Becca has been the face of @BeccaBakes since she was tiny, baking with her mum and having fun. But now it's just her, and her aunty makes it much more stressful, and at fifteen, shouldn't life be a bit more fun, not so business focussed? But, it has paid the bills, the problem for her aunty is, Becca is losing followers - given that's she's not a cute toddler anymore, and instead a growing teen. So now her aunt is always looking for new collaborations and angles, trying to get back those numbers. Struggling with a lack of social life and finding no joy from this influencer life, Becca finds unexpected relief in an online poetry forum, where she makes a new friend. But then Becca is faced with a choice, pitting her new friend against supporting her family, and she's not sure where she'll end up.
This short fiction story by Kat Ost quickly encapsulates how much social media dictates our lives - whether you are in front of the camera or behind it, whether you are trying to win the likes or looking up to the lives of those who are influencing thousands around the world. A heartwarming description of the human condition, wanting to support your family, while wanting to be yourself, Ost has written an evenly paced short novel that readers will find engaging. Good for fans of Allayne L. Webster's Selfie.
Themes Contemporary, Social Media, Family & Relationships, Short Story.
Melanie Pages
Science under siege by Michael Mann and Peter Hotez
349p. Many of us vaguely appreciate that so much of our modern global, national and personal dissonance is beyond our control. But we can no longer be unwittingly complicit for want of connecting the dots. From fake news to anti-science and from social media influenced elections to outright invasions, we citizens are bamboozled, distracted or stupefied by not one, but several interconnected forces united only by driving self-interest.
Demeaned and criticized by fellow professionals in the service of political or financial interests, are two of the world’s leading scientists, Michael Mann and Peter Hotez. In Science Under Seige, they are fighting back by laying out historical and personal attacks in a plain speak manifesto for citizen enlightenment. The authors have ‘named and shamed’ the major players in the anti-science ecosystem and linked a litany of evidence, to the five most powerful groups who threaten our world - the 5 P's – Plutocrats, Petrostates, Professionals (fake or on the take), Propagandists and the Press.
“In some cases there is a blurring of these categories, such as what it means to be a pro versus a propagandist, or a plutocrat versus a propagandist – think Elon Musk. So it should come as no surprise that the same names and groups pop up in multiple chapters…”
By analysing historical events such as political conflicts, weapons and climate debates or the terrible mismanagement of the global Pandemic; we are confronted by the machinations of this insidious network. Mann and Hotez are not without hope, and they expound several ways we can individually and collectively defuse some of the disinformation that is causing so much turmoil while enriching the obscenely wealthy and their minions. Detailed Chapter notes and an Index, rouse readers to dethrone the propogandists by supporting science, democratic values and communicating constructively - not with hate. The authors counter our growing loss of faith in political leaders and scientists with a plea to reject only the attacks; on real science, on the inclusivity of our communities and on the very survival of our planet.
Whilst this is both popular science and political science aimed at adults, it is not only an urgent combative rallying call. It belongs in any school library or social science department collection or broader teacher reference collection if only to model that research by credentialed constructive experts must be our sanity saviour if not saving grace.
Themes Climate action, Disinformation, Anti-science, Politics, Public health.
Deborah Robins
A Little Bit Lola: Too small to be a giant by Kiah Thomas & Bec Kitson
For graduates of School of Monsters and fans of Billie B Brown and Princess in Black comes a dose of comedy in the shape of rainbow-haired, larger than life Lola. With an older brother and sister, Lola can't help but feel she is always too little for everything. Especially when it comes to the water slides; her dad says she is still too little. If she were a giant, Lola thinks, she WOULD be able to go to the water park. Giants stomp and eat trees so that's what she does- practises being a giant. She also tries to grow herself in the garden, and eats a ridiculous amount of food, including broccolini (which she hates). The story shows her range of emotions about the situation and having to deal with the reality of missing out on something fun but it also ends with her making her own fun with her family when they return.
