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Maddy Mara

@maddymarabooks

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Books by @hilary_hil_bil + @meribadger

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The Christmas Fuss in the Broken-Down Bus by Maddy Mara and Christopher Nielsen 🎅 🦘

“Will something go wrong? What a smart thing to ask! For things always do when you have such a task.”

That classic night before Christmas dilemma gets a self aware Aussie twist in this fun new, rhyming adventure!

There are holes in the sacks, sickness all around, and stormy skies looming. What will Santa do to make sure all the Christmas gifts are delivered on time?

With the help of a rusty old bus and the sweetest kind of Christmas magic, perhaps there’s still a way to save Christmas!

The Christmas Fuss in the Broken-Down Bus is a festive and fun story filled with adorable illustrations, plenty of Christmas cheer, and a Santa who refuses to give up on the most important night of the year.

Thank you to the team at @harperkidsau for our copy. 🎄 #thechristmasfussinthebrokendownbus #christmas #christmastime #picturebooks #bookstagram by @maddymarabooks

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10 days ago

Book Spotlight!

** Picture Book **

The Christmas Fuss In The Broken-Down Bus by Maddy Mara & Christopher Nielsen

Published by @harpercollinsaustralia on September 29th

Tomorrow is Christmas and as you can see, Santa is ready, as ready can be.

Will something go wrong?

What a smart thing to ask!

For things always do when you have such a task...

A delightful new Christmas story told in a very Aussie way.... full of sick kangaroos, and lots of Aussie ingenuity from Santa.

Thanks to @harpercollinsaustralia for the review copy of this book

#thechristmasfussinthebrokendownbus #maddymara #christophernielsen #harpercollinsaustralia

#fhclibrary by @maddymarabooks

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13 days ago

We love author visits and the past couple of weeks we have been spoilt with some incredible children's authors dropping in to sign copies of their books!

Why not bring the kids in these school holidays to choose their next read before enjoying a hot chocolate with the fam, all the while having the ocean as your background. Some signed editions are available for that extra special edition!

Authors featured:

Jacinta Boyd - pictured with The Beach

Claire Saxby - pictured with Through the Darkening Sea and Storm

Meredith Badger - pictured with Dragon Girls. One half of the Maddy Mara author duo by @maddymarabooks

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21 days ago

TIGER TERROR (MAX BEAST 2)
By Maddy Mara @maddymarabooks

Ages 7 – 10

Ever since Max’s parents embraced van life, Max has gained a new perspective—literally! On their last stop to explore a sunken yacht, Max tangled with a boy named Hector. He ended up with Hector’s amulet that gave him the power to turn into a shark and stop a criminal gang. Now, while hiking past a native animal sanctuary as well as billionaire Benson Leech’s ranch—where he keeps illegal animals—Max spies Hector in the group. He knows he needs to protect the amulet from Hector’s nefarious plans and heads off on his own.

Max discovers a cave where he’s jumped by a ferocious tiger. As he’s trying to protect himself, Max feels the amulet “sinking into his skin.” In moments, Max transformed into a tiger! He was still wondering how he could protect his parents and the other hikers from the rogue tiger when a pack of wolves surrounds him. After Max chases them away, he finds the dead elk they had hunted.

Max takes the elk to the tiger as a peace offering and discovers that she has two cubs. Bounding away, Max finds Benson Leech’s ranch and overhears his plan to sell the cubs—even if it means shooting their mother Lena to recapture them. Max is just forming a plan to tell Lena when Hector appears, having followed him all along.

Only interested in making money, Hector betrays Max and Lena, and the four tigers are caged, awaiting the buyer who’s expected in 30 minutes. Will Max be able to free them all? Will Lena trust him? And what choice will Max make when his adversary Hector needs help? The surprise twists and heart-pounding action will keep readers flipping the pages until the compelling ending.

Thrills, peril, and life-altering decisions lurk around every corner in Maddy Mara’s TIGER TERROR that grabs both eager and reluctant readers and holds them enthralled with the combination of a likable protagonist, a compelling adventure, and relatable humor. Riveting illustrations by Khadijah Khatib place readers in pivotal scenes.

Scholastic @scholastic 2026 | ISBN 979-8225002787

For full review + Activity, click link in bio.

