Ultra Violet: Escape from Uranus, created by Cristy Burne and Rebel Challenger, is a wildly energetic, laugh out loud second instalment in the Ultra Violet graphic novel series. Young readers will be hooked from the first panel. Fast, funny and bursting with facts, this book proves that learning and laughter make a brilliant team.
The story reunites readers with Violet Butt, her talking pet hermit crab, Leonardo Da Pinchi, and her best friend Izzy Kelly. Burne cleverly includes a recap of previous mayhem, making it easy for new readers to jump straight in, which is great because the unfinished alien problem reappears, and it needs fixing pronto!
As the trio are launched into another chaotic adventure, this time heading into space, this extremely fast pace story is relentless in the best possible way. There is always something happening, and readers will feel as though their heads are spinning as they race through panels packed with action, jokes and clever visual details.
The humour is shamelessly silly, with plenty of fart-based comedy, but it’s balanced with genuinely impressive educational content. Readers absorb fascinating facts about space, biology and chemistry almost without realising they’re learning.
Rebel Challenger’s illustrations are a standout feature. The bold, cartoon-style artwork is expressive and packed with visual gags. Challenger even includes side notes directly to the reader, commenting on how or why certain things have been drawn, which adds another layer of comedy and makes the reading experience feel interactive and playful.
Cristy Burne keeps the story moving at top speed, expertly juggling humour, science and adventure. There is certainly a lot going on, but it never feels overwhelming - instead, it creates a joyful sense of controlled chaos that perfectly suits the tone.
Ultra Violet: Escape from Uranus is ideal for reluctant or enthusiastic readers alike, especially those who love graphic novels, science, and humour that’s a little bit cheeky. It’s non-stop entertainment that proves books can be both smart and silly - sometimes at the same time!
The Whispering Night concludes the gripping Luminaries trilogy, following The Luminaries and The hunting moon. Winnie Wednesday is beginning to feel happier - she and Ericia Thursday are talking again, and Jay Friday is no longer being hunted as a werewolf. They join as a group, trying to collect clues about the disappearance of Winnie’s father and Erica’s late sister Jenna. Winnie is no longer ostracized, instead she is welcomed by her peer group and her romance with Jay is growing. This all falls apart when she is confronted by a formidable Diana who gives her a short deadline to perform an impossible task, one that threatens not only the people she loves but all of Hemlock Falls.
Readers are brought up to speed about events in the previous two books by Dennard with some non-intrusive background facts and the often-dark narrative is broken up with cultural references, memos about the Midnight Masquerade and fasinating illustrations of the monsters of the forest. While there is nonstop action and suspense that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, it is Winnie’s wonderful character that kept the story alive for me. She is a nerd, curious and determined, desperately wanting to find out what happened to her father and a person who finds it hard to overcome the guilt she suffers because of the deaths in The hunting moon. Her inner monologue is often humorous and lightens some of the darker episodes as she fights age old enemies from the forest.
The trilogy is brought to a heart-stopping and satisfying conclusion with troubling questions answered and friendships renewed. I look forward to more books by Dennard, while older readers may like to try The Witchlands series by this talented author.
Themes Fantasy, Monsters, Coming of age, Friendship.
Pat Pledger
How to have the best school year ever by Jess Sanders. Illus. by Andrea Onishi
Jess Sanders, author of The Five Rules of Friendship, has once again included friendship in her latest picture book How to have the Best School Year Ever. Set to be released in time for the 2026 school year, this engaging narrative attempts to ease the anxiety many children feel when the new school year begins.
With the catchy phrase ‘Best School Year Ever’ this book explains ways that this can be achieved. School can look different for each individual child. Not everyone can connect with a friend straight way, or complete the work easily, maybe they struggle with words or numbers, or even an activity in the playground. The author believes that by setting goals, taking small steps to learn something, practising over and over again, even doing extra learning - all of these might help to enable school to be a positive experience.
Friendship is of vital importance and there are ideas to encourage this to happen: find someone with similar interests, start a conversation with a child who is left out, someone who believes in you, and it is ok to have safe disagreements. There is also the friendship you have within. The kind thoughts you have about yourself rather than the negative self-talk. In the final pages is a valuable and important opportunity for self-reflection on the school year that has passed.
