In Flanders Field
By Norman Jorgensen & Brian Harrison-Lever Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd In Flanders Fields was published in 2002 and won the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award in 2003. It has remained in print for 24 years and has now been re-released
Skipping to Sammy’s Beat
By Coral Vass and Blithe Fielden Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Skipping to Sammy’s Beat is a bright and spirted picture book about being brave enough to follow your own path. Coral Vass is an award-winning children’s author with numerous books for children
Swearwolves
By Steve Worland Reviewed by Sandy Driessens When Luna Wilkinson and her family move to Nightfall Springs, she desperately wants to perform in the school production of “Bite Me: The Musical”. Being a member of the “cool girl” clique is also on
We’re Going on a Teddy Hunt
By Martha Mumford & Cherie Zamazing Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is part of the popular series The Bunnies of Hoppity Hill. Young children love lift-the-flap books and here is one that is sure to engage and delight. We're Going on a
The Prime Minister Problem
By Brenton Cullen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Brenton Cullen's debut Middle Grade novel and it's a cracker. Written from the heart it grabs you immediately with a story of a sensitive lonely boy who takes action when his beloved grandma is
Meet the Artist: Sarah Capon
Sarah is one of this year’s creators exhibiting at the annual Book Links StoryArts Exhibition held every year at the Richard Randal Art Studio, a glorious purpose built art space, set in the grounds of the Mt Coot-Tha Botanical Gardens. This year’s theme
Neeka and the Great Search (Wilder Zoo, #3)
By Tina Strachan Illustrated by Max Hamilton Reviewed by Jenny Ruge Neeka and the Great Search is the third book in the Wilder Zoo series by Tina Strachan and Max Hamilton, the first is Neeka and the Missing Key (Wilder Zoo, #1) which
Myra in the Middle
By Seetha Dodd Illustrated by Peter Cheong Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This is Seetha Dodd's debut junior fiction novel. When writing she draws on her Malaysian–Indian heritage, and favours themes of family, identity and belonging, Seetha aims to write stories that empower children
Gimme Some Space (The Marvellous Submarine, #2)
By Clayton Zane Comber & Conor McCammon Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “When moon rocks begin to crash-land on Monkey Island, Poppy and Billy suspect the Fugitives might be behind the chaos. Luckily, they have an idea: modify Mum’s greatest invention, the Marvellous
Meet the Author/Artist: Gus Gordon
Gus Gordon is one of this year’s creators exhibiting at the annual Book Links StoryArts Exhibition held every year at the Richard Randal Art Studio, a glorious purpose built art space, set in the grounds of the Mt Coot-Tha Botanical
Blue – Dragon of the Sea
By Aleesah Darlison & Tamlyn Teow Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Meet Blue, a Dragon of the Sea! He’s also known as a nudibranch or sea slug.” Gliding on the currents and dancing in the sea, is Blue, a tiny blue glaucus that is so
The Interactive Human Body
Explore the Human Body with Flaps, Wheels, Levers, Touch and Feel, and More! By Ryan G Van Cleave & Juliana Eigner Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This very attractive large board book is designed to allow curious children to explore the human body with
Soup’s On Around the World
By Denyse Waissbluth & Chelsea O'Byrne Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Soup is one of those versatile dishes that can be the prelude to a main meal or a meal in itself. Denyse Waissbluth has done her research and together with Chelsea O'Byrne
Every Spiral of Fate (This Woven Kingdom)
By Tahereh Mafi Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Every Spiral of Fate is the fourth book in the Woven Kingdom series by American author and international bestseller Tahereh Mafi, best known for her expansive Shatter Me series. Although this could be read as
Cats and Us
A ten-thousand-year fascination By Marta Pantaleo Translated by Debbie Bibo & Yvette Ghione Reviewed by Mia Macrossan What a marvellous book for all cat lovers big and small! Marta Pantaleo, an Italian graphic designer and illustrator, has created a fun fact-filled picture book to delight
Brightest Wild
By Tania Crampton-Larking Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Out of place, out of depths, out of sorts. All the ways eleven-year-old Alex feels when she’s made to leave her comfortable London life to move to a small Adelaide suburb with a soon-to-be stepfamily.
Bear’s Perfect Dance
Written and illustrated by Rachel Tilda Wolf Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rachel Tilda Wolf is an English children’s book artist, illustrator and writer. Her debut picture book Wolf in the City was published last year. Bear loves to dance. In our first glimpse
Mystery of the Missing Turtles
By Deborah S Bower, Ricky-John Spencer, Michael B Thompson, James U Van Dyke and Elizabeth Hale Illustrated by James O'Hanlon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a great example of a child seeing a problem and taking the initiative to solve it, (with
Kupe and the Great Octopus of Muturangi
By Mat Tait Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mat Tait is an award winning South Island based illustrator of European and Maori descent. Here he has used traditional motifs to tell an exciting story that is a satisfying tale on its own as
The Belly of a Wolf
By Julianne Negri Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Julianne Negri is a CBCA Notable author with middle grade and picture book works in her portfolio. The Belly of a Wolf is her debut YA novel. Written in verse, it explores the devastating
Meet the Author: Fiona Wood
By Mia Macrossan I jumped at the chance to have a chat with Fiona Wood whose books I have enjoyed and admired for many years. (see her website fionawood.com for details). Her latest is The Boy and the Dog Tree, a
The Hits and Misses of Melody Moss
By Helen Dallimore Reviewed by Jenny Ruge Helen Dallimore is an actress, singer, director and writer. She has written for TV, mostly comedies, but The Hits and Misses of Melody Moss is her first foray into writing fiction for children. It has
Frances Bloom (Frances Bloom, #1)
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Marina Zlatanova Reviewed by Helen Gearing Katrina Nannestad, best known for her much-awarded WWII middle-grade novels, returns to junior fiction in her latest work, Frances Bloom. With comical black-and white illustrations by Marina Zlatanova, who won a 2020
Red Star Rebels
By Amie Kaufman Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey The multi-award winning Australian author takes us back to space in this sci-fi-for-everyone, edge of your seat thrill ride. With witty banter, loveable (even if you don’t really want to) characters, and a timeline short
Meet the Artist: Monty Lee
Monty Lee is one of this year’s artist exhibiting at the annual Book Links StoryArts Exhibition held every year at the Richard Randal Art Studio, a glorious purpose built art space, set in the grounds of the Mt Coot-Tha Botanical
The Sheep That Stole the Farmer’s Hat
By Tim Saunders & Carla Martell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tim Saunders farms sheep and beef near Palmerston North and is the author of two children's picture books including this one. Carla Martell hails from New Zealand and has a wealth of
Gaslit
By Megan Davidhizar Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Plagued by recent migraines, Ella has to ditch her bestie and their New Year’s Eve plans. When she begins feeling better and her aunt calls, Ella agrees to babysit her cousin at the last minute.
All About Antarctica
A Fact Book About the Southernmost Continent By Marc Martin Reviewed by Claire Monsour If you don’t like picture books with busy pages and lots of small text: this book may not be for you. But if, like me, you have a highly
The Story Writer’s Handbook
Adventures in Creative Writing By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Claire Monsour Nannstad writes in the introduction to this book, “My hope is that the spaces in this book will prove too small for your galloping creativity”. Full of inviting creative
Crossing
By Catherine Norton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Catherine Norton's first novel, Crossing, was joint winner of the Patricia Wrightson Prize in the 2015 NSW Premier's Literary Awards. It was also a CBCA Notable Book. She was born in the UK but grew
