Book Review: Bush Bubs by Helen Milroy

Bush Bubs is the latest book in the Backyard and Bush series by bestselling First Nations author Helen Milroy.

 

This is a gorgeous picture book for our littlest book lovers and a delightful introduction to the babies of the Australian bush; numbat, bilby, wombat, platypus, koala, echidna, sugar glider, kangaroo, dingo and tassie devil.

 

 

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: February 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$19.99 (hardcover)

Source: courtesy of the publisher 

Bush Bubs features iconic Australian baby animals and is ideal for reading together and learning about the unique animals of Australia.

 

Each double spread feature has one page with a simple two line text with a solid colour background and the facing page has a beautiful bush baby illustration by author and artist Helen Milroy. Helen's bold earthy tones come straight from the land.

 

The catchy rhyming verse adds an element of fun to the reading. 

This gorgeous book with its message to look after our precious bush bubs is sure to become a favourite bedtime read.

 

My rating 5 / 5 🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘

Recommended age: 2 - 5 years

 

Teaching notes and activities can be found at Fremantle Press

 https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/bush-bubs/

 

 

 

Book Review: The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners by Reece Carter

 The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners is the third and final book in Reece Carter's Elston-Fright series. 

 Corpse, Girl and Flip are back again, with Simon the giant huntsman spider, in another thrilling adventure. Today is the day the trio are going to prove to the townsfolk that they share their home with ghosts and magic. However when the gathering is disrupted by a wraith everything they had planned goes terribly wrong and Corpse and Girl must flee.

 

Although not as exciting and action packed as the first two books A Girl Called Corpse  and  The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright  The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners is still bursting with danger with new enemies to battle and an old foe, Worst Witch, back for revenge.

 

Told through the alternating narration of Corpse and Girl, Carter includes themes of greed, bullying and the fear of change.

 

"What you did was horrible, and just because you're hurt doesn't make it okay to hurt other people ... "

 

" Stuff changes all the time, and you can never quite know how those changes will go or what will be on the other side of them. That's okay, though. Because I know that whatever comes next, even if I can't know yet what it might be, it's nothing to Worry about. It'll be all right. And maybe - just maybe - it might even be great."

The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners is an excellent wrap-up of the series. All the questions, and the mystery, surrounding Corpse and Girl are satisfactorily answered.

Content: witches, stolen children , talk of death.

My rating 4 / 5  👻👻👻👻

Recommended age: 8 - 12 years 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children

Publication date: 1st April 2025

Series: Elston-Fright #3

Genre: Middle Grade / Fantasy

Pages: 352

RRP: AU$18.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

Other books in this series:

A Girl Called Corpse

The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright 

 

  

 

 
 

Book Review: Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire by L. M. Wilkinson

Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire is book two in L. M. Wilkinson's endearing A Tail of Adventure series.

 

In book one, Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria, Titch and friends acquire the Heartstone staff and are on their way to heal the heart of Alluria. However they soon find there is more to this quest, and more to the prophecy, than they first thought. 

Titch, Huckleberry and the very cute little Dollop are back again in this rip roaring adventure as they fight a giant bog monster, save a village of brainwashed squirrels and become one step closer to unleashing the power of the Heartstone staff and healing the heart of Alluria.

 

With themes of being brave, believing in yourself and working together combined with lashing of action, adventure and danger Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire is sure to delight and entrance middle-grade readers keeping them enthralled from the very first page. 

Wilkinson champions cleverness, courage and friendship in this delightful addition to the Bravepaw series.

 

Together with their new friend, a fearless red squirrel named Briar, the group head off on their next quest.

 

Large print, wonderfully descriptive prose and enchanting illustrations by Lavanya Naidu make this suitable for even the youngest readers.

Content: mild battle scenes

               not so scary monsters

 

 

My rating 5 / 5 🐭🐭🐭🐭🐭

Recommended age: 5 -12

Publisher recommended: 7-11

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 25th February 2025

Series: Bravepaw #2

Genre: Middle Grade / Fantasy

Pages: 192

RRP: AU$16.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Other books in this series:

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Jo and the No by Kyle Mewburn

 Jo has come across a NO. No matter how hard Jo tries to get under, over, through or around it, the NO won't let them pass.

