We are very excited to share with you this month's book selections. We have witches and wizards, crazy fox detectives and dancing shadows. Are you curious?

Explorer's Club (Picture Books)

Our youngest subscribers are being treated to a brand new book from a small Independent Australian Publisher, Red Paper Kite. "Shadow and the Girl" by Jeanette Stampone and Demelsa Haughton. Exquisitely illustrated, this book explores perception, fear, self-acceptance, and bravery.

 A giant girl towers over Shadow.

Driven by fear, Shadow runs.

And so does the girl.

But can they really run from each other?

The second book for our Explorers is "Frindleswylde" by Natalie and Lauren O'Hara.

This sister team create visually stunning and unique books. Their previous titles are favourites of Be Curious Books. 'Hortense and the Shadow', 'The Bandit Queen', and they have a new release book 'Once Upon a… Fairytale' due in June.

Frindleswylde has the air of an epic fairytale and quest. Based on old folk tales told to the O'Hara sisters by their Polish granny while camping in the woods on cold winter nights.

The story of a young girl's determination to save her grandmother from Frindleswylde. Her love, honesty and warmth shine a guiding light over the cold darkness.

Intrigue Club 

Our early chapter book readers are being treated to a wide array of titles this month. Our new release options have been split into two different choices. Some subscribers will receive 'Cornbread & Poppy' by Matthew Cordell and 'Banana Fox and the Book Eating Robot' by James Kochalka. Other subscribers will receive 'Just Harriet' by Elana K.Arnold. We like to mix things up and make sure our books are suited to our subscribers.

Cornbread & Poppy is a cautionary tale of not being prepared. Cornbread & Poppy are two friends who must work together to help Poppy when she realises she will not have enough food left for winter. All though this is a familiar story. It is dealt with in a new and refreshing way. Cordell is a Caldecott winning author, and it is a story that is sure to delight our younger members.

'Banana Fox and the Book Eating Robot' is a hilarious comic caper. Where silliness is guaranteed. This is the second book in the Banana Fox series. James Kochalka is an Eisner Award-winning cartoonist with many graphic novel series to his name.

'Just Harriet' is a more challenging read suited to our older Intrigue Club subscribers. Elana K. Arnold is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children’s books, including the Printz Honor winner 'Damsel', the National Book Award finalist 'What Girls Are Made Of', and Global Read Aloud selection 'A Boy Called Bat' and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalogue of feminist titles for young readers.

The second subscription book for Intrigue Club is 'Our Friend Hedghog: The Story of Us' by Lauren Castillo. Castillo is a Caledcott Honor winner . 'Our Friend Hedgehog' is reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh.

 Hedgehog lives on a teeny-tiny island with only her stuffed dog, Mutty, for company. When a great storm carries Mutty away, she embarks on a quest to find her friend. Following the trail of clues Mutty left behind, brave Hedgehog meets a wiggly Mole, a wordy Owl, a curmudgeonly Beaver, a scatterbrained Hen and Chicks, and a girl who’s new to the neighborhood, Annika May. With bravery and teamwork, there’s nothing that can stop these seven from finding Mutty, but along the way they discover something even more important: each other.

 Curiosity Club 

Our middle-grade readers have two new release book selections this month. Two beautiful hardcover editions that are not yet available in the Australian market.

The Witch, The Sword, and The Cursed Knights by Alexandria Rogers. Is an epic tale of witches, wizards, and knights. Borrowing from Arthurian legend, this is a story that will take you on a ride.

It has received a starred review from both Kirkus Reviews and Booklist. Kirkus Reviews wrote, "An engaging and intelligent fantasy: up there with the best of them."

This is a debut novel for Rogers, and it has already received a lot of attention.

Twelve-year-old Ellie can't help that she's a witch, the most hated member of society. Determined to prove her worth and eschew her heritage, Ellie applies to the Fairy Godmother Academy—her golden ticket to societal acceptance.  

But Ellie's dreams are squashed when she receives the dreaded draft letter to serve as a knight of King Arthur's legendary Round Table. She can get out of the draft—but only if she saves a lost cause.

The Swallowtail Legacy: Wreck at Ada's Reef by Michael D. Beil is an intricately woven mystery spanning several generations.

Filled with transcripts, letters, maps, black-and-white illustrations and more, The Swallowtail Legacy: Wreck at Ada's Reef is a mystery with a classic feel exploring righting past wrongs, redefining family, and finding yourself.

Twelve-year-old Lark Heron-Finch is steeling herself to spend the summer on Swallowtail Island off the shores of Lake Erie. It's the first time that she and her sister will have seen the old house since their mum passed away. And while her stepfather and his boys are okay, the island's always been full of happy memories--and now everything is different.

Receiving another starred review from Kirkus Reviews. Stating "Readers will be hooked-more, please!" This is the first book in the series with more to follow.

I hope you have enjoyed this insight into our subscription book clubs. We have sold out of the Intrigue Club book subscription for this month and the two book subscription option for the Explorer's Club. Curiosity Club books and single book option for the Explorer's Club are still available.

Be sure to get in quick for next month, so you don't miss out!

All of our subscription club books change over in April. We will also have a brand new subscription club launching. The Graphic Owl Club. For kids aged 8-12 who can't get enough of graphic novels.

Happy Reading,
Anna