There is a definite Charlie and Lola feel to this story, particularly Lola's conversations with her big brother Max as well as the writing style itself. Like the other Lola, she is imaginative, determined and fiercely independent. There are also hints of classics such as Amelia Bedelia and Pippi Longstocking. Mum asks her if she has finished her lunch and she confidently asserts that she has (she has indeed finished putting her lunch in the bin!). Large writing, coloured pictures on each page and simple vocab make this an attainable series for independent readers newly embarking on the chapter book journey. The illustrations are cartoony and lots of fun. This is the second in the A Little Bit of Lola series and there are more on the way.
Themes Humorous Stories, Families, Decodables, Early Chapter Book.
Nicole Nelson
The Lone Husky by Hannah Gold. Illus. by Levi Pinfold
UK author Hannah Gold continues to provide middle grade readers with fascinating stories involving adventure, danger, the effects of climate change and most importantly, the connectedness between humans and animals. I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing The Last Bear, The Lost Whale, Finding Bear and Turtle Moon, with this latest release, The Lone Husky, being another highly engaging and empathetic narrative that reconnects April and Bear but also introduces Blaze, a Siberian husky.
April, her father Edmund and his girlfriend Maria are now living in Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard, a group of islands close to the North Pole. It is mid-November and the residents will soon be living through darkness in the polar season for the coming months. During this time polar bears roam the Arctic searching for food and for April, this is a time when she will be unable to connect with her beloved Bear.
After travelling out of Longyearbyen and seeing Bear for last time until the polar season is over, April returns to Hedda’s property and it is there she discovers that Hedda has a new husky that has experienced trauma in the past. Over time, April forms a strong bond with the husky whom she names Blaze, and they intuitively support each other during a dangerous and challenging sled race: The Polar Race.
Over the course of five days this race, which is not for the faint-hearted or underprepared, tests April in many ways but she finds her true self. She has trained hard for this but as the musher she has to singlehandedly race and care for her team of huskies over long hours and make decisions that will keep them all safe. In the final stages the race takes a sudden perilous turn but with April’s bravery and Bear’s unexpected assistance, her team and others make it home safely.
In the beginning pages of the book there is an explanation of the role of each team member with further relatable information in the final pages. Throughout the story the black and white illustrations by Levi Pinfold add valuable visual images for the reader to further connect with the characters and the environment.
Hannah Gold’s website Award Winning Author is worth visiting and the link to Hannah’s Husky Expedition would make a fabulous introduction to the story.
Simon & Schuster, 2025. ISBN: 9781398516403. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
As a child of the foster system, Louisa, about to turn 18, has had a difficult life. She is grieving the death of her best friend, Fish, also a member of the foster system. Louisa’s most treasured possession has been a postcard featuring an image of the sea and a group of people whose identities and stories she has always pondered. When she visits an art exhibition, carrying spray cans in her backpack, one can only begin to imagine a potentially disastrous outcome. Escaping the clutches of a security guard, she meets a man who doesn’t give her up, but instead helps her evade capture. He describes her to his friend as being 'one of us'.
After being gifted with the painting that has been an integral part of her life, Louisa reluctantly embarks on a journey with Ted to discover the origins of the art work. While travelling across the country together, the origins of the painting, its subjects and artist are gradually revealed, the knowledge of their difficult backgrounds assisting Louisa to make connections with each of them. The trips she takes, both physically and emotionally, lead to her development and change as a human, providing her with a future that is not what she’d anticipated.
Just occasionally, there are books that I continue to ration as I read, never completing more than a few chapters in a single sitting. Backman has 'drawn' (pun intended, given the context of the story) the characters so beautifully, I wanted to spend as long as possible with each of them before reaching the last page. This title made me laugh and cry in equal measures, and had me wishing I could keep certain phrases or pieces of wisdom with me forever.
In my search for information about the author, I came across a video of Backman talking about creative anxiety and procrastination. His warmth and self-deprecating sense of humour had me in hysterics. I would highly recommend this book to anyone from teenagers on.
