[rating:4.5] One of the biggest steps a child takes is donning that backpack and heading off to school. It's not just academics each child needs to face - it's social skills and awareness, the ability to focus and delineate, accomplished physical and spatial skills, self-confidence and readiness to 'leave the nest', among many other factors. School-readiness is uniquely different as each child poised to embark on this life-changing … [Read more...]

[rating:5] It would be easy to turn green over a book celebrating a family's sojourn to Paris - plein de those glorious Parisian elements that make for such a life-changing experience. La vie en rose, indeed. It would also be easy to see such a book as something un petit peu self-indulgent or perhaps a tad alienating for the myriad families who can't afford a trip to a caravan park, let alone six years in one of the world's most desirable … [Read more...]

[rating:4] The brief was clear: short stories wanted for a charity anthology to support the Queensland flood victims. All stories must be of an uplifting or upbeat nature. It's incredible seeing the online writing community join together to achieve something wonderful, like 100 Stories for Queensland. Hundreds of talented writers submitted stories, and 100 of those were selected to be part of this anthology - and it's an honour for me to be … [Read more...]

[rating:4] When my husband saw this book, he wanted to know why I was reading about him having to do the dishes. (By pure coincidence, he was actually doing the dishes at the time.) Knowing full well what happens when Ms Sackville’s husband does the dishes, I just grinned at him. And then started thinking up excuses for later that night… Kerri Sackville is well known in the online world for her humorous and witty observations. Through her … [Read more...]

[rating:4] One of Australia’s most dedicated fashion columnists, Maggie Alderson adds to her tripage of style-themed books (Shoe Money, Handbag Heaven and Gravity Sucks, as well as six bestselling novels) with this latest instalment, appropriate entitled Style Notes. Packed with dry wit and head-nodding observations, Style Notes is like a collection of shopping, fashion and lifestyle annotations, jotted down as Alderson frequents boutiques, … [Read more...]

I first met blogger Nicole Avery at a local blogging meet-up last year. I knew who she was as soon as she walked in the room - the charisma and presence that comes across on her blog was unmistakable in real life. The second thing I liked about her was that she had thought to make and bring BLTs for everyone, whipping them out just as we all began thinking how hungry we were. (Lifesaver!) Recently, Nicole was approached by Wright Books to … [Read more...]

If you’ve ever tried to conceive, you’ve probably been told to ‘just relax’ hundreds of times. And you’ll also know how unhelpful such ‘advice’ is, and how frustrating it is to hear people be flippant over something so important to you. Former reporter and columnist, now mum and freelance writer, Genevieve Morton struggled with just that – and many other things – during her time trying to conceive. So she wrote a book about … [Read more...]

More than 13,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia every year – and this figure is increasing over time. It’s more important than ever before for women to be informed. Knowledge, in this instance, is not just power; knowledge is survival. You may think you know about breast cancer. After all, we hear about it in the media, we know it’s something to be aware of and we know how to check for lumps… don’t … [Read more...]

These books are two new additions in the sensational 'Fifty...' series published by the Conran Octopus in conjunction with London's Design Museum. The world's leading museum devoted to contemporary design in every form from furniture to graphics, and architecture to industrial design, the Design Museum's mission is to celebrate, entertain and inform and is working to place design at the centre of contemporary culture. It demonstrates both the … [Read more...]

No, parents, this is not a book on how you can possibly infiltrate your teen's blank wall. That's a whole other kettle of fish. This one is for the boys and girls. Teen boys and girls, that is. Of course, teendom is probably the penultimate time for learning (next to toddlerdom) on that course that is Life, and although they'd probably never admit it, kids love to get a leg-up in whatever way they can. Yes, even through reading. In this … [Read more...]

[rating:4] When you think of a private investigator, you may picture a sweaty, overweight, balding man scouring the streets of a grimy Capital City with an instamatic, snapping telltale evidence in the twisted bedsheets of seedy motels. Think again. While Infidelity is certainly a book that will explode a myth or two, its author - Julia Hartley Moore - also explodes a few myths. This immaculately groomed, hard-working, entrepreneurial woman … [Read more...]

[rating:4] My introduction to magazines began when Mia Freedman was the Editor of Cosmopolitan. I picked up an issue, read her introduction and was hooked for the rest of my teen years. These days, Freedman heads an enormously successful website that doubles as a community discussing topics big and small, writes a weekly column for a newspaper publication… and writes books. Her previous book, Mama Mia: a memoir of mistakes, magazines and … [Read more...]

[rating:4] For someone as passionate about travel and, in particular, travelling with children, as I, this book is a joy to hold in my hands. It not only promotes travelling with kids, it helps to make it more accessible to those who are either convinced it can't be done, or just a little nervous about it. There are so many excuses around, ranging from 'It's too hard' to 'The kids will be bored' and 'You still have to do all the day-to-day … [Read more...]

