I think NSS is such a wonderful event - here's some information from the Australian Library and Information Association NSS website, because they can explain it much better than I can!

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 20th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

By facilitating NSS we aim to:

• promote the value of reading and literacy,
• promote the value and fun of books,
• promote an Australian writer and publisher,
• promote storytime activities in public libraries and communities around the country,
• and provide opportunities to involve parents, grandparents, the media and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.

Like many events over the past few months, NSS had to be done a bit differently this year thanks to COVID-19. I think my daughter had just returned to school that week or maybe the week before, and in her school all the students watched a video of their wonderful school librarian reading to them. There was also a special episode of Play School's story time on the ABC, and many local libraries streamed events.

The website also explains how the books are chosen, which I thought was interesting - publishers send in possible titles which the ALIA then choose from, considering factors like: a positive storyline; appeal to a modern and diverse audience; suitability for read-aloud (language and length); how well the book lends itself to craft and other activities.

I thought Whitney and Britney: Chicken Divas was a fun choice - the text is an absolute delight to read aloud, the illustrations are beautiful and bright, and the story is silly in the best way.
Big thanks to publishers Scholastic Australia for sending us our own copy of Whitney and Britney to enjoy at home!

xo Bron

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Format: Hardback
RRP: $17.99 

Find Lucinda Gifford online at her website here

When  was on the Hachette website grabbing that summary just now I noticed the endorsement from Melina Marcheta which - no surprise - says exactly the right thing with the most perfect words. It says: "A gorgeous book ... it's timeless and beautiful and it deserves to be read by people of all ages."
As well as the fact that this is completely true, I wanted to share it here because Danielle's writing in this novel reminded me of Melina's - it has a similar feeling of nostalgia and place and family that makes me feel like my heart is being hugged.

One of the things I think is really brilliant about this book - and the thing that I think makes it compelling and relatable across such a broad age range - is the way that we see everything as it unfolds from the perspective of eleven/twelve year old Fred, but the overarching story is being told by an older Fred looking back. I feel like this helps keep the story middle-grade 'appropriate' but also gives this wonderful sense of reminiscence for adult readers, as well as giving them a relatable voice too. It also lets some of the more poetic writing feel more natural than it would from the mouth of an eleven year old. I adored those thoughtful bits from older Fred - Danielle's writing is just so beautiful, and I loved the links she made with geography and maps and people. Confession: this was the first time I have ever dog-eared pages because there was a sentence I loved so much I wanted to be able come back and read it again later.  I mean, this is just gorgeous:
"I was eleven when everything started and twelve by the end. But that’s another way that maps don’t tell the whole truth – because it felt like the distance I travelled was a lot further than that."

The book touches on a lot of heavy issues that I think are deal with in an honest and open but age-appropriate way, including blending of families, loss of a parent, grief (for both kids and adults), pregnancy complications, and refugees (both in terms of why people might be refugees and also the way they are treated). I actually spent all of 1999 living abroad so was pretty unaware of the story of Kosovar-Alabanian refugees coming to Australia, and was interested to fill some of that in while I read the book. I felt like this part of the story was told really sensitively, and I appreciated that Danielle included this as part of the book by telling us the story of what it was like to be a local child seeing this unfold, rather than taking on the voice of the refugees.


I'm not sure what else to say except read this book! It is an exquisite combination of heart-wrenching and heart-warming, and I found it so uplifting - despite the heaviness of some of the subject matter I'm recommending it to everyone who asks me for something hopeful to read right now. I absolutely can't wait to see what Danielle writes next (I would put heart eye emojis here if I knew how to do that on my computer!). Also, if you are a lover of Australian books and authors and bookstores and you aren't following Danielle on Instagram yet - you are missing out! It is hard to think of someone who has been a bigger champion for the industry, and I absolutely love following along with all the wonderful things she shares!

xo Bron
ps this cover is so rad



Source: I received a free advance copy from Hachette (Thank you!)
Category: Children's/teenage general fiction (I'm not sure is 1999 is historical or contemporary!)
Themes:  family, war, refugee, home, community
Format: Paperback
RRP: $17.99 

On Goodreads
Find Danielle online at her website here and do check out her Instagram too!

Rather than a tbr stack I thought I'd start with a shot of some of the Australian middlegrade books I have on my shelves at the moment. These are a mixture of books I've read - some of which I've read and reviewed recently - and others that I'd love to read some (including some that were on my tbr last year!). Some of them have been sent to me by publishers and some I have bought. I'm not going to go into details about these today, I really just wanted to share a little preview of some of the books I've loved or am looking forward to, but am always happy to answer questions/talk more about them if anyone has questions in the comments =) I promise I will talk more about all of these in the next few weeks (you can also see all of my middlegrade posts together here).

Now, obviously my tbr is completely out of control and unmanageable, but I am still ALWAYS delighted to get new recommendations of books to add to it, so please let me know what else I should have on here!

xo Bron

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Deep Water by Sarah Epstein
Out now from Allen and Unwin
Source: I received a free advance copy from Allen and Unwin (Thank you!). All views are my own.
Category: Young adult thriller/suspense (contempory)
Age: 14+
Themes:  Family, grief, belonging, missing people, alcoholism, domestic violence, small towns
Format: Paperback
Pages: 400
RRP: $19.99

Deep Water on Goodreads.
Find Sarah Epstein online here.

xo Bron
 ***

RRP: $14.99 

E-Boy on Goodread.
Find Anh Do online here.

The world of The Vanishing Deep was really different from Four Dead Queens, but it shared a similar vibe - fantastical with amazing tech. It feels dystopian-ish, like it could be our earth after an environmental disaster. Like Four Dead Queens this one is widely being described a fantasy, but I felt it was more sci-fi - my inner (very outer) science nerd loved all the cool advances in technology, and their explanations throughout (the process behind reviving people was really cool!). The world building was really impeccable - I never felt like info was being dumped on me, but I could clearly picture what was happening, and felt really drawn into Tempe's world.

One of my favourite things about The Vanishing Deep was the relationship between the sisters - Tempe and Elysea. It is so gorgeously written, and Scholte completely nails that special balance you only get with siblings of being able to be completely furious with them but still fiercely protective of them. I loved how different the girls were from each other and how perfect they were together. 
There were some other great relationships in the book too, and some great banter (but I don't want to say more because of spoilers!).

Another thing that was really cool about The Vanishing Deep was the way it crosses genres - the mystery/thriller element of this was fantastic. The tension of counting down Elysea's 24 hours of being revived was perfect, and there were some bits that really surprised me.

The Vanishing Deep really confirmed Scholte's place on my list of favourite authors - her books have both felt is so fresh and unique, and I absolutely can't wait to read her next one!

xo Bron

The Vanishing Deep by Astrid Scholte
Out now from Allen and Unwin
Source: I received a free advance copy from Allen and Unwin (Thank you!)
Category: Young adult mystery sci-fi(ish)
Themes:  Family, grief, belonging, life
Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
RRP: $19.99

The Vanishing Deep on Goodreads
Find Astrid Scholte online here