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
The Fowl Twins: Get What They Deserve
By Eoin Colfer Reviewed by Sarah Custance Eoin Colfer is the mastermind behind the bestselling Artemis Fowl series and has now written a spinoff series about Artemis’ younger twin brothers. Get What They Deserve is the third book in The Fowl Twins
A Reluctant Witch’s Guide to Magic
By Shivaun Plozza Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Shivaun Plozza won multiple awards for her debut novel Frankie and has since gone on to write both YA and middle-grade books such as Tin Heart and The Boy, The Wolf and the
The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Anxious Artist
By Katrina Nannestad Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Reviewed by Sarah Custance Award winning Australian author Katrina Nannestad has been making waves with two of her most recent works We Are Wolves and Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief. Her other works also include series
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
I’m a Dirty Dinosaur Hide and Seek
A Lift-the-flap book Created by Janeen Brian and Ann James Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Janeen Brian and Ann James are the creators of the award winning I'm a Dirty Dinosaur(2019), famously illustrated using real mud. Now here is a sequel, a lift-the-flap book
This Little Joey
Created 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 a award winning list of titles that range from board books for
Sunny the Shark: Surviving the Wild 3
Created by Remy Lai Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Remy is a Brisbane author who has successfully built up a large audience for her cheerful but heartfelt graphic novels. This is the third in her environmental series for younger readers Surviving the Wild which focus
But I’m NOT Hungry For My Dinner!
Written by Valerie Gent Illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan Reviewed by Claire Monsour Valerie Gent is a Paediatric Feeding Speech Pathologist and this is her first children’s book, dedicated to her two sons, who in her words, “have taught me all that I
Boss of Your Own Body
Written by Byll and Beth Stephen (Teeny Tiny Stevies) Illustrated by Simon Howe Reviewed by Claire Monsour Sisters Beth and Byll Stephen are best known for the music group ‘The Little Stevies’, and their children’s band ‘Teeny Tiny Stevies’. Their popular children’s songs,
Grub
By Sandra Severgnini Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sandra is really hitting her stride as a children's picture book illustrator as is shown in her impressive new book Grub. By the way, what a wonderfully direct, simple, memorable and somehow very Australian title.
Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens
By Allison Rushby & Bronte Rose Marando Reviewed by Barbara Braxton 1872. Miss Strickland’s School for Girls of an Enquiring Mind and Penny Pickering's mind is wandering, as it often does, in Miss Pugh's lessons. She's sketching ideas about what might happen
Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships now open for 2022.
Writing NSW is excited to announce the return of the Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships for 2022. The Writing NSW Varuna Fellowships are awarded annually to writers who have a work of fiction, creative non-fiction, a play, or a suite of poems that is
The Detective’s Guide to New York City
By Nicki Greenberg Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd The Detective's Guide to New York City is the sequel to Nicki Greenberg's debut middle grade mystery novel, The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel. In the first book, we were introduced to thirteen-year-old Pepper Stark and
Little Ash (series)
#1 Perfect Match! #2 Friendship Fix-it! #3 Tennis Rush! #4 Goal Getter! Written by Ash Barty & Jasmine McCaughey Illustrated by Jade Goodwin Reviewed by Barbara Braxton There would be few in Australia who do not recognise the name Ash Barty, who have not admired her
Winner of the 2022 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction is…
Cuckoo's Flight by Wendy Orr has won the 2022 Book Links Award for Children's Historical Fiction. The win was announced at an online event attended by all the shortlisted authors, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr, and three
Great and Small
Written by Alison McLennan Illustrated by Connah Brecon Reviewed by Sandy Driessens When I first saw the cover of Great and Small I thought, “What an unusual image of a unicorn”. Not graceful, not majestic, quite unique. Now that I’ve read the story,
Prometheus High: How to Make a Monster
By Stuart Wilson Reviewed by Sarah Custance How to Make a Monster is Australian author, Stuart Wilson’s, debut novel and the beginning of a series of books all about Prometheus High. The second book in the series The Books of the Dead
Rainbow Grey: Eye of the Storm
By Laura Ellen Anderson Reviewed by Sarah Custance Laura Ellen Anderson is the bestselling author/illustrator of the Amelia Fang books (of which there are now 8). Eye of the Storm is the second book in Anderson’s latest middle-grade series Rainbow Grey. 10-year-old Ray
Wizard & CO.
By Mitchell Toy Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author/illustrator Mitchell Toy is fairly new in the book world but has already published 4 picture books, The Great Australian Bite, The Bounty of Bootless Ben, The Midnight City, and his latest work, Wizard
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List #4 Wendy Orr
There are four brilliant writers on the Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr. Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing historical fiction for StoryLinks. Wendy Orr is the author of Cuckoo's Flight, described
Naturopolis
Created by Deborah Frenkel and Ingrid Bartkowiak Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In our very busy lives rushing from one task to the next we don't often take the time to enjoy the unobserved beauty around us. In Naturopolis Deborah Frenkel and Ingrid
The Snow Laundry, The Towers #1
By Mette Jakobsen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Mette is a writer and playwright who teaches creative writing and has put her talents to good use in creating her first YA dystopian novel. In Ally she has created one of those indestructible and indomitable
Scram! (Clarice Bean)
The True Story of How We Got Our Dog Written and illustrated by Lauren Child Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Who doesn't love Clarice Bean? Lauren Child started writing this hugely successful series way back in 1999. The first was the picture book Clarice
Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe
Written by Ashleigh Barton Illustrated by Sarah Davis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ashleigh is the author of picture book What Do You Call Your Grandma? which has been shortlisted in the 2022 CBCA Book of the Year Awards and this charming story about
Meet the Book Links 2022 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Short List #3 Katrina Nannestad
There are four brilliant writers on the Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist, Mirranda Burton, Lorraine Marwood, Katrina Nannestad and Wendy Orr. Each one has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about writing historical fiction for StoryLinks. Katrina Nannestad is the author of Rabbit, Soldier,
The Lost Ryu
Written by Emi Watanabe Cohen Reviewed by Sarah Custance American/Japanese author Emi Watanabe Cohen blends Japanese, American, and Jewish folktales and languages in her debut middle grade novel to create a marvellous story about friendship, family, and heritage. 10-year-old Kohei lives in Japan
Sherlock Bones: and the Art and Science Alliance
Written and illustrated by Renee Treml Reviewed by Sarah Custance The Art and Science Alliance is the 3rd book in the Sherlock Bones graphic novel series by Renee Treml, an American author/illustrator who now lives in Victoria. Meet Sherlock Bones (a tawny frogmouth
Go Home, Cat!
Written by Sonya Hartnett Illustrated by Lucia Masciullo Reviewed by Sarah Custance Australian author Sonya Hartnett is a writer of fiction for children, YA, and adults. In 2008 she was the winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, which is one of the
Under the Moonlight
Written and illustrated by Susannah Crispe Reviewed by Margarite Igras This gentle and heart-warming picture book is a wonderfully endearing story about an unusual friendship, that provides comfort when afraid, and shows that strength is not dependent on size. Moose has been foraging
