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:

• 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.

Weekend reads roundup: 29 March 2026

 

A kids book about goals.

Written by Sean Oulashin.

DK publishing, 2026.

Part of a series, which are well-being but feel unfinished? Once over lightly? Incomplete? Just somehow lacking.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• You are a champion: how to be the best you can be by Marcus Rashford with Carl Anka.
• Be amazing!: an inspiring guide to being your own champion by Chris Hoy.
• 13 things strong kids do: think big, feel good, act brave by Amy Morin and Jennifer Naalchigar.
• Here's to your dreams! by Dave Hollis.
• Live your dreams by Ian Thorpe.

  

  

A taste of home.

Written by Maryam Hassan.

Illustrated by Anna Wilson.

Hodder Children's Books, 2025.

How can Tariq choose just one favourite food to share at his class picnic.

Food is a story. Food is love. Food is family.

Possible read-alikes:

• Lunch from home by Joshua David Stein and Jing Li; contributions from Niki Russ Federman, Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, and Mina Park.
• Our little kitchen by Jillian Tamaki.
• Tea is love by Adib Khorram and Hanna Cha.
• My rice is best! by Selina Brown and Maxwell A. Oginni.
• A fine feast by Arifa Afzal and Nekhat Sultana.
• Sankofa: a culinary story of resilience and belonging by Eric Adjepong and Lala Watkins.
• All kinds of special by Tammi Sauer and Fernando Martin. 

Mighty scared: the amazing ways animals defend themselves.

Written by Erin Silver.

Illustrated by Hayden Maynard.

Orca, 2024.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Vomit, snot, slime, blood. All the gross stuff!

Possible read-alikes:

• Fish farts: and other amazing ways animals adapt by Joanne Settel and Natasha Donovan.
• Nature's wildlife weapons by James Ryan.
• How not to get eaten by Josette Reeves and Asia Orlando.
• Ick!: delightfully disgusting animal dinners, dwellings, and defenses by Melissa Stewart.
• When lunch fights back: wickedly clever animal defenses by Rebecca L. Johnson.

  

Tea is love.

Written by Adib Khorram.

Illustrated by Hanna Cha.

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Rituals across cultures unites people through tea.

Possible read-alikes:

• Luli and the language of tea by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum.
• Masala chai, fast and slow by Rajani LaRocca and Neha Rawat.
• Stay for dinner by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira. 

Galaxy mapper: the luminous discoveries of astrophysicist Hélène Courtois.

Written by Allie Summers.

Illustrated by Sian James.

Mit Kids Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press 2025.

Sophisticated picture book biography.

A luminous biography of an unknown-to-me scientist.

More picture book biographies of women scientists:

• Queen of the Cosmos: Beatrice Hill Tinsley by Maria Gill and Alistair Hughes.
• The girl who drew butterflies: how Maria Merian's art changed science by Joyce Sidman.
• The fossil hunter by Kate Winter.
• Secrets of the sea: the story of Jeanne Power, revolutionary marine scientist by Evan Griffith and Joanie Stone.
• Dr Donna Rose Addis: Samoan neuroscientist by David Riley.
• The woman in the moon: how Margaret Hamilton helped fly the first astronauts to the moon by Richard Maurer.
• The girl who thought in pictures: the story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca and Daniel Rieley. 
• Comet chaser: the true Cinderella story of Caroline Herschel, the first professional woman astronomer by Pamela S. Turner and Vivien Mildenberger.
• The girl with a mind for math: the story of Raye Montague by Julia Finley Mosca and Daniel Rieley.
• Shark lady: the true story of how Eugenie Clark became the ocean's most fearless scientist by Jess Keating and Marta Álvarez Miguéns.
• Counting on Katherine: how Katherine Johnson saved Apollo 13 by Helaine and Dow Phumiruk.
• Nothing stopped Sophie: a story of unshakable mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe and Barbara McClintock.
• Breaking through the clouds: the sometimes turbulent life of meteorologist Joanne Simpson by Sandra Nickel andHelena Perez Garcia.
• Ocean speaks: how Marie Tharp revealed the ocean's biggest secret by Jess Keating and Katie Hickey.
• The stuff between the stars: how Vera Rubin discovered most of the universe by Sandra Nickel and Aimée Sicuro.
• Maryam's magic: the story of mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani by Megan Reid and Aaliya Jaleel.
• Grace Hopper: queen of computer code by Laurie Wallmark and Katy Wu.
• Ada Lovelace, poet of science: the first computer programmer by Diane Stanley and Jessie Hartland.
• Hedy Lamarr by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Maggie Cole. 

