Gabrielle Bergmoser has created an exhilarating sequel that takes readers deeper into the thrilling multiverse she first introduced in Andromache Between Worlds. This action-packed follow-up is brimming with suspense, shifting loyalties and unexpected twists that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.
The story begins with high stakes as Andromache and her family are informed that archenemy, Vincent Black has escaped from prison. This reignites a highly dangerous mission for brave heroine, Andromache. Determined to track him down and put an end to his dark plans, she is initially thrilled to be reunited with her loyal friends, Tobias and Rylee. But their joyous reunion quickly fades as Andromache uncovers secrets that force her to question everything and everyone. Who is truly on her side… who is hiding something….and what are their motives?
Bergmoser masterfully builds tension as Andromache is plunged into a series of parallel worlds, each with its own rules and dangers. The line between friend and foe blurs as the trio faces betrayals, shifting realities and harrowing challenges that test their courage, friendship and inner strength. As the danger escalates, Andromache must rely on her instincts and resilience to survive; even when the truth becomes harder to face than the enemy.
Andromache is a compelling protagonist who is courageous, curious and committed. Her inner turmoil adds depth to the high-risk adventure, making her journey gripping and emotionally engaging. Tobias and Rylee add further complexity to the quest with their insight, thoughts and observations; making the group dynamic such a strong kinship.
The story is again fast paced and vivid, capturing the dizzying shifts between worlds and the emotional weight of trust betrayed. This sequel deftly blends science fiction, fantasy and emotional drama, creating an exhilarating and thought-provoking read.
Andromache in the Dark is a thrilling continuation of Andromache’s journey. It will certainly appeal to early adolescent readers who love imaginative adventure, strong friendships and stories that find you lost in a maze of deception.
The girl with a feather in her hair by Eleanor Pearson & Julie Spencer
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781923306066. (Age:3+)
Gentle water colour illustrations hug each page as the girl explores her natural environment, images of recognisable elements of Australia’s flora and fauna catching the readers’ attention. Magpies, parrots and cockatoos, along with red flowering eucalypts, wattle and scribbly gum can be found on the pages, as the girl wonders through the landscape.
She whispers to the ladybirds, reaches for butterflies as she dances with her shadow. She rescues a beetle from a puddle, watches the ants on the anthill and slips a heart shaped stone into her pocket. She looks up noting the huge array of greens, searching for the sky above the canopy.
The dandelion on the front cover has seeds blown across the page, encouraging little fingers to feel them as they open the book. Inside they will see the beautiful gum trees and the bright colours of the bush, and follow the little e girl and her journey through the bush, under the trees, seeing the insects and the birds, crossing a stream on the fallen log.
The girl with the feather in her hair eventually comes to rest at the edge of the pond, sitting quietly with her mother as they feel the water and see what is under its surface.
Themes Environment, Australian flora and fauna, Eucalypts.
This delightful book with its gorgeous green cover of a generational family relaxing on the branches of a tree is a wonderful read-aloud for young children. The beginning lines of “Family’s warm, like hot buttered toast. Family’s here when you need them most” are a perfect introduction to family life in a variety of different homes.
Families can be blended, far away, small or large but family offers so much to a young child. It is a place where children can play, be supported, be encouraged, be safe and most importantly be loved. The illustrations are in soft tones and perfectly complement the text while adding extra visual interest for the reader.
It’s time to muster the cattle. Mum’s in the ute. Charlie’s in the chopper. Dad leads the jackaroos. Sis rides canters on the wing. Everyone has a job, everyone except me...
The lives of children in the rural and remote regions of Australia are very different from those of kids in the city and this offers a small insight into one aspect of that as the Brahman cattle are mustered, loaded onto the road trains to be taken to the saleyards, and everyone has to lend a hand. That is, unless you are deemed to be too young - and even city kids can relate to that.
Told by the one-who-is-too-young in simple text accompanied by vibrant illustrations which echo the palette of the Outback, this is a story that has a uniquely Australian flavour to it that is going to appeal to those who live the life, those who aspire to, and those who are keen to adventure beyond the city limits. Perfect for this year's CBCA Book Week theme.
