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Sally Murphy, Australian author

What I Read in February 2026

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Two months down in this new year already! Time just flies. Here’s what I read in February.

Books for Children

  1. The Month That Makes the YearThe Month That Makes the Year, by Inda Ahmad Zahri (Allen & Unwin, 2023). What a beautiful explanation of Ramadan in picture book form.
  2. The Secret Cooking ClubThe Secret Cooking Club, by Laurel Remington Chicken House, 2016). From my to-read pile, though I am not sure when/how I acquired it.  About friendship, family, social media and, of course, cooking.
  3. MillicentMillicent, by Jeannie Baker (Scholastic, 1980). I picked this up on the local online marketplace and am glad to own it, alongside my other Jeannie Baker books. i love the apparent simplicity of the text alongside the great depth of the textured illustrations.
  4. Our World of Wild WondersOur World of Wild Wonders, by Jevita Nilson and Jess Racklyeft  (CSIRO Publishing, 2025). What a stunning picture book celebrating the diversity of wildlife around the world, with lyrical text and wonderful illustrations.

Books for Adults

  1. Rest Is Resistance: THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERRest Is Resistance, by Tricia Hersey (Aster, 2022). What an important, thought provoking book. Not sure I can sum it u with enough detail, so what I will say is that if you are tired of the grind culture, always busy and regularly saying you don’t have time to rest, this book will help you to reclaim the rest that has bene stolen from you, while also ensuring  you revisit capitalism and Black history. I will be rereading this one, regularly.
  2. TenderfootTenderfoot, by Toni Jordan (Hachette, 2025). I bought this on the recommendation of Beth at Dymocks Busselton, and she was right. The writing is beautiful and, even though it deals with some tough topics, it’s not a book that you can put down.

That brings my total for 2026 (so far, of course) to 11 books. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.

What I Read in January 2026

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January has come and gone, which means time to look back at what I read in the month. At this time every year I contemplate whether sharing my monthly reading is helpful to anyone other than me but this year I have realised it is helpful to ME and that is okay. Keeping a record of what I read, and keeping myself accountable by posting it on my website, is a small thing and if it helps anyone else along the way – with book choices, or knowing I read their book – that’s a good thing, too.

So, in January I read a total of five books – three for  children and two for adults, and here’s the list:

Children’s Books.

    1. Six Summers of Tash and LeopoldSix Summers of Tash and Leopold, by Danielle Binks (Lothian, 2024). Appropriate that the first title I read for the year had summer in the title. Gorgeous story of friendship, family and bravery in a range of forms.
    2. The BakehouseThe Bakehouse, by Joy Cowley (Gecko Press, 2015). Set in rural NZ during Word War 2, and telling the story of a boy who sets out to use a deserted bakehouse as a bunker – but instead finds a soldier sheltering within. Well woven.
    3. The GlimmeThe Glimme, by Emily Rodda & Marc McBride (Scholastic, 2019). I love this pairing of author and illustrator, and this hard cover offering with McBride’s divine illustrations is a delight.

 

 

Books for Adults

    1. Treasure Island (Puffin Clothbound Classics)Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson.  I wanted to read this after coming across an online piece somewhere about how Stevenson’s version of pirates in this book has shaped the tropes, stereotypes and beliefs of successive generations about pirates.  This led me to pick this up from my classic book shelf, and while I was surprised that I didn’t remember much of the detail (especially the amount of murder and killing throughout), I still enjoyed rediscovering this.
    2. The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking AboutThe Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House, 2025). I’m a fan of the Mel Robbins Podcast and have bene meaning to read this one since it came out. I found it useful, with the appeal being the reminders and lessons about navigating relationships, other people’s opinions and more.

So that brings my total for 2026 so far to, unsurprisingly, 5 books. Like last year I am not setting a goal number, but I do have a goal this year to set aside more deliberate time and space for reading for pleasure. Goal achieved in January.

What have you been reading?

What I Read in December 2025

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A new month and so time to round up my reading for December. And, of course, a New Year, so the last of my reading for 2025.  Was glad to get a bit more time to read after a hectic year, and finished eight books. Here they are.

