About StoryLinks
StoryLinks is a children’s book review site supported by Book Links.
We believe that children’s literature plays an important part in shaping culture, expanding knowledge, increasing empathy and empowering children and we will review children’s books accordingly.
We aim to be champions for children’s literature, children’s authors and illustrators and hope to inspire children, families, librarians, teachers and anyone else to value story and this art form.
Book Reviews
We publish reviews on the latest books for children and young adults, including board books, picture books, junior fiction, middle grade and YA.
Reading Lists
Popular lists of recommended reading arranged under headings, useful for both parents and teachers when looking for books on particular topics. Prepared by Dajo Finlayson.
Interviews
Read our interviews with a growing list of people who are significant in the world of children’s literature, including authors, illustrators, teacher librarians and more.
Competitions
Every year StoryLinks runs two short story competitions, one in the beginning of the year for adult writers of children’s stories and one, in the second half of the year for young writers in grades 4,5 & 6.
Latest Reviews
Rabunzel
By Gareth P. Jones Illustrated by Loretta Schauer Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Rabunzel has a teeny tufty tail, a twitchy nose and two wide brown eyes. She also has VERY long ears – so long that her mother worries they […]
The Midnight Girls
By Alicia Jasinska Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jasinska is an Australian fantasy writer whose debut novel The Dark Tide made quite an impression. The Midnight Girls is her second and again borrows a lot from East European folklore. This makes […]
Holiday Reading for 2022
Happy Holidays everyone 🙂 Here is a mix of titles, old and new guaranteed to enthral middle grade readers. They have been tried and tested by our readers and reviewers and I know you will find something that children of […]
The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read
Written by David Sundin Illustrated by Alexis Holmqvist Translated by B.J. Woodstein Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Ah, what a beautiful fabric bound, gold embossed fairy tale story this appears to be. But no! … it’s The Book that Did Not […]
Tala The Bengal Tiger
By Beverly Jatwani Illustrated by Sunita Chawdhary Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is the second book in the Together we can change the world series. Beverly Jutwani has woven her Indian heritage of spices, village life, and the night sound […]
A Whole Lot of Lemonade Jones
By Davina Bell Illustrated by Karen Blair Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Lemonade Jones likes making life loud and exciting and these three stories do just that. Story One: The First Day Back has Lemonade strutting confidently into Year One, but […]
Endgame
By Malorie Blackman Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Noughts and Crosses is Malorie Blackman’s epic six novel series which has been 20 years in the making. Endgame is the final instalment, the others being Noughts and Crosses, Knife Edge, Checkmate, Double Cross, Crossfire. Endgame and […]
A Tale of Two Dragons
By Geraldine McCaughrean Illustrated by Peter Malone Reviewed by Barbara Braxton The kingdoms of Arbor with its lush forests, and Pomosa rich with farmland, are separated by a high, thorny hedge and they have no love between them. But at […]
Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life
By Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan Illustrated by Angela Rizza Reviewed by Mia Macrossan There are many books about dinosaurs published each year but this one is a standout for beauty within and without. I know you are not supposed to judge a […]
Winners receive cash prizes and will have their stories published on this website.
Latest Interviews
‘Born in history, immortalised in story.’ Six award winning writers reveal how they write historical fiction
The excitement and anticipation is mounting as we get to the countdown to the announcement of the winner of the inaugural Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction. The six writers on the shortlist have revealed the how and why […]
Meg McKinlay talks about writing historical fiction
‘When I’m drawn to historical fiction, I think it’s because of the empathic connections it enables between our contemporary lives and those of people in the past.’ Meg McKinlay is a much awarded writer and poet of picture books, chapter […]
Maree Coote talks about writing historical fiction
‘Historical fiction can also be the telling of a true story—based on real events—that is lifted it out of its time to reset the story as a universal tale. Born in history, immortalised in story.’ Maree Coote is a writer, […]