Themes Coming of age, Art, Friendship, Hope, Change, Domestic Violence.
Jo Schenkel
Sundays under the lemon tree by Julia Busuttil Nishimura. Illus. by Myo Yim
Scribble, 2025. ISBN: 9781761381485. (Age:3+)
On Sundays the family works together. Mum is in the kitchen frying onions, Dad in the garden tending the plants and Gran is podding the broad beans. They are getting ready to bake Gran’s apple cake. The ricotta cheese must be cooked in salt water and everyone gets to go to the beach to collect seawater. But our narrator is not yet ready to go by herself. Her sister tells her she is too small and her brothers tell her the stairs are too steep, the walk is too long and the buckets too heavy. But this Sunday as everyone else is busy getting things ready, her father asks her to come with him to the beach.
To get there, they walk through the park, then up a hill and down again, across a busy street, finally getting to the wild, windy beach. The crashing waves sound like thunder. They climb down the stairs, each of Dad’s steps matching four of hers. She finds the waves bigger than she expected, but keeps on trying. When they return to the house, her father tells her about cooking this cake when he was a child, and recalls his father and grandfather telling the same story. The tradition has been part of the fmaily for generations and today the whole family has a role to play.
The work in the kitchen goes on with the children having a part in adding ingredients and stirring the mixture. Eager eyes watch the cake rising in the oven, while outside the families gather under the lemon tree, and share stories. Grandma says she will teach her how to make orange spice biscuits next Sunday.
Wonderful bright, luminous illustrations reflect the sunny warmth of the family, working together to make the Sunday cake. Each page is filled with images of a close multigenerational family, full of humour and togetherness. I love the detail on each page, the kitchens implements, the people on the beach, the table under the lemon tree. The beach scene is a great contrast to the warmth and calmness in the kitchen, where mum is gathering the things she needs to cook.
At the end of the story Julia gives her recipe and instructions for making the apple, lemon and ricotta cake.
Maymoona’s Moon by Razeena Omar Gutta. Illus. by Zayneb Haleem
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9781761211898. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
Eid, the Muslim celebration which marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, has a special significance for Maymoona. She has always dreamed of being an astronaut, and for her the most exciting part of Eid is seeing the first sliver of the moon revealed, announcing for all the end of Ramadan. She has collected her compasses, has checked her cosmic goggles, and found the best vantage point from which to view the exposure of the smallest part of the moon.
She has decided to roost at the top of the garden’s tallest tree, and there, spurred on by her family, waits for the moment to occur. They cheer her on as she climbs the tree, and now there is a hush as the last rays of the sun disappear. The family is eager to start their feast.
But some clouds pass across the sky and when they too disappear, the moon is exposed, a crescent sliver of light for all to see. Eid Mubarak!
Razeena Omar Gutta is a South Asian Muslim born in Zimbabwe and now living in Australia. She loves telling stories, particularly ones in which Muslim families appear, giving her the opportunity to share their way of life with others. She had few books as a child, and wishes to see kids surrounded by books, telling lively, happy stories. And this book certainly meets those criteria.
Zayneb Haleem is a self-taught digital illustrator based in the UK. Her vibrant illustrations suit the joyful celebrations in this book, revealing strong family connections and celebrations. The images on each page reveal aspects of the family’s beliefs and younger readers will acknowledge these as they read the story.
Themes Islam, Eid, Ramadan, Humour, Moon.
Fran Knight
School of monsters: Bill and Ben love to sing by Sally Rippin. Illus. by Chris Kennett
There are over 20 titles in the School of Monsters series now and a staple on school library and home shelves around the world. Sally Rippin has nailed a series that intentionally engages children with the sounds of words and with written language. Designed to start as shared reading material, they encourage children to first predict the simple rhyming word at the end of each page before moving to an understanding of the way those sounds are represented with letters. The words are mostly decodable and as children develop their phonics knowledge they will be able to read more and more of the story themselves. There are also a scattering of words which are not decodable but frequently taught as red/heart/tricky/surprising/non-decodable words. Large bold writing with the last word of each page in a different colour makes these approachable for young children but they are also chapter-book like so will also appeal to older reluctant readers or those facing reading challenges.
