Weekend reads roundup: 3 May 2026, part three

 

The bookshop dog.

Written by Harriet Evans.

Illustrated by Claire Shorrock.

Little Tiger Press, 2025.

Picture book.

A story of community and its importance. Also, the skill in readers advisory – finding the right book at the right time.

Possible read-alikes:  

• Dear bookstore by Emily Arrow and Geneviève Godbout.
• Good night little bookstore by Amy Cherrix and E. B. Goodale.
• The bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane by Mike Lucas and Sofya Karmazina.
• The Winter wish by Helen Mortimer and Rachael Dean.
• Books on bikes by F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell, and Brizida Magro.
• Books are not just for Bedtime by Eleanor Pearson and Angela Perrini.
• Everywhere with you by Carlie Sorosiak and Devon Holzwarth. 
• The great rabbit chase by Freya Blackwood. 
• A sprinkle of happiness by Lucy Rowland and David Litchfield. 

The monster mac and cheese party.

Written and illustrated by Todd Parr.

Little, Brown and Company, 2023.

Picture book.

How do you like your food?

Possible read-alikes:

• You've got yoghurt in your nostrils by Bethany Clark and Sara Acton.
• Are you a hungry monster? by Guilherme Karsten.
• Banana bop!: a monster show by Sandra Boynton.
• I really like slop! by Mo Willems.
• Monster food by Daisy Hirst.

 

Come on out!

Written and illustrated by Alberto Lot.

Henry Holt and Company, 2025.

Picture book.

Interactive.

Read portrait, vertically – rather than traditional horizontally.

Possible read-alikes:

• Are you there little bat? by Sam Taplin, Nicola Butler, and Essi Kimpimäki.
• Where are you, Magoo? by Briony Stewart.
• Dot spots lots of spots by Camilla Reid and Carly Gledhill.
• Mel fell and Ursula upside down by Corey R. Tabor.
• Go away, big green monster! by Ed Emberley.

 

Leo's Lobo.

Written by Melissa Cristina Márquez.

Illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama.

Penguin Workshop, 2026.

Picture book.

A story of pet adoption, magic, and responsibility.

Possible read-alikes:

• Get real, Mallory! by Daisy Hirst.
• Forever home: a dog and boy love story by Henry Cole.
• I want a dog by Jon Agee.
• The Fairy Dogmother by Caroline Crowe and Richard Merritt.
• "Let's get a pup!" by Bob Graham.
• Negative cat by Sophie Blackall.
• This story is not about a kitten by Randall de Sève and Carson Ellis.

  

Can bears ski?

Written by Raymond Antrobus.

Illustrated by Polly Dunbar.

Walker, 2021.

Picture book.

Hearing impairment – and how the young bear navigates the world, before it is picked up.

Possible read-alikes:

• I hear the snow, I smell the sea by Janice Milusich and Christopher Raschka.
• Come over to my house by Eliza Hull, Sally Rippin, and Daniel Gray-Barnett.
• Mighty Mila by Katie Petruzziello and Nadja Sarell.
• Private and confidential by Marion Ripley and Colin Backhouse.

 

Charlie, chill out!

Written by Beccy Beavis.

Illustrated by Rachel McGregor & Charlie Beavis.

Beccy Beavis Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

Neurodiversity. 

Possible read-alikes:

• Too much!: an overwhelming day by Jolene Gutiérrez and Angel Chang.
• Remarkable Remy by Melanie Heyworth and Nathaniel Eckstrom.
• Wild for Winnie by Laura Marx Fitzgerald and Jenny Løvlie.
• Oona and the shark by Kelly DiPucchio and Raissa Figueroa.

 

Ghost orchid.

Written and illustrated by Fiona Lumbers.

Andersen Press, 2022.

Picture book.

I’m undecided about this one – it’s lovely and all that. But, the parents are not great.

Possible read-alikes:

• Muttonfish magic by Aunty Ruth Simms, Lucy Robertson, and Jasmine Seymour.
• The Tiny Explorers by Kat Macleod.
• Tiny hiker by Natasha Zimmers.
• Over and under the rainforest by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal
• The big journey by Michael Rosen and Daniel Egnéus.

 

You are not alone.

Written by Ingrid Law.

Illustrated by Xin Li.

Rocky Pond Books, 2025.

Picture book.

The peaceful sleep that comes with knowing you are supported and loved.

A dream for some.

Possible read-alikes:

• A monstrous bedtime by Kerilynn Wilson.
• Tuck me in by Nathan W. Pyle.
• Home is where the heart is by Jonny Lambert.

 

Pugtato finds a thing and Pugtato babysits the snouts.

Written and illustrated by Sophie Corrigan.

Zonderkidz, 2020 and 2021.

Picture books.

The world needs more Pugtatoes! And Collieflowers, and Purrsnips!

Possible read-alikes:

• Don't feed the coos! by Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox.
• Snail crossing by Corey R. Tabor.
• I'm bored by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ohi.
• Supertato by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet.
• Tulip and Doug: friends for (almost) ever by Emma Wood and Carla Martell.
• Food fight by Alex Latimer.
• Dog food by Joost Eiffers and Saxton Freymann.

 

One cool friend.

Written by Toni Buzzeo.

Illustrated by David Small.

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012.

Picture book.

I don’t recommend stealing a penguin from an exhibition – however…

Possible read-alikes:

• Where the heart is by Irma Gold and Susannah Crispe.
• Lost and found by Oliver Jeffers.
• Penguin parcel by Victoria Cassanell.
• Wanna see a penguin? by Simon Philip and Ian Smith.
• Sylvie by Jean Reidy and Lucy Ruth Cummins. 

A lemon for Safiya.

Written by Jemima Shafei-Ongu.

Illustrated by Nisaluk Chantanakom.

Hachette Australia, 2025.

Australian.

Sophisticated picture book.

Dementia. Immigrant.

⭐What an absolute jewel.

So many books written by people with backgrounds in psychology / teaching, end up shouting “message” and “worthy”, and just aren’t great to read.

This is not one of them. This is a book deeply empathetic, which wears its lessons lightly.

Possible read-alikes:

• Coffee, rabbit, snowdrop, lost by Betina Birkjær and Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard, translated from Danish by Sinéad Quirke Køngerskov. 
• Night walk by Jason Cockcroft.    
• Once upon a time in the woods by Anthony Browne. 
• 11 words for love by Randa Abdel-Fattah and Maxine Beneba Clarke. 

What is a dot?

Written by Johanna Bell.

Illustrated by Amelia Luscombe.

Thames & Hudson Australia, 2025.

Australian.

Picture book.

Interactive.

A good way to look at things differently. Inspiration for art / creativity.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dot! scribble! go! and Mix it up! and Press here by Hervé Tullet.
• Beautiful oops! by Barney Saltzberg.
• The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.
• Arlo draws an octopus by Lori Mortensen and Rob Sayegh Jr.  
• Squiggles on the loose by Lily Murray and Bia Melo.

  

Grumpy pants.

Written and illustrated by Claire Messer.

Albert Whitman & Company, 2016.

Picture book.

I love this book so much – and so many of the preschoolers I read it with, understand.

Possible read-alikes:

• Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard.
• Punch!: a story about kindness by Michael Hall.
• Storm-cat by Magenta Fox.
• I am a tornado by Drew Beckmeyer.

 

Glasses.

Illustrated by Fernando Martin.

Oxford University Press, 2025.

Picture book.

They say you should dress for the job you want – so, why not start them early.

Possible read-alikes:

• Bags by Fernando Martin (same series).
• All dressed up by Andrew Zimmerman and Davis Clemesha.
• Cheer: a book to celebrate community by Uncle Ian Aurora and Natalia Moore.
• When I grow up I'd like to be... by Rob Biddulph.
• I can be anything! by Susann Hoffmann.
• Maisy at work: a first words book by Lucy Cousins.
• Guess who's getting dressed by Smriti Halls and Marta Altés.

