Environmental Reading List now available
Check out all the fabulous titles in our new Environmental Fiction list, a selection for readers in years 5 – 9, prepared by teacher librarian Dajo Finlayson. There are many…
Finding Bear
By Hannah Gold Illustrated by Levi Pinfold Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Finding Bear is a continuation of Hannah Gold’s debut and award winning novel The Last Bear (reviewed in StoryLinks)…
Becoming a published author: A guest post by Annaleise Byrd
Annaleise Byrd writes funny books for kids. Her debut middle grade novel, Losing the Plot – a humorous portal fantasy set in the world of Grimms’ original fairy tales –…
The Beehive
By Megan Daley & Max Hamilton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Megan is well known in the children’s literary and librarian world for her advocacy of children’s reading. Her publications include…
Lani and the Universe
By Victoria Carless Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Brisbane based Victoria Carless’s previous novels include the YA novel The Dream Walker and the middle grade Gus and the Starlight, reviewed in StoryLinks. Lani…
Nothing Ever Happens
By Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Heidi McKinnon is the author and illustrator of many wonderfully offbeat picture books, including I Just Ate my Friend, It’s A Long Way to the…
Begin Again: A map of our past and guide for our future
The Story of How We Got Here and Where We Might Go By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Oliver Jeffers is an award-winning and best-selling author and illustrator…
Ultrawild
An Audacious Plan for Rewilding Every City on Earth By Steve Mushin Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The word ‘audacious’ is used frequently in the promotions for Steve Mushin’s Ultrawild,…
Walk With Us: Welcome to Our Country
By Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Walk With Us is the fourth in the Welcome to Our Country series by anti-racism advocate and…
The Littlest Penguin and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Written & Illustrated by Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “I’ve met people who don’t like Christmas and cats and babies but I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like penguins”…
The Bill Dup
By Zewlan Moor and Simon O’Carrigan Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Bill Dup is the second picture book release for author Zewlan Moor and one of many for illustrator…
Ruby and the Pen
By David Lawrence. Illustrated by Cherie Dignam Reviewed by Helen Gearing Short chapters, lots of dialogue, larger-than-life characters, cartoon-style illustrations and a wallop of fun make David Lawrence’s latest middle-grade…
Nature Book Week
Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature The Wilderness Society’s annual celebration of the best new nature-themed children’s books are definitely worth a look at any time of the…
Nothing Alike
By Zewlan Moor Illustrated by Peter Cheong Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Nothing Alike is the debut picture book for author Zewlan Moor. It cleverly tells the story of a…
Granbad
Written by Penny Tangey Illustrated by Peter Baldwin Reviewed by Margarite Igras With a background in comedy, television and working in museums, Penny now writes fiction for young people. Granbad,…
Birdie Lights up the World
By Alison McLennan & Lauren Mullinder Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Birdie the penguin was the chosen one. It was her job to light up the world every night, with her…
Desert Jungle
By Jeannie Baker Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Despite being surrounded by mountains of rock and cacti, the boy prefers to sit inside and experience the world through the screen of…
What Will You Make Today?
By Maura Pierlot Illustrated by Triandhika Anjani Reviewed by Margarite Igras This non-fiction picture book, written by the award-winning author, playwright and filmmaker, Maura Pierlot is packed with wonderful full-page…
The Hats of Marvello
By Amanda Graham Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu Reviewed by Sarah Custance The Hats of Marvello is Australian author Amanda Graham’s latest middle-grade novel about magic, the environment, friendships, secrets, and…
Earth Day 2023 Saturday April 22
The theme for Earth Day 2023 is Invest in our Planet. Here are some resources that may inspire and support your work if you are thinking of doing something in…
Satin
By Sophie Masson Illustrated by Lorena Carrington Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Every morning early, when no-one’s about, Satin slips out of the forest and walks along the sleepy sunrise…
Dorrie
Written & illustrated by Tania McCartney Reviewed by Sandy Driessens In the Land of the Long White Cloud, where the mountains kiss the sea, lived a little girl called Dorrie.…
Hope is the Thing
By Johanna Bell and Erica Wagner Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Emily Dickinson’s poem ‘Hope is the Thing with Feathers’, first appeared in 1891. Over a hundred years later, dynamic…
Mia: Through My Eyes – Australian Disaster Zones
By Dianne Wolfer Reviewed by Liane McDermott Mia is the third book in the Through My Eyes: Australian Disaster Zones series — a realistic historical fiction series recommended for children…
Dear Greta
By Yvette Poshoglian Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Yvette Poshoglian is the author of over forty books for children and young people, including the Ella and Olivia series. Born and raised…
Seven Days
By Fleur Ferris Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Seven Days is Fleur Ferris’s second middle grade novel and an enjoyable thriller for the target age group. When Ben Parker, the only…
Whalesong
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Gordon is the Australian award-winning author of middle-grade novels, The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn, and Aster’s Good Right Things, along with YA…
Amazing Animal Journeys
Written and illustrated by Jennifer Cossins Reviewed by Mia Macrossan A book by Tasmanian writer/illustrator Jennifer Cossins will guarantee a wealth of carefully researched information, a sensitive age appropriate text…
War Girls
By Tochi Onyebuchi Reviewed by Caeleigh Hancock War Girls is the third book published by Tochi Onyebuchi. It is a futurist sci-fi set in Africa, largely Nigeria, in the 2100s.…
2022 Judges’ Comments
In The Mystery of the Lynne Grove House Dyuthi Alla has cleverly taken a real life setting, and recreated it in the historic past while also creating a credible story…