World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 0-6: Oceania

  

The goodbye tree.

Written by Pip Harry.

Illustrated by Christina Booth.

Walker Books Australia, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

One summer morning, Nick and his family wake up early, and gather precious things to take with them. Today, they will plant a tree – a tree that will reach towards the sun and bring shade to those who rest beneath it. Together they will sow the seeds of a living memorial to someone who has gone before them, but will never be forgotten.

A gentle, and quietly moving, story.

The only hint this is set in Australia is the kookaburra in one spread.

This shows the reality of a colonised land – the majority culture is not Indigenous to the land – or to Country.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: Asia

 

Electric birds of Pothakudi.

Written by Karthika Nair.

Illustrated by Joëlle Jolivet.

Tate Gallery, 2025.

First published in French by Hélium / Actes Sud 2022.

Sophisticated picture book.

Inspired by a true story about a family of birds nesting in a village's streetlamp, this poetic picture book is a moving exploration of community, solidarity, ecology, and the preservation of wildlife.

Sparked (sorry) by a true story – this is a community and nature centric story which is solidly (and magically) set in rural India.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 0-6: A Language Spoken by a Friend

  

The fluffy futon.

Written and illustrated by Yuichi Kasano.

Translated from Japanese by Cathy Hirano.

Gecko Press, 2026.

Picture book.

Originally published by Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers, Inc., Tokyo, Japan, in 2000 under the title of Under the sun on the fluffy futon.

Grandma spreads her newly washed futon to dry in the sun. The futon is so soft and smells so clean! The cat can't resist nestling down for a snooze. Instead of chasing it away, Grandma settles in alongside, soon followed by the hen and her chicks, a little boy, the dog, the goat, and the pig family. . . . Soon the whole household is taking a nap! Until Grandma starts to find the futon so comfy that no one else can fit.

A fun and cute read. I’ve heard from translators that translating sounds is hard. That emergency service vehicles, and animals, make different sounds in different languages. I wonder how this translator handled them.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 0-6: Asia

 

Our nipa hut: a story in the Philippines.

Written by Rachell Abalos; illustrated by Gabriela Larios.

Barefoot Books, 2024.

Picture book.

Yelena and Papa take care of their traditional Filipino dwelling - their nipa hut - and it takes care of them. But when a tropical storm roars towards the Philippines, their preparation will be put to the test. Gripping narrative will keep young readers glued to the pages as Yelena, Papa and the nipa hut work together as a family to withstand the storm.

The importance of traditions and community, and the impact of climate change.

The author based the story of her childhood experiences. She now lives in the USA.

The illustrator is from El Salvador, and now lives in the UK.

World Kid Lit Month 2026: Explorer Challenger: 7-12: The Americas

  

Imagine!

Written and illustrated by Raúl Colón.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018.

Wordless sophisticated picture book.

When a boy visits an art museum and one of the paintings comes to life, he has an afternoon of adventure and discovery [that] changes how he sees the world ever after.

The power of art to transform and change lives.

Set and embedded in New York.