Weekend reads roundup: 3 May 2026, part one

 

The umbrella.

Written by Niki Foreman.

Illustrated by Binny Talib.

Penguin Books, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

Neurodiversity / difference. Not fitting in, and deciding whether you actually want to.

Possible read-alikes:

• Different by Eva Eland.  
• Scotty and the Scotties by Gabriel Evans.
• The Rock family band by Robert Tregoning and Laura Brenlla.
• Wild for Winnie by Laura Marx Fitzgerald and Jenny Løvlie.
• Narwhal vs. kindergarten by Vanessa Roeder.
• The blue umbrella by Emily Ann Davison and Momoko Abe.
• Under the umbrella by Catherine Buquet and Marion Arbona, translated by Erin Woods. 

Dear Acorn (Love, Oak): letter poems to friends.

Written by Joyce Sidman.

Illustrated by Melissa Sweet.

Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025.

Illustrated poetry.

Conversations between big and little things in our ecosystem.

Poetry of perspective and connection.

Possible read-alikes:

• Groovy fish and other poems by Paula Green.
• Our Earth is a poem: poetry about nature.
• The dirt book: poems about animals that live beneath our feet by David L. Harrison and Kate Cosgrove.
• The proper way to meet a hedgehog: and other how-to poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Richard Jones.
• Earth verse: haiku from the ground up by Sally M. Walker and William Grill.
• Dear Earth... from your friends in room 5 by Erin Dealey and Luisa Uribe.
• Dear dragon by Josh Funk and Rodolfo Montalvo. 

Nature knows.

Written by Yvette Farmer.

Illustrated by Chloe Jasmin Harris. 

Thames & Hudson Australia, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

I was going to say that this is heading towards a bit ‘preachy’ and then I read the author’s biography, which says she “has worked with the University of Western Sydney on research exploring how nature-based interventions support children's wellbeing.” Well, that explains it. I’m not saying the book is bad, just has a message and cause that is more prominent than others.

Possible read-alikes:

• Earthspeak = Boodjar Wangkiny by Sean McCann and Jade Goodwin.
• Rush! rush! by Elena de Roo and Jenny Cooper.  
• We are all one by Britta Teckentrup.
• A song full of sky by Ruth Doyle and Britta Teckentrup.
• The wild outside: explore the nature beyond your doorstep by Rachel Ip and Katie Hickey.
• Simple thanks by Deborah Wiles and Bao Luu.

 

Fearless.

Written and illustrated by Kelly Canby.

Fremantle Press, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

Punn-y names make the lesson-heavy message pretty blatant: Bea Ware and Annie Venture. The characters are as cardboard stereotyped as their names lead you to feel.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• A little bit worried by Ciara Gavin, Tim Warnes.
• When I feel brave by Britta Teckentrup.
• Mabel and the big wide world by Paul Stewart and Jane Porter.
• Victor the wolf with worries by Catherine Rayner. 

Little Hector and the big idea.

Written and illustrated by Ruth Paul.

Puffin, 2019.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

An environmental message: ocean pollution.

Possible read-alikes:

• Clean up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola.
• Fish by Brendan Kearney.
• Tiny crab is a tidy crab by Paula Bowles.
• The mess that we made by Michelle Lord and Julia Blattman.
• The lighthouse keeper's mystery by Ronda Armitage and David Armitage.
• Celia Seagull and the plastic sea by Nicole Miller and Lily Uivel.

 

You've got this, little pangolin.

Written by Tọlá Okogwu.

Illustrated by Shirley Hottier.

Simon & Schuster, 2026.

Picture book.

A little pangolin is determined to be grown-up, but that takes time.

Possible read-alikes:

• Sometimes we fall by Randall de Sève and Kate Gardiner.
• The magical yet by Angela DiTerlizzi and Lorena Alvarez.
• As strong as the river by Sarah Noble.

 

Bella the Storyteller.

Written and illustrated by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros.

Andersen Press, 2023.

Picture book.

I’m with the audience – I’m not sure I’d want Bella telling my stories! Definitely over-the-top.

Possible read-alikes:

• This and that by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek.
• Help! We need a story by James Harris and Mariajo Ilustrajo.
• Shortest bedtime story ever by David Campbell and Samar Kabir.
• A delicious story by Barney Saltzberg.
• A unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark walk into a book by Jonathan Fenske.

  

It's my bird-day!

Written and illustrated by Mo Willems.

Union Square Kids, 2026.

Picture book.