The delightful illustrations throughout this text are clear and colourful and it is wonderful to see such a diverse and inclusive school yard.
Themes New School Year, Friends, Goals, Resilience, Reflection, Inclusivity, Diversity.
Kathryn Beilby
The adventures of Pongo and Stink by Lisa Nicol. Illus. by Karen Blair
Pongo and Stink are two endearing pet pigs who live in a barn owned by Farmer Nic. They both long for a better life, one that involves being fed and treated as well as the farm dog Rollo. Pongo comes up with a plan for them both to disguise themselves as dogs. To do this they need to go into town and find some dog suits. Sure enough this plan goes well, and they get the taste of a dog’s life. They successfully fool humans, including Farmer Nic. He feeds them all sorts of delicious things, and they can sleep inside by the fire. However their efforts to behave as real dogs can’t be sustained. A fox and the farm dog, Rollo, see through their pretence. And their innate pig behaviours, such as their love of food and mud, can’t be restrained and soon put an end to their life as dogs.
This delightful fun story by Lisa Nicol is nicely illustrated by Karen Blair. Pongo is a pretentious, confident risk-taker while Stink is more stuck in his ways and nervous about Pongo’s outlandish plans. They are great friends who support each other despite their quite different personalities. The Adventures of Pongo and Stink will make a great read aloud for a family or an early years class, as well as being suitable for young independent readers. There’s plenty to laugh about with “pigs being pigs” and fart jokes in abundance. I enjoyed the many parts where the pigs realise they need to behave like dogs, such as how to wee like a dog or the need to shake after being drenched. Readers who enjoy the rural setting and feel-good qualities of this story may like to follow up with the classic The Sheep-Pig (Babe) by Dick King-Smith.
Themes Farms, Dogs, Pigs, Friendship.
Jo Marshall
Dexter Procter the 10-year-old doctor by Adam Kay. Illus. by Henry Paker
Dexter Proctor the 10-Year-Old Doctor, written by Adam Kay and illustrated by Henry Paker, is a wildly original and laugh-out-loud middle-years novel that celebrates difference, curiosity and finding where you truly belong.
Dexter Proctor is not your average child. Born with the voice, vocabulary and mannerisms of an elderly professor, Dexter absorbs facts like a living encyclopaedia and would much rather read and research than play with toy trucks and playdough. His extraordinary intellect sees him starting school at half the usual age, but while Dexter excels academically, fitting in socially proves far more challenging. His unique social etiquette sets him apart, leaving him struggling to fit in.
Everything begins to change when Dexter forms a genuine friendship with Rupi and Otto - two wonderfully distinctive characters who embrace Dexter exactly as he is. Together, the trio embrace the power of friendship, acceptance and teamwork, showing that it’s often our differences that make relationships richer.
Dexter’s true calling emerges when he begins working at the local hospital. Here, surrounded by medical equipment, complex cases and real-world problems to solve, Dexter finally feels at home. He discovers that his encyclopaedic knowledge and unique perspective can genuinely help others. However, this sense of belonging is threatened by a mean and determined archrival who is keen to remove Dexter from the hospital, forcing him to tackle setbacks, self-doubt and unfair challenges.
Adam Kay’s signature quirky humour shines throughout the novel, with plenty of funny moments woven into deeper life lessons about empathy, resilience and perseverance. Adding to the fun are Dexter’s own interjected commentary and “editorial” notes, which break the fourth wall and give readers direct insight into his brilliant, busy mind. Henry Paker’s cool black and white cartoon illustrations further enhance the story; keeping readers engaged and amplifying the comedy.
Perfect for readers who enjoy facts, clever humour and offbeat protagonists, Dexter Proctor the 10-Year-Old Doctor is an entertaining and amusing story about life challenges to finding your place in the world. With its cliff hanging conclusion, it strongly hints at future adventures and mayhem to come.
Themes Medicine, Teamwork, Friendship, School, Problem Solving.
Michelle O'Connell
No! I can't ...yet! by Eva Rivelli and Lisa Fisicchia. Illus. by Kayla Lee
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781923306158. (Age:3+) Recommended.