 

Can I keep it, please?

Written by John Sullivan.

Illustrated by Jessica Gibson.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Picture book.

When you don’t want what you already have – then find out it’s perfect.

Possible read-alikes:

• You can't pat a fish by Ruth Paul.
• The perfect pet by Hazel Gardner and Nikki Dyson.
• The man who didn't like animals by Deborah Underwood and LeUyen Pham.
• Not that pet! by Smriti Halls and Rosalind Beardshaw.
• Rita's rabbit by Laura Mucha and Hannah Peck.

 

Sticky Mildred.

Written by Alastair Chisholm.  

Illustrated by Rikin Parekh.  

Walker Books Ltd, 2026.  

Picture book.

As someone with touch sensory issues – this book icked me out. It doesn’t mean it isn’t fun.

Possible read-alikes: 

• Kittens do not care for baths by Ali Rutstein and Nina Nill.
• The pigeon needs a bath! by Mo Willems.
• The girl who wouldn't brush her hair by Kate Bernheimer and Jake Parker.
• Molly’s hair by Emma Damon.

 

Bear and Bird: The cloud.

By Jarvis.

Walker Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Hunting for a special thing can result in finding what you really need.

Possible read-alikes:

• Little cloud by Anne Booth and Sarah Massini.
• The Cloudspotter by Tom McLaughlin.
• Annabelle and Flower by Em Lynas and Anuska Allepuz.
• The witchling's wish by Lu Fraser and Sarah Massini.

 

 

Neverwoof: the dog that never barked.

Written and illustrated by Gabe Jensen.

Familius, 2021.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

Limited colour palette with retro-style illustrations.  

A story with a twist.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dudley's day at home by Karen Kaufman Orloff and Reneé Andriani.
• Such a good boy by Marianna Coppo.
• Crictor by Tomi Ungerer.

 

Shoes!: a footwear fashion frolic.

Written by Anna Davies.

Illustrated by Daisy Wynter.

Cicada Books, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

The blurb says throughout history – but it is the 20^th and 21^st centuries.

Possible read-alikes:

• Encyclopedia of ordinary things by Štěpánka Sekaninová and Eva Chupíková.
• Where will this shoe take you?: a walk through the history of footwear by Laurie Lawlor.
• Fashion: the history of clothes by Jacqueline Morley.
• Get dressed!: a historical guessing game for fashion lovers by Katy Canales and Erin Vanessa.
• A history of fashion by Emily Bone and Laura Cowan; illustrated by Simona Bursi, Ingrid Liman Elena Selivanova and Yoko Sugiyama; designed by Caroline Day, Nelupa Hussain, Hope Reynolds ad Lucy Wain.

 

Weekend reads roundup: 3 May 2026, part two

 

Creatures: Aotearoa.

Written by Dylan Owen.

Gecko Press, 2008.

Picture book.

“Promotes New Zealand art with an animal theme to young children. Images include painting, sculpture, photography and jewellery. Artists featured include: Jeff Thomson, Richard Killeen, Jocelyn Carlin, Michael Tuffery, Richard Taylor, Warwick Freeman, Anne-Marie O'Brien.”

Possible read-alikes:

• Kahlo's koalas illustrated by Grace Helmer.
• Leafy critters by Yvonne Lacet.
• I spy: colors in art devised & selected by Lucy Micklethwait.
• Look! look! look! at sculpture by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace andLinda K. Friedlaender. 
• Celestino Piatti's animal ABC by Hans Schumacher and Celestino Piatti, English text by Jon Reid.
• My New Zealand ABC book and My new Zealand colours book and My New Zealand 123 book by James Brown, with objects from the Te Papa collection. 

Isabel and the invisible world.

Written by Alan Lightman.

Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki.

MIT Kids Press, 2023.

Picture book.

