Rockstar Detectives
By Adam Hills Illustrated by Luna Valentine Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Comedians writing children’s novels is a thing. It started with David Walliams’ highly successful The Boy in the Dress. Funny men David Baddiel and David O’Doherty have also contributed to this trend.
Binky the Bowerbird
Written by Barb Cromie Illustrated by Nandina Vines Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Binky the Bowerbird is on a mission to find his true love. His parents have tried to teach him all the skills required to face the world and find a mate, but
An Artist’s Eyes
Written by Frances Tosdevin Illustrated by Clémence Monnet Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Mo’s eyes and Jo’s eyes look the same. But Jo’s eyes are different. Mo has an “artist’s eyes”. She sees colours in a dazzling array of shades that conjure images of objects
Milo Finds $105: Bored #1
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Matt Stanton is the Sydney-based co-creator of many humorous picture books—including There’s a Monster Under My Bed Who Farts and This is a Ball—as well as the author/illustrator of the popular middle grade series Funny
Mary & Marcus: The Crazy Dance & Other Stories
By Ursula Dubosarsky and Andrew Joyner Reviewed by Sarah Custance Award winning Australian author Ursula Dubosarsky has written over 60 books to much critical acclaim and was the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2020-2021. For Mary & Marcus, Ursula has teamed up, for
The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Kate Gordon has a gift for writing lyrical prose which has seen her achieve critical acclaim both for her “Direleafe Hall” series, and “Aster’s Good Right Things” which was the 2021 CBCA Book of the
Skydragon: Brave the Storm #4
By Ahn Do Illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Anh Do has topped the bestselling charts again and again with his series for both younger readers and now his middle-grade aimed series. Sky Dragon: Brave the Storm is the
Ouch: Tales of Gravity
Kate Simpson Andy Hardiman Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Over 350 years ago, Isaac Newton saw an apple fall from a tree and he began to wonder why it fell straight down rather than floating upwards or sideways. Being a person of very great
Bella and the Voyaging House
By Meg McKinlay Illustrated by Nicholas Schafer Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Meg McKinlay is best known for her award-winning books A Single Stone, Catch a Falling Star, Surface Tension, and Annabel, Again. Now Bella and her travelling house are back for
The Naughtiest Unicorn#10 On a Treasure Hunt
By Pip Bird Illustrated by David O'Connell Reviewed by Sarah Custance On a Treasure Hunt is the 10th instalment in The Naughtiest Unicorn book series by author Pip Bird. The series follows the misadventures of ever optimistic Mira and her UBBF (Unicorn Best
Piano Fingers
By Caroline Magerl Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Caroline Magerl burst upon the children's literature world in 2001 when she won the the CBCA Crichton Award which aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children’s book illustration with
The Ogress and the Orphans
By Kelly Barnhill Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kelly Barnhill won the Newbery Medal for The Girl Who Drank the Moon, 2016, and has written several other best selling novels for children including The Witch's Boy, 2014, and her latest is The Ogress
WORLD WAR II Fiction & Memoirs: Resources for students in Years 10 – 12
World War II Europe for students in Years 10-12 Here is a list of fiction and memoirs about World War II suitable for students in the upper grades. Some of these accounts while ultimately uplifting, can be quite harrowing, so we
CBCA Notables Book Reviews
Book Reviews from StoryLinks for CBCA Notable Books Picture Books Blue Flower – Sonya Hartnett, Ill. Gabriel Evans The Boy and the Elephant – Freya Blackwood The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name – Sandhya Parappukkaran Christmas Always Comes – Jackie French, Ill. Bruce
When You’re Older
By Sofie Laguna Illustrated by Judy Watson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sophie Laguna is an Australian author with over 20 published works, ranging from novels to picture books, and Judy Watson is a multi-media artist who’s work scales from print-making, printing, video and
Ouch! Tales of Gravity
By Kate Simpson Illustrated by Andy Hardiman Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury If you have ever wanted a clear, simple explanation of the nature of gravity, for younger or older readers, Ouch! Tales of Gravity is the book for you. In this easy-to-read picture book,
You’ll Be the Death of Me
By Karen M McManus Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury From the international bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying, Karen M. McManus delivers the teen-friendly murder mystery goods again with You’ll Be the Death of Me. When Cal O’Shea-Wallace, Ivy Sterling-Shepard, and Mateo Wojcik were
The Break
By Phillip Gwynne Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes The tropical setting of the island of Bali is aptly represented by the palm trees basking in the warm orange glow on the cover of this novel. Penned by Phillip Gwynne, renowned author of Deadly
Into the Sideways World
By Ross Welford Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd British author Ross Welford, a former TV producer and self-proclaimed ‘magic nerd’ who performs his ‘Time Travelling Rope Trick’ during school visits, has written seven stand-alone middle grade science-fiction/fantasy novels. His titles include Time Travelling
Gangsta Granny Strikes Again
Written by David Walliams Illustrated by Tony Ross Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Finley, aged 9, who enjoys funny books and likes to draw. This book is a sequel to Gangsta Granny. Quite a few precious things go missing from museums in ways that
NEW Reading List: Anne Frank Remembered
Anne Frank Remembered A Reading List prepared by Dajo Finlayson Anne Frank’s diary has become one of the most powerful memoirs of the Holocaust. Its message of courage and hope in the face of adversity has reached millions. Here are books written
The What on Earth Institute of Wonder
By Lisa Nicol Reviewed by Sarah Custance Lisa Nicol is the author of the CBCA Notable book Boogaloo and the Girl Who Lost Her Laughter along with Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth which has gained a worldwide audience and has
Einstein the Penguin
By Iona Rangeley Illustrated by David Tazzyman Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This charming animal story is the debut novel of a young Oxford graduate illustrated in a zany cartoon style that perfectly suits the subject. It is set in London in late December. The
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
By Beatrix Potter Reviewed by Mia Macrossan It is 120 years since a famous rabbit in a little blue jacket made his first appearance. Generations have grown up following Peter Rabbit's desperate adventures in Mr McGregor's garden, pondered the fate of his
That Cat
By Jacqueline Harvey Illustrated by Kate Isobel Scott Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jacqueline Harvey is perhaps better known as the author of the popular Alice-Miranda and Kensy & Max series. Here she has produced a zany rhyming sequence featuring cats in many different
Lion Is That You?
By Moira Court Reviewed by Margarite Igras Author and illustrator, Moira Court, has created this captivating picture book of discovery. The reader is led to believe that there could be some lions in the Australian bush. Lions, that once belonged to a
Once Upon a Crime: Murder Most Unladylike #11
By Robin Stevens Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd American-born British author Robin Stevens is the mastermind behind the incredibly successful middle grade series Murder Most Unladylike. The series includes nine full novels and two short story collections; Once Upon a Crime is the
Big Shot: Diary of a Wimpy Kid #16
By Jeff Kinney Puffin 2021 Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Thomas What is this book about? This book is about a kid who doesn’t really want to play sports, but his mum makes him find a team sport to join. He gets a flash
365 First Words & An Interesting Word for Every Day of the Year
By Dr. Meredith L. Rowe Illustrated by Monika Forsberg Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Did you know a 'cartographer" is a person who takes photos of cars? That was the definition given to a colleague recently by a young child as they were introduced
Gilded
By Marissa Meyer Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Marissa Meyer is the bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles series of science-fiction stories based on fairytales. Titles include Cinder, Scarlet and Cress. In Gilded, she retells the fairytale of Rumpelstiltskin, but this time it’s