No! I Can't... Yet! is a very positive story that will challenge both children and adults to keep trying until a new activity is learnt. Liva is a little girl who has butterflies in her tummy, shaky legs and a heart that is beating fast whenever she tries something new. She says 'I can’t' when she is unsuccessful at kicking a football, misses a goal at netball, and doesn’t make the click clack sound when she dances. Gradually she begins to believe that everyone is better than she is and gives up trying. But one day she sees a chrysalis that is moving. Something is trying very hard to get out and after pushing and poking a beautiful butterfly emerges and learns to fly. Liva is inspired by the butterfly’s determination and decides to practise and practise until she succeeds. In a turnaround, when Mum says she can’t kick a goal it is Liva who says ‘Yet!”
The cute illustrations are appealing and young children are sure to relate to the different expressions of joy and frustration on Liva’s face. Useful Parent and carer notes at the end of the book give questions that can be discussed and a section of the importance of resilience is also included.
This is an inspiring story that will show young children the importance of not giving up and is certain to challenge the adult reader to also persevere with an activity that is difficult.
Themes Persistence, Determination, Resilience.
Pat Pledger
Last one out by Jane Harper
Pan Macmillan, 2025. ISBN: 9781760783969. (Age:Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry and The lost man comes a thought-provoking novel set in Carralon Ridge a country town that is slowly dying as the coal mine operators take over more of the land. Ro Crowley has suffered the trauma of her son Sam never returning home for his 21st birthday dinner. He has disappeared; the only reminder of his presence were footprints left in the dust of three abandoned houses. Extensive searches revealed no more clues and his distraught family is left to mourn. Ro thought she would stay in the town, but with her marriage broken, returns only for the annual memorial of Sam’s disappearance. Can she finally get an answer about the events leading up to her son’s disappearance from the few people who are left in the ghost town?
Harper is a talented author who deftly portrays the characters of the people who are left behind in the town and the grim reality of encroachment and privilege that the coal mine brings. The pub is open only occasionally by Sylvie, Anne Marie haunts the abandoned home she once lived in, Ro’s husband is grimly holding on to his job as fire warden and the young men and boys who are left with their families long to leave. It is easy to relate to Ro an intelligent woman who desperately wants answers.
In Last one out, Harper reveals the trauma that a family goes through when someone goes missing, and the repercussions that it has on the small community. It is not a detective story like The dry but focuses on characters driven by grief and the effects of a dying town on its community. I became so engaged with the relationships and fate of the townspeople squeezed by the mine that it was a surprise for me when Ro began to join the dots and solve the mystery of her son’s disappearance.
An engrossing, well written story, Last one out will appeal to readers who enjoy character driven novels. Those who like mysteries about missing people may enjoy Melaleuca by Angie Faye Martin, Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French and What happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan.
Children will be immediately drawn to the idea of using a magical magnifying glass to find hidden creatures and objects in the park, garden, city, farm, zoo, jungle, water, and finally in Australia. The red magnifying glass can be pushed out of the first page of the book, leaving the rest of the pages intact. It can be used to hover over the drawings to find the objects hidden in each of the scenes, which are printed in two pantone colours. On the pages opposite, Tee has listed what can be found, with little drawings of each of the things hiding so that reader can check whether they have found everything or the adult reading along can help them look for a certain drawing.
The board book and the magnifying glass are very study and will withstand many readings of the book. As well as having lots of fun finding the objects, children will also learn some basic counting skills and could predict what sorts of activities and animals can be found in each of the intricate illustrations.
This is a different type of activity book and will appeal to the curious child who would enjoy finding familiar objects in the park and garden, while learning about marine life underwater and animals that roam the Savanna and lurk in the jungle. Adults like me will probably also find it fascinating!
Wow! What a gripping thriller. Katie and her cousin Aster are facing a 49-mile-long hike in the Utah desert, hoping to restore the strong friendship that they had before Katie survived a terrible night at a party the year before. They set off alone to cross the desert, facing injuries, scorpions and a freak storm that leaves flash floods threatening their paths. When they meet Riley and Finn who offer them extra supplies, Katie’s antenna for danger flares and she believes Finn is trouble. Her instincts appear to be correct when they witness Riley fleeing into the night with Finn in pursuit. When morning comes, the camp is deserted and Katie is certain that Riley is in danger. Will they be able to save her or will the desert conditions prove too difficult ?
