Tag: book reviews

adventure, Books, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, humour, literary fiction, middle grade, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

The Official Agatha Christie After School Detectives Club: 50 Mystery Puzzles for Children by Agatha Christie Ltd, Dr Gareth Moore, Laura Jayne Ayres

Ashleigh

Title: The Official Agatha Christie After School Detectives Club: 50 Mystery Puzzles for Children Author: Agatha Christie Ltd, Dr Gareth Moore, Laura Jayne Ayres Genre: Crime, puzzle Publisher: Hachette Australia Published: 28th October 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 154 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: Bringing the thrilling and mysterious world of Agatha Christie to a new generation of… Continue reading The Official Agatha Christie After School Detectives Club: 50 Mystery Puzzles for Children by Agatha Christie Ltd, Dr Gareth Moore, Laura Jayne Ayres

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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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The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’Brooy

Ashleigh

Title: The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) Author: Melanie La’Brooy Genre: Fantasy Publisher: UQP Published: 30th August 2022 Format: Paperback Pages: 440 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: On Talisman Day in Arylia, every child receives an object that gives them special powers and reveals their destiny. Every child except for the Wintrish girl, Penn, that is.… Continue reading The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’Brooy

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Stonewitch (Hedgewitch #4) by Skye McKenna

Ashleigh

Title: Stonewitch (Hedgewitch #4) Author: Skye McKenna Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Hachette Australia Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 448 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: Cassie and her coven compete in challenging games at the Covenmoot while menacing forces haunt the moors and rumours of the Stonewitch swirl through the camp. Step into the magical world of… Continue reading Stonewitch (Hedgewitch #4) by Skye McKenna

#AussieAuthors2025, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series

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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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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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 Story Writer’s Handbook: Adventures in Creative Writing by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

Ashleigh

Title: The Story Writer’s Handbook: Adventures in Creative Writing Author: Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Genre: Language Arts, Composition and Creative Writing Publisher: HarperCollins Australia Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 192 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: Learn how to write with the multi-award-winning Katrina Nannestad! There is so much about writing that I love… Continue reading The Story Writer’s Handbook: Adventures in Creative Writing by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

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The Peach King by Inga Simpson, illustrated by Tannya Harricks

Ashleigh

Title: The Peach King Author: Inga Simpson, illustrated by Tannya Harricks Genre: Fable Publisher: Hachette/Lothian Children’s Books Published: 30th September 2025 Format: Hardback Pages: 32 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: A contemporary fable about the resilience of nature from Inga Simpson, one of Australia’s leading nature writers, with paintings by acclaimed illustrator Tannya Harricks. When Little Peach… Continue reading The Peach King by Inga Simpson, illustrated by Tannya Harricks