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
Winning the StoryLinks Short Story competition by Ali Rutstein
Ali Rutstein won the 2023 Short Story Competition for adult writers 18+ with her story The Loophole. Originally from England, Ali Rutstein moved to Australia over twenty years ago. She is now firmly settled in Brisbane, where she lives with her partner,
The Grimmelings
By Rachael King Reviewed by Helen Gearing From the author of Red Rocks, winner of the Esther Glen Medal in 2013, The Grimmelings is a beautiful and eerie middle grade mystery which transports Gaelic folklore into the stunning New Zealand Aotearoa landscape. Thirteen-year-old
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
The Bother with the Bonkillyknock Beast: Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters 3
By Karen Foxlee, illustrated by Freda Chiu Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Karen Foxlee is the award winning author of Dragon Skin and Lenny's Book of Everything. The Bother with the Bonkillyknock Beast is the third in Mary-Kate monster adventures, the first is The Wrath
Fluff, Bullies Beware! (Fluff, #1)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Matt Stanton is the bestselling author of the Funny Kid series along with dozens of others, ranging from picture books to middle-grade novels with graphic novels in between. Fluff, Bullies Beware! is the first in what will
Silver Linings
By Katrina Nannestad Reviewed by Helen Gearing Katrina Nannestad, beloved best-selling author of twenty-three novels for children, brings early 1950s regional New South Wales (with its hopes for a brighter postwar future embodied in Queen Elizabeth’s upcoming coronation) to life in her
The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright
By Reece Carter Reviewed by Helen Gearing Nutritionist-turned-children’s-author Reece Carter burst onto the Australian kidlit scene in 2022 with his debut novel, A Girl Called Corpse, also reviewed in StoryLinks, which snaffled a bunch of award shortlistings, including Australian Book Industry Association’s
Rocket
Written by Dave Lowe Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Dave Lowe is a British-born, Brisbane-based author whose previous works include the My Hamster Is a Genius series, The Incredible Dadventure series, the ‘Cafe’ episode of Bluey, and several plays and musicals performed at
Game On! 2: Glitched
Written and illustrated by Emily Snape Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Emily Snape is a London-based author and illustrator whose many previous titles include the Motor Mix series, The Little Monster’s Guide to Positivity and Fergus the Furball. Glitched is the second book in
Bedtime Stories with R.A. Spratt
By R A Spratt Reviewed by Mia Macrossan R A Spratt is the hugely popular author of the Friday Barnes series, The Peski Kids and the hilarious Nanny Piggins series. Quite a few of the stories in this collection are retellings of