Lights Out, Little Dragon
By Debra Tidball & Rae Tan Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is the award-winning Australian author Debra Tidball’s second interactive story for younger children. In The CBCA Notable Book 2018, The Scared Book, the author asks the reader and listener to blow
When Dinosaurs Roamed Australia
By Sarah Jane Lightfoot Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Sarah's second book, the first being Down the Road Little Bee, 2021, a bee's search for pollen across the Australian suburban landscape. The title of When Dinosaurs Roamed Australia speaks for itself,
Let’s Try Again Another Day
By Charlotte Barkla & Jade Goodwin Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Charlotte Barkla is the author of All Bodies Are Good Bodies and From My Head To My Toes, I Say What Goes, both reviewed in StoryLinks. Here she has teamed up with Jade Goodwin,
The Space Between
By Jess McGeachin Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jess has won many fancy-pants awards (as he calls them), the latest is winning the 2023 CBCA Eve Pownall Award for Deep. His debut picture book was Fly, 2019, and since then he has written
Digger Digs Down
By Johanna Bell & Huni Melissa Bolliger Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Johanna Bell works in poetry, picture books, podcasts, audio installations and community arts. Her books include Hope is the Thing which won 2024 CBCA Book of the Year, Award for New
Ingenious Insects
By Sarah Allen Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author and illustrator Sarah Allen shares her love of the amazing fauna and flora found on the Australian continent in this ingenious children's picture book. Her first book, Busy Beaks was shortlisted for the
Rock Dogs
By Sally Barns & Anil Tortop Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Looking for a book that Rocks? Well, this is the one. In a small, sleepy town thrashed a ROCK’N’ROLL BAND and on lead guitar was a dachshund named Dan. With Barry, the bulldog
Yanga Mother
By Cheryl Leavy & Christopher Bassi Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Yanga Mother is a story of motherly love, represented by the unbreakable bond between a kangaroo and her joey. With lifelike illustrations, richly coloured to showcase changes in daylight and seasons,
Peek-a-Boo Lottie
By Laura Holloway & Kristen Willis Reviewed by Margarite Igras Laura Holloway’s debut picture book engages the adult reader and the young non-reading child in a one-on-one playful game of Peek-a-Boo, that beloved game of hide and seek often played by a
The Grown-Ups Guide to Picture Books
By Lara Cain Gray, Lorena Carrington & Timothy Ide Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Dr Lara Cain Gray is a librarian, children's book advocate and esteemed Storylinks reviewer. Her aim with this debut is to create a guide for teachers, parents and carers
The Book Star
By Bec Nanayakkara &Joanna Bartel Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Every night, Grace whispered, ‘Space is the greatest place!’ before she went to sleep”. Grace would know because she owns thirty-seven books about space, and she had read them all. So, when her teacher
Paper-Flower Girl
By Margrete Lamond & Mateja Jager Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Honour book 2024 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Paper-Flower Girl is a work-of-art type of picture book that captivates with abstract, fantastical imagery. Slovenian-born artist Mateja Jager’s restrained colour palette and
This Is My Book
By Tim Harris & Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray In the ever-popular ‘meta book’ tradition, This Is My Book invites the reader into a battle between the left-hand page and the right-hand page for ultimate ownership of the story. The
Brilliant
By Rosi Ngwenya and Sandy Flett Reviewed by Margarite Igras This debut picture book by African born Australian Rosi Ngwenya puts the spotlight, in 16-words, on the life journey of this single impressive ant. The theme of the word ‘ant’ is echoed
Alphabetter
A Better You and Me, from A to Z By Maura Pierlot & Jorge Garcia Redondo Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author, playwright and ethicist Maura Pierlot, has written an alphabet book with a difference. She has combined the alphabet with purposely selected
The Big Book of Australian Nursery Rhymes
By Frané Lessac Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Frané is an Australian author and illustrator. Her art has been called naïve, primitive, folk art but while her work here is simple (to suit the intended young audience), it is the considered expression of
What Do You Call Your Dad?
By Ashleigh Barton & Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian children’s author Ashleigh Barton has teamed up with Martina Heiduczek to create several notable picture books, including What do you call your grandma? (CBCA shortlist 2022), What do you call your
A Wish For Baby
By Caz Goodwin & Sara Acton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Caz Goodwin is the author of the Little Matilda and Daisy series as well as Grace and Mr Milligan. Here she has teamed up with the prolific Sara Acton, whose lively illustrations
The Real Cowgirl
By Isabelle Duff & Susannah Crispe Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author, Isabelle Duffy, has written this heart-warming story based on her experiences as a young girl living on a farm in NSW. It is about the special relationship between a girl
When the Lights Went Out
By Lian Tanner & Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Helen Gearing By the same powerhouse creators as the award-winning Ella and the Ocean, When the Lights Went Out is a visually stunning and warm-hearted story about new experiences and the joy of community. The
The Doll Box
By Deborah Kelly & Joanna Bartel Reviewed by Margarite Igras With the present-day interest in family ancestry in mind, here is a poignant story about three maternal generations of women, their personal stories of resilience, strength and self-belief in overcoming life challenges,
Jeff Giraffe The Great Escape
By Amelia McInerney & Alexandra Colombo Reviewed by Margarite Igras Amelia McInerney has written several funny stories for young children, each with endearing characters, engaging storylines and appealing titles, such as The Book Chook (CBCA Notable Book), Who Fed Zed, and
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 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,
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
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 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
