The Real Cowgirl (Isabelle Duff, illus Susannah Crispe, EK Books)
Children’s picture book
Released June 2024, reviewed by Anica Boulanger-Mashberg.
The Real Cowgirl tells the story of young Sal, who wants to be a ‘real’ cowgirl, ‘with boots and a...
Fragile Creatures (Khin Myint, Black Inc.)
Nonfiction
Released June 2024, reviewed by Michelle Atkins.
Debut author Khin Myin’s Fragile Creatures is a remarkable memoir in many ways. Myin’s writing is gracious and honest; at its core,...
The Very Polite Knight (Ian Smith, Affirm)
Children’s picture book
Released June 2024, reviewed by Anthea Yang.
Finn is not like other knights in the kingdom. While Boris, Ethel and Walter are busy with scaring, fighting and...
Looking for Eden (Caroline Overington, HarperCollins)
Fiction
Released June 2024, reviewed by Annie Waters.
The latest offering from award-winning journalist and bestselling author Caroline Overington is a lopsided thriller. The novel opens as finance...
Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat (Li Chen, Penguin)
Graphic novel
Released June 2024, reviewed by Emma Pei Yin .
From the creator of the beloved ExtraOrdinary Comics, Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat is the debut graphic...
Queen of Dogs (Joe Weatherstone, Walker)
Younger readers
Released June 2024, reviewed by Clare Millar.
Eleven-year-old Maddy feels like she doesn’t fit in at school or at home with her sporty family. She’d rather be...
Good Hair (Yvonne Sewankambo, illus Freda Chiu, Walker)
Children’s picture book
Released June 2024, reviewed by Anneliese Gates.
Good Hair is a sweet picture book all about celebrating diversity—through hair. When Birungi is reluctant to go to school...
My Father’s Suitcase (Mary Garden, Justitia Books)
Nonfiction
Released June 2024, reviewed by Eman Mourad.
Mary Garden’s My Father’s Suitcase, with its no-holds-barred tone, embodies the Anne Lamott epigraph, ‘If people wanted you to write...
Shadows of Winter Robins (Louise Wolhuter, Ultimo)
Fiction
Released June 2024, reviewed by Joanne Shiells .
Louise Wolhuter’s second novel, Shadows of Winter Robins, is cinematic and engrossing from the get-go, spiked with suspense and twists...
The Little Clothes (Deborah Callaghan, Viking)
Fiction
Released June 2024, reviewed by Megan Koch.
At 38 years old, Sydney lawyer Audrey—single, childless, unseen and undervalued—is the protagonist of Deborah Callaghan’s debut novel, The Little...
Lights Out, Little Dragon (Debra Tidball, illus Rae Tan, HarperCollins)
Children’s picture book
Released June 2024, reviewed by Angela Meyer .
Lights Out, Little Dragon is an interactive bedtime book for toddlers aged 3+ and their caregivers, with a cute and...
Sharkman and Blowfish: World Domination (David Woodland, Berbay)
Graphic novel
Released June 2024, reviewed by Karys McEwen .
Sharkman and Blowfish: World Domination is a fast-paced graphic novel by artist and film designer David Woodland (Ernie’s Journey). Woodland initially...
My Efficient Electric Home Handbook (Tim Forcey, Murdoch)
Nonfiction
Released June 2024, reviewed by Becca Whitehead .
Energy plays a big part in our lives today, especially as the world faces a climate crisis. Electrification emerges as...
What’s Murder Between Friends (Meg Gatland-Veness, Pantera)
Young adult
Released June 2024, reviewed by Jordi Kerr.
Hallie has always dreamed of being an actor. Thanks to her drama teacher, Ms Lovelace, the school is finally putting...
Love from Scratch (Amy Hutton, S&S)
Fiction
Released June 2024, reviewed by Lisa Schuurman.
Amy Hutton’s new romance, Love from Scratch, reunites readers with the gorgeous actor Ethan from her previous book, Sit, Stay,...
The Immortals of Australian Rugby Union (Gordon Bray, Gelding Street Press)
Nonfiction
Released June 2024, reviewed by Melissa Woods.
The current crop of Wallabies may have lost their lustre, but Gordon Bray’s latest offering, The Immortals of Australian Rugby...
How Babies Are Made (Philip Bunting, Scholastic)
Children’s picture book
Released June 2024, reviewed by Anica Boulanger-Mashberg.
An engaging first look at human reproduction, How Babies Are Made features Philip Bunting’s signature friendly illustration style and the...
Magic Counting (Nabeel Khan, illus Tete Garcia, Scribble)
Children’s picture book
Released June 2024, reviewed by Anneliese Gates .
Magic Counting is a beautifully illustrated book that goes beyond the basics of counting, exploring the magic that can be...
Drop into the Ocean (Karen Wasson, illus Marta Tesoro, Hardie Grant Explore)
Children’s picture book
Released June 2024, reviewed by Nadia Heisler.
Drop into the Ocean: A tour of the world’s oceans and seas is exciting, colourful, entertaining and insightful. Packed with...
What’s That? Australian mammals (Myke Mollard, Woodslane)
Children’s picture book
Released June 2024, reviewed by Angela Meyer .
This educational picture book for young children begins by telling us that every modern mammal descended from a common ancestor...
