#AussieAuthors2025, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, classics, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Indigenous authors, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, non-fiction, Picture Books, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, series, short stories, The Nerd Daily

Picture Books Read in 2025

I read 57 picture books in 2025 for review purposes on my own blog, and for Good Reading Magazine. I covered lots of different stories, non-fiction books and many different themes that showcased emotions, different aspects of Australian history and culture, and celebrations of life in general. Every book had its own charms, which is… Continue reading Picture Books Read in 2025

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #loveozya, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Dymocks Reading Challenge, historical fiction, history, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, non-fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Disabled Authors and Books Read

Each year, I also try to read books that feature disability and by disabled authors. Much like my LGBTQIA count, this is limited by what I can find, what I am sent and by what is published. The latter is important, I think, because there aren’t as many books written by disabled authors that come… Continue reading Disabled Authors and Books Read

#AussieAuthors2026, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, The Nerd Daily

A Dash of Adventure by Julie Williams & Mitch Oates, illustrated by Caroline Keys

Title: A Dash of Adventure Author: Julie Williams & Mitch Oates, illustrated by Caroline Keys Genre: Fiction Publisher: Little Steps Publishing Published: December 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 32 Price: $16.95 – $29.95 AUD Synopsis: A Dash of Adventure is a fun and exciting new children’s book that celebrates imagination, family, inclusion and adventure.Ideal for kids,… Continue reading A Dash of Adventure by Julie Williams & Mitch Oates, illustrated by Caroline Keys

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #loveozya, A.L. Tait, adventure, animals, Anna James, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jacqueline Harvey, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, Nevermoor, non-fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, series, The Nerd Daily, Wherewithal Way, Young Adult

My Favourite Books of 2025

I haven’t done this for a while, because whenever I see posts about people’s top ten reads of the year, I never know what to put on mine. Somehow, I always end up with more than ten, or not quite ten, or I’ll have read a series during the year, and have enjoyed all of… Continue reading My Favourite Books of 2025

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, challenges, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Verse novels, Young Adult

Drift by Pip Harry

Title: Drift Author: Pip Harry Genre: YA Contemporary/verse novel Publisher: Hachette Australia/Lothian Published: 30th July 2025 Format: Paperback Pages: 312 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: A beautifully written verse novel that will resonate with younger teen readers who are beginning to understand themselves and the changing world they live in. Fourteen-year-old Nate has just moved back to Australia and… Continue reading Drift by Pip Harry

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #loveozya, A.L. Tait, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, mythology, Natasha Lester, non-fiction, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

July 2025 Reading Round Up

In July, I read 22 books, and am keeping on track with maintaining reading mostly Australian authors, and reading as diversely as I can between what I have already and what I am being sent for review. I’m also focused on certain styles and genres, so there might be some that are, say, translated, that… Continue reading July 2025 Reading Round Up

#AussieAuthors2025, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Junior Fiction, middle grade, non-fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews

My Name is Jemima by Olivia Muscat, illustrated by Allison Colpoys

Title: My Name is Jemima Author: Olivia Muscat, illustrated by Allison Colpoys Genre: Non-fiction Publisher: Scribble Kids Published: 3rd June 2025 Format: Hardback Pages: 32 Price: $19.95 Synopsis: Meet Jemima, a lovable Labrador with a very important job! While Jemima loves playing with her favourite yellow bone and getting lots of cuddles, she’s also a… Continue reading My Name is Jemima by Olivia Muscat, illustrated by Allison Colpoys

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #loveozya, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, classics, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, humour, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, memoir, middle grade, non-fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 1:  January to April Completed

I have completed the first stage of my Dymocks Reading Challenge for 2025. Volume one had nine prompts, and I managed to fill all of them, though I admit the Top 101 prompt is getting harder every year, mostly due to the proliferation of series, and overly popular books being on there. To tackle this,… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge Volume 1:  January to April Completed

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #loveozya, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, literary fiction, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle

Title: The Sweetness Between Us Author: Sarah Winifred Searle Genre: Contemporary Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 29th October 2024 Format: Paperback Pages: 240 Price: $22.99 Synopsis: Heartstopper meets vampires in this blood-sipping-turned-romance graphic novel from the Prime Minister's Literary Award-winning and CBCA short-listed creator of The Greatest Thing. NOTABLE BOOK: 2025 CBCA Book of the Year, Older… Continue reading The Sweetness Between Us by Sarah Winifred Searle

#LoveOZMG, #loveozya, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Awards, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, DANZ, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, Young Adult

ASLA DANZ CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2025 SHORTLISTS ARE ANNOUNCED

Awards season is heating up with lots of long lists and short lists coming in over the next few months. The latest short list announcement is the ASLA DANZ Children’s Book Award, which is voted for by children and young adults. Congratulations to those who have made the shortlist and thank you to the wonderful… Continue reading ASLA DANZ CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2025 SHORTLISTS ARE ANNOUNCED