Books for Children

  1. The Wombles, by Elisabeth Beresford (Puffin Books, 1968).  Found this copy in an op-shop and it fell apart as I read it, but I didn’t care, because it was a lovely trip down  memory lane with  a childhood favourite. Found myself singing the television theme song from the series  based on the book.
  2. Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady: The Robin Miller StorySoaring with the Sugarbird Lady: The Robin Miller Story, by Dianne Wolfer (Fremantle Press, 2025). How wonderful to read the story of Robin Miller, who single handedly ensured remote Western Australians received much needed polio vaccines, just one of the many things she did both for Western Australia and to be a pioneer for women aviators.
  3. Duck Boy Duck Boy, by Christobel Mattingley (Angus & Robertson, 1983). It’s the second time in the past two months that I had a book in my TBR pile which I’d accidentally bought twice. But having loved this when I read it last year (?), I was happy to read this one again.
  4. When I Am HappiestWhen I Am Happiest, by Rose Lagercrantz & Eva Eriksson (Gecko Press, 2015). A delightful little chapter book about a girl who finds happiness even in some really difficult times.
  5. The Four Seasons of Lucy McKenzieThe Four Seasons of Lucy McKenzie, by Kirsty Murray (Allen & Unwin, 2013). A time slip story from a writer I really admire.
  6. Mila & IvyMila & Ivy by Katrina McKelvey & Jasmine Berry (Wombat Books, 2022). Gifted this one at the CBCA WA annual dinner, when Jasmine won it as part of a book pack. Glad I finally read it – a lovely story of sister trouble (and connection).
  7. VolcanoVolcano, by Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft (Allen & Unwin, 2025). Claire Saxby is a genius and a writer I really really admire. She’s also a wonderful friend – so I was lucky to catch up with her at the PETAA Conference in October and get this one signed.  Claire and Jess Racklyeft together produce outstanding books, and this one is, of course, no exception.

Books for Adults

  1. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night (Penguin Archive)Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, by Dylan Thomas (Penguin Archive, 2025). Poetry, portable sized Penguin edition. Winning all round.

That brings my total for 2025 to 100. That’s a low total for me – especially given that I include picture books (ones that are new to me). But I actually aimed to focus more on quality than quantity in 2025, and I think I achieved that. I’d like to stick to that in 2026 but do aim to make sure I am reading more new release books. I also have a big goal this year – to read War and Peace in its entirety. That will slow down my total, but it’s a long time goal I’ve had.

What have you been reading?

 

What I Read in November 2025

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Another month finished, and another look at what I read for the month. Just six books.  This year I aimed to read slower and not worry about the numbers – and I haven’t – but as I near the end of the year I am aware of the wonderful books that have come out this year that I haven’t read, and so for 2026 I’ll  be trying to make time for more new release books so I don’t fall too far behind all of the goodness that is being produced.  Anyway, here’s what I read in November

Books for Children
  1. ChildishChildish, by Morris Gleitzman (Penguin, 2025). Kids solving problems too big for adults to deal with?  What’s not to love – but also, I noticed this is notable for having a school where every teacher is supportive and understanding, which I really liked.
  2. Almost There and Almost NotAlmost There and Almost Not, by Linda Urban (Atheneum, 2021). Sometimes a book has a cover so beautiful I just have to buy it.  Rarely this happens twice for the same book.  Yes, I bought this book twice, once a year or so ago, and again more recently. Of course when I started reading I realised my mistake – but I read it again anyway because it is good.
  3. The Surface TrialsThe Surface Trials, by HM Waugh (Allen & Unwin, 2025). Love Heather Waugh’s ability to weave a sci fi tale for young readers.
  4. A Crash of RhinosA Crash of Rhinos, by Patricia Mullins (ABC Books, 2010). Fun with collective nouns is the subtitle and fun is right – real/traditional collective nouns, as well as some made up ones just for fun.
  5. Velvet Paws & Whiskers, by Jean Chapman, illustrated by Deborah Niland (Hodder, 1979). I picked this up in an op shop. Cat themed stories, poems, activities, facts and more.
Books for Young Adults
  1. The Foal in the WireThe Foal in the Wire, by Robbie Coburn (Lothian, 2025).  A moving verse novel about a troubled pair of neighbours who find and raise an injured foal, along the way finding ways to heal themselves.

 

 

This brings my total for the year to 92. Hoping to crack the century by year’s end.

 

What I Read in October 2025

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October has ended, and it’s time to share what I read. I got through 13 books, more than in previous months, partly because there’s a few picture books in there, but also because I spent time on aeroplanes, which is always a good chance to catch up on some reading. Anyway, here’s what I got through.

