Leanne Hall
Leanne Hall is a former children’s and YA specialist for Readings online
Blog post — 18 Jul 2019
Celebrate the moon-landing anniversary with kids books
Fifty years ago is ancient history to contemporary kids – but luckily there’s a plethora of children’s books bringing to life the wonder and awe of 1969’s Apollo 11 Moon…
Blog post — 9 Jul 2019
Indigenous words & languages in children's books for NAIDOC Week
The theme for NAIDOC Week 2019 is ‘Voice. Treaty. Truth’ – the three key elements set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
In honour of this, and…
Blog post — 3 Jul 2019
The best YA books & news for July
This month we have a poetic tour de force with recipes, an Australian boy dealing with sudden deafness, an original exploration of a notorious Australian cold case, and survival thrills…
Blog post — 3 Jul 2019
The best kids' books, news & events for July
This month we have a picture book ode to fashion and style, thrilling action adventures with heart and social commentary, sweet stories of animal and nature, and a beloved classic…
Review — 24 Jun 2019
Lizard's Tale by Weng Wai Chan
Lizard is a street-smart twelve-year-old who lives in tiny quarters above a tailor’s shop in Singapore’s Chinatown, and ekes out a bare living with legitimate odd jobs, and a few…
Blog post — 19 Jun 2019
Five YA fantasy books that explore diverse mythologies
In advance of our event next week with bestselling YA fantasy author Julie Kagawa and local legend Rebecca Lim, we highlight some of the best recent YA releases that…
Review — 24 Jun 2019
Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories by Helen Milroy
Wombat helps Mother Earth recover the eternal flame in her belly. Mudlark discovers the reasonfor Sun’s burning anger and soothes him. Clever Penguin stops Whale from stealing from Sky, and…
Blog post — 26 Jun 2019
The most anticipated kids and YA books for the second half of 2019
As we head into the second half of this year, you might be wondering what kids and young adult books you’ll be reading soon – don’t worry, we’ve got you…
Blog post — 5 Jun 2019
The best YA books, news & events for June
There is an exciting array of YA books coming out this month: a smart psychological thriller, a chilling look at VR technology, dystopian fiction with an ecological bent, heartfelt contemporary…
Blog post — 5 Jun 2019
The best kids' books, news & events for June
This month we have a landmark book by Bruce Pascoe, a how-to by legendary Jeannie Baker, a sweet graphic novel/prose hybrid, and excellent contemporary fiction for middle grade readers.
Find…