We’ve had some exciting new stories published recently by both established and fresh authors that will appeal to young minds and have them begging for the next book in the series. And let’s face it, we want kids to be desperate to read more because school readers are not always very exciting! These books are all highly illustrated with fun, engaging stories that should appeal to energetic young minds.

Ratbags Book 1: Naughty for Good by Tim Harris & Shiloh…

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The 2023 BookPeople Book of the Year longlists have been announced! These awards celebrate the best books of the year, as judged by Australian book industry members.

Below are the longlisted titles from across the three categories.

Adult fiction book of the year

Limberlost by Robbie Arnott

Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

Sunbathing by Isobel Beech

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

This Devastating Fever by Sophie Cunningham

Exiles by Jane Harper

All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien

The…

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The shortlists for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing and Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration have been announced!

The Carnegie Medal for Writing is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. The Carnegie Medal for Illustration* is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.*formerly known as the Kate Greenaway Medal

Below are this year's two shortlists.

The 2023 Yoto…

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Reading stories set during tumultuous historical times can be a gentle, age-appropriate way of introducing history to young readers. We currently have a swathe of brilliant new fiction for middle grade readers set during WWII in Europe, after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Ukraine, and in Australia last century.

Fritz and Kurt by Jeremy Dronfield

This moving story is based on the true story of the Kleinmann family, who lived in Vienna at the start of World War II…

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It's March already – how did that happen?! Luckily, we have many exciting new children's books to distract us from the rapid passing of time. Our book of the month is an exciting horror story by Sofie Laguna & Marc McBride with a cover that takes you right back to the eighties! We also have some charming new picture books for little ones, a groundbreaking picture book written in both Braille and English, some brilliant junior fiction, and a magical…

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The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its Notable Books for 2023. Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers!The CBCA presents annual awards to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature. The CBCA Awards were first presented in 1946 and are the longest-running book awards in Australia.

See below the links to the notable books for each category.

Older Readers

Books in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and are appropriate…

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As kids return to school and childcare, friendship is both their greatest desire and sometimes a source of confusion and hurt. Who gets to be included, what happens when a friendship has changed or what if a friend is different to everybody else? Picture books are a great resource to explore the benefits and the challenges of friendship in a gentle, reassuring way and here are some favourite recent releases on the topic.

Walter Had a Best Friend by Deborah…

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The longlists for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing and Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration have been announced!

The Carnegie Medal for Writing is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. The Carnegie Medal for Illustration* is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

*formerly known as the Kate Greenaway Medal

Below are this year's two longlists.

The 2023 Yoto…

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2023 begins with a bang with many exciting new titles, including a time-slip story by Kate Constable, a beautiful new picture book about hope (the cover of which graces this month's Readings Monthly), a picture book about the creator of Blinky Bill, and a new middle grade novel by the author of beloved middle grade novel, Wildwood.

FEBRUARY BOOK OF THE MONTH

Tumbleglass by Kate Constable

When 13 year-old Rowan discovers a ring and puts it on, she…

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We’ve run the reports and done the maths. Here are our 100 bestselling kids & YA books from the past year.

The 156-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton

The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat by Charlie Archbold

Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman

Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Maybe by Kobi Yamada & Gabriella Barouch

Barefoot Kids by Scott Pape

Where is…

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