Taronga Big Book of Animals
Over 200 fascinating facts for curious kids Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In the note to the reader the Taronga Conservation Society Australia states the facts in this book are based on the 'scientific worlds's current understanding' of the animals in the book,
The Other Side of the Clouds
By Matt Samuel & Tamlyn Teow Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is Matt’s debut Children’s picture book. After two decades in advertising and a former career as a primary school teacher, he decided to try his hand at writing a picture book, drawing
Tilly in a Tangle
By Magrete Lamond & Monty Lee Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Magrete Lamond is a multi-award-winning author and children’s book publisher. Lamond’s picture book, Paper-flower Girl, was shortlisted in the 2024 Children’s Book Council of Australia awards and was awarded Honour Book in
The Five Rules of Friendship
By Jess Sanders Illustrated by César Barceló Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jess Sanders is the author of Life Lessons for Little Ones series which include You Can Do Hard Things and You Know Yourself Best. She has also written Love Your Body and
The fingerprint code
By R. A. Stephens Illustrated by Em Hammond Reviewed by Renata Clarke R. A. Stephens runs publishing houses Wombat Books and Rhiza Edge, and also writes and edits individually both for their own company and for other publishers. They are primarily interested in
Nanny Piggins and the Origin Story
By R. A. Spratt Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury If you are already a fan of R.A Spratt’s humorous Nanny Piggins series, then you will love reading Piggins’ origin story. If this is your first foray into the world of Nanny Piggins, then
Now for the Good News
By Jordan Artery [and 11 others] Illustrated by Rebecca King and Sarah Wiecek Reviewed by Ruth Bonetti It's cool to be green and to help save the planet. We—all of us—can embrace ingenious ideas to save the planet. Planet Ark, the Australian environmental
Ethel the Penguin
By Ursula Dubosarsky Illustrated by Christopher Nielsen Reviewed by Meg Rowe You are in safe hands with acclaimed Australian author Ursula Dubosarsky - with over sixty books published for children and young adults, including best-sellers, The Terrible Plop, Brindabella and Too Many
Brave Kāhu and the Pōrangi Magpie
By Shelley Burne-Field Reviewed by June Paisa Perkins Shelley Burne-Field’s debut middle grade adventure children’s book is a triumphant shift from her accomplished poetry, article writing and creative non-fiction for older readers. It is rich in language and cultural aspects drawn heavily
Waiting for Santa
By Lucy Cochran & Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Waiting for Santa is the debut picture book for Australian author Lucy Cochran, teamed up with author-illustrator Heidi McKinnon, whose previous works include the 2023 award winning Floof and 2022 CBCA
The Secret Garden Rewilded
By Anthea Simmons Illustrated by Rachel Dean Reviewed by Barbara Braxton In 1911, young readers were taken into the world of the imperious, emotionally-deprived Mary, animal-whisperer Dickon, and the apparently-doomed Colin as their lives gradually changed as they discovered the delights of nature,
Taronga Presents
Written by Kristin Darell Illustrated by Laura Wood Reviewed by Helen Gearing Created in partnership with Taronga Conservation Society Australia, ‘Taronga Presents’ is a well researched junior fiction series for animal lovers six years and older. Written by Kristin Darell (author of the
Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment
By Anna James Illustrated by David Wyatt Reviewed by Bethany Loveridge Chronicles of Whetherwhy is the newest middle grade offering from UK author Anna James. Readers may recognise James as the author of Pages and Co., the delightful series about a girl who
Too Many Acorns
By Susannah Crispe Reviewed by Margarite Igras Susannah Crispe is an Australian children’s author and illustrator known for her beautiful book Under the Moonlight as well as the illustrator of several titles including The Real Cowgirl, Where the Heart Is, Cookie, Under
Extreme Animal Facts
By Jennifer Cossins, Reviewed by Dajo Finlayson. Jennifer Cossins is the bestselling, CBCA award winning Tasmanian author and illustrator of nonfiction information books. These predominantly reflect her great passion for nature and, in particular, the animal kingdom. She has written more than
Comes the Night
By Isobelle Carmody Reviewed by Jamie Willis Isobelle Carmody is the internationally acclaimed and bestselling Australian fantasy author of The Obernewtyn Chronicles and The Gathering. She has written forty books and won countless awards, including the Children’s Literature Peace Prize, the CBCA Book of the Year
Tiny Tradies: Aussie Word Book
By Tami Sussman & Tom Jellett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a companion to Tiny Tradies 2023, which celebrates the working lives of very young people as they go about their busy days. The Tiny Tradies Aussie Word Book is a
The Christmas Star
Written and illustrated by Michelle Conn Reviewed by Margarite Igras Michelle is an award-winning Australian author and illustrator having won both the 2024 CBCA Shortlisted for New Illustrator and the 2024 CBCA Notable for Picture Book of the Year for her beautiful
The Welcome Cookies
By Kaye Baillie & Kirrili Lonergan Reviewed by Margarite Igras Award winning children’s author Kaye Baillie is known in Australia and internationally for both her fiction and non-fiction works. Titles such as When the Waterhole Dries Up, Mizuto and the Wind, Cockatoo,
Out of Bounds (The Too-Tall Tales of Alma T. Best, #1)
By Katherine Collette Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Katherine's first middle grade novel and its a cracker! It is the very funny story of Alma, twelve years old and six feet tall, who lives in a small town called Shellsville, (sometimes
Are We There Yet?
A Journey Around Australia By Alison Lester Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Alison Lester has long been one of Australia's national treasures with an impressive list of award winning children's books to her name. Her first book that she wrote and illustrated herself, Clive
Gentlest of Wild Things
By Sarah Underwood Reviewed by Lucille Rose Gentlest of Wild Things is a fantasy novel set amidst the perils of love, danger and most importantly, Desire. In Ancient Greece, the island of Zakynthos has been overcome with the power of Desire,
Goodnight, Joeys
By Renee Treml Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Since moving to Australia from the US in 2007 Renee has been inspired by the diversity of our wildlife and has produced an award winning list of titles that range from board books for the
Cockatoo
By Kaye Baillie and Max Hamilton Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Cockatoo is a captivating nature story from Australian creators Kaye Baillie and Max Hamilton. Detailed, realistic illustrations support lively word play in a celebration of the early months of life for
Prank Wars: Game On
By Louise Park, Mo Johnson & Jules Faber Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Prank Wars, Game On is the first in a new series created collaboratively by Louise Park & Mo Johnson, with Jules Faber supplying the visuals. All three have a
Sunny Finds His Song
By Cate Storey & Penny Watson, illustrated by Sarah Matsuda. Reviewed by Tyrion Perkins Sunny Finds His Song is the third picture book by Cate Storey and Sarah Matsuda. After covering nocturnal Australian animals in Snuggled Away https://storylinks.booklinks.org.au/2022/10/02/snuggled-away/ and the Greater Glider
Nobody Likes Monday
By Kelly Lee & Amy Calautti Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian author, librarian and teacher Kelly Lee is known for some of her more unusual picture book topics for the younger reader. She has written a series called Little Economists, with titles
The Mosaic
By Deborah Kelly & Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Margarite Igras This book was inspired by the award-winning author’s personal experience of separation from her husband and the ensuing conversations she had with her children. It is a fresh and positive perspective of
Into the Ice: Reflections on Antarctica
By Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch Reviewed by Margaret Mckay-Lowndes These reflections are the culmination of the creators' many journeys, either as Arts Fellows with the Australian Antarctic Division or as artists in residence on tourist ships. The experiences related in this
