Reviews
Reviews of children's books, coordinated and largely written by well-respected reviewer, Catriona Coote. Contributions welcome. The reviews could also be extended to include other items such as movies and different types of games. Check Catriona Coote's article "Choosing books for gifted readers".
- Books for Pre-Readers ( 98 Articles )
- Beginner Readers ( 156 Articles )
- Younger Readers ( 326 Articles )
- Older Readers ( 173 Articles )
- Challenging Books ( 35 Articles )
- General ( 12 Articles )
For Pre-/Beginner Readers...
Susannah McFarlane (author)
Lachlan Creagh (illustrator)
Scholastic, Australia: August 2011
ISBN: 9781741698350
Genre: picture book
Issues: friendship, values
Katie is 'the kindest koala in the whole kindergarten and in all the Kimberley'. She helps her friends with their hobbies and encourages them when they need support.
This is an alphabet series with a difference,...
Susannah McFarlane (author)
Lachlan Creagh (illustrator)
Scholastic Australia: August 2011
ISBN: 9781741698367
Genre: picture book
Issues: community, friendship, participation
Lou Lou is a very lazy lizard. 'She likes lounging lethargically and laconically in the lavender.'
Another delightful book in the Little Mates alphabet series, Lazy Lou Lou explores the non-adventures of a very laid-back...
Susannah McFarlane (author)
Lachlan Creagh (illustrator)
Scholastic Australia: August 2011
ISBN: 9781742830476
Genres: picture book
Issues: choices, friendship
Mia is a mega-messy Magpie who creates mayhem wherever she goes. When her favourite marble goes missing, Mia is very upset. 'She mooched and moped amongst the magnolias.' With the help of her friends, Mia...
For Younger Readers...
Deborah Abela (author)
Random House, Australia: March 2012; 234pp
ISBN: 9781742750804
Genres: adventure, fantasy, gothic
Issues: confidence, gifted, identity
The Ghost Club is the world's oldest association for psychical research. Angeline and Edgar are the Club's youngest ghost-catchers so when Dylan is inducted, it makes sense that the children work together. But despite...
Jacqueline Harvey (author)
Random House, Australia: February 2012
ISBN: 9781742751146
Genre: adventure
Issues: bullying, communication, family, friendship, identity
Her mother is anxious, her father seems distracted and even her new school friends are in need of help. Can Alice-Miranda apply her uncanny ability to solve problems even when she's far from her home...
Lian Tanner (author)
Allen&Unwin, Australia: October 2010
ISBN: 9781742371573
Genres: adventure, fantasy
Issues: corruption, family, friendship, independence
Winner, 2010 Aurealis Awards - Children's Fiction
Notable Book, 2011 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year - Younger Readers
Jewel is a city where independence and a spirited nature are seen as dangerous, impatience is...
For Older Readers...
Amy Kathleen Ryan (author)
Pan Macmillan, Australia: 2011; 385pp
ISBN: 9781742610320
Genres: adventure, science fiction, speculative fiction
Issues: community, ethics, leadership, religion
A ship heading for New Earth is halfway through its journey – a journey that will take generations. Sixteen year olds Waverley and Kieran are the first of the space-born generation....
Lara Morgan (author)
Walker Books, USA: 2010; 455pp
ISBN: 9781921529399
Genres: adventure, science fiction, speculative fiction
Issues: corruption, ethics, family, friendship
In her spare time, sixteen-year-old Rosie hunts for ancient objects from before the Melt. But when she finds a mysterious, ancient box, Rosie finds that her life has just taken a sudden...
Lara Morgan (author)
Walker Books, USA: 2011; 380pp
ISBN: 9781921529405
Genres: adventure, science fiction, speculative fiction
Issues: corruption, ethics, family, friendship
Rosie thought that exposing the Helios Corporation would bring her problems to an end – that government corruption would be exposed and weeded out, that medical research would be back in the...
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| "We want our children to be happy in their learning yet achieving the best
possible outcomes for themselves (their ceilings). It was so refreshing to hear
Michele speak, so worthwhile as a classroom teacher." - An educator attending a NSWAGTC seminar |
