges spread out… Continue reading Connected: Networks for Kids by R.A. Stephens, illustrated by Tamlyn Teow

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieAuthors2026, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Awards, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Junior Fiction, middle grade, Picture Books, Young Adult

CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist

Ashleigh

The CBCA shortlist for 2026 is here! There are some great books on this list, and some where I think it will be hard to decide. It’s always tough because there are so many good books entered into awards. When there are so many of high quality, with good storytelling or good information, it can… Continue reading CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist

#AussieAuthors2026, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Books, Children's Literature, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

Storm by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

Ashleigh

Title: Storm Author: Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft Genre: Non-Fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 31st March 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages: 28 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: A storm is brewing. From the first puff of wind to a howling gale, this beautiful non-fiction picture book offers a deeply researched exploration of the effects of wind… Continue reading Storm by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft