Pterosaurs of the the Desert Ocean
By Andrew Plant CSIRO Publishing 2026 Teacher Notes Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Andrew Plant trained as a zoologist, but has been an illustrator and author for over 30 years. In this meticulously researched work he reveals a magical world of Australian dinosaurs living 100
Tiki and Jill and the Great Australian Camel Race
Written by Kate Simpson & Jill Colwell Illustrated by Craig Smith A & U Children 2026 Teaching resources Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a splendid real life story beautifully told by two award-winning creators and illustrated by Craig Smith of The Wobbly Bike fame.
Handbooks for Little Humans: Fairness; Handbooks for Little Humans: Friendship
By Zanni Louise Art by Maja Veselinovic Affirm Kids 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Zanni Louise continues her excellent series of useful handbooks for teachers and caregivers to use with young children with these two additions to the list, one on fairness and
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
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
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
What Makes a Bird?
An Illustrated Guide to the Bird World By Nadeem Perera & Montse Galbany Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a glorious introduction to the world of birds, chockful of information presented in accessible nuggets of information and illustrated with a marvellous
Costa’s Garden: Fruit (Costa’s Garden, #2)
By Costa Georgiadis & Brenna Quinlan Reviewed by Margarite Igras Costa Georgiadis, the presenter of the ABC Gardening Australia show, has written this follow up book in the Costa’s Garden series. His first book focussed on the importance and joys of flowers.
Celebration Festival
By Alysia Kelly & Ruth-Mary Smith Reviewed by Meg Rowe Evie loves celebrations so when she is asked to judge her local communities Celebration Festival, she is excited - and nervous. How will she be able to choose a winner? With her
Storm
By Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft Reviewed by Mia Macrossan These two talented creators have collaborated again to create a wonderful evocation of a storm at sea. Previous works reviewed in StoryLinks include Volcano and Tree, but they both have an impressive list
Dungzilla
Written and illustrated By James Foley This edition colouring by Paulina Gamez Reviewed by Sophia Evans DUNGZILLA is a hilarious, action-packed graphic novel that follows the shenanigans of the world’s foremost inventor under the age of twelve, Sally Tinker. Sally begins the story
Are You the Easter Bunny?
By Janeen Brian & Lucinda Gifford Reviewed by Mia Macrossan There are many books about Easter published at about this time and here is one that is timely and timeless. Are You the Easter Bunny? is about the Greater Bilby which was suggested
Blue – Dragon of the Sea
By Aleesah Darlison & Tamlyn Teow Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Meet Blue, a Dragon of the Sea! He’s also known as a nudibranch or sea slug.” Gliding on the currents and dancing in the sea, is Blue, a tiny blue glaucus that is so
The Interactive Human Body
Explore the Human Body with Flaps, Wheels, Levers, Touch and Feel, and More! By Ryan G Van Cleave & Juliana Eigner Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This very attractive large board book is designed to allow curious children to explore the human body with
Soup’s On Around the World
By Denyse Waissbluth & Chelsea O'Byrne Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Soup is one of those versatile dishes that can be the prelude to a main meal or a meal in itself. Denyse Waissbluth has done her research and together with Chelsea O'Byrne
Cats and Us
A ten-thousand-year fascination By Marta Pantaleo Translated by Debbie Bibo & Yvette Ghione Reviewed by Mia Macrossan What a marvellous book for all cat lovers big and small! Marta Pantaleo, an Italian graphic designer and illustrator, has created a fun fact-filled picture book to delight
Mystery of the Missing Turtles
By Deborah S Bower, Ricky-John Spencer, Michael B Thompson, James U Van Dyke and Elizabeth Hale Illustrated by James O'Hanlon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a great example of a child seeing a problem and taking the initiative to solve it, (with
All About Antarctica
A Fact Book About the Southernmost Continent By Marc Martin Reviewed by Claire Monsour If you don’t like picture books with busy pages and lots of small text: this book may not be for you. But if, like me, you have a highly
Saving Shark Pup
By Sharon Dalgleish & Amandine Thomas Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sharon is the author of over 50 published fiction and nonfiction books for children, as well as numerous textbooks and resource books for primary/elementary school teachers. Melbourne- based Amandine is also an
Mission Moon: An Illustrated Guide to Space Exploration
By Sarah Mühlebach, translated by Marshall Yarbrough Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Space exploration is always a popular topic with young children and here is a compact overview from the first satelites to space travel today. Mühlebach, a Swiss writer and illustrator, has filled
All About Starting School
By Felicity Brooks & Mar Ferrero Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Felicity has worked at Usborne for over 30 years and has written and edited hundreds of titles from books on tractors to genetics. Mar was a cartoonist before becoming an illustrator and
Up, Up, and Away: The History of Aviation
Written and Illustrated by Tomáš SMOT Svoboda Translated by Andrew Oakland Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Tomáš SMOT Svoboda is a graphic designer and illustrator from Brno, Czech Republic. Although Tomáš has previously illustrated three books, Up, Up, and Away is his debut as
The Awesome Physics in Your City
By The Amazing Theatre of Physics. Illustrated by Tomáš Kopecký Reviewed by Lauren Spencer The Awesome Physics in Your City is part of the ‘Science is all around us’ series and follows on from the first book, The Awesome Physics in Your Home.
Everything Under the Sun: All Around the World
A curious question for every day of the year By Molly Oldfield Illustrated by Folasade Adeshida, Neil Badenhorst, Belinda Chen, Sophie Escavy Lim, Marta Antelo, Fernando Martin, Juliana Eigner, Andrés Landazabal, Henry Rancourt, Francesca Tiley, Daniel Gray-Barnett, and Meg Rennie Reviewed by Mia
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Fast and Slow Animals
Written and illustrated by Sami Bayly Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sami Bayly who describes herself on her website as ‘author and illustrator of all things weird and wonderful’, combines a deep knowledge and love of animals with a remarkable ability to write
There’s a Prawn in Parliament House: The Kids’ Guide to Australia’s Amazing Democracy
By Annabel Crabb & First Dog on the Moon Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Annabel Crabb is an ABC journalist, political commentator and host of TV shows including Kitchen Cabinet and Back in Time for Dinner. First Dog on the Moon is the
Raising Readers (revised edition)
By Megan Daley Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Megan Daley is a celebrated Brisbane teacher-librarian and co-founder of the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community and podcast. Her debut non-fiction title, Raising Readers: How to nurture a child’s love of books, was published
The Colours of Nature
By Catherine Barr & Chaaya Prabhat Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Our natural world provides many examples of gorgeous, stunning animals and plants that fascinate young readers. A book that celebrates the beauty and diversity around us is a perfect way to engage
World of Colour
By Jess Racklyeft Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jess is a versatile illustrator who has worked with many writers including Claire Saxby (Tree, Whisper on the Wind, Iceberg) to create outstanding picture books, as well as carving out a name for herself as a sole creator (There’s
Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder
Written by Time Winton Illustrated by Cindy Lane Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tim Winton is an internationally renowned Australian writer and conservationist, having written more than 30 books for adults and children. A four-time winner of the Miles Franklin Award and shortlisted twice
