Daisy and Bear and the Very Ordinary Day
By Haylee Hackenberg Illustrated by Bianca Pozzi Reviewed by Margarite Igras Brisbane-based debut author Haylee Hackenberg has written a charming story for young children that questions what is ordinary when two children play and use their imagination. Daisy wearing her petalled skirt and her
Grandma’s Treasured Shoes
By Coral Vass Illustrated by Christina Huynh Reviewed by Margarite Igras Coral Vass is an award-winning Australian children’s author who wanted to write a book about walking in someone else’s shoes. Together with the illustrator Christina Huynh, they have created a beautiful, simple
Heroes of the Secret Underground
By Susanne Gervay Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Susanne Gervay, acclaimed Australian author of the I Am Jack series, along with various picture books and standalone novels, has written a powerful and moving middle grade novel inspired by her family's experiences in Nazi-occupied
Lightfall: The Girl & The Galdurian
By Tim Probert Reviewed by Sarah Custance Tim Probert is a New York illustrator and an Art Director at the Nathan Love animation studio. The Girl & The Galdurian is his first novel and the first book in the Lightfall graphic novel
Joanna Wisbey wins 2021 Short Story Competition
Congratulations to Joanna Wisbey whose short story, The Cake, won the 2021 StoryLinks Short Story competition. Judges' comments: A carefully crafted story that uses humour and insight to present a touching snapshot of a blended family wedding. Enjoy THE CAKE by Joanna
2021 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist announced.
Book Links is proud to announce the 2021 Shortlist for the inaugural Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction. Here are six brilliant books that excel at developing an understanding and appreciation of history for children. Congratulations to everyone on the shortlist. Historical
Elsewhere Girls
By Emily Gale and Nova Weetman Reviewed by Sarah Custance Emily Gale and Nova Weetman are both Melbourne based authors who are much celebrated in their chosen genres. Emily Gale has written many acclaimed YA novels such as the Eliza Boom Diaries,
Michaela Mason’s Big List of 23 Worries
By Alexa Moses Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Australian author and screenwriter Alexa Moses introduces a likeable and nuanced main character in this middle grade novel about moving towns, making friends and facing fears.⠀ Ten-year-old Michaela Mason has a lot of worries. So many,
The Gilded Ones
By Namina Forna Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Namina, born in Sierra Leone, is an American author of young adult fiction and a successful screenwriter. The Gilded Ones, a fantasy about a teenager with special powers, is her YA debut novel and the
Ancient World Magnified
By David Long Illustrated by Andy Rowland Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David Long is the author of Pirates Magnified, Egypt Magnified and Castles Magnified. In Ancient World Magnified he covers significant ancient civilisations. It will appeal to everyone fascinated by ancient history, it even comes with
Terry Denton’s Really Truly Amazing Guide to Everything
By Terry Denton, Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Terry is famous as one of the duo who produces the wildly popular Treehouse series of books with Andy Griffiths. Here he is on his own, writing about, well, everything. He covers history and the science
Before You Were Born
By Katrina Germein Illustrated Helene Magisson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Katrina writes picture books about family life in Australia and Helene is a French artist now living in Brisbane. She recently wrote and illustrated a book about a puppet Claudette. In Before You Were
IBBY Book Collection for Young People with Disabilities
Many young people with disabilities cannot read or enjoy a regular book, or they cannot find a suitable book among the many publications available. Therefore, they need specially produced books or selected regular books of literary and artistic quality that
StoryLinks interviews Inda Ahmad Zahri
Inda Ahmad Zahri talked with Mia Macrossan about her writing life and her debut picture book Salih About Inda Books have got her into a number of sticky situations… 'As a little girl, I read in the dark when I should’ve been asleep.
Eliza Vanda’s Button Box
By Emily Rodda Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another original fantasy from one of Australia's best-loved writers for children. Almost every family has a button box filled with odd buttons collected over the years, but Eliza Vanda's button box contains some
Funny Kid Prank Aliens (Funny Kid, #9)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Prolific Australian author-illustrator Matt Stanton returns with the ninth book in his popular 'Funny Kid' series. Young readers will enjoy the main character's pranks, rants and overblown-confidence-followed-by-public-humiliation routine that are a staple of this series. When
Pandemic
By Jackie French & Bruce Whatley Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Picture book royalty – Jackie French and Bruce Whatley – have united again to create a timely story simply titled Pandemic. It tells a story based on the arrival of Spanish flu in
Honeybee
By Craig Silvey Reviewed by Margarite Igras Another highly acclaimed young adult fiction by this Australian author, previously best known for Jasper Jones which was made into a popular film. Honeybee is inspired by a real event which occurred when Silvey’s brother and
The Protected
By Claire Zorn Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Young Adult novels often take the form of sci-fi, fantasy or dystopia, taking us to amazing worlds full of dragons, aliens, or earth-changing catastrophes. Not so The Protected, an award winning novel by Claire Zorn
StoryLinks interviews Claire Zorn
Claire Zorn talked with Margaret McKay-Lowndes about her latest book When We Are Invisible and a writing life. Claire Zorn is the author of three highly acclaimed novels for Young Adults, as well as a picture book for children entitled No
The World Between Blinks
By Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes What do Amelia Earhart, Prime Minister Harold Holt and Queen Nefertiti have in common? Well, they all disappeared without trace and now make an appearance in the World Between Blinks, a world
Pawcasso
By Remy Lai Reviewed by Sarah Custance Remy Lai is the Brisbane based author of the critically acclaimed books Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall. Pawcasso is her first full length graphic novel. Jo is looking at a long and
Book Links Award for 2021 Children’s Historical Fiction Longlist announced!
The waiting is over, the longlist is out. Out of sixty entries eighteen titles have been selected as outstanding works of historical fiction for children. Historical fiction is an important way for young readers to engage with our history. It’s also
Shortlist for 2021 Story competition announced.
Four stories were chosen that, in the opinion of the judges, had interesting characters and relevant themes, were well structured, and had child appeal. Pigpen Apples by Annaleise Byrd Abbie plays a trick on her sister Ellie that goes spectacularly awry. Abbie