Bill and Ben share a body (two heads, one body) and normally this is great as they like the same things, however, singing time is tricky. They both like to sing different things! Can they solve the problem? Yes they can...both of them can have a turn. As always, there are words to learn in the back, some learn to read tips and a how to draw Bill and Ben instructional.
Christmas Eve and things are happening in this house. The cat, Kitty McCatty is chasing a mouse, while the baubles on the Christmas tree are arguing, the Nutcracker trying to intervene. Using ’Twas the night before Christmas’ poem as a template the story unfolds in rhyme. This adds to the fun of the book as readers predict the rhyming words as they go.
Suddenly the lights flicker as the mouse runs up inside the tree, followed of course by Kitty McCatty. The baubles stop bickering as the mouse leaps from the tree, leaving the cat stuck at the top of the swaying tree.The whole crowd yells get rid of that cat, and a small voice offers help. The Gingerbread man has an idea. He outlines a plan to the Nutcracker and baubles and lights. They use the lengths of tinsel to make the tree stand up straight, one group pulling the tree one way, the others pulling it the other. When Santa comes down the chimney later in the night, he finds the tree almost straight with a kitten at the top instead of an angel.
This is a fun book, easy to read, wonderful as a read aloud, one that will encourage children to predict rhyming words and look for the original poem to compare the two.
Matt Shanks’ illustrations are bright and cheerful, full of colour and movement, encouraging readers to take in all the detail, watching the mayhem caused by the kitten chasing a mouse. All sorts of things cover each page, encouraging children to recognise those things which are customary necessities at Christmas in western homes. The tree with all its trimmings is delightful, especially the face at the top, and several branches used as limbs when it is trying to stop the cat. One page is turned to portrait as kids will turn the book to see the tree in all its beauty.
A fun book for one and all.
Themes Problem solving, Christmas, Christmas tree, Verse.
The new kid protagonist is always a winner but it's a pattern for teenager Denim Davies since losing his stable home – sold to pay for his late mother's medical treatment. The issues of caring for someone palliative, grief and financial hardship is just the start of Denim and Dad’s problems – both strong characters.
It’s hard for Denim to anticipate a friendly reception at Driftwood Heights - another seaside caravan park where it’s easier for Dad to find labouring jobs. Our hero may not be able to surf or live in a stable home but he has a cool hobby. Denim flips secondhand goods online for a profit. His prime motivation is to help his father, now a casual laborer, afford house rent to start to rebuild their lives. Dad loves his woodwork and locates the nearest Men’s Shed but it’s hardest for Denim running into yet another school bully.
When Mina strikes up a friendship with Denim at school, he wonders if this town is the turning point. Both are grieving as Mina is concerned for the declining health of her beloved grandmother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Denim is so focused on his dream to settle down that when he spies a valuable collectable watch in a garage sale, he doesn’t hesitate to accept a confused old lady’s asking price of $5. He’s all set for the best Flip ever but is it too good to be true?
Hooking reluctant readers has never been so easy with this not-so purpose written novella by Rebecca Fraser. The dialogue is realistic and with themes like family loss, school and bullying there are shades of crazy-good literature except like all titles in the Rhiza Shorts series, Flip comes in under 120 pages. Regardless, Flip grips the reader and changes them. The bonus is the plenitude of nailing a whole book in a couple of reading sessions. The print version has cream paper and widely spaced lines. With an interest age of 13+ and a reading age of just 10 years, the Rhiza Shorts titles are perfect for the reluctant reader.
Books are available in all standard formats for all preferences. Teachers Notes are available. 128p.