Stalactite & Stalagmite: a big tale from a little cave.

Written and illustrated by Drew Beckmeyer.

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

Eons of time. Mixed media / collage illustrations.

Possible read-alikes:

• Once upon a time there was and will be so much more by Johanna Schaible.
• A stone is a story by Leslie Barnard Booth and Marc Martin.
• The tree and the river by Aaron Becker.
• One day this tree will fall by Leslie Barnard Booth and Stephanie Fizer Coleman.
• The oak tree by Julia Donaldson and Victoria Sandoy.
• The street beneath my feet by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer.
• The stuff of stars by Marion Dane Bauer and Ekua Holmes.
• We, the curious ones by Marion Dane Bauer and Hari & Deepti.
• A stone sat still by Brendan Wenzel.
• Life after whale: the amazing ecosystem of a whale fall by Lynn Brunelle and Jason Chin.
• We go way back by Idan Ben-Barak and Philip Bunting.

 

A monstrous bedtime.

Written and illustrated by Kerilynn Wilson.

Greenwillow Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Trying to keep to good and healthy bedtime routines is important – even if you’re a monster under the bed.

Possible read-alikes:

• If your monster won't go to bed by Denise Vega and Zachariah Ohora.
• It simply can't be bedtime by Pamela Paul and Steven Salerno.
• A good night's sleep by Emma Chichester Clark.
• This is not a sleepy bear book by Brian Gehrlein and Jennifer Harney.
• Bunny should be sleeping by Amy Hest and Renata Liwska.
• Are you a sleepy monster? by Guilherme Karsten.
• Sheep number 19 by Blanca Lacasa and Jorge Martín, translated by Cecilia Ross. 

Iti the hungry fairy tern.

Written by Rowe.

Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbs.

Duck Creek Press, 2025.

Picture book.

An earnest book, written to support organisations which are working towards conserving tara iti – the fairy tern. [https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/fairy-tern]

Possible read-alikes / alongs:

• Old Blue: the rarest bird in the world by Mary Taylor.
• Ria the reckless wrybill by Jane Buxton and Jenny Cooper.
• Pip and Zip by Elana K. Arnold and Doug Salati.
• Seree's story by Irma Gold and Wayne Harris.

 

Floor it!

Written by Bex Tobin Fine.

Illustrated by Federico Fabiani.

Random House, 2025.

Picture book.

Rhyming.

Life as a crawling toddler – from their point of view.

Possible read-alikes:

• Hello little ones by Amandine Piu.
• Bubble trouble by Margaret Mahy and Polly Dunbar.
• Tumblebaby by Adam Rex and Audrey Helen Weber. 
• Bhangra Baby by Kabir Sehgal, Surishtha Sehgal and Ani Bushry.
• Attack of the giant baby! by David Lucas and Bruce Ingman.
• Avocado baby by John Burningham.
• My brother the duck by Pat Zietlow Miller and Daniel Wiseman.
• Tessa takes wing by Richard Jackson and Julie Downing.

 

 

How to catch an idea.

Written and illustrated by Forest Xiao.

Orchard Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Like it says in the title.

Possible read-alikes:

• What do you do with an idea? by Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom.
• Where's your creativity? by Aaron Rosen, Riley Watts, and Marika Maijala.
• I have an idea! by Hervé Tullet, translated by Christopher Franceschelli.
• This that what by Katy Ashworth and Colleen Larmour.
• Think a thought: a book about mindfulness by Conor McGlauflin and Hannah Zisman.
• Catching thoughts by Bonnie Clark and Summer Macon.

