Review: Treeshape by Trace Balla

 The shape of a tree, the shape of me - Trace Balla

I loved Trace Balla's Leaf-Light; its feel of tranquility, sense of community and one with nature, and right from the cover of Treeshape I felt that same tranquility and connection to nature.

illustrated by Trace Balla

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 3rd march 2026

Genre: Graphic Novel / Memoir

Pages: 136

RRP: AU$32.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Treeshape is Trace Balla's own story. A personal story from the heart.

"Ever since I was a kid my favourite place has always been up a tree." - Trace Balla

Treeshape is a heartfelt memoir written as a graphic novel. It is a story filled with compassion and a deep appreciation of place.

Trace Balla uses visual storytelling. Trees have always been her go-to safety place. The book is exquisitely illustrated and hugely detailed. It is not a book that would be read in one sitting. The more you return to the story the more you see. 

Treeshape is not only a remarkable memoir it is also a visual delight. Presented with a combination of black & white sketches and real photos as layered images. Photos of the big old trees that matter most to Balla are included, giving the reader real glimpses of our natural world.

Treeshape is a book to ponder over and marvel in the beauty and scope of our natural world as Trace Balla takes her reader along as she travels around Australia. 

Treeshape is a unique masterpiece. certainly not like anything I've seen before.

The story showcases Trace Balla's love for the environment and her deep appreciation of place and connection with First Nation peoples.

My rating 5 / 5 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

Recommended age: 10+ years

#treeshape #traceballa #memoir #graphicnovel #booksonnature 

Review: Gnoming About: Tree Mail Adventure by Liv Lorkin

 Gnoming About: Tree Mail Adventure is the first book in a new series by author Liv Lorkin.

Join Rocky, Daisy and Lucky the flowerpot gnomes on a top secret gnomie adventure.

The gnomes are enjoying a beachside holiday when they receive an urgent message to return to headquarters. A gnome has gone missing on a top secret mission. First they must find the missing gnome, inspect the tree mail network and also gather all the lost and missing postcards.

Follow along as Rocky, Daisy and Lucky, travelling in their flowerpot car, collect the lost postcards and repair the tree mail trees along the way.

Tree Mail Adventure is a whimsical nature filled adventure that is sure to capture the hearts and minds of younger readers.

Strength, brains and bravery are championed as the gnomes travel far and wide and work together to solve the problem of the tree mail. 

Light-hearted fun and a little bit of magic, Gnoming About: Tree Mail Adventure is a fun graphic novel for our littlest readers. A wonderful introduction to graphic novels with the story told mostly through visual story-telling.

Liv Lorkin's black and white cartoon style illustrations are bold and filled with emotion and spirit.

I am sure readers will be eager for the next Gnomie adventure.

My rating 4 / 5 🪴🪴🪴🪴

Recommended age: 7 - 9 Years

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 30th March 2026

Series: Gnoming About #1

Genre: Junior Fiction / Graphic Novel

Pages: 85

RRP: $16.95AU (softcover)

Source: Courtesy of the author

#gnomingabout #treemailadventure #livlorkin #graphicnovel #juniorfiction #australianauthor #childrensbooks

Book Review: Fart Boy and Reeky Dog by Joan Holub

SOME FARTERS ARE BORN GREAT!

SOME ARE DESTINED TO RESCUE THE PLANET! 

 

As much as I don't like fart books, kids love them and it's kids we are trying to encourage to read. Anyway Fart Boy and Reeky Dog is super funny and it's educational as well. 

 

I loved that this wasn’t all silly jokes and nonsense. It has a definite STEM element, funny and educational. Children won’t even realise they are learning!  

 

Fart Boy and Reeky Dog is a graphic novel and the first book in a new series by Joan Holub. Not only is the story laugh-out-loud funny, the over-the-top illustrations by Rafael Rosado are delivered in full blaring colour and pop from the page.

