All posts by Editor-in-Chief

Gisela Ervin-Ward

9 January, 2025 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Gisela Ervin-Ward writes stuff for kids to read and teaches them how to read it. She grew up on a farm in Western Victoria and moved to South-East Asia to be an aid worker for many years before returning to Australia with her family to live in the Macedon Ranges. She’s now a writer of children’s tales and specialist literacy teacher, teaching neurodivergent children how to read. Continue reading →

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True South

9 January, 2025 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Gisela Ervin-Ward

PB 192 | 198 x 129
ISBN: 9781922858597 | $19.99
Middle Grade | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | 25 May 2025
Distributed by NewSouth Books

When twelve-year-old Nell crashes her sailboat into a submerged house in the lake, she stumbles into a treasure hunt that plunges her into a generations-old family feud.

Things begin to take a sinister turn as the adults get involved, and Nell has no choice but to team up with her neighbour and family rival, Charlie. As friendships begin to morph and stretch, can these two unlikely allies end the feud and work out the treasure’s secrets, or will their rivalry lead to one last epic Continue reading True South →

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When Dark Waters Burn

9 January, 2025 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Zena Shapter

Stay out of sight. Stay hidden under the lake. Even as giant water-ants scout the surface, and deadly trees slop their hungry roots along the shoreline. For unrest surges in the swamps, getting closer and closer… Sala will only be safe for as long as their ship’s location remains a secret. But when a horrifying threat ignites close to home, and the lakeside hillfarms are forced to reveal a desperate Continue reading When Dark Waters Burn →

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Shift

9 January, 2025 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Irma Gold

PB | 234 x 153
ISBN: 9781922858566 | $34.99
Adult fiction | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | March 2025
Distributed by NewSouth Books

In the year of the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter — which outlined the principles of democracy and freedom in South Africa — comes a novel set in the township where it was signed. Shift asks us to examine both the world around us… and ourselves. Continue reading Shift →

Teacher Notes

Teacher Notes – The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books

27 August, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Teachers’ Notes for The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books (pdf, 1.8 Mb)

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Willow’s Gumboots

27 August, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Beverley McWilliams and Hélène Magisson

Willow loved her gumboots. She wore them wherever she went. The gumboots were there in the garden, at the beach and even at parties. But one day Willow discovered that something was wrong with her beloved gumboot.

A delightful story for anyone who has ever had a Continue reading Willow’s Gumboots →

Author

Hélène Magisson

27 August, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Hélène Magisson is a critically acclaimed French-Australian illustrator of many books for children. Before Hélène turned to book illustration, she was a painting restorer in Paris, where she was also trained in the art of medieval illumination. Hélène’s children’s books are widely known and loved across the world. Her timeless style lends itself beautifully to classics, such as The Velveteen Rabbit (New Frontier, 2021), and also universal contemporary stories, such as Before You Were Born (HarperCollins, 2020).

Hélène is frequently recognised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Most recently, she was Continue reading Hélène Magisson →

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Double Happiness

26 August, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Rochelle Siemienowicz

PB | 234 x 153
ISBN: 9781922858474 | $34.99
Adult fiction | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | 1 October 2024
Distributed by NewSouth Books

One woman, two men. What if she doesn’t have to choose?

Overcome with guilt about a love affair she can’t give up, Anna confesses to her husband, Brendan. He is shocked and devastated but makes the unusual decision to try to accept the lover, Jeremy, as part of their family.

Told from three perspectives, Double Happiness is a story about sex, honesty and jealousy – and the challenges of forging a new kind of romance.

Set in Melbourne over seven years, this lyrical contemporary love story explores the complexities of non-monogamy with humour and heart, asking what it’s like to love two, or more, people equally but differently. What is the effect of time on erotic love? And what happens when your new lover wants someone else too? Continue reading Double Happiness →

Author

Rochelle Siemienowicz

26 August, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Rochelle Siemienowicz is a writer, editor and arts journalist. Her first book was Fallen (Affirm Press, 2015), a memoir about sex, religion and marrying too young. Her debut novel, Double Happiness (MidnightSun, 2024) is a polyamorous love story. Rochelle’s work has been published widely, including in The Age, SBS, Kill Your Darlings, The Big Issue, Metro, ArtsHub and Kalliope X. She has a PhD in Australian cinema and was for many years a film and TV critic and columnist. She lives in Melbourne with her two partners, her son, and a beloved Continue reading →

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The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books

25 July, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Written by Lara Cain Gray and illustrated by Lorena Carrington and Timothy Ide

A picture book is a book with pictures, but it’s so much more than that! This A to Z guide helps you level up your picture book reading experiences, empowering yourself and the young readers in your world to dive deeper into what makes a great picture book great. With histories, insights and handy talking points for shared reading, come and explore the complexities of modern picture books. Discover the science of page layouts, the purpose of rhyme, and why our favourites linger in our hearts and minds for life. Let’s read! Continue reading The Grown-Up’s Guide to Picture Books →

Author

Dr Lara Cain Gray

25 July, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Dr Lara Cain Gray is a writer, librarian and storytelling advocate based in Brisbane, Australia. Her professional past spans library and museum curatorship, academic research, and corporate and creative writing and editing. She is currently Head of Acquisitions at nonprofit publisher Library For All, delivering cross-cultural children’s books to remote and low-income communities. She reads every day and will NEVER Continue reading →

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The Kelly Gang Kids

25 July, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Coral Vass and Deb Hudson

Chasing each other down Avenel Way, the Kelly Gang kids just wanted to play.

Young Ned Kelly and his mates get up to all sorts of mischief. But when Ned’s friend is found drowning in the creek, will Ned be able to save him?

The Kelly Gang Kids is a story about Continue reading The Kelly Gang Kids →

Author

Deb Hudson

25 July, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Deb Hudson is an Australian illustrator of children’s picture books and creator of other artistic works including pattern design and stationery. She loves colour and finds joy in creating illustrations that celebrate life, love, growth and wonder. Highlighting all the beauty around, even the tiny unnoticed details. Her work has been described as whimsical, carrying you off to fantastic places and worlds. She has illustrated a number of children’s books including The Golden Thread by Amelia Donnelly and the What Zola Did series by Continue reading →

Author

Coral Vass

25 July, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Coral Vass is an award-winning children’s author, presenter, editor and reviewer. With over 20 published children’s books, Coral’s books include Sorry Day (Speech Pathology Awards Book of the Year and CBCA Book of the Year – Eve Pownall Award), Grandma’s Treasured Shoes (Caleb Book of the Year), and Jørn’s Magnificent Imagination (CBCA Notable and shortlisted for Speech Pathology Book of the Year). Many of Coral’s books have appeared on ABC’s Playschool, UK’s Story Den on Milkshake TV, Storytime with Fergie and Friends, as well as Continue reading →

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R.E.Generation

7 April, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Michael Prewer

PB 448 | 234 x 153
ISBN: 9781922858443 | $34.99
Literary sci-fi | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | 1 June 2024
Distributed by NewSouth Books

After 50,000 years in a chemically-induced sleep, Sarah and her fellow R.E.Generation volunteers awake to find a world devoid of human life. Climate change has wiped all mammalian life from the planet surface, and pine trees and giant mushrooms have taken over.

Can they stave off bitter infighting and a hostile earth to build a strong settlement in this strange new world? They are humanity’s last chance of survival, but in the ongoing battle between humankind and the Earth, who wins? Continue reading R.E.Generation →

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