This went somewhere I wasn’t expecting – I thought a present for a child wanting to see invisible things would have been a microscope, rather than a prism.

Possible read-alikes:

• You are light by Aaron Becker.
• Shadow catchers by Kirsty Murray and Karen Blair. 
• The rainbow bear by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman.
• Let's get tiny!: jumping into the science of the smallest part of matter with quantum physics by Chris Ferrie.
• Do not lick this book by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost, scanning electron microscope images by Linnea Rundgren.
• Speck: an itty-bitty epic by Margaux Meganck.

 

Mr Mornington's favourite things.

Written and illustrated by Karen George.

Welbeck Flame, 2023.

Picture book.

The love between a small child and their elderly neighbour – including when he moves into care, as a result of his dementia.

Possible read-alikes:

• Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas.
• Harry and Walter by Kathy Stinson and Qin Leng.
• Great Aunt Margot and me by Bryher Mackenzie and Rhiannon Archard.
• Holding on by Sophia N. Lee and Isabel Roxas.
• The Forgettery by Rachel Ip and Laura Hughes.
• The tide by Clare Helen Welsh and Ashling Lindsay.
• Blimmin' Koro! = Kātahi rā, e Koro e! by Jill Bevan-Brown and Trish Bowles, Māori translation by Māhaki Bevan-Brown.
• The garden we share by Zoë Tucker and Julianna Swaney.
• Old friends by Margaret Aitken and Lenny Wen. 

Earthquake.

Written by Jackie French.

Illustrated by Bruce Whatley.

Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Australia, 2022.

Australian.

Picture book.

Inspired by the Newcastle earthquake.

Part of a series:

• Flood: the 2010-2011 Queensland floods.   
• Fire. 
• Cyclone: 1974 Darwin. 
• Drought.         
• Pandemic: 1914 Flu.             
• Plague.           
• Tornado.

Possible read-alikes:

• Quaky cat by Diana Noonan and Gavin Bishop.
• Pearl in a whirl: how one fluffy cat braved the floods by Catherine Robertson and Fifi Colston.
• Night on the sand by Monica Mayper and Jaime Kim.
• I am the storm by Jane Yolen,  Heidi E. Y. Stemple, and Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell. 

The writer.

Written by Davide Calí.

Illustrated by Monica Barengo.

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022.

Translated from Italian.

Picture book.

A dog tries to keep his human writing, instead ends up dealing with a new relationship.

Possible read-alikes:

• Walter does his best: a Frenchie adventure in kindness and muddy paws by Eva Pilgrim and Jessica Gibson.
• A family for Louie by Alexandra Thompson.
• The truck cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell.
• The bookshop dog by Harriet Evans and Claire Shorrock.

 

The glow: life, death & the light within.

Written by Rebekah Lipp.

Ilustrated by Craig Phillips.

Wilding Books Limited, 2026.

Sophisticated picture book.

Rhyming text.

Death and grief.

Very spiritual – ie new-age-y.  

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• City dog, country frog by Mo Willems and Jon J. Muth.
• What happens when we die? by J.R. Becker and Max Rambaldi.
• Fox: a circle of life story by Isabel Thomas and Daniel Egnéus.
• Dear moon by Stephen Wunderli and Maria Luisa di Gravio. 
• Farewell Anahera by Vanessa Hatley-Owen and Scott Irvine, translated by Kanapu Rangitauira.
• Waiting for Wolf by Sandra Dieckmann.
• The mountains of Tibet by Mordicai Gerstein, introduced by Sogyal Rinpoche. 

Who left the light on?

Written by Richard Marnier.

Illustrated by Aude Maurel.

Translated from the French by Emma Ramadan.

Restless Books, 2018.

Picture book.

A story of differences and breaking out of the mould – of being ‘normal’.

Possible read-alikes:

• Along came a different by Tom McLaughlin.
• Something Else by Kathryn Cave and Chris Riddell.
• Whose house is this? by Chihiro Takeuchi.
• Millie Fleur's poison garden by Christy Mandin.
• The wonderful stranges by Melanie & Monica Koster.

