Unpacking Harper Holt
Written by Di Walker Reviewed by Margie McKay-Lowndes In this emotive coming of age story, set in a picturesque beach-side suburb of Melbourne, Di Walker’s debut novel presents a story…
Marvin and Marigold: A Stormy Night
Written by Mark Carthew Illustrated by Simon Prescott Reviewed by Yvonne Mes If you have young children, you know what a panic it can cause if there is a sudden…
The Dog Who Saved The World
written by Ross Welford reviewed by Mia Macrossan Best friends Georgie and Ramzy while at their local beach meet an interesting woman Dr Pretorius, who invites them up to her…
Things that go bump in the night – novels to thrill you to death
Vampires, Werewolves & Zombies Our latest list of annotated resources is a compilation of some of the most famous horror stories ever written for young people. It includes famous…
Love and Romance for Valentine’s Day 2019
People have many different ways of celebrating Valentine’s Day but we think there is no better way to celebrate than to read a great love story. Love stories can be…
Quick, Barney, Run!
Written by Pip Jones Illustrated by Laura Hughes Reviewed by Andrea Wilson Can you remember being stuck inside on a rainy day as a child? With themes of cooperation and…
Thimble
Written by Rebecca Young Illustrated by Tull Suwannakit Reviewed by Andrea Wilson Losing a loved one is difficult, especially for young children. Thimble addresses the theme of death in a…
Best Children’s Books I read in 2018: from Inda Ahmad Zabri
My 3 top books for 2018 – so hard to choose! 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆’𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 by Karen Foxlee Lenny lives with her mother and younger brother Davey, a boy who…
Best Children’s Books in 2018: from Maria Popova
https://mailchi.mp/brainpickings/best-childrens-books-2018?e=2db4897516 Maria Popova has chosen some of the loveliest books published this year. She says great children’s books transcend both age and time and here is a collection to browse through…
Best Children’s Books I read in 2018: from Mia Macrossan
Choosing the best books from a year is always difficult as it is impossible to keep the list short. I have cheated a little and chosen favourite authors who have…
Best children’s books I read in 2018: from Dimity Powell
Dimity Powell is a children’s author who recently published At the End of Holyrood Lane. This is super hard btw but here are my attempts at narrowing things down –…
Best children’s books I read in 2018: from Jenny Stubbs
StoryLinks asked authors, reviewers and people involved in the children’s literature world for their three favourites from 2018. This selection is from Jenny Stubbs, the President of Book Links. Lenny’s…
Secrets of a Sun King
by Emma Carroll reviewed by Tyrion Perkins The cover immediately attracted me: children on camels in front of the Nile and desert, with a pharaoh on the back, set up…
Leaving the Lyrebird Forest
written by Gary Crew illustrated by Julian Laffan reviewed by Yvonne Mes Pondering a future beyond the forest, Alice a young girl, befriends a lyrebird and the elderly widower nearby.…
Learn with Ruby Red Shoes
Learn with Ruby Red Shoes: Counting Book Learn with Ruby Red Shoes: Alphabet Book written and illustrated by Kate Knapp Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ruby Red Shoes is the creation…
StoryLinks interviews Debbie Smith, winner of the 2018 StoryLinks Short Story Competition
Debbie spoke to Mia Macrossan about her writing life. Why do write children’s stories? Do you write any other kinds of stories? What kind of stories do you write –…
WINNER of the 2018 StoryLinks Short Story Competition
Tuck Shop Takeover by Combat Dad By Debbie Smith “The school is looking for tuck shop ladies, I mean helpers. Maybe you should sign up?” Mum tells Dad. “Shesh!” I…
The Brave Knight
Written by Sally Gould Illustrated by Celeste Hulme Reviewed by Zewlan Moor This is an ideal book for toddlers and preschoolers. Indeed, its theme ties into the Being, Belonging and…
Sweet Adversity
by Sheryl Gwyther Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Sweet Adversity is a historical fiction novel for children aged 10+. It is refreshing to see a story set in Depression-era Australia that…
Short List announced for StoryLinks Short Story Competition
There were many outstanding entries out of which the judges chose these three as the 2018 Short List: Buried by Louise Harrison Scary Sky by Karen Hendriks Tuck Shop Takeover…
The Story of Eva Carmichael: The Wreck of the Loch Ard
by Gary Crew illustrated by Paul O’Sullivan reviewed by Lucy McGinley I was captivated by the tumultuous true story of Eva Carmichael, as retold by Gary Crew. This historical illustrated…
Amal Unbound
by Aisha Saeed reviewed by Lucy McGinley This moving story centres on a brave young Indian girl who dreams of becoming a teacher. One day her bravery brings her to…
Lenny’s Book of Everything
by Karen Foxlee reviewed by Mia Macrossan Karen Foxlee says that story writing is about creating a world, breathing characters to life and enticing readers on a journey’. In LENNY’S…
Impostors
by Scott Westerfeld reviewed by Dajo Finlayson Set in a post- apocalyptic world full of advanced military technology, power struggles, dictatorships, and the ever-present threat of treachery, this novel is…
World War One 1914-1918 resource list – NEW
Just in time for Remembrance Day we have compiled a list of fiction and non-fiction reading about World War One. It comprises picture books, some material for middle grade and…
Zenobia
written by Morten Dűrr illustrated by Lars Horneman reviewed by Mia Macrossan This stunning graphic novel is remarkable for its cinematic treatment of a sensitive topic. It tells the story of…
At The End of Holyrood Lane
By Dimity Powell Illustrated by Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Maria Parenti-Baldey At The End of Holyrood Lane is more than a picture book about a young girl being frightened of storms.…
The Mulberry Tree
by Allison Rushby reviewed by Rebecca Sheraton This fantastic middle grade novel will appeal to many 8 – 12 year old readers. A mulberry tree haunts a tiny English village…
The Pyramid Puzzle Starring Olive Black
by Alex Miles illustrated by Maude Guesne reviewed by Tyrion Perkins When I first picked up this book with its yellow picture of camels, pyramids and, girl in Cleopatra style…
Beware the Deep Dark Forest
by Sue Whiting illustrated by Annie White reviewed by Peter Taylor The warmth of Annie White’s delicious artwork and the unusual hand-drawn font used on the cover of Beware the…
