Author: Tasha

2025 New Zealand Book Awards

| Tasha

The winners of the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have been announced. The awards this year are noted for including so many Maori titles. Here are the winning titles.

MARGARET MAHY BOOK OF THE YEAR

The Treaty of Waitangi by Ross Callman

BOOKHUB PICTURE BOOK AWARD

Titiro Look by Gavin Bishop, translated by Darryn Joseph

WRIGHT FAMILY FOUNDATION ESTHER GLEN AWARD FOR JUNIOR FICTION

Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen (released in US)

YOUNG ADULT FICTION AWARD

The Paradise Generation by Sanna Thompson

ELSIE LOCKE AWARD FOR NON-FICTION

The Treaty of Waitangi by Ross Callman

RUSSELL CLARK AWARD FOR ILLUSTRATION

Hineraukatauri me Te Ara Pūoro by Rehua Wilson

WRIGHT FAMILY FOUNDATION TE KURA POUNAMU AWARD FOR A BOOK ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN TE REO MĀORI

Hineraukatauri me Te Ara Pūoro by Rehua Wilson

WRIGHT FAMILY FOUNDATION TE KURA POUNAMU AWARD FOR A BOOK TRANSLATED INTO TE REO MĀORI

A Ariā me te Atua o te Kūmara by Witi Ihimaera, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, translated by Hēni Jacob

NZSA BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD

The Raven’s Eye Runaways by Claire Mabey (released in US in October)

I Hate Everything! By Sophy Henn – Book Review

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I Hate Everything! By Sophy Henn (9781665980494)

When a ghost is having a very bad day, his smaller friend tries to figure out what is wrong. Does the ghost hate him too? No? Does the ghost hate sweets? How about playing dress up? One after the other, the little ghost finds things that the other ghost doesn’t hate, and maybe loves. In the end the ghost has completely forgotten what he hates, or has he? Told entirely in speech bubbles, the book is fast paced and great fun to read aloud with a grumpy ghost voice. 

A silly book about bad moods that is sure to put you in a good one. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Beach Lane Books.

CBC Kids Reads 2025 Longlist

| Tasha

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has announced the Kids Reads 2025 Longlist. The 15 picture books in the longlist will be shortened to five books that will compete to win. The shortlist will be announced on September 17 and the winner announced on October 4. Here are the longlisted books:

Benny and the Bananasaurus Rex by Sarabeth Holden, illustrated by Emma Pedersen

Cone Dog by Sarah Howden, illustrated by Carmen Mok 

Getting Glam at Gram’s by Sara Weed, illustrated by Erin Hawryluk

The Hockey Skates by Karl Subban, illustrated by Maggie Zeng

How to Staycation Like a Snail by Naseem Hrab, illustrated by Kelly Collier

I Am a Rock by Ashley Qilavaq-Savard, illustrated by Pelin Turgut

The Little Green Envelope by Gillian Sze, illustrated by Claudine Crangle 

Mad at Dad by Janie Hao

The Mango Monster by Derek Mascarenhas, illustrated by Meneka Repka 

Oh! Look, a Boat! by Andrew J. Ross

The Only Lonely Fairy by Lana Button, illustrated by Peggy Collins

Shark Girl by Kate Beaton

So Loud! by Sahar Golshan, illustrated by Shiva Delsooz

When You Can Swim by Jack Wong

When You Meet a Dragon by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illustrated by Udayana Lugo

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe – Book review

| Tasha

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe (9781534478206)

The creator of Pokko and the Drum returns with a new picture book. Aggie is looking forward to living on her own, but then discovers that her new house is haunted. The ghost never leaves her alone and won’t follow any of the rules she sets for the house. He steals her socks, haunts during the middle of the night, and eats all the cheese. Finally, Aggie has had enough and heads into the woods during a rainstorm trying to be alone. But the ghost joins her. The two decide to play tic-tac-toe with the winner getting to stay in the house. It’s an epic game but will it be enough to create some rules for the two of them? Probably not.