 

You can't be a pterodactyl!

Written by James Breakwell.

Illustrated by Sophie Corrigan.

Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023.

Picture book.

If you don’t want to know what kids really want to be – don’t ask. Not all children are going to fall into the expected answer.

Possible read-alikes:

• Lulu is a rhinoceros by Jason Flom with Allison Flom, and Sophie Corrigan.
• Agatha May and the anglerfish by Nora Morrison and Jessie Ann Foley, and Mika Song.
• The only astronaut by Mahak Jain and Andrea Stegmaier. 

Celebrate Nowruz!: a Persian New Year holiday to honor spring.

Written by Zohreh Ghahremani.

Illustrated by Susie Ghahremani.

Godwin Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Possible read-alikes:

• Welcome, Uncle Nowruz!: a Persian New Year's story by Rashin Kheiriyeh.
• My Grandma and me by Mina Javaherbin and Lindsey Yankey.
• Sugar in milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le.
• Waiting for Hanami by J.P. Takahashi and HifuMiyo.
• Happy holi!: celebrating the Festival of Colours by Chitra Soundar and Amberin Huq.
• Xiaoyu's spring by Bao Dongni and Yu Painyi.
• What do you do to celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek.

 

3 2 1 to the Moon!: a counting book.

Written by Stacy McAnulty.

Illustrated by Joey Chou.

Odd Dot, 2025.

Board book.

Counting book.

Possible read-alikes:

• One cheetah, one cherry: a book of beautiful numbers by Jackie Morris.
• Ten green bottoms by Barry Timms and Mike Byrne.
• Let's zoom up to the stars!.
• Peep inside space by Simona Dimitri and Anna Milbourne.
• Let's go into space!: a peep-through book by Petr Horáček.
• Science around us: a question-and-answer book by Maria Neradova.

 

Invisible dogs.

Written and illustrated by Ruby Wright.

Rocket Bird Books, 2024.

Picture book.

School shyness leads to imagination games with Grandpa – and invisible dogs!

Multi-cultural class.

Possible read-alikes:

• A Dragon Called Spark by Lily Murray and Kirsti Beautyman.
• I'm feeling (a little bit) shy by Anna Milbourne and Åsa Gilland.
• My beautiful voice by Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoys.
• The boy who dreamed dragons by Caryl Lewis and Carmen Saldaña.
• We can play anything! by Marit Törnqvist, translated and adapted by Polly Lawson.
• The boy who dreamed dragons by Caryl Lewis and Carmen Saldaña.

 

Blanket.

Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.

Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2022.

Picture book.

Wordless.

Sadness, made easier by a friend’s presence.

Possible read-alikes:

• Listen, Hippo! by Gabriel Evans.
• Annie's cat is sad by Heather Smith and Karen Obuhanych.
• The farmer and the clown by Marla Frazee.
• The rabbit listened by Cori Doerrfeld.

 

An invitation to the Botanic Gardens.

Written by Charlotte Guillain.

Illustrated by Helen Shoesmith.

Welbeck Editions, 2024.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Behind the scenes look at Kew Gardens.

Possible read-alikes:

• Meet the mini-mammals: a night at the Natural History Museum by Melissa Stewart.
• Grow, forage and make: fun things to do with plants by Alys Fowler and Heidi Griffiths.
• A year in Fleurville: recipes from balconies, rooftops, and gardens by Felicita Sala.
• The garden's secrets by Sarah Johnson and Deborah Hinde.
• Botanicum by Katie Scott and Kathy Willis.

 

Witchicorn.

Written by Angela Woolfe.

Illustrated by Sarah Jennings.

Farshore, 2025.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

The power of good over evil – sort of. Only if the villagers can get over their prejudices and preconceived ideas of what a witch is.

