The Hub for Just Kids' Lit
#BookReview: Poppy’s Monster, Shelly Higgs (author), Francesca Costa (illus.), Starfish Bay Children’s Publishing, April 2025. Blurb: When Poppy’s heart beats fast and her throat gets stuck, she knows her monster is around. She wishes he’d just go away, but only holding hands with someone seems to help. But there isn’t always a hand around to […]
Lend a Helping Hand to a Friend. It’s a Monster of a #BOOKGIVEAWAY! Facing your fears front on is how to relinquish them, and young Poppy masters this to a tee. When her anxiety monster pervades her every waking moment, Poppy discovers strategies to both manage him and help him. With thanks to author Shelly Higgs, […]
Clutterbugs by Maura Pierlot and Maya Bora is a neat tale of waste mindfulness wrapped in the gift of creativity, friendship and play, fashioned with whimsy, lively action and heart. This playful and vibrant book is also a valuable resource for introducing young readers to and empowering their positive sustainability practices, personal responsibility and thoughtfulness […]
Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Rhonda Ooi and Mel Corrigan! We’re over the moon to welcome back a fabulous author-illustrator duo, who show us what a stellar collaboration looks like with every piece they produce. One of our wonderful combos from Our Australian HeArt, Rhonda Ooi and Mel Corrigan, are here to share their newest creation […]
Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Ashleigh Barton! We’re delighted to welcome back Ashleigh Barton, best-selling and notable author of popular picture books and middle grade novels, including the ‘What Do You Call Your…’ books and the Solomon Macaroni series (see our interview here). Today she is here to share her newest, achingly beautiful middle grade novel, […]
#BookReview: Me and You, Ellie Royce (author), Penelope Pratley (illus.), Ford Street Publishing, April 2025. Blurb: Come and join in on a day of joyful discovery, where treasured memories are made, connection is celebrated, and sharing love is as simple as holding hands. Review: Joyful, treasured, and a loving connection are words that perfectly sum […]
Interview with Stef Gemmill on the Sketch and Scribe Festival! We’re delighted to welcome back the fabulous, award-winning author, Stef Gemmill to the blog; our 2018 Pitch It! Winner and 2020-2022 Judge, and now Program Director of an amazing new initiative called the Sketch and Scribe Festival! We’re super excited to hear about this new […]
#BookReview: Rosie’s Garden, Olivia Coates (author), Samantha McLelland (illus.), EK Books, April 2025. Book description: A little determination goes a long way in this inspiring story about creating green spaces and buildingcommunity. Review: When you need a place to meet some friends, enjoy green spaces and have your bucket filled, come to Rosie’s Garden. The […]
Interview with Shelly Higgs! It’s a pleasure to talk again with multi-talented debut picture book author, actor and playwright, Shelly Higgs about her empowering and heartfelt new release, Poppy’s Monster; a reassuring and colourful book about overcoming anxiety. Congratulations (again) on the release of Poppy’s Monster, Shelly! Anxiety comes in many forms, and you’ve brilliantly […]
Welcome to The Quick Six Interview with Jacinta Liu! ”I have two grandmothers.One with brown eyes, and one with blue eyes.One makes dumplings, and one bakes bread.They are my grandmothers. One lives in the East, and one lives in the West.” In our current world climate of uncertainty and division, picture books like ‘Grandmother from […]
