Library
Kelsey Shepherd-Smith and Diana Farfalla
BOOK OF THE MONTH . . . JULY
THE COLOURS OF HOME
by Sally Soweol Han
2026 CBCA SHORTLISTED BOOK
Bomi moves to a new home in a new country. It has its challenges making somewhere so far feel like home. Bomi explores and learns to find comfort and connections, matching the new with what was once home. Yes, Bomi soon realises the colours of home are everywhere!
Bomi notices colours in her new surroundings: the emerald and jade of a Korean forest are like the colours of the trees in the park she used to visit in Australia, and the blue magpies resemble the fairy-wrens from her old backyard. The book beautifully captures a child’s experience of adapting to a new environment by finding connections to her old home. The author has done a wonderful job of bringing this journey to life through hand-drawn and painted illustrations. The positive, reassuring message makes this book especially valuable for children settling into a new home or an unfamiliar environment. It is a quick read with plenty of intricate details to explore, this book is suitable for all children settling into a new faraway home.
Can you guess where Bomi's home was and where it is today?
This is a new book in our BPS Library and it is a 2026 CBCA Shortlisted book.
SAVE THE DATE!
BOOK WEEK is coming in term 3! Monday 24th - Friday 28th August.
The Book Fair is coming too!
Monday 24th August is BOOK DRESS-UP DAY!
The theme is . . . "SYMPHONY OF STORIES"
Watch this space!
VPRC 2026
Are you taking the Challenge?
You have 44 days to read and record your books!
I look forward to reading your book reviews!
Look what Jasmin thinks about, The Hawthorne Legacy Series . . .
THE HAWTHORNE LEGACY SERIES
This book is very interesting with lots of twists and turns. It follows a teenage girl, Avery Kylie Grambs, who has inherited a large sum of money. She now lives with the Hawthorne brothers who are very misleading about her future. This is why I give this book a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐rating. It is one of my favourite books that I have read!
This is another 5 star book and I think I am on a roll. I have already read this book a couple of times so for the 53rd re-read I think and pleased to tell you that this book is an absolute banger! The way Jennifer Lynn Barnes makes this book even more intriguing than the first. It is just the chef's kiss! You should definitely read this book!
CBCA 2026 SHORTLISTED BOOKS
Are you looking for a good book?
You are sure to like one of these books that has made it onto the short list for 'Book of The Year'!
We now have many of these new titles in the BPS Library.
Let us know which one you think is a winner!
Look below at the list!
Younger Readers
Run, Sarah Armstrong
Something Terrible: Tim Tie-Your-Shoelaces, Sally Barton, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen
Little Bones, Sandy Bigna
Spirit of the Crocodile, Aaron Fa’aoso & Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White
The Paperbark Tree Committee, Karys McEwen
Inked, Karen Wasson, illustrated by Jake A Minton
Early Childhood
The Thing About Christmas, Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Briony Stewart
Derek, Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks
Frogs Are Our Friends, Toni D’Alia, Madeline White
My Nonno Loves, Adelle Frittitta, illustrated by Claudia Frittitta
The Colours of Home, Sally Soweol Han
The Emperor’s Egg, Rae Tan
Picture Book of the Year
Bob and Dob, Sean E Avery
Tiwi in Paris, Glen Farmer Illortaminni
Dear Broccoli, Cate James, text by Jo Dabrowski
Dawn, Marc Martin
The Frog’s First Song, Jason Phu, text by Jazz Money
Once I was a Giant, Zeno Sworder (Kelsey's favourite)
Eve Pownall Award
There’s a Prawn in Parliament House: The Kids’ Guide to Australia’s Amazing Democracy, Annabel Crabb, illustrated by First Dog on the Moon
A Loo of One’s Own, Eleri Harris (true story)
Peculiar Parents, Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak
The Thylacine and the Time Machine, Renée Treml
Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles, Corey Tutt, Ben Williams
Ningaloo, Tim Winton
New Illustrator
Save the Gum Trees, Bees and Big Blue Seas, Luke John Matthew Arnold
Beyond the Shore, Mark Chester Harding, text by Kirli Saunders
A Loo of One’s Own, Eleri Harris
Prayer for a River, Uncle Glenn Loughrey, text by Andrew Kelly & Uncle Glenn Loughrey
A Farm by the Sea, Jillian Packer (Gr 2 favoured this one!)
Being Indy, Estee Sarsfield, text by Zoe Gaetjens
CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA
Book of the Year Awards
The CBCA presents annual awards to Australian books of literary merit for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature.
The CBCA was founded in 1945, in a time when Australian children’s books were few and Australian authors and illustrators were virtually unknown. The Book of the Year Awards was established in 1946. The Awards aim to:
promote quality literature for young Australians by Australians
support and encourage a wide range of Australian writers and illustrators of books for young people aged 0 to 18
celebrate contributions to Australian children’s literature.
These awards are now the most influential and highly respected literary awards for children in Australia. The Awards affirm the quality of some of Australia’s most creative people and provide a boost to their capacity to devote time to their craft.
Celebrate 80 years of the Book of the Year Awards with us in 2026.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for the book donations to the BPS LIBRARY and to our CLASSROOM LIBRARIES!
At times we find a lovely surprise outside our Library door! Thank you!
It is so nice to see a student pick up a pre-loved book to read!
So we just wanted you to know, you are making a difference and making someone smile.
Thank you for your wonderful book donations!
We love books at BPS!
OVERDUE BOOKS ALERT!
At times, some students have been disappointed that they cannot borrow a new book.
Please can you search for any overdue BPS books around your homes, cars, schoolbags etc.
There are many popular missing books from the library shelves that we would love to see returned.
Is your book LOST? Please replace it!
Thank you for your assistance!
READING QUOTE OF THE MONTH . . . JULY
"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are!"
Mason Cooley
Read every day!
Diana Farfalla
Kelsey Shepherd-Smith