Rakali of the Riverbank
By Stephanie Owen Reeder & Rachel Gregg Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Stephanie Owen Reeder is the author of over 20 historical and environmental books for children, including Trouble in the Surf. She has won both the CBCA Book of the Year Award
Everglade 1: Rise of the Witch
By Kitty Black Illustrated by Rebecca Crane Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Australian author Kitty Black's debut middle grade novel. She is best known to date for her many picture books which include If I Were a Lion, Mr Bat Wants a
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!
By Pamela Allen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Pamela Allen is in her 90th year and still creating marvellous picture books. Since her first publication in 1980, her picture books have enchanted generations of children around the world, and have garnered a glittering array
Alexander’s Outing
By Pamela Allen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Since her first publication in 1980, New Zealander Pamela Allen's picture books have enchanted generations of children around the world, and have garnered a glittering array of awards and commendations including six Children’s Book Council
The Bin Monster
By Annabelle Hale Reviewed by Margarite Igras Annabelle Hale has written and illustrated a fun picture book about a well-known Australian topic that we all have experienced. Those pesky birds that that raid our bins, spreading rubbish and food scraps everywhere. This
Meet the Author: Sandhya Parappukkaran
By Lauren Spender Sandhya is a children's author who believes owning one's cultural identity cultivates happy, holistic people. She lives in Brisbane and works as a library assistant in a public library. She says her experience there has given her great
The Last Egg
By Sophie Laguna & Jess Racklyeft Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Last Egg, by Sophie Laguna and Jess Racklyeft, is a beautifully crafted picture book that explores themes of love, loyalty, and resilience. When Mother Bird and Father Bird discover a
The Mushroom in the Sky
Written by Jackie French Reviewed by Jenny Ruge The Mushroom in the Sky is the latest in a long line of exceptional and thought-provoking stories from multi-award winner Jackie French. It’s 1942 and sixteen-year-old orphan Harry Oswald, ‘Ossie’, plans to lie about his
The Silken Thread
Written and illustrated by Gabrielle Wang Reviewed by Jenny Ruge From the 2022-2023 Australian Children’s Laureate, Gabrielle Wang, comes another heartfelt tale of love and loss, friendship and family. The author of successful novels such as A Ghost in My Suitcase and
Filling in the Map: Exploring Inland Australia
By Carole Wilkinson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Carole Wilkinson is a prolific author perhaps best known for her Dragonkeeper series but she has an impressive list of non-fiction titles to her name, many concerned with Australian history. Filling in the Map is
The Giant
By Sophie Masson & Lorena Carrington Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Giant is a new release from Sophie Masson and Lorena Carrington, who previously collaborated on the exquisite Satin (2023). Both creators have a deep knowledge of fairy stories and folk
Finn and the Pen
By David Lawrence Illustrated by P.J. Reece with Cherie Dignam Reviewed by Meg Rowe The Pen is back! When Finn, a music loving, story writing 11-year-old orphan, discovers the pen he finds has strange magical powers, he can’t believe his luck. With the
Washpool
By Lisa Fuller Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Washpool is the second novel by Lisa Fuller, a Wulli Wulli woman and award-winning writer. Unlike the darker mysteries of her previous YA novel, Ghost Bird, Washpool is a surreal fantasy fit for any middle-grade
Our Infinite Fates
By Laura Steven Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey In an unnamed land, Our Infinite Fates begins centuries ago and introduces a young bride and groom as their wedding is brought to a dramatic and violent end. Jumping between times and tales, Evelyn and Arden
Meet the Author: Ashleigh Barton
Ashleigh Barton is a prolific Australian writer for children, whose infectious enthusiasm for reading and creative expression makes her a hit with adults and children alike at schools and festivals. She enjoys inspiring young audiences to value books and to
The Susurrus
By Genevieve Young Evans & Cate James Reviewed by Margarite Igras Genevieve Young-Evans has written a playful story with a strange title that is sure to attract the interest of the younger four- to six-year-old reader. What is this strange thing called
Moonlight and Dust
By Jasmin McGaughey Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Moonlight and Dust is the debut Young Adult novel from Torres Strait Islander author Jasmin McGaughey. Paired with the magic and drama of being a teenager in far north Queensland, this book is a beautiful
The Great Dawn Choir
By Sarah Speedie & Cindy Lane Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Each day the Great Dawn Choir greets the morning sun. Together in the growing light, their voices join as one. … Here come the fairy-wrens, from bush to bush they flitter. Then
The Enchantment of Golden Eagle
By Margaret Wild & Stephen Michael King Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Margaret Wild and Stephen Michael King need little introduction to fans of Australian picture books. Each has an extensive oeuvre of award-winning titles and is revered by readers and fellow
Parrot Palace
by Susanne Gervay with Pooja Mathur Illustrated by Sarah Tabassum Reviewed by Meg Rowe With a host of books and awards to her name Susanne Gervay is a master storyteller whose work shines in its ability to engage with important social and cultural
Book Links News August 2025
Here is the latest roundup of all that is interesting, exciting, important in children's literature in our part of the world. Book events early as they often sell out. Book Links News August 2025
All the Beautiful Things wins 2025 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction
By Mia Macrossan Congratulations to Katrina Nannestad whose book All the Beautiful Things has won this year's Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction. This is the third time that she has won this award having won in 2023 with Waiting for
A Box Full of Murders
Written by Janice Hallet Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Ava’s and Luke’s parents have separated. Ava lives with Mum and Luke lives with Dad, but when Luke finds a Top Secret box in his dad’s attic, they start an adventure together, via SMS,
We Used to be Magic
By Bea Ingalls Reviewed by Lucie Rose We Used to Be Magic is a glamourous drama romance set in the fashion filled streets of New York City. A few months ago, Audrey was plucked from a cold seaside cottage and pushed into
Eleanor Jones is Playing with Fire
By Amy Doak Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins When I heard there was a third book in the Eleanor Jones series, I jumped at the chance to review it. Each book of the series focuses on a different issue: drugs in Eleanor Jones
Hedgehog or Echidna?
Animals who are the same . . . but different! By Ashleigh Barton & Amandine Thomas Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Hedgehog and Echidna stop in their shuffly tracks when they meet each other in the forest, surprised to meet someone who is so similar to
Invisible Boys
By Holden Sheppard. Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Gritty. Raw. Honest. Powerful. Devastating. All words that come to mind while reading this multi-award-winning debut novel by WA author Holden Sheppard. Set in Geraldton, WA, Invisible Boys is the coming-of-age story of four boys. Charlie,
Meet the Author: Amelia Mellor talks about her new book The Wicked Ship
By Mia Macrossan Amelia’s debut novel The Grandest Bookshop in the World, inspired by Melbourne’s real Cole’s Book Arcade was an original mix of detailed history and fantasy and was shortlisted for the 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize. She followed that
The Wicked Ship
By Amelia Mellor Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The Wicked Ship, a swashbuckling adventure fantasy is the latest novel from Amelia Mellor, much awarded creator of The Grandest Bookshop in the World, The Bookseller’s Apprentice and The Lost Book of Magic, a historical fantasy trilogy based
Wind Atlas: Everything you need to know about wind
By Sarah Zambello Illustrated by Susy Zanella Produced in collaboration with the University of Genoa Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This carefully researched and designed book is a companion volume to Wave Atlas: Everything you need to know about waves, by the same creators. Here again