 

Sunshine pie: a story to grow, bake and share.

Written and illustrated by Sarah Edmonds.

Welbeck Flame, 2023.

Picture book.

From farm to table – an introduction to where food comes from, and the importance of sunshine. Possible read-alikes:

• Apple cake by Dawn Casey and Genevieve Godbout.
• Harry and Gran bake a cake by Fiona McIntosh and Sara Acton.
• To stir with love by Kate Mildenhall.
• A pinch of love by Barry Timms and Tisha Lee.
• Enough apples by Kim Kane and Lucia Masciullo.
• Wolfie's secret by Nicola Senior.
• How to make an apple pie and see the world by Marjorie Priceman.
• Rabbit's pancake picnic by Tegen Evans and Paula Bowles.
• Pie is for sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard and Jason Chin.  
• We give thanks by Cynthia Rylant and Sergio Ruzzier. 

Cat nap.

Written and illustrated by Brian Lies.

Greenwillow, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

Mixed media art.

A cat journeys through treasures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Incredible artwork in the style of the pieces, from ceramic sculpture to stained glass, and woodwork.

Possible read-alikes:

• To every thing there is a season by Leo & Diane Dillon.
• Anna at the art museum by Hazel Hutchins, Gail Herbert, and Lil Crump.
• Meowsterpieces by Jenn Bailey and Nyangsongi.
• The shape game and Willy’s pictures by Anthony Browne.
• Cars! Cars! Cars!: featuring cars from the collection of The Museum of Modern Art by Kimi Weart.
• Mayhem at the museum by Luciano Lozano.
• A gallery of cats by Ruth Brown.
• Miffy and the artists by Dick Bruna.
• My New Zealand ABC book: learn the alphabet with art and objects from Te Papa by James Brown and Frances Samuel.
• Henri and the machine by Isabella Marinov and Olga Shtonda.
• My museum by Joanne Liu.
• Katie and the Mona Lisa by James Mayhew.
• Creatures: Aotearoa by Dylan Owen.
• Mildred the gallery cat by Jono Ganz.

 

 

Wiggler's big joke.

Written and illustrated by Kaeti Vandorn.

Holiday House, 2026.

Beginner graphic novel.

What makes a friend? Is it just having fun and playing around? Or is it caring about what your fiends need.

Possible read-alikes:

• Zilbo's forest. What's up with that? by Summer Benton.
• I am not okay by David DeGrand.
• Froggy: a pond full of pals! by Paige Walshe.
• Cranky chicken by Katherine Battersby.
• Worm and Butterfly are friends always by Kaz Windness.
• Stick Dog Meets Poo-Poo by Tom Watson. 
• Pizza and Taco: who's the best? by Stephen Shaskan. 

Jayden noticed.

Written by Carolyn Crimi.

Illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice.

Candlewick Press, 2026.

Picture book.

Mixed media.

Moving house can be tricky, especially when you are neurodiverse.

A story of quiet moments and observation.

Possible read-alikes:

• A pocket full of rocks by Kristin Mahoney and E.B. Goodale.
• In-between places by Alex Killian and Grady McFerrin.
• My tree by Hope Lim and Il Sung Na.
• The space between by Clare Helen Welsh and Fiona Lumbers.
• I'm going to make a friend by Darren Chetty and Sandhya Prabhat.
• Wild by Katya Balen and Gill Smith.
• The girl who loves bugs by Lily Murray and Jenny Løvlie.
• Ghost orchid by Fiona Lumbers.
• Nature trail by Benjamin Zephaniah and Nila Aye.
• Into the wild by Robert Vescio and Mel Armstrong.
• Look up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola.
• These are my rocks: a story about collecting by Bethan Woollvin.

 

 

Dropping a stitch.

Written by Steve Heron.

Illustrated by Marika Monesi.

Dixi Books, 2023.

Picture book.

A story of dementia – this time with a great-grandmother.