Welcome back, Pigeon! There’s a very surprising twist at the end.

Possible read-alikes:

• I'm very busy: a (nearly forgotten) birthday book by Oliver Jeffers.
• Two birthdays: a Cedric and Boo book by Tim Hopgood.
• Bea's bad day by Tom Percival.
• Happy birthday, Dog! and Cat by Annabel Pitcher and Fabi Santiago.
• Happy birthday to me by Stacy Gregg and Ruth Paul.

 

The future book.

Written by Mac Barnett.

Illustrated by Shawn Harris.

Simon and Schuster, 2026.

Picture book.

Completely ridiculous – and perfect for reading aloud to older children, ie school-aged.

Possible read-alikes:

• The book with no pictures by B.J. Novak.
• This is a ball by Beck and Matt Stanton.
• Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld.
• I say ooh you say aah by John Kane. 

Can I sit with you?

Written and illustrated by Sarah Jacoby.

Chronicle Books, 2021.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

Stray dog looking for a home.

Possible read-alikes:

• Three and Mutt dog! by Stephen Michael King.
• Mr Scruff by Simon James.
• I am a wolf by Kelly Leigh Miller.
• A job for Penelope by Melanie Mikecz.
• My friend Andy by Emma Chinnery.
• Penny and the little lost puppy by Emily Sutton.
• Ginger finds a home by Charlotte Voake.
• Can I be your dog? by Troy Cummings.

 

ABC zoinks.

Written and illustrated by Claudia Rueda.

Candlewick Press, 2026.

Board book.

Silly book, but fun.

Possible read-alikes:

• The dangerous alphabet book by DK Ryland.
• Albert's ABCs: a sibling story by Henry Cole.
• Boing!: a very noisy ABC by Tim McCanna andJorge Martin.
• A is for apricat: learn your ABCs with these deliciously adorable food & critter mash-ups! by Mauro Gatti.

 

Love from The crayons.

Written by Drew Daywalt.

Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

HarperCollins Children's Books, 2019.

Picture book.

What colour are emotions? Love is every colour.

Possible read-alikes:

• Red is not angry, blue is not sad by Alicia Acosta, Luis Amavisca, and Anuska Allepuz.
• The colour of happy by Laura Baker and Angie Rozelaar.
• I feel teal by Lauren Rille and Aimée Sicuro.
• Colour my days by Ross Collins.

 

That's my daddy!

Written by Ruth Redford.

Illustrated by Dan Taylor.

Egmont, 2020.

Picture book.

All sorts of dads.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dadapalooza: a celebration of dads by Sarina Dickson and Ant Sang.
• Dads are incredible by Simon Philip and Dawn Lo.
• What do you call your dad? by Ashleigh Barton and Matina Heiduczek.
• Wild about dads by Philip Bunting.
• My Dad by Anthony Browne.

 

Monkeypig.

Written and illustrated by Huw Aaron.

Puffin, 2026.

Picture book.

Molly is hoping that she will not be outed by her fellow monkeys.

Possible read-alikes:

• Luigi, the spider who wanted to be a kitten by Michelle Knudsen and Kevin Hawkes.
• Lulu is a rhinoceros by Jason Flom, Allison Flom, and Sophie Corrigan.
• Jet the cat: (is not a cat) by Phaea Crede and Terry Runyan.
• I am not a fox by Karina Wolf and Chuck Groenink.
• Tiny Jenny: little fairy, big trouble by Briony May Smith.

 

Stuck.

Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

HarperCollins Children's Books, 2011.

Picture book.

Outrageously ridiculous and so much fun! A laugh out loud read aloud.

Possible read-alikes:

• I want my hat back by Jon Klassen.
• Shh! We have a plan by Chris Haughton.
• Blown away by Rob Biddulph.
• That is not a good idea! by Mo Willems.

 

The invisible alphabet.

Written by Joshua David Stein.

Illustrated by Ron Barrett.

Rise/Penguin Workshop, 2020.

Picture book.

A quirky alphabet book.

Simple line drawings with only one other colour – orange.

Possible read-alikes:

• One of these is not like the others by Barney Saltzberg.
• Alphabet under construction by  Denise Fleming.
• What about X?: an alphabet adventure by Anne Marie Houppert and Daniel Wiseman.
• A is for Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan and Matthew Myers.

 

 

The snow theatre.

Written and illustrated by Ryoji Arai.

Translated from Japanese by David Boyd.

Enchanted Lion Books, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

A tale of forgiveness and love – and imagination.

