Weekend reads: 14 and 15 March 2026: Part one

 

Auntie's bangles.

Written by Dean Atta.

Illustrated by Alea Marley.

Orchard Books, 2026.

Sophisticated picture book.

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

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

Possible read-alongs:

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

Roots of love.

Written by Sarah Asuquo.

Illustrated by Ruthine Burton.

Scholastic, 2024.

Picture book.

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

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

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

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

 

Smooches!

Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton.

Little, Brown and Company, 2025.

Board book.

Rhyming text.

A bedtime story.

Possible read-alikes:

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

 

Wanted: the cutest baby in the world.

Written by Davina Bell.

Illustrated by Sarah Zweck.

Thames & Hudson Australia, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

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

Possible read-alikes:

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

A place just for me.

Written by Loredana Baldinucci.

Illustrated by Melinda Berti.

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

Greystone Kids/Greystone Books, 2025.

Picture book.

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

Possible read-alikes:

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

 

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

Written by Abigail Beall.

Illustrated by Angela Rizza and Dilbag Singh.

Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

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

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

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

Sing, hum, strum, and drum.

Written by by Rachelle Burk.

Illustrated by Junissa Bianda.

Callisto Publishing, 2025.

Board book.

Rhyming book.

Great book of music sounds.

Possible read-alongs:

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

Whooo is still awake?

Written and illustrated by Brigette Barrager.

Random House, 2025.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

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

Possible read-alikes:

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

Dick Bruna.

By Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.

Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.

Adult nonfiction.

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

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

The Illustrators series includes: 

Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake and Laurie Britton Newell.

Raymond Briggs by Nicolette Jones.

Dick Bruna by Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.

Walter Crane by Jenny Uglow.

Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett.

Oliver Jeffers by Martin Salisbury.

Judith Kerr by Joanna Carey.

Miroslav Šašek by Martin Salisbury.

Posy Simmonds by Paul Gravett. 

Raymond Briggs

By Nicolette Jones.

Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.

Adult nonfiction.

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

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

The Illustrators series includes: 

Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake and Laurie Britton Newell.

Raymond Briggs by Nicolette Jones.

Dick Bruna by Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.

Walter Crane by Jenny Uglow.

Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett.

Oliver Jeffers by Martin Salisbury.

Judith Kerr by Joanna Carey.

Miroslav Šašek by Martin Salisbury.

Posy Simmonds by Paul Gravett. 

Weekend reads: 14 and 15 March 2026: Part two

 

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

Written by Michael Bond.

Illustrated by R.W. Alley.

HarperCollins, 2018.

Picture book.

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

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

 

Weiwei's winter solstice: a Dōngzhì story.

Written and illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan.

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025.

Picture book.

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

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

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

The great big book of museums.

Written by Éva Bensard.

Illustrated by Benjamin Chaud

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

Red Comet Press, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Large format.

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

Possible read-alikes:

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

 

 

The map of me.

Written by Nicola Davies.

Illustrated by Olga Shtonda.

Templar Books, 2026.

Picture book.

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

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

Possible read-alikes:

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

The underwater moon.

Written and illustrated by Sandra Dieckmann.

Hodder Children's Books, 2026.

Picture book.

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

Possible read-alikes:

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

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

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

Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2025.

Illustrated non-fiction.

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

Possible read-alikes:

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

Norse myths, monsters and Viking voyages.

Written by Stephen Davies.

Illustrated by Seaerra Miller.

Big Picture Press, 2025.

Graphic non-fiction.

A comic book introduction to the Norse / Viking world.

Possible read-alongs:

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

The Highway Rat.

Written by Julia Donaldson.

Illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Scholastic, 2026 – 15^th anniversary edition.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

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

Possible read-alikes:

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

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

A song of the seasons.

Written and illustrated by Yibing Deng.

Post Wave Children's Books, 2025.

Picture book.

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

A gentle story of time passing.

Possible read-alikes:

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

Science Detective Agency .

Written by Stevie Derrick.

Illustrated by Miriam Serafin.

Wayland, 2025.

Illustrated non-fiction.

Use the clues and science instructions to solve a mystery.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

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

Weekend reads: 22 February 2026: Part six

It's (not) my cookie.

Written by Kael Tudor.

Illustrated by Ben Sanders.

Scholastic, 2026.

Picture book.

