EK Books, Australia, 2026
Book design Mark Thacker
Jemima Parker’s gentle story of a creative and resourceful little girl reminds us of the importance of following through one’s ideas, of valuing small treasures and of helping one’s friends.
Continue Reading“Jemima Parker and Karen Erasmus – Poppy makes pockets “
Windy Hollow, Australia, 2026
Design by Nuovo Group
Love can be both gentle and intense at the same time. And thus it is in Sarah Wallace’s story Learning You By Heart.
Scholastic Press, Australia, 2026
Illustrations by A. Yi
Book design Nae Shiowaza-West
In Our Family Zoo by Maura Pierlot, we follow, in lilting rhyme, the conversation of a mum and her small son as he begs for another pet to add to their considerable menagerie, all living in a small family home.
Affirm Press, Australia 2026
Cover and internals design Matt Shanks and Melissa Hill
With her typically well measured doses of humour, Jacinta presents a story which highlights the challenges of living with a toddler, but also shows the kindness of an older sibling, who tries with all his being to help his little sister through her tired tantrum.
Larrikin House, Australia 2025
Design and artwork by Mary Anastasiou – imaginecreative.com.au
January is a time of respite in Australia for busy parents, a break from the daily routines of getting kids off to school or childcare, and all the demands this involves.
Continue Reading“Shelly Unwin and Lana Azore – Wait a Minute!“
Affirm Press, Australia 2025
Cover design Natasha Carty
In Lucky, author Amelia Tonta and artist Peter Baldwin play with the common concept of being ‘lucky’ when something goes right – but then there are unforeseen consequences.
Continue Reading“Amelia Tonta and Peter Baldwin – Lucky“
Lothian/Hachette, Australia, 2025
Design Christabella Designs
This is Inga Simpson’s first picture book. She is best known for her adult fiction and nature writing and this work is a decisive expression of her concern for the environment.
Continue Reading“Inga Simpson and Tannya Harricks – The Peach King “
Affirm Press, Australia 2025
Cover design Jo Hunt
Cover and internal illustrations Alessia Trunfio
The Wicked Ship is the first in Oceanforged, a new fantasy quest series by Amelia Mellor. It’s a rollicking adventure tale, featuring heroic young trio Cori, Tarn and Jem, whose complimentary personalities and skill sets hold them in good stead for this episode and future encounters with danger.
Independently published in consultation with Pickawoowoo Publishing Group
Australia, 2021
The author of Tysh – The yellow straw hat has produced a heart-warming story of childhood dreams, family and a little bit of magic.
Lothian Hachette, Australia, 2025
Design by Jo Hunt
The two authors with artist Janelle Burger have created a colourful and relatable picture book, which shares Aboriginal culture in a clear and simple way, hence providing a valuable teaching and learning resource for early childhood and junior primary teachers.
UWA Publishing, Australia, 2025
Design by Jo Hunt
This is the second of the Ella series by Cassy Polimeni and Hykie Breeze and in it we see our young heroine grappling with the dilemma of how to manage friendships from different parts of life.
Independently published, Australia, 2025
Cover and internal design by Alison Mutton
Steven Roger’s charming debut picture book aims to gently teach young children the right way to be with their pets – in this case, it is a poor beleaguered kitty, but the principles apply well to other household pets and indeed all animals with whom children may come into contact.
Independently published by Big Ideas Press, Australia, 2025
Design by Ozan Tortop
Clutterbugs is decisively didactic, and joins a growing body of works for young readers that assume their intelligence, capacity for decision making and thirst for knowledge – from a very young age. As with her previous picture books, the author gives her child protagonist (Steff) the power to interpret problems and decide her course of action.
Starfish Bay Publishing Australia, 2024
Post-COVID we have seen a dramatic rise in childhood and adolescent anxiety, but, in reality, we can all feel anxious at times to greater or lesser degrees of seriousness. It’s a subject well worth presenting for young readers and their adults.
Ek Books an imprint of Exisle Publishing P/L
Australia, 2024
Too Many Acorns is a sensitive treatment of grief by a talented writer-artist.
Continue Reading“Susannah Crispe – Too Many Acorns“