Possible read-alikes:

• Pugicorn by Matilda Rose and Tim Budgen.
• Trixie the witch's cat by Nick Butterworth.
• Broom for two by Jennifer Maruno and Scot Ritchie.
• The wonderful stranges by Melanie & Monica Koster.
• The witchling's wish by Lu Fraser and Sarah Massini.
• Witch & wombat by Ashley Belote.
• A unicorn named Sparkle by Amy Young. 

This book is my best friend.

Written and illustrated by Robin Robinson.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023.

Picture book.

Told in speech bubbles, this book proves you never know why a certain book appeals to different people. Books as solace.

Possible read-alikes:  

• Pukapuka by Vasanti Unka, nā Justin Kereama ngā kōrero i whakamāori.
• But excuse me that is my book by Lauren Child.
• Once upon a book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner.
• Books make good friends by Jane Mount.
• Just one more story by Perry Emerson and Sean Julian.

 

Waiting for Hanami.

Written by J.P. Takahashi.

Illustrated by HifuMiyo.

Harper, 2025.   Picture book.

Cherry blossom festival and family reunion. I love how diverse the family is. In your face, assumptions and racism.

Possible read-alikes:

• When the sakura bloom by Narisa Togo. English adaptation by Michael Sedunary.
• Family reunion by Chad Richardson, Dad Richardson, and Ashleigh Corrin.
• Ruby's reunion day dinner by Angela Dalton and Jestenia Southerland.
• Moon messenger = Yue liang xin shi: a family reunion during the mid-autumn festival: a story told in English and Chinese by Wei Jie & Xia Xinxin, translated by Yijin Wert.
• Going down home with daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons.
• To Carnival!: a celebration in Saint Lucia by Baptiste Paul and Jana Glatt.
• Freedom soup by Tami Charles and Jacqueline Alcantara.
• Nisha knows best by Maryann Jacob Macias and Maithili Joshi. 

When I became your auntie.

Written by Susannah Shane.

Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.

Nosy Crow, 2026.

Picture book.

True story, when I became an auntie for the first time, I was determined to learn how to tie my shoelaces – because aunties need to know that. It doesn’t matter that I was the grand old age of 7, but now I was a whole ‘nother generation! I also had a recurring nightmare about my niblings falling into the creek near my home and nearly drowning, and there were sharks – and I couldn’t swim (still can’t) to save them. The nightmare stopped after my first four niblings.

Possible read-alikes:

• Aunty Miri's visits by Miriam Gee.
• Love grows by Ruth Spiro and Lucy Ruth Cummins.
• What will my story be? by Nidhi Chanani.

  

Tiny.

Written and illustrated by Laura Stitzel.

Walker Books Australia, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

Imagination and perspective. 

Possible read-alikes:

• He iti ranei ahau? by Philipp Winterberg and Nadja Wichmann, translation Reb Translations.
• I'm not small by Nina Crews.
• The tiptoeing tiger by Philippa Leathers.
• Are you big? and Are you small? by Mo Willems.
• The teeny-weeny unicorn by Shawn Harris.

 

Cub.

Written and illustrated by Jonty Howley.

Flying Eye Books, 2024.

Picture book.

Living with grandparent – possibly foster / long-term. Toy comes to life as comfort.

Possible read-alikes:

• Today I'm strong by Nadiya Hussain and Ella Bailey.
• My bright shining star by Fatima Whitbread and Rhian Wright.
• Dadaji's paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane.
• Tiny worlds by Brittany Cicchese.
• Ollie's magic bunny by Nicola Killen.

 

Squash, the cat.

Written and illustrated by Sasha Mayer

Random House Studio, 2023.

Picture book.

Squash is best friends with Maggie. But, can Maggie forgive him for destroying her new toy?

Possible read-alikes:

• I am a dragon!: a squabble & a quibble by Sabina Hahn.
• I'm sorry you got mad by Kyle Lukoff and Julie Kwon.
• George & Lenny are always together by Jon Agee.
• The one where Bert plays football by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros. 

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.