Lover Birds
By Leanne Egan Reviewed by Lucille Rose Lover Birds is an inclusive teen romance set in the city of Liverpool, England. Eliose ‘Lou’ Byrne is just trying to scrape through sixth form when she finds herself with an unexpected acquaintance. Posh, sharp
The Secret of the Stone
By Kathryn Lefroy Reviewed by Helen Gearing Award winning screenwriter and author Kathryn Lefroy released her first middle grade novel, ‘Alex and the Alpacas save the World’ (shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award) in 2022. Her latest middle grade adventure,
Afloat
By Kirli Saunders & Freya Blackwood Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Here is a book, “to spin wisdom, to grow … to form bonds, to make ties …to thrive.” By means of following a changing waterway and the ancient practice of weaving, Kirli Saunders
Life Lessons for Little Ones: You Know Yourself Best
A little one's guide to trusting their instincts By Jess Sanders & Fotini Tikkou Reviewed by Claire Monsour “Dear Reader, you are the expert of you. You know when something feels good and right, and you know when something feels wrong. What you feel
PD McPem’s Agency for Mysterious Mysteries #3 The Baffling Beach Bandit
Written by Anna Battese Illustrations by Ruth-Mary Smith Reviewed by Melissa Elk The Baffling Beach Bandit is Case 3 in this engaging series of mysteries written for newly independent readers by author Anna Battese. It follows Case 1: The Recorder Racket, and Case
Dragon Folding
By Christopher Cheng and Lucia Masciullo Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Dragon Folding is a quiet picture book about community support and intergenerational learning. It sees both Christopher Cheng and Lucia Masciullo, who last worked together on The Imagineer (2022), playing to
Duck for Cover (Trashy Tales #1)
By Kate and Jol Temple Art by Ronojoy Ghosh Reviewed by Sophia Evans Duck For Cover is the first book in the upcoming Trashy Tales series, written by Kate and Jol Temple and illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh. Duck For Cover follows a mischievous bin
Millie Mak the Mender (Millie Mak, #2)
By Alice Pung Illustrated by Sher Rill Ng. Reviewed by Helen Gearing Alice Pung OAM is one of Australia’s most decorated contemporary writers, delivering the State of the (Writing) Nation Address in 2021 and receiving an Order of Australia for her contributions
Apples not Orples
By R A Stephens & Carmen Dougherty Reviewed by Mia Macrossan R A Stephens runs publishing house Wombat Books and Rhiza Edge, and is the author of the Riz Chester series. Apples Not Orples is described as a rule-breaking counting book. It starts
But Then
The almost true story of an overdue book By Swapna Haddow & Daron Parton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Swapna has written many books for children including the award winning Dave Pigeon and Bad Panda. Her stories are full of humour and invention. Daron
Suddenly One
By Sam Mac & Deb Hudson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sam 'Sam Mac' McMillan is a TV/radio host, author and entertainer. This is his first picture book. Deb Hudson has illustrated many children's picture books including Zola and the Christmas Lights, The
Be Kind & Go Wild
By Anna Pignataro Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anna Pignataro is an artist and author/illustrator of over eighty books for children. The first picture book she illustrated, I'm In the Sky and I Can't Come Back by Holly Young Huth, won the Crichton
Book Links October Newsletter
Keep up to date with all the news and events in the children's literature world with the Book Links October Newsletter Book launches, book trails, meet the author, competitions, award news and more!
