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.

Weekend reads roundup: 3 April 2026

  

Proud dog.

Written and illustrated by Sharon Davey.

Penguin Workshop, 2026.

Dorothy is a dog with two loving dads – and now, a smelly baby.

Picture book.

Possible read-alikes:

• Patience, Patches! by Christy Mihaly and Sheryl Murray.
• The unwelcome surprise by Olga Herrera.
• Pride puppy! by Robin Stevenson and Julie McLaughlin.
• When Billy was a dog by Kirsty Murray and Karen Blair.
• I quit by Kristen Tracy and Federico Fabiani.
• Mog and the baby by Judith Kerr.

 

The dangerous alphabet book.

Written and illustrated by DK Ryland.

Astra Young Readers, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Time for a wonky alphabet book that doesn’t go where you’d expect.

Picture book. 

Possible read-alikes:

• The dictionary story by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston.
• The alphabet's alphabet by Chris Harris and Dan Santat.
• What about X?: an alphabet adventure by Anne Marie Houppert and Daniel Wiseman. 
• Q & U call it quits by Stef Wade and Jorge Martin.
• Alphabet under construction by Denise Fleming.
• The olphabet: "O" no! an alphabet revolt by Jess M. Brallier and Nichola Cowdery. 
• P is for pterodactyl: the worst alphabet book ever; all the letters that misbehave and make words nearly impossible to pronounce by Raj Haldar, Chris Carpenter, and Maria Tina Beddia. 
• T. Rexes can't tie their shoes by Anna Lazowski and Steph Laberis. 
• A is for apricat by Mauro Gatti. 
• The eyeball alphabet book by Jerry Pallotta and Shennen Bersani. 
• The invisible alphabet by Joshua David Stein and Ron Barrett. 

5 minute dinosaur stories.

Written by Gabby Dawnay.

Illustrated by Mona K.

Magic Cat Publishing, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Rhyming text.

A nonfiction rhyming book about dinosaurs! What more could you want? I did find it a bit cluttered, admittedly.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dinosaur feathers by Dennis Nolan.
• Dinosaur knowledge genius! by Dr Chris Barker and Riley Black.
• My grandparents were dinosaurs by Anne Brusatte, Steve Brusatte, and Enrico Lorenzi. 
• The tyrannosaur's feathers by Dr Adam S. Smith,Jonathan Emmett, and Stieven Van der Poorten.
• Weirdosaurus: pre-history's most peculiar creatures by Philip Bunting.  

Flap your hands: a celebration of stimming.

Written and illustrated by Steve Asbell.

Lee & Low Books, 2024.

Picture book.

Possibly reassuring for the individual – but the community needs to do work to make stimming less stigmatised.

Possible read-alikes / alongs:

• Remarkable Remy by Melanie Heyworth and Nathaniel Eckstrom.
• Just ask!: be different, be brave, be you by Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael López.
• A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond and Kate Cosgrove.
• Too much!: an overwhelming day by Jolene Gutiérrez and Angel Chang.
• Minna's masks by Louise Gooding and Irina Avgustinovich.
• Wild for Winnie by Laura Marx Fitzgerald and Jenny Løvlie. 

You will be my friend!

Written and illustrated by Peter Brown.

Little, Brown and Company, 2011.

Picture book.

Friends.

Sequel to Children make terrible pets.

Lucy is a bear with few manners. And, funnily enough, no friends.

Possible read-alikes:

• Come back, Gosling by Anne Booth and David Litchfield.
• Me and Mr. Fluffernutter by Jennifer Gray Olson.
• I'm going to make a friend by Darren Chetty and Sandhya Prabhat. 

Just another perfect day.

Written by Jillian Harris & Justin Pasutto, with Kara Kootstra.

Illustrated by Morgan Goble.

Tundra Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

Families.

A series of small catastrophes that ends in a perfect night. Perfect, because they are all together.

Possible read-alikes:

• A good day by Kevin Henkes. 
• Grumpy pants by Claire Messer.
• A good day by Kevin Henkes.
• Mrs. Biddlebox by Linda Smith and Marla Frazee.
• Mr Brown's bad day by Lou Peacock and Alison Friend. 

Little Owl's babysitter.

Written by Debi Gliori.

Illustrated by Alison Brown.

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2024.

Picture book.

One very demanding owlet, and one amazing babysitter.

Possible read-alikes:

• Aunt Amelia by Rebecca Cobb.
• That bear can't babysit by Ruth Quayle and Alison Friend.
• There's something odd about the babysitter by Elayne Crain and John Ledda.
• Don’t want to go! by Shirley Hughes. 

While we wait.

Written and illustrated by Bee Johnson.

Henry Holt and Company, 2025.

Picture book.

When will grown-ups EVER be ready…. The boredom of waiting, and coming up with new ways to entertain yourself.

Possible read-alikes:

• Waiting for later by Tina Matthews.
• Mummy's suitcase by Pip Jones and Laura Hughes.
• The boring book by Shinsuke Yoshitake.
• Bored by Felicita Sala.
• Eva's imagination by Wenda Shurety and Karen Erasmus. 

Just right.

