Grub
By Sandra Severgnini Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sandra is really hitting her stride as a children's picture book illustrator as is shown in her impressive new book Grub. By the way, what a wonderfully direct, simple, memorable and somehow very Australian title.
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
Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships now open for 2022.
Writing NSW is excited to announce the return of the Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships for 2022. The Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships are awarded annually to writers who have a work of fiction, creative non-fiction, a play, or a suite of poems that is
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
Little Ash (series)
#1 Perfect Match! #2 Friendship Fix-it! #3 Tennis Rush! #4 Goal Getter! Written by Ash Barty & Jasmine McCaughey Illustrated by Jade Goodwin Reviewed by Barbara Braxton There would be few in Australia who do not recognise the name Ash Barty, who have not admired her
Winner of the 2022 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction is…
Cuckoo's Flight by Wendy Orr has won the 2022 Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction. The win was announced at an online event attended by all the shortlisted authors, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr, and three
Great and Small
Written by Alison McLennan Illustrated by Connah Brecon Reviewed by Sandy Driessens When I first saw the cover of Great and Small I thought, “What an unusual image of a unicorn”. Not graceful, not majestic, quite unique. Now that I’ve read the story,
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
Wizard & CO.
By Mitchell Toy Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author/illustrator Mitchell Toy is fairly new in the book world but has already published 4 picture books, The Great Australian Bite, The Bounty of Bootless Ben, The Midnight City, and his latest work, Wizard
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List #4 Wendy Orr
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. Wendy Orr is the author of Cuckoo's Flight, described
Naturopolis
Created by Deborah Frenkel and Ingrid Bartkowiak Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In our very busy lives rushing from one task to the next we don't often take the time to enjoy the unobserved beauty around us. In Naturopolis Deborah Frenkel and Ingrid
The Snow Laundry, The Towers #1
By Mette Jakobsen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mette is a writer and playwright who teaches creative writing and has put her talents to good use in creating her first YA dystopian novel. In Ally she has created one of those indestructible and indomitable
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
Go Home, Cat!
Written by Sonya Hartnett Illustrated by Lucia Masciullo Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Sonya Hartnett is a writer of fiction for children, YA, and adults. In 2008 she was the winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which is one of the
Under the Moonlight
Written and illustrated by Susannah Crispe Reviewed by Margarite Igras This gentle and heart-warming picture book is a wonderfully endearing story about an unusual friendship, that provides comfort when afraid, and shows that strength is not dependent on size. Moose has been foraging
Floof
Written and illustrated by Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Heidi is the creator of There's No Such Thing, Baz and Benz, It's a Long Way to Shop and I Just Ate My Friend which was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of
Rodney Forgets It
Written by Michael Gerard Bauer Illustrated by Chrissie Krebs Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Michael Gerard Bauer is the multi-award-winning author of The Running Man and Don’t Call Me Ishmael . His debut picture book Rodney Loses It! won the 2018 CBCA Book of the
Tangki Tjuta – Donkeys
Story and sculptures by] Tjanpi Desert Weavers ; Pitjantjatjara text by Tjunkaya Tapaya and Imuna Kenta ; based on stories by Akitiya Angkuna Tjitayi, Imuna Kenta and Anne Karatjari Ward ; English translation by Linda Rive Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Long, long
Celebrating NAIDOC Week with books for children
To celebrate NAIDOC Week Readings Bookshop has published an excellent list of First Nations books for Teens. We would also like to remind you of our list prepared by Dajo Finlayson called Aboriginal Peoples' Stories and our list Indigenous Picture Books. To
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List: #2 Lorraine Marwood
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. Lorraine Marwood is the author of Footprints on the
Group Hug!: A Collective Noun Safari
By Andy Fackrell Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Have you heard of a flamboyance of flamingos? Perhaps a bloat of hippos or even an implausibility of gnus? Wilbur is on a journey through his local zoo, visiting his favourite animals and discovering the wonderful
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
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List: #1 Mirranda Burton
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. Mirranda
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
