Digging Up Dad And Other Hopeful (And Funny) Stories
By Morris Gleitzman Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Over 30 years ago, Morris Gleitzman was so overtaken by an idea for a story that he says came from nowhere that by the time the afternoon was up he had the outline completed and
The Very Hard Book
By Idan Ben-Barak Illustrated by Philip Bunting Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran The Very Hard Book is the second book collaboration by the compelling partnership of Idan Ben-Barak and Philip Bunting. This book explores big concepts such as meta-cognition and philosophy of the mind
Meanwhile Back On Earth – Finding Our Place Through Time and Space
By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Oliver Jeffers is a brand unto himself these days. If you’re a fan I presume you’ll read this book, review or no review. From kid favourite The Day The Crayons Quit to How To Catch A Star Jeffers
Ask a Writer: Sean Williams on writing
Sean Williams is the author of over fifty novels. He has been on the New York Times Best Seller lists, won awards and is very successful all round. His latest books have been reviewed here: Her Perilous Mansions and Honour
My Deadly Boots
By Carl Merrison, Hakea Hustler and Samantha Campbell Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray ‘Clothes maketh the man’ is an old-fashioned proverb, but a sentiment that plenty still embrace. It suggests that people judge you by your clothes, but also that wearing certain
The Big Book of Exhibits
Written by Marita Bullock and Joan-Maree Hargreaves Illustrated by Liz Rowland Reviewed by Margarite Igras This new work by this talented team is a beautiful and informative partner to their first book The Big Book of Festivals. This hardback publication is loaded with information
The Jammer
By Nova Weetman Illustrated by Jessica Cruickshank Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Nova Weetman is the award-winning author of many middle grade and young adult novels. In The Jammer she delivers another deeply satisfying story about love, loss, grief, growing up, connections and finding your
Charlie’s Whale
By Libby Gleeson and Hannah Sommerville Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Charlie’s Whale is the latest release from multi award winning Australian author Libby Gleeson, brought to life by illustrator Hannah Sommerville with delicate seascapes and nuanced characterisation. The narrative focus is young Charlie, who
All Four Quarters of the Moon
By Shirley Marr Reviewed by Sarah Custance Shirley Marr is a Chinese-Australian author currently living in WA, she writes for both YA and middle-grade fiction. Her book A Glasshouse of Stars was the 2022 CBCA (Children’s Book Council of Australia) Book of
Bored: Frog’s Mystery Twin
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Matt Stanton is the bestselling author behind the comedic Funny Kid series and The Odds graphic novels. Frog’s Mystery Twin is the second book in Stanton’s newest series Bored, with the first being Milo Finds
Painting for Picture Books: A Guided Walk through Piano Fingers
Lara Cain Gray in conversation with Caroline Magerl “There’s no cure for what ails creative people,” said artist, author and vivid storyteller Caroline Magerl as she guided visitors around Piano Fingers, an illuminating exhibition of picture book art, running throughout
An Anthology of Aquatic Life
Written by Sam Hume Illustrated by Angela Rizza & Daniel Long Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Dorling Kindersley or DK have long been renowned for producing well researched and profusely illustrated reference books with high production values. Put simply they produce beautiful books chockfull
Birdbrain
By Kelli Anne Hawkins Reviewed by Sarah Custance Birdbrain is the second middle-grade novel by Australian author Kelli Anne Hawkins, who’s first book was The School for Talking Pets. 11-year-old Hadley Boggs lives a simple but happy life with her father and Mr
Friends Fur-ever: Smarty Pup 1
By Anh Do Illustrated by Anton Emdin Reviewed by Eva B, aged 8 One of the best books I have ever read! Lily's new pup JJ is kind of clumsy, but something about his smiley face makes her really happy inside. So you
Sloth Slept On
Written and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan I am a great fan of Preston-Gannon's work since seeing her illustrations in I Am The Seed That Grew The Tree, a collection of nature poems selected by Fiona Waters. Frann has
Answers in the Pages
By David Levithan Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David Levithan is an award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of young adult books, including 19 Love Songs, Every Day, Boy Meets Boy, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (with Rachel Cohn) and Will Grayson, Will Grayson (with John Green). David Levithan is a serious
Frank’s Red Hat
By Sean E. Avery Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Frank is a penguin with ideas. Some are better than others but often they are not so good.. So when he he shows the other penguins his strange new creation, they are very nervous.
The Cult of Romance
By Sarah Ayoub Reviewed by Jane Swinton The highly acclaimed Sarah Ayoub shines a light on cultural disconnection in this tumultuous love story. The heroine, Natalie Saab is a smart, young, university student straddling the expectations of being Lebanese or being Australian
The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin
By Paula Hayes Reviewed by Sarah Custance Paula Hayes is an Australian writer of magical realism for middle-grade audiences. Her first book Lily in the Mirror was a Notable book for the 2017 CBCA awards. The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin is
Dead Good Detectives
By Jenny McLachlan Reviewed by Sarah Custance Jenny McLachlan is a UK author of over 12 books for children and young adults. Her most well-known series is The Land of Roar trilogy packed with dragons and epic adventures. Dead Good Detectives is
Chippy Chasers: Chippy Jackpot
By Sam Cotton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sam Cotton is an Aussie born actor and internet sensation with his combination of real-life footage intertwined with hand-drawn illustrations. He has over 2.5 million followers and his TikTok videos have over 45 million likes
Storm Goliath
Written by James Sellick Illustrated by Craig Shuttlewood Reviewed by Margarite Igras This attractive and instructive picture book about anger management has very expressive illustrations and includes an introduction to some creative language to explain the behaviour. Goliath the gorilla can move from feeling
Runt
By Craig Silvey Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Craig Silvey is an author and screenwriter from Fremantle, Western Australia. His award winning and best selling titles include Jasper Jones and Honeybee, both aimed at an older audience than readers of Runt. This is a
Snuggled Away
Written by Cate Storey Illustrated by Sarah Matsuda Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Good night little one, snuggle down tight. The animals are just beginning their night. The night sky is illuminated by the moon and the stars. In the darkness the Australian bush
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School
By Sonora Reyes Reviewed by Rose Hill First things, first this book deals with suicide ideation, mental health, and hospitalization along with many forms of discrimination, these issues are potential triggers for many people. I really enjoyed reading this book, the narrative about
Owl and Star
By Helen Milroy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Helen is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Her previous books include Backyard Beasties also reviewed in StoryLinks. Here she has written and illustrated in her inimitable and
It’s Time All Possums Went To Bed
Written by Jacqui Halpin Illustrated by Gavin Scott Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is a playful and beautiful Australian bedtime time story, that oozes with the love between mother and child. With every excuse Milly comes up with, mother is there willing to
Egg
Written by Clare Atkins Illustrated by Harrison Vial Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Out in the vast blue ocean, something bobs in the waves. Alone. A strange egg has washed up onto the shore of the island of cooked eggs. It is the same
How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures
Written and illustrated by Sami Bayly Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anything by Sami Bayly is guaranteed to be well researched and magnificently illustrated. Her other books The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals 2020, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature 2021,
The School for Good and Evil (7) – The Rise of the School for Good and Evil
By Soman Chainani Reviewed by Jane Swinton This story is the prequel to the immensely popular School for Good and Evil series. This is the first title in the series that I have read. Not having read any previous titles doesn’t hinder
