We Run Tomorrow
By Nat Amoore Illustrated by Mike Barry Reviewed by Sarah Custance Nat Amoore is the author of Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire, The Power of Positive Pranking, and The Right Way to Rock all based around different children in the fictional school of
Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat
By Ursula Moray Williams Reviewed by Sarah Custance UK author Ursula Moray Williams (1911-2006) wrote 68 books for children throughout her lifetime. The two books that she is most well known for are Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse and Gobbolino the
2022 CBCA Winners announced
Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers who won one of the prestigious CBCA awards this year. It is always a suspenseful and eagerly awaited event to see which book will win the coveted gong. Here are the StoryLinks reviews for
The Fowl Twins: Get What They Deserve
By Eoin Colfer Reviewed by Sarah Custance Eoin Colfer is the mastermind behind the bestselling Artemis Fowl series and has now written a spinoff series about Artemis’ younger twin brothers. Get What They Deserve is the third book in The Fowl Twins
A Reluctant Witch’s Guide to Magic
By Shivaun Plozza Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Shivaun Plozza won multiple awards for her debut novel Frankie and has since gone on to write both YA and middle-grade books such as Tin Heart and The Boy, The Wolf and the
The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Anxious Artist
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Sarah Custance Award winning Australian author Katrina Nannestad has been making waves with two of her most recent works We Are Wolves and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief. Her other works also include series
Sunny the Shark: Surviving the Wild 3
Created by Remy Lai Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Remy is a Brisbane author who has successfully built up a large audience for her cheerful but heartfelt graphic novels. This is the third in her environmental series for younger readers Surviving the Wild which focus
Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens
By Allison Rushby & Bronte Rose Marando Reviewed by Barbara Braxton 1872. Miss Strickland’s School for Girls of an Enquiring Mind and Penny Pickering's mind is wandering, as it often does, in Miss Pugh's lessons. She's sketching ideas about what might happen
The Detective’s Guide to New York City
By Nicki Greenberg Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd The Detective's Guide to New York City is the sequel to Nicki Greenberg's debut middle grade mystery novel, The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel. In the first book, we were introduced to thirteen-year-old Pepper Stark and
Prometheus High: How to Make a Monster
By Stuart Wilson Reviewed by Sarah Custance How to Make a Monster is Australian author, Stuart Wilson’s, debut novel and the beginning of a series of books all about Prometheus High. The second book in the series The Books of the Dead
Rainbow Grey: Eye of the Storm
By Laura Ellen Anderson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Laura Ellen Anderson is the bestselling author/illustrator of the Amelia Fang books (of which there are now 8). Eye of the Storm is the second book in Anderson’s latest middle-grade series Rainbow Grey. 10-year-old Ray
Scram! (Clarice Bean)
The True Story of How We Got Our Dog Written and illustrated by Lauren Child Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Who doesn't love Clarice Bean? Lauren Child started writing this hugely successful series way back in 1999. The first was the picture book Clarice
Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe
Written by Ashleigh Barton Illustrated by Sarah Davis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ashleigh is the author of picture book What Do You Call Your Grandma? which has been shortlisted in the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year Awards and this charming story about
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List #3 Katrina Nannestad
There are four brilliant writers on the Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr. Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing historical fiction for StoryLinks. Katrina Nannestad is the author of Rabbit, Soldier,
The Lost Ryu
Written by Emi Watanabe Cohen Reviewed by Sarah Custance American/Japanese author Emi Watanabe Cohen blends Japanese, American, and Jewish folktales and languages in her debut middle grade novel to create a marvellous story about friendship, family, and heritage. 10-year-old Kohei lives in Japan
Sherlock Bones: and the Art and Science Alliance
Written and illustrated by Renee Treml Reviewed by Sarah Custance The Art and Science Alliance is the 3rd book in the Sherlock Bones graphic novel series by Renee Treml, an American author/illustrator who now lives in Victoria. Meet Sherlock Bones (a tawny frogmouth
Big Magic
By Sarah Armstrong Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sarah has published several books for adults included the Miles Franklin shortlisted Salt Rain. Big Magic is her first novel for children, with a sequel due in 2023. The 'big' magic in this book is passed
Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters: The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm
By Karen Foxlee and illustrated by Freda Chiu Reviewed by Sarah Custance Award-winning Australian author Karen Foxlee is the writer behind Dragon Skin, Lenny’s Book of Everything, A Most Magical Girl, and Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy. The Wrath of the Woolington
Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables: Join Forces
By Tim Harris and illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Sarah Custance Tim Harris is the much beloved author of the Exploding Endings series as well as the Toffle Towers and Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables series’ of books. Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables: Join Forces
Cop and Robber
by Tristan Bancks Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tristan Bancks has written books for children and teens which include the thrillers Two Wolves, The Fall and Detention. He has won many awards and is the writer-ambassador for Room to Read. He has a
The World’s Worst Pets
by David Walliams Illustrated by Adam Stower Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David Walliams needs no introduction as he has been a popular fixture in the children's book world for many years. His 'World's Worst' series has featured children, parents and teachers and now
The Callers
By Kiah Thomas Reviewed by Mia Macrossan There are so many middle grade stories where the protagonist has a special power that sets him/her apart from the rest of his family and community. The Callers has an interesting beginning because Quin who
The Champ!
By Anh Do Illustrated by David Atze Reviewed by Sarah Custance Vietnamese-Australian author Anh Do has written some of the bestselling children’s book series over the last decade and created a devoted fan base of readers. For younger readers he has written the
Built by Animals
Meet the Creatures Who Inspire Our Homes and Cities Written by Christiane Dorion Illustrated by Yeji Yun Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Humans think they can build anything, but the fact is, they have a thing or two to learn from Nature. Following on from Invented
Alex and the Alpacas Ride Again
By Kathryn Lefroy 2022 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Alex and the Alpacas Ride Again is a fast-paced sequel to Alex and the Alpacas Save the World, although it can be read as a standalone. Lefroy’s debut novel was shortlisted for the West
The Ice Whisperers
By Helenka Stachera Reviewed by Sarah Custance UK author Helenka Stachera grew up with her British mother and Polish father, surrounded by legends and fairy tales. The Ice Whisperers is her debut novel written about family and belonging which, as an adopted
All the Little Tricky Things
By Karys McEwen Reviewed by Sarah Custance In her spare time, Australian author Karys McEwen is the president of the CBCA (Children’s Book Council of Australia) Victorian branch, a school librarian, and a columnist for Books+Publishing. All the Little Tricky Things is
Horror Heights: Now Livescreaming
By Bec Hill Reviewed by Sarah Custance Now Livescreaming is the second book in the Horror Heights series by Australian author, performer, and presenter, Bec Hill, the first in the series being The Slime. Inspired by his favourite influencer Grimmf, young Ryan has
Cuckoo’s Flight
By Wendy Orr Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Cuckoo’s Flight is a companion novel to the critically acclaimed Dragonfly Song and Swallow’s Dance, but totally successful as a standalone. All three are set in the Bronze Age Minoan civilization in Crete. This third
Underground
Marsupial Outlaws and Other Rebels of Australia’s War in Vietnam A graphic novel by Mirranda Burton Reviewed by Sue Wright War, civil conflict, racism and division are part of the long legacy of colonialism. When colonial France withdrew from Vietnam, division split the
