Latest News:
June 2024: A GIFT FROM THE BIRDS was chosen as the winner of the 2024 Text Prize. I'm absolutely delighted to be working with the lovely team at Text Publishing towards having this novel published in 2025.
May 2024: Thrilled to have my middle-grade novel manuscript, A GIFT FROM THE BIRDS, shortlisted for the 2024 Text Prize. Thank you for the great honour Text Publishing.
June 2023: I am loving working for the fabulous Ardoch organisation as part of their "Writer in Residence" program, which aims to enhance literary and language skills in schools. I'm assisting a couple of grade 3/4 classes to write and publish their own 'book' - the children are wonderfully enthusiastic and writing some amazing stories.
March 2023: Exciting news. Shenzhen Bookin will be publishing "The House of 12 Bunnies" in China (English language version). The books they create include a reading "pen" so that children can follow along audibly while they read.
November 2021: My sincere thanks to Creative Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria for a grant to work on a picture book manuscript about love. I'm looking forward to having this manuscript completed in 2022.
July 2020: Great to hear that '10 Little Circus Mice' is to be published this year in France, and I was lucky enough to receive another writing grant: thank you to Creative Victoria for your wonderful support of my writing.
May 2020: Many thanks to the City of Melbourne for awarding me a grant to develop a new junior fiction series "Alice Chutney - Science Sleuth". I am also happy to announce that '10 Little Circus Mice' will be available later this year in Korea.
April 2020: '10 Little Circus Mice' features in this video of "5 Fun Reads Your Kids Will Thank You For" thanks to wiki.ezvid.com
January 2020.
Happy New Year. I've spent the last 18 months with my head down, writing writing, working on several new projects. It has been wonderful to get back to writing after having to take a few years off. Here is an illustration from a Junior Fiction series I am working on - a sketch of my characters by the ultra-talented Chrissie Krebs. I hope 2020 is a wonderful year for you all.
June 2024: A GIFT FROM THE BIRDS was chosen as the winner of the 2024 Text Prize. I'm absolutely delighted to be working with the lovely team at Text Publishing towards having this novel published in 2025.
May 2024: Thrilled to have my middle-grade novel manuscript, A GIFT FROM THE BIRDS, shortlisted for the 2024 Text Prize. Thank you for the great honour Text Publishing.
June 2023: I am loving working for the fabulous Ardoch organisation as part of their "Writer in Residence" program, which aims to enhance literary and language skills in schools. I'm assisting a couple of grade 3/4 classes to write and publish their own 'book' - the children are wonderfully enthusiastic and writing some amazing stories.
March 2023: Exciting news. Shenzhen Bookin will be publishing "The House of 12 Bunnies" in China (English language version). The books they create include a reading "pen" so that children can follow along audibly while they read.
November 2021: My sincere thanks to Creative Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria for a grant to work on a picture book manuscript about love. I'm looking forward to having this manuscript completed in 2022.
July 2020: Great to hear that '10 Little Circus Mice' is to be published this year in France, and I was lucky enough to receive another writing grant: thank you to Creative Victoria for your wonderful support of my writing.
May 2020: Many thanks to the City of Melbourne for awarding me a grant to develop a new junior fiction series "Alice Chutney - Science Sleuth". I am also happy to announce that '10 Little Circus Mice' will be available later this year in Korea.
April 2020: '10 Little Circus Mice' features in this video of "5 Fun Reads Your Kids Will Thank You For" thanks to wiki.ezvid.com
January 2020.
Happy New Year. I've spent the last 18 months with my head down, writing writing, working on several new projects. It has been wonderful to get back to writing after having to take a few years off. Here is an illustration from a Junior Fiction series I am working on - a sketch of my characters by the ultra-talented Chrissie Krebs. I hope 2020 is a wonderful year for you all.
December 2018. Hello. I hope you've all had a fabulous year. I've had a break from writing for a while but I'm back :-) Highlights this year include seeing one of my picture books being used by a group of puppeteers in Queensland, and a short-film script being used by some university students in the USA.
I am also looking forward to two weeks of writing in an historic cottage in the Victorian coastal town of Portsea after being awarded an Artist Residency, with thanks to the Mornington Peninsular Shire.
April 2015. Lovely to see "Mice Mischief" doing well in the US, where 'The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics' has coincided with an increased demand for math books for young readers.
