Meet the Author: Julia Lawrinson
Meet Dr Julia Lawrinson who is many things, presenter, teacher and consultant, living on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Perth, Western Australia). She delivers a wide range of author talks and workshops for people of all ages, as well as presenting interactive
Day of Now
By Miranda Reason Bloomsbury 2026 Reviewed by Sue Wright There’s a long and vivid history of apocalyptic stories where gods, viruses, infections, invasions or conflicts wipe out civilisation as we know it. Stories range from ancient tales of floods to more modern era
Handbooks for Little Humans: Fairness; Handbooks for Little Humans: Friendship
By Zanni Louise Art by Maja Veselinovic Affirm Kids 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Zanni Louise continues her excellent series of useful handbooks for teachers and caregivers to use with young children with these two additions to the list, one on fairness and
My Body is My Home
By Jasper Peach & Beci Orpin A & U Children 2026 Teaching Notes Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author Jasper Peach is a trans, non-binary and disabled writer, speaker and parent whose mission in life is to dismantle misplaced shame. The author’s first book
Dresses Are For Messes
By Elizabeth Pulsford & Janet Samuel File Mile 2026 Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Readers familiar with Elizabeth Pulsford’s rhyming texts will not be disappointed with her latest picture book, Dresses Are For Messes. Her previous titles include Boots, illustrated by Krista Brennan, also
Her Hidden Fire
By Cliodhna O’Sullivan Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey From the opening page, Her Hidden Fire draws you into the secrecy and clandestine nature of the world of Eadha (Eh-ya), a servant girl. Her best friend, Ionain (Yun-aw-in), is heir to the castle
Old Bertie
By Vincenzo Perrella and Dan Osborn Fremantle Press 2026 Teaching Notes Reviewed by Sue Wright Old Bertie by debut authors Vincenzo Perrella and Dan Osborn is ridiculous fun. An absurd tale with an absurd premise threaded together by dreadful puns and slapstick situations which I’m
Book Links June 2026 Newsletter
Attention all lovers of KidLit. Here is the Book Links June 2026 Newsletter compiled by the indefatigable Jenny Stubbs, containing all the news and events for this month. Enjoy.
Bitsa 1
By Andrew Daddo Illustrated by Stephen Michael King Penguin 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan, Andrew Daddo is a well know television personality and writer of children's stories including Atticus Van Tasticus, Grandma’s Guide to Happiness, and Poo Face. His stories are characterised by warm-hearted appeal
The Farmer’s Pyjamas
By Ruth Paul Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Before the farmer’s day is done, she does her chores, one by one. She milks the cow, counts the sheep, sings the piglets off to sleep. But if she is to get a well-earned, sound night's sleep she needs
Ruby’s Web
By Ellen van Neerven Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Ellen van Neerven is a writer of Mununjali and Dutch heritage living on Yagera and Turrbal land. They have had multiple collections of short stories and poetry published. This is their first novel for
Time To Go To The Park
By Emma Bowd & Leila Rudge Reviewed by Margarite Igras. Emma Bowd is not only an Australian award-winning author who is passionate about writing inclusive picture books, but with a background in occupational therapy, she is also an advocate of imaginative, nature-based
Don’t Let Them Leave
By Mike Lucas Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Mike Lucas is a British-Australian author of picture books and young adult suspense. His latest young adult novel, Don’t Let Them Leave, starts with a compelling prologue in a mine shaft in North Cornwall, 1855. In
Forever & Ever
By Allanah Hunt Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Allanah Hunt is a Barkindji and Malyangapa woman and the first recipient of the inaugural Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship. The Brisbane-based writer also works as an editor, lecturer and researcher at the University of Queensland.
Through the Darkening Sea*
By Claire Saxby & Peter Cheong Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Claire Saxby is the master of lyrical non-fiction picture books. She has published many, including Emu, Koala, Kookaburra, Secrets of the Saltmarsh, and Volcano, across multiple publishers, collaborating with many of Australia’s
The Boy and the Shark
By Cate James Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Cate James is a Sydney-based illustrator and printmaker who has published more than 50 picture books with some of Australia’s biggest publishers. Her previous illustration work includes the CBCA-shortlisted Dear Broccoli (written by Jo Dabrowski)
The World From Here
By Cassy Polimeni & Mel Armstrong Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Cassy has written both fiction and non-fiction picture books including Ella and the Sleepover Safari and The Garden at the End of the World. She is a writer adept at presenting children with challenging
Home
By Rory H Mather & Matt Shanks Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rory writes very accessible picture books for young children such as Otto’s INK-redible First Day of School and Vlad’s Bad Breath. Here he has teamed up with the talented Matt Shanks, creator
The Escape Game
By Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This book is unputdownable! From the very first page it features the entertaining, high energy voice of clever teens with interesting back stories and motivations, something I loved in Meyer’s Cinder, in the
Drawing Nudes While Making Oher Plans
By Zoe Gaetjens Review by Lucille Rose Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans is an interesting, aptly named book, though its title is only the beginning of the attention-grabbing aspects of this novel. It takes place largely, as its name suggests, in a
Duck Look Who’s Talking! (Duck, #1)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Matt Stanton is the award-winning author and illustrator of multiple best-selling book series for children including Funny Kid, The Odds, Bored and Fluff, and many excellent picture books. His books have won awards including the
Somewhere You Can Dream
By Janeen Brian & Hilary Jean Tapper Reviewed by Margarite Igras Janeen Brian is a prolific award-winning Australian author and former teacher. Her works include poetry, picture books, junior fiction and non-fiction, and she has even written scripts for Humphrey Bear, the
Meet the Shortlist! 2026 Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award
The waiting is over, here is the 2026 Book Links Children's Historical Fiction award shortlist - three very different but very exciting and engrossing reads. The Mushroom in the Sky by Jackie French Judges' comments: An exceptional and
Meet the Author of Kid: Peter Carnavas
By Mia Macrossan Peter Carnavas writes and illustrates wonderful stories for children. He has created over twenty books, many of which have been shortlisted or won prestigious awards, including My Brother Ben, Leo and Ralph and The Elephant. His latest book
Hafsa’s Way
By Aisha Saeed Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Hafsa’s Way is the third of a loose trilogy of contemporary realist middle grade novels by Pakistani-American author, Aisha Saeed. The firs two, Amal Unbound and Omar Rising, have been exceptionally well-received, with multiple starred
Cities Going Wild – To Save the Planet
By Catherine Barr and Christiane Engel Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Catherine Barr is a prolific author of non-fiction picture books. Based in Hay-on-Wye, the Welsh ‘town of books’, she has previously studied ecology and journalism, and worked with Greenpeace and at London’s
The Very Fine Clock
By Muriel Spark and Edward Gorey Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Very Fine Clock is a new edition of a whimsical fable first published in 1968. It’s written by Scottish novelist and poet Muriel Spark, best known for The Prime of
In Ecstasy
By Kate McCaffrey Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Sophie and Mia have been best friends since they started kindergarten, but by the time they get to the party that kicks off the wild ride that is In Ecstasy, things have already been changing
Annie and Maeve Are Definitely Not Friends
By Olivia Muscat Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Olivia Muscat is a Melbourne-based writer, performer, and disability rights advocate, and this is her debut middle grade novel. Muscat wanted to portray more accurately and honestly the experiences of people with disabilities, and she
Archie Can’t Sit Still
By Davilyn Lynch, Dani Vee & James Layton. Reviewed by Margarite Igras This fun, yet serious book, was written by two authors who were diagnosed with ADHD as adults. They wanted to use humour to breakdown the stereotypes of being neurodivergent and
