The Last Zookeeper
By Aaron Becker Reviewed by Barbara Braxton In a not-so-futuristic time, the Earth has flooded and the waters continue to rise. The only signs of humankind are the waterlogged structures they left behind. Peeking out from the deluge are the remnants of a
Mitchell Itches An Ezcema Story
By Kristin Kelly & Amelina Jones Reviewed by Margarite Igras Kristin Kelly is a former nurse and primary/preschool teacher who was inspired to write this book after having a child in her classroom with severe eczema. She is familiar with the condition
My Heart
By Katrina McKelvey & Deb Hudson Reviewed by Margarite Igras Katrina McKelvey is a former primary school teacher and President of the CBCA Newcastle. Deb Hudson says her illustrations are inspired by the joy and wonder-filled dreamy moments of the everyday.
Kevin the Sheep
By Jacqueline Harvey & Kate Isobel Scott Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Shaun, Shauna, Sheryl and Shane are sheep - and are as predictable in their sheepish behaviour as the alliteration of their names. Along with the rest of the flock, they are
Tree
By Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft Reviewed by Margarite Igras Tree is a stand-out picture book written by the award-winning Australian author, Claire Saxby with insightful watercolour illustrations by Jess Racklyeft. Claire Saxby writes fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children of all ages.
Anzac Ted
Written and illustrated by Belinda Landsberry. Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is her debut picture book published in 2014, which has been re-issued in hardback to celebrate its 10th anniversary containing additional information About the ANZACS as well as an activity page
Happy All Over
By Emma Quay Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Emma Quay, the award-winning and much-loved creator of Rudie Nudie, (2012 Book of the Year for Younger Children Australian Book Industry Awards; Shortlisted for Children’s Book Council Australia Awards), and Rudie Nudie Christmas, here presents an
Some Families Change
By Jess Galatola & Jenni Barrand Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In the last several decades there have been many changes to what is accepted as a family. While the nuclear family of mum, dad and some kids is still popular, many other
A Dream For Every Night
By Angela Casabene & Camille Manley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Angela Casabene is the author of the picture book All You Can Be, a book encouraging children to fulfill their potential. Now she has teamed up with Camille Manley, a Gold Coast
Little Horses
By Deborah Kelly & Jenni Goodman Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Out in the bay where sailboats glide, little horses drift and hide…. Living in the calm waters of a bay, in the safety of a coral reef, two little seahorses raise their
My Dream for You
By Ash Barty with Jasmin McGaughey & Jade Goodwin Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ash Barty has been busy since putting down her tennis racquet producing a memoir, Ash Barty Champion, the younger reader edition of her memoir My Dream Time and a
Bush Bugs
By Helen Milroy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Her thoughtfully designed and produced books for children combine stunning colourful artwork with simple accessible text which introduce readers
Every Night at Midnight
By Peter Cheong Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Peter Cheong grew up on Roald Dahl and having adventures with Calvin and Hobbes. He was heavily influenced by the way Quentin Blake and Bill Watterson brought stories to life. He is the illustrator of
This is my Happy Place
By Emma Bowd & Jen Khatun Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Emma Bowd is adept at capturing joyful childhood moments in her delightful picture books. Her debut book, Wonderful Shoes, is an onomatopoeic tribute to the time kids spend playing with shoes and
Phonobet
By Kathy Weeden and Kim Drane Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Most of us understand that there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, but far fewer could list the 44 sounds that make up everything we say when combining those letters
Where is Cheeky Monster?
By Mike Lucas & Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Where is Cheeky Monster? is a joyful, interactive read for the 2 – 5 year old end of picture book appreciators. The enticing, reflective cover invites the reader straight into a
Life Lessons for Little Ones: You Can Do Hard Things
A little one's guide to not giving up By Jess Sanders & Martina Stuhlberger Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Life Lessons for Little Ones is a new series that contains important life lessons, such as embracing vulnerability, listening to your body and embracing your
How To Be Invisible (Bunny and Bird, #2)
By Nick Bland Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Nick is a very popular creator of picture books including The Very Cranky Bear series, The Runaway Hug and The Wrong Book. How To Be Invisible is the second in the delightful Bunny and Bird
When Cucumber Lost His Cool
By Michelle Robinson & Tom Knight Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Kevin the cucumber is so cool - everybody knows it! He wears cool sunglasses and struts around singing his own cool song. "I'm super cool Kevin and this is my song! Make
Homegrown: Blueberry Farm #2
By Stephen Michael King Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Stephen Michael King is a much loved and much awarded writer and illustrator whose work includes Koala Ark, Three, Pea Pod Lullaby, The Man Who Loved Boxes, My Dad is a Giraffe and many
Alfie the Kind
By Richard Harris & Simon Howe Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Alfie first appeared in Alfie the Brave, also reviewed in StoryLinks. Richard Harris is an Australian anaesthetist and cave diver who played a crucial role in the Tham Luang cave rescue who wrote Against
Crow Baby
By Helen Milroy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Her many publications include Bush Birds, Owl and Star and Backyard Beasties, all reviewed in StoryLinks. Long long ago a
As Bright As A Rainbow
By Remy Ash & Blue Jaryn Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Remy's (she/her) debut picture book. Her first novel Floundering was shortlisted for several awards. Blue (they/he) is an author/illustrator who illustrated Payden's Pronoun Party, a picture book introduction to nonbinary
Nova’s Missing Masterpiece
By Brooke Graham & by Robin Tatlow-Lord Reviewed by Helen Gearing From the author-illustrator team whose debut picture book Go Away, Worry Monster! was shortlisted for the CBCA New Illustrator Award in 2020, Nova’s Missing Masterpiece is a vibrant new story about
Tayta’s Secret Ingredient
By Amal Abou-Eid & Cara King Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The whole atmosphere of Tayta’s Secret Ingredient is as warm as freshly baked biscuits. From the clever cover, which positions the viewer in the oven, to the gentle, conflict-free narrative. This
A Very Dinosaur Birthday
By Adam Wallace & Christopher Nielsen Reviewed by Margarite Igras Adam Wallace writes entertaining books for all ages and reading abilities, with captivating titles such as Why Won’t you Sleep, How to catch The Tooth fairy and There’s a Bull Ant in the
Two Rabbits
By Larissa Ferenchuk and Prue Pittock Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Unusually for a picture book, Two Rabbits comes with a subtitle: Even best friends argue sometimes. It sets itself up quickly as a book for the earlier cohort of picture book
One Hungry Spider
By Jeannie Baker Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jeannie Baker's work is renowned her miniature collage constructions impressive for their accuracy and detail. Her ground- breaking innovative approach has won numerous awards. Her many books, each a visual feast, include Where the Forest
The Beehive
By Megan Daley & Max Hamilton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Megan is well known in the children's literary and librarian world for her advocacy of children's reading. Her publications include Raising Readers, about how to nurture a child's love of books, and Teacher,
A Friend for Ruby
By Sofie Laguna and Marc McBride Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray A Friend for Ruby is an example of the way the illustrations in a picture book can take a well-written but straightforward narrative and elevate it to marvellous. This is the
