It’s World Read Aloud Day and, what better way for me to celebrate than by reading aloud to you. Enjoy!
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Happy Birthday, Teenager
Birthdays are always special, but when a book has a birthday and is still in print, that feels extra special for an author. Especially when that book has stayed in print for more than a few years.
So, happy happy birthday to Do Not Forget Australia which is 13 years old today – a teenager! That’s right, it’s been in print for 13 whole years, and is still available.
Telling the story of the school in the French village of Villers-Bretonneux which is famous for having signs saying boldly Do Not Forget Australia, and of the events which led to that happening, Do Not Forget Australia is a wars story but also a story of friendship.
Perfect for classroom use, including in the lead up to ANZAC Day, I hope it continues to be shared for many more years to come. 
What I Read in February 2025
Last day of February means time to share what I read this month. As always a mixed bag, including classic picture books, murder mysteries, poetry and more. I especially enjoyed spending so much time with illustrator Ron Brooks. What a treat! Here’s what I read:
Books for Young Readers
The Day No One was Angry, by Toon Tellegen & Marc Boutavant (Gecko Press, 2014). Such a delight to read, this set of stories with a philosophical bent is of whimsical and thought provoking in equal measure.
The Biggest Christmas Secret Ever!, by L. D. Lapinski (Orion, 2024). This was a Christmas treat from my gorgeous colleague (and friend) Tamara – but, because of my own busyness in December I only collected it this month. But a Christmas book in February is, in my mind, perfectly acceptable, and I enjoyed this.
- Land of the Rainbow Gold, edited by Mildred M. Fowler (Nelson, 1967). Not sure whether to put this one in the young readers category because, while it was initially published for primary school aged readers, its age, and some of the sentiments expressed, including in the introduction, mean it isn’t a book I would give a child without some critical interrogation involved.
This Baby ,by Julia Mclelland & Ron Brooks (Oxford, 1992). Having read Ron Brooks’ memoir (see below) I found myself chasing down some of his backlist which I just HAD to own. This one is just beautiful – and, as a bonus, I got a signed copy.
Timothy and Gramps, by Ron Brooks (Collins, 1978). And another Ron Brooks title, which I knew of but had not read. Beautiful.
Motor Bill and the Lovely Caroline, by Jenny Wagner & Ron Brooks (Viking, 1994) And a third book illustrated by Brooks. If I had to pick a favourite of these three, this one would be it.Laughter is the Best Ending, by Maryam Master, illustrated by Astred Hicks (Pan, 2024). Just listed on the Notables list for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, and I can see why. Dealing with death, friendship, difference and belonging, while also being fast paced and funny, isn’t an easy mix, by Master does it well here.
Books for Young Adult Readers
Game As Ned, by Tim Pegler, Angus & Robertson, 2008) I read and reviewed this book back in 2008, but found it on my shelf and couldn’t remember it until I was well into it. That’s not a reflection of the quality – just of the number of books I read, and have read since 2008. Well worth the reread and, if you’re interested in that review it’s here.
Books for Adult Readers
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, by Benjamin Stevenson (Penguin, 2022. Late to the party reading this one, which I’ve seen everywhere over the past few years, but hadn’t read. I listened to it in audio format, and found the voice excellent, as well as the mystery with a twist of comedy.
Drawn from the Heart: A Memoir, by Ron Brooks (Allen & Unwin, 2010). Another book which I’d read and reviewed many moons ago but which kept calling me for a reread. Well worth the time and the tears, and the money spent ordering some Brooks’ backlist. You can see my original review here.
Kill Your Husbands, by Jack Heath (Allen & Unwin, 2023). Another that I listened to on audio, and enjoyed. I managed to figure out whodunnit but there were still twists and turns and character insights aplenty.
That brings my total for the year to date to 19 books. Not a bad start to the year. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.
A Right Way Up Birthday Celebration
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday Right Way Dooooowwwn
Happy birthday to yooooouuuuuu.
Yes, it’s true, it’s been one whole year today since Right Way Down made its way out into the world. And what a year it has been. From launch events, to bookshop shelves, to schools, to homes and hearts across Australia, this little book has spread joy everywhere it has gone. And will continue to do so for years to come.
Right Way Down is not the first book with my name on the cover, but it is one of the most joyful publishing experiences I’ve ever had – because I got to edit it with my talented and wonderful friend Rebecca M. Newman, and watch as Briony Stewart brought the book to life with divine illustrations, and then Fremantle Press published it and got it out there. Not only that, but, as an anthology, a major part of the joy was seeing so many other poets – friends old and new – see their work included.
And of course, another special joy is knowing that young readers are getting to read the poems – after all, that is why we produced this book.
So, while I can’t hand out pieces of birthday cake here on my website, wherever you are, please accept a piece of virtual cake in the form of a massive
THANK YOU
for loving the book as much as we do.
If you’ve not yet read Right Way Down don’t be sad – it is still available in good bookstores and online and, in 2026, there will be a second anthology, so watch this space.
What I Read in January 2025
How is the first month of 2025 over already? Yesterday was Christmas and today is February? Anyway, in spite of the month racing by, I did manage to get 8 books finished, and here’s what they were:
Books for Children
- The Rocks of Honey, by Patricia Wrightson (Puffin Books, 1960). Starting the year as I ended the last, with something from my seemingly endless to-read cupboard, and filling some gaps in my reading of Australian children’s classics at the same time. Wrightson was ground breaking in her work, and this one, drawing on first nations mythology, is no exception. And, of course, in the modern context in which I read it, I had to filter my concerns about appropriation as I read, remembering that Wrightson wrote in a different time and with good intent. I found this blogpost by Academic Mark Macleod helpful in giving me context.
