The Moon Crystal

The Moon Crystal (G L MacDonald II) Ava MacDonald. MG Science Fiction Hardcopy RRP $18.01 available on Kindle ASIN: B0HD1TLK95

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Author Ava MacDonald is an autistic 11-year-old from Missouri, USA. One day she found a clear stone, held it up towards the full moon, and it sparkled and glowed. And that’s when the idea to write about a moon crystal possessing hidden, cosmic powers struck.

The book’s dedication reads, ‘For every child who has ever looked at something ordinary and imagined an entire universe inside it.’ Which is exactly what Ava did.

The Moon Crystal is an imaginative science-fiction adventure about courage, friendship, and discovery. An ordinary girl called Ava goes on an extraordinary journey, and the fate of Earth, and possibly an entire galaxy, lies in her hands.

Ava MacDonald has created a sci-fi world that is both complex and believable, which is remarkable considering her age. Ava is the unmistakable heart, voice, and heroine of this story. I think she’s written about what she herself imagines doing in this epic battle to save the Moon Crystal from falling into the wrong hands.  It suits the target age group perfectly, and the perspective feels authentic and real. The plot centres on Ava, the main protagonist, and her unique encounters. Her friend Brooklyn and a team of brave allies help her as she learns to control the Moon Crystal’s incredible power. The chapter headings give readers a clear lead-in to what lies ahead. The narrative pacing at times could be tightened, but the world-building shines. The author delivers a highly imaginative setting filled with alien armies, traps, space robots, and secrets.

 

Overall, the story is a great read. I would have liked to see Ava’s friend Brooklyn develop a stronger independent voice. However, I love that she remains loyal, true, and dependable throughout the story. The battles are not gory or overly frightening, making them perfectly age-appropriate. The characters stay true to their traits, yet plenty of surprises let the reader travel to another world and escape into their imagination. While the prose is well-crafted, some sentences could be shortened to improve the flow. The book could have been a little shorter, but overall, I think this is an exceptional achievement for an eleven-year-old author who has built such a believable, immersive world.

The Moon Crystal is written for children ages 9-12. This book is a wonderful representation of what someone autistic can do when they turn a deep, focused passion into a real-world achievement. Any middle-grade reader who loves sci-fi will really appreciate this book. Ava made her dream a reality, and now she shines a light for others too.

Here it is on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HD1TLK95?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_1AHHMZRKQVD218350DWQ_1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_1AHHMZRKQVD218350DWQ_1&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_1AHHMZRKQVD218350DWQ_1&bestFormat=true

How to Wait for Christmas

How to Wait for Christmas by R.A. Stephens, illustrated by Novia Heroanto (Grace Bell Publishing Kids) HB RRP $24.95 ISBN: 9781923534063

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

On the first day of December, Jemma and Luke are excited when Mum pulls out the box with the Christmas tree. Jemma knows that she must be patient – it’s still twenty-four sleeps until Christmas Day. She decides to pass the time with plenty of festive activities, from setting up a Nativity scene to making cards and wrapping paper. Soon her grandparents are there, plus her cousins – and ‘somehow it doesn’t feel like waiting anymore’. On 25 December, the family members say ‘Merry Christmas’ with each present they hand out.

R.A. Stephens has turned waiting for Christmas into a real-life Advent calendar, where each day’s gift is an experience that stirs the senses, celebrates togetherness, and jingles with joy. Kids aged four to eight will see their own family traditions on the pages, and perhaps discover a few new ones, too – especially selfless acts of service that are sure to make them feel ‘shiny inside’.

 Colour bursts from Novia Heroanto’s illustrations like the contents of a bonbon. Each image is jam-packed with delicious details – you can almost taste the cinnamon cookies, mince pies and gingerbread houses. Each character’s wide smile reflects the text's genuine warmth and reminds us that the Christmas spirit comes from within.

Through the jolly lens of How to Wait for Christmas, the big day becomes a month-long celebration of all things holly and holy. Readers young and old will relish the wealth of treasures to be found throughout the holiday season.

