Talent Show (Amira Swift, #1)& Fair Day Fun (Amira Swift, #2)
By Sarah Ayoub Illustrated by Niña Nill HarperCollins 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sarah Ayoub has written the YA novels Hate is Such a Strong Word, The Yearbook Committee and The Cult of Romance as well as the picture books, The Love that Grew, How to
Book Links 2026 August Newsletter
For an update of everything that is happening in the world of KIdLIt check out the August Book Links newsletter full of news, events, and fascinating information for teachers, parents and librarians.
Make Me a Monster
By Kalynn Bayron Bloomsbury YA 2026 Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Meka spends her life surrounded by death. Literally. Her parents run a funeral home out of their house, and at seventeen, Meka has just been certified as New York State’s youngest mortician’s assistant.
History Hunter: The Crystal Skulls
By Mark Greenwood Fremantle Press 2026 Teaching notes Reviewed by Helen Gearing In the sixth installment in the popular non-fiction, mystery series for readers 10 years and older, award-winning children’s author Mark Greenwood explores the phenomenon of life-like skulls carved from crystal quartz which
Serendipity
Written and illustrated by Gabbie Benda Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Serendipity is a girl who has it all. She’s class captain, plays a lead role in the school play, and is the star shooter in her basketball team. She puts this
The Not So Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau
Written by Jenn Bailey and Sherry Bushue Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski Allen & Unwin, 2026 Teaching resources Reviewed by Zewlan Moor The Not So Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau is an exquisite picture book full of illustrations painted on wood panels by the Caldecott Honour-winning
Handbooks for Little Humans: Integrity
By Zanni Louise Illustrated by Jingting Wang Affirm Press 2026 Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author Zanni Louise has written over forty books spanning all ages from picture books to writing teen fiction as Zanni L. Arnot. This is the fourth book in a new series
Nanny Tobbins and the Midnight Plan (Nanny Tobbins, #2)
By Lucie Stevens HarperCollins 2026 Reviewed by Sandy Driessens 1851, LONDON. The Great Exhibition is coming to a close. It has been magnificent. Albertine, and her father, a designer commissioned by Prince Albert, are enjoying a last look at the beautiful garden when
The Boy Who Drew Cats
A Japanese Folktale Retold by Lafcadio Hearn & illustrated by Anita Kreituse Tuttle Publishing 2026 Reviewed by Sandy Driessens A farming family has been cursed with a small son who prefers drawing to farmwork. What does he draw? Cats … everywhere. To ensure a
The Secrets and Scandals of Melody Moss
By Helen Dallimore Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Helen Dallimore is a NIDA-trained actress, singer, director and writer from Sydney. Amongst her many claims to fame are that she starred opposite Idina Menzel as Wicked’s original Glinda in London’s West End, and
Handbooks for Little Humans: Inclusion
By Zanni Louise and Jingting Wang Affirm Kids 2026 Reviewed by Margarite Igras Prolific Australian author Zanni Louise has written many books for younger to teen readers, with titles such as Kindness, Gratitude, This is Love, Self Belief and Imagination. This is her
Grow
Written and illustrated by Jess McGeachin A & U Children 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jess continues to create attractive and informative picture books, mainly non-fiction, including Find Me in the Forest, South with the Seabirds, The Space Between, Business Chickens and Kind, all reviewed in StoryLinks. He
Find Me in the Forest
Written and illustrated by Jess McGeachin Lothian Children's Books 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jess is the creator of many picture books, mainly non-fiction, including South with the Seabirds, The Space Between, Business Chickens and Kind, all reviewed in StoryLinks. He has won
We Saw What You Started
By Carla Salmon Pan Australia 2025 Teaching notes Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey There are similarities between California and Queensland – beautiful beaches, incredible surf, year-round sunshine, and wildfires. Otto left his life in California behind, moving to Red Sands with his mum, but both
Treeshape
Written and illustrated by Trace Balla A & U Children 2026 Reviewed by Jess Galatola Reading Treeshape left me feeling deeply connected not just to the natural world, but to something even bigger. A cause. A charge. A shared responsibility to be a custodian
