The House on Pleasant Street
By Sofie Laguna & Marc McBride Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This successful multi-award winning creative team has come up with a delightful story to celebrate Halloween, one that celebrates families of all kinds. Alby and his unusual family have just moved into the
The Very Hard Book
By Idan Ben-Barak Illustrated by Philip Bunting Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran The Very Hard Book is the second book collaboration by the compelling partnership of Idan Ben-Barak and Philip Bunting. This book explores big concepts such as meta-cognition and philosophy of the mind
Meanwhile Back On Earth – Finding Our Place Through Time and Space
By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Oliver Jeffers is a brand unto himself these days. If you’re a fan I presume you’ll read this book, review or no review. From kid favourite The Day The Crayons Quit to How To Catch A Star Jeffers
My Deadly Boots
By Carl Merrison, Hakea Hustler and Samantha Campbell Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray ‘Clothes maketh the man’ is an old-fashioned proverb, but a sentiment that plenty still embrace. It suggests that people judge you by your clothes, but also that wearing certain
Charlie’s Whale
By Libby Gleeson and Hannah Sommerville Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Charlie’s Whale is the latest release from multi award winning Australian author Libby Gleeson, brought to life by illustrator Hannah Sommerville with delicate seascapes and nuanced characterisation. The narrative focus is young Charlie, who
Painting for Picture Books: A Guided Walk through Piano Fingers
Lara Cain Gray in conversation with Caroline Magerl “There’s no cure for what ails creative people,” said artist, author and vivid storyteller Caroline Magerl as she guided visitors around Piano Fingers, an illuminating exhibition of picture book art, running throughout
Sloth Slept On
Written and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon Reviewed by Mia Macrossan I am a great fan of Preston-Gannon's work since seeing her illustrations in I Am The Seed That Grew The Tree, a collection of nature poems selected by Fiona Waters. Frann has
Frank’s Red Hat
By Sean E. Avery Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Frank is a penguin with ideas. Some are better than others but often they are not so good.. So when he he shows the other penguins his strange new creation, they are very nervous.
Storm Goliath
Written by James Sellick Illustrated by Craig Shuttlewood Reviewed by Margarite Igras This attractive and instructive picture book about anger management has very expressive illustrations and includes an introduction to some creative language to explain the behaviour. Goliath the gorilla can move from feeling
Snuggled Away
Written by Cate Storey Illustrated by Sarah Matsuda Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Good night little one, snuggle down tight. The animals are just beginning their night. The night sky is illuminated by the moon and the stars. In the darkness the Australian bush
Owl and Star
By Helen Milroy Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Helen is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Her previous books include Backyard Beasties also reviewed in StoryLinks. Here she has written and illustrated in her inimitable and
It’s Time All Possums Went To Bed
Written by Jacqui Halpin Illustrated by Gavin Scott Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is a playful and beautiful Australian bedtime time story, that oozes with the love between mother and child. With every excuse Milly comes up with, mother is there willing to
Egg
Written by Clare Atkins Illustrated by Harrison Vial Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Out in the vast blue ocean, something bobs in the waves. Alone. A strange egg has washed up onto the shore of the island of cooked eggs. It is the same
How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures
Written and illustrated by Sami Bayly Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anything by Sami Bayly is guaranteed to be well researched and magnificently illustrated. Her other books The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals 2020, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature 2021,
Violin and Cello
Story by Catherine Greer Illustrated by Joanna Bartel Music by Alexander Lau Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is an inspiring story for any child beginning to learn a new instrument. Two children live in the same apartment block but they have never met. They
Dirt By Sea
By Michael Wagner Illustrated by Tom Jellett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Michael Wagner is a children's author, speaker and storyteller. He writes for early childhood and for older children and his recent books include Why I Love Footy also illustrated by Tom Jellett. Tom
Finding You
By Robert Vescio Illustrated by Hannah Sommerville Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Robert has written more than 20 books for young children. He calls himself 'a storyteller because I love to spin a good yarn!' His writing is characterised by a sensitive understanding of
How Do You Say I Love You?
Written by Ashleigh Barton Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek Reviewed by Sandy Driessens People express their love with different gestures and words. Come on journey around the world and learn how love is expressed in diverse languages, traditions and across generations. Ashley Barton has
Kind
Written and illustrated by Jess McGeachin Reviewed by Margarite Igras This beautifully illustrated picture book has a surprisingly loaded title. Yes, it is about the different kinds of creatures that inhabit our tiny spinning dot/the perfect place, in all of space/And only
My Favourite Teachers
Written by Robin Feiner Illustrated by Beck Feiner Reviewed by Margarite Igras Teachers are not only found in schools. They are all around us – in the community, the family, sports coaches, neighbours and even volunteers. This book shines a light on the
Be Careful, Xiao Xin!
Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran From award winning author Alice Pung and renowned illustrator Sher Rill Ng, here is a gem of a book. Be Careful Xiao Xin is a powerful story about love and conquering fears.
The Zebra’s Great Escape
By Katherine Rundell Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie Reviewed by Mia Macrossan What a treat this is, a new book by two award winning creators. Katherine is the author of The Explorers, The Good Thieves and One Christmas Wish and more, while Sara creates
Ella and the Useless Day
Created by Meg McKinlay & Karen Blair Reviewed by Barbara Braxton When Dad takes a tumble in Ella's room because it is so full, just like the rest of the house, it is clearly time for a clean-out. And so, together, they
Milly and the Mulberry Tree
Written by Vikki Conley Illustrated by Deb Hudson Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Milly’s Mulberry tree is the centre of her world. One Day Milly helped her Papa plant a tree, right in the middle of the garden, “so it can grow with us”. As
Australian Backyard Buddies
Created by Andy Geppert Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Andy is an Australian illustrator based in Brisbane who previous books include Little Big Tree which won the Crichton Award for a new illustrator in 2010, and Meep, a CBCA Notable Book in 2016. For
My Baba is the Best
Written by Bachar Houli Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Bachar Houli is a noted AFL football player and devout Muslim who has successfully promoted various community initiatives. This is his first picture book. It is a colourful depiction of Muslim family
Ninni Yabini
By Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Tyrown Waigana Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is a dual language book written in English and the language of the Noongar people of SW Western Australia. The story is based on a tale, passed down in the oral
All the Words I Need to Know
Written by Jane Godwin & Illustrated by Andrew Joyner Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “All the words you need to know Will help you as you learn and grow. From ant and ball and yak and zoo, Here’s a word book JUST FOR YOU!” Jane Godwin, an
2022 CBCA Winners announced
Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers who won one of the prestigious CBCA awards this year. It is always a suspenseful and eagerly awaited event to see which book will win the coveted gong. Here are the StoryLinks reviews for
Dancing with Memories
Written by Sally Yule, with contributions by Ralph Martin and Maggie Beer Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Margarite Igras This book is a useful and gentle introduction for young children about dementia and memory loss. The central character is Lucy whose journey