Mama’s Wedding

Mama’s Wedding by Circle Yuen (Lantana Publishing) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9781836290476

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

On the day that her mother is to remarry, Ruby is excited when she and her little sister Cindy are asked to be flower girls. But she soon becomes worried about her Daddy Daniel – ‘what does he feel about Mama getting married to Alex today?’ And she wonders if she really knows Alex at all. As they walk down the aisle, Mama’s happy face tells Ruby that although love is blooming in different ways, she will always have her family: Mama, Cindy, Daddy Daniel and Alex.

Circle Yuen’s tender story about the beauty of blended families is told gently, with compassion for the complex emotions that arise when a child’s life changes. Littlies aged two to five – especially those whose world has been upended by evolving domestic dynamics – will connect with the character of Ruby and her need to ensure that she remains comforted by a blanket of love.

Circle’s use of gouache, coloured pencils, and pastels in muted colours reflects the soft tone of the text, as well as the impermanence of many families in modern times. However, a thread of stability runs through the illustrations in the form of yellow flowers, which represent hope and happiness enduring into the future.

A sweet celebration of new beginnings, Mama’s Wedding is ideal for introducing youngsters to the positivity that can blossom amid seismic shifts. When love continues to twine through hearts, linking them forever, it is a bond that can never be broken.

Howl-o-ween

Howl-o-ween by Emma Bowd, illustrated by Lara Porter (Penguin Random House Australia) HB RRP $17.99 ISBN: 9781761359248

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Spooky Street is the scariest place to spend Halloween. Every house has a furry beast ready to jump out at trick-or-treaters, from Ghostly Goldie at Number 6 to Kooky Cavoodle at Number 9. The two protagonists bravely face all of the dressed-up dogs in order to gather chocolates and lollies, but there is one house they dare not approach – Number 3, with the ‘scritching, scratching, swiping claws’ of the resident cat.

Emma Bowd’s catchy rhyming couplets carry kids aged four to eight around an enchanting cul-de-sac as the neighbourhood children celebrate the thrill of Halloween. Dog lovers will adore the clever costumes worn by the various pooches that perfectly match the theme of each house, and will laugh when they realise that the cat is so hair-raising on its own that it doesn’t need a costume! As darkness falls, the two protagonists realise that while visiting their friends is fun, there is ‘no place like home’.

 Lara Porter’s colourful illustrations capture the spirit of Halloween in a charming way. The diversity among the human characters ensures readers can see themselves in the book, while the canine cast is sure to elicit giggles from kids, who may even be inspired to deck out their own dog for Halloween. Especially entertaining are the endpapers – the front one is a map of the street during the day, while the back one is the same map at night, when all of the ghosts and ghouls have come out to play.

More and more Australians are embracing the delicious eeriness of Halloween, and Howl-o-ween is the ideal companion for littlies who may be a little hesitant about participating in this fright fest. Youngsters will soon be howling with delight at every spooky spider, shark and skeleton in sight!

Your Feelings Matter

Your Feelings Matter by Jess Sanders, illustrated by Alice Buckingham (Affirm Press 2026) HB RRP $24.99 IBSN: 9781923419391

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

From the award-winning and bestselling author of the Life Lessons for Little Ones series comes the ultimate emotional wellbeing guide for children (and their grown-ups).

Calling this book the ultimate emotional wellbeing guide for children is a big claim. It says this is the best and only book you will need in this category. After reading it — and finding it so in-depth — I tend to agree.

Written in an easy-to-comprehend, child-friendly format, Your Feelings Matter helps children understand what they are feeling, why they are feeling it, and what that feeling is trying to tell them. It then offers practical tools and strategies to help them respond to their emotions in safe, healthy ways — essential for ​emotional literacy and mental health.

Jess Sanders' warm, reassuring voice shines through from start to finish; it's like she's talking directly to you—not at you—which goes a long way toward making potentially sensitive or difficult topics easy for kids (and their grown-ups) to navigate, absorb, and understand. The narrative goes on to talk about caring for other people's feelings — extending care for self to care for others. Once children can feel and name their own emotions, they can recognise what someone else is feeling. This builds empathy.

