Our latest blog posts
Introducing the Readings Young Adult Book Prize
In 2014, we announced two literary prizes intended to support emerging Australian writers: the Readings Children’s Book Prize, and the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction.
Over the past few years, we’ve been delighted to see our customers embracing both Prizes. We’ve loved the way the Prizes amplify our voices as booksellers, and we’ve loved seeing readers getting their hands on these wonderful books from our local talented authors.
And today we’re so pleased to announce that we…
Jayneen Sanders on Body Safety Education in children's books
by Jayneen SandersIn recognition of National Child Protection Week (4 – 10 September) we chat with Jayneen Sanders – an experienced primary school teacher, author and publisher who actively advocates for sexual abuse prevention education.
Tell us why you decided to write children’s books that address personal safety.
I have three daughters so when they were very young I naturally taught them that their body was their body and no-one had the right to touch it in an unsafe way. I was…
Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week
The 78-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
Mega Weird (WeirDo Book 7) by Anh Do and Jules Faber
The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
Welcome to Country by Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy
Mr Chicken Arriva a Roma by Leigh Hobbs
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
Uncensored (So Wrong Book 1) by Michael Wagner and Wayne Bryant
Dog Man (The Adventures of Dog Man…
Environment Award for Children’s Literature winners 2016
The winners of this year’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature were announced at the Melbourne Writers Festival! This annual Award is organised by the Wilderness Society and encourages children to take an interest in nature and feel a sense of responsibility for the places we love and our unique wildlife.
This year, the Award included three categories.
Non-fiction
Atmospheric by Carole Wilkinson
Talking about the weather used to be small talk, now it’s the hottest topic on Earth. In Atmospheric…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
Black Rock White City by A.S. Patrić
Nutshell by Ian McEwan
Grant and I by Robert Forster
Enemy Within – American Politics in the Time of Trump (Quarterly Essay 63) by Don Watson
Harry Potter And The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany
Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil by Melina Marchetta
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently by…
What we're reading: J.M. Coetzee, Laura Elizabeth Woollett and Liam Pieper
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on or the music we’re loving.
Amy Vuleta is reading Liam Pieper and Laura Elizabeth Woollett
Last weekend I had the pleasure of co-hosting one of our New Australian Fiction sessions at the Melbourne Writers Festival.
I chatted to Laura Elizabeth Woollett about her collection of stories, The Love of a Bad Man. Each of the stories in…
Come visit us at the MWF Festival Bookshop
We’ve loved being part of the Melbourne Writers Festival this year, and we’ve loved having so many passionate readers come explore our pop-up Festival Bookshop.
As well as being a hub of literary recommendations from our booksellers, the Festival Bookshop has also been home to book signings by the amazing authors who’ve appeared in this year’s programs.
Here are some photos from the past week.
The quiet before the storm…
We loved seeings the kids getting excited to meet…
Subscribe to The Readings Podcast
The Readings Podcast is a celebration of books, music, film, TV and pop culture. Episodes feature author interviews, event recordings, booksellers chatting about books, and more.
We’ve recently uploaded a stack of terrific new episodes, including interviews with…
Hanya Yanagihara, author of A Little Life
Alain de Botton, author of The Course of Love
Maxine Beneba Clarke, author of The Hate Race
Lili Wilkinson, author of The Boundless Sublime
Steven Amsterdam, author of The Easy Way Out
Phew!
You can…
Why you should read Salt Creek by Lucy Treloar
We’re delighted that Lucy Treloar’s debut novel is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction. Here’s why we think you should read this book.
1. Salt Creek is an Australian classic in the making.
Salt Creek has all the trappings of an Australian classic in the making – and it’s stacking up the award nominations to confirm it. This debut novel has won the Matt Richell Award for a New Writer, the…
Our favourite September new releases for kids
From spooky houses to chickens on Vespas, here are the best kids’ books September has on offer.
(Find the best new releases in young adult books here.)
KIDS’ BOOK OF THE MONTH
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts (3+)
The team that brought us Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer are back again with yet another unforgettable character. And if you’ve got a curious kid in your life, you might like to introduce them to…