All You Can Be
By Angela Casabene & Michelle Conn Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This love letter to children everywhere is Angela's first picture book inspired by her own two daughters. Michelle lives in Victoria and works in both traditional and digital media to illustrate characters
First Mate Lenny
By Elayna Carausu & Sandra Eide Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Elayna has spent a lot of her life sailing the ocean waves and this, her debut picture book, reflects her experiences at sea. Sandra is from Nevada and her artwork is created
Angus & Mouse Read A Book
By Jane Godwin & Terri Rose Baynton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jane Godwin is a writer and publisher who has many titles to her credit. Terri Rose is an artist and author living and working near Taupō in Aotearoa New Zealand. She
Zoo School
By Heath McKenzie Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Heath McKenzie is a Melbourne-based author and illustrator who specialises in stylised digital illustrations (aiming to make them look as non-digital as possible). He has written and or illustrated over 40 books. This one, Zoo
Our Family Dragon A Lunar New Year Story
By Rebecca Lim & Cai Tse Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rebecca Lim is the much awarded author of Tiger Daughter ( CBCA 2022 Book of the Year, Older Readers winner), and Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky reviewed in StoryLinks. Cai Tse
Feelings are Wild
By Sophy Williams & Gavin Scott Reviewed by Margarite Igras Sophy Williams is the author of The ABC of Cuddles and her second picture book is a counting book that includes emotional vocabulary to help children understand their challenging, and at times
Dorothy
By Jordan Collins and Myo Yim Reviewed by Margarite Igras Jordan Collins was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Australia when they were eight years old. Their heritage is African-American Greek-Australian. They have also written Where?, reviewed in StoryLinks by Lara Cain
Breathe In and Out
By Jan Stradling and Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Margarite Igras This picture book is part of a series called A Mindfully Me Story, inspired by the Play School TV show, written by Jan Stradling a former Executive Producer of the Play School
How To Be A Friend
By Sarah Ayoub & Mimi Purnell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ayoub has written the YA novels Hate is Such a Strong Word, The Yearbook Committee and The Cult of Romance as well as collaborating with Purnell in two other picture books, The Love
The Crayons Go Back to School
By Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This creative team is known to many for the first in the 'crayon' series, The Day the Crayons Quit, 2018, and other crayon adventures. Drew Daywalt has also written The Legend of
Ready, Set, Big School
A Play School Mindfully Me book about starting school by Play School, Jan Stradling, illustrated by Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is another title in the excellent Mindfully Me series produced by Play School. Previous titles include Beginnings and Endings, reviewed for StoryLinks by
Christmas books
A selection of new and old favourites for everyone to enjoy and share at Christmas. Christmas Books
STAND OUT Picture Books 2023
Picture book creators continue to amaze and delight with their imaginative response to our world. The boundaries of what is considered suitable for a picture book continue to expand. Writers, illustrators, authorstrators - all are gleefully ranging far and wide
Run Pups Run
By Kerri Day & Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Margarite Igras Kerri Day is a former primary school teacher who enjoys writing stories which encourage younger readers to discover the natural world, explore language, sounds, and creative thinking. This is her second book.
The Elf on the Shelf’s Night Before Christmas
By Chanda A. Bell Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson and Theo, aged 8 Following on from the previous Elf on the Shelf books (2005 to present day) this title is the latest by this author who is affectionately known as Santa’s Chief Storyteller.
Parcel for Turtle
Written & illustrated by Shelley Knoll-Miller Reviewed by Sandy Driessens 'Parcel for Turtle!' shouts a dolphin-riding Post-Seagull. He skillfully delivers the beautifully wrapped parcel by fishing line and you soon discover why. Turtle and his friends are stranded! Pesky pelicans are blocking their
Hunter on Holiday, A Big Trip Around Europe
Written by Jessica and Stephen Parry-Valentine & illustrated by Ashlee Spink Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Hunter has a long, long list of places that she wants to see. She has her passport and boards a plane to take her on an adventure
What My Daddy Loves
Written and illustrated by Raissa Figueroa Reviewed by Margarite Igras Californian based Raissa Figueroa has written and illustrated this simple yet touching book about the special relationship between fathers and their children. She has dedicated this book to her dad and to
Santa’s Secret
By Mike Dumbleton & Tom Jellett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mike Dumbleton is a prolific writer who has created about thirty picture books, plus junior fiction and non-fiction, some YA, as well as anthologies and adaptations. In 2005 he received the Federal
The Nutcracker
By ET A Hoffmann Retold by Susanne Koppe, translated from the German by Anthea Bell Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Many people are familiar with the ballet The Nutcracker but few have read the original story by E.T.A. Hoffman. For nearly
Nothing Ever Happens
By Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Heidi McKinnon is the author and illustrator of many wonderfully offbeat picture books, including I Just Ate my Friend, It’s A Long Way to the Shop and the adorable Floof. Heidi has an enviable knack for taking highly relatable
Butterfly Girl
By Ashling Kwok Illustrated by Arielle Li Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author Ashling Kwok likes to create children’s stories that speak to the heart. This picture book is about heart matters – the love of butterflies, loneliness, having to make new friends
Giovanni: A true story of survival – a voyage re imagined
By Crystal Corocher Illustrated by Margeaux Davis Reviewed by Margarite Igras The author, Crystal Corocher has written this heartfelt and historical story about how her ancestors from Veneto, Italy migrated to Australia in 1881. It is told through the innocent eyes of a
Begin Again: A map of our past and guide for our future
The Story of How We Got Here and Where We Might Go By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Oliver Jeffers is an award-winning and best-selling author and illustrator who’s responsible for some iconic contemporary children’s books, including The Day the Crayons
A Life Song
By Jane Godwin and Anna Walker Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Jane Godwin and Anna Walker are accomplished and celebrated Australian children’s book creators adept at bringing warmth, charm and a playful child-focused perspective to every publication. A Life Song is a
When Grandma Burnt Her Bra
By Samantha Tidy & Aśka Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author Samantha Tidy tries to shine a light on the history of feminism and women’s rights, with this humorous yet passionate book for our younger readers. Together with Aśka’s informative and active
Walk With Us: Welcome to Our Country
By Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Walk With Us is the fourth in the Welcome to Our Country series by anti-racism advocate and former footballer Adam Goodes, with Ellie Laing and David Hardy. Laing was
Nedingar: Ancestors
By Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Nedingar: Ancestors is the debut picture book for Noongar creators Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm. A young child, depicted here as a bird, wants to meet their Ancestors. Their mother gently
Reading about Penguins: NEW Reading Resource
By Mia Macrossan There are many books about penguins. They appeal to almost everybody. Here is a list of picture books that, while always having a penguin as the main protagonist, are about a great variety of themes. All are available
The Turtle and the Flood
By Jackie French and Danny Snell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jackie French writes across all genres — from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction for a variety of age groups. Her previous collaboration with Danny Snell