To eat the cookie, or not?

Possible read-alikes:

Bert and the bubble: a story about sharing by Kim Hillyard.

Donut touch! by Seb Davey and Alex Willmore.

The very special thing by Alex Willmore.

Sonny says mine! by Caryl Hart and Zachariah OHora.

The bear in my family.

Written and illustrated by Maya Tatsukawa.

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020.

Picture book.

Bear or brother? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Possible read-alikes:

We're going to find the monster!  by Malorie Blackman and Dapo Adeola.

There's a tiger out there by Sophie Masson and Ruth Waters.

My brother the duck by Pat Zietlow Miller and Daniel Wiseman.

Wolfie the bunny by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah Ohora.

Dancing dumplings for my one and only.

Written by Eva Wong Nava.

Illustrated by Natelle Quek.

Walker Books, 2025.

Picture book.

A grandmother’s years of dumpling making – and teaching it to her grandchild – comes to fruition when she is unable to make them herself.

Possible read-alikes:

Laolao's dumplings by Dane Liu and ShinYeon Moon.

Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai.

Amy Wu and the perfect bao by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua.

Thank you, Omu! by Oge Mora.

Drawn together by Minh Lê and Dan Santat.

Harry and Gran bake a cake by Fiona McIntosh & Sara Acton.

A pinch of love by Barry Timms and Tisha Lee.

Thunder cake by Patricia Polacco.

 

Do cows meow?: a lift-the-flap book.

Written and illustrated by Salina Yoon.

Sterling Children's Books, 2012.

Board book.

Rhyming text.

A great book for anticipatory rhymes, relieved by the oversized flaps – which open to reveal the animals’ open mouths.

Possible read-alikes:

Duck goes meow by Juliette MacIver and Carla Martell.

Do crocs kiss? by Salina Yoon.

Hey! Look at you!: a captivating mirror book by Sandra Boynton.

Can you guess?: animal sounds with the very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle.

 

Lily's Hong Kong honey cake.

Written by Erica Lyons.

Illustrated by Bonnie Pang.

Apples & Honey Press, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

Lily and her family celebrate Rosh Hashanah through the years, even when life as a refugee is incredibly tough and uncertain.

Possible read-alongs:

Measuring a year: a Rosh Hashanah story by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Zara Gonzalez Hoang.

Something new for Rosh Hashanah by Jane Yolen and Christine Battuz.

Noah's new home by Zeshan Akhter and illustrated by Nabila Adani.

Zahra's blessing: a Ramadan story by Shirin Shamsi and Manal Mirza.

The best kind of mooncake by Pearl AuYeung.

Zombie and Brain are friends.

Written by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic.

Illustrated by Laan Cham.

Bloomsbury Childrens Books, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

Zeb comes from a family of zombies who farm brains. Can the cutest little brain in the world make them change their minds? Pet or food?

Reminiscent of Charlotte’s web.

Possible read-alongs:  

The farmer and the clown by Marla Frazee.

When dinosaurs walked the Earth by Sean Taylor and Zehra Hicks.

The brilliant brain: how it works and how to look after it by Roopa Farooki and Viola Wang.

The Boo Zoo by Kyle Mewburn and Lisa Allen.

The Thing at 52 by Ross Montgomery and Richard Johnson.

Zombelina by Kristyn Crown and Molly Idle.

The knight and the dragon by Tomie dePaola.

 

Shipwreck.

Written by Deirdre Laide.

Illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aquilera.

Tilbury House Publishers, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Large format.

Famous shipwrecks and the science behind their discoveries.

Possible read-alikes:

The treasure hunt: true stories of treasures lost, stolen and found by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and Gordy Wright.

Ship by David Macaulay.

Wrecked by Rebecca Siegel and Howard Gray.

The sinking of the Vasa: a shipwreck of titanic proportions by Russell Freedman and William Low.

 

The world ocean.

Written by Anita Ganeri.

Illustrated by Josy Bloggs.

Wayland, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.  

A solid introduction to the oceans, their inhabitants, and their threats.

Possible read-alongs:

Drop into the ocean: a tour of the world's oceans and seas by Karen Wasson and Marta Tesoro.

Waterworlds by Anna Claybourne and Kerry Hyndman.

Our blue planet by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and Emily Dove.

From shore to ocean floor by Gill Arbuthnott and Christopher Nielsen.