The silken thread is a delightful, warm and magical story about cross cultural friendship, overcoming grief and hope. It's a book that this writer would give or read to her grandchildren. That is a high recommendation.
Gabrielle Wang has written an award-winning body of work and was our Australian Children's Laureate for 2022 to 2023. Born in Australia of Chinese (Victorian Gold Rush) heritage, Wang's books blend "... Chinese and Western culture with a touch of fantasy". The silken thread (written and illustrated by Wang) takes this pattern as it weaves a tale of Moonie in Melbourne, Little Dipper on Chongming Island in China and J.M Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy (1911). What a delightful tale! Wang has imaginatively recreated the story of her grandparents when they were children and imagined what might have happened if they had met then. Her mum grew up in Carlton Melbourne in the Depression years of the 1930s and her father's job as a child was to take care of the silkworms on the family's farm in China. Wang drew on what historical records she could find and on her mother's memoir to create this work of fiction which magically captures the time and place.
The silken thread is imaginary silk from a magical cocoon which enables Moonie and Little Dipper to connect, visit and develop a friendship across continents and oceans. It is a metaphor for the threads of friendship and the ties that bind. Moonie's household is sad. Her mother (Ma Mi) has had to leave the children and go away. Wang doesn't tell us why. Perhaps she is physically unwell; perhaps it is a mental condition. Will she come back or has she left forever? The tension is there. Moonie's father employs an awful woman (Miss Yip) who starts to take over the household and "care of the children". Unhappiness descends. Tapping shades of the evil stepmother in Cinderella, Moonie's father seems unable to stand up to this woman and protect his children. Meanwhile, in China, Little Dipper, a Chinese peasant boy wins a scholarship but his efforts to get to school are sabotaged by troublesome ghosts. The silken threads of friendship help both to strive for their dreams in a magical manner reminiscent of the dreamlike visitations of Peter Pan.
The realities of life are tough and they are there in The silken thread but they are dealt with with such wisdom in the gentle, skilled hands of Gabrielle Wang. The characters are delicately drawn and the perspective alternates in an authentic manner between the two main characters. Being children the cares and concerns are those of children. The interactions between the characters are warm and delightful. LongMa, the Chinese cow is a sentient being. Ghosts inhabit the story, being there to help and hinder and to disappear when no longer needed. A way to handle grief and move on to a life of your own is woven in.
A lovely extra are the paper-cut doll silhouettes and patterns for outfits that can be copied and cut out at the back of the book.
The silken thread is a magical story with roots in reality (a tribute to the magical realism genre) that offers wisdom and comfort through the eyes of Moonie and Little Dipper, two very relatable characters who overcome grief and disappointment through friendship.
This book is a gem for school libraries and homes. It would make a great classroom read-aloud for year 5+ especially if classes are working on cross cultural understanding and/or dealing with grief.
Author/illustrator James O’Hanlon is a scientist with a passion for mysterious animals and uncovering their secrets. Sid and the very hard to find Squid is an amusing and enjoyable rhyming story that tells of Sid’s journey of discovery looking for the elusive colossal squid. Sid crosses every special creature off his list and the clever endpapers, both front and back, reflect his discoveries.
Beginning with an introduction to various creatures Sid has uncovered on his bucket list, the narrative then leads into his obsession with finding the squid with some amazing facts and a detailed diagram of the squid. While he is searching Sid finds all sorts of sea creatures but not the one he is desperate to uncover. However there just might be a colossal squid hidden in plain sight on the pages!
This wonderful read will be enjoyed by all ages. The rhyming text is skilfully constructed and the big, bold and bright illustrations will appeal to all readers. The insertion of a mention of farts is sure to bring a laugh from young children when read aloud. More valuable facts about the colossal squid are shared in the final pages.
This delightful story is a must-have for all school libraries. With a humorous twist and an engaging storyline, it will be appreciated by all.
I was reminded of the old rhyme,’Ten in the bed…’ as I began this book, but found that it is a story so different and funny that I was laughing out loud from the second page.
