The Little Kiwi Builder
By Tim Saunders & Minky Stapleton A&U Children's NZ 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Tim is a New Zealand writer of adult and children's books including the very amusing The Sheep That Stole the Farmer’s Hat. Here he has teamed up with Minky Stapleton,
Sketch
By Jacques Goldstyn Translated by Helen Mixter Greystone Kids 2026 Reviewed by Dimity Powell Occasionally, one happens upon a book that resonates hard, impacts deep and lingers on. Sketch by Jacques Goldstyn is one such book; a picture book for older readers that speaks to those that feel
Poppy Makes Pockets
By Jemima Parker & Karen Erasmus Exisle Publishing 2026 Reviewed by Meg Rowe Jemima Parker’s debut picture book, Poppy Makes Pockets, is a delightful story that follows Poppy’s vision to transform ordinary clothes into magical ‘treasure collecting outfits’ by the power of adding
Where the Heart Is
By Shirley Marr & Michael Speechley Walker Books, 2026 Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Mouse lives in a barley field as big as the entire world, but as the seasons turn, the weather cools, and the barley turns yellow, it is time to think of
Starfish Can’t Ride Bikes
By Jess Horn & Mo Davey Larrikin House, September 2026 Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Jess Horn is a neurodivergent author and former speech pathologist whose picture books focus on diverse ways of seeing the world. Her latest is also part of
Ben’s Library
By Amani Uduman & Joanna Bartel New Frontier Publishing, 2026 Teacher Notes Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Ben’s Library is a sweet celebration of books, libraries, and the reading communities created when a favourite pastime is shared. This is Uduman’s third traditional picture book,
Handbooks for Little Humans: Fairness; Handbooks for Little Humans: Friendship
By Zanni Louise Art by Maja Veselinovic Affirm Kids 2026 Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Zanni Louise continues her excellent series of useful handbooks for teachers and caregivers to use with young children with these two additions to the list, one on fairness and
Time To Go To The Park
By Emma Bowd & Leila Rudge Reviewed by Margarite Igras. Emma Bowd is not only an Australian award-winning author who is passionate about writing inclusive picture books, but with a background in occupational therapy, she is also an advocate of imaginative, nature-based
The Very Fine Clock
By Muriel Spark and Edward Gorey Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Very Fine Clock is a new edition of a whimsical fable first published in 1968. It’s written by Scottish novelist and poet Muriel Spark, best known for The Prime of
To Activate Space Portal Lift Here
Be the First to meet Alien Life-Forms By Antoinette Portis Reviewed by Mia Macrossan I always knew that books were portals to another universe and here is proof. On opening, Portis, the creator of the acclaimed This is Not a Box, presents us with
The Drover’s Son
By Leah Purcell & Dub Leffler Reviewed by Margarite Igras Australian actor, director, playwright and novelist, Leah Purcell is well known for her many skills. She wrote and performed in an adaptation of Henry Lawson’s famous short story, The Drovers Wife and
The Fast Lane
By Pip Harry & Katrin Dreiling Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Katrin Dreiling’s delightful illustration style often puts quirky animal characters front and centre. The cover says it all in the case of The Fast Lane, which pits Daisy the pig, a
Bear’s Perfect Dance
Written and illustrated by Rachel Tilda Wolf Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Rachel Tilda Wolf is an English children’s book artist, illustrator and writer. Her debut picture book Wolf in the City was published last year. Bear loves to dance. In our first glimpse
Bun
By Hana Kinoshita Thomson Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Hana is a Japanese-American- Australian illustrator, designer and author and the in-house book designer at Allen & Unwin. Here is her debut picture book, a delightful story about a rabbit called Bun which has
The Butterfly House
Written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate Reviewed by Margarite Igras Harry Woodgate (they/them) is an award-winning LGBTQ+ author and illustrator, whose debut picture book Grandad’s Camper followed by Grandad’s Pride, broaches the subject of diverse relationships for the younger readers. Little Milly
Emmie
By Marjorie Crosby-Fairall Reviewed by Margarite Igras Marjorie was very young when she decided to become an illustrator. Today, after gaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustrations, she is an internationally published illustrator of over twenty children’s books. She received the
How to go to Big School
By Sarah Ayoub & Mimi Purnell Reviewed by Mia Macrossan When it's time to learn new things and grow is when you go to Big School is the beginning of this charming, warm-hearted picture book aimed at all those newbies going to
How to Have the Best School Year Ever
By Jess Sanders & Andrea Onishi Reviewed by Margarite Igras Jess Sanders is a social worker, educator and award-winning Australian author. She is well known for her Life Lessons For Little Ones Series, with titles such as You Can Do Hard Things,
Otto’s INK-redible First Day of School
By Rory H. Mather Illustrations by Rebel Challenger Reviewed by Sophia Evans Otto the Octopus just wants to fit in, but he tends to overthINK. And when he does, he releases lots of…INK! Otto the Octopus is starting school tomorrow and he’s shy.
A Barney Gumnut Christmas (Barney Gumnut, #2)
By Tamsin Ainslie Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Here is a beautiful Christmas book that shows the true Christmas spirit of giving, sharing, and celebrating our blessings. Tamsin Ainslie has illustrated for ABC Books, Scholastic and UQP. Her books include In My Garden
You’re Too Little
Written & illustrated by Katie Stewart Reviewed by Sandy Driessens One evening, young Western Pygmy Possum sat in a stump gazing up into the tree far, far above her head, trying to work out the best way to climb up to taste
No one is Home
By Mikolaj Pa and Gosia Herba, with Scotia Gilroy (translator) Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray Mikolaj Pa is a Polish author and artist who has collaborated several times with illustrator Gosia Herba in a style that some liken to a ‘modern Richard
Wish in a Tree
By Lynda Mullaly Hunt & Nancy Carpenter Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In 2015 Lynda wrote Fish in a Tree, a middle grade novel about how even if you struggle in school, you can still be quite smart and that intelligence is measured
The Giant
By Sophie Masson & Lorena Carrington Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The Giant is a new release from Sophie Masson and Lorena Carrington, who previously collaborated on the exquisite Satin (2023). Both creators have a deep knowledge of fairy stories and folk
Surprise Shark
By Sarah Lane & Patrick Corrigan Reviewed by Mia Macrossan ' It was a beautiful day in Blue Bottle Bay when the fish all gather together to play.' Here's a story about a friendly shark who has no idea that maybe he frightens
Where Shall We Travel Today?
By Kristin Martin & Nicky Johnston Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray With the competing pressures of busy lives and a crowded school curriculum, some commentators are saying it has never been more important to foster the soft skills associated with literacy in
Lulu is a Rhinoceros
Written by Jason Flom with Allison Flom & illustrated by Sophie Corrigan Reviewed by Sandy Driessens Lulu is a rhinoceros – that’s not necessarily what she sees when she looks in the mirror, but it is how she feels. In her heart and
Odder
By Katherine Applegate & Charles Santoso Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This American writer has won awards too numerous to mention, including the Newbery medal for The One and Only Ivan. Odder, another story about animal welfare, is about the life of an
The World We Can Build
By Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin, & Daniel Gray-Barnett Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray The World We Can Build comes to us from the team behind award-winning title Come Over To My House (2022), and continues that book’s plea for a more
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