49 Miles Alone is told in alternative chapters in the voices of Aster and Katie, with a mysterious third voice adding suspense to the story. It is a survival story and could easily be read quickly for the thrill of following the pair hiking alone in the desert, facing rattlesnakes, scorpions, death defying climbs and loss of supplies, while knowing that there is a dangerous man on the trail. However the story is not just about surviving in the deadly desert, but of Katie’s attempts to maintain her mental sanity after trauma, and Aster’s finding a way to renew a friendship when it is difficult to know what to say to a survivor.
Winner of the Edgar Award 2025, 49 Miles Alone is a gripping thriller that looks at some serious issues. Richards maintains a high level of suspense as the reader wonders whether Katie and Aster will be able to reach safety and rescue the missing girl and whether they will be able to regain their trusting relationship. Readers may also enjoy We won't all survive by Kate Alice Marshall, The surface trials by H.M. Waugh and Wandering wild by Lynette Noni.
Themes Hiking, Utah, Deserts, Rape, Thriller.
Pat Pledger
The fishmonger and the pastry chef by Sophie Masson and Cheryl Orsini
Little Hare, 2025. ISBN: 9781761211225. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
A wonderful story of love and friendship, told within the enticing framework of a small French seaside town which has a pastry chef, Lucas’ aunt Violette, and Cyprien the fishmonger at the local market. Lucas loves visiting his two friends, the pastry shop where he can indulge his love of cakes and pastries, and the fish market stall where he sometimes helps with cleaning and mopping. But both of his friends have sad eyes. They are always pleased to see Lucas but behind the welcome, Lucas senses a tinge of sadness.
Cyprien visits Violette’s shop each Saturday to buy a pastry to take home. One day as Violette and Lucas are talking, he asks her to relay her happiest memory. She tells him of a time spent at the beach when building a sandcastle, a boy handed her a starfish to add to the castle. He asks Cyprien the same question and he tells him of a day at the beach when there was a huge storm and people feared for the boats coming home. A girl gave him a spoon in the shape of a shell when the boats came safely to the harbour. Both adults recall a time when they were happy.
Lucas plans to get both of them to the beach again, to rekindle the time when they were children. At the picnic, Violette builds a sandcastle, while Lucas watches out for the late Cyprien. Finally he arrives, and seeing the sandcastle, makes the link to the silver spoon and Violette. Cyprian has brought along blankets so the group stays on the beach telling stories about their lives since meeting all those years ago.
A friendship is rekindled.
This disarming story will be loved by its readers, sure of the facts that old friendships can be resurrected, knowing that love and friendship is never lost.
The beautiful portraits of Violette and Cyprien will stay with readers as they turn each page showing their current lives, and see some of their past. Lucas succeeds in his aim to making their lives happier, and the soft warm pastel colours used throughout the book underline the companionship felt by all three characters. The delectable pastries and cakes shown in Violette’s shop will certainly grab the attention of the readers, as will the array of fish shown in Cyprien’s window. The seaside town is beautifully shown with the terraces, the walks to the sea shore, and the range of boats that come into harbour. Kids will love spotting the array of things to do at the beach, and plan along with Lucas, a picnic for the pairing of his two friends.
Astute readers will notice instances of French culture show in the book, and all will love the repetition of lines, and the detail shown in the illustrations. I love the view of Violette’s saucepans on the wall, and the array of fish on the fishmongers stand, the view of the little French seaside town from the beach and the boats in the harbour.
Themes France, Patisserie, Fish, Harbours, Friendship, Romance, Humour.
Fran Knight
Rita the muster pup by Jane Kinnon. Illus. by Emily Humble
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781923306240. (Age:3+) Recommended for dog lovers.
Fans of the TV series, Muster Dogs, will be charmed with this story about Rita, a cheeky little border collie pup that Grandad is training with the rest of his collie puppies to work on his farm. Rita is a pup that loves to get into mischief. Instead of listening to the command 'Stay' she spots a cow and races after it. She has trouble hanging onto the back of Grandad’s bike and naps when she should be rounding up the sheep with the rest of her litter. When the puppies are in the water for a swim she disappears out of sight. And naughty Rita chases a cat up a tree and a fowl around the yard.