One dark and stormy night a whole host of animals want to join dad in his bed. At first the boy, startled by the booming, crashing noise outside, asks dad to join him in bed. Roaring, thumping noises cause the dog to run in, followed by the cat, then a family of rabbits. Each page gives another group of wonderfully descriptive words about the storm outside, while the animals have a group word describing their numbers. Once the dozen or so rabbits join the family in the bed, the sizzling noise outside prompts the horse to come inside. Monstrously large shadows cross the bed as a herd of moose asks to be accepted. A troupe of ballerinas pirouettes into the bedroom, followed by a school of piranhas.
By now kids will be laughing uproariously as the bed fills with this odd range of occupants.
Bright, vivacious illustrations fill every page, showing an increasingly overloaded bed, with a range of animals tucking in under the covers. I love the expression on their faces as each new group appears, and the next supplicant, a whale, causes a whole host of eyes to widen. Just when you think nothing more outlandish could appear, a spaceship crash lands, caused by the storm still raging outside. The aliens ask to come in as well. Again the illustrations are very funny, paralleling and complementing the text and its range of stormy words. But all good things must come to an end and the bed splits in two. Dad calls a halt to any further additions, and bids farewell to the occupants of his bed. But with them all gone, the storm is still going on, making him feel alone and uneasy. He shuffles out to the lounge where he finds all those who had been in his bed, keeping warm by the fire. He joins them, and is served treats by the aliens.
The group tells jokes and stories for the rest of the night, not noticing the passing of the storm.
Fun from start to finish, kids will love joining in with the refrain listing the guests as they get into dad’s bed. They will eagerly turn the page to see what new thing is asking for shelter, and laugh at the aliens, ballerinas, piranhas and the whale. They will learn a whole lot of synonyms describing the storm, and the names given for groups. The illustrations are hugely funny, and will evince much laughter from the audience when the story is read out loud, a treat for reader and listeners.
See inside wild places by Laura Cowan. Illus. by Rong Phanm & Vinh Nguyen
Usborne, 2025. ISBN: 9781805315551.
We know that the world is made of many diverse habitats and biomes, but that doesn't mean they are necessarily benign. For within them there are wild places providing homes to all sorts of dangerous and deadly creatures that have adapted to their environment while posing a great threat to those around them, including humans.
Whether it's the jungle environment of the Sundarbans that straddle the coasts of India and Bangladesh, the toxic waters of the lakes of Central Africa, the sandy stretches of the Great Victoria Desert here in Australia or another of the ten places featured in this new release from Usborne, readers are challenged to lift the flap to see what lies beneath. Whether it's an innocent looking worm attracting a bird on the deadly island of Queimada Grande, also known as Snake Island; the hostile northern reaches of North America where caribou annually make the longest land journey of any animal on the planet, or daytime in the impenetrable forests of Uganda, this is one that is going to appeal to those who like to live on the edge with their reading, who prefer non fiction and discovering the secrets of their world.
This year's CBCA Book Week theme is Book an Adventure and many have created displays inviting young readers to venture into the jungle, under the ocean, or to explore some other exotic place but there will be few who are expecting to have quite such an adventure as this, particularly as all the characters in this one are real!
But as well as knowing that, its interactive format and eye-catching illustrations, this is another one for those who don't think that the Book Week theme (or, indeed books) has anything to offer that will entice them into the library. Who among those who prefer non fiction, particularly that which explores the wacky and the weird of this planet, could resist journeying to these extraordinary places, perhaps even sparking further investigations of place or inhabitant, maybe even inspiring a bucket-list item? And if what's on offer in the limited space of a double-spread, then there are the usual Quicklinks to take the explorations further.
Cass Biehn, in Vesuvius, catapults the reader straight into the first century world of Pompeii immediately before the cataclysmic eruption of Mt Vesuvius. The reader is immersed into the tumultuous, religious, political and cultural world of that time and place. Not only is the ground heaving but deadly political machinations and commercial enterprises are seething away alongside old temples dedicated to various gods.