Grace the Amazing
By Aleesah Darlinson Reviewed by Jamie Willis Aleesah Darlinson is an award-winning author of more than 65 books for children, including the Super Sloth series, the Space Kids series and the League of Llamas series. Aleesah has won or been shortlisted for
South with the Seabirds
Follow four remarkable scientists to the edge of the world By Jess McGeachin Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Non fiction picture books are having quite a moment right now, and South with the Seabirds is a wonderful addition from author and illustrator
Brittany & Co Take on Paris
Written by John Larkin Illustrated by Rebecca Timmis Reviewed by Jamie Willis John Larkin writes for both children and adults. His previous books include How to Avoid Being Eaten by Sharks and Zombies Vs. the Illuminati. Rebecca Timmis is an award-winning author and
The Kelly Gang Kids
By Coral Vass & Deb Hudson Reviewed by Barbara Braxton School's out and four rambunctious boys chase each other through the streets of Avenel. a tiny town in Central Victoria, causing havoc as they run through clotheslines, accidentally let Peterson's sheep out of their
Summer of Shipwrecks
By Shivaun Plozza Reviewed by Helen Gearing Shivaun Plozza’s previous middle-grade novel, Meet Me at the Moon Tree, was a CBCA notable and nominee for the 2024 Australian Book Industry Awards. Like ‘Moon Tree', Summer of Shipwrecks also features lyrical writing and
How to Draw A Dragon
By Kate Talbot Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Kate Talbot is an Australian-born, New Zealand-based children's picture book illustrator who enjoys creating quirky characters and vibrant illustrations. How to Draw a Dragon is Talbot’s debut picture book as an author and illustrator. This hilarious
Say Hello
By Renae Hayward & Rebecca Mills Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This creative team also produced Say Hooray, a joyful celebration of some of the milestones in a baby’s first year. Say Hello is another quality board book with bold bright colours and
Landovel
The Poison Taster, The Secret Keeper, The Truth Teller By Emily Rodda Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Emily Rodda is a well known and much loved Australian author of award winning books such as the Rowan of Rin series, His Name Was Walter, Eliza
Urban Legend Hunters: The Dreaded Mr Snipe
Written by Joel McKerrow Illustrated by Wayne Bryant Reviewed by Rebecca Sheraton Joel McKerrow is a well-regarded poet, known for his poetry collections, poetry performances and spoken word/music albums, and he has bravely and successfully stepped into a new literary area, graphic novels
Design & Building on Country: First Knowledges for younger readers
By Alison Page & Paul Memmott Illustrated by Blak Douglas Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This title is part of the First Knowledges for Younger People series which celebrates the wisdom and ingenuity of the First Peoples of Australia. They aim to give children
Dot! Scribble! Go!
By Hervé Tullet Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Hervé is well known for his innovative interactive picture books for very young children. They include Press Here, Mix it Up! and Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance! Here is another gem to add to
Riley’s Failproof Guide to BREAKING a School Record
Written by Dani Vee Illustrations by Jules Faber Reviewed by Sophia Evans Riley's Failproof Guide to Breaking a School Record is a pun-tastic middle-grade novel that follows Riley Noodle, who has been trying to break a school record for seven years. She is
My Family and Other Suspects
By Kate Emery Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kate made her debut with the sparkling The Not So Chosen One, a YA fantasy. She has switched genres with My Family and Other Suspects, a seriously funny mystery story full of red herrings, suspicious
Shadow Play
By Kate Forsyth & Rosalie Street Reviewed by Meg Rowe Renowned Australian author Kate Forsyth’s award-winning books span adult fiction, non-fiction, essays, poetry, and children’s writing, including the recently published Long Lost Fairy Tales, illustrated by Lorena Carrington (2024). Forsyth’s latest picture
Walls
By Tania Ingram & Ruth-Mary Smith Reviewed by Shan O'Shea A small book with a big message, this story is about building walls to feel safe, and then discovering that communication is better than isolation. When a knight and a Viking each believe
Penny Draws a Secret Adventure Penny Draws#3
By Sara Shepard Reviewed by Jamie Willis Sara Shepard has done it again with the third book in her Penny Draws series, Penny Draws a Secret Adventure. Sara might be most well known for her New York Times best-selling YA series, Pretty
My Brother, Finch
Written by Kate Gordon Reviewed by Jamie Willis Kate Gordon is an award-winning author of children’s and young adult fiction. Her novel Aster’s Good, Right Things won the CBCA Book of the Year for younger readers in 2021, and in 2023, Xavier in