Possible read-alikes:

• 4 Yaks and a Yeti by Peter Hillary and Ant Sang.
• Camilla, cartographer by Julie Dillemuth, PhD and Laura Wood.
• Freya and the snake by Fredrik Sonck and Jenny Lucander, translated by B.J. Woodstein.
• Eyes that speak to the stars by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho.
• Snow by Cynthia Rylant and Lauren Stringer.
• Growing an artist: the story of a landscaper and his son by John Parra.

 

If I built a town.

Written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen.

Rocky Pond Books, 2025.

Picture book. Rhyming text.

An increasingly ridiculous imaginative walk through a child’s dream town – as he declaims it to the Mayor.

Possible read-alikes:

• The man from the land of Fandango by Margaret Mahy and Polly Dunbar.
• My best friend Tilly by Iris Samartzi, translated by Ikaros Publishing.
• Not-a-box city by Antoinette Portis.
• Your house is not just a house by Idris Goodwin and Lorraine Nam.
• Forts by Katie Venit and Kenard Pak.
• Where would you go? by Alison Lester, Jane Godwin and the children at Yalingbu Yiramboi - The Royal Children's Hospital School.
• We can play anything! by Marit Törnqvist, translated and adapted by Polly Lawson.
• If you were a city by Kyo Maclear and Francesca Sanna. 
• The spaces in between by Jaspreet Kaur and Manjit Thapp. 

 

Iguana miss you!

Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton.

Little, Brown and Company, 2026.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

A poetic farewell. A great gift for school leavers, leaving home, moving away – anything, really.

Possible read-alikes:

• I send you a hug by Anne Booth and Åsa Gilland.
• How do dinosaurs say goodbye? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague.
• Evelyn Del Rey is moving away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sánchez.

 

 

I'd rather be a shark.

Written by Laura Bunting.

Illustrated by Philip Bunting.

Scholastic Australia, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

Part of a series all about annoyed children imagining life as something else.

Possible read-alikes:

• No, I'm a... shark! by Mike Henson, Ana Gomez.
• Butterflies do not ride their bikes by Ali Rutstein and Niña Nill.
• I don't want to be a frog by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt.

Weekend reads roundup: 27 April 2026

Waiters in elevators.

By Dylan and Amanda Shearsby.

Little Hare Books, an imprint of Hardie Grant Children's Publishing, 2025.

Australian.

Picture book.

Ignored and mistreated staff leave – and everyone realises their importance, and changes their ways. If only that were true.

Possible read-alikes:

• Wolfred by Nick Bland.
• Please! by Simon Philip and Nathan Reed.
• Gnome by Fred Blunt.

 

The way home in the night.

By Akiko Miyakoshi.

Kids Can Press Ltd., 2017.

Translation from the Japanese of: Yoru no kaerimichi.

A baby bunny imagines what is happening in the windows they go past on their way home.

A surreal, yet gentle story.

Picture book.

Possible read-alikes:

• Windows by Julia Denos
• A house that once was by Julie Fogliano and Lane Smith.
• Flashlight by Lizi Boyd.
• Teddy's midnight adventure by Yoko Mori, English translation by Cathy Hirano.
• Night lunch by Eric Fan and Dena Seiferling.
• The night gardener by Terry Fan & Eric Fan.

 

The sheep that stole the farmer's hat.

Written by Tim Saunders.

Illustrated by Carla Martell.

Allen & Unwin, 2026.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

Rhyming text.

Semi-cumulative. Bouncy and fun.

Possible read-alikes:

• When grandpa wore a tutu by Dawn McMillan and Jenny Cooper.
• My Aunt Mary went shopping by Roger Hall and Daron Parton.
• The elephant and the bad baby by Elfrida Vipont and Raymond Briggs.
• Shoes from Grandpa by Mem Fox and Patricia Mullins. 

Party rhyme.

Written and illustrated by Antonia Pesenti.

Scribble, an imprint ofScribe Publications, 2024.

Board book.

Rhyming text.

Flaps.

Unexpected rhymes.

Possible read-alikes:

• Bumblebee grumblebee by David Elliot.
• Pūkeko who-keko? by Toby Morris.
• Don't put your finger in the jelly, Nelly! by Nick Sharratt.

The green bath.

Written by Margaret Mahy.

Illustrated by Steven Kellogg.

Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013.

Picture book.

Aotearoa author.

The new second-hand bath is more than meets the eye.

As is often the case, Mahy’s work leaves you wondering whether it really happened.

