Taking Bookings for 2027

September 23, 2026 by Sally Leave a Comment

Bookweek is over for another year, and Term 3 is drawing to a close, but if you are starting to think about 2027 and are interested in having an author, poet, or speaker visit you, then you might be glad to hear that I am open for bookings for 2027 (and beyond!).

I can:

speak to audiences from early childhood to adult
run writing workshops and master classes
deliver school holiday programs
deliver Professional learning for teachers
deliver keynotes and after dinner talks
and more.

You can find more details about my offerings here. If you have a need that isn’t listed, I am super flexible, having lots of experience.

I can be booked directly, or through Paper Bird Books Speakers Agency.

What I Read in August 2026

September 1, 2026 by Sally

September is here, so it’s time to share what I read in August. My biggest reading month for the year so far, with 21 books finished. That total was beefed up by the fact that once I reread one of my favourite ever books, The Naming of Tishkin Silk, I was forced (forced, I tell you!) to read the other six books in the series, as I had to revisit the Kingdom of Silk.

Anyway, here’s what I read:

Books for Children

The Naming of Tishkin Silk , by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Caroline Magerl (ABC Books, 2003). When I’m asked what my favourite book is, I’m sometimes challenged to stick to just one, because ‘favourite’ depends on what I’ve lately read, and how I’m feeling today and, why should have I to choose one favourite anyway? But, among my answers, very consistently, is this beautiful book which I like to reread every now and then to remind myself just how perfect a children’s books can be at dealing with really tough stuff.
Treeshape, by Trace Balla (Allen & Unwin, 2026). A beautiful graphic novel/memoir, sharing Balla’s connection with tress and the natural environment from childhood to the present.
Pick and Mix Poetry: Children’s verse chosen by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Becky Thorns (Pan Macmillan, 2024). I read this over a couple of months, leaving next to my chair and reading a bit whenever I needed a pick me up. Such a visual feast, with richly detailed and diverse illustrations, as well, of course, as the wonders of lots and lots of poems for children, from well loves classics to lots that were new to me.
Dordenup Boodja Wongki: Stories from Bibulmun and Wardandi Country, (Batchelor Press, 2013). This book was given to me by a university colleague who thought, quite rightly, that I would like to read local stories from the owners of the land I live on in the South West of Western Australia. The stories were sourced from recordings at the Battye Library and are told using both Noongar language and English translations.
Unbound: A Novel in Verse, by Ann E. Burg (Scholastic, 2018). From the US, this verse novel caught my eye when looking for something else, and of course I had to have it. Set in America’s south, it tells the story of young Grace who is taken to work in the Big House, away from her family. A tough topic, but well crafted and important.
Book Uncle and Me, by Uma Krishnaswami (Scholastic 2013). Picked this up because of its intriguing title, and really enjoyed it. It’s the story of nine-year-old Yasmin and her friends who fight to help Book Uncle, the kindly man who runs a free street library and is being forced to close by the council.
Layla, Queen of Hearts , by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (ABC Books, 2006). Once I’d reread The Naming of Tishkin Silk (see above) it was inevitable I’d want to reread the rest of the series. Still just as beautifully poignant as last time I read it.
Perry Angel’s Suitcase, by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (ABC Books, 2008). And the third in the series. Perry Angel has my heart. Such a beautiful story.
Derek, by Anne Donaldson & Matt Shanks (Hardie Grant, 2025). Ohhh. What a lovely (and humorous) little picture book! about a lonely goldfish.
All the Colours of Paradise, by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (ABC Books, 2009). The fourth book in the Kingdom of Silk series, with more Perry Angel gorgeousness.
Plum Puddings and Paper Moons ), by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (ABC Books, 2010). And the fifth book. Lovely to get to know one of the Silk sisters, Scarlet, who wants the world to be at peace.
My Nonno Loves by Adelle Frittitta and Claudia Frittitta (Hardie Grant, 2025). A gorgeous picture book celebration of family, and especially of grandparents and Italian culture.
The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk,by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (ABC Books, 2012). The sixth book in the series and, again, we get to know one of the Silk sisters (aka the Rainbow Girls), Saffron, as she navigates some frightening times.
Frogs Are Our Friends (Our Friends in the Garden)by Toni D’Alia and Madeline White (Bright Light Books, 2025). A lovely rhyming picture book about one little frog at night in the garden – and a reminder of the importance of frogs to ecosystems.
Nell’s Festival of Crisp Winter Glories , by by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King (ABC Books, 2013). The seventh and final book in the series. As you can see I binged the whole series this month – in fact over about five days – which was a delight. Sad to reach the end, but also beautiful to see a story focussing on grandmother Nell, and the ending such a much loved character deserves.

