Potion Commotion

by Rebecca Grant & Niña Nill

Reviewed by Zewlan Moor

Potion Commotion is a delightful cumulative tale in 24 pages, which is short enough for story time with a young audience, but long enough to pack a punch (or BOOM!) 

The rhyme and rhythm are perfect, and the illustrations by Nill are cute yet expressive. She does a wonderful job of combining a dozen or so favourite storytime characters in the illustration, all within a bubble on three chaotic double spreads. While the details of these illustrations will appeal to children poring over the book, my favourite spread is of the giant, looking distinctly squashed and uncomfortable! 

There is a recipe for bubble potion at the end of the book, which would lead in well for a craft activity at preschool or home. Another tie-in activity would be to read Margaret Mahy’s classic Bubble Trouble, which also tells a bubble-vicious rhyming tale of mayhem. 

The ending is surprising and cheeky, and will have young readers asking for the book to be read again and again. 

What a winner, as proven by being judged as a CBCA Notable Book in the Early Childhood category for 2026.

Affirm Kids 2025

Rebecca Grant

Niña Nill

Zewlan Moor is the author of Nothing Alike, The Bill Dup and Our World: Philippines