Weekend reads: 14 and 15 March 2026: Part five

I hear the snow, I smell the sea.

Written by Janice Milusich.

Illustrations by Christopher Raschka.

Anne Schwartz Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Honestly, I didn’t notice that the child in the book had vision impairment – until I noticed the subject headings on the library catalogue. Possible read-alongs:

• A boy named Isamu: a story of Isamu Noguchi by James Yang.
• Hot dog by Doug Salati.
• The black book of colours by Menena Cottin and Rosana Faría, translated by Elisa Amado.
• Colour the stars = Taea nga whetū by Dawn McMillan and Keinyo White, nā Ngaere Roberts ngā kōrero i whakamāori.
• What color is the wind? by Anne Herbauts, translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick.
• The sound of colors: a journey of the imagination by Jimmy Liao, English text adapted by Sarah L. Thomson. 

Is this love?: a family story based on the song by Bob Marley.

Adapted by Cedella Marley.

Illustrated by Alea Marley.

Chronicle Books in 2023.

Family – especially sibling – love.

Possible read-alikes:

• My sister is a treasure by Tracy Darnton and Yasmeen Ismail.
• Sister day by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Fanny Liem.
• When I became your sister by Susannah Shane and Britta Teckentrup.
• Everyone belongs by Heather Avis and Sarah Mensinga.
• You are loved: a book about families by Margaret O'Hair and Sofia Cardoso, inspired by Sofia Sanchez.
• This is family by Zanni Louise and Sasha Haddad.

W mō wahine toa + W is for wahine toa.

Written by Qiane Matata-Sipu.

Illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White.

QIANE+co, 2026.

Illustrated non-fiction.

Bilingual.

Aotearoa.

A bilingual alphabet book which focuses on affirmations and empowering messages – especially embracing the female essence.

Possible read-alongs:

• My first ikura by Qiane Matata-Sipu and Isobel Te Aho-White.
• The little book of words that matter: 100 words for every child to understand by Joanne Ruelos Diaz and Annelies Draws.
• Dear Moko by Dr Hinemoa Elder and Miriama Grace-Smith.
• Atua wāhine: the ancient wisdom of Māori goddesses by Hana Tapiata.

 

 

Banjo The Hot Cross Bun.

Written by Rory H. Mather.

Illustrated by Christopher Nielsen.

Scholastic, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

Rhyming text.

An explanation about why hot cross buns are on sale from Boxing Day.

Possible read-alikes:

• Greg the sausage roll: Santa's little helper by Mark and Roxanne Hoyle, and Gareth Conway.
• The smart cookie by Jory John and Pete Oswald.
• I want to be mad for a while! by Barney Saltzberg.
• Pigeon holed by Nikki Slade Robinson.

The ocelot and the crab.

Written by Shaun Micallef.

Illustrated by by Rebel Challenger.

Scholastic Australia, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

Rhyming text.

Version of the tortoise and the hare.

Possible read-alikes:

• The big cheese by Jory John and Pete Oswald.
• The big snowdown by Katy Hudson.
• The legend of rock paper scissors by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex.
• The tortoise and the hare by Bruce Whatley.

Willow takes on the weather.

Written by Rachel Noble.

Illustrated by Annabel Tempest.

Page Street Kids, 2025.

Picture book.

Willow’s ready for a day in the sun – until the weather comes, with plans of its own.

Possible read-alikes:

• On a rainy day by Sarah LuAnn Perkins.
• To catch a cloud by Elena De Roo and Hannah Peck.
• Chasing rainbows by Gabby Grant.
• This beautiful day by Richard Jackson and Suzy Lee.
• Muddle & Mo's rainy day by Nikki Slade Robinson.
• Are you ready to play outside? by Mo Willems.
• Puddling! by Emma Perry and Claire Alexander.
• The wetter the better by Emma Vere-Jones and Lisa Allen.
• Rain! by Linda Ashman and Christian Robinson.

The thing about birds.

Written and illustrated by Christy Obalek.

Heritage House Publishing, 2025.

Picture book.

Science – species classification.

Rhyming text.

Ellie and Ollie try to figure out what makes a bird a bird and not, for example, a butterfly or frog.