Possible read-alikes:

• A lion in the meadow by Margaret Mahy and Jenny Williams.
• Grandpa Green by Lane Smith.
• The boy and the elephant by Freya Blackwood.

 

The snowflake.

Written and illustrated by Benji Davies.

HarperCollins Children's Books, 2020.

Picture book.

Christmas.

A snowflake questions their life purpose – do they really want to fall? Meanwhile, Noelle wishes for a perfect Christmas tree.

The illustrations show that Noelle and her family – mother, grandfather, and dog – aren’t well off. The house looks a bit ramshackle from the outside. They are also very rural.

Possible read-alikes:

• I'm a cloud by Tjitske Kamphuis.
• Flora’s garden by Debi Gliori.
• The Winter wish by Helen Mortimer and Rachael Dean.
• A Dragon Called Spark by Lily Murray and Kirsti Beautyman.

The curse of the vampire robot.

Written and illustrated by Graeme Base.

HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021.

Australian.

Rhyming text.

Sophisticated picture book.

Sepia toned illustrations and text that reads like “The Highwayman” this is a futuristic story, harking back to the past.

Written before the current shit-house-ness of AI.

Possible read-alikes:

• I follow the fox by Rob Biddulph.
• The treasure by Marcela Ferreira and Brian Lambert.
• The last Rainbow Bird by Nora Brech.
• The very polite knight by Ian Smith.

  

Kitty-Corn Club: Things that go.

Written by Shannon Hale.

Illustrated by Leuyen Pham.

Abrams Appleseed, 2024.

Board book.

Rhyming text.

Fun, with unexpected odd-one-out options.

• Who's hiding? by Satoru Onishi.
• Guess who, haiku! by Deanna Caswell and Bob Shea.
• Which one? by Professor Anna Franklin and Andy Passchier.
• One is not a pair: a spotting book by Britta Teckentrup and Katie Haworth. 

Utterly otterly night.

Written by Mary Casanova.

Illustrated by Ard Hoyt.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2011.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

Little Otter is determined to show they’re big – and manages to do so, while rescuing their family.

Possible read-alikes:

• Pup the sea otter by Jonathan London and Sean London.
• I'm not scared: a Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog adventure by Britta Teckentrup,  translated from the German by Nicola Stuart.
• I'm fine, thanks! by Jono Ganz.
• The mice of Mushroom Forest by Zanna Goldhawk. 

My grandad.

Written and illustrated by Anthony Browne.

Puffin Books, 2024.

Picture book.

A celebration of grandfathers – with nods to other books by Anthony Browne celebrating family members.

Possible read-alikes:

• Grandmas are the greatest and Grandads are the greatest by Ben Faulks and Nia Tudor.
• A Grandma's Magic by Asa Gilland.
• Pops by Gavin Bishop.
• What do you call your grandma? and What do you call your grandpa? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek. 

The boy with two shadows.

Written by Margaret Mahy.

Illustrated by Sarah Greig.

Hachette New Zealand, 2020.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

I love how the witch isn’t stereotypically ‘witchy’ in these illustrations. But, that makes her even more of a threat – as she looks nice and kind. And yet, isn’t.

That’s a level of threat / realism that isn’t obvious in earlier versions. But is so very Mahy.

Possible read-alikes:

• Etta and the Shadow Taboo by J.M. Field and Jeremy Worrall.
• Shadow by Lucy Christopher and Anastasia Suvorova.
• Sneaky shadows by S C Manchild and Sam Caldwell.
• Witch cat by Lucy Rowland and Laura Hughes.
• The witch of Maketu and the bleating lambs by Anika Moa and Rebecca Ter Borg.
• Moggie McFlea: the witch’s cat by Anna Kemp.

Australia: from dawn to dusk.

By Brentos.

Affirm Press, 2022.

Nonfiction picture book.

The preference of First Nations names over imposed colonial names is good.

Note: the creators are Australian, but not First Nations.

Possible read-alikes:

• Going fishing with Nana by Frances and Lindsay Haji-Ali, and Karen Briggs.  
• Ten scared fish by Ros Moriarty and Balarinji, Yanyuwa translation of text by John Bradley.
• 24 hours on the Kiwi seashore by Gillian and Darryl Torckler
• This is how we do it: one day in the lives of seven kids from around the world by Matt Lamothe.
• At the same moment, around the world by Clotilde Perrin. 

Work: interviews with people doing jobs they love.

Written by Shaina Feinberg.

Illustrated by Julia Rothman.

