It's dragon month, which means we're talking fire, scales, and flying. To kick off the month, we dive headfirst into all the dragon lore we know and try to figure out what we consider True Dragon Lore (hint: none, it's all valid). We talk about what we'd like to shoot from our mouths, whether our wings are our arms, and just how small a dragon can get before it's too small. Most importantly, we answer the burning question of whether a dragon is a horse.

This month we’re reading How to Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. Grab your copy and have a read before our bookclub on 21st May!

MENTIONS

Books
How to Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
To Ride a Raising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Temeraire by Naomi Novik
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland
Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons by Dugald Steer
Bringing Up Baby Dragons: A Guide for Beginners by Dugald Steer
Working with Dragons: A Course in Dragonology by Dugald Steer
The Discovery of Dragons by Graeme Base
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Beowulf
Magician by Raymond Feist

Films/TV
Dragonheart (1996)
The Neverending Story (1984)
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Reign of Fire (2002)
Cars (2006)
Monkey Magic (1978-1980)
Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
House of the Dragon (2022-)
Avatar (2009)
Shrek (2001)
Merlin BBC (2008-2012)
Merlin miniseries (1998)

LINKS

• 🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW

🌸 Our Socials:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/
• TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub

💛 Where to find Amy:

• Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/
• Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor
• Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/

Thank you so much for listening!💞

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's our first After Dark of the season, and we're revisiting a childhood classic, Dragonheart, as a bridge between April's YA month and our upcoming theme for May: dragons!

We reflect on the movie, discuss the lore behind the original script, lament at the lost potential for a romance between Dennis Quaid and Draco, and then deep dive into the fantasy films that we feel nostalgic for (they're just not making them like Ladyhawke anymore . . .)

MENTIONS

Films/TV:

Jurassic Park, 1993

Starship Troopers, 1997

Excalibur, 1981

Robin Hood, 1991

Ladyhawke, 1985

Willow, 1988

Conan the Barbarian, 1982

How to Train Your Dragon, 2010

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, 2002

The Matrix, 1999

Akira, 1988

Neon Genesis, 1995

Princess Bride, 1987

The Dark Crystal, 1982

Hook, 1991

Inkheart, 2008

A Knight's Tale, 2001

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, 2003

The Lord of the Rings, 2001

The Mummy, 1999

Night at the Museum, 2006

Scarface, 1983

Lionheart, 1987

Red Sonja, 1985

Flesh and Blood, 1985

Braveheart, 1995

Kingdom of Heaven, 2005

Bridge to Terabithia, 2007

The Chronicles of Narnia, 2005

Reign of Fire, 2002

Beowulf, 2007

Hercule, 2014

Clash of the Titans, 2010

Jason and the Argonauts, 2000

Game of Thrones, 2011

House of the Dragon, 2022

Willow (TV Series), 2022

Dinotopia, 2002

Dragonheart: Vengeance, 2020

Slipper and the Rose, 1976

Authors:

Charles Edward Pogue

Actors:

Dennis Quaid

Sean Connery

Dina Meyer

David Thewlis

Liam Neeson

Helen Mirren

Tim Allen

Jackie Chan

Tom Hanks

Jim Henson

Paul Bettany

Daniel Craig

Rachel Weisz

Michelle Pfeiffer

Eric Stoltz

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Christian Bale

Dwayne Johnson

Other:

Rob Cohen, Director & Film Maker

LINKS

🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW

🌸 Our Socials:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub

💛 Where to find Amy:

Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/

Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor

Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/

Thank you so much for listening! 💞

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cath is entertained by Penny Tangey’s tale of murder, motherhood and caffeine as a group of unlikely sleuths solve a crime at the local library.

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Michaela talks to Lisa Hannett about the fierce and fantastical women of Norse mythology who star in her riveting new book “Yet She Lives”.

Guests:
Penny Tangey, author of “What Rhymes with Murder?” and a number of books for younger people including “As Fast As I Can” and “Music Camp”,

Associate Professor Lisa Bennett, author of “Yet She Lives” and “ Viking Women: Life and Lore” and “The Fortunate Isles”. Lisa writes under the pen name of Lisa Hannett.

Other books that get a mention:

David Malouf’s “Remembering Babylon”, “Johnno”, “An Imaginary Life” and “The Great World”.

INSTAGRAM

@simonandschuster
@thamesandhudsonau

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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Kerry Williams Director Teaching and Learning at SPELD SA Inc (speldsa.org.au), to unpack one of Australia’s most pressing education challenges. Together, they explore how literacy instruction has evolved and why evidence-based practice is now gaining traction across schools.

Kerry shares her journey from classroom teacher to literacy leader. As a result, she brings a unique perspective shaped by years of supporting educators and students with learning difficulties. Moreover, she explains how organisations like SPELD SA bridge the gap between research and classroom practice.

The conversation highlights the shift away from outdated “wait to fail” models. Instead, Kerry explains how tools like DIBELS, linked to Student Maps (xuno.com.au/student-maps), enable early identification of struggling readers. Consequently, teachers can intervene sooner with targeted, effective strategies. She also outlines the five key components of reading, showing how each plays a vital role in building confident, capable learners.

In addition, the episode explores the rise of structured literacy and synthetic phonics in Australian classrooms. While progress is evident, Kerry notes that misconceptions still persist. For example, outdated practices and myths about dyslexia continue to influence teaching approaches. Therefore, ongoing professional learning remains essential.

Kerryalso addresses the importance of early intervention. She emphasises that support should focus on student need rather than diagnosis. As she explains, increased practice and targeted instruction often deliver the strongest outcomes. Furthermore, she highlights the equity challenges families face when accessing assessments and support.

