Our latest blog posts
A newspaper for Australian kids
We talk to Saffron Howden, editor of Crinkling News, about wonder, whale vomit and the importance of media literacy.
Tell us a little bit about Crinkling News.
Crinkling News is the only national newspaper for young Australians. We tell all the news – without the boring or scary bits! And it’s a real newspaper printed on real paper to be read at the breakfast table, in bed, lying in a hammock, in a car, in the classroom, or…
Mark's Say, March 2017
The first Taipei International Book Fair (TIBE) was held in 1987 which made this year’s fair the 25th. Spread over six days, it is one of the largest trade book fairs in the world with over 621 exhibitors from 59 countries. For many years, Australia has enjoyed a reasonably strong presence at TIBE but after recent cuts to Australia Council and Austrade funding, this year’s stand was only the size of a large cupboard. Adjacent to our country’s cupboard was…
Best new food and gardening books this month
French Country Cooking by Mimi Thorisson
Just stop it. This book is too much: there are images of the French countryside, tales of successful parenting from a woman with 6 children and 14 dogs (!) who also has an ability to create feasts out of garden scraps and a little cheese. This book makes you realise that there are people out there living each day as if they were playing a part in the French Film Festival. You may already…
The CBCA notable books of 2017
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) have announced their Notable Books for 2017. Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers!
Here are the notable books for each category.
Older Readers
Books in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and are appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling.
Find the full list of notables for this category here.
Younger Readers
Books in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and…
Exciting new releases in March
We were impressed and profoundly moved by our book of the month, They Cannot Take the Sky, a project from Behind the Wire. Our reviewer urges all Australians to read it; you can begin by reading the review here.
There’s plenty to choose from in politics this month, and in Australian studies you can’t go past The Family by Chris Johnston and Rosie Jones, which looks at the notorious Melbourne cult and its leader, Anne Hamilton-Byne. It’s a…
Introducing the second season of The Garret
The Garret is a new Melbourne-based literary podcast that explores how the best of the best start, draft, complete and market their writing.
Season two starts this week, and will feature interviews with the following authors:
Andy and Jill Griffiths, authors of The Treehouse Fun Book (2 March)
Carmel Bird, author of Family Skeleton (9 March)
Tony Birch, author of Ghost River (16 March)
Alicia Sometimes, author of From the Outer (23 March)
Jeff Sparrow, author of No Way But…
The Readings Children’s Book Prize shortlist 2017
We’re delighted to reveal this year’s shortlist for the Readings Children’s Book Prize. This Prize recognises and celebrates Australian books that children love to read, and raises the profile of debut and on-the-rise Australian children’s book authors.
The six shortlisted titles are:
Escape to Moon Islands by Mardi McConnochie
A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee
Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters by Ailsa Wild
The Secrets We Keep by Nova Weetman
Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller
Loving picture books for children who worry
Here are some of our best picture book suggestions for sensitive young children.
Books to be read with a hug…
Jez Alborough’s Hug is a very cute board book for babies and toddlers to play with. With exuberant illustrations and just three words (‘Hug’, ‘Bobo’, ‘Mommy’), this book reveals the story of Bobo, a tiny chimp in need of a BIG hug. Walking through the jungle he passes lots of creatures enjoying a cuddle together – elephants, chameleons, lions, giraffes…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape
Lion by Saroo Brierley
The Family by Chris Johnston and Rosie Jones
The Dry by Jane Harper
Knowledge Courage Leadership by Barry Jones
Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford
Jasper Jones (film tie-in edition) by Craig Silvey
Into the Heart of Tasmania by Rebe Taylor
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Crying Place by Lia Hills
We’re happy to see that nine of the 10 titles listed here are…
Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week
Lion by Saroo Brierley (Young Readers’ Edition)
Florette by Anna Walker
Little People, Big Dreams: Marie Curie by Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Frau Isa
Busting! by Aaron Blabey
Triangle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
Unleashed (The Adventures of Dog Man Book 2) by Dav Pilkey
Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
King’s Cage (Red Queen Book 3) by Victoria Aveyard
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