Life Lessons for Little Ones: You Know Yourself Best
A little one's guide to trusting their instincts By Jess Sanders & Fotini Tikkou Reviewed by Claire Monsour “Dear Reader, you are the expert of you. You know when something feels good and right, and you know when something feels wrong. What you feel
South with the Seabirds
Follow four remarkable scientists to the edge of the world By Jess McGeachin Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Non fiction picture books are having quite a moment right now, and South with the Seabirds is a wonderful addition from author and illustrator
Design & Building on Country: First Knowledges for younger readers
By Alison Page & Paul Memmott Illustrated by Blak Douglas Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This title is part of the First Knowledges for Younger People series which celebrates the wisdom and ingenuity of the First Peoples of Australia. They aim to give children
A Really Short Journey Through the Body
An illustrated edition of the bestselling book about our incredible anatomy By Bill Bryson adapted by Emma Young, illustrated by Daniel Long, Dawn Cooper, Jesús Sotés and Katie Ponder. Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bill Bryson was born in America but now lives and
When Dinosaurs Roamed Australia
By Sarah Jane Lightfoot Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Sarah's second book, the first being Down the Road Little Bee, 2021, a bee's search for pollen across the Australian suburban landscape. The title of When Dinosaurs Roamed Australia speaks for itself,
The Opal Dinosaur
By Yvonne Mes & Sylvia Morris Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Yvonne Mes is a multi faceted creator who writes and illustrates children's books including Oliver's Grumbles, Trouble in the Henhouse, and Meet Sydney Nolan. Here she has teamed up with children's illustrator
Ingenious Insects
By Sarah Allen Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author and illustrator Sarah Allen shares her love of the amazing fauna and flora found on the Australian continent in this ingenious children's picture book. Her first book, Busy Beaks was shortlisted for the
Meet the Author: Lara Cain Gray
A picture’s worth a thousand words, but a great picture book? Priceless! The Grown-Up’s Guide To Picture Books explores the complexities of modern picture books, from why our favourites tend to linger so long in our memories, to how we can
The Grown-Ups Guide to Picture Books
By Lara Cain Gray, Lorena Carrington & Timothy Ide Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Dr Lara Cain Gray is a librarian, children's book advocate and esteemed Storylinks reviewer. Her aim with this debut is to create a guide for teachers, parents and carers
Is My Phone Reading My Mind?
The real facts about Artificial Intelligence By Matt Agnew Illustrations by Hana Kinoshita Thomson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Dr Matt Agnew has a doctorate in astrophysics and a masters in artificial intelligence so he knows what he is talking about. His mission here is
Unreal
Can you tell fact from fake? by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Leila Rudge Reviewed by Mia Macrossan I learned a new word today, cryptid, an animal that some people believe is real but whose existence isn't backed up by strong evidence. There is
Right Way Down and other poems
Chosen by Rebecca M Newman & Sally Murphy Illustrated by Briony Stewart Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This efferfescent collection of poems, aimed at upper primary school children aged 9 - 12 has been put together by Rebecca M. Newman, an award-winning children’s poet
Phonobet
By Kathy Weeden and Kim Drane Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Most of us understand that there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, but far fewer could list the 44 sounds that make up everything we say when combining those letters
Voice of the Sea
By John Williamson Illustrated by Andrea Innocent & Jonathan Chong Reviewed by Mia Macrossan John Williamson is an Australian singer songwriter who has had two of his popular songs produced as picture books Old Man Emu and Christmas in Australia. Voice of the Sea
Skye Blackburn-Lang: Eating Bugs for the Planet
By Dianne Wolfer Reviewed by Sophia Evans Skye Blackburn-Lang: Eating Bugs for the Planet is part of the Aussie STEM Stars series that aims to provide inspiring stories of our world-leading scientists and inventors. The title is the reason I picked up
Michelle Simmons: Quantum computing scientist/Aussie STEM Stars
By Nova Weetman Illustrated by Mirjana Segan Reviewed by Helen Gearing In exceptional timing, this book was published in the same month that Michelle Simmons AO won the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science. Michelle Simmons: Quantum computing science is written by the award-winning
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, and I can’t think of a better description. This book is big, bold,
Against All Odds: Young Reader’s Edition
By Craig Challen and Richard Harris, with Ellis Henican Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Craig Challen and Richard Harris are the Australian cave divers who helped rescue the 12 members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach, from a cave system
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 illustrations by Triandhika Anjani. What will you make today? is a child centred book,
Harriet’s Hungry Worms
By Samantha Smith & Melissa Johns Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Samantha's first eco picture book which she hopes will inspire readers to become young 'wormwarriors'. Melissa is an artist and illustrator whose artworks are predominantly made of recycled materials. In Harriet's
It’s a Wonderful World
How to Protect the Planet and Change the Future Written by Jess French Illustrated by Aleesha Nandhra Reviewed by Margarite Igras This informative and practical book describes how each person has the potential to make informed choices that will make a difference to our
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 your classroom or home. StoryLinks has a list of Environmental Fiction:A selection
Can You Get Rainbows in Space?
By Dr Sheila Kanani Illustrated by Liz Kay Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This colourful compendium of questions and answers about colour is sure to spark the interest of any child with an enquiring mind. Dr Sheila Kanani is a planetary physicist, science presenter,
Picturebook Makers
By dPICTUS Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in the process of picture creation. Originally published in Sweden, this English edition has been edited by Sam McCullen who also wrote the introduction. In it he says The
Bush Birds
Written & Illustrated by Helen Milroy Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Little birds, big birds, all different kinds. How many bush birds can you find?” From an inquisitive little Blue Wren to an emu booming out his song, this beautiful picture book identifies Australia’s
Australia Remembers: Wartime Nurses – Care and Compassion
By Jacqui Halpin Reviewed by Liane McDermott Australia Remembers: Wartime Nurses – Care and Compassion is the sixth book in the Australia Remembers non-fiction series. The book takes the reader through a historical journey of Australia’s military nurses who have risked their
Art is Everywhere
By Eleanor Chan Illustrated by Olivia Bargman Reviewed by Margarite Igras Ellie Chan is an art historian and together with Liv Bargman’s simple, comic, drawings, they have created a book about art, that is fun and accessible to children. The book takes the
Big Feelings and What They Tell Us
By Rebekah Ballagh Reviewed by Margarite Igras Rebekah, who has both written and illustrated this book, has used her background in counselling to create an instructive book about emotions for children. In the opening text she says Emotions are messages from the
Mathematics for Beginners
By Sarah Hull & Tom Mumbray Illustrated by Paul Boston & Robert Samuel Hanson Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Ask your students what they believe maths to be and you will get answers such as 'numbers', "measuring". "counting"
Best Books of 2022
At this time of year we ask our reviewers to select the best books they have read this year. Here is the result which should provide some wonderful holiday reading and maybe some ideas for seasonal gift giving. Just click
