The Ballad of Melodie Rose
By Kate Gordon Illustrated by Rachel Tribout Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Kate Gordon returns to middle grade magical realism with The Ballad of Melodie Rose, a companion tale to The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn. When we meet Melodie Rose on the front steps of
Ellie’s Dragon
By Bob Graham Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bob Graham has been writing and illustrating picture books for about 50 years. He has won too many awards for me to mention here. A new book by him is always a treat. Ellie’s Dragon is
Across the Sea: Wolf Girl 5
By Anh Do Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh Reviewed by Sarah Custance Anh Do is a well-known Australian personality in comedy, T.V, art, and writing. He is the author of the much-loved children’s series WeirDo, Ninja Kid, and the HotDog books. His newer series,
The Best Friend Promise: MerTales 1
By Rebecca Timmis Reviewed by Sarah Custance Rebecca Timmis is an Australian author-illustrator based in the Queensland Gold Coast. The Best Friend Promise is her first book and the start of a series of MerTales about four young mermaids who gain magical
Trouble in the Surf
By Stephanie Owen Reeder Illustrated by Briony Stewart Reviewed by Margarite Igras Stephanie Owen Reeder has spent many childhood hours on Bondi Beach and has transformed her experiences into a true story about the dangers of the surf as well providing an introduction
Meet Megan Forward at the Understory Exhibition
Understory: An Adventure in the Art of Illustration featuring the work of Megan Forward - Caroline Magerl - Sue Wright Meet Megan ‘I'm grateful to Story Links for this opportunity to showcase the ephemera, the Understory, from my journals, research, and working drawings, that lead
The Tale of the Whale
by Karen Swann Reviewed by Jillian Custance This is the first picture book written by UK author Karen Swann. Padmacandra, a Scottish author and illustrator of a number of books has provided the beautiful illustrations for this story. The poetic style of this
What Beauty There Is
By Cory Anderson Reviewed by Sue Wright Things are dire for 17 year old Jack Dahl and his beloved younger brother Matty. Their mother—no longer able to cope—is dead: Jack buried her himself, and with their violent father still in jail for
Illustrators’ Art Exhibition
Understory: An Adventure in the Art of Illustration featuring the work of Megan Forward - Caroline Magerl - Sue Wright Date: Monday 21 June – Sunday 27 June, 2021 at the Richard Randall Art Studio, Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane Time: Open Daily 10.00 am Free
The Greatest Inventor
By Ben Brooks Illustrated by George Ermos Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro Ben Brooks is the successful author of numerous children’s books, most famously Stories for Boys who Dare to be Different. The Greatest Inventor is an unexpectedly insightful tale of village
Night Ride into Danger
Written by Jackie French. Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Stories that speak to her ancestry and personal history have inspired another engaging historical fiction from the prolific Jackie French. The night run of the Cobb and Co mail coach to Goulburn was a gruelling,
Kay’s Anatomy
A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human Body Written by Adam Kay Illustrated by Henry Paker Reviewed by Zewlan Moor It’s a great title. Any parents or teachers scanning the shelves will be sure to notice the title and be transported back
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