Our latest blog posts

The Readings Foundation visits River Nile Learning Centre

by Leanne Hall

The Readings Foundation assists Victorian organisations that support the development of literacy, community integration and the arts. Grants Officer Leanne Hall and Digital Marketing Manager Lian Hingee visited River Nile Learning Centre recently – one of the 11 projects being supported by the Foundation in 2017.

River Nile Learning Centre is a warm, cheerful and welcoming organisation in North Melbourne that has the distinction of being the only place in Melbourne where refugee and asylum seeker women can learn English…

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Six delicious new cookbooks

by Chris Gordon

Brae by Dan Hunter

Wonder man Dan Hunter is the award-winning pioneer of modern Australian cuisine. His restaurant Brae is listed in the top 100 restaurants in the world. This book shows you why. Essentially, this beautiful book is a collection of recipes using locally grown cuisine that will take you on a journey of great imagination, with wonderful flourishes. This book is perfect for those who have been to the restaurant, want to go to the restaurant or have…

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Picture books about first experiences

by Leanne Hall

The world is full of firsts when you’re a kid. Some of them are exciting, some of them are worrying, and some are downright terrifying.

But even mundane daily activities can require a little encouragement before a habit is formed. A good story, a relatable character and a bit of information about the experience can help turn firsts into fun. Here are some of our most entertaining books about those tricky first experiences.

EATING

Lunchtime by Rebecca Cobb – A…

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Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week

A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee

Finding Nevo by Nevo Zisin

The Bad Guys Episode 5: Intergalactic Gas by Aaron Blabey

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thrones and Roses Book 3) by Sarah J. Maas

Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy

The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo Book 2) by Rick Riordan

13 Reasons Why (film tie-in edition) by Jay Asher

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by…

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Our top ten bestsellers of the week

Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

Depends What You Mean by Extremist by John Safran

The Australian Bird Guide by various

Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami

The Pleasures of Leisure by Robert Dessaix

The Dry by Jane Harper

The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape

Cruden Farm: Garden Diaries by Michael Morrison and Lisa Clausen

Our bestseller of the week is Elizabeth Strout’s novel, Anything is

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Lessons learned from fictional mothers

This Mother’s Day, our staff reflect on some of the most important lessons they’ve learned from fictional mothers – in books, TV, films, and more.

‘In the world of fictional mothers, Lorelei Gilmore has taught me to embrace pop culture at every opportunity, Emily Gilmore showed me to take no shit from anyone, Tami Taylor demonstrated how to have a successful marriage (nine parts love and kindness, one part great hair), Ellen Ripley was the ultimate maternal badass, Molly Weasley…

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What we're reading: Alice Munro, Bill Hayes & Sophie Hénaff

Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films and TV shows we’re watching, and the music we’re listening to.

Bronte Coates is reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

After deciding to read something ‘topical’ for our next meeting, my book club picked The Handmaid’s Tale. With a buzzing new series currently streaming, and seemingly endless think pieces on this book’s relevance to today’s politics, it seemed am obvious choice. I fell in…

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What we're planning to see at Emerging Writers' Festival 2017

This year’s program for the Emerging Writers’ Festival has been announced. Here, our staff share their top picks.

Leanne Hall recommends…

I’m very excited that there’s going to be a focus on writing young adult fiction with the Masterclass: YA event at the Wheeler Centre. There’ll be panels, workshops and conversations with a wide range of YA authors, editors, booksellers and academics – essential for anyone who has a passion for youth literature. Decolonial Narratives and the Diaspora (in the…

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Recommended new kids' books in May

by Leanne Hall

This month, we celebrate our Readings Children’s Book Prize winner, as well as dogs and mums, and new books from Aaron Blabey, Jen Storer and Ailsa Wild.

(Find our best recommendations for teen books this month here.)

READINGS CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE

Congratulations to Karen Foxlee for winning the Readings Children’s Book Prize with her wonderful fantasy adventure book, A Most Magical Girl. Our judges were mightily impressed with this novel for readers of 9-12. Chair of judges and…

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Recommended new YA books in May

by Leanne Hall

In May we celebrate Australian young adult writing with a new anthology full of our favourite authors, eagerly read Patrick Ness’s latest novel and immerse ourselves in alternate worlds where tattoos and magic prevail.

(Find our best recommendations for kids’ books this month here.)

LOVEOZYA PICKS

It’s all-Australian and all-amazing – the Begin, End, Begin: A #Loveozya Anthology brings together some of our best YA authors to exercise their short story writing muscles. Edited by agent-at-large, blogger, editor, writer…

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