Announcements, Book news, Junior fiction, New releases, publication day

Publication day for Escape from Sherwood!

It’s publication day for our new junior fiction title, Escape from Sherwood, and we’re excited! Written by Beattie Alvarez and illustrated by David Allan, it’s a fabulous, twisty, action-packed story that will have young readers on the edge of their seats! And it’s the perfect stocking stuffer for Christmas too 🙂 Available in all good bookshops.

Congratulations to Beattie and David, and here’s to Escape from Sherwood!

Adventure, Announcements, Book news, Junior fiction, Reviews

A fabulous advance review for a fabulous book!

So delighted to see there’s a wonderful and well-deserved advance review by Anneliese Gates in Books +Publishing of our forthcoming title, Beattie Alvarez’s fabulous junior novel, Escape from Sherwood, illustrated by David Allan. 

Here’s a short extract from the review (full review is for B+P subscribers only): 

Escape from Sherwood delivers a wild, immersive ride….Beattie Alvarez’ vibrant storytelling and imaginative flair give the book undeniable one-more-chapter energy….further enhanced by David Allan’s small monochrome illustrations at the start of each chapter.’ 

Escape from Sherwood will be released in November.

Announcements, chapterbooks, Junior fiction, publication day

Publication day for Sabina and the Cats of Rome!

It’s the official publication day for Sabina and the Cats of Rome, our latest title for young readers! Written by Sophie Masson and illustrated by Laura Wood, it’s a fun light fantasy adventure for readers 7-9 years old, set in Ancient Rome, with lively illustrations and action-packed scenes.

Congratulations to Sophie and Laura on a fabulous book, and here’s hoping it finds its way into the hands of many young readers!

There’s also a great little trailer for the book, see below.

Announcements, Book news, chapterbooks, forthcoming books, Reviews

Great advance review for Sabina and the Cats of Rome!

We are delighted to announce that the first advance review of our forthcoming title, Sabina and the Cats of Rome (written by Sophie Masson, illustrated by Laura Wood, has just appeared, and it’s absolutely lovely! The review is by Brenton Cullen and has appeared in Books+Publishing this week. Here’s a short extract (full review is for B+P subscribers only):

Masson’s storytelling is engaging and accessible, offering simplicity for independent reading while maintaining a rich plot. Laura Wood’s black and white illustrations bring Sabina and Cleo to life, depicting seven scenes from the story...

We are publishing the book in October.

Announcements, chapterbooks, Cover reveals

Cover reveal for Sabina and the Cats of Rome!

We’re delighted to reveal the fabulous cover of our forthcoming chapterbook title, Sabina and the Cats of Rome, written by Sophie Masson and illustrated by Laura Wood. The cover perfectly shows the fun and action of this great adventure story for young readers, set against the fascinating background of Ancient Rome. Sabina and the Cats of Rome will be published on October 1.

Announcements, authors, Junior fiction, New releases, Reviews

More lovely reviews for Leaf Letters!

In its very first week of publication, two lovely new reviews have appeared for Lorena Carrington’s gorgeous Leaf Letters. One’s in Read Plus; the other in Reading Time.

Here are extracts from the reviews:

Leaf Letters is a small book, but a thoughtful and evocative one, with pathways to uncover codes and secrets….. Written and illustrated by Lorena Carrington, this interactive story for young readers told in words and pictures, has coded messages to decipher the mysteries. ‘Warning. Answers ahead.’ These words are at the back of the book, so there are answers if you can’t find them. I couldn’t find them all. (Susanne Gervay, Reading Time)

This delightful story is about friendship, the joy of solving challenging problems, and the beauty of natural world.  The black and white photographs add another dimension to the story and the answers to the puzzles are a handy inclusion. There is also an opportunity for the reader to add their own treasures to the book. (Kathryn Beilby, Read Plus)

You can read the full reviews on their respective websites.

Announcements, authors, Book news, chapterbooks, Illustrators, Junior fiction, New releases, publication day

Publication day for Leaf Letters!

We are thrilled to announce that today is the publication day for Lorena Carrington’s gorgeous illustrated junior novel, Leaf Letters! This is the first novel Lorena has both written and illustrated for young readers and we are proud to be publishing this unique, beautiful book by one of Australia’s most original and gifted creators. We know readers are going to love it as much as we do, and in fact, already there have been two lovely advance reviews of the book, see here and here. And after the lovely pic of Lorena with her book, below, you can also see a young reader very much absorbed in it!

The book will be launched at Bendigo Library on Wednesday 3rd, 10.30–11.30 am, and if you’re in the area, you are invited to attend, meet Lorena, and grab your own copy of the book! She is also giving a special fun code-creation workshop for kids at Castlemaine library on Thursday 4th, based on Leaf Letters. More info on both events and to book here and here.

Congratulations to Lorena on a truly special book, and here’s hoping Leaf Letters finds its way into the hearts of many young readers!

Announcements, chapterbooks, Junior fiction, Reviews

Great advance review for Leaf Letters!

We’re delighted to see, in Books +Publishing, a great advance review, by Erin Wamala, for Lorena Carrington’s gorgeous Leaf Letters, which we are publishing in July. Here’s a short extract:

Lorena Carrington’s Leaf Letters is a delightful and warm novel for younger readers aged 7-9 who enjoyed Peter Carnavas’ the Elephant. Using text, illustrations and photographs makes it a great confidence builder for newly independent readers, who will also enjoy the interactive element…

Announcements, authors, Book news, chapterbooks, New releases, publication day

Publication day for Lucy Newton Messy Magic!

It’s publication day today for our latest title, Lucy Newton Messy Magic, by Phoebe McArthur, available now in bookshops across Australia!

Lucy Newton Messy Magic is the third title in the popular Lucy Newton chapterbook series, about a loveable little witch and her unusual friends, and we are absolutely delighted to bring another Lucy Newton adventure to young readers. Big congratulations to amazing author-illustrator Phoebe McArthur on another fabulous read!

About the book:

Lucy has to clean her room—without using magic. Only, every time Lucy returned from a well-earned break from cleaning up, she found her room tidier than ever. Lucy soon begins to think her house might be haunted…by a ghost who loves cleaning.

A sequel to Lucy Newton, Little Witch, and Lucy Newton: Cat Trouble.

About the author:

Phoebe McArthur lives in a run-down, yet cosy cottage in the middle of nowhere.

She’s not at all lonely thanks to her four cats, three chooks, two guinea pigs and her extensive library.

If she’s not tipping cats off her lap as she writes stories, she’s cooking all sorts of yummy food, such as scones with extra cream and homemade blackberry jam, or doing art at the table near the window, which has the best view of her garden. 

Her first book, Lucy Newton, Little Witch, was published in 2018 and was short listed for the 2019 Speech Pathology Awards, and the sequel, Lucy Newton: Cat Trouble, was published in 2021. She has also published a middle-grade novel, Charlie Chaplin: The Usual Suspect, published by Eagle Books in July 2021.