Written by Torrey Maldonado.

Illustrated by Teresa Martínez.

Nancy Paulsen Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Families.

A story of love and patience – between a child and their uncle.

It *is* a lovely story. But, it made me sad. The child’s father is physically present, but emotionally absent – for whatever reason/s. It was hard to read that part.

Possible read-alikes:

• Auntie Uncle: drag queen hero by Ellie Royce and Hannah Chambers.
• Mauntie and me by Rajani LaRocca and Nadia Alam.
• Ernie's journey by David Woodland.

 

A book of loves.

Written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant.

Beach Lane Books, 2026.

Picture book.

A deceptively simple book, with single words - accompanied by naïve illustrations – so what cats, dogs, and children love.

Possible read-alikes:

• L is for love by Atinuke and Angela Brooksbank.
• Love tails by Rob Sayegh Jr.
• Love is my favourite thing by Emma Chichester Clark.
• I like this, you like that by Linda Ashman and Eve Coy.
• How to be a cat by Nikki McClure.
• Home is where the heart is by Emma Dodd.
• Counting with Tiny Cat by Viviane Schwarz.

Booby moon: a storybook for weaning toddlers.

Written by Yvette Reid.

Illustrations by Camilo Zepeda.

Yvette Reid, 2021.

Aotearoa.

Picture book.

A message book, rather than a story book.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

• Milky moments by Emma Stoneley and Jessica D'Alton Goode.
• Nursies when the sun shines by Katherine Havener and Sara Burrier.
• Mama's milk by Michael Elsohn Ross and Ashley Wolff.

Wren's nest.

Written by Heidi E.Y. Stemple.

Illustrated by Eugenia Nobati.

Familius, 2024.

Picture book.

Moving house is given poignancy of Wren, and her Grandpa, leaving behind a wrens’ nest – and a change from the country to the city.

Possible read-alikes:

• I heard a bird by Rob Ramsden.
• You nest here with me by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, and Melissa Sweet.
• Maple by Lori Nichols.
• Grandad’s world by Michael Foreman.
• Nell plants a tree by Anne Wynter and Daniel Miyares. 

The coziest place on the moon.

Written by Maria Popova.

Illustrated by Sarah Jacoby.

Enchanted Lion Books, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

The difference between loneliness and solitude. I found it a bit confusing – if you’re lonely, why travel to where no one is?

Anyway, it’s set in the Sea of Tranquillity.

Possible read-alikes:

• Moon Mouse by Corrinne Averiss and Lorna Hill.
• Sometimes it's nice to be alone by Amy Hest and Philip Stead.
• Clara and the birds by Emma Simpson. Oh, Carrots! by Mariajo Ilustrajo.
• Leave me alone by Vera Brosgol.
• The grumpy ghost upstairs by Mamiko Shiotani, translated by Polly Lawson.
• When I feel lonely by Britta Teckentrup.
• How to be on the moon by Viviane Schwarz. 

Grandad's world.

Written and illustrated by Michael Foreman.

Scholastic, 2026.

Picture book.

A paean of peace, love, and care.

Possible read-alikes:

• Brother Moon by Maree McCarthy Yoelu and Samantha Fry.
• Something, someday by Amanda Gorman and Christian Robinson.
• Clean up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola.
• Tiny worlds by Brittany Cicchese.
• The susurrus by Genevieve Young-Evans and Cate James. 

Together on Eid.

Written by Sana Rafi.

Illustrated by Mariam Quraishi.

Chronicle Books, 2026.

Picture book

A simple refrain introduces / celebrates Eid.

Based on the author’s childhood in Pakistan.

Possible read-alikes:

• Amira's picture day by Reem Faruqi and Fahmida Azim.
• Ibraheem's perfect Eid by Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani.
• A fine feast by Arifa Afzal and Nekhat Sultana.
• Maymoona's moon: a special Eid story by Razeena Omar Gutta and Zayneb Haleem.
• Eid for Nylah by Nizrana Farook and Zelma Firdauzia.
• Cookies and crescents: an Eid story by Nada Shawish Dutka and Zelma Firdauzia. 

The vampires next door.

Written by Sigi Cohen.

Illustrated by Patrick Corrigan.

Larrikin House, 2021.

Picture book.

Australian.

Suspicions turn to reality – when Lee suspects the new neighbours are vampires.

I’m undecided about this one. Yes, it’s funny. But, a child investigating creepy neighbours, with missing children in the area – is a bit of a mixed message for me.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• Vampire Peter by Ben Manley and Hannah Peck.
• The Thing at 52 by Ross Montgomery and Richard Johnson.
• Colin's castle by Holly Swain.        
• Vampenguin by Lucy Ruth Cummins.
• Everything is fine! by Michelle Sumovich and Sarah Jacoby.  
• Beware The Blue Bazzoo by Karl Newson and Andrea Stegmaier.
• Row, row, row your boat (with monsters) by Adam Simpson and Gypsy Taylor.  

The year we learned to fly.

Written by Jacqueline Woodson.

Illustrated by Rafael López.

Orchard Books, 2025.

Picture book.