 

 

illustrated by Judy Watson

 

Publisher: Westwords Limited

Imprint: Dirt Lane Press

Publication date: March 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 40

RRP: AU$28.95 (hardback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Jo and the No is a gentle story that encourages children to overcome resistance to the unknown.

Jo is being held back by the No. They let it rule their life leading to exclusion from the things that make them happy. When Jo faces the No and overcomes the hurdle of resistance their life is filled with colour and friendship.

 

While children are taught not to be afraid to say no in certain situation to keep them safe, there are also times when no is holding them back from being their true selves and enjoying a fulfilling life. Many children are too shy to say yes to new friendships or try new adventures, Jo and the No encourages children to have the courage to push the no aside, even though at times it seems the no has taken over.

 

My rating 5 / 5 😊😊😊😊😊

recommended age: 4+ 

 

 

Book Review: Searching for Treasure by Johanna Bell

Follow along for a day at the beach as a young child collects a multitude of treasures they find on the sand. What will they do with all these treasures? There is a glorious, surprising finale.

 

 illustrated by Emma Long

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 4th February 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 26

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Searching for Treasure has large, glorious double page spreads filled with vibrant illustrations of on shore treasures.

 

"Searching for treasure on the high tide line

one step two steps, what can you find?"

 

I loved that Searching for Treasure has two ways it can be read; large simple text is a prompt to look at the picture and point things out, plus there is small text between the treasures, educational facts winding between the illustrations. These were like hidden treasures in themselves.

 

Large cut out flaps lift to find more shoreline treasures.

 

Searching for Treasure is a beautiful, bright and bold story book perfect to be read before, or after, a trip to the beach. This book would also make a great bedtime story to remember a treasured family holiday.

 

With educational facts scattered throughout, Searching for Treasure is a book that will grow with your child.

 

recommended age: 3 - 6 years

My rating 5 / 5 🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚 

 

Book Review: Chickenpox by Remy Lai

Set in the 1990's Chickenpox is a fabulously funny graphic novel narrated by the eldest of five siblings, twelve-year-old Abby Lai. 

Abby tries to get away from her siblings any chance she gets. She'd rather spend time with her friends far away from her annoying brothers and sisters. But when they all come down with chickenpox Abby is trapped inside, for two whole weeks.

 

I found Chickenpox to be outrageously funny. You don't need to have had chickenpox to imagine what it would be like trapped inside with your younger siblings.

Plenty of hijinks and antics abound as Abby not only tries to entertain her siblings but also has to navigate friendships by phone whilst always wondering what is going on at school in her absence.  

Luckily we now have a vaccine available for chickenpox so readers of Remy Lai's novel may not know the constant itch and isolation but I am sure their parents can remember and have some stories to tell.  

Reading Chickenpox took me back to when my five children had the virus and we were stuck at home for 5 weeks as they seemed to get it one after the other. There was much hijinks and mayhem back then too.

 

Content: I would just like to highlight this sentence from the book, if buying for younger readers.

"When I was little and still believed in Santa and unicorns" 

You should always believe in Santa and unicorns! 🎅🦄

 

My rating 5 / 5  🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th February 2025

Genre: Graphic Novel / Middle Grade

Pages: 240

RRP: AU$19.99 (paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

 

Book Review: Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles by Corey Tutt

Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles is the ultimate children's science book by DeadlyScience founder Corey Tutt, best selling author of The First Scientists. 

 

illustrated by Ben Williams

 

 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 4th February 2025

Genre: Non Fiction / Picture Book

Pages: 140

RRP: AU$32.99 (Hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles is an amazing book filled with cool facts and vibrant, real to life illustrations that will entrance and enthrall all reptile enthusiasts big and small.

 

With over 60 reptiles and information on what they look like, what makes it deadly, favourite feeds, predators and prey and how they breed.

For each reptile you will also discover its First Nations name and where it can be found in Australia.

 

Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles is a fantastic hardcover book that will become a treasured reference guide to children interested in reptiles, conservation and the environment.

 

My rating 5 / 5 🐍🦎🐢🐊🐍

Recommended age: 8 - 14 years