How to Be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five
By Carla Fitzgerald Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Carla Fitzgerald is a Sydney-based author who has previously published the picture book Keeping Up with the Dachshunds. How to Be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five is her debut middle grade novel. The book opens
Where You Left Us
By Rhiannon Wilde Reviewed by Jane Swinton It was a joy to read Sunshine Coast author Rhiannon Wilde’s Where You Left Us. The book has captured Australian quirky humour and the darkly grim affection, that is typical of adolescents everywhere. The story is
Zadie Ma and the Dog who Chased the Moon
By Gabrielle Wang Reviewed by Sarah Custance Gabrielle Wang is an Australian author who has written over 20 books for middle-grade audiences. She is the current Australian Children’s Laureate (2022 – 2023) and Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon
We Run Tomorrow
By Nat Amoore Illustrated by Mike Barry Reviewed by Sarah Custance Nat Amoore is the author of Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire, The Power of Positive Pranking, and The Right Way to Rock all based around different children in the fictional school of
Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat
By Ursula Moray Williams Reviewed by Sarah Custance UK author Ursula Moray Williams (1911-2006) wrote 68 books for children throughout her lifetime. The two books that she is most well known for are Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse and Gobbolino the
How to Repaint a Life – CBCA Honours Older Readers
By Steven Herrick Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Brisbane born Steven Herrick has been writing fiction, poetry and verse novels for young people for many years. His latest, How to Repaint a Life is an honour book in the 2022 CBCA Older Reader
The Comedienne’s Guide to Pride
By Hayli Thomson Reviewed by Rose Hill As a fan of YA I was excited to be asked to review Hayli Thomson’s debut novel. I was hoping to love this book more than I did, the romance, coming of age story line
Being Honest with Nova Weetman
Nova Weetman, most recently the author of Elsewhere Girls (with Emily Gale), The Edge of Thirteen, Sick Bay and The Secrets We Keep was asked to give the keynote speech at the 2022 Ipswich StoryArts festival. She chose to talk about
Australian Backyard Buddies
Created by Andy Geppert Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Andy is an Australian illustrator based in Brisbane who previous books include Little Big Tree which won the Crichton Award for a new illustrator in 2010, and Meep, a CBCA Notable Book in 2016. For
My Baba is the Best
Written by Bachar Houli Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bachar Houli is a noted AFL football player and devout Muslim who has successfully promoted various community initiatives. This is his first picture book. It is a colourful depiction of Muslim family
Ninni Yabini
By Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Tyrown Waigana Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is a dual language book written in English and the language of the Noongar people of SW Western Australia. The story is based on a tale, passed down in the oral
All the Words I Need to Know
Written by Jane Godwin & Illustrated by Andrew Joyner Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “All the words you need to know Will help you as you learn and grow. From ant and ball and yak and zoo, Here’s a word book JUST FOR YOU!” Jane Godwin, an
2022 CBCA Winners announced
Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers who won one of the prestigious CBCA awards this year. It is always a suspenseful and eagerly awaited event to see which book will win the coveted gong. Here are the StoryLinks reviews for
The Fowl Twins: Get What They Deserve
By Eoin Colfer Reviewed by Sarah Custance Eoin Colfer is the mastermind behind the bestselling Artemis Fowl series and has now written a spinoff series about Artemis’ younger twin brothers. Get What They Deserve is the third book in The Fowl Twins
A Reluctant Witch’s Guide to Magic
By Shivaun Plozza Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Shivaun Plozza won multiple awards for her debut novel Frankie and has since gone on to write both YA and middle-grade books such as Tin Heart and The Boy, The Wolf and the
The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Anxious Artist
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Sarah Custance Award winning Australian author Katrina Nannestad has been making waves with two of her most recent works We Are Wolves and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief. Her other works also include series
Dancing with Memories
Written by Sally Yule, with contributions by Ralph Martin and Maggie Beer Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Margarite Igras This book is a useful and gentle introduction for young children about dementia and memory loss. The central character is Lucy whose journey
I’m a Dirty Dinosaur Hide and Seek
A Lift-the-flap book Created by Janeen Brian and Ann James Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Janeen Brian and Ann James are the creators of the award winning I'm a Dirty Dinosaur(2019), famously illustrated using real mud. Now here is a sequel, a lift-the-flap book
This Little Joey
Created by Renee Treml Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Since moving to Australia from the US in 2007 Renee has been inspired by the diversity of our wildlife and has produced a award winning list of titles that range from board books for
Sunny the Shark: Surviving the Wild 3
Created by Remy Lai Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Remy is a Brisbane author who has successfully built up a large audience for her cheerful but heartfelt graphic novels. This is the third in her environmental series for younger readers Surviving the Wild which focus
But I’m NOT Hungry For My Dinner!
Written by Valerie Gent Illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan Reviewed by Claire Monsour Valerie Gent is a Paediatric Feeding Speech Pathologist and this is her first children’s book, dedicated to her two sons, who in her words, “have taught me all that I
Boss of Your Own Body
Written by Byll and Beth Stephen (Teeny Tiny Stevies) Illustrated by Simon Howe Reviewed by Claire Monsour Sisters Beth and Byll Stephen are best known for the music group ‘The Little Stevies’, and their children’s band ‘Teeny Tiny Stevies’. Their popular children’s songs,
Grub
By Sandra Severgnini Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sandra is really hitting her stride as a children's picture book illustrator as is shown in her impressive new book Grub. By the way, what a wonderfully direct, simple, memorable and somehow very Australian title.
Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens
By Allison Rushby & Bronte Rose Marando Reviewed by Barbara Braxton 1872. Miss Strickland’s School for Girls of an Enquiring Mind and Penny Pickering's mind is wandering, as it often does, in Miss Pugh's lessons. She's sketching ideas about what might happen
Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships now open for 2022.
Writing NSW is excited to announce the return of the Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships for 2022. The Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships are awarded annually to writers who have a work of fiction, creative non-fiction, a play, or a suite of poems that is
The Detective’s Guide to New York City
By Nicki Greenberg Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd The Detective's Guide to New York City is the sequel to Nicki Greenberg's debut middle grade mystery novel, The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel. In the first book, we were introduced to thirteen-year-old Pepper Stark and