A deeply meaningful book, with many layers – both in text and illustration. A story of strength and ancestral connection.

Possible read-alikes:

• The paper piano by Rachel Ip and Natelle Quek.
• The bridges by Tom Percival.
• Love comes first by Jenna Bush Hager, Barbara Pierce Bush, and Ramona Kaulitzki.
• You might find yourself by Tai Snaith.
• Stronger than by Nikki Grimes, Stacy Wells, and E. B. Lewis
• Brave by Weshoyot Alvitre.

Nelly: the very different bird.

Written and illustrated by Alex Macdonald.

Frances Lincoln First Editions, 2025.

Picture book.

Nelly can’t fly, but has her own ways of doing things – including trying to migrate.

Possible read-alikes:

• A different dragon by Nick Gill and Luma Wildish.
• Ponk! by Edwina Wyatt and Chris Nielsen.
• The one and only you by Shan Hegarty and Ben Mantle.  
• The story of Girl and Fish by Carolina Parada.
• Scotty and the Scotties by Gabriel Evans.
• Confetti and the rainbow garden by Shane Jenek AKA Courtney Act, and Dylan Finney.
• Odd bird out by Helga Bansch.
• Naked mole rat gets dressed by Mo Willems. 

Changing tides.

Written and illustrated by Júlia Moscardó.

Little Tiger, 2025.

Picture book.

Families.

New step-siblings negotiating their new dynamics.

Possible read-alikes:

• Enough love? by Maggie Hutchings and Evie Barrow.
• Remixed: an inspiring story about our families by Arree Chung.
• One day at a time by Rachel Ip and Natelle Quek.
• Space for everyone by Seina Wedlick and Camilla Sucre. 

Ear worm!

Written by Jo Knowles.

Illustrated by Galia Bernstein.

Walker Books, 2022.

Picture book.

A collection of animals share their ear worms.

Possible read-alikes:

• Hello hello by Brendan Wenzel.
• Pokko and the drum by Matthew Forsythe.
• Music is in everything by Ziggy Marley and Ag Jatkowska.
• The day Bell found her sound by Lizzy O'Donnell. 

I'd rather be a cat.

Written by Laura Bunting.

Illustrated by Philip Bunting.

Scholastic Australia, 2025.

Australian.

Picture book.

It’s such a pain being a kid – when there are better options around. Or, are there?

Part of a series.

Possible read-alikes:

• When I grow up I'd like to be... by Rob Biddulph.
• How I feel when I hear no! by Ronit Farzam, PhD and Bonnie Lui. 
• I don't want to be a frog by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt.
• Mandy is still a banana by Zoe Arena and Amy Louise Evans. 

All the wonderful ways to move.

Written by Laura Baker.

Illustrated by Sandra de la Prada.

Little Tiger, 2025.

Picture book.

We’ve been acting this out at storytimes this month – and it has gone down a TREAT!

A perfect book for reading and acting out when the wiggles are getting out of hand.

Possible read-alikes:

• 1,2,3, do the dinosaur! by Michelle Robinson and Rosalind Beardshaw. NB: there are other similar books by the same pair.
• Run like a rabbit by Alison Lester.
• Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard.
• Busy feet by Marcia Berneger and Susanna Chapman.

 

  

Are you looking for trouble?

Written by Michaël Escoffier.

Illustrated by Delphine Durand.  

Magic Cat Publishing, 2025.  

Originally published in French as Le crocodile à grandes dents.

Why is Crocodile looking for trouble? A quirky tale of expectations and stereotypes.

Possible read-alikes:

• Kiss the Crocodile by Sean Taylor and Ben Mantle.
• Kind crocodile by Leo Timmers; translated to English by Bill Nagelkerke.
• Crocodile hungry by Eija Sumner and John Martz.  
• The bad-tempered ladybird by Eric Carle.
• I really want to eat a child by Sylviane Donnio and Dorothee De Monfreid. 

Poo! What? Where?: the number one book about all things number two.

Written by Mike Rampton.

Illustrated by Gareth Conway.

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

The wonderful world of poo!

I am not fond of bum and poo books – but sometimes the facts make up for it. This is ok.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• Poo: a (very) natural history & a powerful future by Ben Hoare and Jennifer N.R. Smith.
• Poo through the ages by Suzie Edge and Luke Newell.
• Where does my poo go? by Jo Lindley.

Space tour: the ultimate journey across the universe.

Written by Charlotte Isham and Dhara Patel.

Illustrated nonfiction.

A planet by planet, phenomenon by phenomenon, tour of the universe.

Possible read-alikes:

• Under the stars: astrophysics for bedtime by Lisa Harvey-Smith and Mel Matthews.
• Dr Maggie's grand tour of the solar system by Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Chelen Écija.
• Planetarium by Raman Prinja and Chris Wormell.
• Big questions about the universe by Alex Frith & Alice James, illustrated by David J Plant, Universe expert, Dr. Ed Bloomer, Royal Observatory Greenwich.
• Astronomy for curious kids: an illustrated introduction to the solar system, our galaxy, space travel--and more! by Giles Sparrow and Nik Neves.
• The universe by Abigail Beall and Dawn Cooper.