The Kids Book Hunter

A Forsaken Prophecy by Stacey McEwan 📜

The war between the Artisans and the Craftsmen has intensified, loyalties are being tested and the Miner’s Union’s plans for a revolution are in tatters.

The story picks up after Nina and Patrick were captured by the House at the end of book 1. The House plans to use their magic to locate Terranium that will give magic to the next generation of artisans, further bridging the gap between the 2 groups.

It quickly becomes a journey story, Nina trying to find the truth behind the legends of Idia’s past, Patrick desperately trying to reunite with his family and both searching for the Terranium that the people of the Fringe desperately need. All this while trying to keep ahead of the Capital who are on a similar path.

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I think one of my favourite tropes is when there is absolute loathing between characters, but the second there’s a threat to one, they’ll do anything to protect them, even after they’ve ripped each other’s hearts out. A Forsaken Prophecy delivers this dynamic expertly!

I loved this book as much as book one! It’s the type of story that has you rushing through it and just waiting for something terrible to happen the entire time, because the deceit, scheming and shifting loyalties are CONSTANT.

Gangsters, magic and the looooongest slow burn, A Forsaken Prophecy was a 5 star read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stacey McEwan Atria Books Aus

Worst Pets Ever - Get Snapped by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove 📸

Get your shades on and strike a pose, because the Worst Pets are back! And this time, it’s their chance to shine in a pet calendar photoshoot!
If that wasn’t exciting enough, the winning pet will also become the face of their obedience school.

But first, the pets need to learn a little model etiquette. Although, when it comes to Captain Fluffykins, does he even need any training? Of course not, he has “superstar” written all over him!

However it’s not long before Captain Fluffykins takes his quest for stardom a little too far, and things quickly start spiralling out of control!

It’s always a happy day when we get to read a brand new book in one of our favourite series! These books are hilariously chaotic, with the worst pets always making for the very best stories!

If you love funny, mischievous pets, awesome illustrations, entertaining stories and text that isn’t too overwhelming on the page, then this is the series for you! 🤩 EVA AMORES Author Matt Cosgrove Author/Illustrator Scholastic Australia

History Hunter - The Crystal Skulls by Mark Greenwood 💀

Another fantastic book in the History Hunter series is here and this one is about the mystery of the crystal skulls.

In the introduction readers are reminded that not all that we see, hear or read is real and that often truths can be stretched or just flat out deceit.

This isn’t just a modern problem. It’s something that surrounds some of the world’s most famous monuments and relics like the Great Pyramids, Stonehenge and the crystal skulls.

These skulls appear in museums around the world, but where did they come from? Who made them? What is their purpose? Do they really have magical properties?

The Crystal Skulls is a unique type of mystery. It’s not just the not knowing the history behind an artefact, it’s not knowing the legitimacy as well. Are they a hoax? A mysterious relic from the past? Or could they really be from out of this world?

Photographs and newspaper clippings, show the skulls throughout history and add an extra layer to a mystery that is still unsolved today and one that might just be waiting to be debunked!

Another fascinating read for middle to upper primary readers who love a good mystery especially one that’s has been stumping experts for years!

Thank you to the team Fremantle Press for our copy.

History Hunter - The Unlucky Pirate by Mark Greenwood 🪎

History, mystery and pirates! Say no more!

The Unlucky Pirate begins by de-romanticising pirates and giving us a better understanding of what real life pirates were actually like, away from the fictional portrayals that we’re so used to. One such pirate was the notorious Captain Kidd!

However William Kidd wasn’t always a pirate. He began as a pirate hunter, acting on the orders of the King of England, to seize stolen treasure. That was until he eventually succumbed to the swashbuckling urge of piracy himself!

Even more intriguing is the alleged fortune Kidd supposedly hid, a treasure that was never fully found. Were the maps he left behind genuine clues, or clever decoys designed to throw off would be treasure hunters?

With artworks, maps, photographs and newspaper clippings, the book helps to bring the clues and the mystery to life. I loved the fact that Mark Greenwood explored the clues himself, following the footsteps that Kidd once took to compile his findings for a new generation of readers to explore.

The mystery of the Unlucky Pirate still remains unsolved today … but with further reading suggestions, timelines and a penchant for pirate stories, perhaps it will be a clever reader who finally discovers the truth once and for all!

This is a fascinating read for middle to upper primary readers who love a little mystery mixed with their history.

We’re new to the History Hunter world (there are 5 more in the series so far) and have quickly realised just how much we’ve been missing out on! So a very big thank you to Fremantle Press for our copy!

To Flame a Wild Flower by Sarah A. Parker 🌹

What starts out as a dark fantasy Rapunzel retelling has evolved into something very different by Book 3.

The Crystal Bloom series follows Orlaith, who, when she was two years old, was rescued from the aftermath of a massacre that killed her people. Taken back to the castle of her mysterious rescuer, Rhordyn, she spends her life hidden behind its walls, giving her blood each night while staying far away from the monsters that lurk beyond the kingdom’s borders.

