Mary Fowler: Mary’s Game

Mary Fowler: Mary’s Game (Penguin Random House) Mary Fowler, Jasmin McGaughey & Cate James JF RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781761356216

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The Mary Fowler junior fiction series is about a young girl called Maz. This four-book series focuses on friendship, school, sport and teamwork. The books are inspired by Mary Fowler’s love of sport and helping kids stay active.

Mary Fowler is the inspiration for the main character (Maz). Fowler is an Australian Matilda’s soccer star playing in both the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. She is a strong role model for teamwork, trying your best and being a good friend. Fowler has Papua New Guinean and Irish heritage that shapes both her game and outlook on life.

Jasmin McGaughey is a Torres Strait islander and African American author and editor.

Cate James is an illustrator and printmaker from Sydney. She has worked on about 40 illustrated books and publications to date, in Australia, the UK and the US.

Mary Fowler can’t wait to get to school. She has an exciting surprise to share with her friends. But something unexpected happens, and Mary and her crew must work together to solve the problem so that they can get back to playing sports and having fun.

Mary Fowler and Jasmin McGaughey have created a delightful text. The warm voice of Mary sounds just like a young Mary Fowler. It feels like Mary is speaking directly to the child reader. Mary is known as Maz for short, and her love and passion for football shine through in her character’s actions on every page.  The chapters are well-paced and perfectly suited to beginner readers. The story problem is introduced early, and Mary comes up with a surprisingly fun solution. The simple sentences that include questions are childlike and direct. The teachers have told us we are no longer allowed to do headers with the football. They sound very much like child speak.

The story arc builds easily, and the ending is satisfying. This is the first of four books, and it really creates that sense of wanting to spend more time with Maz and her friends. The characters are lovable, likable and realistic in a school setting that’s perfect for this age group.

Cate James’ illustrations are joyful and simple, in black, white, and grey tones, with lots of character, expression, and movement. Maz is portrayed clearly as a young Mary Fowler, and it shows. The sense of childlike wonder is captured, and that innocence and simpler way of looking at the world is shown delightfully.

Mary Fowler: Mary’s Game is a joyous, simple book that is an engaging read for children aged 6-9 years. I love that this series has a female lead who is based on a real female superhero. The Matildas have ignited a tsunami of young girls wanting to play soccer; this book inspires kids to want to read about Mary. Girls will respond to a strong female role model much like the Timmy/Tiny Timmy series did for boys. This book is great because it celebrates an amazing Australian female trailblazer.

Mary Fowler: Beach Party

Mary Fowler: Beach Party (Penguin Random House) Mary Fowler, Jasmin McGaughey & Cate James JF RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781761356230

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The Mary Fowler junior fiction series is about a young girl called Maz. This four-book series focuses on friendship, school, sport and teamwork. The books are inspired by Mary Fowler’s love of sport and helping kids stay active.

Mary Fowler is the inspiration for the main character (Maz). Fowler is an Australian Matilda soccer star playing in both the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. She is a strong role model for teamwork, trying your best and being a good friend. Fowler has Papua New Guinean and Irish heritage that shapes both her game and outlook on life.

Jasmin McGaughey is a Torres Strait islander and African American author and editor.

Cate James is an illustrator and printmaker from Sydney. She has worked on about 40 illustrated books and publications to date, in Australia, the UK and the US.

Mary Fowler and her friends are going to a birthday party at the beach. She can’t wait. But when a cute dog called Firework comes and causes mayhem. Maz and her friends need to be creative to save the party and have some cake.

Mary Fowler and Jasmin McGaughey have created a fun story about a birthday party. The child voice of Mary, aka Maz, shines. The character interactions are believable and relatable. The build of tension from the excitement of going to the party to the problem-solving to save Anthony’s party keeps the reader hooked. Resilience shines in different characters in different ways, and the interactions among friends serve as a role model for positive behaviour. The text engages multiple senses to make the reader feel like they are at a party, too. Mary Fowler embodies movement and being healthy. This story captures this, along with the Australian outdoor culture of loving the beach and summer. The language is kept simple and childlike yet interesting. The story captures the innocence, freedom, and problems of childhood delightfully.

Cate James’ illustrations show the magic of those special little moments in childhood, like the achievement of building a sandcastle and the moment of wonder when a birthday cake is ready for wishes. The simple characters, in black, white, and grey tones, have a childlike quality that complements the text and adds meaning and joy to the story.

Mary Fowler: Beach Party is an engaging junior fiction read for children aged 6-9 years. This is the second book in the series, and it will capture the reader's interest and make them want to read the next two books. Parents, teachers, librarians and anyone with a keen interest in football will want to share these books with children. I think the books will be popular with children, not just because of their readability, but also because they are creatively inspired by Mary Fowler’s childhood, and they feel fun and authentic.

