100 School Days
By Deborah Frenkel & Laura Stitzel Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author Deborah Frenkel has written this story based on her daughter’s experiences in her first year of school. It is a celebratory story that will connect with parents, school children and
The Raven’s Eye Runaways
By Claire Mabey Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Claire Mabey is very active in the New Zealand literary world - she is the founder of Verb Wellington, LitCrawl Wellington and Lōemis. She is also books editor at The Spinoff, book critic at RNZ
The Little Street Library
By Amy Adeney & Erin McClean Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Street libraries have become very popular in Australia and they are a common sight in the major cities. In Australia there is an organisation where you can buy a little library to
The Truck Cat
By Deborah Frenkel & Danny Snell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a bit of a dream team of writer and illustrator: Deborah Frenkel has written quite a few picture books including the charming Naturopolis, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak, reviewed in StoryLinks,
Mackenzie Arnold 1: Finders Keepers & Mackenzie Arnold 2: Caught in the Middle
By Mackenzie Arnold, Jess Black & Hannah McCaffery Reviewed by Jamie Willis In 2023, Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was in the spotlight as the Matildas won a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Semi-Finals and in 2024, she will compete with
Cheer Up, Blobfish!
By Julie Murphy & Rachel Tribout. Reviewed by Margarite Igras Julie Murphy has written this wonderful story about a real but very unusual fish that exists in the very deep ocean around Tasmania. She has used her background as a trained zoologist
Boots
Written by Elizabeth Pulsford & illustrated by Krista Brennan Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Boots was waiting … waiting for his Farmer”. “Boots was just a pair of boots” but his life started when a young Queensland cattle farmer first put him on. He
Fluff: Mess Up!
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Barbara Braxton When Gilbert's father left - this time it's because he was eaten by a sea monster - Gilbert’s mum gave him a big fluffy bunny toy. But this is no ordinary squishy soft toy –
Ask the Author: Lorena Carrington
By Lara Cain Gray Lorena Carrington is best known as an illustrator whose books have been published in Australia and internationally. Her works are created using photography and digital montage techniques to form richly layered images. She has worked with the
Mr McGee and his Hat
By Pamela Allen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Generations of children have grown up enjoying the iconic picture books of Pamela Allen. Her many titles include the popular Who Sank the Boat, published in 1983 and still in print, Bertie and the Bear,
The Kindness Project
By Deborah Abela Reviewed by Helen Gearing Deborah Abela has written over 30 books for children, including the bestselling Max Remy series and the CBCA Notable The Book of Wondrous Possibilities. Abela is also a Writer Ambassador for Room to Read, an
The Dragon’s Treasure and The Vanishing
By Mark Greenwood Reviewed by Sandy Driessens On a summer morning in 1931, four children on a remote beach in Western Australia, discovered ancient coins buried, like treasure in the sand. It ignited a treasure hunt that uncovered silver coins, hidden chests
Meet Rebecca Lim, author of Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky – Book Links 2024 Children’s Historical Fiction award shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are three brilliant writers on this year’s Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lim, A & U Children, 2023. The Fortune Maker by Catherine Norton, Harper Collins, 2023. Inkflower by Suzy Zail, Walker Books,
Meet Catherine Norton, author of The Fortune Maker – Book Links 2024 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are three brilliant writers on this year’s Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lim, A & U Children, 2023. The Fortune Maker by Catherine Norton, Harper Collins, 2023. Inkflower by Suzy Zail, Walker Books,
Liar’s Test
By Ambelin Kwaymullina Reviewed by Helen Gearing Ambelin Kwaymullina is an award-winning Aboriginal author and illustrator from the Palyku people of Western Australia. Her books for children (ranging from picture books to YA dystopian novels) have won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award,
Always Anthony
By Terri Libenson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Always Anthony is the eighth book in the New York Times bestselling Emmie & Friends series, which include Invisible Emmie, Just Jaimie, Positively Izzie, Remarkably Ruby, Surprisingly Sarah and Becoming Brianna, all reviewed in StoryLinks. Though
Leaf Letters
By Lorena Carrington Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray If there is a formula for creating a wonderfully engaging junior fiction novel it must surely involve intrepid friends, hidden treasure and secret codes. Lorena Carrington is best known as an artist, with many
The Sea in Me
Written by Cody Simpson with Jess Black, illustrated by Amandine Thomas Reviewed by Margarite Igras Cody Simpson, Australian swimmer, singer-songwriter, and actor has now added author to his list of achievements. Throughout his varied career, he has always maintained his love of
Be True to You!
Written by Maggie Hutchings and illustrated by Hayley Wells Reviewed by Margarite Igras Using her background as a counsellor dealing with children struggling with aspects of their identity, free-spirited mother and grandma Maggie Hutchings has written this positive and uplifting picture book
Meet Suzy Zail, author of Inkflower – Book Links 2024 Award for Children’s Historical Fiction Shortlist
By Mia Macrossan There are three brilliant writers on this year’s Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist: Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lim, A & U Children, 2023. The Fortune Maker by Catherine Norton, Harper Collins, 2023. Inkflower by Suzy Zail, Walker
The Apprentice Witnesser
By Bren MacDibble Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bren MacDibble burst onto the children's literature world with How to Bee, a post apocalyptic story that won many awards including 2018 CBCA Book of the Year, Younger Readers. That was followed by The Dog
Eat My Dust – The exhibition
Review by Sandy Pottinger The intrepid Swiss-born adventurer and writer, Isabelle Eberhardt (1877-1904) once said: “…The open road is the essence of freedom. Take the decision to break the chains that bind us, the courage to pick up the pilgrim’s symbolic sack
The Very Polite Knight
By Ian Smith Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a charming picture book for children aged 3+. I hope they are not put off by the title, since they may expect a boring story about the value of being well- mannered. The king
Detective Beans & The Case of the Missing Hat
By Li Chen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Li Chen was born in Beijing, China, and moved to New Zealand when she was five. Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat is her first graphic novel. Detective Beans, in trench coat and
Sunday Skating
By Andrea Rowe & by Hannah Sommerville Reviewed by Claire Monsour “When the weekend settles, and Sunday rolls around…”, five friends set off on a Sunday skate. With a click, a clatter, a whoosh, and a whirl, the friends are ready to
Alone
By Scott Stuart Reviewed by Claire Monsour It’s hard being alone, especially in the darkness of space. So, Earth decides to look for a friend; but the other planets aren’t exactly friendly. When something strange comes hurtling towards her, Earth’s hope for
Shower Land 2: Feel the Freeze
By Nat Amoore Illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury The unstoppable Nat Amoore returns with the second book in her junior fiction Shower Land series, titled Feel the Freeze. After taking a shower sends Felix on a medieval adventure in the first
A Teaspoon of Light
By Peter O’Connor & Nisaluk Chantanakom Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran A Teaspoon of Light is a stunningly beautiful picture book which stands out like a ray of sunshine on a dark day. Peter O’Connor is the Director of the Centre for Arts
Shortlist of the 2024 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction
It is with great pleasure that we announce the shortlisted titles for this year's Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction. These three titles are outstanding for their perceptive writing, immediate appeal, and the sensitive way they present complex issues
Reading to Baby
By Margaret Wild & Hannah Sommerville Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Margaret Wild is the award winning author of many picture books including Jenny Angel (which was inspired by her brother's death at the age of seven), illustrated by Anne Spudvilas, Fox, illustrated by Ron