A message book. very earnest – but not necessarily a good read. Seems a bit superficial.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• Coffee, rabbit, snowdrop, lost by Betina Birkjær and Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard, translated by Sinéad Quirke Køngerskov.
• Maia and what matters by Tine Mortier, Kaatje Vermeire, translated by David Colmer.
• Mile high apple pie by Laura Langston and Lindsey Gardiner.
• Blimmin' Koro! = Kātahi rā, e Koro e! by Jill Bevan-Brown and Trish Bowles, Māori translation by Māhaki Bevan-Brown.
• A lemon for Safiya by Jemima Shafei-Ongu and Nisaluk Chantanakom.
• Little Mamá Forgets by Robin Cruise and Stacey Dressen-McQueen.
• I remember by Jeanne Willis and Raquel Catalina.
• The tide by Clare Helen Welsh and Ashling Lindsay.
• Grandad's star by Frances Tosdevin and Rhian Stone.
• A doll for grandma: a story about Alzheimer's disease by Paulette Bochnig Sharkey and Samantha Woo.
• Great Aunt Margot and me by Bryher Mackenzie and Rhiannon Archard.
• Holding on by Sophia N. Lee and Isabel Roxas.
• Witch Hazel by Molly Idle.
• The girl and the mermaid by Hollie Hughes and Sarah Massini.
• The Forgettery by Rachel Ip and Laura Hughes.

  

Daisy.

Written and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley.

Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2021.

Picture book.

Daisy is teased at school, so she keeps to herself and keeps her head down. She starts collecting broken things – which leads to a new friend.

An actually heart-breaking book.

Possible read-alikes:

• Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes.
• The invisible boy by Patrice Barton.
• Bird Boy by Matthew Burgess and Shahrzad Maydani.
• A pocket full of rocks by Kristin Mahoney and E.B. Goodale.
• Jayden noticed by Carolyn Crimi and Shamar Knight-Justice.
• Hope in a jar by Deborah Marcero.
• Nerdycorn by Andrew Root and Erin Kraan.
• These are my rocks: a story about collecting by Bethan Woollvin.
• The word collector by Peter H. Reynolds. 

Spicy spicy hot!

Written and illustrated by Lenny Wen.

Little, Brown and Company, 2023.

Trying to connect with a grandmother, who doesn’t speak the same language, and lives in another country. Food is often a wonderful way of connecting.

Possible read-alikes:

• When Lola visits by Michelle Sterling and Aaron Asis.
• Drawn together by Minh Lê and Dan Santat.
• Grandpa across the ocean by Hyewon Yum.
• My day with gong gong by Sennah Yee and Elaine Chen.
• Sari-sari summers by Lynnor Bontigo.
• Sitti’s secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye and Nancy Carpenter.
• When I found Grandma by Saumiya Balasubramaniam by Qin Leng.
• A gift for Ana by Jane Va’afusuaga and Azra Pinder-Pancho. 

Rocket beams, lunar dreams.

Written by Chiara Colombi.

Illustrated by Scott Magoon.

Viking, 2025.

Picture book.

Rocket is jealous that Lander gets to land on, and explore, the Moon – while Rocket just does a fly-by and returns to Earth.

Possible read-alikes:

• Rocket ship, solo trip by Chiara Colombi and Scott Magoon.
• The darkest dark by Chris Hadfield, Kate Fillion, and the Fan Brothers.
• Zoom! by Sam Usher.
• Touch the moon by Phil Cummings and Coral Tulloch.
• Margot and the moon landing by A. C. Fitzpatrick and Erika Medina.
• The rabbit listened by Cori Doerrfeld. 

Muttonfish magic.

Written by Aunty Ruth Simms and Lucy Robertson.

Illustrated by Jasmine Seymour. 

Magabala Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian. Indigenous voices.

Traditional knowledge shared and passed down.

