Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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Good Hair (Yvonne Sewankambo, illus Freda Chiu, Walker)

Released June 2024

Good Hair is a sweet picture book all about celebrating diversity—through hair. When Birungi is reluctant to go to school after struggling to do her hair, she declares she hates... Read more

My Father’s Suitcase (Mary Garden, Justitia Books)

Released June 2024

Mary Garden’s My Father’s Suitcase, with its no-holds-barred tone, embodies the Anne Lamott epigraph, ‘If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better’. Readers of... Read more

Shadows of Winter Robins (Louise Wolhuter, Ultimo)

Released June 2024

Louise Wolhuter’s second novel, Shadows of Winter Robins, is cinematic and engrossing from the get-go, spiked with suspense and twists aplenty. Wolhuter is clearly a writer in command of her... Read more

The Little Clothes (Deborah Callaghan, Viking)

Released June 2024

At 38 years old, Sydney lawyer Audrey—single, childless, unseen and undervalued—is the protagonist of Deborah Callaghan’s debut novel, The Little Clothes. As we follow her struggles at work and in... Read more

Lights Out, Little Dragon (Debra Tidball, illus Rae Tan, HarperCollins)

Released June 2024

Lights Out, Little Dragon is an interactive bedtime book for toddlers aged 3+ and their caregivers, with a cute and relatable character that is just too busy to go to... Read more

Sharkman and Blowfish: World Domination (David Woodland, Berbay)

Released June 2024

Sharkman and Blowfish: World Domination is a fast-paced graphic novel by artist and film designer David Woodland (Ernie’s Journey). Woodland initially drew everything by hand, and the illustrations feature meticulous line-work.... Read more

My Efficient Electric Home Handbook (Tim Forcey, Murdoch)

Released June 2024

Energy plays a big part in our lives today, especially as the world faces a climate crisis. Electrification emerges as a solution, but managing our home’s energy can feel complicated... Read more

What’s Murder Between Friends (Meg Gatland-Veness, Pantera)

Released June 2024

Hallie has always dreamed of being an actor. Thanks to her drama teacher, Ms Lovelace, the school is finally putting on its first show. When Hallie’s class stumbles upon Ms... Read more

Love from Scratch (Amy Hutton, S&S)

Released June 2024

Amy Hutton’s new romance, Love from Scratch, reunites readers with the gorgeous actor Ethan from her previous book, Sit, Stay, Love. Ethan, once terribly fearful of dogs, is now filming... Read more

The Immortals of Australian Rugby Union (Gordon Bray, Gelding Street Press)

Released June 2024

The current crop of Wallabies may have lost their lustre, but Gordon Bray’s latest offering, The Immortals of Australian Rugby Union, harks back to a golden age of the sport.... Read more

How Babies Are Made (Philip Bunting, Scholastic)

Released June 2024

An engaging first look at human reproduction, How Babies Are Made features Philip Bunting’s signature friendly illustration style and the sense of humour common to both his fiction and nonfiction... Read more

Magic Counting (Nabeel Khan, illus Tete Garcia, Scribble)

Released June 2024

Magic Counting is a beautifully illustrated book that goes beyond the basics of counting, exploring the magic that can be found in the world of numbers. While counting from one... Read more

Drop into the Ocean (Karen Wasson, illus Marta Tesoro, Hardie Grant Explore)

Released June 2024

Drop into the Ocean: A tour of the world’s oceans and seas is exciting, colourful, entertaining and insightful. Packed with fun facts and well-researched information, it’s the type of book... Read more

What’s That? Australian mammals (Myke Mollard, Woodslane)

Released June 2024

This educational picture book for young children begins by telling us that every modern mammal descended from a common ancestor from around 180 million years ago, and that it’s up... Read more

Borderlands: Riding the Slipstream (ed by Paul Collins, Ford St)

Released June 2024

Borderlands: Riding the Slipstream is a new Australian anthology for young readers, collating over 40 short stories and poems by well-known children’s authors. Compiled by Paul Collins, who has previously... Read more

Dear Mutzi (Tess Scholfield-Peters, NLA)

Released June 2024

Tess Scholfield-Peters’ debut book, Dear Mutzi, is a narrative nonfiction account of her grandfather's experience in Nazi Germany. It powerfully describes how 18-year-old Hermann Pollnow fled Nazi Germany for rural... Read more

Heartsease (Kate Kruimink, Picador)

Released June 2024

Ellen 'Nelly' and Charlotte 'Lot' are as unalike as sisters come, yet they were once inseparable despite this. Lot is Nelly’s elder by eight years—an employment lawyer and single mother... Read more

Every Last Suspect (Nicola Moriarty, HarperCollins)

Released June 2024

Nicola Moriarty’s latest novel combines the domestic drama she’s known for with a compelling hook that will draw in mystery and thriller readers. Harriet Osman lies dying on the floor,... Read more

Because I Love Him (Ashlee Donohue, Magabala)

Released May 2024

Because I Love Him is an intelligent and insightful reply to the question, ‘Why are you with him?'. As a society, we're beginning to realise that it's the wrong question... Read more

Grace the Amazing (Aleesah Darlison, Wombat Books)

Released May 2024

This tender middle-grade novel by well-established children’s author Aleesah Darlison (who wrote the popular junior series League of Llamas) explores friendship, coming to terms with death, and finding the courage... Read more