The Blade newspaper has recommended Mice Mischief as one of "6 good books to introduce toddlers to reading",
and the Children's Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education have chosen it as one of their 'Best Children's Books of the Year' 2015 for 5 to 9 year olds, in the category of Mathematics.
The House of 12 Bunnies, is doing well too. It was one of '100 Most Popular Picture Books of 2014' (most borrowed) at Cockburn Libraries (Western Australia).
November 2014. Great news - Scholastic Canada will publish "10 Little Circus Mice" for the French Canadian market in 2015.
July/August 2014. Thank you Park Ridge Public Library Children's Staff for your video review of "Mice Mischief" (the US version of 10 Little Circus Mice). See here.
April 2014. On Friday 25th April at 9.30am, please tune into ABC4Kids to watch the fabulous Play School. They will be reading "10 Little Circus Mice".
February 2014. 10 Little Circus Mice will this year be released in the US as 'Mice Mischief. Maths Facts in Action.' You can read more at this Kirkus Review.
March 2013. 10 Little Circus Mice, a fun picture book about counting/numbers has just been released in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Yay!
January 2013. In 2012 I was lucky enough to see the first non-english editions of one of my books. (please see pics below from the German and Simplified Chinese versions of The House of 12 Bunnies)
I wonder what good things 2013 will bring. Happy New Year everyone - I hope 2013 is wonderful for you all.
January 2013. In 2012 I was lucky enough to see the first non-english editions of one of my books. (please see pics below from the German and Simplified Chinese versions of The House of 12 Bunnies)
I wonder what good things 2013 will bring. Happy New Year everyone - I hope 2013 is wonderful for you all.
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December 2012. Please find a Christmas interview on Renee Taprell's lovely blog, Books for Little Hands, here, and an earlier interview here.
April 2012. Some more good news about The House of 12 Bunnies. It will be published in Germany by Ravensburger.
January 2012: Some great news to start the year. I'm pleased to announce that The House of 12 Bunnies will be published, this year, by Holiday House in the US. This book has also been acquired by publishers in China, Taiwan and Korea.
September 2011: An A to Z of Fairies is out now. :-)
August 2011: The celebration party for the release of The House of 12 Bunnies was a wonderful success. Thank you to everyone who came along. Please see pics from the day under the "photo" section.
Read an interview with Dee White about The House of 12 Bunnies here.
June 2011: Arghh me hearties. I'm thrilled to announce that the little landlubbers from the 1st Foster Cubs Pack are turning into pirates for one night only. They will be using the text of An A to Z of Pirates to perform in their pirate-themed District Concert. Good luck pirate boys and girls. I hope you have lots of fun plundering for loot and searching for buried treasure - live on stage. I'm sure you'll all be wonderful little pirate performers.
April 2012. Some more good news about The House of 12 Bunnies. It will be published in Germany by Ravensburger.
January 2012: Some great news to start the year. I'm pleased to announce that The House of 12 Bunnies will be published, this year, by Holiday House in the US. This book has also been acquired by publishers in China, Taiwan and Korea.
September 2011: An A to Z of Fairies is out now. :-)
August 2011: The celebration party for the release of The House of 12 Bunnies was a wonderful success. Thank you to everyone who came along. Please see pics from the day under the "photo" section.
Read an interview with Dee White about The House of 12 Bunnies here.
June 2011: Arghh me hearties. I'm thrilled to announce that the little landlubbers from the 1st Foster Cubs Pack are turning into pirates for one night only. They will be using the text of An A to Z of Pirates to perform in their pirate-themed District Concert. Good luck pirate boys and girls. I hope you have lots of fun plundering for loot and searching for buried treasure - live on stage. I'm sure you'll all be wonderful little pirate performers.
Reviews:
10 Little Circus Mice: Kids Book Review
"Simply adorable illustrations and simple text make this ideal for the very young."
10 Little Circus Mice: Fran Knight, Read Plus
"A counting book with a difference, the 10 mice turn their household chores into practice for their circus events as they count down from 10 to one on the verso, and count up from 1 to 10 on the recto. Each page is full of colour and movement as each chore is turned into an event. 9 mice tidy their bedroom, while one mouse somersaults, 8 mice cook, while two mice juggle and so on...The possibilities of using this book at home or in the classroom are endless."