Possible read-alongs:

• Granny Rex by Kurtis Scaletta and Nik Henderson.
• My grandparents were dinosaurs by Anne and Steve Brusatte, and Enrico Lorenzi.
• Animal families: wild cousins around the world by Matt Sewell.
• Getting your animals in order: classifying the animal world by Michael Bright and Gavin Scott.
• Omnibird: an avian investigator's handbook by Giselle Clarkson.
• Plume by Isabelle Simler.

 

Let me do it!

Written by Simon Philip.

Illustrations by Ella Okstad.

Oxford University Press, 2024.

Picture book.

Determination and independence – not always the best combination in a preschooler (or anyone, really).

Possible read-alikes:

• Ella Sarah gets dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine.
• Still stuck by Shinsuke Yoshitake.
• Try your best, forget the rest! By Heath McKenzie.
• I'm fine, thanks! by Jono Ganz.
• I'm actually really grown-up now by Maisie Paradise Shearring.

 

The wonder.

Written and illustrated by Tom Percival.

Simon & Schuster, 2026.

Picture book.

Finding joy and wonder in everyday things.

Possible read-alikes:

• Something good by Kenneth Kraegel.
• Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld.
• Your head's not the place to store problems in by Josh Pyke and Stephen Michael King.
• Hooray for hat! by Brian Won.

The whale child.

Written by Elizabeth Pulford.

Illustrated by Jane Smith.

David Bateman Ltd., 2026.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

A family story, passed down through the generations.

But, is it real?

Possible read-alikes:

• This and that by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek.
• The storyteller by Lindsay Bonilla and Noar Lee Naggan.
• Witch Hazel by Molly Idle.
• A hatful of dreams by Bob Graham.

Weekend reads: 14 and 15 March 2026: Part four

Elephant can't jump.

Written by Pip Jones.

Illustrated by Robert Starling.

Simon & Schuster, 2025.

Picture book.

A tale of determination and friendship.

Possible read-alikes:

• Don’t blink by Tom Booth.
• Superwolf by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty.
• The fastest tortoise in town by Howard Calvert and Karen Obuhanych.
• Ernest by Catherine Rayner.

Oliver Jeffers

By Martin Salisbury

Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.

Adult nonfiction.

Oliver Jeffers is phenomenal. That is all.

The Illustrators series includes: 

• Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake and Laurie Britton Newell.
• Raymond Briggs by Nicolette Jones.
• Dick Bruna by Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.
• Walter Crane by Jenny Uglow.
• Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett.
• Oliver Jeffers by Martin Salisbury.
• Judith Kerr by Joanna Carey.
• Miroslav Šašek by Martin Salisbury.
• Posy Simmonds by Paul Gravett.

Goodnight already!

Written by Jory John.

Illustrated by Benji Davies.

Harper, 2015.

Picture book.

Duck loves his next-door neighbour, Bear. But Bear just wants to sleep. I feel for Bear.

Possible read-alikes:

• Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins.
• The Kerfuffle by Clotilde Perrin, translated by Daniel Hahn.
• Sweet and Sour by Brian Yanish and Stacy Ebert.
• Mouse & Giraffe by Kelly DiPucchio and Jen Corace.

Your island.

Written and illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Candlewick Press, 2025.

Board book

I can see this as a felt-board – or interactive retelling. Maybe mixing up the elements of the whole series, which includes:

• Your farm.
• Your island.
• Your forest.
• Your truck.

 

Community snowman.

Written by Deborah Kerbel.

Illustrated by Tine Modeweg-Hansen.

Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2025.

Picture book.

Wordless.

A whole community comes together to create a snowman – and community connections.

Possible read-alikes:

• The concrete garden by Bob Graham.
• A sprinkle of happiness by Lucy Rowland and David Litchfield.
• Accidentally Kelly Street by Briony Stewart, based on 'Accidentally Kelly Street' written by T. O'Connor.
• The boy and the elephant by Freya Blackwood.
• Jigsaw: a puzzle in the post by Bob Graham.
• Cake for everyone by The Tjong Khing.

 

Judith Kerr.  Written by Joanna Carey. Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.

Adult nonfiction. Judith Kerr was a treasure.

