All posts by Editor-in-Chief

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 →

Author

Michael Prewer

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

Michael Prewer has been writing plays and stories and developing board games for as long as he can remember. R.E.Generation is his debut novel, but he already has a number of others in the works. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Anatomy) and a Masters of Speech Pathology. He has worked as a paediatric speech pathologist for over 5 years. Michael and his wife are passionate about taking small steps to minimise the impact humans leave on our wonderful planet. Michael also has a keen interest in theatre, sports, mathematics, puzzles and Continue reading →

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The Helios Book

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

by Slade Carter

PB 224 | 198 x 129
ISBN: 9781922858412 | $17.99
Middle Grade | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | 23 May 2024
Distributed by NewSouth Books

Twelve-year-old twins Hugo and Kitty have an ultra-rare condition called heterochromia, which bestows them with different coloured eyes: one hazel, the other blue. On holiday in rural Australia, the twins befriend their solitary neighbour, Lucas, who has developed a powerful solar device he calls the Helios Book.

Lucas promises it will revolutionise global energy use. In a desperate attempt to escape those who would steal the Helios Book, the twins follow a fairy wren down a wombat burrow and into the mysterious world of Taara, a land plagued by Continue reading The Helios Book →

Author

Slade Carter

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

Slade Carter was born in Bendigo, Australia, and currently lives in London with his wife and two children. By day, Slade works in government affairs in the health sector. Slade enjoys reading, travelling, the wonders of nature, music and Continue reading →

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Tayta’s Secret Ingredient

9 February, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Amal Abu-Eid (author) and Cara King (illustrator)

HB 32 | 280 x 240 | ISBN: 9781922858122 | $29.99
Picture book for all ages
MidnightSun Publishing | March 2024
Distributed by NewSouth Books

Billy loves Harmony Day. He loves the colours, the clothes and especially the food. This year Tayta is making kaak, a Lebanese treat, for Billy to share with his class but he can’t share the recipe because Tayta bakes with a secret ingredient.

Tayta’s Secret Ingredient is a heart-warming inter-generational story about everyday life in multicultural Australia, where a curious boy takes centre stage alongside his beloved Continue reading Tayta’s Secret Ingredient →

Author

Amal Abou-Eid

9 February, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Amal Abou-Eid is a passionate educator, mother and author of multiple self-published books. Amal started writing children’s books when she realised she couldn’t find books for her children with characters and stories that related to their Muslim Lebanese Australian identity. She believes in the power of representation and inclusion in books and writes stories which depict characters and events her family and community can identify with and relate to. She hopes her stories can educate, entertain and Continue reading →

Author

Cara King

9 February, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Cara King is a Melbourne-based illustrator and graphic designer. She has illustrated around 10 books since 2016, published both traditionally and for self-publishing authors. Cara enjoys painting in watercolour, scribbling with pencils and dabbles in a bit of digital art too. She has a love of Continue reading →

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A Way Home

6 February, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Emily Brewin

PB | 198 x 129
ISBN: 9781922858382 | $19.99
Young Adult | Also available as ebook
MidnightSun Publishing | 25 April 2024
Distributed by NewSouth Books
AGE GUIDE: 13+

Sixteen-year-old Grace lives under a bridge in Melbourne’s CBD. It’s cold and wet, but hidden. Safe, at least, until she can go home.

When winter drives her to the City Library one morning, Grace meets Louie, a weird kid with his own problems, and discovers a community piano. The piano reminds Grace of her mum, a celebrated pianist whose mental illness makes life a rollercoaster — and not always a fun one.

When Grace comes up with a plan to find the help she and Mum need, life begins to look up. But things don’t work out as Grace imagines and suddenly her world’s turned upside down again, and maybe for good this time.

A Way Home is a big-hearted novel that explores the complexities of growing up with a parent who is struggling, and about the places and people we call home. Continue reading A Way Home →

Author

Emily Brewin

6 February, 2024 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

Emily Brewin is a Melbourne author, copywriter, and learning designer. Her first novel, Hello, Goodbye, was published in 2017 and her second, Small Blessings, in 2019. A Way Home is her first YA novel. Her short stories have appeared in anthologies: Into Your Arms: Nick Cave’s Songs Reimagined by Fremantle Press, We’ll Stand In That Place and Other Stories by Margaret River Press and the Bristol Short Story Anthology — Volume 10. She has written for The Age, ABC Education, Continue reading →

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Big, Weird, Lonely Hearts

17 October, 2023 Editor-in-Chief Leave a comment

by Allen C. Jones

One part absurd humor, one part social commentary, Big, Weird, Lonely Hearts throws the most unlikely couples into bed together. This hilarious book includes a man mistaken for a bush, a mermaid refugee, a bird who dreams of weaponizing cats, a boy with a computer for a face, and a woman in love with a severed arm. These and more are the weird and lonely characters who drag their broken hearts through this collection, diligently searching for someone to stitch them up.

Allen C. Jones’ debut collection reads like a meeting between Peter Carey, Nikolai Gogol, and Lydia Millet where the task at hand is to write a love story. While the surface of these stories seems humorous and even absurd, beneath it runs a desperate nostalgia carried by a set of characters who will do anything to force their way back into love. Continue reading Big, Weird, Lonely Hearts →

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