Into this seamy cauldron, two young boys enter. Felix, is a talented young thief, who has mysterious flashbacks to his origins which he tries to tamp down. The book opens as he dodges through the crowds with a stolen priceless relic- the supposed helmet of the god Mercury. Loren is a temple attendant, also of unknown origins, who can foresee the future but can't exactly read or comprehend what he sees. Neither boy seems to know their origins or why Felix has always featured in Loren's dreams or what Felix's ties to the helmet mean or what the nightmarish dreams mean. As the tremors grow, as the city is cast into confusion and chaos, as treachery and death is around every corner, the boys must figure out what their fates are as their longing for each other grows in a simmering, slow-boil romance. The narrative has the rumbling, impending feel of catastrophe about to explode mirroring the mountain behind the town.
Biehn writes well. The plot and action is absorbing. The characters are well developed. Vesuvius could well fit onto an "additional reading" list for the study of Roman history which can be a topic studied in year seven and later in the high school years. Biehn states in the Author's Note that..."Although heavily researched, I'm the first to admit that Vesuvius takes some creative liberties with history". Nonetheless, Biehn has created an integrated picture of what Pompeii could have been like at the time based on her own study. Thus the young history scholar may find that reading Vesuvius makes the period come alive in the way of all good historical fiction.
Biehn has also created a book that looks at the effects of early childhood trauma and the way that it shapes people. She considers queer people in history and queer readers of today. She reaches out to contemporary readers not only through the story of Vesuvius with its message of hope and struggle in the overcoming of difficult odds but also through the list of resources for people in need of support - in Australia-Q Life (+contact details) in the end papers and through the message in the Author's Note.
Wombats poo in cubes? by Dr. Audrey Shen and Briana Heinrich
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781922678270. (Age:3+)
Winston the baby wombat wonders why his poo is shaped like cubes. He asks the question of his friends, to find out why. Greta the cow has big, flat poos, Billy the goat offers a handful of small round poos, Charlie the cockatoo has white sloppy poos that make a splat on the ground, but his research does not answer his question, so he offers some reasons why this may be so.
Perhaps it is so that it does not roll away or roll into his burrow as it would if it was round. Perhaps they are square so he could play with them like a toy, or their brick like structure may enable small creatures to build a house. Or is it because he is not eating healthily, or perhaps the cubes reflect the shape of his stomach or his bottom. He asks his mum but she does not know and sends him to the Possumwood Wildlife Hospital to ask the staff.
Dr Audrey and Nurse Briana give him several reasons, telling him his stomach is not cube shaped but does stretch and move about to give his poo the shape it is. The oddly shaped poo could be left as a warning to other animals, or left to attract other wombat friends, because it would not roll away but stay in one place. But for whatever reason, the wombat is the only animal in the world with cube shaped poo. Winston feels very special as he leaves the hospital, and going home finds a little pile of cube shaped poo, so he knows there is another wombat nearby.
A cute story which will intrigue readers, especially those attracted by the topic spelt out loudly on the title page, the little wombat story is a great way to introduce this animal’s signature waste disposal. Accompanied by illustrations that will appeal to young readers, children will follow Winston’s story with interest and a laugh.
Themes Wombats, Australian animals, Poo, Humour.
Fran Knight
The girl and the mermaid by Hollie Hughes and Sarah Massini
Alina and her grandmother live in a lighthouse and lately the stories Gran has told to her granddaughter have dried up. She is forgetting the stories she loves to share. Alina is at a loss as to how to help. She peers over the rocks into the sea below and sees a mermaid who beckons her to follow.
The mermaid takes her past seaweed forests, splendid coral reefs, sunken treasure ships, their cargo spilling out over the ocean floor. Sea creatures swim around them; pufferfish, whales, dolphins and shark are joined by turtles, sting rays and squid. Something is glinting far below and they swim towards it. A light filled city comes into view and the merfolk lead Alina towards a well where all the stories are kept. All the stories Alina thought were lost forever, come together in a shell which she takes to the sea’s surface.
She knows that tales must fly to live and tips them into the light atop the lighthouse, so the light’s beam is always full of stories. Alina and her Gran sit on the bench outside the lighthouse, watching the stories as they fill the night sky. I love this idea of the stories filling the night sky, enabling Gran to hold on to her memories.
This charming story of the relationship between a young girl and her grandmother, shows how children can help their older family members manage their lost memories. The child and her grandmother are lovingly drawn, the girl recalling her grandmother’s stories of the mermaid and the animals in the sea, taking the plunge to the city below.
