Tag: picture book

#AussieAuthors2026, 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

Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog by Lucinda Gifford

Ashleigh

Title: Valerie: Australia's Bravest Sausage Dog Author: Lucinda Gifford Genre: Creative Non-fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 10th February 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: Inspired by the amazing true story of the tiny dog who captured the heart of a nation. Join Valerie on her unforgettable journey and discover just how far… Continue reading Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog by Lucinda Gifford

#AussieAuthors2026, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, Alice-Miranda, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, 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, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Real Pigeons, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, Speculative fiction, The Nerd Daily, Young Adult

January 2026 Reading Round-Up

Ashleigh

This year, I am working on balancing my review books with my other reading, so I can get through some of the books I have been wanting to read for a while. In January, I managed to read all my review books for the beginning of 2026, and some reviews are still coming, and there… Continue reading January 2026 Reading Round-Up

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

Saving Shark Pup by Sharon Dalgleish, illustrated by Amandine Thomas

Ashleigh

Title: Saving Shark Pup Author: Sharon Dalgleish, illustrated by Amandine Thomas Genre: Non-fiction Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 3rd February 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: The true story of a great white shark pup who washed up on the beach and was rescued by the local community. When a great white shark… Continue reading Saving Shark Pup by Sharon Dalgleish, illustrated by Amandine Thomas

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

Pink Easter by Tanya Hennessy, illustrated by Sophie Kent

Ashleigh

Title: Pink Easter Author: Tanya Hennessy, illustrated by Sophie Kent Genre: Humour Publisher: Allen and Unwin/Albert Street Books Published: 3rd February 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages: 24 Price: $19.99 Synopsis: This year Easter is going to have a major glow-up! A joyous celebration of Easter, and the power of community and cooperation, from bestselling children's author… Continue reading Pink Easter by Tanya Hennessy, illustrated by Sophie Kent

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, A.L. Tait, adventure, Alice-Miranda, Anna James, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, biography, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Christmas, Chronicles of Whetherwhy, Cressida Cowell, Crime/Mystery, Dani Vee, Dervla McTiernan, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Ella at Eden, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, Friday Barnes, Futuristic Fiction, historical fiction, history, humour, Indigenous authors, Jackie French, Jacqueline Harvey, Junior Fiction, Kate Temple, Larrikin House, literary fiction, Matilda Saga, memoir, middle grade, Natasha Lester, Nevermoor, non-fiction, Pages and Co Series, Picture Books, plays, poetry, Publishers, R.A. Spratt, Reading, Reviews, satire, Scholastic, Sci-Fi, series, short stories, Speculative fiction, spies, The Girls Who Change the World, The Nerd Daily, Verse novels, Wherewithal Way, Young Adult

Total Women

Ashleigh

Each year, I try my best to read as many books by women as possible, and to read as diversely as possible. In 2025, I read 234, participated in judging an award, and of course, continued to do my reviewing. Reading across as many styles and genres as possible, based on what I had from… Continue reading Total Women

#AussieAuthors2025, #AussieYAChallenge, #LoveOZMG, #LoveOzYA, adventure, animals, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Australian women writers, Awards, Blog Tour, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, CBCA, challenges, check in post, Children's Literature, Christmas, Crime/Mystery, Dymocks Reading Challenge, Fables, Fairytales, Fantasy, historical fiction, history, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, middle grade, mythology, Picture Books, poetry, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, series, short stories, Young Adult

Dymocks Volume 3 2025 Completed

Ashleigh

And that’s the third volume completed! I found the prompts in this one easy to fill. They had a good balance of being open and specific, and I had a few options for some whilst others I took a good guess at where they would fit. I chose a translated book for the Branching Out… Continue reading Dymocks Volume 3 2025 Completed

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

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

#AussieAuthors2025, adventure, Aussie authors, Australian literature, Book bingo, Book Industry, Books, Children's Literature, Junior Fiction, literary fiction, Picture Books, Publishers, Reading, Reviews, The Nerd Daily

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

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

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

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

Mooshy Crackerjack’s Big Day by Suzanne Patterson, illustrated by Maia Batumashvili

Ashleigh

Title: Mooshy Crackerjack's Big Day Author: Suzanne Patterson, illustrated by Maia Batumashvili Genre: Humour Publisher: Starfish Bay Books Published: 5th September 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 40 Price: $26.99 Synopsis: Mooshy Crackerjack's birthday goes hilariously wrong as he tries and fails to stay out of trouble. Mooshy Crackerjack is determined to stay out of trouble and have… Continue reading Mooshy Crackerjack’s Big Day by Suzanne Patterson, illustrated by Maia Batumashvili