The Illustrators series includes: 

• Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake and Laurie Britton Newell.
• Raymond Briggs by Nicolette Jones.
• Dick Bruna by Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.
• Walter Crane by Jenny Uglow.
• Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett.
• Oliver Jeffers by Martin Salisbury.
• Judith Kerr by Joanna Carey.
• Miroslav Šašek by Martin Salisbury.  
• Posy Simmonds by Paul Gravett.

Easter cuddle.

Written by Kate Mayes.

Illustrated by Sara Acton.

ABC Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

Bunnies on an Easter egg hunt.

Possible read-alikes:

• Winnie-the-Pooh's Easter hunt by Jane Riordan and Andrew Grey.
• Hap-pea Easter by Keith Baker.
• Cuddle time by Libby Gleeson and Julie Vivas.
• Paddington's Easter egg hunt by Michael Bond, Karen Jankel, and R.W. Alley.

 

Ten little caterpillars.

Written by Bill Martin and Michael Sampson.

Illustrated by Lois Ehlert.

Little Simon, 2025.

Board book.

Counting,

A classic counting book – from one to 10.

Possible read-alikes:

• My first 123 by Shirley Hughes.
• Little yellow digger 123 by Peter Gilderdale and Fifi Colston.
• Number garden: introducing first numbers through nature by Isabel Otter and Sophie Ledesma.
• The Pigeon won’t count to 10! by Mo Willems.

This book is just bananas.

By Al Murphy.

Scholastic Australia, 2025.

Picture book.

Australian.

Rhyming text.

Incredibly silly and bananas.

Possible read-alongs:

• Banana by Ed Vere.
• Banana, banana, banana by Sarah Finan.
• The book with no pictures by Matt Novak.
• The watermelon seed by Greg Pizzoli.

 

Sand-play time on the sun-baked beach.

Written by Juliette MacIver.

Illustrated by Lily Uivel.

Scholastic NZ, 2026.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

Rhyming text.

Counting.

Everything will say counting, but there’s addition and subtraction as well.

Possible read-alikes:

• The nickle nackle tree by Lynley Dodd.
• How many animals can fit in this book? by Natalia Yaskina.
• 100 goats and Granny! by Atinuke and Lauren Hinds.
• 100 mighty dragons all named Broccoli by David LaRochelle and Lian Cho.

Weekend reads: 14 and 15 March 2026: Part three

 

Home for Margaret.

Written by Denise Davy.

Illustrated by Bérengère Delaporte.

Groundwood Books: House of Anansi Press, 2025.

Picture book.

A young girl notices a woman living in a tent in the park. She and her mother try to help in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, she worries about Margaret.  Based on the author’s experience.

Possible read-alikes:

A place to stay: a shelter story by Erin Gunti and Estelí Meza.

A cat called Waverley by Debi Gliori.

Home by Tonya Lippert and Andrea Stegmaier.

My friend Andy by Emma Chinnery.

Crumbs by Phil Cummings and Shane Devries.

I saw Pete and Pete saw me by Maggie Hutchings and Evie Barrow.

The old man by Sarah V. and Claude K. Dubois, translated by Daniel Hahn.

Dear librarian by Lydia M. Sigwarth and Romina Galotta.

I like your face.

Written by Brad Davidson.

Illustrated by Rachel Más Davidson.

Kids Can Press, 2025.

Picture book.

A celebration of best friends and what makes them your best friend.

Possible read-alikes:

George & Lenny are always together by Jon Agee.

The big backyard plan by Kirsten Ealand and Laura Stitzel.

The boy with flowers in his hair by Jarvis.

Alex & Alex by Ziggy Hanaor and Ben Javens.

How to spot a best friend by Bea Birdsong and Lucy Fleming.

Out of nowhere by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros.

Stella and Roger are on the move.

Written by Clothilde Ewing.

Illustrated by Lynn Gaines.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Picture book.

Stella doesn’t want to move – and tries to figure out ways she and Roger, her rhino toy, can stay behind.

Possible read-alikes:

The space between by Clare Helen Welsh and Fiona Lumbers.

Caterwaul!: a story of sorting by Ann Marie Stephens and Jenn Harney.

Just like Millie by Lauren Castillo.