Books for Children

    1. Everywhere Babies [Board book]Everywhere Babies 2, by Susan Meyers, illustrated by Marla Frazee (Harper Collins, 2001).  Read for a project I’m working on at university. Such a lovely celebration of babies, and families all their forms.
    2. Not cute.Not cute., by Philip Bunting (Scholastic, 2020).  Needed a funny book to share with my children’s literature class, and this one was it.
    3. Play the Shape GamePlay the Shape Game, by Anthony Browne (Walker Books, 2010).  A gift from my gorgeous friend Tamara after my deep dive into Browne’s picture books earlier this year, and discussions we’d had about using this book in one of our units at university.  A treasure.
    4. Making the Shrine: stories from Victoria's war memorialMaking the Shrine: stories from Victoria’s war memorial, by Laura J. Carroll (Crossley Press, 2024).  A clever piece of history writing, with the use of graphic novel format to tell 25 stories that span the making of Victoria’s war memorial.
    5. The Forest in the Tree: How Fungi Shape the Earth (Small Friends Books)The Forest in the Tree: How Fungi Shape the Earth , by Alisa Wild, Aviva Reed, Briony Barr and Gregory Crocetti (CSIRO Publishing, 2024). Part of the CSIRO Small Friends series, this one tells the story of fungi and the vital part they play in forests and ecosystems.
    6. Democracy!: A positive primer on people power. Discover what defines a democracy and why your voice matters.Democracy!: A positive primer on people power. , by Philip Bunting (Hardie Grant, 2023). Bunting is such a clever author/illustrator – he has the power to make readers laugh but also to share complex and important topics with that humour blended with insight.
    7. Song of a Thousand SeasSong of a Thousand Seas, by Zana Fraillon (UQP, 2025). Read this in one setting because I just couldn’t put it down, falling in love with the voice of the octopus, Houdini, and Fraillon’s mastery of the verse form.

 

Books for Young Adults

  1. The Realm of PossibilityThe Realm of Possibility,by David Levithan (Alfred Knopf, 2004). Found this on my verse novel bookshelf when I was looking for something else and was surprised to realise I hadn’t read it. Clever use of multiple voices (20) while still weaving a strong narrative.
  2. Long Way Down: ‘A masterpiece.’ Angie ThomasLong Way Down, by Jason Reynolds (Faber & Faber). Oh wow.  A stunning verse novel that shows just how powerful the form can be.   And, as you’ll see, I then sat down and read the graphic novel version, too.
  3. "LongLong Way Down (The Graphic Novel), by Jason Reynolds, with art by Danica Novgorodoff (Simon & Schuster). Reading this straight after the verse novel allowed me to see the text (literally) from a different angle, and to really engage with the depth of this story. So good in both forms!
  4. The Poet X - WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo (Harper Collins, 2018). And a fourth YA verse novel. From the US, and not new, but new to me, and excellent.
  5. DriftDrift, by Pip Harry (Lothian, 2025). And a fifth. The luxury of having such a deep dive into verse novels is partly in seeing so many different ways they are used.  Dealing with some complex topics, including cyber bullying and self harm, this is also warm and touching.

Books for Adults

  1. The Mademoiselle Alliance: Inspired by a true storyThe Mademoiselle Alliance: Inspired by a true story, by Natasha Lester (Hachette, 2025). I was lucky enough to hear Natasha speak about this one earlier in the year. I love reading about the under-explored parts of history – especially when it profiles the women who, so often, are at risk of disappearing from memory.

 

That brings my annual total to 86, with only two months to go. How is it almost the end of the year?

What have you been reading?

 

What I Read in September 2025

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What did I read in September? A LOT of manuscripts for a prize I’m a judge for and which, though book-length, don’t count for my total here.  So, only four books to report.

Books for Children

  1. Stuff I’m (Not) Sorry For: 99 more poems for young peopleStuff I’m (Not) Sorry For: 99 more poems for young people, by Maxine Beneba Clarke (Hardie Grant, 2025).  The world needs more poetry, and fresh poetry for young people. This book delivers that in spades.
  2. TrappedTrapped, by Julia Lawrinson (Fremantle Press, 2025).  At least 10 years ago I started a file labelled with the name Varischetti.  I’d stumbled across  n old news story about a trapped miner, and thought one day I would write a book about him. I didn’t – but I am very glad that the tale has now been told, deftly, by a writer I admire, and in verse novel form.
  3. BindiBindi, by Kirli Saunders, illustrated by Dub Leffler (Magabala Books, 2020). Not my first read of this book, but it’s been a while. Loved rediscovering this one, when I taught a class about the wonders of verse novels.

Books for Adults

  1. The Ghost Walk: A psychological medical thrillerThe Ghost Walk: A psychological medical thriller, by Karen Herbert (Fremantle Press, 2025). Went to the launch of this one and, of course, came home with the book which took a little while to get through just because of busyness, but glad I read it.

 

This brings my 2025 total to 73 so far, with more to come, especially as the judging comes to an end.

I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.

sallymurphy.com.au