Joanna Wisbey wins 2021 Short Story Competition
Congratulations to Joanna Wisbey whose short story, The Cake, won the 2021 StoryLinks Short Story competition. Judges’ comments: A carefully crafted story that uses humour and insight to present a…
2021 Children’s Historical Fiction Award Shortlist announced.
Book Links is proud to announce the 2021 Shortlist for the inaugural Book Links Award for Children’s Historical Fiction. Here are six brilliant books that excel at developing an understanding…
Elsewhere Girls
By Emily Gale and Nova Weetman Reviewed by Sarah Custance Emily Gale and Nova Weetman are both Melbourne based authors who are much celebrated in their chosen genres. Emily Gale…
Michaela Mason’s Big List of 23 Worries
By Alexa Moses Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Australian author and screenwriter Alexa Moses introduces a likeable and nuanced main character in this middle grade novel about moving towns, making friends…
The Gilded Ones
By Namina Forna Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Namina, born in Sierra Leone, is an American author of young adult fiction and a successful screenwriter. The Gilded Ones, a fantasy about…
Ancient World Magnified
By David Long Illustrated by Andy Rowland Reviewed by Mia Macrossan David Long is the author of Pirates Magnified, Egypt Magnified and Castles Magnified. In Ancient World Magnified he covers significant ancient civilisations.…
Terry Denton’s Really Truly Amazing Guide to Everything
By Terry Denton, Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Terry is famous as one of the duo who produces the wildly popular Treehouse series of books with Andy Griffiths. Here he is…
Before You Were Born
By Katrina Germein Illustrated Helene Magisson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Katrina writes picture books about family life in Australia and Helene is a French artist now living in Brisbane. She…
IBBY Book Collection for Young People with Disabilities
Many young people with disabilities cannot read or enjoy a regular book, or they cannot find a suitable book among the many publications available. Therefore, they need specially produced books…
StoryLinks interviews Inda Ahmad Zahri
Inda Ahmad Zahri talked with Mia Macrossan about her writing life and her debut picture book Salih About Inda Books have got her into a number of sticky situations… ‘As…
Eliza Vanda’s Button Box
By Emily Rodda Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is another original fantasy from one of Australia’s best-loved writers for children. Almost every family has a button box filled with odd…
Funny Kid Prank Aliens (Funny Kid, #9)
By Matt Stanton Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Prolific Australian author-illustrator Matt Stanton returns with the ninth book in his popular ‘Funny Kid’ series. Young readers will enjoy the main character’s…
Pandemic
By Jackie French & Bruce Whatley Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury Picture book royalty – Jackie French and Bruce Whatley – have united again to create a timely story simply titled…
Honeybee
By Craig Silvey Reviewed by Margarite Igras Another highly acclaimed young adult fiction by this Australian author, previously best known for Jasper Jones which was made into a popular film.…
The Protected
By Claire Zorn Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Young Adult novels often take the form of sci-fi, fantasy or dystopia, taking us to amazing worlds full of dragons, aliens, or earth-changing…
StoryLinks interviews Claire Zorn
Claire Zorn talked with Margaret McKay-Lowndes about her latest book When We Are Invisible and a writing life. Claire Zorn is the author of three highly acclaimed novels for…
The World Between Blinks
By Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes What do Amelia Earhart, Prime Minister Harold Holt and Queen Nefertiti have in common? Well, they all disappeared without trace…
Pawcasso
By Remy Lai Reviewed by Sarah Custance Remy Lai is the Brisbane based author of the critically acclaimed books Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall. Pawcasso is…
Book Links Award for 2021 Children’s Historical Fiction Longlist announced!
The waiting is over, the longlist is out. Out of sixty entries eighteen titles have been selected as outstanding works of historical fiction for children. Historical fiction is an important…
Shortlist for 2021 Story competition announced.
Four stories were chosen that, in the opinion of the judges, had interesting characters and relevant themes, were well structured, and had child appeal. Pigpen Apples by Annaleise Byrd…
Interview with Katrina Nannestad
Here is a fascinating YOUTUBE Interview with Katrina where she answers questions about her writing and her book We Are Wolves. Katrina is an Australian author who grew up in New…
Hodge Podge: How To Make A Pet Monster #1
By Lili Wilkinson Illustrated by Dustin Spence Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lili Wilkinson is an award-winning writer of mainly Young Adult novels. Here she has written and amusing and appealing…
Sky Dragon #1 Take To The Skies
By Anh Do Illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro Anh Do’s new book is the beginning of a unique and suspenseful series. Anh Do is a…
The Schoolmaster’s Daughter
By Jackie French Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Fans of Jackie French will be happy to see another rip-roaring read, once again based on her own family history. The Schoolmaster’s Daughter…
The Little Pirate Queen
Written and illustrated by Sally Anne Garland Reviewed by Sandy Driessens ‘A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor’ – Franklin D. Roosevelt. This quotation on the dedication page defines…
Dragon World
By Tamara Macfarlane Illustrated by Alessandra Fusi Reviewed by Mia Macrossan ‘Dragons have captivated the imaginations of people everywhere. They take many forms and represent many things’ and this beautifully…
What We’ll Build: Plans For Our Together Future
By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The renowned award-winning Oliver Jeffers is a Northern Irish artist, illustrator and writer who now lives and works in Brooklyn. He is perhaps…
Mr Tickle
By Roger Hargreaves Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Did you know this has been around for 50 years? It was the first Mr Men book and now there is a handsome…
The Quicksand Pony
By Alison Lester Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This book was published 15 years ago and has now been reissued with a gorgeous new cover. The Quicksand Pony, set on a…
Mo and Crow
By Jo Kasch Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Mo lives in a little house high on a hill, protected by a thick stone wall that is stronger…