The Sunbird: Young readers’ edition

The Sunbird: Young readers’ edition by Sara Haddad, illustrated by Baraa Awoor (University of Queensland Press) PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 9780702271076

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

In 2025, Nabila sits in the park with a young friend she met during recent marches for Palestine. She has promised curious 10-year-old Zane that she would share her ‘Nakba story’ (the 1948 mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians). Nabila, now in her eighties, begins her story ‘Once upon a time, I was a little girl in Palestine, and everything was beautiful…’

Nabila recounts her early years living in a two-room stone-and-mud house in a small village. She was an inquisitive five-year-old and desperate to go to school; however, as she wasn’t yet old enough, she spent her days doing chores, dreaming, exploring the village, climbing olive trees, and playing with her animals. Her happiest memory was meeting Khalil, a boy her own age, someone she could play with.

One day, Nabila overheard talk about Palestine being divided and a new country to be formed within it. Young Nabila didn’t understand but sensed the unease. By June 1948, bombs started dropping, forcing families to flee their homes. Soon after, soldiers patrolled her village, making sure no one returned to their houses. Scared and confused, moving on foot through difficult terrain, Nabila and her family were forced out of their country with no place to go.

The Sunbird: Young readers’ edition has been adapted from Sara Haddad’s critically acclaimed debut adult novel. This middle-grade historical fiction novel is suitable for readers aged 9 years and older. Its themes include war, dispossession and displacement, resilience, belonging and cultural identity. 

Casa~Mia

Casa~Mia by Josie Montano and Kristen Willis (IP Kidz) HB RRP $23.63 ISBN: 9781923435001

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

The bond between grandparent and grandchild can be nothing short of special.

When Carlo realises that his Nonno’s eyes have lost their twinkle because he’s desperately homesick, the little boy sets out to bring his grandfather’s casa mia to him.  

But what is Nonno’s casa mia? What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like?

So begins Carlo’s journey into his Nonno’s past and all the little things that make up his casa mia, from clothes to food and even his old piano accordion.

Author Josie Montano’s sparing narrative couples beautifully with Kirsten Willis’ delightfully warm illustrations. Children will enjoy exploring the pages, identifying all of Nonno’s prized possessions and discussing what they are, why they might be so special and how they can be used to create a feeling of ‘home’.

Reading Casa~Mia reminded me of my grandparents and the stories they told. about memories held in their belongings – whether a cherished bracelet, an old weather-beaten hat or fading photos. I would hope that this heartwarming story might evoke the same emotions in others as they read and remind them how important a sense of home and belonging is.

This picture book is perfect for children aged 4 – 7, but also for older children (and adults) as a reminder to cherish our older generation and value our origins.

Run Away With Me

Run Away With Me written (and illustrated) by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press) HB RRP $34.99 ISBN: 9781339035529

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Where do I start with this book?

Run Away With Me is young adult fiction but it was Brian Selznick’s black and white illustrations that hooked me first. Pages and pages of them – featuring the architecture and scenes of Rome – before I even got to the written narrative. Illustrations that told a story before the story began.

Sixteen-year-old Danny is spending his summer in Rome. He’s been there before. In fact, he’s been in so many places that he hardly knows where ‘home’ is, such is the life of a child whose mother is a book conservator who must move to where the work is around the world.

This summer is different though – full of magic and mystery … and love.

Danny is a little lost. Never anywhere long enough to make firm friends, he tends to wander the streets to kill time while his mother works. But then he meets Angelo, a boy full of secrets and intrigue. They spend every day together as Angelo introduces Danny to Rome’s hidden history, and they develop a special bond.

This is queer fiction for young adults at its absolute best. It’s both gentle and slow, and tense and exciting. Like a picture book, the illustrations tell half the story, and you can be excused for losing yourself in them for hours on end.

While the central theme of Run Away with Me won’t be for everyone, it does offer a sensitive window into another world for some of us, while for others it offers a mirror, allowing them to see themselves in a beautifully rendered story.

There are other elements too – the detail about Rome’s history and culture, and a step inside the world of book conservation.

I absolutely loved this book for its unique approach and beautiful multi-modal storytelling. A must-read for this age group and beyond.

The Tinysaurs

The Tinysaurs by Sally Odgers, illustrated by Adele K Thomas (Scholastic 2026) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN 9781761528576

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

The Tinysaurs are the smallest dinosaurs in the land: living in tunnels, 

foraging for food and hiding out of the way of big stomping feet and swooshing tails. 

Until one day, they discover a hidden entrance to ... the enchanted forest!