Rita the muster pup is told in simple rhyme and rhythm that makes it an enjoyable read aloud for younger children who will be keen to predict what Rita will do next. Older children just beginning to read will love the repetition and rhyming words. The attractive illustrations by Emily Humble show readers the training that the puppies go through, learning to stay, jump on the back of a quad bike, round up sheep, sit, and stay still to be washed. Each of the puppies is an individual with different white and black patches and Rita is the cutest of all! Brown, green and yellow tones bring to life the farm’s background and Granddad in his big bushman’s hat and denim blue shirt and jeans is portrayed as a quiet and patient character.
Dog lovers, especially those interested in muster dogs, are sure to enjoy the antics of this lovely little border collie.
The prologue to Judy Nunn’s Pilbara reveals the secret at the heart of the book. Charles Burton the young widower with three children sent from his English family estate to the Pilbara to restore his family’s fortunes, is in fact Charlotte, an independent-minded young woman in disguise. This is in the 1880’s but it is not as far-fetched as readers might initially surmise. Charlotte herself names three famous examples of fearless women disguised as men, Hannah Snell, Deborah Sampson, and Sarah Edmonds, and there are others of that period whose disguise had not yet been discovered. But where credibility is stretched, is that none of the difficulties inherent in such subterfuge are given attention in Nunn’s book. In the first section, Charlotte’s early life is simply given the pronoun ‘she’; in the next section, about life as Charles, the pronoun ‘he’ takes over and is so convincing it is hard to remember sometimes that he is supposed to be a woman disguised. The children relate to Charles as their father. Nunn’s focus is not so much the identity switch, as much as the actual story, the adventures of making a life in the rugged environment of a sheep and cattle station between Roebourne and the little port town of Cossack in Western Australia.
Nunn revels most in the characters of the outback, and the lawlessness that abounds, with situations that are almost farcical such as when Charles has to preside over court proceedings against young miscreants. His decisions actually flout any English sense of the law, but allow for his kindness and common sense to prevail. This is also apparent in his relationship with the Aboriginal housekeeper Nina, and the young boy Alwyn. But while there is sympathy for the dispossessed Indigenous people the prevailing view of the time is to see them as lesser, unreliable, and a threat.
More attention is given to the status of women in the 1800’s. Security for a woman is marriage or in the case of the courtesan Eleanor, it is ensuring the patronage of a wealthy man. While Eleanor’s pursuit of Charlotte’s father William is viewed by his daughter as self-seeking manipulation, Nunn also makes the reader aware that there aren’t many options for a woman not born into the gentry. Charlotte herself is only able to do the things she wants by undertaking her own education, and then becoming a man. It is only the next generation, Charlotte’s daughter Victoria who dares to assert herself as a woman running a property in her own right.
Judy Nunn’s experience as an actor shows in her work. It’s a story with a great plot and interesting characters. Some of the conversations read like a script ready to be brought to life on stage or in film. And her enthusiasm for Australian history also shines through, revealing the harsh world of pioneering outback settlements. All in all, it makes for a rewarding and entertaining read.
Themes Women, Independence, Determination, Australian history, Outback.
Keshe Chow’s latest book has an interesting premise. Like her previous novel The girl with no reflection, she again explores the idea of parallel worlds. This time, it is the afterworld. In her note to the reader she says the inspiration lay in the Chinese word ‘jian’ meaning ‘ghost of a ghost’. Could a ghost die? Could a ghost die more than once? The illustration inside the front of the book shows The Living Realm and The Death Realm, the latter having many levels deeper and deeper into darkness. The heroine of the story, Jia Yi finds herself discovering the different levels of the afterlife when she is stabbed by an enemy’s sword.
The twist is that Jia Yi discovers her secret power, only now revealed in death. Her community thought she was an ‘Empty’ without any special power, unlike the rest of them, each of whom had a unique magical ability. Now Jia Yi discovers she has the power of resurrection. She can come back to life, but each time afterwards, when she dies she enters a deeper level of the Death Realm. It may be that she will eventually descend so deep there will be no return.