The sea: exploring our blue planet by Miranda Krestovnikoff and Jill Calder.

How deep is the ocean? by Steve Setford and Dan Crisp.

 

The story of portraits: 40,000 years of the human face.

Written by Mick Manning.

Illustrated by Brita Granström.

Franklin Watts, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

A fascinating and quite wide-ranging exploration of portraiture through the ages.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Possible read-alongs:

The story of paintings: a history of art for children by Mick Manning and Brita Granström.

The spectacular science of art by Rob Colson and Moreno Chiacchiera.

This book will make you an artist by Ruth Millington and Ellen Surrey.

A whole world of art: a time-travelling trip through a whole world of art by Sarah Phillips and Dion MBD.

A world of art by James Brown and Helena Hunt.

The bigger picture: women who changed the art world by Sophia Bennett and Manjit Thapp.

Meowsterpieces by Jenn Bailey and Nyangsongi.

Rainforest: open your eyes to a world of discovery.

Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Clarity of message and image, as to be expected from a DK nonfiction title.

Possible read-alongs:

Up in the canopy: explore the rainforest layer by layer by James Aldred and Good Wives and Warriors.

In the rainforest by Cameron Menzies and Marc Pattenden.

Wilderness: Earth's amazing habitats by Mia Cassany and Marcos Navarro.

The world's wildest places by Lily Dyu and Riley Samels

One world: 24 hours on planet Earth by Nicola Davies and Jenni Desmond.

Weekend reads: 22 February 2026: Part five

 

How to be a cat.

Written by Juliette MacIver.

Illustrated by Carla Martell.

Scholastic New Zealand Limited, 2024.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

Duck and his mumma were first introduced in Duck goes meow.

In this, Duck questions his place – is he really a cat? But, his mumma is very reassuring – and his siblings back him up against the bullies.

Possible read-alikes:

• Duckat by Gaelyn Gordon and Chris Gaskin.
• The only dinosaur in school by Leonie Agnew and Julia Hegetusch.
• Guji Guji by Chih-Yuan Chen.
• Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts.
• The odd egg by Emily Gravett.

 

 

Written by Juliette MacIver.

Illustrated by Carla Martell.

Scholastic New Zealand Limited, 2025.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

A new Duck adventure! Following on from: Duck goes meow and How to be a cat.

Duck shows off his impressive linguistic skills!

Possible read-alikes:

• Dazzlehands by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan.
• Moo, baa, la la la! by Sandra Boynton.
• No! said Custard the Squirrel by Sergio Ruzzier.
• How to talk like a chicken by Charlie Grandy and Alex G. Griffiths.
• Do cows meow?: a lift-the-flap book by Salina Yoon.
• I can roar like a dinosaur by Karl Newson and Ross Collins.
• What should a horse say? by Fleur McDonald and Annie White.
• Bark, George by Jules Feiffer.

Twisty-turny house.

Written by Lisa Mantchev.

Illustrated by EG Keller.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021.

The cats and dogs live completely separately – until one cat changes it all.

Possible read-alikes:

• Otters vs badgers by Anya Glazer.
• The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
• Along came a different by Tom McLaughlin.
• Who left the light on? by Richard Marnier and Aude Maurel, translated by Emma Ramadan.
• The Kerfuffle by Clotilde Perrin; translated by Daniel Hahn.

Strictly no elephants.

Written by Lisa Mantchev.

Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo.

Picture book.

A story about friendship and pets – and being welcoming.

Possible read-alikes:

• The trouble with giraffes by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo.
• The black and white club by Alice Hemming and Kimberley Scott.
• You must bring a hat by Simon Philip and Kate Hindley.
• The together treehouse by Michael Engler and Joëlle Tourlonias; translated by Polly Lawson.

Roman holiday: the illustrated storybook.

Adapted by Micol Ostow.

Illustrated by Diobelle Cerna.

Insight Editions, 2023.

Picture book.

I am puzzled as to the audience of this.
A picture book, with an ending that isn’t a common one in books aimed at picture book reading-aged children (ie no real happy ending).

A picture book, based on a movie that came out when picture book reading-aged children’s great-grandparents were teens. (Generalising here.)

Mind you, the author has also adapted picture books based on Seinfeld, Gilmore Girls, Friends.