From the creators of the best-selling Pearl the Magical Unicorn comes The Tinysaurs, a fantasy adventure for young children ready to graduate from picture books and to immerse themselves in longer texts.

The tinysaurs live in a dark cave because, being so small, they are in constant danger of being accidentally trodden or sat on by the huge dinosaurs. So, early each morning - before the big dinosaurs wake up - the tinysaurs go out along the tunnel with their baskets, to gather their favourite foods.

But on this particular day, they find that the door to the outside has been blocked by a big pile of rocks. They call upon Professaur, the inventor, for help. She reports that it's a cave-in - caused by a landslide - and could take a long time to clear. The tinysaurs are worried they won't be able to get outside to find food. So a plan is made. Professaur will make a rock-moving invention (the Rock-o-Matic), and the others will go back through the tunnels in hopes of finding a new entrance to the outside world.

They search for days - and after going round in circles, arriving at dead ends - and having the glow-worms in their lanterns inconveniently go on strike ...

'We've worked enough,' the glow-worms snapped ... Floomph! The glow-worms put out their lights.

 ... ‎they miraculously stumble upon another door to the outside and find the Enchanted Valley.

It's wonderful,' Ponysaur said again. 'Outside has never been as beautiful as this.'

Sally Odgers's narrative sparkles with imaginative cleverness. I love her idea of having the glow-worms go on strike - adding another level of difficulty to the moment - and another layer of comical cuteness to the story. Kids are bound to fall in love with the four main characters - Ponysaur, Spinysaur, Cheekysaur and Handysaur. (And although a lesser character, I must mention Jigsaur here because this name made me smile.)

They are a good-natured, friendly bunch, and even though there is one who loves causing mischief and playing tricks - a could-be nuisance at times (Cheekysaur) - they just roll with his antics, as they each do for one another, respectfully and in complete acceptance. Such a lovely group dynamic for children to witness and absorb as they read.

The Tinysaurs front cover is as enticing as a sweet-shop window! Its bright, cheerful colours, shiny, raised letters and mini dinosaurs give it instant appeal and will have kids reaching out to grab it. Equally, as they turn the pages, kids will appreciate the large-sized font, the rainbow-highlighted words sprinkled throughout the text, and all the 'resting places'  that Adele K Thomas's adorable illustrations provide.

I have a particular fondness for illustrations depicting the dark - and love the double-page spread where the tinysaurs are in the cave (the glow-worms are on strike), and you just see the whites of their eyes and their silhouettes - such a lovely contrast to all the other more vibrant illustrations. I also love how each new chapter is prefaced by a single-coloured page covered in tinysaur footprints.

Featuring an easy-to-follow story, clear, well-paced text, and an abundance of cute and colourful illustrations - The Tinysaurs delivers all the page-turning elements needed for a newly independent readership; lovable characters, challenges to be faced and overcome, gentle humour, moments of magic and mystery ... and ... an invisible cat! 

Recommended for readers around 5-8 years.

 

What’s Your Dream?

What’s Your Dream? by Simon Squibb (Puffin Books) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9780241798140

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This is a workbook where young readers are challenged to ‘Discover your potential. Unlock you confidence’ and is written by the number one Sunday Times bestselling author. In this book, Squibb starts by posing the question, ‘What is your dream?’ If the reader has or doesn’t have a dream, the book asks them to write things in the book like what they look like, things they like to do, eat or read. It continues in a step-by-step fashion, giving reasons, for example, the reason why one ought to have a dream (‘it encourages us to take action – thinking about what we can do in our lives and how we can help other people.’)

Interspersed between the break-out sections, Squibb writes of other young people who have had dreams and how their dreams do things like focus on goals ‘that means we know exactly what we want to achieve’ and ‘gives us purpose – a powerful reason for pursuing our dream that keeps us on track to achieve it.’ It is clever how each section builds on the section before and after it.

Kids, aged 8 to 11 years are encouraged to write their answers into the book and to keep on reading. Chapter headings include ‘I’m Ready! How Do I get Started?’ ‘I’ve Started, Now What?’ and ‘I’m Stuck! What should I do?’ right through to ‘I’m Doing it. Am I there yet?’ and ‘I’ve finished! What did I learn?’

The book – printed on poor quality paper – finishes with Chapter 9, ‘The Dream Diary.’ In this section, the child reader is encouraged to open the book every six months and to note down how they’re getting on with their dream. This is followed by double page spreads in which the reader is invited to write down ‘one thing I’ve done,’ ‘One thing I’ve learned,’ ‘One thing I want to do next,’ and ‘One goal I’m setting myself.’

This is a useful, interactive and well-presented and well-designed book. Recommended.