From My Head to My Toes, I Say What Goes
By Charlotte Barkla & Jacqui Lee Reviewed by Margarite Igras Charlotte Barkla has followed up her debut picture book, All Bodies Are Good Bodies, with this empowering exploration about respectful body boundaries. Together with Jacqui Lee’s illustrations, the author has created an assertive
Big Feelings and What They Tell Us
By Rebekah Ballagh Reviewed by Margarite Igras Rebekah, who has both written and illustrated this book, has used her background in counselling to create an instructive book about emotions for children. In the opening text she says Emotions are messages from the
Our Home On Wheels
A Big Trip Around Australia Written by Jessica and Stephen Parry-Valentine Illustrated by Ashlee Spink Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The authors have a passion for filmmaking and photography, they are well-known for their YouTube travel series: Flying the Nest is a popular travel channel
The Christmas Bum Book
Written by Kate Mayes Illustrated by Andrew Joyner Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kate possibly has a fixation on bums as she has also written The Bum Book and The Easter Bum Book and here she is now with The Christmas Bum Book again
A Very Playschool Christmas
By Jan Stradling and Jedda Robaard Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The iconic children's program Playschool has been on TV for more than forty years encouraging generations of Australians to wonder, to feel and to imagine. Jan has worked for the ABC for
Meerkat Christmas
By Aura Parker Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Aura is a creator whose previous published books include Meerkat Splash, Goodnight Glow Worms and The Silly Seabed Song. Her work is characterised by a joyful energy, a sense of fun and lots of play. This
Best Books of 2022
At this time of year we ask our reviewers to select the best books they have read this year. Here is the result which should provide some wonderful holiday reading and maybe some ideas for seasonal gift giving. Just click
Zola and the Christmas Lights
By Melina Marchetta and Deb Hudson Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Zola loves living on Boomerang Street with her mum and her Nonna and next door to her cousin Alessandro in a little house in a little street in a little suburb in a
An Odd Dog Christmas
By Rob Biddulph Reviewed by Barbara Braxton It’s Christmas and Odd Dog is running out of time to find the perfect present for her pal… But then she steps into a Christmas arcade which looks very promising until she meets a new
A Tiny Light
Written and Illustrated by Alison Lester Reviewed by Mia Macrossan When you go to bed tonight, be sure to leave a tiny light, so Twinkles in the Milky Way can find you when they come to play
Noongar Boodja Waangkan (Noongar First Words)
By Jayden Boundry, illustrated by Tyrown Waigana Reviewed by Liane McDermott Jayden is a Noongar language teacher and cultural consultant, didgeridoo player, traditional dancer and storyteller. Tyrown, is a multidisciplinary artist and designer, including painting, illustration, sculpture, animation and graphic design. Both
The Burpee Bears
Written by Joe Wicks c-written by Vivian French Illustrated by Paul Howard Reviewed by Margarite Igras Joe Wicks is well known as an author of several cookbooks as well as the founder of a fitness focus group called Lean to 15. This is his
Mr Chicken All Over Australia
Written and illustrated by Leigh Hobbs Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Leigh Hobbs was a popular Children's Laureate for 2016/17 and Mr Chicken All Over Australia, is the latest in the series that includes Mr Chicken Arriva a Roma, Mr Chicken Lands on
Diary of a Rescued Wombat: The Untold Story
By Jackie French and Bruce Whatley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the first book about Mothball, the lovable wombat who has stolen the hearts and minds of countless children. It has even been commemorated
Kunyi
By Kunyi June Anne McInerney Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Kunyi June Anne McInerney is a Yankunytjatjara woman, born on a station near Oodnadatta in South Australia in 1950. When she was four years old, she was taken with three of her
Twice the Love
Written by Inda Ahmad Zahri Illustrated by Nabila Adani Reviewed by Mia Macrossan According to Twins Research Australia multiple birth numbers have remained relatively consistent in Australia over the last ten years with about 4,248 multiple births last year. That's a lot of
Jorn’s Magnificent Imagination
By Coral Vass and Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Sarah Custance Jorn’s Magnificent Imagination is the first collaboration between author Coral Vass and author/illustrator Nicky Johnston. The picture book shows us moments in the life of Jorn Utzon, the famous designer of the
Sticking Out
Written by Terri Owbridge Illustrated by Emma Stuart Reviewed by Margarite Igras Terri, a proclaimed introvert, in her debut picture book shares her valuable life lesson, that social interaction can be fun. The colourful, lively Illustrations by Emma Stuart add emotional depth to
Where?
By Jordan Collins and Phil Lesnie Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The first spread of this thought-provoking new release shows a child with their woollen hat pulled down over their ears. The words ‘Where are you from?’ pulse around them – Where?
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