If you want unexpected princess books, then read these instead:

• Princess Charming by Zibby Owens.
• The ogre who wasn’t by Michael Morpurgo and Emily Gravett.
• A monster + princess + shark adventure by Sarah Coyle and Adam Walker-Parker. 
• The lighthouse princess by Susan Wardell and Rose Northey.
• The fierce little woman and the wicked pirate by Joy Cowley (different editions have different illustrators.)

 

Smiling eyes.

Written by Linda Sue Park.

Illustrated by Lenny Wen. 

Allida, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025.

Picture book.

A celebration of Asian eye shapes and hues.

Possible read-alikes:

• Eyes that kiss in the corners, Eyes that speak to the stars, and Eyes that weave the world’s wonders by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho.
• Your name is a song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe.
• Princess hair by Sharee Miller.
• Happy in our skin by Fran Manushkin and Lauren Tobia.

 

The tractor has a wobbly wheel.

Written by Tim Saunders.

Illustrated by Carla Martell.

Allen & Unwin , 2025.

Aotearoa.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

A farm setting with a cumulative tale, of increasing ridiculousness.

Possible read-alikes:

• Tractor by Sally Sutton and Brian Lovelock.
• All of the factors of why I love tractors by Davina Bell and Jenny Løvlie.
• The rusty, trusty tractor by Joy Cowley and Olivier Dunrea.
• My Aunt Mary went shopping by Roger Hall and Daron Parton.

Make new friends.

Written by Joshua David Stein.

Illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio.

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Tomasso is struggling to make human friends, so he makes friends out of the things around him, and tells his father all about them. What will his father do when he finds out?

Possible read-alikes:

• Tilly by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker.
• I'm going to make a friend by Darren Chettyand Sandhya Prabhat.
• The day the crayons made friends by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers.
• Meesha makes friends by Tom Percival.
• A friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey and Mika Song.
• Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egnéus.

Weirdo goes wild.

Written by Zadie Smith and Nick Laird.

Illustrated by Magenta Fox.

Puffin, 2024.

Picture book.

Sequel to Weirdo.

Maud and her human, Kit, are off to camp. Time for new experiences and new friends.

Possible read-alikes:

• Squishy McFluff's camping adventure by Pip Jones and Ella Okstad.
• Ginny's big adventure by Matt Carr.
• The inside dog by Pip Harry and Carolyn Davis.
• Let's go! = haw êkwa! by Julie Flett.

  

If you run out of words.

Written and illustrated by Felicita Sala.

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2024.

Picture book.

When the what-ifs strike, this father reassures his daughter that he will always love her.

Possible read-alikes:

• Keys [also published as When Daddy tucks me in] by Sacha Cotter and Joshua Morgan.
• Somewhere by Robie H. Harris and Armando Mariño.
• Dad by my side by Soosh.
• Now matter what by Debi Gliori.
• Mama, do you love me? by Barbara M. Joosse and Barbara Lavallee.
• Wherever you go by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman.
• I'll be there by Karl Newson and Rosalind Beardshaw.

Weekend reads: 22 February 2026: Part four

 

A hatful of dreams.

Written and illustrated by Bob Graham.

Walker Books, 2025.

Australian.

Picture book.

A story of a magical grandfather – but also a family who are determined to stay in their house, while the street empties around them.

Possible read-alikes:

• The bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane by Mike Lucas and Sofya Karmazina.
• Evelyn Del Rey is moving away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sánchez.
• A sprinkle of happiness by Lucy Rowland and David Litchfield.
• Christmas lights on Mistletoe Street by Kate Thompson and Natelle Quek.
• Windows by Julia Denos and E.B. Goodale.
• The concrete garden by Bob Graham.
• Out of the blue by Robert Tregoning and Stef Murphy.

 

The witching hour.

Written by Jennifer Harris.

Illustrated by Adelina Lirius. 

Picture book.

LGBTQIA+.

Bedtime drama with toddlers and witches.

The toddler seems to have two mothers.

Possible read-alikes:

• Bedtime, not playtime! by Lawrence Schimel & Elina Braslina.
• The kiss by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar.
• It simply can't be bedtime by Pamela Paul and Steven Salerno. 
• The baby who stayed awake forever by Sandra Salsbury. 
• You choose bedtime by Nick Sharratt.
• The witch of Maketu and the bleating lambs by Anika Moa and Rebecca Ter Borg.