We're moving away by Nįa Nill.

Goodbye house, hello house by Margaret Wild and Ann James.

Clare's goodbye by Libby Gleeson and Anna Pignataro.

First 100 words.

Scholastic Australia, 2026.

Board book.

Possible read-alikes:

My first busy day: let's get learning! by Sarah Davis.

Dr Seuss’s 100 first words by Dr Seuss.

Baby’s very first play book: garden words by Stella Baggott.

100 first words by Lauren Crisp and Thomas Elliott.

Enchanted beach.

Written by Esther Freud.

Illustrated by Emma Chinnery.

Walker Books Ltd, 2025.

Picture book.

A beach through the seasons.

Possible read-alikes:

A pocket full of rocks by Kristin Mahoney and E.B. Goodale.  

Homegrown by Stephen Michael King.  

Cat's seasons by Airlie Anderson.

At the bach by Joy Cowley and Hilary Jean Tapper.

Our pebbles by Jarvis.

Pink Easter.

Written byTanya Hennessy.

Illustrated by Sophie Kent.

Albert Street Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

Rhyming text.

The Easter bunny is stressed about work – so their friends step in to help. It’s an explosive solution – but fun.

Possible read-alikes:

I am NOT the Easter Bunny! by T. L. McBeth.

Pink Santa by Tanya Hennessy and Ben Whitehouse.

The kids who rescued Easter by Jackie Hosking and Nathaniel Eckstrom.

 

Going home.

Written and illustrated by Simon Howe.

Walker Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

A gentle story about spending a day doing stuff – and going home. I love the perspectives – everything is from a mouse point of view.

Possible read-alikes:

A bed of stars by Jessica Love.

A day that's ours by Blake Nuto and Vyara Boyadjieva.

Every day by Gareth Peter and Jane Massey.

When dad showed me the universe by Ulf Stark and Eva Eriksson, translated by Julia Marshall.

A day with Yayah by Nicola L. Campbell and Julie Flett.

Our marvelous memory.

Written by Helena Haraštová.

Illustrated by Dita Vopřadová.

Translated from the Czech by Andrew Oakland.

Albatros Media Group, 2025.

Illustrated non-fiction.

A good introduction about memory and how it works.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

Ten ways to build a brilliant brain by Nicola Morgan and Risa Rodil.

The brain book by Liam Drew.

Your brilliant brain by Philip Bunting.

The human brain in 30 seconds by Clive Gifford and Wesley Robins.

Invisible things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Miller.

 

The paper piano.

Written by Rachel Ip.

Illustrated by Natelle Quek.

Hodder Children's Books, 2025.

Picture book.

A young boy is entranced by a pianist – so much so that he makes a paper piano.

Possible read-alikes:

One sweet song by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Sonia Sánchez.

The day Bell found her sound by Lizzy O'Donnell.

Thundermaestro by Annemarie Riley Guertin and Maria Brzozowska.

The music in me by Sophy Henn.

The colour of music by Lisa Tiffen and Matt Ottley.

Miguel and the grand harmony by Matt de la Peña and Ana Ramírez.

The bear and the piano by David Litchfield.

The year we learned to fly by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López.

The Imagineer by Christopher Cheng and Lucia Masciullo.

 

Our Pebbles.

Written and illustrated by Jarvis.

Walker, 2025.

Picture book.

An absolute delight of a book – creating memories with a grandad and grandson – before the Grandad moves.

Possible read-alikes:

The bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane by Mike Lucas and Sofya Karmazina.

Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld.

The night whale by Bryher Mackenzie and Gillian Eilidh O'Mara.

The colour of the sky by Layn Marlow.

Wren’s nest by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Eugenia Nobati.

 

Weekend reads: 14 and 15 March 2026: Part two

 

Paddington: the original story of the bear from Darkest Peru.

Written by Michael Bond.

Illustrated by R.W. Alley.

HarperCollins, 2018.

Picture book.

It’s been a long time – if ever! – since I’d read Paddington. I’m not the only one with a soft spot for him – judging by the movies, visits to the (late) Queen, the stage show.

I figured there had to be some colonial attitudes going on, but I hadn’t realised that he didn’t choose his own name – or given the option to. His name is deemed too hard, and the English family give him one.

