Review: What Jack Brought Back

Scruffy, joyful Jack loves to retrieve things. But each time his owner throws a stick, what Jack returns with is a fun filled surprise.
 

The reader is asked each time to guess what Jack brings back. Combinations such as rats and cats in hats and a goat in a coat in a boat are just two of the fabulous collections of ridiculous characters and amusing costumes and situations Jack returns with for his owner. These laugh out loud scenarios are always met with ‘Silly Jack! Take them back!’

Review; Bowerbird Brave

If you have not yet discovered the fantastic bowerbird series by Aura Parker, now is your chance. Bowerbird Brave is the fourth title in the series, and it is just as beautiful and whimsical as the books that have preceded it.

Before I get to the story, let me just stop and marvel at the glorious endpapers, a signature of Aura’s work. The opening spread is a golden daytime scene filled with so much detail that it is almost a story on its own. This of course includes the usual hidden objects for the reader to find. A quick flip to the back of the book shows that daytime has turned to night with beautiful greys and purples filling the space which again has a list of items to find.

Endpapers are the one place where artists can be free to create without being restricted by text placement. I would love to see more books embrace this space as Aura does.

Now that the scene has been set we open the first page to see a baby bowerbird with the line ‘I am an artist’. Above is the tiny bird’s creation, made with found objects (great illustration). I love this story already.

We continue along being witness to the artistic process as the baby dreams up designs and tests out various ways to bring these ideas to life.

‘I am carried away in the flurry of excitement,…‘Working late until the light is fading’… I am beginning to think this may be art reflecting life as I can easily picture Aura working late into the night, but I digress.

As the light fades and the night animals begin to emerge, our tiny bowerbird encounters a problem. The powerful owl is on the prowl. He is scary and confronting. The baby flees in fright feeling small and fragile.

What follows is a tale of courage and bravery. How does our hero emerge from hiding and confront the powerful owl, and what role do his artistic talents play?

Perhaps I am reading too much into things, but I think this story goes beyond that of a bowerbird family fending off a night time creature.

Children are born artists. They are inspired by everything around them and create magic from the simplest of things. But it takes just one person to undermine everything, making them feel small and unsure of who they are. Some children hide this part of themselves and stop creating altogether, forever fearful of what people might say. As a fellow ‘arty farty’ it can take a lot to stand up and believe in your work. One of the most powerful ways to do that is to find your tribe. ‘Asking. Trusting. Reaching out.’ Standing together with others that believe in you, can give you the courage you need to be brave.

Whether you see this parallel in Bowerbird Brave or not does not matter. Children will love this story regardless, especially the ending. The writing is rhythmical without needing to rhyme and the illustrations speak for themselves, just magical.

Bowerbird Brave will not only make the perfect classroom addition with its ability to link to so many topics, but with its stunning detailed pages it will be sure to be requested over and over for that bedtime read.

Make sure you check out the other titles in this series.

Title: Bowerbird Brave
Author/Illustrator: Aura Parker
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: 1 September 2026
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761727252
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book

Review: Last Bat of the Night

It is dusk and families begin to head home after enjoying a picnic beside the river at the park. A familiar ruckus then begins as our native bats commence their search for food - their picnic.

The children become entranced with a colony of bats as they leave their roost in the trees along the river and fill the skies in search of food and drink. As the bats’ nocturnal adventures commence and the family is about to settle for the night, the desire to find the last bat leaving the trees around them, becomes a joyful game for the children.

Review: Pocket Observology: A Field Guide

Let me begin by saying that I had not come across Giselle Clarkson’s work before reading Pocket Observology: A Field Guide, so I had no idea what to expect but was excited to see what I would find.

As soon as I opened the cover I was hooked. I’m not sure if it was a deliberate pun referring to the pages (or leaves) of a book but the first thing I was presented with was a fold out flap with the illustration of a leaf and one simple statement. ‘Reasons to turn over this leaf’. The leaf in question had markings, droppings, a slime trail and a nibbled edge. So I turned it over as any curious child would and found a collection of little critters just waiting to be examined.

