Betsy & Bon
Written and illustrated by Simon Howe UQP 2026 Teacher's Notes Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Simon is a writer and illustrator who says he makes books about childhood, family, hope and home. He has also illustrated many books in collaboration with others including Boss of
Eleanor Jones is Not Drowning
By Amy Doak Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Sandy Driessens When school friend, Letisha claims, “It was Murder. I’m absolutely sure of it”, regarding the death of Xavi, her boyfriend, Eleanor Jones, almost reluctantly, goes again into junior detective mode. Year eleven student, Eleanor Jones,
The Wild Unknown
By Emily Gale Text Publishing 2026 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor It’s 2045 and Eddie lives with his brother, Jude, and his parents in suburban Naarm. He’s starting to get anxious about his first year of high school, and is determined to make the
Belonging
Written and illustrated by Ambelin Kwaymullina Magabala Books 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ambelin Kwaymullina is an award-winning Aboriginal author and illustrator from the Palyku people of Western Australia. Her books for children (ranging from picture books to YA dystopian novels) have won
Witless Protection (Mega Rich Guinea Pigs, #2)
By Kate and Jol Temple HarperCollins 2026 Reviewed by Claire Monsour When we last left the Mega Rich Guinea Pigs, they had foiled their scheming relatives, secured their vast fortune, and settled down to a life of privilege and pampering. Everything was peaceful,
I Call the Ocean Wardan
By Ebony Froome Illustrated by Dallas Bennell and Korrine Bennell-Yarran Fremantle Press September 2026 Teaching Notes Teaching Activity Reviewed by Sue Wright There are over 250 Indigenous languages, including 800 dialects, across Australia, and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Islander Studies confirms that ‘Each language is
The Nardi Puzzle
By Gabriella Page Rhiza Press 2026 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor The Nardi Puzzle is the third book about escape rooms I have reviewed this year, reflecting their huge and ongoing popularity with families and young people. It is the debut novel of Gabriella Page,
Animal Force
Written by Cerise Madsen Illustrated by Sally Heinrich Midnight Sun, 2026 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Animal Force is an exciting adventure tale for ages 8-12 which will appeal to readers for a few reasons. First of all, it is a nice slim volume, with
Stuck in the Middle
By Anton Clifford-Motopi A & U Children 2026 Reading Notes Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Clifford-Motopi’s second novel, after his debut To and Fro, is also a middle grade novel exploring themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendships. Leon is the middle child in a family
Real When I’m With You
By Lucy Powrie Scholastic Australia 2026 Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Every neurodiverse person has a unique experience of life – both the world around them and their internal world. Never before, as an autistic and ADHD woman, have I felt as seen and
Wonders Under the Moon A Collection of Night-Time Creatures
By Tai Snaith Thames & Hudson Australia 2025 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tai Snaith has created many appealing picture books including The Family Hour in Australia, Sticks and Stones Animal Homes and Wonders Under the Sun, the companion to Wonders Under the Moon. This
Butterflies Up Close
By Mark Russell Wild Dog Books 2025 Teacher's Notes Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This splendid introduction to one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating creatures deserves to be in every school and home library. In clear simple language we learn about the life cycle
Grandpas, Piranhas, and other stories
By Rocio Bonilla Albatross Books (English edition), 2026 Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Rocio Bonilla is a prolific Spanish author/illustrator with over 50 titles published, translated into multiple languages around the world. She’s best known for the beloved Minimoni character and spinoff series
Floating by the Clouds
Written by Mohammad Awad Illustrated by Niña Nill Penguin Books, 2026 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor When I heard an enthusiastic review of this book by teacher-librarian Megan Daley, on the “Your Kids Next Read” podcast, for some reason I braced myself for a sentimental,
Are You Bored Minimoni?