#kidsbooks #childrensbooks #kidlit #middlegradebooks #raisingreaders by @maddymarabooks

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a month ago

[unbezahlte Werbung]
[Rezensionsexemplar]
[eigene, persönliche Meinung]
[eine.kissenschlacht & kids - Rezension des Großen]
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Dragon World
Kampf um Imperia
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✏️ Maddy Mara ( @maddymarabooks )
🎨 James Claridades ( @squeegool )
📚 dtv Verlag ( @dtv_verlag )
💭 spannende Drachenaction (Band 3)
🔢 ab 8 Jahren (Empfehlung des Verlags)
🗓️ 13.08.2026
📖 128 Seiten
💶 13,00€
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👀 Klappentext - siehe Fotos
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✨ Meinung des Großen:
Luca und seine Freunde Yazmine und Zane sind mal wieder nach Imperia gereist, um das letzte Drachenei an seinen Ort zu bringen. In Imperia stellt sich heraus, dass die drei einen Kampf gegen Dartsmith gewinnen müssen, um das ganze Land zu retten. Wird ihnen dies gelingen und werden sie es schaffen, das Ei an seinen Ort zurückzubringen?
Ich finde das Buch spannend und freundschaftlich, weil es darum geht, dass die Freunde zusammenhalten müssen um den Kampf zu gewinnen und weil man richtig mitfiebert, ob sie es schaffen, das Ei zurückzubringen.
Das Buch hat sich sehr gut lesen lassen und die schwarz-weißen Illustrationen gefallen mir sehr gut, genauso wie das Cover.
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💕 Empfehlung des Großen:
Ich würde das Buch allen empfehlen, die gerne spannende und freundschaftliche Geschichten mit Drachen lesen.
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Von unserem Großen gibt es auch für Band drei dieser Reihe eine ganz klare Leseempfehlung.
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Noch einmal ganz lieben Dank @dtv_verlag dass unser Großer dieses coole Buch lesen und vorstellen durfte.
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#einekissenschlacht #bookstagram #youngbookstagram by @maddymarabooks

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a month ago

Today in Australia, we’re celebrating the dads, grandfathers, stepdads, uncles and all the father figures who encourage a love of books, stories and reading in the children in their lives.

I’m so thankful that our four boys have a Dad who leads with love and empathy, and who believes that one of the cornerstones of developing both is reading widely. Reading stories that take us beyond our own experiences, introduce us to different people and perspectives and help us better understand the world around us.

So tonight’s shelfie is for the dads and father figures who read the bedtime stories, share the funny books, talk about what they’re reading and show children that reading is for everyone.

📚 Books featured:

👶🏽The Baby Sleeps — Lisa Dick & Laura Bee
❤️Heartman — Stephen Hogtun
🐻Daddy Bear — Rory H. Mather and Helene Magisson
🛝Superheroes in the Park — Ian Eagleton & Hayley Wells
🥰Every Dad is Special by Sarah Ayoub and Kate Moon
🌏My Dad Makes the World Go Round and Around — Maddy Mara & Andrew Joyner
🤗Love You, Daddy — Karen Blair
⏱️How to Train a Dad — Sally Barns & Noeémie Gionet Landry
🤗My Dad’s a Dynamo! — Phil Cummings & Hannah Marks
✨To Be Your Dad — Josh Pyke & Inge Daniels
🌙Goodnight Daddy — Gregg Dreise

#lovefourreading #sundayshelfie #kidsbookshelfie #picturebooksaboutfathers #picturebooks by @maddymarabooks

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a month ago

Give dad the gift of reading together this Father’s Day. Check out our picture book gift recommendations! 📚✨ by @maddymarabooks

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a month ago

Our second #maxbeast book Tiger Terror is out in September in the US & Canada and it’s a WILD ride! @scholastic @scholasticcda … with yet more illustration brilliance from @khudeejuh by @maddymarabooks

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2 months ago

CHARLOTTE THE ROSE DRAGON (Dragon Girls 20)
Written by Maddy Mara @maddymarabooks Illustrated by Alessandro D’Urso

Ages 7 – 10

While viewing the rose bushes in the public greenhouse with her auntie Bella, Charlotte thought wistfully of her last adventure with her friends Selina and Layla in the Magic Forest, hoping they would have another one soon. She didn’t have to wait long! Suddenly, she smelled a familiar scent and heard a familiar melody. In a moment she found herself transported to the Magic Forest.

Charlotte was met by Hummi, a hummingbird, who told her that Fury Bugs had invaded the forest. Their bite made all the creatures argue about anything and everything. As Hummi led Charlotte to the glade, she saw that Selina and Layla were already there. Soon, they were meeting with the Tree Queen, who revealed that the Fury Queen was trying to take over the forest by distracting its inhabitants with useless squabbles. The Dragon Girls have been summoned to create a powerful perfume to stop her. But how? First, they must enter the Secret Dragon Garden to discover that themselves.

Once inside the garden and bitten by the Fury Bugs, The girls find themselves snapping at each other and saying things they don’t mean. They decide they must split up to protect their friendship and solve this quest. But working separately can the Dragon Girls overcome their adversary’s obstacles and save the Magic Forest? The journey to answering to this question will leave readers spellbound as they reunite with these three enchanting heroes.

