Plagues & Pandemics Reading List
Plagues and pandemics are much discussed both at home and at school. Unfortunately there is nothing new in the situation the world is in now. Here is a list of…
Famous novels and plays get the graphic treatment
Classic novels presented in graphic novel form have been a boon to teachers and students as they present enduring stories into a more widely accessible format. Dajo Finlayson has prepared…
We Are Wolves wins Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction
The Winner of the 2021 Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction is We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad, HarperCollins 2020 Three children find themselves in an epic struggle…
There’s a Ghost in this House
By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist whose acclaimed picture books have been translated into over fifty languages and his artwork has been exhibited…
Cat Dog
By Mem Fox Illustrated by Mark Teague Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The latest hardback picture book by national treasure Mem Fox, illustrated by Mark Teague, is a cleverly constructed question…
Mummy! Where Are You?
By Charmaine Oates Illustrated by Jelena Jordanovic-Lewis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is South Australian mum-of-three Charmaine Oates’ debut picture book inspired, she says, by her son Hamish. Jelena has…
Graphic Novels for Young Adults
Graphic Novels for Young Adults Here are some more graphic novels, most of them published quite recently. Graphic novels now cover many issues previously found in text only works. This…
Spooky Books for Halloween for Readers in Primary School
Reading Resources for parents and teachers Here are lists of recommended reading arranged alphabetically under headings that you will find useful when looking for books on particular topics. New To…
The Curse of the Vampire Robot
By Graeme Base Reviewed by Sarah Custance Picture book legend Graeme Base has done it again with his fantastic new book The Curse of the Vampire Robot. With such well…
Ride the Wind: Sky Dragon #3
By Anh Do Illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Sarah Custance Anh Do is fast becoming one of the most well-known names in Australian children’s literature. His million copy series…
Children’s Short Story Competition Winners
2023 Children’s Short Story Competition This year we had such an amazing number of stories entered into the chidlren’s short story writing competition the judges decided to include a longlist…
Children’s Short Story Competition Entry Form
ENTRY FORM: StoryLinks Short Story Competition For children in Grades 4 – 6 For full details of the competition, please see the information page. Entries now open for 2023.
Children’s Short Story Competition Guidelines
Children’s Short Story Guidelines Write a short story 500-1000 words Any subject The story must be fiction and all your own work. The story must meet the conditions of entry…
Shine
By Danny Parker Illustrated by Ruth de Vos Reviewed by Mia Macrossan People are often impelled to list and enumerate the ways in which they love someone, whether it be…
‘Born in history, immortalised in story.’ Six award winning writers reveal how they write historical fiction
The excitement and anticipation is mounting as we get to the countdown to the announcement of the winner of the inaugural Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction. The six…
Meg McKinlay talks about writing historical fiction
‘When I’m drawn to historical fiction, I think it’s because of the empathic connections it enables between our contemporary lives and those of people in the past.’ Meg McKinlay is…
Maree Coote talks about writing historical fiction
‘Historical fiction can also be the telling of a true story—based on real events—that is lifted it out of its time to reset the story as a universal tale. Born…
Felice Arena talks about writing historical fiction
‘Historical fiction is not only a portal to another time but a tangible way to try to experience the real-life emotions and human stories of those who have come before…
Noni the Pony Counts to a Million
By Alison Lester Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Former Australian Children’s Laureate Alison Lester first introduced us to Noni the Pony in 2011 and it was shortlisted for the CBCA Early Childhood Book…
Monster Hunting for Beginners
By Ian Mark Illustrated by Louis Ghibault Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Monster Hunting for Beginners is Irish author Ian Mark’s first novel in a brand-new fantasy series that hits all…
Pamela Rushby talks about writing historical fiction
The best, the strangest, the most riveting, heart-breaking, laugh-out-loud stories aren’t fiction. They’re real. Pam Rushby is an award winning Queensland writer who has worked as an advertising copywriter, a…
Katrina Nannestad talks about writing historical fiction
A well-written historical novel brings history alive and inspires young readers to ponder big issues – peace, justice, kindness and tolerance, to name just a few. Katrina Nannestad is an …
Claire Saxby talks about writing historical fiction
I let the facts sit on my shoulder as I insert my fictional characters. The facts give me a framework, the fiction fills the spaces between. Claire Saxby is a…
A Great Escape
By Felice Arena Reviewed by Sue Wright When the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, Germany was reunified. A Great Escape tells the story of Peter, a young boy living…
Julia and the Shark
by Kiran Millwood Hargrave Illustrated by Tom de Freston Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Kiran’s books include The Girl of Ink & Stars, which was the winner of the Waterstones Children’s…
Little Days Out: At the Park
By Sally Garland Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Little Days Out is a series by Sally Garland published by New Frontier. It includes At the Shops, At the Pool and now…
Egg Marks the Spot: Skunk and Badger #2
By Amy Timberlake Illustrated by Jon Klassen Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the follow up to Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake and also illustrated by Jon Klassens. That…
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature
By Sami Bayly Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Sami Bayly is such a young writer and illustrator and here she is again with an impressive inspiring book that will enchant and…
Haywire
By Claire Saxby Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Claire Saxby is an Australian author of fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children, including the splendid Nature Storybooks series, The Anzac Billy and…
Catch A Falling Star
By Meg McKinlay Reviewed by Margaret McKay Lowndes Meg McKinlay is the author of a range of books for children, including picture and chapter books, young adult novels and poetry…