Beautifully illustrated with a huge amount of detail, children will love diving down with Alina noting all the things from the sea around her. Sarah Massini has an eye for detail which is first drawn with pencil, then transferred to Photoshop. Layers of watercolour and mixed media build up the images she wants to project, the stunning results eye pleasing for all.
I love the image of the mermaid, a fantasy creature with her scales and long hair, seaweed draped around her long fishy tail. And the city beneath the waves is a breathtaking sight, one I can imagine enticing little fingers to recreate. The illustrations perfectly match the rhyming stanzas, full of adventure and wisdom.
Themes Sea, Old age, Memory, Verse, Storytelling, Grandparents, Mermaids.
Fran Knight
The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Mother Muddle by Katrina Nannestad. Illus. by Cheryl Orsini
ABC Books, 2025. ISBN: 9780733343124.
Imagine being a young girl travelling the world in an old wooden caravan pulled by a horse that decides where they will go and which seems to have magical powers that mean borders and mountains and oceans are no barriers. And that caravan is full of books, because it, too, has a magic that means that it is like a Tardis with so much more on the inside than appears on the outside.
That is the life of 10-year-old Miriam-Rose Cohen (who prefers Mim), her father and little brother Nat, Coco the cockatoo and Flossy the horse. Led by Flossy's instinct, they travel to wherever they are needed, wherever there is a child in need of a book to make their world right again because "the line between books and real life is not as clear as people suppose."
In this, the sixth in this series, Mim has arrived in Salzburg -- the city of Mozart and mountains, gardens and castles, Sacher torte and sausages, new people, new matches and new magic. But more importantly, it is where her mum is recovering from a nasty bump on the head. But when they spot her in the crowd, she doesn't remember them at all! How will they help her recover their memory and be a family again? Can their usual practice of healing people by giving them the right book at the right time work when it's so personal?
This is the ideal series for young independent readers to engross themselves in as they follow Mim's adventures and perhaps even wish they were her. Is it the final though? Or are there more detours as they make their way back to Vienna? It is an ideal collection to show that you really can "Book an Adventure' through stories, not just through rising along with Mim through Europe but also because it can lead to other series like Pages & Co which is for slightly older, more confident readers, and which, itself, could lead them to a new author with a new series, Losing the Plot. Or maybe just to the other brilliant tales of this wonderful author. Whichever path is followed, they are guaranteed many hours of being oblivious to the world.
Themes Travel, Books and reading, Memory.
Barbara Braxton
See how they fall by Rachel Paris
Hachette, 2025. ISBN: 9780733652684. (Age:Adult)
Who can you trust? What happens when you marry into a family where you are (perhaps?) out of your depth - blinded by their wealth and fabulous lifestyle? What happens when the attention of your handsome husband becomes rather too attentive? What happens when you are trapped in a gilded cage? The message readers is - make sure you never lose your independence, mental and physical fitness and contacts. Be ready to pivot in your life. Be smart.
Debut author Rachel Paris (Master of Laws and Creative Writing) sets the tone for See how they fall with an entirely appropriate quote by Honore De Balzac as an epigraph..." Behind every great fortune there is a great crime." The narrative unfolds through the first person points of view of the two female protagonists: Skye (who has married into the Turner family and is trying to keep life normal for her daughter Tilly, hiding a secret of her own and navigating chaos after a tragedy) and Mei (the detective who takes on the homicide investigation while her own life is unravelling). The chapters alternate between Skye and Mei as the parallel steams of the story unfold; the police investigation progresses alongside the escalation of danger in Skye's life. In the first chapter, through the first hand view of Skye (our female protagonist), we are introduced to the carefully curated image of the Turner family who are meeting at the dead patriarch's monument to himself "... a vast collision of concrete, steel and glass...", a house with its own private beach, somewhere north of Sydney, to discuss the estate. Arsenic poisoning happens and the New South Wales police become involved. Mei begins her investigation which widens into an international situation gradually revealing shady dealings behind the facade. A thrilling narrative evolves.