But when those monsters invade, Orlaith is forced to leave the only home she’s ever known and venture into a world at war to help stop the darkness spreading across the continent.

Book 3 picks up after the jaw dropping cliffhanger at the end of Book 2, and it doesn’t slow down. The political intrigue deepens, the stakes continue to rise, and the mysteries only become more compelling.

The world building is rich, the cast is full of morally grey characters, and the secrets keep unfolding in ways that constantly had me questioning everything, especially since some things are left vague or completely omitted. I will admit there were moments where I wasn’t completely sure what was happening, and I really had to concentrate to keep up with everything, but that may just be a me issue rather than the story itself. 😂

We do get a few answers in Book 3, but there are still plenty of pieces left to fall into place.

This is a dark fantasy romance with some confronting themes, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading the series.

A big thank you to Harper Voyager Australia for my copy!

Peace and Me by Ali Winter and Mickaël El Fathi 🌿

Alfred Nobel was a chemical engineer who invented a way to stabilise the explosive nitroglycerin, creating a solid known as dynamite. While his invention made him very wealthy, he was also troubled by the knowledge that it would be used as a weapon of war.

In an effort to leave a more positive legacy, Nobel left instructions and funding upon his death to establish the Nobel Prizes, which would be awarded annually to individuals and organisations whose work had achieved the “greatest benefit to mankind.” The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901 and they continue to recognise outstanding achievements in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace.

This book is absolutely fascinating. Each page introduces readers to Nobel Peace Prize laureates throughout history, celebrating their contributions and the lasting impact of their work. Some of the recipients featured include Jean Henry Dunant, Jane Addams, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malala Yousafzai.

The illustrations are stunning, with their bold colours, intricate patterns, and rich textiles that beautifully complement each biography and bring every story to life.

I wasn’t familiar with the history of the Nobel Prizes or many of the recipients, so I found this book especially enlightening. It’s an inspiring read that highlights the achievements of people who have helped shape our world for the better.

Thank you to Lantana Publishing for our copy. 💛

A Day Off School by Oliver Jeffers and Kevin Waldron 📺

Herbie has a case of the sniffles. The upside? He gets the day off school all to himself! Just imagine all the fun he’ll have! Space Blasters, car racing, drawing... the possibilities are endless!

Until a sudden thought creeps in. What if he’s missing out on something amazing at school? What if a dog comes in? Or Pirates invaded!! Pretty soon the FOMO hits!

While staying home from school sounds like the perfect day in theory, perhaps it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

There’s something magical about a weekday off school when you get the house to yourself. All that free time, all the fun to be had, and no boring schoolwork! A Day Off School perfectly captures how a child’s imagination can run just as fast as a sniffly nose and that sometimes the things we think we’re missing aren’t all that exciting after all.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books for our copy!
Oliver Jeffers kevin waldron

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Wonderfully Weird Creatures of the World by Myke Mollard 🦇🦫

“There are so many gorgeous animals that make up the vast menagerie of our worlds biodiversity, and what may at first seem shocking, strange, unfathomable or totally weird is actually beautiful, different and awe inspiring.”

Wonderfully Weird Creatures thoughtfully explores animal behaviour, adaptations, and unique traits to educate and entertain animal fans. Nature is wonderfully weird, from the tallest peaks to the deepest ocean trenches, and this book celebrates all of its strange and incredible inhabitants.

Organised by animal groups, the book takes a closer look at primates, rodents, birds, fish, insects, amphibians, and many more fascinating creatures.

We learn some fascinating facts throughout, such as:
🌎 Axolotls can regrow their own limbs.
🌎 Nudibranchs (an animal I had never even heard of!) can steal the stinging cells from the jellyfish they eat.
🌎 The greater capybara is the largest living rodent.

The oversized format gives the book that extra oomph, and every page is packed with colourful illustrations and fascinating facts, perfect for curious young readers.

Thank you to the team at for our copy.

Unfairies - Death By Toad by How Aaron 🪰

“I’ve kinda got used to situations of certain doom. Let’s see what happens.”

The wild ride and crude creatures of the Unfairies are back in book 2 and this time, there’s the unstoppable spread of a toad cult taking over the entire garden!

Pip is now the leader of Oakhold, but it’s far from smooth sailing, especially since she’s not particularly great at it.

Case in point, she sends her best friend Twig off alone to join the army, where he quickly gets kidnapped! With no other option Pip is forced to turn to an unlikely ally to rescue him in order to avoid paying the ransom on his head. And the ransom? It’s something far worse than money… it’s accepting the toad cult and all of its teachings.

This series is shaping up to be another favourite graphic novel set in our house. They’re the kind of books that have been getting passed around mid read to share the funny bits, the illustrations are impressively busy, they’re a little bit rude, plus they’re genuinely funny, even to me as an adult 😂.

Once again, one of my favourite parts is ‘s insight into the design process at the back of the book, along with the step-by-step tutorial on how to draw Pip. These extra details really add to the book and give a deeper appreciation into the work that goes into making them.

Thank you to for our copy.