Candlewick Press, 2024.

Illustrated nonfiction.

An interesting and eclectic mix of jobs.

Possible read-alikes:

• See it, dream it, do it: how 25 people just like you found their dream jobs by Colleen Nelson, Kathie MacIsaac, and Scot Ritchie.
• Follow your dreams: 100 inspiring and extraordinary jobs by Katherine Mengardon.
• The big book of jobs: find out what you can be when you grow up! by Pavla Hanáčková, Hana Mokrošová, Helena Haraštová and Elena Pokaleva, translated by Andrew Oakland.
• Incredible jobs you've (probably) never heard of by Natalie Labarre. 

The dragon at the zoo.

Written by Melanie Koster.

Illustrated by Craig Phillips.

Scholastic New Zealand, 2026.

Aotearoa.

Picture book.

As a child, visiting Auckland Zoo, a trip to the see the dragon was a must. I, of course, was too afraid it would eat me. So, there are photos of me in a pram in FRONT of the dragon.

References to the work of Margaret Mahy.

Anyway, this is based on the Auckland Zoo dragon – who is teased because he doesn’t fit in with the other animals. They learn the errors of their ways, and how vital he is to the zoo community.

Possible read-alikes:

• The only dinosaur in school by Leonie Agnew and Julia Hegetusch.
• Flamingo bendalingo: poems from the zoo by Paula Green and 50 children, illustrated by Michael Hight.
• Freddy the not-Teddy by Kristen Schroeder and Hilary Jean Tapper.
• Vampenguin by Lucy Ruth Cummins. 

Fairy walk.

Written and illustrated by Gaia Cornwall.

Candlewick Press, 2025.

Picture book.

One of those books where the characters inside can’t see what we, the readers, can.

Possible read-alikes:

• Up high by Matt Hunt.
• A recipe for magic potion by Jack Henseleit and Natasja Horne.
• A wild walk to school by Rebecca Cobb.
• How to find a yeti by Matt Hunt.
• There's no such thing as ghosts by Lucy Rowland.
• Hide and seek by Katie May Green.
• There’s a ghost in this house by Oliver Jeffers.
• I did see a mammoth! by Alex Willmore.
• How to spot a mermaid by Jane Yolen and Sally Deng.

Miss MacDonald has a farm.

Written by Kalee Gwarjanski.

Illustrated by Elizabet Vuković.

Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2024.

Picture book.

A garden – vegetable forward, feminist version of Old MacDonald.

Possible read-alikes:

• Nanny Mihi's harvest = Te hauhake a Nanny Mihi by Melanie Drewery and Suzanne Simpson, te reo Māori translation by Kanapu Rangitauira.
• Blueberry Farm by Stephen Michael King.
• Logan's Greenhouse by JaNay Brown-Wood and Samara Hardy.
• Over in the garden by Janna Matthies and Tisha Lee. 

Row, row, row your boat (with monsters).

Written by Adam Simpson.

Illustrated by Gypsy Taylor.

Macmillan, 2025.

Australian.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

So many twists and quirks.

Possible read-alikes:

• The grumble rumble mumbler by Melanie Drewery and by Loudmouth Productions.
• A monstrous bedtime by Kerilynn Wilson.
• No swimming by Ross Collins.
• We know a place by Maxine Beneba Clarke.
• I will read to you by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso.
• The Boo Zoo by Kyle Mewburn and Lisa Allen. 

Mr Wizard's magic presents.

Written and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.

Walker Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Lift the flap.

Rhyming text.

The construction of this makes my head hurt. How can you open the flaps one way and get something expected and nice, then open the other way and get something weird and odd – that rhymes.

Possible read-alikes:

• This book is not a present by Max Greenfield and Mike Lowery.
• My presents by Rod Campbell.
• It’s my bird-day! by Mo Willems.
• Stick Man: the present hunt based on the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

Moose's book bus.

Written and illustrated by Inga Moore.

Walker Books Ltd, 2021.

Picture book.

The value of community, literacy, and friendship.

Possible read-alikes:

• Wild about books by Judy Sierra and Marc Brown.
• Just one more story by Perry Emerson and Sean Julian.
• Books on bikes by F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell, and Brizida Magro.
• Books are not just for Bedtime by Eleanor Pearson and Angela Perrini.
• The little street library by Amy Adeney and Erin McClean. 

Dalmartian: a Mars rover's story.

Written and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins.

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024.

Picture book.

Another book about an ‘alien’ finding friendship on Earth.