The all important major setting for Skye's ordeal is her own home - the setting having the significance of a major player. "Thornfield" in Bellevue Hill as Mei described it (as the police in their Toyota Camry tracked the Turners in their Aston Martin DBX) is set in a neighbourhood with leafy avenues and manicured lawns amongst imperious and solemn homes behind glossy hedges and inclined towards the harbour. The house was concealed behind steel entrance gates fitted with high-tech camera systems. Later in the story surveillance becomes hugely significant. Approached by a winding clipped topiary lined driveway, a helipad and a gazebo, the enormous three story house flanked by a pool, pool house and sprawling formal garden appeared along with a cavernous garage complete with a McLaren, a Pagani, a Bugatti Tourbillon etc. The interior of the house is equally opulent but cameras are everywhere. Everywhere is monitored.
Why are the police obstructing Mei's investigation? Why is Skye's freedom being curtailed? Are we seeing gas-lighting, leveraging, threats, blackmail - an escalating litany of danger and wrongdoing?
See how they fall is quite tightly written. Suspense is maintained. The reader is concerned for the highly likeable characters' well-being and the controlled story structure takes the reader through nightmare situations to a satisfying resolution which is also a surprise.
Compelling, unputdownable, dark romance gone wrong, murder by arsenic... Who did it?
Themes Domestic abuse, Entrapment, Russian mafia (Bratva), Family wealth succession, Women sleuths, International crime,Police procedural, Psychological thriller.
Award winning author/illustrator Jess McGeachin has created another stunning narrative non-fiction text for children. Find Me On the Coast is the first in a series which will delight readers both young and old and remind them of days when they may have visited the coast and made their own discoveries.
Hand painted watercolour images complement the text nestled thoughtfully on the page. As the adult and child traverse the coast they are drawn to the abundant creatures and plants who inhabit the coastal environment. Hermit crabs, shorebirds, turtles, rock pools, an octopus, chitons, sea urchins and anemones. All sorts of creatures are mentioned with facts and thoughts shared throughout e.g. ‘Whatever you do, don’t tickle a sea anemone! They’re very beautiful but their tentacles can give a nasty sting.’
Lyrical language is accompanied by striking illustrations used to describe the plants and animals that live in the varying habitats: on the sandy seabed pairs of beady eyes watch and wait, meadows of seagrass where dugongs graze, forests of kelp where sea otters weave and seadragons hide, the tangled roots of mangroves provide a maze for young fish to shelter, mudflats are home to colourful crabs.
The author thoughtfully mentions the effects of climate change and in the final pages provides a double page spread about the how different coastal environments are being affected. Find me on the Coast is a wonderful resource for home, schools and public libraries.
Hachette, 2025. ISBN: 9780734423900. (Age:14+ - Young Adult) Unreservedly recommended.
Nate migrates to Australia with his mum, Amber, leaving his dad 6,000kms away working in Singapore. They’ve come on ahead to settle Nate into a new high school, and for Amber to prepare for a procedure to relieve her chronic pain. Moving into the bungalow his parents purchased online, they see a swarm of bees disappearing into a wall in need of repair. Thus begins a new friendship when Tyler the local apiculturist is called to move the bees. Readers discover much about keeping bees and their precarious but crucial role in the environment.
Next door lives a friendly, athletic girl about his own age. Luna is returning to school herself after a long absence. Nate struggles to make new friends, but can’t understand why his neighbour is already an outcast.
“Drift”, is an expressively crafted title in the Australian YA verse novel tradition. Predictably, alternating chapters are narrated by the two main characters to express their respective backstories with rhythmic breaks rather than blank spaces. If new to unique lineation in lyrical storytelling, a rapid appreciation follows Pip Harry’s creative choices.
While Nate’s themes concern family and the biosecurity threat to Australia’s bees, Luna is a gifted distance runner dealing with the protracted nature of cyberbullying trauma. Drawn together in newfound isolation and the beehive which Nate is keen to protect, can Luna forgive Nate when she feels he too has betrayed her trust?
A coming of age story that will appeal to youths and young women, who will identify with these self-discovery journeys via the concise but imaginary writing, distinctive of the poetry genre. 309p.
