Have you ever picked up a book without knowing what it was about it? Have you ever had a friend recommend something, and trusted them so completely that you don't ask questions? Have you ever picked up a book and held no expectations about what ...
Juicy Juicy Green Grass – Peter Combe and Danielle McDonald (book and CD review)
Three weeks ago, I (re-)introduced you to Don Spencer and his songs about Australian animals. I thought I'd continue down the much-loved Australian children's entertainer path. This week, I'm reviewing another book my daughter received for her ...
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft – Stephen King (book review)
Because I am hip to the groove and only read the latest, trendiest and hottest of hot reads, I'm reviewing a book that Stephen King first had published in 2000. But don't let that date fool you. It's a modern classic recommended by writers ...
Don’t Call Me a Koala Bear – Don Spencer and Michelle Pike (book and CD review)
My not-so-little girl recently turned five, and received lots of music and lots of books for her birthday. Today, I'm reviewing something that is both. --- Don't Call Me a Koala Bear (& Other Aussie Songs) / Don Spencer and Michelle ...
Still Alice – Lisa Genova (book review)
My apologies. It's been a while between book reviews. Life and writing work has gotten in the way of both reading and personal writing recently. But a recent Book Depository sale had me champing at the bit to make up for lost time. So, if you like ...
Sugarlump and the Unicorn – Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks (book review)
Sugarlump and the Unicorn / Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks (Macmillan Children's Books, 2013) I asked my daughter to choose a book to review this week, and she went straight for this one. I should have known. A rocking horse! A unicorn! ...
Goodnight, Mice! – Frances Watts and Judy Watson (book review)
Goodnight, Mice! / Frances Watts and Judy Watson (ABC Books, 2013) This book and I didn't get off to the best start. On the very first page, two rhyming paragraphs have different lengths and rhythms, and it threw me. When I read a rhyming ...
I Got This Hat – Jol and Kate Temple and Jon Foye (book review)
After last fortnight's trip down memory lane, I'm back into my new goody bag of books. We had a spending spree at Australia Post recently, where the value of the book packs was just too good to walk past. Here's a new (to us) book that we've ...
All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr (book review)
Welcome to this month's book review of the 'grown-up' variety. I've read quite a few books and seen a few movies set in World War II lately, and thought I wouldn't be able to get into another one. I was wrong. And here's why. --- All the ...
Prue Theroux: the cool librarian – Gillian Rubinstein and David Mackintosh (book review)
I'm going back in time this week. I have a few new books to review, but my daughter has spent the week insisting I read an old favourite each night. Meet Prue Theroux, the school librarian. The cool librarian. --- Prue Theroux: the cool ...