Review: The Lost Island

From the start we are thrown into an action - packed story with 11 year old Theo aboard a cruise ship with his father, new stepmother Lyn and his over-achieving stepsister Mozzie (maybe the name reflects how annoying she is being so ‘perfect’?!).

Theo has struggled with the shift in his relationship with his father since his mother died in a car accident. His new stepmother and stepsister seem to take up all his father’s attention and Theo’s tendency to overcome his anxiety by collecting and reciting fast facts about anything and everything fails to help him feel any more secure, as they sail away on their holiday.

Review: To All The Boys I've Loved Before: Graphic Novel

If you’re looking for a quick, sweet read with all the charm of a teen rom-com, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in graphic novel form is a fun place to start.

Based on Jenny Han’s hugely popular novel, this adaptation follows Lara Jean, whose secret love letters — carefully written for every boy she has ever loved but never intended to send — suddenly make their way into the real world. Cue misunderstandings, unexpected relationships and plenty of romantic complications.

Review: Funcles

Imagine having a family so large that you have a ‘gazillion uncles’. 

If you had to make a family tree poster for school, how big would it need to be? 

Ginormous - that's how big!

This is exactly what happens in Funcles when a child is tasked with creating a family tree for a school project and excitedly tells his teacher that he’ll need more than one worksheet.

Review: Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky

Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky by Will Kostakis is an engaging and enjoyable read that combines magic with some surprisingly meaningful themes.

Otis lives in the shadow of the Manor School for Magic, a mysterious school floating above his town. Like many children, he dreams of visiting it, but Otis has a very personal reason for wanting to get inside. Determined to find a way in, he is willing to bend a few rules along the way.

The story has a simple storyline that quickly draws readers in. It is easy to follow without feeling dull, making it a good choice for readers who are just beginning to explore chapter books or who prefer a shorter, more accessible read. There is enough magic, mystery and possibility to keep the story moving, while Otis himself is an appealing character to follow.

Review: Oceanforged 3: The Sinking Ruins

Two Oceanforged Armour pieces located – three to go. Cori’s quest is far from over.

In Oceanforged 3: The Sinking Ruins, Cori and her friends, Jem and Tarn, are on the hunt for the third Oceanforged piece, having already located the gauntlet and hauberk tunic; this time finding themselves on the secretive island of Halycon.

Cori is the 26th Champion and is tasked with finding all five pieces of armour to save her world. But it’s a task that, in true epic adventure style, is proving tricky and treacherous.

When the trio arrives on the island, the danger they are in is immediately obvious. 

Review: Sagittarius Rising

Every kid wants a pet. Some will go to great lengths to get one, not realising, perhaps, that owning a pet is not always fun and games. (Although, mostly it is.)

Tip is desperate for a dog. Her parents are cautious, though.

Undeterred, Tip tries one tactic after another until – BINGO! – a tiny puppy is left abandoned at the markets. Tip and her parents can’t just leave it there, can they?

As expected, and despite her parents’ insistence that they need to find a home for it, this puppy worms its way first into Mum’s heart and then Dad’s.

Lo and behold, the puppy has a home. Let the fun begin!

Review: Once Upon a Harbour

The first thing that may strike you about Once Upon a Harbour is David Elliot’s artwork.

The illustrations are not bright, bold and colourful as we may have come to expect in picture books – and therein lies their charm. 

For comparison, maybe think of Maurice Sendak's illustrations in Where the Wild Things Are. In the same way, David Elliot gives us detailed images you can lose yourself in for hours – long after you’ve finished reading.

Review: There's a Chicken in the House

It’s a question we often ask ourselves. If the wind blew open your door and a chicken walked in what would you do? Well lucky for us There’s a Chicken in the House answers that exact question.

Perfect for young readers, Sonya Hartnett has written a sweet humorous tale about a curious chicken who comes for a visit and doesn’t want to leave. There is flapping, pooing and egg laying and a whole lot of strutting. Everything you would expect from a chicken.

