Episode 213: 10 minutes with Gabrielle Wang

July 30, 2025

In episode 213 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast:

10 minutes with Gabrielle Wang

Allison chats to award-winning author Gabrielle Wang about her magical latest novel ‘The Silken Thread’, listening to the ghosts, and writing again after her term as the Australian Children’s Laureate.

Books we mention

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Bookmail and TBR pile

‘Run’ by Sarah Armstrong (Interview Episode 112)

‘Cloudmaker’ by Helen Milroy (Interview Episode 189) (Teachers’ Notes)

‘This Bird: Noticing Our Urban Birds’ by Astred Hicks with Holly Parsons (Interview with Astred Hicks Episode 139)

NEW EDITION: ‘Raising Readers: How to Nurture a Child’s Love of Books’ by Megan Daley

Other

Big Magic by Sarah Armstrong

Magic Awry by Sarah Armstrong

Salt Rain by Sarah Armstrong

‘Danger Road’ by A. L. Tait

10 minutes with Gabrielle Wang

About Gabrielle Wang

Gabrielle Wang is an author and illustrator, and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2022 to 2023. Born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage, her maternal great-grandfather came to Victoria during the Gold Rush and her father was from Shanghai. Her stories are a blend of Chinese and Western culture with a touch of fantasy.

Gabrielle’s first children’s novel, The Garden of Empress Cassia, won the 2002 Aurealis Award, was shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards and was a CBCA Notable Book. The Pearl of Tiger Bay was shortlisted for the 2004 Aurealis Award and The Lion Drummer was a Notable Book in the 2009 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

A Ghost in My Suitcase won the 2009 Aurealis Award, was a CBC Notable Book, was shortlisted for the 2011 Sakura Medal and received a Highly Commended in the 2010 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. Her first young adult novel, Little Paradise also received a Highly Commended in the 2011 Prime Minister’s Awards. Gabrielle’s picture book The Race for the Chinese Zodiac (2010) illustrated by Sally Rippin and Regine Abos was a Notable Book in the CBCA Awards for 2011 and shortlisted for the 2011 YABBA and WAYBRA awards. Gabrielle created two characters, Poppy and Pearlie, for the highly successful Our Australian Girl series.

The Wishbird was a CBCA 2014 Notable Book and was shortlisted for the 2014 Australian Book Design Awards, Yabba Awards, Kroc Awards, Koala Awards, Cool Awards and Crystal Kite Award. Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon was shortlisted for the 2023 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards, and the Queensland Literary Awards.

Gabi’s books also include the suspenseful The Beast of Hushing Wood for middle readers, and a sequel to the award-winning A Ghost in My Suitcase called Ting Ting the Ghosthunter.

Find out more.

About ‘The Silken Thread’

A magical story of friendship forged over distance between two children, from very different worlds, who share a common experience of loss and a passion for a life where dreams can come true.

Moonie lives in Melbourne and dreams of designing dresses for movie stars. Eight thousand kilometres away, on Chongming Island in China, peasant boy Little Dipper cares for the silkworms on his family’s farm and hopes to learn English.

On the day Moonie’s beloved Ma Mi goes away, Little Dipper appears in her house. Before they can speak, he is whisked back home. Aided by a magical silk cocoon, Little Dipper’s visits become a regular event and although neither knows how or why they are connected their bond grows each time.

Will the silken threads of friendship be enough to help Moonie bring Ma Mi home, or to save Little Dipper from the troublesome ghosts who stand between him and his dream of learning English?

Find out more.

Published by Penguin Books Australia