That’s not to say that it isn’t beautiful.

Possible read-alikes:

• Invasion of the unicorns by David Biedrzycki.
• The spaceman by Randy Cecil.
• Bloop by Tara Lazar and Mike Boldt.
• Marty by Rachel Noble and Zoey Abbott.
• The stray by Molly Ruttan.
• Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner.
• Spacebot by Mike Twohy.
• Your alien by Tammi Sauer and Goro Fujita.
• Beegu by Alexis Deacon.

Weekend reads round-up: 5 April 2026

 

Your truck.

Written and illustrated by Jon Klassen

Walker Books, 2026.

Board book.

Part of a board book series Your Things. These are simple, yet there’s so much to look at and enjoy.

I can see these working as felt boards – except you’d miss the wonderful illustrations.

There is so much skill in making something so pared back.

Series:

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

Possible read-alikes:

• The world and everything in it by Kevin Henkes.
• Dinosaur vs library by Bob Shea.
• I’d rather be a cat by Laura and Philip Bunting. 

Banana bop!: a monster show.

Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton.

Boynton Bookworks, 2025.

Board book.

Rhyming text.

What is it about bananas that is so funny?

Another Boynton banger of a book.

Possible read-alikes:

• Banana by Ed Vere. 
• Banana, banana, banana! by Sarah Finan.
• Are you a banana? by Robert Starling.
• 1, 2, 3, Do the Unicorn by Michelle Robinson and Rosalind Beardshaw.
• Skip to my moo: a rollicking barnyard story by Iza Trapani and Maddie Frost. 

Super Magic Boy. 3, I am a slime monster.

Written and illustrated by Jarod Roselló.

RH Graphic, 2025.

Graphic novel.

Hugo and Dino must stop a slime monster from destroying the library!

A fun early graphic novel.

Possible read-alikes:

• Sir Ladybug. 3, Sir Ladybug and the bookworms by Corey R. Tabor.
• Gabby & Gator by James Burks.
• Banana Fox and the book-eating robot by James Kochalka.
• Fox & Rabbit. 1 by Beth Ferry and Gergely Dudás.
• Alan, king of the universe by Tom McLaughlin.
• The adventures of Anders by Gregory Mackay.
• Cat & cat adventures by Susie Yi.
• Teen Titans go! To the library by Franco and Art Baltazar.
• Box tales. Grow, strawberries, grow! by James Burks. 

If it's Lunar New Year and you know it ...

Written and illustrated by Belinda Chen.

Nosy Crow Ltd, 2026.

Board book. With sliding pages.

I asked a staff member about this one, and they were as indecisive and uncertain as am about it. I don’t think it is one they’d be sharing at Lunar New Year storytimes in the future.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• Chinese New Year colors = 春节的颜色 by Rich Lo.
• Welcoming the Lunar New Year by Lara Lee and Natelle Quek.
• Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin.
• Happy all-idays! by Cindy Jin and Rob Sayegh Jr.  
• What do you do to celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek.
• Chinese New Year by Ilaria Falorsi.
• Maisy's Chinese New Year by Lucy Cousins.
• Peppa's Chinese New Year adapted by Mandy Archer and Cala Spinner. 

 

Wild life: an animal history of Aotearoa.

Written by Philippa Werry.

Oratia Books, 2026.

Nonfiction.

Although classified as an adult book, this is accessible to interested children.

Possible read-alikes:

• An extraordinary land: discoveries and mysteries from wild New Zealand by Peter Hayden and Rod Morris.
• Wildlife of Aotearoa by Gavin Bishop.
• Animals of Aotearoa: explore & discover New Zealand's wildlife by Gillian Candler and Ned Barraud.
• Why is that lake so blue?: a children's guide to New Zealand's natural world by Simon Pollard.
• Critters of Aotearoa: 50 bizarre but lovable members of our wildlife community by Nicola Toki and Lily Duval.

  

The secrets of mushrooms.

Written by Ginevra Picoco and Lorenzo Cocchi.

Illustrated by Ester Castelnouvo and Valentina Figus.

Welbeck Children's Books, an imprint of Hachette Children's Group, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

A solid introduction to mushrooms and fungi.

Possible read-alikes:

• Fungarium by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya, and others.
• The mushroom fan club by Elise Gravel.
• All about mushrooms by Alice Pattullo.
• Hello fungi by Nina Chakrabarti.
• Encyclopedia of plants, fungi and lichens for young readers by Tereza Němcová and Tomáš Pernický.
• Humongous fungus by Lynne Boddy and Wenjia Tang.
• Weird and wonderful nature by Ben Hoare, Kaley McKean, and Dr. Chris Gibson. 

