Nelson – Broccoli and Spies
By Andrew Levins Illustrated by Katie Kear Reviewed by Sarah Custance Andrew Levins is a well known Australian DJ and food writer. Broccoli and Spies is the second book in the Nelson series all about a young boy who discovers that he has
Future Friend
By David Baddiel Illustrated by Steven Lenton Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro This interesting tale of time travel, cloning, friendship, compassion and environmental care entertains the reader through regular humour and unique characters. Rahul Agarwal is a lonely genius. He creates inventions with
Little Gem
Written and illustrated by Anna Zobel Reviewed by Mia Macrossan 'All Gem wanted was to be a good witch who helped people, but every time she tried a spell it went wrong somehow.' This is main idea in Anna's debut novel about a
A Tale of Magic
By Chris Colfer Reviewed by our Junior Reviewer, Leonard Cavallaro This is one of Chris Colfer's many bestselling books, his most iconic series being The Land of Stories. The themes here are equality, magic, witchcraft, corruption and medieval life. Brystal is fourteen and
The Crayon’s Christmas
By Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the team that brought you The Day the Crayons Quit and the Crayons Book of Numbers, both very popular with young children. The Crayons’ Christmas is a lot of fun even
What I Like Most
By Mary Murphy Illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri This simple story stole my heart. It starts with a humble statement by a little girl about what she likes most in the world, and why. Except that she has this
Windows
Written by Patrick Guest Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri If there were a tale we could hold to commemorate the trials and tribulations of this strange year, let it be this one. As the COVID-19 pandemic clears the streets of
StoryLinks Best of the Best in 2020
Our reviewers have made a list of those titles that most impressed them in this remarkable year. Here are some ideas for late minute gifts or for leisurely and guaranteed enjoyable reading in the holidays. All good wishes for the
Vlad’s Bad Breath
By Rory H. Mather Illustrated by Jesus Lopez Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri Vlad is a pint-sized vampire who doesn't want to brush his teeth. After stinking out close family members in delicious rhyme, he gets help from his other ghoulish friends and
Rudie Nudie Christmas
Written & Illustrated by Emma Quay Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Nine years after the success of Rudie Nudie (2012 Book of the Year for Younger Children Australian Book Industry Awards; Shortlisted for Children’s Book Council Australia Awards), Emma Quay has created a
The Ickabog
By J K Rowling Illustrated by the winners of The Ickabog Illustration Competition. Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is modern fairy tale although set in an imaginary world. It was first published free online for children stuck at home, unable to go to school or
Quidditch Through the Ages Illustrated Edition
By J K Rowling; Kennilworthy Whisp Illustrated by Emily Gravett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This magnificent edition is a must for any Harry Potter fan. It is incredibly detailed encouraging hours of browsing and just gorgeously illustrated by Emily Gravett. The book invites readers
The Fowl Twins – Deny All Charges
By Eoin Colfer Reviewed by Sarah Custance Eoin Colfer is a name recognised by any good book worm as the author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl novels along with over a dozen other children/middle-grade books. Deny All Charges is the second book
This Small Blue Dot
By Zeno Sworder Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri This picture book is a welcome message from a bright little girl to her baby sister, a short compendium of everything tiny ones need to know. The unique layout features a persuasive narrator, who is
The little mermaid and other fairy tales
By Hans Christian Andersen Illustrated by Minalima Reviewed by Mia Macrossan First published in 1837 Andersen's fairy tales quickly became popular and have been reprinted many times. This is a gorgeous new edition of the perennial favourite is a sturdy hardback with full
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London
By Garth Nix Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Garth has been a hugely successful writer for many years and his YA books include the Old Kingdom fantasy series; SF novels Shade’s Children and A Confusion of Princes; and a Regency romance with magic,
Adventure Starts At Bedtime
By Ness Knight and Qu Lanaa Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ness Knight is a real life explorer whose exploits include being the first woman to swim the Thames river from source to London. In her debut children's book she has carefully chosen thirty
The Boy, the Wolf and the Stars
By Shivaun Plozza Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This foray into fantasy is the first middle grade novel by Shivaun who has previously written the YA novels Frankie, a CBCA Notable Book and Tin Heart. At the centre of most fantasy novels is a
Bluey: Verandah Santa
Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Bluey is a six-year-old blue heeler pup who loves to play. Along with her friends and family, Bluey enjoys exploring the world and using her imagination to turn everyday life into an amazing adventure which resonates with
The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn
By Kate Gordon Reviewed by Sarah Custance Kate Gordon is an Australian librarian turned author whose previous works include: Three Things about Daisy Blue, Girl Running, Boy Falling, and Juno Jones: Word Ninja. The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn is one of her
The Lost Moustache
By Vikki Conley and Caterina Metti Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Vicki is the author of the charming Little Puggle's Song, also reviewed in StoryLinks. Caterina is a self-taught artist who studied science before pursuing illustration as a career. Together they have created
One Christmas Wish
by Katherine Rundell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This clever, funny and poignant story is one that will be read again and again at Christmas or any time since its universal themes give it a timeless appeal. It's Christmas Eve, Theo's parents have to
The Cat Who Thought He Was a Tiger
Written and Illustrated by Polly Cameron. Reviewed by Sandy Driessens First published in the USA in 1956, this delightful little tale by Polly Cameron wasn’t released in Australia until 1973 by Puffin Books. By the state of each copy I have seen,
Zoe , Max and the Bicycle Bus
By Steven Herrick Reviewed by Sarah Custance Steven Herrick an award winning Australian author of over 25 books for children and young adults. He has achieved widespread critical acclaim for his verse-novel YA books. Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus is his
The Wizard in My Shed: The Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild
By Simon Farnaby Illustrated by Claire Powell Reviewed by Leonard C. This is Simon Farnaby’s first children’s book. He has written and starred in various family TV shows and films including Horrible Histories, Paddington and Paddington 2. Rose lives with her mother and brother
The End of the World is Bigger than Love
by Davina Bell Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Have you ever wondered what would happen if the world stopped turning? Would the sun hang motionless in the sky? Would the tides stop ebbing and flowing? Would survival be impossible? In The End of
Wild Symphony
By Dan Brown and Susan Batori Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Dan Brown, best known as the author of The Da Vinci Code, has crammed a lot into his debut picture book, Wild Symphony, including a free app containing music composed by Dan
The Fire Wombat
By Jackie French and Danny Snell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another story about her beloved wombats from the ever prolific Jackie French. The Fire Wombat is a topical story of how animals in the bush struggle to find safety from a fierce
The Odds (The Odds, #1)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Matt Stanton is the incredibly popular author of the Funny Kid series, the Fart Monster and Me series, and This is a Ball, a picture book that was co-authored with his wife Beck. The Odds
Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai Reviewed by Leonard Cavallaro Remy Lai’s debut junior fiction Pie in the Sky is an engaging tale of overcoming language barriers and accepting difference. Remy Lai has a major in painting and drawing which is evident in the artistic representations
