Aussie Kids Books

Book Reviews

Welcome to my blog! This blog is a celebration of Australian children's fiction - including young adult, middle grade, junior fiction, and picture books.

Read on for my reviews!

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My Extraordinary Mum; by Dani Vee, illustrated by Alexandra Colombo

Sandy

Aug 13, 20222 min read

My Extraordinary Mum; by Dani Vee, illustrated by Alexandra Colombo

My Extraordinary Mum is a joyful celebration of all the ways in which mums can be free-spirited, creative, kind and adventurous! A young...

65 views0 comments

Arabella's Alphabet, by Suzy Zail & illustrated by Christopher Nielsen

Sandy

Aug 7, 20222 min read

Arabella's Alphabet, by Suzy Zail & illustrated by Christopher Nielsen

Arabella's Alphabet is a wonderous celebration of books, reading and libraries. As a former children's librarian, this book captured my...

24 views0 comments

Sandy

Jul 2, 20222 min read

Hello Every Body! by Samantha Curcio

Hello Every Body! is such a joyous celebration of the way our bodies are all unique, and encourages us to embrace our differences....

123 views0 comments

Sandy

Jun 4, 20222 min read

Stellarphant, by James Foley

In this engaging picture book written and illustrated by James Foley, Stella the elephant refuses to give up on her dream of becoming an...

133 views0 comments

Ghostie, by Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Mel Armstrong

Sandy

May 21, 20222 min read

Ghostie, by Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Mel Armstrong

Did you have an imaginary friend when you were little? I did for a while - he was a mischievous elf (although I can't remember his name!)...

70 views0 comments

Sandy

May 10, 20222 min read

My Shadow is Purple, by Scott Stuart

I'm always on the lookout for kids books that challenge gender stereotypes and empower kids to embrace their true selves, and this book...

4,746 views0 comments

Get Ready, Mama! by Sharon Giltrow; illustrated by Arielle Li

Sandy

Apr 30, 20222 min read

Get Ready, Mama! by Sharon Giltrow; illustrated by Arielle Li

It's my stop on the book campaign for this humorous and heartwarming picturebook. 'Get Ready, Mama!' When you have young children, it can...

13 views0 comments

Little Wombat's Easter Surprise, by Charles Fuge

Sandy

Apr 14, 20221 min read

Little Wombat's Easter Surprise, by Charles Fuge

Easter eggs are always popular in our household in the leadup to Easter. If you're looking for an Easter read for your littlies with an...

23 views0 comments

Eric the Awkward Orc, by Alex Dyson, Art by Laura Wood

Sandy

Mar 20, 20222 min read

Eric the Awkward Orc, by Alex Dyson, Art by Laura Wood

I love picture books that celebrate having the courage to be true to yourself, and this picture book written by Alex Dyson does so with...

45 views0 comments

From My Head to my Toes, I Say What Goes, by Charlotte Barkla & Jacqui Lee

Sandy

Feb 15, 20222 min read

From My Head to my Toes, I Say What Goes, by Charlotte Barkla & Jacqui Lee

It's so important that we as parents and carers are able to open up discussion - or answer questions from children - in relation to...

230 views0 comments

Frankie Goes to Kindergarten, by Peta Baxter & Connie Hemmens; illustrated by Marjory Gardner

Sandy

Feb 15, 20222 min read

Frankie Goes to Kindergarten, by Peta Baxter & Connie Hemmens; illustrated by Marjory Gardner

This book arrived in our household at the perfect time, as Mr 5 started kindy this year! While he was excited to join his brothers at...

35 views1 comment

Little Mister Gets a Sister, by Samaria Rose Lemke & Ruth-Mary Smith

Sandy

Dec 30, 20212 min read

Little Mister Gets a Sister, by Samaria Rose Lemke & Ruth-Mary Smith

Siblings are most often the people we end up being closest to - but the relationship can sometimes start out a little rocky! Little...

46 views0 comments

Jingle Bells, by Jacinta Froud, illustrated by Gabriella Petruso

Sandy

Dec 16, 20211 min read

Jingle Bells, by Jacinta Froud, illustrated by Gabriella Petruso

Jingle Bells has become a firm favourite in our household, with Christmas rapidly approaching. Eddie the high-spirited corgi has a...

38 views0 comments

Two Houses, by Frieda Parks; illustrated by Mithini Wathsala

Sandy

Nov 15, 20211 min read

Two Houses, by Frieda Parks; illustrated by Mithini Wathsala

I love to support indie authors and today I'm giving a shout-out to Frieda Parks, Aussie author of the gorgeous picture book Two Houses....

22 views0 comments

Mary had a Monstersaur; written by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Peter Bath

Sandy

Oct 25, 20212 min read

Mary had a Monstersaur; written by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Peter Bath

I love this gorgeously 'scary' version of the well known children's rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb. In this version of the story, it's not...

33 views0 comments

Sandy

Oct 19, 20212 min read

Lucy and Copper, by Mandy Foot

This beautifully heartfelt story celebrates the special bond between children and animals, and tells a story of learning to adjust to...

21 views0 comments

The Curiosities, written by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie

Sandy

Oct 11, 20212 min read

The Curiosities, written by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Phil Lesnie

This picture book is a work of art, from the lyrical text, to the stunning and evocative illustrations. I love a multi-layered picture...

72 views0 comments

The Australian Climate Change Book, Written by Polly Marsden, illustrated by Chris Nixon

Sandy

Oct 9, 20212 min read

The Australian Climate Change Book, Written by Polly Marsden, illustrated by Chris Nixon

Do you have kids who might be anxious or curious about climate change? Or are you looking for a book that helps explain climate change in...

17 views0 comments

Australian Backyard Birdies, by Andy Geppert

Sandy

Oct 8, 20212 min read

Australian Backyard Birdies, by Andy Geppert

Fun, quirky, memorable, entertaining, colourful - these are all words the kids and I came up with to describe Australian Background...

22 views0 comments

Where’s My Dinosaur? by Ashling Kwok; illustrated by Jasmine Berry

Sandy

Oct 4, 20212 min read

Where’s My Dinosaur? by Ashling Kwok; illustrated by Jasmine Berry

This engaging new picture book is captivating from the very first page, when our young narrator tells us that ‘there’s something growing...

56 views0 comments

Aussie Kids Books

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