One of my favourites is the hot chocolate breathing — such a genius method to help overwhelmed children focus on their breathing and regain calm. And I love that the book describes how different emotions might feel in different parts of the body (bubbles, butterflies, a beating drum, a heavy backpack), offering children a mind/body approach to help them connect with and more accurately identify their feelings.

Alice Buckingham's bright and inclusive illustrations support the text beautifully. Through a handful of characters in familiar settings (home, school, and playground), her artwork brings feelings to life. They give children a visual map of how they might look when they feel certain emotions—helping them recognise themselves in similar situations and emotional states.

For generations, children have often been encouraged (communicated verbally or non-verbally) to minimise and hide their feelings, to just 'get on with it'.  But this brilliant book completely flips that notion on its head. It says a big YES to emotions and empowers children to feel, express and process them — safely — and without shame.  By acknowledging and embracing their emotions, children learn how to move through them — this in itself is super empowering and confidence-building. It says, ‘I am capable. I am resilient.'

Upbeat and never didactic, Your Feelings Matter is a compassionately written, wonderfully illustrated picture book that quite honestly could be read and appreciated by anyone — at any age. It includes discussion prompts and practical tips for parents and educators, making it an ideal resource for social-emotional learning and an invaluable addition for both home and classroom use.

Highly recommended for children aged 3-8+  

 

What Makes a Family?

What Makes a Family? Eric Ruiz Roxas. Illustrated by Aldy C. Aguirre. Hardcover Picture Book. Published by Lantana Publishing UK (Distributed in Australia by Simon & Schuster) 2026. RRP $24.99. ISBN 9781836290339.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

It is Undas, the Filipino Day of the Dead – a day when families visit the cemetery and gather around their dead loved ones’ tombs. It is not a day of mourning but of celebration – a day in which stories are shared and lives remembered.

Today, brother and sister Pedrito and Pipay will encounter families of all shapes and sizes, all united in their desire to honour their loved ones. Whether through quiet prayer and contemplation or joyful song and laughter, whether through sharing great feasts or lighting a single candle, each family will find a way to pay tribute. As the siblings trace their route through the cemetery, they will learn that families aren’t defined by their size, wealth, gender or distance from one another, but by the love they share – a love that echoes like prayers, burns like candles, and blooms like flowers in life and beyond. 

The families treasure the memories of their loved ones in a special way. This book explains the way a different culture honours their departed loved ones. The only term that may need explaining to young listeners is “tombs”, which we generally do not use here in Australia.

A gently illustrated story of family love within a diverse and inclusive community where life and hope continue, despite the sadness of loss.

The recommended age level is 5-8 years.

Neverlanders 2: Get Lost

Neverlanders 2: Get Lost. Tom Taylor. Illustrated by Jon Sommariva. Paperback Middle-Grade Graphic Novel. Penguin Random House, 2026. RRP $22.99. ISBN 9781761049118.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Against all odds, Bee and the new Lost Ones have managed to save Neverland. They’ve defeated a gang of pirates, banished the villain Peter Pan, and defended the world’s magic. It seems that all that’s left is to relax in paradise…but maybe not! 

When a mystery rot is discovered at the edge of the island, fun and games come to a crashing halt. The Lost Ones have to face the possibility that the magic tree, which is the source of Neverland’s power, may be dying. When Justin, whose life was saved by the tree, becomes ill, they set sail in Hook’s ship on a daring new quest to find a cure. But before that, they need to seek the assistance of an old friend from Neverland: Wendy Darling. Her own history with the island is as famous as it is complicated. Now with the life of one of their own members and the fate of their newfound home on the line, the gang of perpetual youths might need more than faith, trust and pixie dust to survive.

This book was created by a duo who have brought to life some of the most iconic characters from the past: the Avengers, Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, the Suicide Squad, and more. Heavily illustrated in comic-book style, there’s a lot to take in on each page.

The publisher recommends a readership level of 10+ years.