RAISING RESILIENT FAMILIES
By Deborah Sugirthakumar
Review by Aryani Siti
As an early childhood educator, I find Raising Resilient Families a helpful and inspiring book.
Written by Wyndham local and Westsider contributor Deborah Sugirthakumar, it focuses on creating safe and caring homes, making it a great guide for parents, teachers, and anyone who cares for children. The book shares clear advice and ideas to solve family problems, teach kindness, and stop violence.
The writing is easy to understand and includes real-life stories that show how to help children grow up feeling confident and loved. It also explains how families can solve problems together, speak kindly to each other, and build strong connections.
This book is special because it helps parents and caregivers see how important they are in shaping a child’s future. It also talks about the power of community in making a world where all children feel safe and happy. Filled with simple tips and practical ideas, this book is perfect for anyone who wants to raise strong, kind, and happy children.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
By Shankari Chandran
$34.99
Review by the Sun Bookshop
From the Miles Franklin award-winning author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens, comes a fast-paced new spy thriller set in Sri Lanka 2009. Decades of civil war and bloodshed are being brought to an end at last—by any means necessary. When a journalist is executed in a public street with no witnesses, CIA agent Ellie Harper is sent in to investigate. It’s been four years since Ellie was last in Colombo, reeling from an unsuccessful mission, and comes back under strict instructions to find something—but not too much.
Chandran shows her versatility by moving successfully into the political spy thriller genre with shades of Le Carre. Her new book retains the same immersive sense of place and community as her previous books, and shows her keen eye for the bonds that tie people together, for the impacts of colonialism and violence on identity. Unfinished Business is steeped in a truly fascinating history and will keep you glued to your seat for an unexpected finale.
THE HOTEL BALZAAR
By Kate DiCamillo
$24.99
Ages 7+
Review by the Sun Bookshop
Are you wanting to be swept up by a whimsical fairytale reminiscent of The Little Princess, Eloise and other childhood classics? Then The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo is the story for you.
We follow Marta, an unwelcome child of a maid who works in a fancy hotel. She is quiet as a mouse, discreetly tip-toeing through the halls, neither seen nor heard—until a mysterious and opulently dressed guest befriends her and shares seven tales, seemingly unrelated. And yet as Marta listens, she discovers they might have something to do with her family and father, who is missing in the war.
Beautifully illustrated by Júlia Sardà, this tale with old world charm will be sure to bewitch young readers across the globe.
TO STIR WITH LOVE
By Kate Mildenhall and Jess Racklyeft
Review by Aryani Siti
To Stir with Love is a sweet story about family, love, and the special connection between grandmothers and their grandchildren. Kate’s gentle words and Jess’s soft, colourful pictures make this book feel warm and comforting.
The story is about Grandma’s ‘everything cake,’ a special recipe passed down through her family. As Grandma gets older and needs help baking, her grandchildren join in, showing how families can come together to care for one another.
The book also talks about ageing and memory loss in a kind and simple way, helping young readers understand these changes. It reminds us that even as things change, the love and memories we share with our grandparents stay forever.
Jess’s beautiful pictures bring the story to life. They include bright colours, photo-like details, and even pictures of Kate’s grandmother, making the book feel extra special.
At the end of the book, you’ll find Grandma’s cake recipe and a place to write your own family’s favourite recipes. This makes the book more than just a story—it’s a way to keep family traditions alive.
This book is perfect for families who love cooking together or have a close bond with their grandparents. It’s a lovely story about love, family, and the joy of sharing special moments.
THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS
By Mikayla Rogers
Review by Aryani Siti
This warm story follows Daniela, a strong and independent woman who owns a strip club. When her beloved grandmother is in a car accident, Daniela goes back to her small hometown. She thinks she can fix everything, but things aren’t as easy as she hoped.
Sean, a single dad who lost his wife, is struggling to connect with his teenage daughter. The last thing he expects is for Daniela—an old love he never forgot—to move in next door. Being near each other again brings up memories of their love, and Sean wonders if he can risk his heart again.
As Daniela faces her fears and questions what true success means, she realises that life isn’t just about business or being tough. Sometimes, real happiness means letting people into your life. This book is a touching story of second chances, learning to open up, and finding love where you least expect it. Perfect for readers who enjoy stories about real life, love, and finding happiness.
A SEAT AT MY TABLE: PHILOXENIA: VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN GREEK KITCHEN
By Kon Karapanagiotidis
Review by Aryani Siti
A Seat at My Table: Philoxenia by Kon Karapanagiotidis invites readers to explore the traditions of Greek cooking while sharing the important message of ‘Philoxenia’ – the Greek idea of welcoming strangers. This cookbook is more than just recipes, it celebrates community, strength, and love, inspired by Kon’s own life and his grandparents’ experiences as refugees.
With over 100 recipes passed down through the years, the book includes many Greek vegetarian and vegan dishes. Each recipe is carefully prepared, with options to make them vegan or gluten-free so everyone can enjoy them. The book also shares helpful tips on reducing waste, gardening, and making your kitchen more eco-friendly.
One of the most inspiring parts of the book is its message of hope and togetherness. Through food, Kon tells a strong story about survival, strength, and the connections we have as people. His dedication to helping refugees is clear, as all the money from the book goes to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC).
Whether you’re an experienced cook or a beginner, A Seat at My Table: Philoxenia invites you to bring kindness and togetherness into your kitchen. With its delicious recipes, inspiring message, and support for a good cause, this book is perfect for anyone who loves cooking with meaning and care.
HUMAN LOOKING
By Andy Jackson
Review by Bec Rents
Every month I keep a book of poetry on hand to peruse. This month I have Melbourne poet Andy Jackson’s Human Looking by the window – and my heart could not be happier.
I can honestly say if you are craving true sustenance for your literary soul, then this book will do more than satisfy. Andy’s carefully crafted works are a glimpse into the rich and underrepresented voices that we missed out on throughout history – and have been craving to hear.
Andy’s poetry expresses experience of disability and seeing the world from a different perspective. He paints pictures with his words, illuminating his personal journey, his poems pressing into the pages like sutures that lay bare all the complexities of the human condition.
He goes back in time not only illuminating his incredibly unique position of being a survived conjoined twin, but also weaving his experiences through the pages of others with shared experiences of disability and those who have written about only the shadows of disability, in turn creating a tapestry of intelligence, beauty, vulnerable intricacies both visceral and emotional that generously invite the reader into his exquisite unseen yearnings, desires and innermost thoughts. A masterpiece of poetry.
Published by Giramondo in 2021 Human Looking was the Winner of the Prime Minister’s Literary Award and ALS Gold Medal 2022.
THE CITY AND ITS UNCERTAIN WALLS
By Haruki Murakami
Review by Aryani Siti
A story about dreams, reality, and finding yourself. This book tells a magical and mysterious story about the thin line between real life and a world of shadows.
The narrator loses someone he loves as a teenager and finds himself in a strange place called the Town. In the Town, he works as a Dream Reader in a library, where dreams and reality mix in strange ways.
As an adult, he becomes a librarian in a quiet place in Fukushima, hoping to feel the magic of the Town again. His job is unusual—he takes over from a ghost. Things get even stranger when a boy named M, who comes to the library every day, suddenly disappears.
The story shows how time, places, and people can blend together, making us wonder what is real. It’s about the walls we build to keep ourselves safe and the connections we make with others. This book is great for readers who like simple, meaningful stories full of imagination.
