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Book Advent 2022
It’s the first Sunday in Advent today, and one of the ways we celebrate the countdown to Christmas each year is with a book Advent calendar. I have written a bit about bookish Advent calendars before (check out this post for more info if you’d like). We’ve tried a few different things as my daughter has grown, and my number one ‘rule’ is always to do what works for you. For a few years when she was little and we were reading picture books we tried doing a book each day or every second day, but in the end what we’ve found works best for us is to have four…
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Friday Favourites :: 4 March
One of my absolute favourite things about Instagram (and all kinds of social media, really) is the sense of community. I love a good readalong, or blog event (like Top 5 Tuesday!), or photo challenge. One of my favourite regular events on Instagram is The Fiction Feast, which is hosted by the fabulous Ale from ReadWithRiver (you can also find Ale on her website here). The Fiction Feast (you can check out posts here: #TheFictionFeast) is held every two months of so, and is an opportunity for influencers and bookstagrammers from both the kid lit and adult spaces to come together to share delicious flatlays of food and meals recreated…
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#KidLit :: Seasons in the City :: Megan McKean
My 7 year old has been super interested in learning more about different parts of the world lately – I think she has been quite inspired by seeing the flags and hearing about so many different countries when we’ve been watching the Paralympics and Olympics. In any case, when my friend Barbie from Living Arts Canberra posted on Instagram about Seasons in the City by Megan McKean I had a feeling it would be a hit and ordered it right away. (You can listen to Barbie and Megan chat about the book on the Living Arts Canberra website here). This beautiful picture book is split into the four season, and…
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Friday Favourites :: 9 July
I think I mentioned in my favourites post last week about how the past few weeks have seen us in the midst of snap lockdowns and travel restrictions and cancellations of plans and all of that. This week’s favourite is kind of related, because something I’m loving this week is the way the book community is getting behind virtual events. While I completely appreciate the disappointment that comes from having to cancel planned events, and how difficult it has been for authors launching new books at a time when they can’t do face-to-face events I have really loved seeing authors and publishers and venues “pivot” to take their events online…
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KIDLIT :: BACKYARD MAGIC :: Wendy Shurety & Harriet Hobday
Tilly wonders what to do when the TV is turned off. A whole new world is opened up for her when a little bird helps her discover the magic of the backyard. We really enjoyed reading Backyard Magic, and while the words were excellent – I always love a story that encourages imaginative play – the illustrations were the hero of this one for us! The gorgeous cover art grabbed my eye immediately, and i thought the bright and bold art was so full of fun and just perfect for the imaginative adventure Tilly goes on in her backyard. We loved all the details in the illustrations, and had fun…
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KIDLIT :: Bookstagang Best of 2020 Aussie Picture Books
I have had the most wonderful time over the last little while as part of the judging panel for the Bookstagang Best Aussie Picture Books of 2020 list.As well as reading a whole bunch of amazing books (more on them later!) I have had the chance to get to know some wonderful Australian Bookstagrammers, who are just as excited to talk kids’ books for hours as I am! Most of the action has happened over on Instagram, but I thought I’d share our list here – I think it makes a great gift guide if you’re looking for beautiful picture books to gift these holidays. But first, let me tell…
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KIDLIT :: THE BUSHFIRE BOOK :: Polly Marsden & Chris Nixon
My 6 year old has been quite nervous about fire since the bushfires that burned across Australia last summer – worrying about it even during the winter months. I wasn’t really sure how we would deal with moving into the upcoming summer and fire season, so I was really pleased to receive a copy of The Bushfire Book: How to be Aware and Prepare from Lothian Children’s Books – it was one of the books on our Aussie Bookstagang Best of 2020 picture books shortlist. The book is described on the back cover as being “a practical and reassuring guide to bushfires for kids so they can be prepared not…
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KIDLIT :: THIS GIRL CAN! :: CORI BROOKE & KATIE ALEXANDER
This girl can be anything.A pilot. A firefighter. A film director.Showing girls all the very many things they can be when they grow up, this book is a playful, inclusive romp through the world of jobs and vocations. I have a special guest reviewer on the blog today to talk about THIS GIRL CAN by Cori Brooke and Katie Alexander – my 6 (almost 7) year old daughter Amelia. Here is what she has to say about this beautiful book: I like this book because. 1: it has a lot of inspiration for little girls for when they grow up.2: it is very nice. 3: the girls are really different…
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KIDLIT :: Just a Rabbit :: Priscilla Pho & Francisco Fonseca
Ethicool Books is a new Melbourne-based children’s book company with a focus on beautiful books tackling big issues to inspire little minds. The reached out recently and asked whether I’d be interested in receiving a copy of their latest release Just a Rabbit (by Priscilla Pho and Francisco Fonseca) – of course I was keen to check it out! Gentle, placid and curious, all the little rabbit wanted was to see the moon. After all, the taller animals in the jungle were forever marvelling at its dreamy facade and sharing their moonlight tales. Sadly, though, as just a rabbit, our little friend was too small to see beyond the canopy…
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KIDLit :: This Small Blue Dot :: Zeno Sworder
With a strong message of interconnectedness, hope and empowerment, This Small Blue Dot follows a little girl exploring the big and small things in life. From contemplating our place on this ‘blue dot’ to the best Italian, Chinese and Indian desserts, the book provides a broader, more inclusive view of who we are, where we come from and where our dreams may take us. Delivering big lessons with playful humour, the precocious young narrator shares her take on nature and the environment, wisdom from elders, embracing difference, the power of imagination and broccoli. Through this character – loosely based on his eldest daughter, whose crayon drawings decorate the endpapers –…
