Title: Ayaiga: Neighbour and Hero Author: Thomas Higgs with Colin Hall, illustrated by Wally Wilfred Genre: Non-Fiction Publisher: NLA Publishing Published: 15th February 2026 Format: Hardcover Pages: 48 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: In the remote Roper River region of the Northern Territory more than 120 years ago, an Alawa man committed an act of such exceptional… Continue reading Ayaiga: Neighbour and Hero by Thomas Higgs with Colin Hall, illustrated by Wally Wilfred
Tag: poetry
The Sheep That Stole the Farmer’s Hat by Tim Saunders, illustrated by Carla Martell
Title: The Sheep That Stole the Farmer’s Hat Author: Tim Saunders, illustrated by Carla Martell Genre: Humour Publisher: Allen and Unwin Published: 3rd March 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 32 Price: $17.99 Synopsis: All the farmer's clothes have gone off the line! Who has taken them? From the brilliant team that created family favourite and bestseller The… Continue reading The Sheep That Stole the Farmer’s Hat by Tim Saunders, illustrated by Carla Martell
The Belly of a Wolf by Julianne Negri
Title: The Belly of a Wolf Author: Julianne Negri Genre: Verse Novel Publisher: UWAP Published: 1st March 2026 Format: Paperback Pages: 200 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: How can you grow up with grief pulling you down? Red is going back to high school six months after the death of her best friend Wolf. Their friendship began… Continue reading The Belly of a Wolf by Julianne Negri
Co-written/Anthologies Read
In 2025, I read 23 books that were written by two or more authors, or that were anthologies. These books crossed into all the other categories: men, women, Australian, non-Australian, LGBTQIA, Disabled, children’s and young adult. There were all sorts of things here too, from picture books, novels, and non-fiction. There were some very good… Continue reading Co-written/Anthologies Read
Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish
One final challenge I took part in this year was the Readings book bingo. I managed to tick every prompt apart from the cookbook prompt off, which probably had more to do with time than anything else. 2024 Prize Winner: A Gift from the Birds by Caroline Stills (Text Prize 2024) A debut author: Earth… Continue reading Readings Book Bingo Completed-ish
Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed
And just like that, another year of the Dymocks Reading Challenge is over. I managed to fill in each prompt for this one, and may have ummed and ahhed about the Gothic Ruins prompt, because I read a couple of books that seemed to fit it well. I did focus on Australian books and authors… Continue reading Dymocks Reading Challenge 2025 Completed
October 2025 Reading Round Up
In October I read 18 books, covering picture books to young adult, with some poetry, mystery and time travel thrown in. It was an eclectic bunch of books this month, and most of them were Australian authors. I managed to review most, and have also been keeping on top of my review books as much… Continue reading October 2025 Reading Round Up
This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People by Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit
Title: This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People Author: Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit Genre: Poetry Publisher: NLA Publishing Published: 1st November 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 112 Price: $34.99 Synopsis: In this beautifully illustrated collection of poems, editors Judith Fell and Libby Hathorn have have gathered the voices of… Continue reading This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People by Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2025 Shortlist
The Shortlist for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for 2025 has been announced. It is the richest literary prize in Australia, and celebrates the exceptional talents of emerging and established Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians. It acknowledges the contribution that Australian literature and its reflection the nation, and its cultural and intellectual life. 2025 is… Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2025 Shortlist
Hedgehog or Echidna: Animals who are the same . . . but different! by Ashleigh Barton, illustrated by Amadine Thomas
Title: Hedgehog or Echidna? Animals Who are the Same but Different Author: Ashleigh Barton, illustrated by Amadine Thomas Genre: Non-fiction Publisher: Lothian/Hachette Australia Published: 30th July 2025 Format: Hardcover Pages: 32 Price: $24.99 Synopsis: A fun rhyming picture book with bright and engaging illustrations that teaches children about animals who look similar, but have unique… Continue reading Hedgehog or Echidna: Animals who are the same . . . but different! by Ashleigh Barton, illustrated by Amadine Thomas
