Finn and the Pen
By David Lawrence Illustrated by P.J. Reece with Cherie Dignam Reviewed by Meg Rowe The Pen is back! When Finn, a music loving, story writing 11-year-old orphan, discovers the pen he finds has strange magical powers, he can’t believe his luck. With the
Washpool
By Lisa Fuller Reviewed by Lauren Spencer Washpool is the second novel by Lisa Fuller, a Wulli Wulli woman and award-winning writer. Unlike the darker mysteries of her previous YA novel, Ghost Bird, Washpool is a surreal fantasy fit for any middle-grade
Our Infinite Fates
By Laura Steven Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey In an unnamed land, Our Infinite Fates begins centuries ago and introduces a young bride and groom as their wedding is brought to a dramatic and violent end. Jumping between times and tales, Evelyn and Arden
Meet the Author: Ashleigh Barton
Ashleigh Barton is a prolific Australian writer for children, whose infectious enthusiasm for reading and creative expression makes her a hit with adults and children alike at schools and festivals. She enjoys inspiring young audiences to value books and to
The Susurrus
By Genevieve Young Evans & Cate James Reviewed by Margarite Igras Genevieve Young-Evans has written a playful story with a strange title that is sure to attract the interest of the younger four- to six-year-old reader. What is this strange thing called
Moonlight and Dust
By Jasmin McGaughey Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Moonlight and Dust is the debut Young Adult novel from Torres Strait Islander author Jasmin McGaughey. Paired with the magic and drama of being a teenager in far north Queensland, this book is a beautiful
The Great Dawn Choir
By Sarah Speedie & Cindy Lane Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Each day the Great Dawn Choir greets the morning sun. Together in the growing light, their voices join as one. … Here come the fairy-wrens, from bush to bush they flitter. Then
The Enchantment of Golden Eagle
By Margaret Wild & Stephen Michael King Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Margaret Wild and Stephen Michael King need little introduction to fans of Australian picture books. Each has an extensive oeuvre of award-winning titles and is revered by readers and fellow
Parrot Palace
by Susanne Gervay with Pooja Mathur Illustrated by Sarah Tabassum Reviewed by Meg Rowe With a host of books and awards to her name Susanne Gervay is a master storyteller whose work shines in its ability to engage with important social and cultural
Book Links News August 2025
Here is the latest roundup of all that is interesting, exciting, important in children's literature in our part of the world. Book events early as they often sell out. Book Links News August 2025
All the Beautiful Things wins 2025 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction
By Mia Macrossan Congratulations to Katrina Nannestad whose book All the Beautiful Things has won this year's Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction. This is the third time that she has won this award having won in 2023 with Waiting for
A Box Full of Murders
Written by Janice Hallet Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Ava’s and Luke’s parents have separated. Ava lives with Mum and Luke lives with Dad, but when Luke finds a Top Secret box in his dad’s attic, they start an adventure together, via SMS,
We Used to be Magic
By Bea Ingalls Reviewed by Lucie Rose We Used to Be Magic is a glamourous drama romance set in the fashion filled streets of New York City. A few months ago, Audrey was plucked from a cold seaside cottage and pushed into
Eleanor Jones is Playing with Fire
By Amy Doak Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins When I heard there was a third book in the Eleanor Jones series, I jumped at the chance to review it. Each book of the series focuses on a different issue: drugs in Eleanor Jones
Hedgehog or Echidna?
Animals who are the same . . . but different! By Ashleigh Barton & Amandine Thomas Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Hedgehog and Echidna stop in their shuffly tracks when they meet each other in the forest, surprised to meet someone who is so similar to
Invisible Boys
By Holden Sheppard. Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Gritty. Raw. Honest. Powerful. Devastating. All words that come to mind while reading this multi-award-winning debut novel by WA author Holden Sheppard. Set in Geraldton, WA, Invisible Boys is the coming-of-age story of four boys. Charlie,
Meet the Author: Amelia Mellor talks about her new book The Wicked Ship
By Mia Macrossan Amelia’s debut novel The Grandest Bookshop in the World, inspired by Melbourne’s real Cole’s Book Arcade was an original mix of detailed history and fantasy and was shortlisted for the 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize. She followed that
The Wicked Ship
By Amelia Mellor Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The Wicked Ship, a swashbuckling adventure fantasy is the latest novel from Amelia Mellor, much awarded creator of The Grandest Bookshop in the World, The Bookseller’s Apprentice and The Lost Book of Magic, a historical fantasy trilogy based
Wind Atlas: Everything you need to know about wind
By Sarah Zambello Illustrated by Susy Zanella Produced in collaboration with the University of Genoa Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This carefully researched and designed book is a companion volume to Wave Atlas: Everything you need to know about waves, by the same creators. Here again
Shmoof
By Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Heidi has collaborated with many writers to create memorable picture books as well as writing and illustrating her own. She is the master of restrained simple storytelling, combining an economy of style and colour with
The Girl and the Ghost
By Jacqueline Harvey Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson with thanks to Sue Warren for her inspiring insights A French village, new friends, a locket from the past, a local mystery to be solved and . . . a ghost. ‘Josephine’s heart is hammering. Her
One Word and a Bird
By Stephen Michael King Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray One Word and a Bird is the newest picture book from celebrated author/illustrator Stephen Michael King. It showcases the power of words, both in the sense of their impact on a page, and
Book of Hours
By Clare McFadden Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Book of Hours is a contemplative meditation on the quiet beauty of everyday life. It is marketed as a picture book for ages 3+, but will strongly resonate with adult readers as it moves
Your Body is Amazing
By Jess Sanders Illustrated by Christine Cuddihy Reviewed by Claire Monsour Dear Reader, there is no such thing as a perfect body. Every body is different and every body has its own strengths. What makes your body amazing is not what it looks
Sid and the very hard to find Squid
Written & illustrated by James O’Hanlon Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Of all the bugs and birds and beasts
The Frog’s First Song
By Jazz Money & Jason Phu Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Frog’s First Song is a visually arresting and thematically joyful picture book that celebrates connection. Written by award-winning Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrated by three-time Archibald Prize finalist Jason
Little One
By Jane Godwin & Gabriel Evans Reviewed by Claire Monsour “Ed has a teddy, Lola has a blanket, Penny has her Elly… But Little One is mine” There are plenty of picture books where a child loses a treasured toy, and is then
A Loo of One’s Own
A Mostly True Tale of Australia’s First Female Parliamentarians Written and Illustrated by Eleri Harris Reviewed by Zewlan Moor What a treat to read this book! A Loo of One’s Own is the debut picture book of award-winning cartoonist, Eleri Harris, whose second book,
Unhallowed Halls
By Lili Wilkinson Reviewed by Ramona Naulty, Age 16 After swiftly reading (and thoroughly enjoying) Lili Wilkinson’s Unhallowed Halls, I can safely say that this book is a brilliant introduction to the world of fantasy. The novel follows the story of Page
Who Might You Be?
By R. Henderson Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Who Might You Be? is a fresh, interactive picture book from Robert Henderson. This inventive author/illustrator previously brought us the delightful I See, I See, which invited readers to physically move the book around to explore