The teeny-weeny unicorn.

Written and illustrated by Shawn Harris.

Random House, 2024.

Picture book.

Sequel is The teeny-weeny unicorn’s great big wish.

The problems with being teeny-weeny in a world built for bigger creatures.

Possible read-alikes:

• Tiny T. Rex and the impossible hug by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck.
• Wee unicorn by Meg McLaren.
• Are you big? and Are you small? by Mo Willems.
• The Tiny Explorers by Kat Macleod.
• The littlest yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley.

 

 

The doll box.

Written by Deborah Kelly.

Illustrated by Joanna Bartel.

EK, 2024.

Australian.

Picture book.

Family stories told through dolls of ancestors.

Possible read-alikes:

• A present from the past by Jennifer Beck and Lindy Fisher.
• The Arabic quilt: an immigrant story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan.  
• The most beautiful thing by Kao Kalia Yang and Khoa Le.

 

Freya finds the giants. [no cover available.] 

Written by Johanna Klein.

Illustrated by Ronnie Baker.

Johanna Klein Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Aotearoa New Zealand.

Lessons from Freya’s mother, who has passed away. Not highly recommended.

Possible read-alikes / read instead-ofs:

• Dad, don't miss it! by Qiaoqiao Li.
• A guide to rocks by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan.
• A map into the world by Kao Kalia Yang and Seo Kim.
• Thimble by Rebecca Young and Tull Suwannakit.

Binna's dalgon.

Written and illustrated by Sojung Kim-McCarthy.

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Picture book.

Learning new languages and making new friends in a new country.

Possible read-alikes:

• Shoes off, please by Helena Ku Rhee and Myo Yim.
• Words that taste like home by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira.
• Bilal cooks daal by Aisha Saeed and Anoosha Syed.
• Luli and the language of tea by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum.
• Tomatoes in my lunchbox by Costantia Manoli and Magdalena Mora.
• The name jar by Yangsook Choi.
• Gibberish by Young Vo.

 

 

Hidden gem.

Written and illustrated by Linda Liu.

Henry Holt and Company, 2023.

Picture book.

Can a rock be special when he is ‘just’ a pebble?

Possible read-alikes:

• Rick the rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan.
• Granny Rex by Kurtis Scaletta and Nik Henderson.
• Basil dreams big: perfect for encouraging resilience & self-belief! by Lu Fraser and Sarah Warburton.
• The Museum of Lost Teeth by Elyssa Friedland and Gladys Jose.

Grandmother from the East, grandmother from the West.

Written by Jacinta Liu.

Illustrated by Freda Chiu.

Hachette Australia, 2025.

Picture book.

Australian.

A celebration of two grandmothers of different heritage – but the same love.

Possible read-alikes:

• Nana, Nenek & Nina by Liza Ferneyhough.
• A Grandma's Magic by Asa Gilland.
• Brand-new bubbe by Sarah Aronson and Ariel Landy.
• I'll go and come back by Rajani LaRocca and Sara Palacios.
• Amy Wu and the patchwork dragon by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua.
• Let me fix you a plate: a tale of two kitchens by Elizabeth Lilly.

 

Let me fix you a plate: a tale of two kitchens.

Written and illustrated by Elizabeth Lilly.

Random House, 2021.

Picture book.

Two families, two houses, two family gatherings.

Possible read-alikes:

• Going down home with daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons and Daniel Minter.
• Dumpling day by Meera Sriram, Inés de Antuñano; with recipes by Laurel P. Jackson.
• Our little kitchen by Jillian Tamaki.
• All kinds of special by Tammi Sauer and Fernando Martin.
• Ruby's reunion day dinner by Angela Dalton and Jestenia Southerland.

Laolao's dumplings.

Written by Dane Liu.

Illustrated by ShinYeon Moon.

Goodwin Books, Henry Holt and Company 2023.

Millie’s Laolao is unwell, and Millie is determined to make dumplings to make her better.

A story of community and family.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dancing dumplings for my one and only by Eva Wong Nava and Natelle Quek.
• Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai.
• Great Aunt Margot and me by Bryher Mackenzie and Rhiannon Archard.
• Masala chai, fast and slow by Rajani LaRocca and  Neha Rawat.
• Spicy spicy hot! by Lenny Wen.