Baby Phartolomew is invented by evil scientist Professor Groovypants using his stink-o-meter. When Phartolomew is accidentally blasted out of the lab and onto the street he is adopted by Mr & Mrs Normal, they don't mind the smell.

 

Phartolomew is on a strict diet of NO BEANS, but what happens when the school runs out of pizza and all they have is bean tacos for lunch!?

 

Fart Boy and Reeky Dog is a hilarious STEM themed story featuring evil scientists, unlikely heroes, new friendships and all sorts of funny goings on.

 

I must admit I laughed a lot during the reading of this story. 

 

With pages on critical thinking - thoughts, research and conclusions.

A diagram and explanation of internal digestion. (What makes you fart)

An, Are you evil? quiz.

Science themed questions. 

 

Kids won't even realise they are learning while reading Fart Boy and Reeky Dog.

 

I'm eager for the next book now that Phartolomew has his new sidekick, Reeky Dog, and best friend Carl Bean by his side. And who is that girl at school that keeps saying Hi! to Phartolomew?

 

My rating 5 / 5 💨💨💨💨💨

Recommended age: 8 -12 years

 

 

Publisher: Random House Book for Young Readers

Publication date: 8th April 2025

Series: Fart Boy and Reeky Dog #1

Genre: Middle Grade / Graphic Novel

Pages: 144

Source: eARC from Smith Publicity

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Dungzilla by James Foley

Dungzilla is the second book in James Foley's S. Tinker Inc series. Re-released in all new fabulous full colour.

 

This action packed story follows eleven-year-old Sally Tinker, a young inventor.

 

When Sally's best friend Charli Stevenson's pet dung beetle accidentally gets in the way of Sally's latest invention, the Resizenator, and is enlarged 300 times, what ensues is an action-packed, STEM powered romp featuring science and humour.

 

How can Sally, Charli, Gran Tinker and baby Joe stop the giant dung beetle from destroying the town.

 

This graphic novel is a perfect mix of adventure and science. It introduces scientific facts in an hilarious magical realism concept. The storyline is rich in laugh-out-loud moments and lots of toilet humour.

 

This newest edition also includes a bonus story that features a stolen cloned pachyderm and a trip to Mars in Sally's latest invention.

 

Recommended age: 8 - 12 years

 My rating 5 / 5 🪲🪲🪲🪲🪲 

 

Teaching notes and activities can be found at Fremantle Press.

 https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/dungzilla-now-in-colour/

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 1st April 2025

Series: S. Tinker Inc #2

Genre: Middle Grade / Graphic Novel 

Pages: 120

RRP: AU$17.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

 

 

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: The Witches Council: Lily Halfmoon by Xavier Bonet

 The Witches Council: Lily Halfmoon #2

by

Xavier Bonet

translated by Marie Trinchant 

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 3rd April 2024

Series: Lily Halfmoon #2

Genre: Middle Grade / Fantasy

Pages: 80

RRP: $ 17.99AU (softcover)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Witches Council

The Witches Council is the fabulous second book in Xavier Bonet's Lily Halfmoon series.

In book one Lily finds out she is a witch and learns all about the Royal Library of Magic, all the different gems and magical spells.

 

In The Witches Council we are back with Lily and her friends GiGi and Mai for the biggest day of the year when witches all over the world get together to introduce their gems and guardians and learn new skills.

 

Lily is faced with a moral dilemma when she has choices to make about her future. This is also a story about the power of empathy and understanding how others feel.

 

The Witches Council is a fun and bewitching graphic novel with bright, eye-catching illustrations with journal pages, symbols and charts. There is plenty to pore over and readers will find new things as the book is re-read over and over again.

 

This is an enchanting book that is sure to delight the middle-grade fantasy enthusiast.

