What makes a Reviewer? Alison McCaffrey Hotchkis 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
Tākapu the Lone Hunter
By Ned Barraud A & U Children NZ 2026 Reviewed by Margarite Igras Ned Barraud is a New Zealand-based author and illustrator of exquisitely detailed books about the flora and fauna of his country Aotearoa. The books, aimed at 4- to 10-year-olds, celebrate the
One Knight Stand: Lady’s Knight 2 & Interview with Amie Kaufman
By Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner A & U Children 2026 Reviewed by Lucille Rose One Knight Stand is the only dragon-fighting, sword-wielding, knight in shining armour series you will ever need. Set in a medieval fantasy kingdom, fierce noblewoman Isobelle and recently
Jackie French wins the 2026 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction
Congratulations to Jackie French whose book The Mushroom in the Sky, published by Harper Collins, has won this year’s Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction. The judges were unanimous in their decision commenting on the 'honesty and bravery of the subject', the
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
