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…
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…
Waiting for Hugo
by Amanda Niland illustrated by Claire Richards reviewed by Claire Monsour Hugo is… different. He is obsessed with numbers, and counts everything he comes across: steps, bags, balloons, trolleys… EVERYTHING!…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
New Award in Australian Children’s Literature!
Book Links, the Centre for Children’s Literature in Queensland is very excited to announce a new biennial award in Australian children’s literature for historical fiction. A prize of $1000 will…
The Silver Arrow
by Lev Grossman reviewed by Mia Macrossan A refreshing debut children’s book by Lev Grossman, an American who usually writes adult fantasy. It’s Kate’s birthday and she isn’t expecting much…
Arthur and the Tiger
written and illustrated by Sophie Beer reviewed by Mia Macrossan This appealing picture book is all about learning how to overcome your fears. It is set in a circus full…
Death Sets Sail
by Robin Stevensreviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the last in the Murder Most Unladylike Series. Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells are two young girls who go to a boarding…
We Are Wolves
by Katrina Nannestadt reviewed by Mia Macrossan This historical novel with a serious underlying theme is based on real events. Apparently thousands of lost, orphaned or abandoned children, called Wolfskinder,…
New Reading List: Autobiographies for Younger Readers
Our latest Reading List contains many awesome stories about real people, young and old, who have made a difference. People from all over the world who have overcome insuperable…
The Goody
written and illustrated by Lauren Child reviewed by Mia Macrossan Former UK children’s Laureate, Lauren Child is famous for her Charlie and Lola picture books, the Clarice Bean series and…
What Zola Did on Monday
by Melina Marchetta illustrated by Deb Hudson reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the first in a new series, by acclaimed Australian author, Melina Marchetta, most famous for her books …
Where is the Green Sheep?
by Mem Fox illustrated by Judy Horacek reviewed by Mia Macrossan This year Puffin Books celebrates 80 years of publishing. Puffin Books originated with Noel Carrington in 1940. It was…
The Widow’s Broom
by Chris van Allsburg reviewed by Mia Macrossan This has recently been reprinted in a 25th anniversary edition and it’s a thing of beauty. Did you know witches’ brooms don’t…
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst
by Jaclyn Moriarty reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is the third book in the Kingdoms and Empires series. Moriarty is brilliant in that each of the titles in this series,…
Skunk and Badger #1
by Amy Timberlake illustrated by Jon Klassen reviewed by Mia Macrossan This first in a series of stories about an unlikely and extraordinary animal friendship is filled with humour, whimsy…
Marshmallow Pie the Cat Superstar
by Clara Vulliamy reviewed by Mia Macrossan Any cat lover will adore this story about Marshmallow Pie, a big fluffy independent cat who is now living in a small flat…
We Love You, Magoo
written and illustrated by Briony Stewart reviewed by Mia Macrossan Magoo is puppy, a red setter by the look of the illustrations and he has a mind and will of…
Grumbelina
by Esther Krogdahl illustrated by Aleksandra Szmidt reviewed by Mia Macrossan This amusing and timely story is about a toddler who has missed the ‘terrible twos’ period but has become…