Every Monday Mabel.

Written and illustrated by Jashar Awan.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Picture book.

I’ve seen a few videos of children who love rubbish / garbage day – because of the trucks or the workers. This picture book is all about Mabel, who is one of their fans.

Possible read-alikes:

• Noodles on a bicycle by Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang.
• I'm the bin lorry driver by Katie Woolley and David Semple.
• Charlie the bin truck driver by Nikki Swaby and Katrina Hill.
• The bin monster by Annabelle Hale.
• Trash truck by Max Keane. 

Our world in pictures bugs, butterflies, beetles & bees.

Consultant Professor Adam Hart.

Written by Ben Ffrancon Dowds, Andrea Mills, and Lizzie Munsey.

Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2026.

Pictorial nonfiction.

This is the book you need to have around when reading Lauren Child’s But excuse me that is my book – which is about Lola and her favourite library book: Beetles, bugs and butterflies.

Possible read-alikes:

• The observologist by Giselle Clarkson.
• Shapes of nature: a kaleidoscope of the natural world by Ben Hoare and Sally Caulwell.
• Entomology by Anna Claybourne and Daniel Limón.
• An anthology of remarkable bugs by Jess French, Angela Rizza, and Daniel Long.
• A whole world of minibeasts by Anna Claybourne and Yekyung Kwon.
• Insectarium by Emily Carter and Dave Goulson. 

The heart: history, science and lots of love.

Written and illustrated by Noemí Fabra.

Translated by Gabriella Aldeman.

Post Wave Children's Books, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Symbolic and realistic information about the heart.

Possible read-alikes:

• Heartbeat by Doe Boyle and Daniel Long.
• All about the heart by Remi Kowalski and Tonia Composto.
• The hero heart by Roopa Farooki and Viola Wang.
• Mysteries of the human body: weird and wonderful anatomy by Azmain Chowdhury and Daniel Nelson.
• Your sense-ational human body by Emma Young and John Devolle.
• A really short journey through the body by Bill Bryson, adapted by Emma Young, illustrations by Daniel Long & Dawn Cooper & Jesús Sotés & Katie Ponder. 

Lucky's star: the story of a meteorite.

Written by Mark Greenwood.

Illustrated by Lucia Masciullo.

CSIRO Publishing, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

Australian.

Based on a real-life meteorite, which fell in 1969 in Victoria, Australia.

Possible read-alongs:

• How the meteorite got to the museum by Jessie Hartland.
• Oh no, Astro! by Matt Roeser and Brad Woodard.
• Ada and the galaxies by Alan Lightman, Olga Pastuchiv, and Susanna Chapman.

 

Igor and the mending mice.

Written and illustrated by Alexander Mostov.

Ivy Kids Eco, 2026.

Picture book.

Igor’s tailoring business is threatened by recycling mice – until he figures out it’s better to work with them.

A fable about working outside (ish) capitalism, and embracing individuality and environmental concerns.

Possible read-alikes:

• Made by Maxine by Ruth Spiro and Holly Hatam.
• Joseph had a little overcoat by Simms Taback.
• Something from nothing adapted from a Jewish folktale by Phoebe Gilman.
• I had a favorite dress and I had a favourite hat by Boni Ashburn and Robyn Ng.
• Where's your creativity? by Aaron Rosen, Riley Watts, and Marika Maijala.

 

This book will make you a scientist.

Written by Sheila Kanani.

Illustrated by Ellen Surrey.

Nosy Crow, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Experiments and activities based on scientists and their careers.

Possible read-alikes:

• The tinkering workshop: explore, invent & build with everyday materials: 100 hands-on STEAM projects by Ryan Jenkins.
• Stay curious and keep exploring: next level: 50 bigger, bolder science experiments to do with the whole family by Emily Calandrelli.
• What do scientists do? by Can Tuğrul, Geraldine Sy, and Tom Mumbray.
• 50 fantastic science jobs by Tom Jackson. 

Integrity.

Written by Zanni Louise.

Illustrated by Jingting Wang.

Affirm Press, 2026.

Integrity is a nebulous thing – but this book does its best to define it, in terms appropriate to the age group. If only more politicians and leaders read it.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

• A kids book about choices by Kyle Quilausing.
• 101 things every kid needs to know: important skills that prepare kids for life! by Jamie Thorne.
• What is right &​ wrong? Who decides? Where do values come from? and other big questions by Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young.

