Bronte Coates
Bronte Coates is the former digital content manager and Readings prize manager.
Review — 26 Mar 2017
Don't Pat the Wombat by Elizabeth Honey
As a child, I read and reread Elizabeth Honey’s novels. I wanted to visit Bean’s hidden library in What Do You Think, Feezal?, and I wished Henni of the…
Review — 28 Jun 2020
The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett
The Vignes twins are like two halves of a whole: impulsive, smart-mouthed Desiree is a neat contrast to careful, practical Stella. Born in Mallard – a unique black community in…
Blog post — 24 Feb 2021
Learning to love board books
Online bookseller Bronte shares the joy she discovered in reading board and baby books together with a small person.
I’ve always thought of myself as an enlightened picture book reader…
Review — 8 Nov 2020
How to Make a Bird by Meg McKinlay & Matt Ottley
How To Make a Bird is a stunner of a picture book. In heart-shivering, lyrical prose, Meg McKinlay details the process of creating a bird, and, in doing so, illuminates…
Review — 8 Nov 2020
Memorial by Bryan Washington
Houston writer Bryan Washington caused a literary stir with the publication of his terrific debut story collection, Lot, which counts the 2020 International Dylan Thomas Prize and an endorsement…
Review — 1 Oct 2019
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
When Philip Pullman first announced that he was releasing three new books set in the world of His Dark Materials, he shared a few tantalising details about what to…
Review — 6 Sep 2020
A Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour by Beck & Robin Feiner
This new picture book from married duo Beck and Robin Feiner is a sparkling tale about a lost polar bear, a smart little girl, and a dash of fascinating true…
Blog post — 31 Aug 2020
Four terrific picture books exploring difficult feelings
Picture book lover Bronte Coates shares four of her favourite recent releases that explore difficult feelings for small people, and how they can learn to manage them.
Review — 28 Jun 2020
Ellie’s Dragon by Bob Graham
With his latest picture book, Bob Graham has gifted small readers another heart-filled tale celebrating imagination. When Ellie, a very small girl, discovers a luminous newborn dragon sitting atop an…
Review — 28 Jun 2020
Finding François by Gus Gordon
Even though Alice loves the cosy life she leads with her grandmother (list-making! crème brûlée-eating! mermaid-drawing!), she does sometimes wish for someone her own size to talk with. So, she…