Themes Family loss, Grief, Alzheimer's, School life, Bullying, Easy read.
The Day the Bridge Fell, from the Rhiza Shorts series, is an historical novella centred on the worst construction accident in Australian history. The Westgate Bridge collapse of Oct 15, 1970 is still very close to home for many Melburnians.
In each epistolary chapter we follow Ray, a local 15yr old boy through the days before and weeks after the event. The family dynamics rapidly situates events in time with typical sibling rivalry as Ray’s seniority and bedtime privileges are challenged by his younger brother, Michael. Doug Johnston is lead rigger of his section of the bridge, and his neighbour, George Demetriou, works as an ironworker. As the tension builds towards the climax we understand the rhythm of a bridge worker’s family. Ray, like his mate Tom and all the working class families on their side of town, are fascinated with everything about the man-made wonder in their own back yard.
A high school student with a paper route, Ray is never too busy to visit the construction site daily whether he is on an errand for his mother or not. Overhearing a conversation between engineers about potential structural faults he worries before confiding in his father. Doug's reluctance to listen to rumours reinforces that anyone with neither information nor authority are virtually powerless – most of all children. Dad is not totally dismissive and has his own doubts but is wary of causing panic and asks his son not to spread rumours.
Ray’s maturity, resilience and integrity is established by his nagging premonition for his father and other bridge families they know (many of them migrant workers). These qualities are supercharged on the day of the accident. Bolting from school after the sound of collapse and sirens what he finds and how he resolves the scene of the disaster, comprises the second half of the novel.
Will Ray find his father and is his father’s mate George alive? Author, Coral Vass, uses Ray's community engagement to grasp that there wasn’t a family in the community who did not know someone who lost their life that day.
The novel format with uneven ratio of interest to reading age, along with cream paper and widely spaced lines, places the Rhiza Shorts as a teenage book series for reluctant readers. Teacher notes prepared by the publisher are available on the website for this title. 128p.
A loving homage to family and the way they interact is shown through this depiction of a year of activity. Beginning with the child’s birthday, celebrated on a picnic rug in the woods, the pages move through the year, revealing each new month as the page is turned. Starting with the summer birthday, the pages move through a day at the beach, then in the garden with the approach of the cooler months, the leaves falling all around with blustery winds, followed by the wild rains of winter, and leading to spring and finally back to the same place as the next birthday is celebrated.
Each double page is full of colour and movement, the wonderful illustrations drawing children’s eyes to the detail, while the brief rhyming lines of text point the reader to a specific activity being undertaken by the young girl. She hums while looking at the bugs on the leaves, skips and swirls with the encroaching fog and winds of early autumn, roars in the heavy rain.
Readers will love seeing what the child does throughout the year, comparing them with the things they do. All of the activities occur out of doors, only one, where the girl is playing in the water in the gutter, shows their house.
The family involves itself in a range of activities; flying a kite, playing at the beach, imagining a mermaid, working in the garden, picking fruit, playing in the fallen leaves, feeding the chooks, having a birthday celebration in the woods. All are activities attainable by children and discussions in the classroom or at home will see plans made by for them all to leave their devices at home as they venture outside. A lovely way to celebrate the passing of time.
A wonderfully brilliant look at Divali through the eyes of a bin chicken will raise lots of laughs from readers and listeners alike.
Flying high, the ibis is tired out, but is suddenly revived when she smells the most wonderful of scents. She can smell curries and rice, and spices and lassi, but in deciding to drink the lassi, turns it upside down on the customer’s head. Not a good way to start. She lunges at the bandar laddu, made up of an array of colourful sweets, then spots the tikka masala, making a mess of someone’s dinner, but by then she is ejected from the festival. Outside she dances to the music she hears from inside, but is startled when the fireworks start. Suddenly her skinny legs are wrapped around some of the lights and as she flies skyward she tips over a bowl of vindaloo. She lands on the stage and sees a group of dancers, and joins in still trying to get the lights from her legs. Instead of being cross with the ibis for all the problems she has caused, people are thrilled with her dancing, cheering her on. She has certainly lit up the night sky and celebrated divali with pleasure.