 

The fossil hunter.

Written and illustrated by Kate Winter.

Puffin, 2023.

Sophisticated nonfiction picture book.

An introduction to Mary Anning.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

• Dinosaur hunter: Joan Wiffen's awesome fossil discoveries by David Hill and Phoebe Morris.
• Fossil hunter: how Mary Anning changed the science of prehistoric life by Cheryl Blackford.
• The fossil girl: Mary Anning's dinosaur discovery by Catherine Brighton.
• Dragon bones: the fantastic fossil discoveries of Mary Anning by Sarah Glenn Marsh and Maris Wicks.
• Stone girl, bone girl by Laurence Anholt and Sheila Moxley.
• Nothing stopped Sophie: a story of unshakable mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe and Barbara McClintock.
• Joan procter, dragon doctor: the woman who loved reptiles by Patricia Valdez and Felicita Sala. 

The watermelon seed.

Written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli.

Disney Hyperion, 2013.

Picture book.

Whomst amongst us didn’t panic when they ate a fruit seed?

Possible read-alikes:

• Scaredy squirrel by Mélanie Watt.
• There's no such thing by Heidi McKinnon.
• What about worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins. 

Birds.

Written and illustrated by Anne-Kathrin Behl.

Nosy Crow, 2026.

Board book with sliders.

Sliding pages and bright illustrations make this an appealing book for the young and curious.

Possible read-alikes:

• Beautiful birds illustrated by Chorkung.
• Maisy loves birds by Lucy Cousins
• Peek inside a bird's nest by Anna Milbourne and Stephanie Fizer Coleman.
• Look! A bird!: 20 feathered friends to touch and trace by Anya Serota and Christine Berrie.

 

Start with a teapot: an unexpected guide to the art of drawing.

Written and illustrated by Enric Lax.

Translated by Daniel Hahn.

Originally published in Catalan as El manual de dibujo definitive.

Gecko Press, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

A riotous book! Just, don’t expect to be able to draw afterwards.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dot! scribble! go! by Hervé Tullet.
• I can only draw worms by Will Mabbitt.
• I cannot draw a horse by Charise Mericle Harper.
• Sometimes you find a dragon by Viviane Schwarz. 

Horses & us: true stories of horses and their humans.

Written and illustrated by Johanna Emeney.

Massey University Press, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Aotearoa.

Small vignettes about various horses and horse people around Aotearoa.

Possible read-alikes:

• Animal helpers: how animals from around the world help us by Ben Hubbard and Sara Ugolotti.
• Dogs with jobs by Andrea Rowe and Julia Murray.
• Horse power: how horses changed the world by Jennifer Thermes.
• Tracks through time: the history of the world told through animal adventures by David Long, Rßông Pham and Vinh Nguyõên. 

All the way home

Written and illustrated by Debi Gliori.

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC , 2018. 

Picture book. 

An adventure story of a penguin Dad and his egg. Wonderful fun, and Gliori has a way with penguins, which I adore. Shout out to unexpected Christmas tie-in.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dragon loves Penguin by Debi Glori.
• Lost and found by Oliver Jeffers.
• Poles apart by Jeanne Willis and Jarvis.
• Penguin's egg by Anna Kemp and Alice Courtley.
• Jonty Gentoo: the adventures of a penguin by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
• Born to fly by Patrick Guest and Jonathan Bentley.
• Ming's iceberg by Kiri Lightfoot and Kimberly Andrews.
• Where the heart is by Irma Gold and Susannah Crispe.
• Penguin parcel by Victoria Cassanell.

 

 

Library lion.

Written by Michelle Knudsen.  Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.

Candlewick Press, 2006. 

Picture book. 

Sometimes you need to be loud in the library – especially when something is wrong with a friend.

Possible read-alikes:

• I'm so happy you're here: a celebration of library joy by Mychal Threets and Lorraine Nam.
• Pukapuka by Vasanti Unka and Justin Kereama.
• Books aren't for bears by Mark Barry and Katy Halford.
• No cats in the library by Lauren Emmons.
• Leilong the library bus by Julia Liu and Bei Lynn, translated by Helen Wang.
• Lost in the library and Where is our library? by Josh Funk and Stevie Lewis.
• The night library by David Zeltser and Raul Colón.
• Wild about books by Judy Sierra and Marc Brown.
• The library dragon and Return of the library dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy and Michael P. White.