 

Weiwei's winter solstice: a Dōngzhì story.

Written and illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan.

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Finding a sense of home and familiarity in a new place – one with very different climate.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

• Cookies and crescents: an Eid story by Nada Shawish Dutka and Zelma Firdauzia.
• Hanukkah upside down by Elissa Brent Weissman and Omer Hoffmann.
• Hettie's Christmas gift by Bernice Screech and Rita Parkinson.
• A Dragon called Spark by Lily Murray and Kirsti Beautyman.

The great big book of museums.

Written by Éva Bensard.

Illustrated by Benjamin Chaud

Translated by Karin Snelson from the French Grand livre des musées.

Red Comet Press, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Large format.

Facts and information about 12 museums: The Vatican Museums (Rome, Italy); The Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C., United States); The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao (Bilbao, Spain); The Mucem (Marseille, France); The Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, The Netherlands); The Louvre (Paris, France); The Oceanographic Musem (Monaco); The State Hermitage (St. Petersburg, Russia); The Palace Museum (Beijing, China); The National Museum of Fine Arts (Algiers, Algeria); The Frida Kahlo Museum (Mexico City, Mexico); The American Museum of Natural History (New York, United States); The Quai Branly Museum (Paris, France).

Possible read-alikes:

• Behind the scenes at the museum: your all-access guide to the world's amazing museums by Ben Ffrancon Davis and S.I. Martin.
• Wonders of the world's museums by Molly Oldfield, Harriet Taylor-Seed, and Peter Malone.
• Picture this! by Paul Thurby.

 

 

The map of me.

Written by Nicola Davies.

Illustrated by Olga Shtonda.

Templar Books, 2026.

Picture book.

After moving house, a young girl feels cut off from her familiar touchstones, like her grandmother and Joe-Dog. She makes a map to fit them all – and her new environment. As she makes friends, her map expands with their additions.

“There is no space on my future map for fear or war.”

Possible read-alikes:

• Ruby maps her world by Jane Yolen and Dow Phumiruk.
• Martha maps it out in time! by Leigh Hodgkinson.
• Coquí in the city by Nomar Perez.
• Max and the tag-along moon by Floyd Cooper.

The underwater moon.

Written and illustrated by Sandra Dieckmann.

Hodder Children's Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Mouse spends a lot of time talking to Moon – but her jealousy causes Moon to fall from the sky. On a rescue mission, Mouse realises that Moon is important to a lot of other animals.

Possible read-alikes:

• The day the moon came to stay by Gary Eck and Nick O'Sullivan.
• Little Rabbit and the Moon by Inda Ahmad Zahri and Claire Wee.
• The night the Moon went missing by Brendan Kearney.

What's it made of?: the materials that shape our world.

Written by Dr Kat Day, Clive Gifford, and Hilary Lamb.

Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2025.

Illustrated non-fiction.

About materials science. Little to no mention of environmental issues / impacts – apart from a smidgeon about recycling.

Possible read-alikes:

• 15-minute stem: quick, creative science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities for 5-11-year-olds by Emily Hunt.
• Invented by animals: meet the creatures who inspired our everyday technology by Christiane Dorion and Gosia Herba.
• The element in the room: investigating the atomic ingredients that make up your home by Mike Barfield and Lauren Humphrey.
• The everyday workings of machines: how machines work, from toasters and trains to hovercrafts and robots by Steve Martin and Valpuri Kerttula.

Norse myths, monsters and Viking voyages.

Written by Stephen Davies.

Illustrated by Seaerra Miller.

Big Picture Press, 2025.

Graphic non-fiction.

A comic book introduction to the Norse / Viking world.

Possible read-alongs:

• Vikings by Eugenia Nobati and Stella Caldwell.
• Viking voyagers by Jack Tite.
• 99 questions about the Vikings answered! by Annabel Savery.
• Legends of Norse mythology by Tom Birkett and Isabella Mazzanti.
• Introduction to Norse mythology for kids: a fun collection of the greatest heroes, monsters, and gods in Norse myth by Peter Aperlo and Valentin Ramon.

The Highway Rat.

Written by Julia Donaldson.

Illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Scholastic, 2026 – 15^th anniversary edition.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

The Highway Rat is mean – he steals from everyone! Until a duck hatches a plan.

Possible read-alikes:

• The robin who stole Christmas by Rachel Morrisroe and Richard Merritt.
• Cats and robbers by Russell Ayto.
• Pirates ahoy! by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton.
• The three robbers by Tomi Ungerer.

And, the inspiration: The highwayman by Alfred Noyes, illustrated by Charles Keeping.

A song of the seasons.

Written and illustrated by Yibing Deng.

Post Wave Children's Books, 2025.

Picture book.

A mother bear and her cubs travel through the trees, and the seasons.

A gentle story of time passing.

Possible read-alikes:

• A pocket full of rocks by Kristin Mahoney and E.B. Goodale.
• I hear the snow, I smell the sea by Janice Milusich and Christopher Raschka.
• The big dreaming by Michael Rosen and Daniel Egnéus.
• Stay awake, Bear! by Gavin Bishop. 

Science Detective Agency .

Written by Stevie Derrick.

Illustrated by Miriam Serafin.

Wayland, 2025.

Illustrated non-fiction.

Use the clues and science instructions to solve a mystery.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

• How to be a detective and other crime-fighting jobs by DC Alexandra Beever and Sol Linero.
• Scene of the crime: tracking down criminals with forensic science by HP Newquist.
• Solve this!: forensics: super science and curious capers for the daring detective in you by Kate Messner and Anne Ruppert.
• Forensics for kids: the science and history of crime solving with 21 activities by Melissa Ross.

Weekend reads: 14 and 15 March 2026: Part one

 

Auntie's bangles.

Written by Dean Atta.

Illustrated by Alea Marley.

Orchard Books, 2026.

Sophisticated picture book.

Beti wants to be able to help his cousin, Rama, after the death of her mother – his aunt.

A gentle story, one which acknowledges the loss felt by the extended family.

Possible read-alongs:

• The invisible parade by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio.
• The circles in the sky by Karl James Mountford.
• When Grandfather flew by Patricia MacLachlan and Chris Sheban.
• I wish I could tell you by Jean-François Sénéchal and Chiaki Okada; translated by Nick Frost and Catherine Ostiguy.

Roots of love.

Written by Sarah Asuquo.

Illustrated by Ruthine Burton.

Scholastic, 2024.

Picture book.

The early days of a parental separation, and how that affects the child’s world view – and the worry over how they’ll be seen by others. Multicultural community and diverse school community, eg two dads, Hijabi women, wheelchair users.

Note: a rather swift acceptance of the new family dynamic – now the child knows that there are other families around who are not two-parent ones.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• The comet by Joe Todd-Stanton.
• Will it be okay? by Crescent Dragonwagon and Jessica Love.
• In-between places by Alex Killian and Grady McFerrin.
• Two people can by Blessing Musariri and Maisie Paradise Shearring.
• Some families change by Galatola Jessica and Jenni Barrand.
• One day at a time by Rachel Ip and Natelle Quek.

 

Smooches!

Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton.

Little, Brown and Company, 2025.

Board book.

Rhyming text.

A bedtime story.

Possible read-alikes:

• The kiss and The hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar.
• A kiss like this by Mary Murphy.
• The runaway hug by Nick Bland and Freya Blackwood.
• How to make a bedtime by Meg McKinlay and Karen Blair.
• Tuck me in! by Nathan W. Pyle.
• Good night belly button by Lucie Brunellière.
• Tickle my ears by Jörg Mühle.

 

Wanted: the cutest baby in the world.

Written by Davina Bell.

Illustrated by Sarah Zweck.

Thames & Hudson Australia, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

Beware! Once the cutest baby in the world is in your house – life will never be the same!

Possible read-alikes:

• Big, big love by Lisa Fuller and Samantha Campbell.
• One you by Frances Stickley and Åsa Gilland.
• Can't stop kissing that baby by K.L. Going and Fiona Lee.
• Our gorgeous baby by Smriti Halls and Eve Coy.
• Miimi and Buwaarr = Mother and baby by Melissa Greenwood and Miimi + Jiinda.
• My dream for you by Ash Barty, Jasmin McGaughey, and Jade Goodwin.
• Avocado baby by John Burningham.