Full of ingenuity and built on true friendship, this latest adventure of the Flower Dragons will mesmerize readers with its quick pace, relevant storyline, and clever thinking. The Dragon Girls overarching themes of tight relationships, trust in each other, and enduring support are on especially strong display in this story as Charlotte, Selina, and Layla struggle with, but overcome, the effects of the Fury Bugs’ bites.

Scholastic @scholastic 2026 | ISBN 979-8225024536

Thanks to Scholastic for sending me this book!

To read full review, click link in bio.

#childrensbooks #kidsbooks #middlegradebooks #kidlit #chapterbooks by @maddymarabooks

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2 months ago

I’ve been hanging out to speak to Maddy Mara.

Maddy Mara are two Melbourne based kids authors (Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger) who have achieved incredible things. I’m in awe of these two!

We had a terrific chat about how Hilary and Meredith conquered the US, their candid thoughts on the industry, the key to a successful creative partnership and much more.

Hilary and Meredith have been incredibly generous with their advice and I’m sure you find this conversation as fascinating as I did.

Dragon Girls and Max Beast are out now!

#writersofinstagram #ozkidlit #authorlife taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @maddymarabooks

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2 months ago

MAX BEAST: SHARKNADO WARNING
By Maddy Mara @maddymarabooks
Illustrations by Khadijah Khatib @khudeejuh

Ages 7 – 10

As Max manned the boat while his parents explored a mysterious sunken superyacht, he suddenly found himself fighting for survival as a massive shark charged their boat, sending Max into the sea. Just before going under, Max had glimpsed an infinity symbol on the shark’s belly.

It began pulsing red then ripped itself from the shark’s chest. Max realized it was a pendant he’d seen earlier at the dive shop, worn by a teenager named Hector. Suddenly it “flew through the water toward Max like a magnet to metal” and “sank into Max’s skin.” Then things really got weird. The shark lost its fearsome features and sprouted Hector’s familiar arms, legs, and hair, while Max underwent the opposite transition. In a moment, he was longer, stronger, had hundreds of teeth, sharper vision, and a fin and tail.

This transformation changes everything, and even thought Max and Hector don’t like or trust each other, they’re linked—not only because they’re both trying to locate the superyacht (Hector to loot it, and Max to stop him and find his parents) but because they can read each other’s thoughts. This ability comes in handy as they battle Hector’s cohorts and their spearguns, a giant squid, a dive cage, and other explosive underwater menaces as well as time itself. Will Max achieve his aims and become a boy again, or will Hector win out? It’s time to dive in and see for yourself!

With nonstop action amid a dangerous setting and mysterious circumstances, Maddy Mara’s MAX BEAST: SHARKNADO WARNING introduces readers to an appealing young hero who embraces his new persona and uses his intelligence and wits while staying true to his principles as he overcomes adversity and solves a mystery. Fast-paced plotting, compelling characters, high stakes, and gripping dialogue sprinkled with humor as well as exhilarating illustrations by Khadigah Khatib make this a book that will thrill all readers.

Scholastic @scholastic 2026
ISBN 979-8225002770

For full review + Shark Craft, click link in bio.

#kidsbooks #childrensbooks #chapterbooks #middlegradebooks #kidlit by @maddymarabooks

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3 months ago

A sneak peek inside my personal library as a year 1-2 teacher 👩🏻‍🏫 ✨

#picturebooks #picturebooksofinstagram #classroomlibrary #classroombooks #picturebookillustration

I love this book from @kidlitlove
It’s really great for hands on learning through building and making 🧱

A beautiful picture book by @joannagaines 🎈
I love having the students make a hot air balloon after reading this. No templates, just art resources and their imagination

#picturebookart #artideasforkids

An amazing book that I keep coming back to throughout the year. It’s great for boosting student morale. By the amazing @davina.bell ✨

#studentconfidence #studentwellbeing #studentwellness #studentsupport #inclusionmatters

We love reading this book and talking about risk taking! By the amazing @maddymarabooks and @laurenjdg

#risktaking #studentgrowth #studentlearning

A great book for inclusion! By the wonderful @nickieslergill and @_ingedaniels

#inclusion #inclusionmatters

I love this story! It was one of the first ones I bought when I first started teaching! By the incredible @sallyrippinauthor

#disabilityawareness #disabilityinclusion #studentawareness

A wonderful book celebrating the magic of words! By the amazing @peterhreynolds

#literacymatters #literacy #wordcollectors

A lovely story about a dictionary! By the amazing @oliverjeffers

A beautiful story to learn about the magic of the seasons and different months. It is so beautifully written and illustrated by @janiegodwin and @_annawalker_

#seasonlove #learning #picturebooks by @maddymarabooks

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3 months ago