Forsythe’s humor is evident in his illustrations with their washes of color and doll-faced little person. The ghost is a marvelously malleable creature with one big eye who would certainly be disconcerting to have around the house. The story too is a delight with a marvelous ending that is laugh-out-loud funny. 

A hauntingly good book. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Simon & Schuster.

2025 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlists

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Creative Australia has announced the shortlists for the 2025 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. The awards “acknowledge the contribution of Australian literature to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life.” Winners will be announced on September 29th. Here are the shortlists for the juvenile categories:g

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE SHORTLIST

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t) by Briony Stewart

A Leaf Called Greaf by Kelly Canby

Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas (releasing in February 2026 in US)

Raymaŋgirrbuy dhäwu When I was a little girl by Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr

We Live in a Bus by Dave Petzold (releasing in April 2026 in US)

YOUNG ADULT SHORTLIST

Anomaly by Emma Lord (available as ebook in US)

The Anti-Racism Kit by Sabina Patawaran and Jinyoung Kim (available in US)

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland (available in US)

My Family and Other Suspects by Kate Emery

Thunderhead by Sophie Beer

Wake Your Friday Brain Cells – August 15 Edition

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CHILDREN’S LIT

5 New African Picture Books That Bring Home Culture and Joy – Brittle Paper

Back to school: How local schools, libraries will be affected by Supreme Court books ruling – WTOP

Is It Time to Move On From Dr. Seuss? – Lit Hub

LIBRARIES

27 Surprising Things You Can Borrow From Public Libraries – MSN

AI Comes to the Library – WGBH

What’s happening with federal funding for libraries? – Isthmus

Wisconsin libraries may have to drastically reduce services under new federal funding cuts – Post Crescent

2025 Harvey Award Nominees

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The nominees for the 2025 Harvey Awards have been announced. These awards recognize the best in comics in the previous year in a variety of categories. Here are the nominees in the juvenile categories:

BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud

Chickenpox by Remy Lai

Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia & Brittney Williams

Song for You and I by Kay O’Neil

Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr, Jess Wibowo, & Cin Wibowo

BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK

Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang

How It All Ends by Emma Hunsinger

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, Cassio Ribeiro & Nikki Foxrobot

Raised by Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn

Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Slamet Ries

My Quiet Place by Monica Mikai – Book Review

| Tasha

My Quiet Place by Monica Mikai (9781797225319)

A little girl enjoys early morning because it’s so quiet. But soon it’s getting busy and noisy even in their house. Outside more noises are added as the city wakes up. Happily, she has some quiet places around the house to retreat to and spend time alone. She even has a spot at school. The world, especially a city, can be a lot of noise and people, but even then she can find ways to find quiet. It could be a hand to hold or a song to hum. So when she finds another child at a birthday party who can’t take the noise, she knows just how to help. 

Told in the first person, this picture book shares proactive ways that children and families can help when someone is experiencing sensory overload. The little girl does not share a diagnosis, keeping the story focused on her personal experience and ways she finds her quiet place throughout the day and in various settings. The illustrations show the noise as red lines coming from various parts of the room. The little girl’s emotions are shown clearly and help share her experience.

A little quiet book just right for those who need some space. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Chronicle Books. 

My Abuela Is a Bruja by Mayra Cuevas – Book Review

| Tasha

My Abuela Is a Bruja by Mayra Cuevas, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gómez (9780593480632)

A little girl’s Abuela is magical in everything that she does and the girl wants to grow up to have the same magic and learn her secrets. Her grandmother is an island bruja, knowing all the secret paths and hidden waterfalls. Her grandmother is a garden bruja, able to get plants growing happily in sun and shade. She is a dancing bruja and a kitchen bruja, making savory and sweet. The little girl wishes for her own bruja magic and her grandmother assures her that she comes from a long line of magical women and already has magic of her own.

I particularly enjoyed the idea of a grandmother being a witch turning into the beauty and knowledge of an older woman taking care of a child. This book celebrates that there is magic in small things like dancing, exploring nature, eating good food and spending time together. The illustrations are lush and colorful, evoking Puerto Rico with a delightful playfulness.

A magical and down-to-earth read perfect for grandmothers to share. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.