Reading Resources for parents and teachers
Lists of recommended reading arranged alphabetically under headings that you will find useful when looking for books on particular topics.
New!
Out now – the Best Children’s Books of 2022 selected by our team of reviewers.
Best Books 2022
A IS FOR ACTIVISM
This is the bibliography covering Activism from A to Z prepared by Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright. It is an extensive list 14 pages long covering Black Lives Matter, Craftivism, Disability, Environment, Feminism, Globalism, LGBTQA, Mental Health, Nuclear conflict, Pandemic and quarantine issues, Refugees, Social media, Terrorism, Urban decay, Vox Populi, War, Xenophobia, Youth at risk and Zeitgeist.
World War II Europe for students in Years 10-12
Here is a list of fiction and memoirs about World War II suitable for students in the upper grades. Some of these accounts while ultimately uplifting, can be quite harrowing, so we advise that you read a title before you give it to a child. The resources are arranged by country starting with France and ending with Russia. There is an amazing wealth and variety of experience and emotion in these stories. The non fiction, comprising memoirs, biographies and autobiographies has all the power and impact of being based on real life events.
Anne Frank Remembered
Anne Frank’s diary has become one of the most powerful memoirs of the Holocaust. Its message of courage and hope in the face of adversity has reached millions. Here are books written about her life and times by the people who knew her. They range from picture book biographies, novels, memoirs and more. Part of the reading resources on World War II.
WORLD WAR Europe fiction for Year 7 – 9
Here is a list of fiction selected and prepared by Dajo Finlayson, a librarian all set in Europe during World War II, suitable mainly for students in years 7 to 9, but as always readers outside this category will also find them enjoyable and interesting. This period was traumatic and frightening for adults and children alike and here we have a list where people find the courage to overcome their fears and to also share in some love and laughter. The list includes classics and recent publications.
Holiday Reading 22
Here is a mix of titles, old and new guaranteed to enthral middle grade readers. They have been tried and tested by our readers and reviewers and I know you will find something that children of this age group will enjoy. Themes and settings range from home to history, fantasy to friendship, action and adventure, and everything in between. Most of these titles are readily available in your local library and I recommend a visit to stock up on some great holiday reading.
Best Children’s Books of 2021
The StoryLinks readers and reviewers have had a lot of fun choosing, arguing, proposing and discarding from all the wonderful books published this year. Here is our list arranged in alphabetical order by title. The suggested age range is always approximate as a book’s reading level will depend on the tastes, experience and abilities of the reader. As Jackie French says ‘there’s no such thing as as a child who doesn’t read, they just haven’t found the right book’. When a child does find that ‘right book’ something special happens.
We hope that this list contains books that will bring you and your children joy and satisfaction.
Reading Lists A – Z
A
NEW! A is for Activism
Aboriginal Peoples’ Stories Fiction and Non Fiction
Afghanistan Reading Resources
Ancient Egypt *
Ancient Greece*
Ancient Origins*
Animal Rights
Ancient Rome*
Anzacs in Picture Books
Australian Animal Books for Younger Readers
Australian Animal Books for Ages 9 to 12
Autobiographies for Younger Readers
B
Best Children’s Books 2021
Best Children’s Books 2020
Being Different
Body Image
Book Links 2021 Children’s Historical Fiction Award LONGLIST
Bushfires, Droughts and Floods
C
Christmas Books
D
Death, Grief and Loss in Picture Books
Death, Grief and Loss in fiction for Primary School
Death, Grief and Loss in fiction for Years 7-9
Death, Grief and Loss in fiction for Years 10-12
Disabilities
Dragons in Picture Books
Dragons in Fiction for primary school students
Dragons in Fiction Years 7-9
Dragons in Fiction Years 10-12
Dystopian fiction
E
Environmental fiction
F
Fairy tales retold for older readers
Fairy tales retold for younger readers
G
Graphic Novels : Famous novels and plays as graphic novels
Graphic Novels for Middle Grade Readers
Graphic Novels for Young Adults
Graphic novels featuring Mighty Girls
H
Halloween Reading for Primary School
NEW Holiday Reading 22
Holocaust Remembrance Day: 60 Mighty Girl Books About the Holocaust
I
Indigenous picture books
J
K
L
Learning Through Play in Picture books
M
N
O
P
Plagues & Pandemics Fiction
NEW Poetry for children
R
Refugees
S
St Valentine’s Day Reading
T
U
V
Australian Verse Novels for Young Adults
Australian Verse Novels for Younger Readers
Verse Novels
The Vikings*
W
World War 1 resources
WORLD WAR Europe fiction for Year 7 – 9
Y
Z
*Complements the year 7 HSS (Social Science) unit on Ancient civilisations for the Australian curriculum
For more lists of wider reading on a variety of Curriculum related topics please email Dajo at dajofinlayson@gmail.com or fill in the contact form below. She has more than 200 lists – see titles in the Literature Guide Listing . New and updated lists will also appear here regularly.