My rating 5/ 5 🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄

 

Book Review: The Magic Gems: Lily Halfmoon by Xavier Bonet

The Magic Gems: Lily Halfmoon #1

by

Xavier Bonet

translated by  Marie Trinchant

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Imprint: A&U Children

Publication date: 29th August 2023

Series: Lily Halfmoon #1

Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel

Pages: 80

RRP: $16.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Magic Gems: Lily Halfmoon #1

Lily Halfmoon is a new graphic novel series by illustrator Xavier Bonet flawlessly translated by Marie Trinchant.

 

The Magic Gems is a fun story about witches, potions, gems and finding your true vocation. 

Lily is nervous about starting a new school, she is always clumsy and having accidents. When she makes friends with Gigi and Mai she learns that her accidents are her magic revealing itself. She's a witch, just like them!

Lily must learn about special magical gems, guardian spirits, potions and plants, and uncover her special power all whilst keeping her new identity secret.

The Magic Gems is an easy to read graphic novel for younger middle grade readers. It includes lots of information on gems, the phases of the moon, magic potions and a slime recipe. The cliff hanger ending will have readers eager for the next book.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended age: 7+ years

About the author

Xavier Bonet is a self-taught illustrator and comic book artist. He lives in Barcelona with his two children. He started in a little animation studio as a background artist, and eventually embarked on a career as a professional illustrator. He has illustrated many children's books including Omnia by Laura Gallego, the volumes of Michael Dahl's Really Scary Stories, The Keepers Trilogy by Lian Tanner and Jabberwocky and Other Poems by Lewis Carroll.

 

 
 

Book Review: Leaf-Light by Trace Balla

Leaf-Light

by

Trace Balla

Publisher:  Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 1st August 2023

Genre: Picture Book / Graphic Novel

Pages: 80

RRP: $27.99AU (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Leaf-Light

 

Leaf-Light is told from the point of view of Miri, a young girl, who lives with her mother on Djaara Country in country Victoria. As Miri plays and explores with her neighbour and friend Wingo they learn about caring for native animals, the environment around them and being part of a community.

Leaf-Light is a stunningly illustrated and gentle graphic novel that empowers children, and adults, to embrace nature and community. The story shows the people, animals and birds living in harmony. Trace Balla encourages the reader to embrace joy from the little things in life, helping one another and spending time to be one with nature as we follow Miri and her friends go about their day playing, watching and learning.

 

There is so much love and detail in this book you could take days and days just going over the detailed illustrations and then come back and still find little things you missed. 

Leaf-Light is a truly special addition to any home library.

Age recommended 8 - 12 years (however suitable for all ages)

5 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Trace Balla is a well-loved Australian children's book author, illustrator and writer of song lyrics who lives on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. She has won the CBCA Book of the Year Award, the Readings Children's Book Prize, the Wilderness Society's Environment Award for Children's Literature, a Comic Arts Awards of Australia Bronze Ledger, and an Honour Award for the inaugural SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards. She has also been shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards (twice), Adelaide Festival Awards for Children's Literature, and ALIA Graphic's Notable Australian Graphic Novel Award.

Book Review: Friendly Bee and friends by Sean E Avery

 Friendly Bee and Friends

by

Sean E Avery

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Publication date: 5th April 2023

Genre: Graphic Novel 

Pages: 160

RRP: $15.99AU (Paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Dot's review of Friendly Bee and Friends

This story is about a bee and wasp and how they became friends. My favourite character was the bee because he was so funny.

I would recommend my friends to read this book because it is about friendship and being kind to everyone even if they are boring or not pretty. I liked that Friendly Bee never gave up on trying to be friends with Angry Wasp.

My favourite parts of the story were when the slightly peckish caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly and when the enormous hairy spider gave Bee and Wasp a new hairdo.
The fact pages on bees, wasps, caterpillars and spiders were interesting. The ending was a big surprise and I liked that Bee’s and Wasp’s problem was solved and everyone became friends.   

 

Dot's rating 5 / 5   🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

My thoughts

Angry Wasp doesn’t want to be friends with Friendly Bee but Bee will not give up, he wants to be friends with everyone. Wasp is trying his best to ignore him but when he sees Bee in a sticky and dangerous situation he can’t turn away. 

