Books to cherish every day
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.
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!
Leaf Letters, author-illustrator Lorena Carrington’s first junior novel, is a gorgeous treat of a book which includes a fabulous story, wonderful photographs and illustrations, puzzles to work out and codes to crack. In anticipation of the book’s publication on Monday, and its launch on Wednesday, Lorena’s made this great little video introducing Leaf Letters, reading from and talking about it. Enjoy!
Our new title, Lorena Carrington’s gorgeous junior novel, Leaf Letters, which she has both written and illustrated, will be out on July 1, and today we thought we’d give you a sneak peek at it out in the wild–literally! Photos are by Lorena.
We’re very excited to be publishing this beautiful, unique book which we think many many readers will take to their hearts 
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…
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.
In our tenth year, it’s wonderful both to look forward and back to our beautiful range of books, by wonderful Australian writers and illustrators–and how better to do that than through our fabulous new catalogue, which highlights this year’s books, looks forward to next year’s, and looks back at our fantastic backlist!
We hope you enjoy looking through it!
Another great review of the Key to Rome has just been published. It’s by Sue Warren, and published on her Just So Stories blog.
Here’s a short extract:
There’s nothing quite like a good ancient Roman historical fiction, and this one full of drama, deceit and death will appeal to many middle grade readers who relish an exciting and suspense-filled adventure.
You can read the whole review here.
We are very pleased to reveal the delightful cover of Lucy Newton Messy Magic, which is in the third instalment in Phoebe McArthur’s popular Lucy Newton series. Isn’t it fabulous!
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.
Out November 2023.