Our Marvelous Memory
How Your Brain Works By Helena Haraštová and Dita Vopřadová Translated by Andrew Oakland Albatros 2025 Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Helena Haraštová is a writer and literary editor from the Czech Republic. Specialising in children’s non-fiction, she has written and edited over thirty children’s books
Our Incredible Imagination
How Your Brain Works By Helena Haraštová and Dita Vopřadová Translated by Andrew Oakland Albatros 2025 Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Helena Haraštová is a writer and literary editor from the Czech Republic. Specialising in children’s non-fiction, she has written and edited over thirty children’s books
Lighthouse Girl
Created by Dianne Wolfer & Brian Simmonds Fremantle Press 2010 Teaching notes Teaching activity Reviewed by Margarite Igras This prolific award- winning Australian author has written over 27 books for both children and young adults, but she is best known for her WW1 “Light” series –
Meet the Author: Jackie French
by Mia Macrossan Jackie French AM is an Australian author, historian, ecologist and honourary wombat (part time); 2014–15 Australian Children' Laureate; and 2015 Senior Australian of the Year. Instead of hobbies she has written over 200 books which have sold millions of
Shapes of Love
By L V Peñalba Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Who says love needs to be two people, joined forever in emotional and physical intimacy? Who says love means romance and flowers and rings? Who says love needs to involve hugs and kisses
The Epically Awesome Odyssey, as told by Nanny Piggins
By R A Spratt Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan R.A Spratt is a prolific author in the junior fiction and middle grade space, with numerous best-selling books in the Nanny Piggins and Friday Barnes series, The Peski Kids books, several anthologies of short stories such as the
My Spinning Anxious Brain
By Dani Vee & Ruth-Mary Smith Larrikin Press 2026 Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author, podcaster, and former teacher, Dani Vee, has used her experiences as someone with ADHD, to create child centred books for four- to eight-year-olds, designed to help children explore
Some Books About Fathers
by Mia Macrossan Every year just in time for Father's Day books about Dads in all their various guises come out. Here are three that you might enjoy. Happy Father's Day from the Crayons by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers Any book about
Together, Right Now
By Olga Fadeeva Blue Dot Kids 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Olga Fadeeva is an award winning creator of challenging picture books for children, based in St Petersburg and here she has produced a marvel - a kaleidoscope of life around the world
Pterosaurs of the the Desert Ocean
By Andrew Plant CSIRO Publishing 2026 Teacher Notes Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Andrew Plant trained as a zoologist, but has been an illustrator and author for over 30 years. In this meticulously researched work he reveals a magical world of Australian dinosaurs living 100
Tiki and Jill and the Great Australian Camel Race
Written by Kate Simpson & Jill Colwell Illustrated by Craig Smith A & U Children 2026 Teaching resources Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a splendid real life story beautifully told by two award-winning creators and illustrated by Craig Smith of The Wobbly Bike fame.
The Photographer
By Mark Rafidi & Paul O'Sullivan Hawkeye Publishing 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mark Rafidi comes from mixed heritage and his stories explore identity, belonging, and the intricacies of Australian society. Paul O'Sullivan is the illustrator for Gary Crew's picture books, The Visions
I’m Not Afraid of Spiders
By Caitlin Henderson & Annie Henderson CSIRO Publishing 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan A book about Australian spiders told by sisters Caitlin (words) and Annie (pictures). Told in verse and illustrated in bold closeup with expressive human reactions this is a book that
Last Bat of the Night
By David Gullan & Samantha Metcalfe CSIRO Publishing 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David Gullan is a primary school teacher, whose love of Australian wildlife has found expression in writing picture books including Life in a Hollow and Last Bat of the Night. Samantha
Where the Heart Is
By Shirley Marr & Michael Speechley Walker Books, 2026 Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Mouse lives in a barley field as big as the entire world, but as the seasons turn, the weather cools, and the barley turns yellow, it is time to think of
