BOOK REVIEW: My First 100 Dinosaur Words by Chris Ferrie, pictures by Lindsay Dale-Scott Sourcebooks eXplore August 2021 Paperback, $12.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Baby Books / Non-Fiction / Science 90% Rocking Age range 0 to 3 Introduce your little genius to the essential first words related to all things dinosaurs! From the #1 bestselling […]
BOOK REVIEW: Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury Michael Joseph | Penguin Books September 2021 Hardcover, $29.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Philosophy / Buddhism / Self Help 95% Rocking The charming, illustrated story of two friends, who travel through the seasons sharing the lessons they learn on their way; the perfect gift […]
BOOK REVIEW: The Curse of the Vampire Robot by Graeme Base Angus & Robertson September 2021 Hardcover, $24.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Children’s Picture Book / Humour 100% Rocking Deep in the Scottish Highlands, Many years from now … Gertie Gif, a lowly cleaning droid from the village of Loch Lan, sets out on an […]
BOOK REVIEW: Nelson 3 – Eggplants and Dinosaurs by Andrew Levins, illustrated by Katie Kear Puffin Books August 2021 Paperback, $12.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Middle Grade / Humour 65% Rocking The third book in the totally outrageous adventures of Nelson Hunter – the boy who hates vegetables. Featuring a serious spy mystery and an […]
BOOK REVIEW: 1-Minute Gardener by Mat Pember & Fabian Capomolla (The Little Veggie Patch Co.) Plum | Pan Macmillan Australia August 2021 Paperback, $26.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Non-Fiction / Gardening / Edible Gardening / Australian Gardening 95% Rocking The Little Veggie Patch Co. has taken the mystery out of – and put the fun […]
BOOK REVIEW: The Loop by Jeremy Robert Johnson TitanBooks July 2021 Paperback, $19.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Horror / Science Fiction / Thriller / Young Adult 85% Rocking Stranger Things meets World War Z in this heart-racing thriller as a group of teenagers attempt to survive the night in a town overcome by a science experiment gone wrong. […]
BOOK REVIEW: My First 100 Bug Words by Chris Ferrie, pictures by Lindsay Dale-Scott Sourcebooks eXplore August 2021 Paperback, $12.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Baby Books / Non-Fiction / Science 85% Rocking Age range 0 to 3 Introduce your little genius to the essential first words related to all things bugs! From the #1 bestselling […]
BOOK REVIEW: Heroes, Rebels, and Innovators by Karen Wyld and Jaelyn Biumaiwai Lothian Children’s Books August 2021 Hardcover, $26.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Non-Fiction / Children’s Picture Books / Australian History 95% Rocking Be inspired and amazed by these incredible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander icons! With colourful artwork and evocative writing, this book […]
BOOK REVIEW: Mr Tickle (50th Anniversary) by Roger Hargreaves Puffin Children’s Books April 2021 Hardcover, $16.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Children’s Picture Books / Classic Books / Anniversary Editions 80% Rocking Enjoy the story that first introduced the Mr Men to the world in this special 50th anniversary edition! Mr Tickle is small and round […]
BOOK REVIEW: My First 100 Weather Words by Chris Ferrie, pictures by Lindsay Dale-Scott Sourcebooks eXplore August 2021 Paperback, $12.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Baby Books / Non-Fiction / Science 85% Rocking Age range 0 to 3 Introduce your little genius to the essential first words related to all things weather! From the #1 bestselling […]
BOOK REVIEW: It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn Penguin Life July 2017 Paperback, $29.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Psychology / Self-Help 35% Rocking Depression. Anxiety. Chronic Pain. Phobias. Obsessive thoughts. The evidence is compelling- the roots of these difficulties may not reside in our immediate life experience or in chemical imbalances in our brains-but […]
BOOK REVIEW: Leilong the Library Bus by Julia Liu & Bei Lynn Gecko Press July 2021 Paperback $16.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Children’s Picture Books 65% Rocking A library-loving picture book in which an enthusiastic dinosaur absorbed in storytime threatens to flatten the library—until the children decide to take the books outdoors The children […]
BOOK REVIEW: Rachel’s War by Mark Wilson Lothian May 2021 Hardcover, $26.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Non-Fiction / Children’s Picture Books / Historical 85% Rocking Growing up on a farm in country Victoria, all Rachel wants is to help people. When war comes, she travels to distant Europe and the Middle East, working tirelessly […]
BOOK REVIEW: The Storm is Upon Us by Mike Rothschild Monoray | Hachette Australia June 2021 Paperback $32.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Non-Fiction / Politics / Internet Culture 95% Rocking In 2017, President Trump made a cryptic remark at a gathering of military officials, describing it as ‘the calm before the storm’-then refused to […]
BOOK REVIEW: Nelson 2 – Broccoli and Spies by Andrew Levins, illustrated by Katie Kear Puffin BooksJanuary 2021Paperback, $12.99Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Middle Grade / Humour 68% Rocking The second book in the totally outrageous adventures of Nelson Hunter – the boy who hates vegetables. Featuring a serious spy mystery and an epic broccoli-fuelled battle! […]
BOOK REVIEW: Backyard Birdies by Andy Geppert Lothian Children’s Books August 2021 Hardcover $19.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Children’s Picture Books / Humour 90% Rocking An extraordinarily good looking and somewhat factual illustrated introduction to the birds of Australia from the award-winning author of MEEP. This is a common pigeon. Common because it’s almost […]
BOOK REVIEW: Fully Human by Steve Biddulph Pan Macmillan Australia May 2021 Paperback $34.99 Reviewed by Steph O’Connell Non-Fiction / Motivation / Self-Help 90% Rocking A mother of small children trusts her ‘gut feeling’ and it saves her life. A young dad is able to grieve for his lost baby – using a song. What […]
BOOK REVIEW: The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester Hachette Australia March 2020 Paperback, $32.99 Reviewed by Natalie Salvo Fiction / Historical Fiction 90% Rocking Natasha Lester certainly knows how to dress her stories for success. The historic fiction writer has published half a dozen books which blend romance with great storytelling. The Paris Secret brings […]
BOOK REVIEW: Rules for Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell & Katie Cotugno Pan Macmillan April 2020 Paperback, $16.99 Reviewed by Natalie Salvo Kids & Children’s books / Personal & Social Issues / Sexuality & Relationships for Children & Teenagers 60% Rocking Rules for Being a Girl is a timely novel, written for young adult […]
BOOK REVIEW: Melbourne Remember When by Bob Byrne NewSouth Books December 2019 Paperback, $34.99 Reviewed by Natalie Salvo Non-fiction / Local Interest Topics 75% Rocking Bob Byrne is no stranger to commemorating the past. The radio DJ has written five books where he has looked back at Australian life in the good old days. This […]