- Sugar Mouse, by John Branfield (Gollancz,1973).Another from the to-read cupboard, this one was rescued from a library cull some time ago. It’s a bit dated in some of its depictions of women and girls, but is unusual in that it offers an insight in to the life a girl living with diabetes. Again, the treatments and management are a bit dated, but an important topic.
The Peppermint Pig, by Nina Bawden (Puffin Books, 1975). Third book in a row from the t0-read cupboard. I’m not sure where I came upon this. It was a 1975 edition, but seemed unread. Anyway, I read it and enjoyed the story of a family facing difficult times, and the role of a piglet in helping them through it.
Millie Mak the Maker , by Alice Pung & Sher Rill Ng (Angus & Roberston, 2023). I’ve admired this book in bookshops several times, and finally bought it and read ti this month. The gorgeous hard cover is just part of its joy. Inside there are two stories featuring Millie Mak, who sews and makes things by repurposing discarded things, at the same time navigating challenges with friendship and family. Just lovely.
Detective Gordon: A Complicated Case, by Ulf Nilsson, illustrated by Gitte Spee (Gecko Press, 2016). Back to the to-read cupboard which, at this rate, could be emptied by about 2030 (there are a lot of books there). I suspect his one was an unsolicited review copy which means I’ve had it for nine years, unread. It is a really cute little book, using animal characters to look at what it takes not to be mean. Very clever.
Look Me in the Eye, by Jane Godwin Lothian, 2024). Jane Godwin is adept at writing for the tween age group. Bella is navigating the first year of high school, but along with the usual challenges this might bring, she’s also dealing with issues of peer pressure and trust.
Books for Adults
The Elephant Vanishes, by Haruki Murakami (Vintage, 1994). I was gifted this by a friend who wanted me to read it so he had someone to talk to about it. I love that! And I also loved this book, which is my much-belated introduction to Murakami’s work.
Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer, by Lynne Cox (Harcourt, 2004). Lent to me by a member of my swimming book, and I really enjoyed getting inside the mindset, and life, of this legendary swimmer who didn’t stop once she’d set the record for the English Channel crossing at age sixteen, instead swimming her way into the record books around the world – including swimming in Antarctic waters.
And of course, that brings my total for the year so far to 8. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.
Books to Use in Your Secondary Classroom in 2025
This week I have been sharing book suggestions for classrooms from Early Childhood to upper primary. To finish this series, today I’m highlighting some of my books which could be used in the secondary classroom. Although not marketed as young adult, these are titles which I know have been used in secondary classrooms or which appear on reading lists for secondary aged students.
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Worse Things (illustrated by Sarah Davis, published by Walker Books) is a multi-voice verse novel about sport, belonging and unexpected things. It was an Honour Book in the 2021 CBCA Book of the Year Awards, which I’m pretty proud of, but I’m even more proud that young readers seem to really engage with it, both for inclass study and individual reading. There are a plethora of resources for teaching Worse Things, including publisher teacher notes here, and a unit of work from PETAA here. The NSW Department of Education has a comprehensive unit of work available here. Although these resources are chiefly aimed at primary classrooms, they can be adapted for secondary students. I have used the Definition poems from the book for the basis of poetry writing workshops with high school aged students really successfully.You also might find this video introduction featuring yours truly helpful.
Worse Things is still in print and available in print and ebook versions in bookstores or online and appears on four Premier’s Reading Challenge booklists – in WA, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria.
Bushfire (Published by Scholastic). Part of the My Australian Story series, this tells the story of the dreadful 2009 bushfires which ravaged Victoria, from the viewpoint of a fictional girl called Amy, who experiences the fires first hand. It obviously deals with natural disasters, but also focusses on notions of bravery, family and the topic of climate change.- How it can be used: Bushfire is useful for studies of narrative, as well as HASS and Science themes. You can find publisher teaching notes here . Another truly excellent resource is the Black Saturday Museum in Marysville (where much of the book is set) and its website. This song (and its video) by Greg Campion) provides an audio-visual link which can be very powerful.
Bushfire is still available from good bookstores and online and appears on the reading lists for the Victorian, and SA Premier’s Reading Challenge.
The Riding Gallery (illustrated by Martina Heiduczek, published by Walker Books). My most recent book, this is the story of the home front during WW1, focussing on the events surrounding a real merry go round (riding gallery) on the St Kilda foreshore. Told using free verse from the viewpoints of two children, the merry go round operator, and the newspapers of the times.What it Can Be Used For: There are HASS and history tie-ins, but, being a verse novel, this one can also be used to teach poetic forms (including found poems), figurative language and more. If you are in the ACT, you might link the story to the merry go round located in the Civic centre – as this is the very ride which features in the book – and, if in Victoria, the book again has strong links to local history, taking place in St Kilda. You can find teacher notes at the Walker site here and PETAA has an excellent unit of work aimed at the year 3 classroom (which could be adapted for older students) and linking not just to HASS but also to HPE. You can find that here . The Riding Gallery is available in good bookstores in both print and ebook formats, as well as in libraries.
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It seems I talk with my hands a lot. Who knew?
I’m also a qualified and experienced secondary English teacher, meaning I love to visit and work with highschool students and teachers to talk about reading, writing, poetry and more. Feel free to contact me to find out more. You can also do the same if you’d like some advice on using my books in your classroom.
If you’ve followed this series of posts you’ll see that I have written books that cover an array of subjects, formats and audiences. Hopefully you’ll find something here to suit your classroom but, if your don’t please feel free to drop me a line and ask me questions. Or, of course, remember there are many other wonderful Australian creators writing wonderful books that might suit your needs.
Whatever books you use, and whatever age group you are teaching, thank you for the work you are doing educating our next generation. Teachers rock!
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