Troublemakers by Catherine Barter

Troublemakers by Catherine Barter (Andersen Press) is a political coming of age story about memory and the stories that ground us and bind us to our past and our families. It's beautifully written and had a place in my heart within the first few pages. 'In three years I will be able to vote and...

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

'Can a text message destroy your life? Carver Briggs never thought a simple text would cause a fatal crash, killing his three best friends, Mars, Eli, and Blake. Now Carver can't stop blaming himself for the accident and even worse, there could be a criminal investigation into the deaths. Then Blake's grandmother asks Carver to remember her...

Chicken Clicking by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross

I always feel in safe hands with Jeanne Willis. She has written some of my absolute favourite books - Wild Child, Bog Baby, Susan Laughs - and this one doesn't disappoint. One day, Chick wanders in to the farmhouse and starts browsing the internet. Much hilarity follows as Chick buys unexpected gifts for herself and...

The Yes

I love it when a picture book catches me out. When it taps me on the shoulder and stares me straight in the eye. The Yes by Sarah Bee and Satoshi Kitamura did just that, with a raised eyebrow, saying "you think you know picture books? Do ya? Do ya? You don't know nothin'!" And...

The Lost Books

I love books! Had you noticed? I love to stroke them and sniff them. I love the words and the stories and the rhythms and the structures. I love the illustrations and the play between them and the text, and the theatre of it all. I love getting review books and exploring my amazing local...

Footprints in the Snow by Mei Matsuoka

Wolf is feeling offended and indignant - all the wolves he has ever read about are nasty, scary and greedy, so to set the record straight he decides to write a story about a nice wolf. But will his wolfish instincts get the better of him after all? It is snowing outside so this book...