Review: Howl-o-ween: Come Trick or Treat On Spooky Street

It’s Halloween on Spooky Street, and the humans are not the only ones dressing up to trick or treat.

Come along as the playful pups and their owners visit each house in this fun and adventurous picture book by award winning creators Emma Bowd and Lara Porter.

Emma’s lively, rhyming text is a joy to read aloud and would be perfect for a group Storytime, as well as bedtime. The story moves from one house to the next with dynamic verbs and clever alliteration. 

Review: Platypus and Puggle - Unusual Animals Big and Small

From the author of Llamas with Lemonade - An Unusual Animal ABC, comes another board book introducing toddlers to a very unique collection of animals and their babies. Starting with the tiny jerboa through to a big elephant, each of the highlighted 14 animals is matched with their babies through delightful illustrations and with a simple fact about the animal.

Review: The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner

12 year old Zoey suffers severe anxiety, brought on by the sudden death of her father, and has a fear of many things including germs, accidents and falling ill. As a result Zoey is homeschooled and limits her travel beyond her home to very few places.

Zoey has been supported by her mum, best friend Lena and next door book shop owner Jada, who have shown understanding and patience when the fear bubbles up inside her.

Zoey and her dad shared a passion for a fantasy series called Magic of Ever After by the author Raven M Wells. Together they would read the books and her father would often say ‘Everything’s going to be okay. Find the magic Zo’.

Review: CockadoodleMOO

The star of his own show, Rocky has one line to get right. He breathes in and out, welcomes the audience, starts with a joke and when the big moment arrives…

This book is for all kids who love a bit of silliness. Everyone knows the line that must be said and kids will be calling it out at every opportunity. It’s a quick read but one that will make kids laugh out loud, especially when they get to yell out POO!

Review: The Nardi Puzzle

Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, meet Sebastian Walker and Elisabetta Nardi – your modern-day counterparts in the exceptionally clever gaming adventure-mystery that is The Nardi Puzzle.

Twelve-year-old Sebastian is hooked on the Nardi Corp games, which he plays with his younger brother as an escape from the realities of his life. 

He’s pretty good at them too, although not good enough – he would have thought – to be one of twelve children selected from around the world to attend the exclusive launch party for the newest Nardi game.

Review: Kev and Trev - Snot Cool Snow Stories!

We’ve been to the ocean and the jungle with them, and now we’re off in Book Three - Snot Cool Snow Stories, on another madcap adventure with Kev and Trev and their support crew, to the mountains in search of interesting animals called pugons. 

We discover pugons are very shy, cute, small animals that are supposedly living up high on the snowy mountaintop and are a cross between a dragon and a pug. With only a very old book as a reference guide and a deadline from their ‘puglisher’, Kev and Trev are eager to find a way to make the pugons their characters for their next book. 

As well as finding the pugons, their ultimate goal has not changed - one day they will be mega rich from writing stories based on their adventures and will finally be able to afford a new houseboat. Will they be third time lucky? Or will it be Mission Impossible!

Review: Really Rubie - A Diary

Rubie is all set to go on her very first summer camp with best friend Riley. 

They have plans. 

They’re excited. 

Then disaster strikes! Riley calls Rubie at the very last minute to tell her she can’t go to camp after all.

Now, Rubie has to face camp – where she knows nobody and doesn’t like the sound of any of the activities (except art) – alone.

This would be a nightmare for most children (and adults). 

How on earth will Rubie fit in, make friends and actually enjoy her summer holidays now that Riley won’t be there?

Review: A bigger Book

Most people would know Hannah Sommerville from her beautiful illustration work,  A Bigger Book however marks Hannah’s first solo outing as both author and illustrator and what a great topic she has chosen to debut with.

Drawing from her own childhood experiences, A Bigger Book tells the story of Cora. Like most children Cora loves books. She loves holding them and smelling them. She loves visiting the bookshop, and library day is her favourite day of the week. But when it comes time for Cora to read out loud in class things begin to change.