The discussion also reinforces the importance of balancing foundational skills with a love of reading. Once decoding is mastered, students can fully engage with rich literature and expand their vocabulary. As a result, both skill and curiosity are nurtured together.

This episode offers practical insights for educators committed to improving literacy outcomes. Ultimately, it reinforces that when evidence meets action, every student has a stronger chance to succeed.

Powered by: xuno.com.au

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Eggshell is a young adult novella set in 2000s Adelaide that tells the story of Kira, a sarcastic, cynical teenager living in a council house with her Cantonese grandmother (Apoh) and her rebellious older cousin, Jake. As Kira navigates her experience of Year 12, the novella grapples with themes of identity, racism, romance, sexuality and adolescence.

Join Amy, Payton & Abby as we deep dive into Eggshell and ask each other important questions about teenagers, racism, class, loss, and the young adult genre as a whole (oh, and of course which songs are (and are not) going on the playlists we curate for our crushes).

LINKS

🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW

📚 Where to find Olivia:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/oliviadezilva/

WEBSITE: https://oliviadezilva.com/

OPINIONATED CLUB: https://www.instagram.com/opinionatedclub/

🌸 Our Socials:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub

💛 Where to find Amy:

Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/

Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor

Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/

Thank you so much for listening! 💞

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us in conversation with New York Times bestselling author, Amie Kaufman, as we continue Young Adult month! We discuss the novels that shaped Amie as a young adult herself, the YA genre as a literature of transformation, what it's like to write in conversation with teenagers, how to find the quiet moments when writing with pace, how Amie got a tour of NASA, and we take a peek into Amie's soon-to-be finished PhD research (one of us, one of us).

MENTIONS

Books

The Baby-sitters Club, Ann M. Martin

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Jules Verne

The Dark Is Rising, Susan Cooper

The Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey

Lady's Knight, Amie Kaufman

Red Star Rebels, Amie Kaufman

Illuminae, Amie Kaufman

Films/TV

A Knight's Tale, 2001

The Martian, 2015

Die Hard, 1988

Home Alone, 1990

Speed, 1994

Authors

Marie Lu

Dhonielle CLayton

Lisa Fuller

Sabaa Tahir

Amy Doak

Ellie Marney

Other

Michael Whelan, Artist

Oasis, Band

Miyazaki, Animator and Filmmaker

LINKS

🚀 Where to find Amie Kaufman:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/amiekaufmanauthor

WEB: https://amiekaufman.com

Amie Kaufman On Writing: A Podcast: https://amiekaufman.com/podcast/

PUB DATES: https://open.spotify.com/show/33aX9ceG027L7tfU3GK5av

🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW

🌸 Our Socials:

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/7i5qAqqPTopptVlXXfHi3J

IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub

💛 Where to find Amy:

Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amymatthewsauthor/

Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor

Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/

Thank you so much for listening!💞

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that Rove McManus is an accomplished voice actor?

You probably recognise Rove as one of Australia's most famous personalities. From his successful career as a standup comedian, long-running TV host, producer, children's author and overall cool guy, Rove has seen and done it all.

Rach and Eddie learn about Rove's transition from cartoonist to voice actor, his love of animation, and get a preview of what Rove’s dreaming up next. This episode is a must-hear for anyone wanting to learn about the industry from a seasoned professional.

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Can you remember what it was like to be a teenager? This week, author Olivia De Zilva joins us again to recall the feelings and stories that shaped us when we were young. As an ex-teenager and current writer for teens/young adults, Olivia has much wisdom to share about the whimsy and grittiness that characterise those formative years. Over the past few decades, what’s changed and what’s remained the same about books for young readers? What do teenagers really want to read? And how do authors express life’s messiness to younger audiences without being paternalistic?

If you love YA or know somebody who does — check out Olivia De Zilva’s latest novel, Eggshell! It’s the current Amy & book of the month and we’d love to see you at our live book club over on YouTube on April 23 (7pm ACST).

MENTIONS:

Authors:
Jacqueline Wilson
John Green
Lemony Snicket
Rachel Hennessy

Books:
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Eggshell by Olivia De Zilva
First Love from Silhouette series by Silhouette Books New York
Hating Alison Ashley by Robin Klein
I Am David by Anne Holm
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson
Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
Max Remy Super Spy by Deborah Abela
My Spare Heart by Jared Thomas
Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park
Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan
Specky Magee by Felice Arena & Garry Lyon
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
The Saddle Club by Bonnie Bryant
The Time Master Trilogy by Louise Cooper
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
Tom Brown’s School Days by Thomas Hughes
Warriors by Erin Hunter
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Film & TV:
Bluey (2018–)
BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
Daria (1997-2002)
Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
Skins (2007-2013)
The OC (2003-2007)
The Princess Diaries (2001)
The Saddle Club (2001-2009)
Wuthering Heights (2026)

Other:
Molly Goodrich, 2020, ‘The Rise and Fall of YA’, Your Magazine, August 8
@Comfortable_Bell9539 ‘As a former fan, I feel betrayed by her’, r/EnoughJKRowling, Reddit

LINKS:

🎵 Our theme music is by Mass Wisteria. Stream their single SAME OLD here: https://tr.ee/Mn6oTQ2AOW

🌸 Our Socials:
* IG: https://www.instagram.com/amyandbookclub
* FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/169K69qXsh/
* TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@amyandbookclub

💛 Where to find Amy:
* Amy Matthews on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ amymatthewsauthor/
* Amy Barry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amybarryauthor
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAmyTMatthewsauthor
* Website: https://amymatthewsauthor.com/

Thank you so much for listening! 💞

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.