An A to Z of Fairies: Barbara Braxton, Read Plus.
"Do YOU know who's living at the bottom of your garden??? If you read this delightful book by Caroline Stills, then you might have a sneak peek, without having to wait for midnight on a still moonlit night. There might be brownies, elves, fairies, gnomes, leprechauns, pixies and nixies and a whole host of other little folk that you never knew existed, just ready to take you and your imagination away into a wonderful world of fantasy. And while you're meeting them all, if you look closely you will see three familiar fairy friends keeping you safe on each page. Can you find them? If not, there's help at the back of the book...When Miss 5 comes to visit she is transported to fairyland ... this book went from first-read to favourite in five minutes. We read it over and over finding something new on every page."
The House of 12 Bunnies: The Bulletin of The Center for Children's Books, US. March 2012
"Based on a story by her then-nine-year-old daughter, Stills’ bunny tale is a richer alternative (both textually and visually) to the more commercial seek and find books on the market for this age group, and its additional conceptual elements add to its utility...use it to inspire kids to write their own similar stories, or pop it in an Easter basket for a sugar-free sweet treat."
The House of 12 Bunnies: Kirkus Review, US. March 2012
"Twelve adorable bunnies, each with a different color or pattern of fur, play together in their rambling Victorian house in this sweet counting book...A pleasant way to practice counting skills, with additional beginning math concepts quietly woven into both text and illustrations."
"Simply adorable illustrations and simple text make this ideal for the very young."
10 Little Circus Mice: Fran Knight, Read Plus
"A counting book with a difference, the 10 mice turn their household chores into practice for their circus events as they count down from 10 to one on the verso, and count up from 1 to 10 on the recto. Each page is full of colour and movement as each chore is turned into an event. 9 mice tidy their bedroom, while one mouse somersaults, 8 mice cook, while two mice juggle and so on...The possibilities of using this book at home or in the classroom are endless."
An A to Z of Fairies: Barbara Braxton, Read Plus.
"Do YOU know who's living at the bottom of your garden??? If you read this delightful book by Caroline Stills, then you might have a sneak peek, without having to wait for midnight on a still moonlit night. There might be brownies, elves, fairies, gnomes, leprechauns, pixies and nixies and a whole host of other little folk that you never knew existed, just ready to take you and your imagination away into a wonderful world of fantasy. And while you're meeting them all, if you look closely you will see three familiar fairy friends keeping you safe on each page. Can you find them? If not, there's help at the back of the book...When Miss 5 comes to visit she is transported to fairyland ... this book went from first-read to favourite in five minutes. We read it over and over finding something new on every page."
The House of 12 Bunnies: The Bulletin of The Center for Children's Books, US. March 2012
"Based on a story by her then-nine-year-old daughter, Stills’ bunny tale is a richer alternative (both textually and visually) to the more commercial seek and find books on the market for this age group, and its additional conceptual elements add to its utility...use it to inspire kids to write their own similar stories, or pop it in an Easter basket for a sugar-free sweet treat."
The House of 12 Bunnies: Kirkus Review, US. March 2012
"Twelve adorable bunnies, each with a different color or pattern of fur, play together in their rambling Victorian house in this sweet counting book...A pleasant way to practice counting skills, with additional beginning math concepts quietly woven into both text and illustrations."
The House of 12 Bunnies: Many thanks to Dee White who interviewed me for her fantastic blog. See here.
The House of 12 Bunnies: Barbara Braxton, Read Plus
"This book works on so many levels. Its storyline is engaging and intriguing because the readers doesn't know what Sophia has lost so has to predict; its illustrations are rich and detailed and as well as finding all the items, they have to be counted to ensure they are all there; there's scope to explore colours, patterns and designs; and each page has a different preposition of position (maths and mapping) to explore. It's very clever and reflects a sound understanding of the needs of this age group, so while it entertains it subtly educates. It can be read over and over with something new to focus on each time, and just cries out for all sorts of follow-up activities, both at home and at school.
Linking literacy, numeracy and information literacy can be a challenge but this book nails it."
An ABC of Pirates: Cindy Vallar
"An ABC of Pirates" is one of the best alphabet books I've read. It's great fun and a fabulous treasure to cherish." 5 stars.