This wonderfully bright, colourful picture book will have kids follow the misadventures of the ibis as she causes havoc amongst the guests at the festival. Each page shows the problems she causes, and younger readers will love predicting the mayhem she initiates. The Indian festival is wonderfully shown with all of its colour and costumes, dances and fireworks, food and celebrations.
I love the way words for Indian food are included, prompting the reader to find out for themselves, and the customs included as part of the story, again prompting readers to talk about what they mean, and how Divali is celebrated.
The story unfolds in rhyming stanzas, again, prompting readers to use their imaginations in predicting the rhyming words.
A wholly pleasing look at the festival of Divali through the eyes of the much maligned bin chicken, here doing something positive for the community.
Themes Bin chicken, Ibis, Divali, Humour, Celebrations, Indian food.
Big Aussie Animal Bush Bash is a clever and highly engaging search and find book. In the trademark style and pastel colours of previous books by Brentos including Australian Animals From Beach to Bush, Wild Australia: Our Marine and National Parks and Australia From Dawn to Dusk, this new release is both an amazing book for children to learn the collective nouns for various Australian animals while they are searching each page, and for adults to appreciate the headline acts at the music festival.
Snags, the coolest koala is organising a bush doof. He sends out invitations for all of the animals to bring items to get the festival going. These include a bask of crocodiles bringing the drinks, colony of koalas bringing the rides, troop of kangaroos bringing the bass, wisdom of wombats bringing the doof sticks, mob of emus bringing the snacks, pack of devils bringing the security and a parliament of owls bringing the sparkles.
Some of the activities for the festival goers include eski racing, wave pool, floatie hire and thong toss There is so much humour throughout and young readers will be quick to point things out - the kangaroos lined up outside the dunny, the octopus playing the drums for the band Sticky Flippers, the Slippery Snag slide, the chill tent. The twist on famous musicians names will provide a treat for adults of all ages - Tkay Magpaidza, Hilltop Woods, Midnight Owl, John Furrnham, Crowded Pouch, Natalie Imbrolga, RooDoo Gurus, Missy Hoppins, Kylie Minnow, Silverbear, Savage Gumnut and Jimmy Barnowl lead singer for Cold Lizzel.
On each gloriously busy double page spread is eight items for readers to find. As with all search and finds it is not always easy. But it does provide an opportunity to really delve deeply into what has been intricately drawn on each page. Thoughtfully provided also is a QR code for a custom playlist with ‘You’re the Voice’ first off the rank.
This entertaining book would be an excellent gift for children and adults.
Themes Music, Music Festival, Australian Animals, Australian Bush, Humour, Collective Nouns, Search & Find.
Kathryn Beilby
The Aussie 12 days of Christmas by Brentos
Affirm Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781923135413. (Age:2+)
Using the classic Christmas carol, Twelve Days of Christmas as its template, this fun book counts from the first to the twelfth day on each double page. Each of the twelve days has a different Australian animal as its focus, and each page adds all the animals to its illustration.
Children will love seeing the lone koala in a gum tree on the first page and equally, seeing the twelve squawking cockies.
On each page between are quokkas, frogs, dolphins, magpies, turtles, galahs, rosellas, goannas, wombats and kangaroos. These animals keep coming as each page is turned building up the number on each page, just right for inquisitive minds to find them all.
Children will love listening to the carol being sung, and join in themselves with the Aussie version. Bright illustrations cover each page, as the scene is the same, just adding more animals as the book proceeds. Looking at the detail, counting the number of animals and predicting what animal may come next will engross younger readers as they read this book. And it doesn’t take much persuasion to read another Christmas book.
And they may even ponder what the recipient of all these gifts will do with them.
Themes Christmas, Christmas carol, Australian animals, Humour.