[rating:4] Being happier, healthier, more in tune with life. Isn’t that what we all need? This book was sent to me at an interesting time. I was struggling, and needed some direction to become happier again. Let’s face it; we all have times like that, and it can take some effort to find your ‘mojo’ again. Author Nicky Arthur has compiled a self-help book for anyone feeling that way. Understanding that life as a mother can be, at … [Read more...]

[rating:3] Claudia’s life is a disaster. It always has been, and it’s looking like it always will be. Unless, of course, she does something to change her ways – and the chance to do just that may have landed right at her feet. When Claudia is sent to Greece by her boss, she must undertake one small task before being free to live it up on beautiful Santorini for two weeks. This job is so simple, it’s almost too good to be true. She’s … [Read more...]

[rating:4] First up, a confession: I cried in the first chapter of this book. With its precise summary of the crazy world of parenting, travelling and relationships, the honesty and humour of this family’s story is so touching. When journalist Katrina Beikoff and her partner decided to uproot their family and head to China for a year, they had no idea what to expect. Fun? Pollution? Career opportunities? Giant rodents? And certainly, … [Read more...]

[rating:4] Take some of the most entertaining storytellers of our time, add more than fifty of their short stories, grab a cuppa and some chocolate, curl up on the couch – and you’re set for a great night in. This is the tenth anniversary edition of the Girls’ Night In compilations, with some of the most loved stories from the last four editions piled into one. It’s a fat book, full to the brim with laughter, tears and entertainment … [Read more...]

[rating:3] There has been a real buzz around this book in the blogosphere. And with lines like “sometimes you don’t need advice, sometimes you just need a cocktail at naptime”, it’s no wonder. And that’s just the first page. Priding itself on giving the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth of parenting, this book aims at being a humourous look at motherhood. Except it’s not humourous… it’s absolutely … [Read more...]

[rating:4] The holidays are coming, and the cries of ‘I’m boooooored’ might be more than you can handle for those long weeks. And once that call starts, it’s hard to get rid of. Enter Anna O’Donnell and Tessa Wilson who, at the ages of twelve and thirteen respectively, have written a book to help kids combat holiday boredom. And it’s brilliant. This pair was so bored on their holidays, struggling to fill in the time at home and … [Read more...]

[rating:4] You don’t need to be a design lover to crave a beautiful space for your children for sleep and play, and this stunning new book by Susanna Salk certainly provides the inspiration to create something whimsical, functional and memorable. Room for Children is a drool-fest of children’s rooms – covering three room types – the nursery, the bedroom and work/play rooms. Essentially a showcase of top designers, including Kelly … [Read more...]

[rating:4] "I was six years old when I was sent to the concentration camp of Terezin in the dying days of World War II. Sixteen thousand children went through Terezin, but only one hundred and twenty-three survived. I am one of those survivors." So begins this true story of a six-year-old boy taken from his privileged life in a Hungarian castle, and thrust suddenly into concentration camps. Forced to live in what seems like another world, far … [Read more...]

[rating:3] No matter how long you’ve thought about having a baby, how many books you’ve read, and despite nine months of knowing that there is an imminent arrival, nothing – I repeat, nothing – can prepare you for becoming a mother. This is exactly what Nicole Hall discovered after the birth of her first son. Like all new mothers, she battled with the emotions, the weight of responsibility and the constant challenges of having a baby. … [Read more...]

[rating:3] Binchy, the mother of character driven chick-lit, has just released her latest novel, Minding Frankie. It’s always a little nerve-racking reading a new book from a much-loved author, one whose novels you grew up with and have read and re-read hundreds of times (and I mean that quite literally; I could recite the words of The Glass Lake in my sleep!). Minding Frankie is the story of a small baby, her mother suffering from cancer, … [Read more...]

[rating:4] Vegetarians and vegans rejoice! After a sellout Melbourne edition, this pocket-sized book packs a powerful punch for vegos all over the nation - with over 150 reviews and listings of the best veg-friendly spots to grab some delicious nosh. Vegetarian food is not only healthy, the range, diversity and deliciousness on offer from establishments all over Australia is nothing short of extraordinary. For those who are strictly vegan, … [Read more...]

[rating:4] Judy Horacek is well-known for her observations of the small things in life, combining those with the big issues that concern us all. In her new collection of cartoons, If You Can’t Stand the Heat, she tackles some global issues at the forefront of our minds: climate change, feminism, poverty, social media and work/life balance included. She also throws in some purely comical – read: hilarious – and nonsensical images for … [Read more...]

[rating:4] It was the tagline to 60-Second Secrets (to a happy, healthy, more relaxed you) that first attracted me to this book. How can any woman resist that? Modern life is busy – often crazily so – and at times it’s difficult to remember to stop and take care of ourselves. Or, if we do remember, we’re certain that we either don’t have time to take a moment from our routines or we don’t think of it as a priority. Wood, a … [Read more...]