The Wizard in My Shed: The Misadventures of Merdyn the Wild
By Simon Farnaby Illustrated by Claire Powell Reviewed by Leonard C. This is Simon Farnaby’s first children’s book. He has written and starred in various family TV shows and films including Horrible Histories, Paddington and Paddington 2. Rose lives with her mother and brother
The End of the World is Bigger than Love
by Davina Bell Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Have you ever wondered what would happen if the world stopped turning? Would the sun hang motionless in the sky? Would the tides stop ebbing and flowing? Would survival be impossible? In The End of
Wild Symphony
By Dan Brown and Susan Batori Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Dan Brown, best known as the author of The Da Vinci Code, has crammed a lot into his debut picture book, Wild Symphony, including a free app containing music composed by Dan
The Fire Wombat
By Jackie French and Danny Snell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another story about her beloved wombats from the ever prolific Jackie French. The Fire Wombat is a topical story of how animals in the bush struggle to find safety from a fierce
The Odds (The Odds, #1)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Matt Stanton is the incredibly popular author of the Funny Kid series, the Fart Monster and Me series, and This is a Ball, a picture book that was co-authored with his wife Beck. The Odds
Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai Reviewed by Leonard Cavallaro Remy Lai’s debut junior fiction Pie in the Sky is an engaging tale of overcoming language barriers and accepting difference. Remy Lai has a major in painting and drawing which is evident in the artistic representations
Puffin Little Series
Reviewed by Sarah Custance Celebrating 80 years of Puffin the publishing house has chosen to go back to their non-fiction origins with this new series of informational books for young readers. Puffin was first introduced in World War ll to give children
A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth
By Francesca Gibbons Illustrated by Chris Riddell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Welcome to a brilliant new voice in middle grade fantasy fiction. Francesca Gibbons' debut A Clock of Stars is the first in a trilogy titled The Shadow Moth. It is brimming with
Old Man Emu
By John Williamson and Simon McLean Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a picture book adaptation of John Williamson's first and now legendary hit song, 'Old Man Emu’, to celebrate John’s 50th year of performing and the song’s 50th anniversary in 2020.
The Wolf’s Secret
By Myriam Dahman and Nicolas Digard Illustrated by Julia Sarda Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Myriam grew up in Morocco but now lives and works in Paris. Her co-writer, Nicolas Digard is a French writer for televisions and books for children but this is
Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale : Starfell #2
By Dominique Valente Illustrated by Sarah Warburton Reviewed by Sarah Custance British author Dominique Valente had her first novel Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day published last year in 2019 and now the sequel Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale has
My Dad Used to be so Cool
By Keith Negley Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Keith Negley is a well-known illustrator who also writes and illustrates his own picture books for children which include Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too), Mary Wears What She Wants and this one. This is a story
Monstrous Devices
By Damien Love Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Damien's debut novel but it has been so successful that a sequel, The Shadow Arts, is on the way. Written with ease and sparkling invention Monstrous Devices centres on the adventures of 12 year
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
By L.D. Lapinski Reviewed by Sarah Custance L.D. Lapinski is a British author and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency is her first published novel. It is so popular that it is currently being translated into twelve different languages and the sequel The Strangeworlds
Beyond Belief
By Dee White Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Bryani-Rose, age 11 Beyond Belief is an engaging and informative novel set at the time of the Second World War, in 1942. Eleven-year-old Ruben is hiding from the Nazis in the Grand Mosque in Paris where
The Tindims of Rubbish Island
By Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry Reviewed by Sarah Custance Sally Gardner is the award-winning author of many children’s novels. Her work has been translated into over 22 languages and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Her latest novel ‘The Tindims of
What Zola Did on Tuesday
By Melina Marchetta Illustrated by Deb Hudson Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Cousins Zola and Alessandro live next door to each other – there’s even a gate cut into the fence by their Nonno Nino before he died so they could be together as
Waiting for Hugo
by Amanda Niland illustrated by Claire Richards reviewed by Claire Monsour Hugo is
The Story of the Little Mole who knew it was None of his Business
by Werner Holzwarth Illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch Reviewed by Sandy Driessens What appears to be the hairdo of a now-famous politician, on the head of this little Mole, is what attracted me to this story, first published in Germany in 1989. Of course,
Premeditated Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle #1)
By Elizabeth C Bunce Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This book is like the younger readers version of Alan Bradley’s Flavia De Luce mysteries and Philip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart quartet. It features an unconventional, intelligent protagonist, with that arch tone commonly found in
Leonard Cavallaro wins the Children’s Short Story Competition
Congratulations to Leonard Cavallaro who won the 2020 StoryLinks Children's Short Story competition with his entry Gratitude. He had some tough competition as the standard of entries this year was very high. The judges were impressed by the range and scope of
Claudette
Written and illustrated by Helene Magisson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Helene's previous books include All About Fairies, Sarah’s Two Nativities, and Little Puggle’s Song. Her work is characterised by a delicate touch and a subtle use of colour. In Claudette she has
The Unwilling Twin
Written and illustrated by Freya Blackwood Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Freya Blackwood has been writing and illustrating for children since 2010 and any book with her name on the cover is sure to appeal to children and their parents. She won
Funny Kid Belly Flop (Funny Kid #8)
Written and illustrated by Matt Stanton Reviewed by Sarah Custance Matt Stanton is an Australian author with over 28 books to his name and the writer of the popular picture book ‘This is a Ball’ which he co-wrote with his wife Beck
Watch Over Me
by Nina Lacour reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes In Watch Over Me, Nina Lacour, award winning author of We Are Okay, pulls the reader into a story of adolescent self-discovery which borders on a psychological thriller. Mila is a vulnerable teen, a victim of
Pirate Stew
by Neil Gaiman illustrated by Chris Riddell reviewed by Mia Macrossan Pirate Stew is a colourful over the top piratical caper produced by the award winning team of Gaiman and Riddell who have so many other hits to their name. This will be
The List of Things That Will Not Change
by Rebecca Stead reviewed by Sarah Custance This is the amazing new book by award-winning author Rebecca Stead. Her other books include ‘First Light’, ‘Liar & Spy’, ‘Goodbye Stranger’, ‘When You Reach Me’ which won the American Newbery Medal in 2010, and
Shortlist 2020 Short Story competition written by children in year 4,5 & 6
This year there were a record number of entries, nearly 300, from all across Australia. Children wrote across genres and styles - fantasy, emotional realism, detective stories, science fiction, choose your own adventure, graphic novel, adventure and escape. The judges were
Ghost Bird
by Lisa Fuller reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lisa Fuller, former winner of the David Unaipon award, is a Wuilli Wuilli woman from Eidsvold, Queensland. She is passionate about culturally appropriate writing which she exemplifies here with a suspenseful tale set in her
Catvinkle and the Missing Tulips
by Elliot Perlman illustrated by Laura Stitzel reviewed by Barbara Braxton Catvinkle lives in Amsterdam, with her barber-owner Mr. Sabatini, and she likes to think that the world revolves around her, as cats generally do. From her basket near the fireplace in what
