Hamlet is Not OK
By R A Spratt Reviewed by Helen Gearing Signing up to review a new R.A. Spratt novel is slightly terrifying when you’re a long-term fan. Spratt’s previous best-selling series – Peski Kids, Nanny Piggins, and Friday Barnes – and her podcast, Bedtime
Meet Katrina Nannestad: Book Links 2023 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are four brilliant writers on this year’s Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Felice Arena The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, Katrina Nannestad Waiting for the Storks, Pamela Rushby Interned, and Claire Saxby - The Wearing of the Green Each one has kindly
Game On: Shrinkle
By Emily Snape Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Emily Snape has written and illustrated many books many aimed at young reluctant readers. Shrinkle, the first in a new series called Game On, is short, copiously illustrated by the author, and written in a
Meet Felice Arena: Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are four brilliant writers on this year’s shortlist: Felice Arena : The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, Katrina Nannestad : Waiting for the Storks; Pamela Rushby : Interned; Claire Saxby : The Wearing of the Green Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing
Pasta!
By Felice Arena and Beatrice Cerocchi Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Felice Arena is well known as an actor, speaker, TV presenter and playwright. He has written many award winning books including the Specky Magee series, the historical novels Fearless Frederic, The Boy
Meet Claire Saxby: Book Links 2023 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are four brilliant writers on this year’s Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Felice Arena : The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, Katrina Nannestad : Waiting for the Storks, Pamela Rushby : Interned, Claire Saxby : The Wearing of the Green Each one has kindly agreed to answer
Reading Pictures – Drawing Words A Database of Picture Books for Older Readers
Welcome to Reading Pictures – Drawing Words the new Picture Books for Older Readers database produced by The National Centre for Australian Children's Literature with titles suitable for use from Grade 5 to secondary school. This database combined with its attendant resources
Mr Chippa The Woodblock Carver of Bagru
By Lee Fullarton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In 2014 Lee, an artist from Ipswich, lived in India and spent time working with the woodblock carvers of Bagru, a town on the outskirts of Jaipur in Rajasthan. This experience was the inspiration for
Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Makes it Big
By Dolly Parton with Erica S Perl Illustrated by Mackenzie Haley Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Legendary Dolly Parton has a passion for improving literacy and is working to do that through her organization “Imagination Library”. Since it started in 1995, she has mailed
Birdie Lights up the World
By Alison McLennan & Lauren Mullinder Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Birdie the penguin was the chosen one. It was her job to light up the world every night, with her song. This was her great responsibility. Her friends depended on her to
Fireflies in Flight The Towers #2
By Mette Jakobsen Reviewed by Helen Gearing The second instalment of the urban dystopian series ‘The Towers’, Fireflies in Flight is a YA adventure for readers aged fourteen years and older who are looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes story of teenagers resisting
Huda Was Here
By H Hayek Reviewed by Charlotte Barkla Huda Was Here is a heartfelt, funny tale of two kids trying to bring their dad back home. After a period of low crime rates in the neighbourhood, Huda and Akeal’s dad loses his job
Robodog
By David Walliams Reviewed by Margarite Igras The author of such popular books as Spaceboy, World’s Worst Monsters and Bad Dad, David Williams has come up with another adventure-packed comic tale, humorously illustrated by Adam Stower, with a noisy overlay of sounds,
Pepper Masalah and the Flying Carpet
By Rosanne Hawke Illustrated by Jasmine Berry Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rosanne Hawke is a prolific author of children's books, many of which explore cultural and social issues. Notable titles include Shahana: Through My Eyes and Taj and the Great Camel Trek. Here we
Riz Chester: The Counterfeit Bust
By R A Stephens Illustrated by Em Hammond Reviewed by Mia Macrossan R A Stephens runs publishing houses Wombat Books and Rhiza Edge, and also writes and edits individually both for their own company and for other publishers. They are primarily interested in
StoryArt Exhibition 2023 Meet the Artist Anil Tortop
by Mia Macrossan The annual StoryArt Exhibition is all set to start next month on Monday, June 26 and run until Sunday July 2 at the Richard Randall Art Studio at Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane. It will be a week of fabulous displays for everyone
Meet Pamela Rushby : Book Links 2023 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Shortlist
There are four brilliant writers on this year's Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Felice Arena : The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan, Katrina Nannestad : Waiting for the Storks, Pamela Rushby : Interned, Claire Saxby : The Wearing of the Green Each one has kindly
The One And Only Ruby
By Katherine Applegate Reviewed by Sophia Evans The One And Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate is a heart-warming follow up to her Newbery Medal – winning The One And Only Ivan, about a gorilla kept in a cage in a mall for
Speech Pathology Awards 2023 Shortlist announced
Book of the Year Awards Each year Speech Pathology Australia conducts its Book of the Year Awards to recognise and celebrate Australia's best books for children's language and literacy development and to promote the crucial role speech pathologists play in supporting
My Little Barlaagany (Sunshine)
By Melissa Greenwood Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Author and artist Melissa Greenwood is a Gumbaynggirr woman, from the mid-north coast of NSW. She is a custodian of the language and culture of the region and is passionate about weaving the intricacies
Evie and Rhino
By Neridah McMullin Illustrated by Astred Hicks Reviewed by Helen Gearing Evie and Rhino is historical fiction at its finest – immersive in its worldbuilding without ever neglecting plot and character – and is perfect for readers aged nine years and older
A Giant’s Trek
By Nick Stella Reviewed by Margarite Igras This debut novel by Nick Stella, which he says, began as a bedtime story for his children is a fantasy adventure, about a village of giants, a rite of passage journey, and for the main
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
StoryArt Exhibition 2023 Meet the Artist Katrin Dreiling
The annual StoryArt Exhibition is all set to start next month on Monday, June 26 and run until Sunday July 2 at the Richard Randall Art Studio. It will be a week of fabulous displays for everyone to enjoy. As this is school holiday
A Friend for George
By Gabriel Evans Reviewed by Margarite Igras Award-winning creator Gabriel Evans, who has also illustrated works for Sonya Hartnett and Jane Goodwin has written a heart-warming and insightful book about the meaning of friendship and what it means to be a good
Sunshine on Vinegar Street
By Karen Comer Reviewed by Sarah Custance Karen Comer is a Melbourne author who runs writing workshops for both children and adults. Both her debut YA novel Grace Notes and her latest middle-grade novel Sunshine on Vinegar Street are written as verse
JJ and the Giant Panther: Smarty Pup 2
By Anh Do Illustrated by Anton Emdin Allen & Unwin Children's 2023 "'Okay, okay!' said Mr Hosking. 'Fine, JJ can come on school camp. But he has to be on his absolute best behaviour!'. 'Deal!' promised JJ. JJ the genius pup has Lily
Ratbags 1: Naughty for Good
By Tim Harris and Shiloh Gordan Puffin 2023 Let's face it -- rats are mischief. Rats are rule-breakers. Rats are ratbags. They're all the same. All, that is, except one
VEENA SAHAJWALLA: ‘Green’ engineer and recycling champion
Written by Julianne Negri Illustrated by Mirjana Segan Reviewed by Zewlan Moor The Aussie STEM Stars series is a series of highly readable biographies suitable for ages 9-13. They focus on the childhoods and careers of Australians working in the sciences, technology and
Book Links News for June
The Book Links June Newsletter contains a roundup of all that is happening here in the world of children's literature - awards, reviews, competitions, exhibitions and workshops and more. A must for anyone working or interested in the field.
