Lani and the Universe
By Victoria Carless Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Brisbane based Victoria Carless's previous novels include the YA novel The Dream Walker and the middle grade Gus and the Starlight, reviewed in StoryLinks. Lani and the Universe is another charming adventure for middle grade readers. Lani is
Alex: Through My Eyes – Australian Disaster Zones
By Rosanne Hawke Reviewed by Helen Gearing The latest book in the Australian Disaster Zones series, Alex is a powerful story providing multi-layered insights into a farming community suffering from a crippling drought. In the text’s accompanying Teachers’ Notes, Rosanne Hawk (whose 2012
The Complete Cleo Stories
Cleo and the necklace; Cleo and the present; Cleo makes a friend; Cleo wants a pet By Libby Gleeson & Freya Blackwood. Reviewed by Helen Gearing The Complete Cleo Stories will be treasured by long-time Cleo fans and new readers alike in an
Here and Only Here
By Christelle Dabos Reviewed by Lucille Rose Christelle Dabos is the author of The Mirror Visitor, which won the Gallimard Jeunesse-RTL-Télérama First Novel Competition. Here and Only Here, is an immediately engaging novel depicting the ups, downs and strange in-betweens of high school. Four
Dorothy
By Jordan Collins and Myo Yim Reviewed by Margarite Igras Jordan Collins was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Australia when they were eight years old. Their heritage is African-American Greek-Australian. They have also written Where?, reviewed in StoryLinks by Lara Cain
2024 Short Story Competition now open for entries
The 2024 StoryLinks Short Story competition You are invited! Writers aged 18+ are invited to enter the 2024 StoryLinks Short Story competition Entries should be a short story, maximum of 1500 words, suitable for children of any age up to 15 years old. Due
Talking Translation – interviews with translators of Australian Children’s Books
by Lara Cain Gray Talking Translation is a new series where Lara Cain Gray interviews translators of Australian children's books. She delves behind the scenes and between the lines to learn more about the complex process of translating. These interviews offer a
Breathe In and Out
By Jan Stradling and Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Margarite Igras This picture book is part of a series called A Mindfully Me Story, inspired by the Play School TV show, written by Jan Stradling a former Executive Producer of the Play School
How To Be A Friend
By Sarah Ayoub & Mimi Purnell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ayoub has written the YA novels Hate is Such a Strong Word, The Yearbook Committee and The Cult of Romance as well as collaborating with Purnell in two other picture books, The Love
The Crayons Go Back to School
By Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This creative team is known to many for the first in the 'crayon' series, The Day the Crayons Quit, 2018, and other crayon adventures. Drew Daywalt has also written The Legend of
Ready, Set, Big School
A Play School Mindfully Me book about starting school by Play School, Jan Stradling, illustrated by Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is another title in the excellent Mindfully Me series produced by Play School. Previous titles include Beginnings and Endings, reviewed for StoryLinks by
The Bother with the Bonkillyknock Beast: Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters 3
By Karen Foxlee, illustrated by Freda Chiu Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Karen Foxlee is the award winning author of Dragon Skin and Lenny's Book of Everything. The Bother with the Bonkillyknock Beast is the third in Mary-Kate monster adventures, the first is The Wrath
Seasons Greetings
StoryLinks is taking a holiday break and will be back with news, reviews and all things children's literature on January 15, 2024. The National Centre for Australian Children's Literature shared a blog, 'a special Christmas blog, our holiday bon bon to
STAND OUT Middle Grade Novels 2023
Readers aged around eight to twelve have been fortunate this year with a bumper crop of great new novels this year. Established authors have continued to delight us with stories full of memorable characters, exciting plots and meaningful and relevant
Christmas books
A selection of new and old favourites for everyone to enjoy and share at Christmas. Christmas Books
STAND OUT Picture Books 2023
Picture book creators continue to amaze and delight with their imaginative response to our world. The boundaries of what is considered suitable for a picture book continue to expand. Writers, illustrators, authorstrators - all are gleefully ranging far and wide
The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas
Written by Matt Lucas Illustrated by Forrest Burdett Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Matt Lucas is a British actor and comedian best known for his work with David Walliams on the BBC comedy series Little Britain. He has previously published two picture books for
Run Pups Run
By Kerri Day & Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Margarite Igras Kerri Day is a former primary school teacher who enjoys writing stories which encourage younger readers to discover the natural world, explore language, sounds, and creative thinking. This is her second book.
Pepper Masalah and the Giant Bird
By Rosanne Hawke Illustrated by Jasmine Berry Reviewed by Sophia Evans Pepper Masalah and the Giant Bird continues the journey of Pepper (a copper-eyed cat) and Zamir (a human). It begins with a quick recap so this book can be read as a
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
The Elf on the Shelf’s Night Before Christmas
By Chanda A. Bell Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson and Theo, aged 8 Following on from the previous Elf on the Shelf books (2005 to present day) this title is the latest by this author who is affectionately known as Santa’s Chief Storyteller.
Parcel for Turtle
Written & illustrated by Shelley Knoll-Miller Reviewed by Sandy Driessens 'Parcel for Turtle!' shouts a dolphin-riding Post-Seagull. He skillfully delivers the beautifully wrapped parcel by fishing line and you soon discover why. Turtle and his friends are stranded! Pesky pelicans are blocking their
Hunter on Holiday, A Big Trip Around Europe
Written by Jessica and Stephen Parry-Valentine & illustrated by Ashlee Spink Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Hunter has a long, long list of places that she wants to see. She has her passport and boards a plane to take her on an adventure
Little Ash Sports Carnival! Book #7 Little Ash
By Ash Barty & Jasmin McGaughey Illustrated by Jade Goodwin Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Little Ash is in Year Two at her school which is gearing up for a sports carnival. Ash is in Red Koala House whose members will compete with children in Yellow
Little Ash Puppy Playtime! Book #8 Little Ash
by Ash Barty & Jasmin McGaughey Illustrated by Jade Goodwin Reviewed by Mia Macrossan What child can resist a story about a playful puppy? It's a fail safe topic guaranteed to get a child to open the book and then the reading follows. Ash is celebrating
BEST MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF 2023
BEST MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF 2023 This is a carefully curated list presented annually by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature whose mission is ' to preserve the richness of the many cultures in the field of children’s
What My Daddy Loves
Written and illustrated by Raissa Figueroa Reviewed by Margarite Igras Californian based Raissa Figueroa has written and illustrated this simple yet touching book about the special relationship between fathers and their children. She has dedicated this book to her dad and to
Never a Hero: Only a Monster 2
By Vanessa Len Reviewed by Helena Never a Hero, written by Vanessa Len is the second in a three-book series, following Only a Monster. This fantasy-romance, set in England, tells the story of a high school girl named Joan Chang-Hunt, who is a
Murder on a School Night
By Kate Weston Reviewed by Liane McDermott Described by the publisher as Sex Education meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this YA novel for readers 14+ is a fun, feminist murder mystery by author (and ex-stand-up comedian) Kate Weston. Murder on
