Category: Picture Books

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Juniper’s Painting by Catherine Bauer, illustrated by Jennifer Horn

Ashleigh

Title: Juniper’s Painting Author: Catherine Bauer, illustrated by Jennifer Horn Genre:  Fiction Publisher: NewSouth Books Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: Juniper is stuck in her beachside home. All she wants is to play on the sand, collect shells, and look for mermaids in the shallows. But it's too wet… Continue reading Juniper’s Painting by Catherine Bauer, illustrated by Jennifer Horn

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Being Indy by Zoe Gaetjens, illustrated by Estee Sarsfield

Ashleigh

Title: Being Indy Author: Zoe Gaetjens, illustrated by Estee Sarsfield Genre: Fiction Publisher: WestWords/WestWords Children's Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 40 Price: $29.95 Synopsis: There was no finer place to live than on the Mountain. Folks came from everywhere wanting to live there – including Indy. But the mountain was ruled by Percival,… Continue reading Being Indy by Zoe Gaetjens, illustrated by Estee Sarsfield

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Wilderness Awards  2025

Ashleigh

The 2025 Karajia and Environment Award Winners, stories that connect kids to Country and nature have been announced. They were announced at 11am on the 11th of October on Love Your Bookshop Day, which is also the start of Nature Books Week. These awards celebrate authors and illustrators who have written and created stories to… Continue reading Wilderness Awards  2025

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Spud and Snowball and the Fancy Fish by Judith Rossell

Ashleigh

Title: Spud and Snowball and the Fancy Fish Author: Judith Rossell Genre: Humour Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 128 Price: $15.99 Synopsis: Meet two cheeky cats in this brand-new illustrated fiction for emerging readers from the bestselling, award-winning creator Judith Rossell. Every day, Spud and Snowball lie on the couch… Continue reading Spud and Snowball and the Fancy Fish by Judith Rossell

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September 2025 Reading Round Up

Ashleigh

In September, I read 20 books for review, and some reviews will be appearing at later dates for various reasons. I mostly read Australian authors, and focused on children’s and young adult books. I also made progress on reading challenges, and am almost done with my last few. Most books were by women authors, and… Continue reading September 2025 Reading Round Up

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Earth Speak: Boodjar Wangkiny by Sean McCann, illustrated by Jade Goodwin

Ashleigh

Title: Earth Speak: Boodjar Wangkiny Author: Sean McCann, illustrated by Jade Goodwin Genre: Fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 3rd June 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: A joyful story celebrating the natural world, the sharing of culture through Noongar language and the awe that comes from seeing, hearing and feeling how elemental… Continue reading Earth Speak: Boodjar Wangkiny by Sean McCann, illustrated by Jade Goodwin

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The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short

Ashleigh

Title: The 12 Birds of Christmas Author: Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short Genre: Christmas Publisher: Wollemi Press Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $26.95 Synopsis: From the award-winning author and illustrator of The Black Cockatoo With One Feather Blue comes this original rhyming read aloud about giving, community and sharing the… Continue reading The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short

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Naynay and the Mermaid by Tasma Walton, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

Ashleigh

Title: Naynay and the Mermaid Author: Tasma Walton, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Scholastic Australia Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 24 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: 'With long tendrils of seagrass for hair, her body is blue green like the sea, and her tail sparkles with iridescent scales ...' Naynay and her family… Continue reading Naynay and the Mermaid by Tasma Walton, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

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The Legend of Jessie Hickman by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac

Ashleigh

The Legend of Jessie Hickman A girl on a grey horse waving her hat. She is riding along a lake with mountains and a blue sky behind it. The mountains and ground are covered in trees and white and purple flowers. Title: The Legend of Jessie Hickman Author: Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac Genre:… Continue reading The Legend of Jessie Hickman by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac

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The Messy Bath Monster by Tina Wilson, music by Matt Ottley

Ashleigh

Title: The Messy Bath Monster Author: Tina Wilson, music by Matt Ottley Genre: Fiction Publisher: One Tentacle Publishing Published: 1st October 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $25.99 Synopsis: Monkey knows there’s a MONSTER hiding in the bathroom because it leaves a HUGE MESS behind. Will Monkey discover who the bath monster really is? Monkey… Continue reading The Messy Bath Monster by Tina Wilson, music by Matt Ottley