Today on Middle Grade Mavens, Pamela reviews, "The Song of Lewis Carmichael," by Sophie Laguna and Illustrated by Marc McBride, plus Sophie and Marc stop by for a chat.  Sites Pamela mentions:  www.Littlescribe.com StoryKids | Victoria Together Books Julie mentions: "Anemone is not the Enemy," Honour Book for the 2021 CBCA Awards Book of the Year for Early Childhood by Anna McGregor and "Your Birthday Was the Best!" by Maggie Hutchings and Felicita Sala 

Books Pamela reviews: Hamnet, Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020 by Maggie O'Farrell 

The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna and Marc McBride https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/jWOjB5

Anemone Is Not The Enemy https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/jWOZGn

Your Birthday Was The Best by Maggie Hutchings and Felicita Sala https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/LPZYkV

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/qn2Gdb

Available: 31st August 2021 ISBN: 9781760878573 Number Of Pages: 192 For Ages: 8+ years old Matthew stood on the snowy peak and stared out at the world spread before him. Every picture in his books had been limited by the size of the page, contained within frames. Here, there was no frame. Here, the picture didn't end. Beyond those icy plains, the sea, and beyond the sea, a land that floated on the ice, drifting northwards. Matthew put the binoculars to his eyes and saw valleys and cliffs and rivers all made of snow. Everywhere was white. Matthew has dreamed and read and thought about the North Pole for as long as he can remember. And he has done it secretly. It is a place that cannot be tarnished by the world in which he lives - a world in which he struggles to find answers and make friends, while everything seems to come easily to other children. But one day, a crow called Lewis Carmichael lands at Matthew's window - a crow who believes in Matthew in the most simple and ordinary ways. Soon, the unexpected voyage of a lifetime begins, and it will change everything… To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com  Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com  And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net  Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected] To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Instagram Middle Grade Mavens (@middle_grade_mavens_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

We're back!!! Today on Middle Grade Mavens, Pamela reviews, "The Boy Who Stepped Through Time," by Anna Ciddor, as well as, Renee Treml's "The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea."

Julie has some hot tips about Kidlitvic post conference malaise.

As well as announcing a new Instagram account called RedWritingElf_On_LibraryShelf which will showcase the picture books she finds on her library shelf.  

Julie Grasso (@redwritingelf_on_libraryshelf) • Instagram photos and videos

Plus, hop on over to the Hobsons Bay Libraries Youtube to see what Julie's Children's and Youth team have been up to in lockdown. https://youtu.be/hd0jXNIe9UA

Buy the books we chatted about ( Nb. Affiliate links)

Dragon Girls 1 by Maddy Mara https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QO6xgY

Dragon Girls 2 by Maddy Mara https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/BX2YQ4

The Boy Who Stepped Through Time by Anna Ciddor https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DVkMrq

It's Owl Good: The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea by Renee Treml https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/jWOjga

Squeals on Wheels: The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea by Renee Treml https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/15WKxD

Tish by Edwina Wyatt https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/AoEYDD

Plus Julie interviews Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger, Aka Maddy Mara about their new collaborative series, Dragon Girls.

To learn more about Kidlitvic head on over to KidLitVic

To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com 

Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com 

And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net 

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Instagram Middle Grade Mavens (@middle_grade_mavens_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Today on Middle Grade Mavens, Julie chats to Samone Amba, author of The Good Times of Pelican Rise, released on July 27 2021 by Affirm Press, and Illustrated by Lucy Zhang. 

The idea for this series came to Samone while she was shelving books in the middle-grade section of Beaumaris Library. Her creative license wants to add that a book fell on her head, like Henny Penny’s acorn or Isaac Newton’s apple, but that is simply untrue.

Samone is now a pre-service early learning and primary school teacher and will one day be teaching middle grade as well as writing it!

About the book: The Good Times of Pelican Rise: Save the Joey's

UGH! After-school care, again?

It's official: they've finally reached grade six, and Sunday Moon and her besties Ockie, Kirra and Lottie are Legends of the School! But no matter how legendary they are, as soon as the end of day bell rings they are MAROONED in after-school care at Club Koala. Day in, day out, with only the karaoke-loving grade twos and nit-infested preppies for company.

After the worst summer of bushfires ever, Sunday is determined to ditch the headstand competitions and use her time at Club Koala to make a difference. Sunday's parents might say NO! to getting a pet, but that won't stop Sunday from saving as many joeys as she can - with the help of her friends, a radio station, a whole bunch of wool from the op shop, and a LOT of animal memes.

Welcome to The Good Times of Pelican Rise ... a fun series that explores growing up, getting involved, hanging out with besties and using your voice to Be the Change.

By: Samone Amba, Illustrated by Lucy Zhang

Publisher: Affirm Press

Link to Buy

The Good Times of Pelican Rise, Save the Joeys by Samone Amba | 9781922419217 | Booktopia

To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com 

Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com 

And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net 

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Instagram Middle Grade Mavens (@middle_grade_mavens_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Today on Middle Grade Mavens, we have special guests Annabel Barker and Sally Kim, in conversation about the changing trends in the US market and international rights management. We found this chat utterly fascinating and we know you will too! Plus Annabel opens her submission up in July, so get subbing folks!

