Yellow Truck Road Train
by Mandy Tootell reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mandy Tootell lives in Katherine in the Northern Territory with her husband, a road train driver, and her two sons. Although Mandy is primarily a printmaker, she enjoys a range of art-making. She is
Junior Reviewers Wanted
StoryLinks is looking for new young reviewers. If you are a keen and discerning reader, enjoy talking about books and would like to have your views published then copy and paste the form below onto a word document. Fill it in
In My Mosque
Written by M. O. Yuksel Illustrated by Hatem Aly Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri This vibrant and welcoming book is a literary ‘walk-through’ of a building that is central to Muslim communities everywhere. Along with architectural features, the reader is treated to glimpses
When The Sakura Bloom
By Narisa Togo Translated from the Japanese by Michael Sedunary Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri This is a beautiful book about Japan's most iconic blooms. In a Japanese town, the cherry blossom trees are ever present, and ever changing. As the townsfolk rush
The Katha Chest
By Radhiah Chowdhury Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri A katha is a light quilt made from layers of old cotton saris stitched together. These comforting quilts are ubiquitous in South Asian homes, and can now be shared in the
When Rain Turns to Snow
by Jane Godwin Reviewed by Sharon Bryan Jane Godwin is an Australian author who has written books for children of all ages. Her picture books, such as Today We Have No Plans (illustrated by Anna Walker) and Hattie Helps Out (with Davina
The King’s Birthday Suit
A tribute to Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of The Emperor’s New Clothes By Peter Bently Illustrated by Claire Powell Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson ‘King Albert-Horatio-Otto the Third had SO many clothes it was simply absurd …’ When two unscrupulous so- called tailors promise to make
The Snow Pony
By Alison Lester Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson Originally published in 2001, four years after her other novel for younger readers, The Quicksand Pony, this latest twentieth anniversary release is a childhood favourite of many children and teens. Set on a cattle farm in
The True Colour of a Little White Lie
By Gabriel Bergmoser Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Gabriel Bergmoser is a Melbourne-based author and playwright. In 2016 his first young adult novel, Boone Shepard, was shortlisted for the Readings Young Adult Prize. This is his second book for this age group. Fourteen-year-old, horror-movie-buff
2020 Aurealis Award winners
The Aurealis Awards are Australia's premier speculative fiction award. Congratulations to the 2020 Award winners which include The left-handed booksellers of London by Garth Nix - Best Fantasy novel - click on the link for StoryLinks review The Erasure Initiative by Lili
Indigenous Picture Books
To celebrate NAIDOC WEEK 2021 here is a list of recent indigenous picture books that all children will enjoy. They range widely in subject matter, are enlightening about Australia's indigenous heritage and all are stunning in colour and design. Click
Mr Bat Wants a Hat
By Kitty Black Illustrated by Laura Wood Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Mr Bat is largely content with his life, doing what he likes when he likes. But one evening when flying above the local park, he discovers hats and decides that he needs
This One is Ours
By Kate O'Donnell Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Kate O’Donnell is the award-winning author of Untidy Towns, and This One Is Ours is her second novel. In a coming-of age tale, sixteen-year-old Sofie is in Paris on an art school exchange. A talented
The Electric Kingdom
By David Arnold Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes So much of the literature we enjoy today has been inspired by the monumental events of the 20th century: two world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War and the list goes on. It makes
The Boy Who Stepped Through Time
By Anna Ciddor Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Anna Ciddor's self-described research 'obsession', her decades-long list of non-fiction titles, and the help of her sister, Tamara Lewit—a researcher and archaeologist specialising in the Roman Empire—make her perfectly placed to pen this richly detailed
Alice-Miranda in Egypt
By Jacqueline Harvey Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Eleven years after the first Alice-Miranda book, bestselling author and former deputy principal Jacqueline Harvey has released the series' twentieth instalment: Alice-Miranda in Egypt. Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, who was seven and one quarter in the first book,
The Right Way to Rock
By Nat Amoore Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Nat Amoore returns with her third middle grade book set in the ordinary town of Watterson with the not-so-ordinary children of Watterson Primary School. In The Right Way to Rock we meet Mac Fleetwood Cooper, who
This Book is Feminist
An Intersectional Primer for Next-Gen Changemakers Written by Jamia Wilson Illustrated by Aurélia Durand Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This colourful, attractive introduction to intersectional feminism for teens is in the same series as This Book is Anti-Racist. It is divided into chapters that show how
Top graphic novels starring mighty girls
NEW TO READING LISTS Graphic novels are always very popular. We have added a list of graphic novels featuring mighty girls to our lists of recommended reading. These girls are independent and strong-minded, brave and fearless and able to sort
The House on the Mountain
By Ella Holcombe Illustrated by David Cox Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is the sad, poignant, and hopeful story told by a child about an idyllic family life in the bush that turned into trauma caused by a destructive bushfire, but culminating in
Little Gem and the Mysterious Letters
Written and illustrated by Anna Zobel Reviewed by Sarah Custance Anna Zobel is an Australian author living in Melbourne. Her first novel Little Gem about a clumsy but well-meaning young witch who accidently transports herself 100 years into the future was well
Never Grow Up
Inspired by Roald Dahl By Al Blyth and Stella Gurney Illustrated by Quentin Blake Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Never Grow Up by Roald Dahl … but wait, no, this story was inspired by Dahl, then created by Al Blyth and Stella Gurney with
Meet Sue Wright at the Understory Exhibition
Understory: An Adventure in the Art of Illustration Monday 21 June – Sunday 27 June, 2021 with Megan Forward – Caroline Magerl – Sue Wright Known more for her work through Tiny Owl Workshop, a Brisbane-based micro press, Sue Wright is also a freelance illustrator with
The Ballad of Melodie Rose
By Kate Gordon Illustrated by Rachel Tribout Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Kate Gordon returns to middle grade magical realism with The Ballad of Melodie Rose, a companion tale to The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn. When we meet Melodie Rose on the front steps of
Ellie’s Dragon
By Bob Graham Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bob Graham has been writing and illustrating picture books for about 50 years. He has won too many awards for me to mention here. A new book by him is always a treat. Ellie’s Dragon is
Across the Sea: Wolf Girl 5
By Anh Do Illustrated by Lachlan Creagh Reviewed by Sarah Custance Anh Do is a well-known Australian personality in comedy, T.V, art, and writing. He is the author of the much-loved children’s series WeirDo, Ninja Kid, and the HotDog books. His newer series,
The Best Friend Promise: MerTales 1
By Rebecca Timmis Reviewed by Sarah Custance Rebecca Timmis is an Australian author-illustrator based in the Queensland Gold Coast. The Best Friend Promise is her first book and the start of a series of MerTales about four young mermaids who gain magical
Trouble in the Surf
By Stephanie Owen Reeder Illustrated by Briony Stewart Reviewed by Margarite Igras Stephanie Owen Reeder has spent many childhood hours on Bondi Beach and has transformed her experiences into a true story about the dangers of the surf as well providing an introduction
Meet Megan Forward at the Understory Exhibition
Understory: An Adventure in the Art of Illustration featuring the work of Megan Forward - Caroline Magerl - Sue Wright Meet Megan ‘I'm grateful to Story Links for this opportunity to showcase the ephemera, the Understory, from my journals, research, and working drawings, that lead
The Tale of the Whale
by Karen Swann Reviewed by Jillian Custance This is the first picture book written by UK author Karen Swann. Padmacandra, a Scottish author and illustrator of a number of books has provided the beautiful illustrations for this story. The poetic style of this