By Rocio Bonilla Albatross Books (Enlish edition) 2026 Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Rocio Bonilla is a prolific Spanish author/illustrator with over 50 titles published, translated into multiple languages around the world. Are You Bored, Minimoni? Is part of a series about the
Edwina the Emu: 30th Anniversary Edition
By Sheena Knowles & Rod Clement HarperCollins, 2026 Reviewed by Barbara Braxton There can be few 30-somethings who grew up in Australia who do not know the story about Edward the emu, who, bored with being in the zoo, set out to find adventure and
The Smuggler’s Curse
By Norman Jorgensen Fremantle Press 2026 Teaching Notes Reviewed by Helen Gearing Norman Jorgensen, whose 2008 debut middle-grade novel ‘Jack’s Island’ and 2011 best-selling picture book ‘The Last Viking’ (with illustrator James Foley) were both highly awarded, has crafted another edge-of-your-seat, high-action adventure in
Rise of the Empress
By Julie C Dao Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey First published in 2017 under the title Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, Julie C Dao has rereleased the first book in the East-Asian inspired fantasy duology as Rise of the Empress in anticipation
Poppy Makes Pockets
By Jemima Parker & Karen Erasmus Exisle Publishing 2026 Reviewed by Meg Rowe Jemima Parker’s debut picture book, Poppy Makes Pockets, is a delightful story that follows Poppy’s vision to transform ordinary clothes into magical ‘treasure collecting outfits’ by the power of adding
Possum Tragic: A Tale of Pumpkins & Plastic
Written and illustrated by Maree Coote Melbournestyle Books 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Maree Coote is a writer, designer, illustrator, photographer and publisher who loves to grapple with difficult ideas and present them in a form accessible to young people. She brings these
In the Kelp Forest
By Aunty Patsy Cameron & Reena Balding Illustrated by Belinda Casey Magabala Books 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Magabala Books continue to publish high quality titles by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Here is one exploring Country beneath the waves and celebrating the kelp forests,
A Day Off School
By Oliver Jeffers & Kevin Waldron HarperCollins Australia 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Oliver Jeffers has won many awards for his work including the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award, the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award and the Irish Children’s Book
The Festival of Ice and Snow
By Angie Cui and Anna Wilson UQP 2026 Teacher's Notes Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Festival of Ice and Snow is a gentle celebration of cultural traditions, presented as a dual-language picture book, in English and Simplified Chinese. Angie Cui is the author
Cockadoodle Moo
By Tanya Hennessy & Shiloh Gordon Albert Street Books 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tanya Hennessy is a very popular multimedia personality who has written several books including the picture book Pink Santa. Shiloh Gordon has been illustrating for more than twenty years
There’s a Chicken in the House
By Sonya Hartnett & Lucia Masciullo Puffin 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Australian author Sonya Hartnett is a well-known Australian writer of fiction for children, YA, and adults. She has won many awards in Australia and in 2008 she won the prestigious Astrid
What makes a Reviewer? Alison McCaffrey talks books and reviews
By Mia Macrossan I have been writing for many, many years. Recently I returned to my longtime passion, finding my voice and comfort zone among the words of Young Adult stories, and I am constantly learning and evolving. What are writers
StoryLinks reviews the 2026 CBCA Older Reader Shortlist
By Alison McCaffrey who has reviewed all six titles in the Older Reader category of the 2026 CBCA Book of the Year. The pinnacle for many Australian children’s authors is to be awarded one of the lauded prizes reserved for works
Greedy Frog
Written and illustrated by Greg Dreise Magabala Books 2026 Reviewed by Margarite Igras Gregg Dreise is an award-winning Indigenous Australian author, illustrator, musician and storyteller, whose books, such as Cunning Crow, Mad Magpie, Kookoo Kook, and Awesome Emu, can be found in our
Movie Magic at the Wildest Dreams Bookshop (The Wildest Dreams Bookshop, Book 3)
By Gracie Page Harper Fire Books 2026 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor It is summer after final exams, and Mia is excited about starting a film course in the autumn. In the meantime, filming of the bestselling romance book, Ocean Deep, is about to
Darkest Night, Brightest Star
By Barry Jonsberg A & U Children 2025 Teaching resources Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Morgan Pickford doesn’t fit in with the other kids at school. But he doesn’t really fit in at home, either, where the only people in his life are his dad
