Time To Go To The Park
By Emma Bowd & Leila Rudge Reviewed by Margarite Igras. Emma Bowd is not only an Australian award-winning author who is passionate about writing inclusive picture books, but with a background in occupational therapy, she is also an advocate of imaginative, nature-based
Don’t Let Them Leave
By Mike Lucas Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Mike Lucas is a British-Australian author of picture books and young adult suspense. His latest young adult novel, Don’t Let Them Leave, starts with a compelling prologue in a mine shaft in North Cornwall, 1855. In
Forever & Ever
By Allanah Hunt Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Allanah Hunt is a Barkindji and Malyangapa woman and the first recipient of the inaugural Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship. The Brisbane-based writer also works as an editor, lecturer and researcher at the University of Queensland.
Through the Darkening Sea*
By Claire Saxby & Peter Cheong Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Claire Saxby is the master of lyrical non-fiction picture books. She has published many, including Emu, Koala, Kookaburra, Secrets of the Saltmarsh, and Volcano, across multiple publishers, collaborating with many of Australia’s
The Boy and the Shark
By Cate James Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Cate James is a Sydney-based illustrator and printmaker who has published more than 50 picture books with some of Australia’s biggest publishers. Her previous illustration work includes the CBCA-shortlisted Dear Broccoli (written by Jo Dabrowski)
The World From Here
By Cassy Polimeni & Mel Armstrong Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Cassy has written both fiction and non-fiction picture books including Ella and the Sleepover Safari and The Garden at the End of the World. She is a writer adept at presenting children with challenging
Home
By Rory H Mather & Matt Shanks Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rory writes very accessible picture books for young children such as Otto’s INK-redible First Day of School and Vlad’s Bad Breath. Here he has teamed up with the talented Matt Shanks, creator
The Escape Game
By Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This book is unputdownable! From the very first page it features the entertaining, high energy voice of clever teens with interesting back stories and motivations, something I loved in Meyer’s Cinder, in the
Drawing Nudes While Making Oher Plans
By Zoe Gaetjens Review by Lucille Rose Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans is an interesting, aptly named book, though its title is only the beginning of the attention-grabbing aspects of this novel. It takes place largely, as its name suggests, in a
Duck Look Who’s Talking! (Duck, #1)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Matt Stanton is the award-winning author and illustrator of multiple best-selling book series for children including Funny Kid, The Odds, Bored and Fluff, and many excellent picture books. His books have won awards including the
Somewhere You Can Dream
By Janeen Brian & Hilary Jean Tapper Reviewed by Margarite Igras Janeen Brian is a prolific award-winning Australian author and former teacher. Her works include poetry, picture books, junior fiction and non-fiction, and she has even written scripts for Humphrey Bear, the
Meet the Shortlist! 2026 Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award
The waiting is over, here is the 2026 Book Links Children's Historical Fiction award shortlist - three very different but very exciting and engrossing reads. The Mushroom in the Sky by Jackie French Judges' comments: An exceptional and
Meet the Author of Kid: Peter Carnavas
By Mia Macrossan Peter Carnavas writes and illustrates wonderful stories for children. He has created over twenty books, many of which have been shortlisted or won prestigious awards, including My Brother Ben, Leo and Ralph and The Elephant. His latest book
Hafsa’s Way
By Aisha Saeed Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Hafsa’s Way is the third of a loose trilogy of contemporary realist middle grade novels by Pakistani-American author, Aisha Saeed. The firs two, Amal Unbound and Omar Rising, have been exceptionally well-received, with multiple starred
Cities Going Wild – To Save the Planet
By Catherine Barr and Christiane Engel Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Catherine Barr is a prolific author of non-fiction picture books. Based in Hay-on-Wye, the Welsh ‘town of books’, she has previously studied ecology and journalism, and worked with Greenpeace and at London’s
The Very Fine Clock
By Muriel Spark and Edward Gorey Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Very Fine Clock is a new edition of a whimsical fable first published in 1968. It’s written by Scottish novelist and poet Muriel Spark, best known for The Prime of
In Ecstasy
By Kate McCaffrey Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Sophie and Mia have been best friends since they started kindergarten, but by the time they get to the party that kicks off the wild ride that is In Ecstasy, things have already been changing
Annie and Maeve Are Definitely Not Friends
By Olivia Muscat Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Olivia Muscat is a Melbourne-based writer, performer, and disability rights advocate, and this is her debut middle grade novel. Muscat wanted to portray more accurately and honestly the experiences of people with disabilities, and she
Archie Can’t Sit Still
By Davilyn Lynch, Dani Vee & James Layton. Reviewed by Margarite Igras This fun, yet serious book, was written by two authors who were diagnosed with ADHD as adults. They wanted to use humour to breakdown the stereotypes of being neurodivergent and
Girls Like
By Katrina Germein & Deb Hudson Reviewed by Dimity Powell Girls. Creatures unto themselves, unique, uncompromising, spirited. Well that's exactly what they can and should be so depicted in this gratifyingly colourful celebration of what girls actually like. Turns out, there is
Green Cities
How Green Infrastructure Helps Heal the Planet By Sheila Boudreau and Katy Dockrill Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Sheila Boudreau is a landscape architect, urban planner and university lecturer specialising in green infrastructure. Katy Dockrill’s previous illustration work includes middle-grade book covers, picture books
A Lemon for Safiya
By Jemima Shafei-Ongu & Nisaluk Chantanakom Reviewed by Margarite Igras Jemima Shafei-Ongu is a Sydney based writer, teacher, and psychologist. She loves picture books claiming they nurture a special connection between a child and adult reader and has written a range of
Oceanforged 2: The Silent Island
By Amelia Mellor Reviewed by Helen Gearing Amelia Mellor, whose debut upper middle grade series ‘Grandest Bookshop’ was highly awarded by critics, readers, and booksellers alike has crafted another edge-of-your-seat adventure in the Oceanforged series. Aimed at a slightly younger audience (eight
My Wonderful Disgrace
By Angourie Rice and Kate Rice Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey The school ball is the ultimate dream for many high schoolers – fancy clothes, the date they’ve always dreamed of, feeling like it’s time to leap from school into adulthood. Amy has
To Activate Space Portal Lift Here
Be the First to meet Alien Life-Forms By Antoinette Portis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan I always knew that books were portals to another universe and here is proof. On opening, Portis, the creator of the acclaimed This is Not a Box, presents us with
Soccer I Just Love It!
By Alister Nicholson & Tom Jellett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Alister Nicholson is one of Australia's best-known radio and TV sports commentators. His first children's book, Cricket, I Just Love It!, was published in 2021. Tom Jellett is a Sydney-based illustrator, who for
Audrey Skips
By Andrea Rowe & Lisa Coutts Reviewed by Dimity Powell Unless you are familiar with Melbourne's skyline and Australia's recent past, you may not be acquainted with The Skipping Girl, aka Audrey. Audrey Skips is a beguiling picture book that changes all that. Based
Girls Who Play Dead
By Joelle Wellington Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Joelle Wellington is a New York-based author known for her YA thrillers. Her previous titles, Their Vicious Games and The Blonde Dies First, are mixtures of satirical horror and teen thriller. Wellington’s latest novel, Girls
Song Of the Saltings
By Rachel King Reviewed by Lucille Rose Song Of The Saltings is a grim, dark fantasy that follows the story of Lotta Salter, a daughter of the island of Brack, and Moss Smith, a hideling exile cast out from the village. The
Is This a Plum?
By Dan & Finn Ojari Reviewed by Barbara Braxton The fun starts on the front cover with the title, a cut-out that just invites you to open it and reveals