A place just for me.

Written by Loredana Baldinucci.

Illustrated by Melinda Berti.

Translated by Monica Meneghetti, from the Italian Una tana tutta per me.  

Greystone Kids/Greystone Books, 2025.

Picture book.

The youngest mouse wants to find somewhere quiet for him to do nothing. What a wonderful wish! But, none of the neighbours have the right place, either. Thank goodness for his mother!

Possible read-alikes:

• Sometimes it's nice to be alone by Amy Hest and Philip Stead.
• Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard.
• Bear is never alone by Marc Veerkamp and Jeska Verstegen; translated by Laura Watkinson.
• Leave me alone by Vera Brosgol.
• Bear by Natalia Shaloshvili.
• I really, really don't like parties by Angie Morgan.
• How to party like a snail by Naseem Hrab and Kelly Collier.

 

An anthology of stargazing: a collection of stars and constellations.

Written by Abigail Beall.

Illustrated by Angela Rizza and Dilbag Singh.

Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Constellations and star patterns – in both hemispheres. Includes the astrological constellations. But, only Western ones.  

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

• Star stories by Andy Wilx and Anita Ganeri.
• Matariki around the world: a cluster of stars, a cluster of stories by Rangi Matamua, Miriama Kamo, and Isobel Joy Te Aho-White.
• Stars, planets, and their patterns by Thomas K. Adamson.
• Stars before bedtime: a mindful fall-asleep book by Claire Grace, Dr Jessamy Hibberd, and Hannah Tolson. 

Sing, hum, strum, and drum.

Written by by Rachelle Burk.

Illustrated by Junissa Bianda.

Callisto Publishing, 2025.

Board book.

Rhyming book.

Great book of music sounds.

Possible read-alongs:

• Sounds good!: discover 50 instruments text and illustrations Ole Könnecke; music Hans Könnecke; translated by Melody Shaw. 
• Squeak! rumble! whomp! whomp! whomp!: a sonic adventure by Wynton Marsalis and Paul Rogers.
• Listen to my trumpet by Mo Willems.
• Music is in everything by Ziggy Marley and Ag Jatkowska.
• Animal music by Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt.
• Bing, bop, bam: time to jam! by Valerie Bolling and Sabrena Khadija.
• Ear worm! by Jo Knowles and Galia Bernstein.
• Thundermaestro by Annemarie Riley Guertin and Maria Brzozowska.
• Bertie and the bear by Pamela Allen. 

Whooo is still awake?

Written and illustrated by Brigette Barrager.

Random House, 2025.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

A simple nighttime palette – with blazing yellow eyes – make a striking visual.

Possible read-alikes:

• Night animals and Night animals need sleep too by Gianna Marino.
• Sam can't sleep by Davide Cali and Anna Aparicio Català.
• Sleep is for babies by Emily McDowall and Julia Hegetusch. 

Dick Bruna.

By Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.

Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.

Adult nonfiction.

Written by an illustrator – with an illustrator as the series consultant (Quentin Blake) – this is an interesting introduction to Dick Bruna’s life and work.

It is a bit once-over-lightly, but that means it still accessible to older child readers, too. 

The Illustrators series includes: 

Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake and Laurie Britton Newell.

Raymond Briggs by Nicolette Jones.

Dick Bruna by Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.

Walter Crane by Jenny Uglow.

Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett.

Oliver Jeffers by Martin Salisbury.

Judith Kerr by Joanna Carey.

Miroslav Šašek by Martin Salisbury.

Posy Simmonds by Paul Gravett. 

Raymond Briggs

By Nicolette Jones.

Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.

Adult nonfiction.

A simple – deceptively so – introduction to Raymond Briggs’ life and work.

There is a thread of sadness throughout – and in both his life and work.

The Illustrators series includes: 

Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake and Laurie Britton Newell.

Raymond Briggs by Nicolette Jones.

Dick Bruna by Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.

Walter Crane by Jenny Uglow.

Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett.

Oliver Jeffers by Martin Salisbury.

Judith Kerr by Joanna Carey.

Miroslav Šašek by Martin Salisbury.

Posy Simmonds by Paul Gravett.