 

Angry Wasp is starting to think that Friendly Bee is really quite annoying when he finds himself in a very sticky and dangerous situation of his own and he only has Bee to save him.

 

Friendly Bee is a humorous and cheeky graphic novel starring the funny, hyperactive and overly dramatic friendly Bee and the dour and unfriendly Angry Wasp.

 

A laugh-out-loud story of friendship with fun facts on caterpillars, spiders, bees and wasps.

 

Recommended age 5+

 

 

About the author

 

Sean E Avery is a teacher, writer-illustrator, sculptor and designer born in South Africa; living in Perth, Western Australia. Locally, he’s best known as the writer-illustrator of best-selling children’s picture book, All Monkeys Love Bananas, published by Fremantle Press. His last picture book, Happy as a Hog Out of Mud, won the 2022 WAYRBA Picture Book of the Year Award and his latest book, Frank’s Red Hat, is shortlisted for the 2023 Indie Book of the Year Award and already a hit with kids in Australia, Korea, France and Denmark. Internationally, he’s best known as a sculptor who uses CDs and DVDs to create breathtaking works of art that reside in galleries and private collections all around the world. He is curious, enthusiastic and ready to work hard for the things he believes in.

Book Review: Camp by Kayla Miller

 Camp

by

Kayla Miller 

 

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

 

Publication date: 5th January 2022 

 Series: Click #2

 

Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel

 

Pages: 224

 

RRP: $17.99

 

Source: own purchase

 

Dot's review of Camp

 

Tell us a little about the book?

 

Olive tries to help Willow because Willow is not brave.

 

Who is your favourite character?

 

Olive is my favourite because she always tries to help.

 

What is your favourite part of the story?

 

My favourite is when they were at dance because there was lots of drama.

 

Do you think your friends will like this book?

 

They will love it!

 

Dot's rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 

I haven't read this book but here's the blurb:

 

Olive is sure she’ll have the best time at summer camp with her friend Willow – but while Olive makes quick friends with the other campers, Willow struggles to form connections and latches on to the only person she knows – Olive. It’s s’more than Olive can handle! The stress of being Willow's living security blanket begins to wear on Olive and before long…the girls aren’t just fighting, they may not even be friends by the time camp is over. Will the two be able to patch things up before the final lights out?

 

Recommended age 8+ 

About the author

Kayla Miller is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator living and working in New York. They have a BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. When not busy working on graphic novels, Kayla enjoys watching bad movies, trying to cook new recipes, playing games (both board and video) and reading other people’s graphic novels.

 

 

Book Review: Click by Kayla Miller

 Click

by

Kayla Miller

Illustrated by Kayla Miller 

Places everyone.... Olive just wants to find hers

 

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

 

Publication date: 6th October 2021

 

Series: Click #1 

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic novel

 

RRP: $17.99AUD 

 

Pages: 208

Format read: Paperback

Source: Own purchase

 

Dot's Review

 

I rated Click five stars because some people, like me, can actually relate to the problems in the story.

 

My favourite characters are Olive, because she never gave up and always tried to be brave, and Aunt Molly, because she helped Olive and supported her.

Click is all about friendship and trying to find your place. I really liked the ending. This was my first graphic novel and I want to read more in this series.

Dot's rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

I haven't read the book but here's the blurb:

Olive “clicks” with everyone in the fifth grade—until one day she doesn’t. When a school variety show leaves Olive stranded without an act to join, she begins to panic, wondering why all her friends have already formed their own groups . . . without her. With the performance drawing closer by the minute, will Olive be able to find her own place in the show before the curtain comes up?

 

Recommended age:  8+ 

 

About the author

 

Kayla Miller is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator living and working in New York. They have a BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. When not busy working on graphic novels, Kayla enjoys watching bad movies, trying to cook new recipes, playing games (both board and video) and reading other people’s graphic novels.