My Mum is a Bird
By Angie Cui & Evie Barrow Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This clever subtle story, so beautifully extended by its sensitive illustrations, is a perfect package of artful storylelling, emotional engagement and gorgeous artwork. It's a remarkable achievement for Melbourne based debut author
My Mum is the Best!
By Nic McPickle & Tommy Doyle Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This creative team also published the companion volume, My Dad Is the Best, while Nic McPickle is also the author of Fire Truck Santa and Tommy Doyle, an illustrator, ceramist and graphic designer,
The Big Backyard Plan
By Kirsten Ealand & Laura Stitzel Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is Kirsten's second picture book after her charming debut Like a Gannet. She says: When I write, I often start with an emotion and go from there and my books often
Higher Ground
By Tull Suwannakit Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Tull Suwannakit is best known in the children’s fiction world as an illustrator. His work has always included rich visual storytelling, but he is now emerging as an impressive writer, too. Higher Ground is clearly
Aslan and Benny
By Jemima Shafei-Ongu & Jade Goodwin Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Many children have an irrational fear of dogs and this story carefully explores how one child overcomes his fears and makes friends with the dog that suddenly enters his life. Aslan is an
Grandmother from the East Grandmother from the West
By Jacinta Liu & Freda Chiu Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Jacinta Liu's delightful debut picture book is about a girl who loves her two grandmothers, who each come with their own distinct heritage and traditions. They look different and offer contrasting ways
Ladybirds Do Not Go To Daycare
By Ali Rutstein & Niña Nill Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Ali Rutstein is also the author of A Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Pet and Kittens Do Not Care For Baths (again with NiñaNill). Her work is characterised by a gentle
Welcome to the World, Little Baby: A Baby Records Book
By Melissa Greenwood Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Melissa Greenwood was born on her Gumbaynggirr jagun (homelands) in Coffs Harbour and raised between both Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung nations. Her carefully crafted stories include Miimi and Buwaarr, Mother and Baby, Giinagay Gaagal (Hello Ocean),
The Humongous Humdingle Family and the Tiny House
By Michelle Wilson & P.J. Reece Reviewed by Sandy Driessens The Humongous Humdingle Family and the Tiny House is a big title and barely fits on the cover of this book, but as such, tells the whole story. The endpapers introduce you
My Big Secret
Written and illustrated by Felice Arena Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Felice has often been reviewed in StoryLinks. His many books are always rewarding and fun to read. Titles include the iconic Specky Magee series, the Sporty Kids series, the historical adventure novels and CBCA
Saturday, Sunday
Busy Day, Fun Day By Natalie Kate Forbes & Danny Snell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Natalie has had many different jobs in her life and is now starting out as a published author. It is a complement to her work that she has
Before We Met
By Gabrielle Tozer & Sophie Beer Reviewed by Margarite Igras Gabrielle is an award-winning author, and freelance writer based in New South Wales. She has written YA books including Remind me How This Ends which was on the CBCA 2018 Notable List,
The Other Side of the Clouds
By Matt Samuel & Tamlyn Teow Reviewed by Margarite Igras This is Matt’s debut Children’s picture book. After two decades in advertising and a former career as a primary school teacher, he decided to try his hand at writing a picture book, drawing
Waiting for Santa
By Lucy Cochran & Heidi McKinnon Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey Waiting for Santa is the debut picture book for Australian author Lucy Cochran, teamed up with author-illustrator Heidi McKinnon, whose previous works include the 2023 award winning Floof and 2022 CBCA
Tiny Tradies: Aussie Word Book
By Tami Sussman & Tom Jellett Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a companion to Tiny Tradies 2023, which celebrates the working lives of very young people as they go about their busy days. The Tiny Tradies Aussie Word Book is a
The Mosaic
By Deborah Kelly & Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Margarite Igras This book was inspired by the award-winning author’s personal experience of separation from her husband and the ensuing conversations she had with her children. It is a fresh and positive perspective of
Why I Love Christmas
By Michael Wagner & Tom Jellett Reviewed by Meg Rowe From the CBCA Honor Award winning team that brought us Dirt by Sea, Michael Wagner and Tom Jellett, join forces again with Why I Love Christmas, a fun, festive picture book, that
Bamboozled
By David Legge Reviewed by Margarite Igras Bamboozled was David Legge’s first picture book and this is the Thirty Years celebration edition, showcasing the sustained popularity of the work and including bonus behind the scenes pages from the author. David has achieved
Yanga Mother
By Cheryl Leavy & Christopher Bassi Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Yanga Mother is a story of motherly love, represented by the unbreakable bond between a kangaroo and her joey. With lifelike illustrations, richly coloured to showcase changes in daylight and seasons,
When the Lights Went Out
By Lian Tanner & Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Helen Gearing By the same powerhouse creators as the award-winning Ella and the Ocean, When the Lights Went Out is a visually stunning and warm-hearted story about new experiences and the joy of community. The
The Truck Cat
By Deborah Frenkel & Danny Snell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This is a bit of a dream team of writer and illustrator: Deborah Frenkel has written quite a few picture books including the charming Naturopolis, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak, reviewed in StoryLinks,
Boots
Written by Elizabeth Pulsford & illustrated by Krista Brennan Reviewed by Sandy Driessens “Boots was waiting … waiting for his Farmer”. “Boots was just a pair of boots” but his life started when a young Queensland cattle farmer first put him on. He
Reading to Baby
By Margaret Wild & Hannah Sommerville Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Margaret Wild is the award winning author of many picture books including Jenny Angel (which was inspired by her brother's death at the age of seven), illustrated by Anne Spudvilas, Fox, illustrated by Ron
My Heart
By Katrina McKelvey & Deb Hudson Reviewed by Margarite Igras Katrina McKelvey is a former primary school teacher and President of the CBCA Newcastle. Deb Hudson says her illustrations are inspired by the joy and wonder-filled dreamy moments of the everyday.
Some Families Change
By Jess Galatola & Jenni Barrand Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In the last several decades there have been many changes to what is accepted as a family. While the nuclear family of mum, dad and some kids is still popular, many other
This is my Happy Place
By Emma Bowd & Jen Khatun Reviewed by Sandhya Parappukkaran Emma Bowd is adept at capturing joyful childhood moments in her delightful picture books. Her debut book, Wonderful Shoes, is an onomatopoeic tribute to the time kids spend playing with shoes and
Homegrown: Blueberry Farm #2
By Stephen Michael King Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Stephen Michael King is a much loved and much awarded writer and illustrator whose work includes Koala Ark, Three, Pea Pod Lullaby, The Man Who Loved Boxes, My Dad is a Giraffe and many
Alfie the Kind
By Richard Harris & Simon Howe Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Alfie first appeared in Alfie the Brave, also reviewed in StoryLinks. Richard Harris is an Australian anaesthetist and cave diver who played a crucial role in the Tham Luang cave rescue who wrote Against
Our Family Dragon A Lunar New Year Story
By Rebecca Lim & Cai Tse Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rebecca Lim is the much awarded author of Tiger Daughter ( CBCA 2022 Book of the Year, Older Readers winner), and Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky reviewed in StoryLinks. Cai Tse
Dorothy
By Jordan Collins and Myo Yim Reviewed by Margarite Igras Jordan Collins was born in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Australia when they were eight years old. Their heritage is African-American Greek-Australian. They have also written Where?, reviewed in StoryLinks by Lara Cain