For no mortal creature shares some commonalities with the science-fiction film Inception with its depiction of different levels of dream world. There are also strains of Wuthering Heights, with the intense relationship between Jia Yi and her wild orphaned childhood friend Lin recalling the passionate relationship of Catherine and Heathcliffe. In this novel there is also the triangular pull of love interest between Lin, Jia Yi, and the noble Prince Essien, though I find this a bit confusing as to how it was going to resolve.
Readers who enjoy romantic fantasy will most likely enjoy Keshe Chow’s novel with its intriguing thread of Chinese mythology, the swirl of emotions of love, grief, and betrayal, and the feisty heroine with her passion and determination to protect her people against ruthless conquerors.
Themes Fantasy, Romance, Chinese mythology, Death, Ghosts, Magic.
Helen Eddy
Castle crashing by Andrea Rowe and Hannah Sommerville
Little Hare, 2025. ISBN: 9781761214073. (Age:3+) Recommended.
A delightful book about children on holiday at the beach becomes a warm recollection for many adults and children alike of family time spent at the seaside. Five kids on the cover are having the most fun, building up a sandcastle, then pulling it down, working together with buckets and spades, buckets and trolleys. They are all in beach clothes and hats against the sun, with a lighthouse in the background and a warm looking sea breaking waves on the shore. It is o reminiscent of summer in Australia, where thousands go to stay in shacks and other seaside accommodation, transplanting their families for a period of time, time full of doing things not done at home.
Bonnie calls her friends to the beach. Matilda begins to dig out a trench while Milla builds rooms with shells, Clancy is digging a hole and Clementine is making windows with shells and broken coral.
But Bonnie wants one huge castle to be built in a place she wants it to be, a clubhouse for them all. She tries hard to get them to listen and work together, but they go on with their own castles.
Bonnie becomes very frustrated and marches off alone. She follows a trail into the dunes, and soon she is very much alone. There are no other children or their sandcastles. She sits and counts to ten, cooling down, thinking mess-ups can be mended. She hears familiar noises from her friends as they rush towards her, hugging her to them. She whispers I’m sorry, and the group returns to the castles, together, and together they dance across the sand, pushing some over. Tomorrow is another day.
This lovely tale reflects the emotions felt by younger readers. Bonnie’s need for her friends to do what she wants, falls on deaf ears, and it takes some time by herself to work herself out of her temper.The others come to find her and all of them have learnt some positive ways of behaving with their friends.
Bonnie learns to calm down, apologising to the others for trying to order them all into doing something she wanted. Her friends are patient and understanding with Bonnie, waiting for her to calm down.
Illustrator, Hannah Sommerville, has created beautiful scenes against which the events are played out. The warmth of the beach is reflected in the illustrations, the gritty sand, the waves in the background and the friends on the beach building sandcastles will readily remind children of times they have spent at the beach, and look at the way the illustrator shows us Bonnie and how she behaves when thwarted. Amongst all the fascinating images portrayed, I love the unregimented shacks with a track leading to the beach, and I love the images of Bonnie as she calms down in the dunes. Readers will love this book, showing both sides of an argument, modelling how to resolve differences of opinion amongst friends.
Themes Patience, Beach, Summer, Friendship.
Fran Knight
Little cloud by Heidi McKinnon
Little Hare, 2025. ISBN: 9781761215810. (Age:1-3)
This board book for young children new to books, is a sturdy addition to a child’s library. The little cloud wanders through the sky, in sunny, rainy, windy and thundery times, each making the cloud a little uneasy, until it returns home to where it is loved, safe and sound.
Each double page shows the cloud in a different weather event. One is the sun, shining brightly, and next the cloud moves to where it is raining as the cloud goes up into the sky. Then thunder occurs, frightening the little cloud, followed by strong winds which buffet the little cloud across the dark blue sky. Here the cloud is a long way from home, and weeps tears, falling as rain.
The pages reveal to softer blues as the little cloud finds its way back to the sun and the clouds it belongs to.
The warmth of the sun is reinforced by the warmth of the parent clouds as they all snuggle together at the end of the ebook. The book goes from soft, light blue pages to heavier, more ominous dark blues of the thunder and lightning, wind and rain. Children will be happy when the little cloud comes back home, having learnt a few new words about the weather outside.