About Annabel:

Annabel Barker Agency is a small agency with a global vision. With many years experience working in international rights at some of the world’s leading children’s publishing houses, Annabel has a broad, in-house knowledge of publishing and loves to represent Australian writers and artists into both local and international markets. Annabel is interested in writing and illustration that showcases the depth of the Australian experience.

We represent a talented list of writers and artists from Australia, selling rights worldwide.

We also represent rights on a book-by-book basis on behalf of a number of Australian independent children’s publishers. Our clients include Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, Affirm Press, Thames and Hudson Australia, Jacinta Di Mase Agency and others.

Annabel will be open to submission in July 2021 so please check her website for details... Submissions — Annabel Barker Agency

About Sally Kim:

Sally Kim is a children’s book publishing consultant based in San Francisco. She was previously marketing director for Chronicle Books and has extensive experience publishing award-winning authors and bestselling series.

To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com

Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com

And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/middlegrademavens

Today on Middle Grade Mavens, Pamela reviews, "Elsewhere Girls," by Emily Gale and Nova Weetman, and Julie reviews, "The Right Way To Rock," by Nat Amoore. 

Plus Pamela chats to Emily and Nova and Julie chat's to Nat. 

Author's Website: Emily Gale | Author of Junior & Young Adult Fiction (emilygalebooks.com) 

Authors Website: Nova Weetman

Elsewhere Girls By: Emily Gale, Nova Weetman 

Published: 4th May 2021 

Publisher: Text Publishing ISBN: 9781922330451 

Ages 10+ Author 

Website:  About - Nat Amoore Children's Author and Podcast Host

The Right Way to Rock By: Nat Amoore 

Available: 1st June 2021 

Publisher: Puffin Books 

ISBN: 9781760897703 

For Ages: 9 - 11 years old 

Nat's new podcast: https://omny.fm/shows/project-ari/playlists/project-ari 

To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com 

Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com 

And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net 

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected] 

To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Instagram Middle Grade Mavens (@middle_grade_mavens_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

Today on Middle Grade Mavens, Julie chats to Annabel Barker about her new literary agency, international rights and some great new books to give some extra love to.

Annabel Barker Agency is a small agency with a global vision. With many years experience working in international rights at some of the world’s leading children’s publishing houses, Annabel has a broad, in-house knowledge of publishing and loves to represent Australian writers and artists into both local and international markets. Annabel is interested in writing and illustration that showcases the depth of the Australian experience.

We represent a talented list of writers and artists from Australia, selling rights worldwide.

We also represent rights on a book-by-book basis on behalf of a number of Australian independent children’s publishers. Our clients include Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, Affirm Press, Thames and Hudson Australia, Jacinta Di Mase Agency and others.

Annabel will be open to submission in July 2021 so please check her website for details... Submissions — Annabel Barker Agency

Book Annabel mentioned:

This Small Blue Dot by Zeno Sworder | 9781760761110 | Booktopia

Howl by Kat Patrick | 9781925849806 | Booktopia

To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com

Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com

And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/middlegrademavens

Today on Middle Grade Mavens, Pamela reviews, "Pawcasso," by Remy Lai and Julie reviews, "The Ballad of Melodie Rose," by Kate Gordon, illustrated by Rachel Tribout, plus Remy stops by for an interview.

Author Website: REMY LAI - Home

Pawcasso

By: Remy Lai

Published: 25th May 2021

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

ISBN: 9781250774484

For Ages: 8 - 12 years old

Author Website: https://kategordon.com.au

The Ballad of Melodie Rose

By: Kate Gordon

Available: 1st June 2021

Publisher: University of Queensland Books

ISBN: 9780702263217

Ages: 8-12

To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com

Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com

And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/middlegrademavens

Today on Middle grade Mavens, Pamela interviews Shirley Marr, author of, "A Glasshouse of Stars."

About Shirley's book: A Glasshouse of Stars

Meixing Lim and her family have arrived at the New House in the New Land, inherited from First Uncle who died tragically and unexpectedly while picking oranges in the backyard. Everything is vast and unknown to Meixing and not in a good way, including the house she has dubbed Big Scary. She is embarrassed by the second-hand shoes given to her by the kind neighbours, has trouble understanding the language at school, and with fitting in and making new friends. Her solace is a glasshouse in the garden that inexplicably holds the sun and the moon and all the secrets of her memory and imagination.

Her fragile universe is rocked when tragedy strikes and Ma Ma refuses to face the world outside. Meixing finds herself trapped within the shrinking walls of Big Scary. Her parents said this would be a better life for them all, but it feels like the worst and most heart-breaking experience of Meixing's entire existence. Surviving will take all the resilience and inner belief of this brave girl to turn their world around.

A Glasshouse of Stars

By: Shirley Marr

Published: 4th May 2021

Publisher: Penguin

ISBN: 9781760899547

For Ages: 9+ years old

To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com

Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com

And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/middlegrademavens