Books for Young Adults

Afterlife: The Boy Next Realm, by Gina Chew & Nadhir Nor (Difference Engine, 2023). I don’t read a lot graphic novels but after I attended a session at the AFCC in May, I found myself buying not one but three of the panellists’ books, inspired by their processes and their messages. This one is, as the title suggests, an adventure into the afterlife as Kyra seeks to rescue her little brother from Death.
Tiger Girls, by Felicia Low Jiminez & Claire Low (Difference Engine, 2025). The second book I bought after the AFCC panel. This one is fantasy but draws on Chinese superstition that girls born in the Year of the Tiger bring bad fortune to their families.
The Good Daughter, by Amra Pajalic (Text Publishing, 2009). I’m not sure how I acquired this, or how long it has been in my stupidly large to read pile (which I am making some inroads into this year). Exploring the challenges of trying to fit in both with a strict Bosnian Muslim community and her new high school, while also navigating impacts of her mother’s mental illness, and her friends’ betrayal.

Books for Adults

Where the Light Gets In: Simple, playful and profound perspective shifts to change your life, by Ben Crowe (Harper Collins, 2026). ben Crowe is a mindset coach with a really impressive client list. His book is easy to read with lots of understandings and guidance on building the mindset to navigate life.
Nothing Personal, by Alex Dook (Echo Publishing, 2026). I received an uncorrected proof of this, and although I don’t read a lot of crime thrillers, enjoyed it. Fast paced and set in Perth.
, by Deborah O’Brien (Bantam, 2012). Set in a fictional Australian gold rush town in 1872 and contemporary times, as two very different women navigate their new lives in the town.

This brings my total for the year to 84, with the thought that I should get past 100 for the year. Although I didn’t start with a title, I am loving that I am getting a little more time for reading of late, so here’s hoping that continues.

What have you been reading?

Love a Library: Australian School Library Day 2026

August 26, 2026 by Sally

Today is Australian School Library Day and, in the midst of Children’s Book Week, it’s vital to consider the role that school libraries play in getting books into the hands (and hearts!) of Australian children.

At a time when literacy figures, educators, governments, policy makers and parents are all worried about declining literacy levels and recognising that reading for pleasure is a key part of the literacy puzzle, it is sad that the role of the school library, and the school librarian, is not seen as vital.

In Western Australia, while most schools have a school library, few (especially in the government school sector) have a qualified teacher librarian on staff, with staffing hours allocated elsewhere, and the budget for book purchases, book promotion and more pushed elsewhere.

While the presence of a library is always a good thing, without a dedicated librarian, curating the collection, putting the right books into the right hands and running programs which incite young readers to read for pleasure, the library is not meeting its potential as a key part of the literacy puzzle. Research by ACER shows that the presence of a trained school library leads to better literacy outcomes. There is lots more research that shows the value of school libraries, here and elsewhere.

If you are in a school with a school librarian, take a moment today to thank them for the work they do. And, if you are not, or your children are not, take a moment today to ask why not. If you have a social media account you can share the tile above and/or use the hashtag #ASLD2026 and, every day #studentsneedschoollibraries

Podcast Appearance: Listen to me on Modern Classic Wildcard

August 20, 2026 by Sally

What fun! Last week I was interviewed by the wonderful Calum Greenall for his shiny new podcast Modern Classic Wildcard, where he asked me to nominate three books – one Modern, one Classic, and one Wildcard.

