I Dreamed of You
By Sharna Carter & Gabby Grant Reviewed by Mia Macrossan ‘ I dreamed of your sweet giggles as you’d skip and hold my hand’. This is one of those picture…
Odder
By Katherine Applegate & Charles Santoso Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This American writer has won awards too numerous to mention, including the Newbery medal for The One and Only Ivan.…
The Noisy Noisy City
By Andrew Kelly & Hélène Magisson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Andrew Kelly is a Melbourne environmentalist and writer of numerous children’s stories including Little Lon and Peregrines in the City…
Thunder City
By Philip reeve Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Philip’s first book was the epic YA steampunk Mortal Engines, 2001, which created a world of ‘municipal Darwinism’, where rampaging motorised towns and…
Bling Jollygood (The Fairly Secret Files)
By Nick Bland Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Nick Bland is one of Australia’s most popular and prolific creators, responsible for The Very Cranky Bear series, and the hilarious Bunny and…
Creature Corridors
By Billie Rooney & Anke Noack Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “We share the world with many creatures. Some move by day, others by night. In a town bustling with cars…
Bush Bubs
By Helen Milroy Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “So many joeys, puggles and pups. Let’s look after our precious bush bubs.” Australian native animals range in size, characteristics and habitat, but…
Luna’s World #1 Library Dreams
By Hayley Gannon Illustrated by Michelle Conn Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Hayley Gannon is a teacher librarian working in Canberra. She loves writing about real family and school life so…
Juniper’s Christmas
By Eoin Colfer Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat Reviewed by Sophia Evans Here’s a story for those who like to read about Christmas at any time of the year. Juniper’s Christmas…
Volcano
By Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft Reviewed by Sophia Evans ‘Deep in the ocean, far beyond the reach of even the brightest sun, the earth quakes.’ Thorough research is interwoven…
Neeka and the Missing Key (Wilder Zoo, #1)
By Tina Strachan & Max Hamilton Reviewed by Sophia Evans I’ve always loved a good book that includes a map at the front and this book fits that category to…
The World We Can Build
By Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin, & Daniel Gray-Barnett Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The World We Can Build comes to us from the team behind award-winning title Come Over…
Hatch
By Heidi Cooper Smith Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Heidi Cooper Smith is a Brisbane based Illustrator and also author of her own picture books, Six Sleepy Mice, Too Many Ducks,…
My Mum is a Bird
By Angie Cui & Evie Barrow Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This clever subtle story, so beautifully extended by its sensitive illustrations, is a perfect package of artful storylelling, emotional engagement…
My Mum is the Best!
By Nic McPickle & Tommy Doyle Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This creative team also published the companion volume, My Dad Is the Best, while Nic McPickle is also the author…
Bigfoot vs Yeti, A Love Story
By James Foley Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Bigfoot vs Yeti (A Love Story) is the latest release from multi-talented author and illustrator James Foley. Like his previous hits My…
April Book Links News
Settle in with your favourite beverage for a long read and immerse yourself in all things kidlit for April and May. April Book Links News compiled by Jenny Stubbs
Meet the author of Anomaly: Emma Lord
Emma loves all things sci-fi, fantasy and horror, but has a particular soft spot for reading and writing YA. Her debut YA novel Anomaly was published by Affirm Press in 2024 after an…
The Big Backyard Plan
By Kirsten Ealand & Laura Stitzel Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Kirsten’s second picture book after her charming debut Like a Gannet. She says: When I write, I often…
Cassowary Dad
By Beverley McWilliams & Julian Teh Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson ‘Tap, tap, CRACK! Three stripy chicks hatch from forest green eggs …’ After patiently incubating his mate’s eggs, Cassowary Dad…
Emily Rodda & Bruce Whatley are Australian Nominees for the HCA Award
Australian nominees for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award IBBY AUSTRALIA HCAA WRITER NOMINEE 2026 Emily Rodda Emily Rodda AC (a.k.a. Jennifer Rowe) is one of the most widely published and…
Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin
By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson This is yet another wonderful picture book created by the award-winning British partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, they…
11 Ruby Road 1925
By Charlotte Barkla Reviewed by Margaret McKay Lowndes Charlotte Barkla has structured her historical fiction series around a single address, 11 Ruby Road, and 1925 is the second instalment, the…
Higher Ground
By Tull Suwannakit Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Tull Suwannakit is best known in the children’s fiction world as an illustrator. His work has always included rich visual storytelling, but…
Meet the Artist: Blythe Fielden
The beauty of picture books is the opportunity to illustrate aspects that the text does not include. After completing her illustration degree at Leeds Arts University in 2021, Blithe now…
Meet the Artist: Hélène Magisson
‘It’s about supporting the text, enriching it, trying to surprise.’ Mia Macrossan talks to Hélène Magisson who is a critically acclaimed Australian illustrator of many books for children. Before Hélène…
Aslan and Benny
By Jemima Shafei-Ongu & Jade Goodwin Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Many children have an irrational fear of dogs and this story carefully explores how one child overcomes his fears and…
Grandmother from the East Grandmother from the West
By Jacinta Liu & Freda Chiu Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jacinta Liu’s delightful debut picture book is about a girl who loves her two grandmothers, who each come with their…
Meet the Artist: Clare McFadden
Mia Macrossan talks to Clare McFadden, who is a writer, artist and educator. She has worked in arts education with children, young people, and communities in both Australia and the…
Ariana Treasure: The Missing Book; The Secret Ingredient
By Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern Illustrated by Karen Erasmus Reviewed by Meg Rowe When the bells above Ariana’s mum’s thrift shop, the Treasure Chest, start to jingle, you can be sure…