An ABC of Pirates: National Library of New Zealand - Services to Schools
"a brilliant, witty, original ABC of Pirates. The zany illustrations are full of humorous subtexts and sly humour...Each page is a riotous complement to the buccaneering verse. Caroline Stills manages to produce rhyming stanzas that aren't contrived, read aloud fluidly and challenge your pirate vocabulary....Pour yourself a tot of rum and relax until (your little pirates) demand you read it again….and again."
An ABC of Pirates: Kids Book Review
"Stills does a wonderful job of the text – told in rhyme, she manages to navigate the entire alphabet with buccaneering terms and idioms aplenty – and this would have been some task… there’s only so many times you can swab the decks and nip a hair of the dog, me hearties."
An ABC of Pirates: Christopher Cheng
"Here it is ... just what all pirate-lovers (of all ages) have been waiting for ... an ABC book of pirates and all things piratical!
A is for adventure on an azure-coloured sea.
Hoist the anchor, maties, 'tis a pirate's life for me.
Great rhythmic text with absolutely entrancing illustrations of pirates - rather young pirates too. Also includes a list of objects hidden in the pictures and a glossary of a few of the more complicated words (eg: zephyr, mutiny)
Ahoy there maties ... This book has to be part of any pirate day!"
An ABC of Pirates: LarissaBookGirl
"An ABC of Pirates is a whimsical and funny story full of surprises and hidden treasures. Offering hours of fun in a Where's Wally style hunt for items of the alphabet. A charming book to introduce your little Pirate or Landlubber to the alphabet.
Five out of Five Stars."
Magic Mummy: Reading Upsidedown
"A sweet book for preschoolers about mothers, Magic Mummy shares all the magic things that mothers do with their children every day – kisses and hugs that make hurts go away, a voice that tells amazing stories, delicious meals and fun games."
Magic Mummy: Aussie Reviews
"This would make a lovely Mother’s Day or new baby gift, making lovely bed time reading...a delightful picture book celebration of the bond between mother and child."
Magic Mummy: Busy Mothers
"We know that mums are magic, now you can share this book with your child so they know it too."
"An ABC of Pirates" is one of the best alphabet books I've read. It's great fun and a fabulous treasure to cherish." 5 stars.
An ABC of Pirates: National Library of New Zealand - Services to Schools
"a brilliant, witty, original ABC of Pirates. The zany illustrations are full of humorous subtexts and sly humour...Each page is a riotous complement to the buccaneering verse. Caroline Stills manages to produce rhyming stanzas that aren't contrived, read aloud fluidly and challenge your pirate vocabulary....Pour yourself a tot of rum and relax until (your little pirates) demand you read it again….and again."
An ABC of Pirates: Kids Book Review
"Stills does a wonderful job of the text – told in rhyme, she manages to navigate the entire alphabet with buccaneering terms and idioms aplenty – and this would have been some task… there’s only so many times you can swab the decks and nip a hair of the dog, me hearties."
An ABC of Pirates: Christopher Cheng
"Here it is ... just what all pirate-lovers (of all ages) have been waiting for ... an ABC book of pirates and all things piratical!
A is for adventure on an azure-coloured sea.
Hoist the anchor, maties, 'tis a pirate's life for me.
Great rhythmic text with absolutely entrancing illustrations of pirates - rather young pirates too. Also includes a list of objects hidden in the pictures and a glossary of a few of the more complicated words (eg: zephyr, mutiny)
Ahoy there maties ... This book has to be part of any pirate day!"
An ABC of Pirates: LarissaBookGirl
"An ABC of Pirates is a whimsical and funny story full of surprises and hidden treasures. Offering hours of fun in a Where's Wally style hunt for items of the alphabet. A charming book to introduce your little Pirate or Landlubber to the alphabet.
Five out of Five Stars."
Magic Mummy: Reading Upsidedown
"A sweet book for preschoolers about mothers, Magic Mummy shares all the magic things that mothers do with their children every day – kisses and hugs that make hurts go away, a voice that tells amazing stories, delicious meals and fun games."
Magic Mummy: Aussie Reviews
"This would make a lovely Mother’s Day or new baby gift, making lovely bed time reading...a delightful picture book celebration of the bond between mother and child."
Magic Mummy: Busy Mothers
"We know that mums are magic, now you can share this book with your child so they know it too."
Guest Blogger:
Read all about the book celebration for Magic Mummy here, on the black dog bytes blog.
