If you are in WA (or if you just want to fly interstate for a booklaunch), there is still space available for you at next week’s launch of If I Could Eat the Stars. Would love to see you there!
You can book here.
Hello!
I'm Sally Murphy, an Australian author of over 50 children's books. You'll find bits of me buried somewhere in every one of my books. I love reading, writing, and speaking about reading and writing and I especially love poetry and verse novels.
View my books or hire me to speak at your school, festival, or writers group.
Premier’s Reading Challenge Storytime Featuring If I Could Eat the Stars
Haven’t got your hands on If I Could Eat the Stars yet? Never fear here is a way to get a glimpse inside and hear three of the poems read aloud.
Wonderful to see the book profiled as part of the Premier’s Reading Challenge (WA) weekly story time.
And, if you are a young person in WA and not aware of the PRC, now is a good time to remind you that you can take part through your school, or simply sign up independently. All the details are here.
Not from WA? Each state has its own PRC, so do look them up. They are excellent.
And don’t forget, If I Could Eat the Stars is out now, and reading poetry is FUN.
What I Read in April 2026
April has been and gone, and, reading-wise, ten books have been read, digested, loved. Here’s what I read:
Books for Children
Footprint, by Phil Cumming & Sally Soweol Han (Allen & Unwin, 2025). A beautiful lyrical picturebook which starts as a walk in nature but becomes a call to action – to breathe and to make change.
Matariki Around the World: a Cluster of Stars, a Cluster of Stories, byRangi Matamua & Miriama Kamo, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Scholastic, 2022).Such a rich book about the Matariki cluster and its origins as well as its name and stories from cultures around the world. One thing I adored was the way the creators’ bios were in the front of the book, setting up their connection to the topic and to Aotearoa. Just a lovely book!
If I Could Eat the Stars: A middle-grade Australian poetry collection, edited by Rebecca M. Newman & Sally Murphy, illustrated by Briony Stewart (Fremantle Press, 2026). It may seem strange to add a book I helped create to my reading list for the month but when my contributor copies arrived I sat down and read it cover to cover for the first time since it went to print. Really proud of being part of this book and can’t wait to see it in hearts and homes across Australia.
Sophie Someone by Hayley Long (Hot Key, 2015). This one took me a little while to get into because you have to work at Sophie’s (the main character) interesting use of words, which is kind of the point. But in the end I couldn’t put it down and read most of in in a single day.
- Dragon’s Tear, by Sue Lawson (Lothian,2002). I love a Little Street Library and when I found found two I didn’t know about right in my neighbourhood, I was delighted. Even more so when I found this book – having long loved Sue Lawson’s work, but not having read this, her first novel. Gobbled it up and will put in back in circulation.
Books for Young Adults
The Oks Are Not Ok, by Grace K. Shim (Penguin, 2026). Listened to this on audio because I was looking for a lighter read, and that’s what it is – humorous while facing family challenges.
My Wonderful Disgrace, by Angourie Rice & Kate Rice (Walker Books, 2026). This came as a review copy, complete with a mini disco ball and a tiny plastic goat – which made a lot of sense when I read the book – the story of a school ball gone terribly wrong.
Books for Adults
Slow Horses , by Mick Herron (Baskerville, 2022). Borrowed from my big sister because I left my book at home when I stayed with her. First in a series which has been around for a while and is now a TV series – a spy thriller with an interesting cast and plenty of twists.
Mad Mabel, by Sally Hepworth (Pam Macmillan, 2025). A clever then and now plot that leaves you guessing on several plot points to the end and also, because the ‘now’ Mabel is a sassy older woman there’s some cushioning of the trauma of her childhood, which is awful but well told.
Ghost Nets, by Barbara Temperton (WA PoetsPublishing, 2022). Purchased while I was an Albany last month, and consumed slowly, as good poetry should be.
That brings my total for the year to date to 29. More to come, of course, in May and beyond. What have you been reading?
If a Tapir Could Eat the Stars
Okay, I know a tapir can’t eat the stars and that this a bit of a corny play on the book’s title, but with the release of If I Could Eat the Stars, I’ve been thinking about my poem, Helpful Honker, which appears in the anthology and where it came from.
If you don’t know what a tapir is, don’t panic – neither did I, until the day I started writing this poem. See, I was an Adelaide, on a May Gibbs Creative Time Fellowship and, near the end, I took myself to the Adelaide Zoo, mainly because I wanted to see the pandas (well worth seeing these amazing creatures!).
There was lots to see that day, but I found myself spend a lot of time watching an animal that I’d never heard of – Chiquita the tapir. I was quite fascinated by her, and briefly thought she had babies, because she shares her space with a group of mara, another animal I hadn’t heard of. Silly me! You can see a video of Chiquita here:
Anyway, I was determined to find out more about tapir and, later, when I visited the gift shop and saw I could buy a tapir brooch, I bought it as a reminder of the day and that even though pandas are special, so are lots of lesser-known animals.
Later, as I did a little research into the tapir, I jotted down the opening lines of what became Helpful Honker:
The tapir is a queer creation
Its appearance causes some sensation…
I didn’t know where the poem would finish up, but now, three years later, it is in the pages of If I Could Eat the Stars. And that brooch is getting a work out as I celebrate the book’s release.
So, here’s to you Chiquita, and the poem you inspired! And, readers, a reminder to YOU that poem ideas can come from anywhere.
If I Could Eat the Stars: A middle-grade Australian poetry collection is now available in good bookstores across Australia or, if you are not near a bookstore, can be purchased online.
It’s a Book: Welcome to the World If I Could Eat the Stars
It’s a … BOOK! Proud parents Rebecca M. Newman, Sally Murphy, and Briony Stewart are delighted to announce the safe arrival of If I Could Eat the Stars, delivered by Fremantle Press ably supported by dozens of contributors. All well and older sibling Right Side Down is happy there is more poetry in the family.
Welcome to the world darling book. We look forward to you bringing adoring gazes, then toddling around the country before you walk – run – into hearts, homes, libraries and schools. (And, dear readers, if you see our baby in the wild at bookstores or libraries near you, please let us know here on this post, or over at Instagram.)
If I Could Eat the Stars: Like a Bag of Lollies
When I posted on Friday about the first reviews for If I Could Eat the Stars: A middle-grade Australian poetry collection I didn’t realise I had actually missed the very first review, from the amazing Sue Warren and posted in early March. I’m not sure how I missed this fabulous review – possibly it appeared at the time I was dealing with family illness – but it contains a line I just love and had to share as soon as I read it. Sue says lots of wonderful things about the book, but this line:
I gobbled it up like a bag of lollies. SO good.
made me beam.
You can read the full review here and, while you’re there, you should check out more of her excellent reviews of books for young people.
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