You can hear the episode here on Spotify, or search for it on your favourite podcast app.

And then come back and tell me what three books YOU would nominate.

Teaching Poetry using a Poetry Ponderance

August 19, 2026 by Sally

Teachers, today’s Poetry Month post is for you, offering a simple but effective way to include more poetry study in your classroom.

You have probably heard of (and, hopefully, used) Literature Circles. But you may not have heard of its cousin, the Poetry Ponderance (which debuted in my book for educators, Teaching Poetry for Pleasure and Purpose). This activity, which is best when used regularly, gives your students practice at looking closely at poems in a non threatening environment. A great time to start is during a unit of work focussed on figurative language or other poetic devices or forms.

You will need a range of poems for your students to read, preprinted so that each student in a group has a copy of the same poem. You can find poems in anthologies (including If I Could Eat the Stars and Right Way Down), in education resources such as Teaching Poetry for Pleasure and Purpose, or in the poetry anthologies and collections which you can find in your school library.

Your students will work in groups of four, and you could have all groups look at the same poem, allocate a different poem to each group or even allow each group to choose a poem.

Before the groups start work, explain the process and the roles which group members will play in the ponderance. It works like this.

Each group member will firstly read the poem individually and prepare for their group role. Then, in their groups of four they will read and discuss the poem, with each member taking a turn before opening up to discussion. Here are the roles:

Orator: This group member prepares to read the poem to the group at the start of their ponderance and, later, to the whole class.
Philosopher: This group member tries to figure out the poem’s meaning. If unsure, they can instead write three questions for the group to discuss to try to establish the poem’s meaning.
Architect: This person looks for how the poem works – identifying poetic techniques and the structure of the poem., and preparing to show at least three different techniques or word choices to the group.
Empath: Considers how the poem makes them feel, Prepares to explain how they felt, how they think other people might respond, and why.

You can expect that this process will take some scaffolding at first, but repeated daily during a poetry unit, or weekly across the whole school year, you can create a community of knowledgeable poetry enthusiasts. And, as I have said more than once this moth, the world needs more poetry – and poetry lovers.

I’d love to hear from you if you have tried a Poetry Ponderance or any of the other activities featured in Teaching Poetry for Pleasure and Purpose.

Why do we need a dedicated Poetry Month?

August 17, 2026 by Sally

In case you’ve missed it, August is Poetry Month, an initiative of the fabulous organisation Red Room Poetry, and I have been enjoying sharing poems and posts celebrating children’s poetry especially here and on Instagram.

You might be wondering WHY we need a whole month dedicated to poetry, and I’ve got some answers for you.

We need a dedicated Poetry Month because poetry is awesome! Poetry is good for your heart and soul, and for your brain. In fact, studies show that reading poetry activates the brain in ways prose doesn’t.
However, in spite of its general awesomeness, apparently not everyone likes poetry as much as I do (which never ceases to amaze me). I think that people who don’t like poetry just haven’t found the right poetry yet, and Poetry Month increases the chance that the right poem will end up right under their nose (or at least in front of their eyes).
The third reason we need a special Poetry Month is that poetry is underrepresented in publishing, in bookshops and in libraries. Next time you are in a bookshop look for the poetry section. If it’s there, it is likely small. Then look for the children’s poetry section. Keep looking – and if you find one that is more than a single shelf, please let me know so I can give that shop a big shoutout. Raising the profile of poetry helps to create demand which in turn hopefully leads to more publishing and stocking of poetry.
We need Poetry Month because, where I live, August is bleak. As I type, it is raining outside, the wind is blowing and my little heater is not keeping me warm at all. But celebrating poetry warms me up from the inside.
Lastly, the world absolutely needs more poetry! We are bombarded every day with bad news – wars, division, hate, tough times. Reading poetry might not fix all of that, but it does make us better humans and adds to a hopeful future.

I could go on, but for now, five reasons seems like enough. I’m off to read some more poetry, but I would love to hear your top reason for celebrating Poetry Month.

Hello!

Books for Children

Books for Young Adults

Books for Adults