Possible read-alikes:

• Going for pippies by Wilaaran Laurie and Tori-Jay Mordey.
• Sharing by Aunty Fay Muir, Sue Lawson, and Leanne Mulgo Watson.
• Yildaan: our dreaming track by Uncle Bud Marshall, Yandaarra, Hannah Smith, and Elaine Carmady.
• Going fishing with Nana by Frances and Lindsay Haji-Ali, and Karen Briggs.
• Nanny Mihi's harvest = Te hauhake a Nanny Mihi by Melanie Drewery, and Suzanne Simpson; te reo Māori translation by Kanapu Rangitauira.
• Nanny Mihi's medicine = Ngā Rongoā a Nanny Mihi by Melanie Drewery, and Suzanne Simpson; te reo Māori translation by Kanapu Rangitauira. 

What would you say to an astronaut?

Written by Adam Guillain and Charlotte Guillain.

Illustrated by Gareth Conway.

Hodder Children’s Books, 2025.

Picture book.

An adventure through space with aliens, space races, and a dog.

Possible read-alikes:

• Forever star by Gareth Peter and Judi Abbot.
• Mara the space traveler by An Leysen.
• Argh! There's a skeleton inside you! by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost.
• Out there by Tom Sullivan.
• Max and Moonbean by Rob Scotton.
• The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
• Bloop by Tara Lazar and Mike Boldt.
• Suzy Orbit, astronaut by Ruth Quayle and Jez Tuya.
• Grandmas from Mars by Michelle Robinson and Fred Blunt. 

 

The day the crayons made friends.

Written by Drew Daywalt.

Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

HarperCollins, 2025.

Picture book.

There are many books in The day the crayons… series.

This time, the crayons have gone exploring and are sending letters home to Duncan.

Possible read-alikes:

• Can I be your dog? by Troy Cummings.
• Letters to a monster by Patricia Forde and Sarah Warburton.
• Fox and the mystery letter by Alex G. Griffiths.

 

Where the dead live.

Written by Sam Fern.

Illustrated by Rômolo D'Hipólito.

Templar Books, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Folklore, mythology, and cultural practices around death and the dead – from around the world and through time.

Possible read-alikes:

• Secrets of the dead: mummies and other human remains from around the world by Matt Ralphs and Gordy Wright.
• Rites of passage by Jacqueline Dineen and Robert Ingpen.
• An atlas of afterlives: discover underworlds, otherworlds and heavenly realms by Emily Hawkins and Manasawii.
• Where do they go? by Julia Alvarez and Sabra Field. 

There's a ghost in this house.

Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2021.

Sophisticated picture book.

Transparent pages make this a riotous read – one where the illustrations definitely make the story.

Possible read-alikes:

• No such thing by Ella Bailey.
• Hardly haunted by Jessie Sima.
• Ghostie by Stephanie Owen Reeder and Mel Armstrong.
• The house on the hill by Kyle Mewburn and Sarah Davis.
• There's no such thing as ghosts by Lucy Rowland.
• The little ghost who was a quilt by Riel Nason and Byron Eggenschwiler.
• Gustavo the shy ghost by Flavia Z. Drago.
• My cat can see ghosts by Emily Joe.
• Hide and seek by Katie May Green.  
• The skull: a Tyrolean folktale by Jon Klassen. 
• Georgie by Robert Bright. 

The Kiss.

Written by Eoin McLaughlin.

Illustrated by Polly Dunbar.

Faber and Faber Limited, 2023.

Picture book.

Read back-to-back / flip-book – the same words but different animals – this is the companion to The hug. Will anyone kiss the babies goodnight?

Possible read-alikes:

• Kiss the Crocodile by Sean Taylor and Ben Mantle.
• Just a little hug by Greg Gormley and Stef Murphy.
• Hug me by Simona Ciraolo. I need a hug by Aaron Blabey.
• How to make a bedtime by Meg McKinlay and Karen Blair.
• Same love, different hug by Sarah Hovorka and Abbey Bryant.
• Nobody hugs a cactus by Carter Goodrich.  
• Hug machine by Scott Campbell.
• How to hug a cactus by Emily S. Smith and Aleksandra Szmidt.
• Big Bear is coming!: hear, smell, see, run! by Anuska Allepuz. 

The voyage that changed the world: the epic story of the first crew to sail around the globe.

Written and illustrated by Thekla Priebst.

Wide Eyed Editions, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Ferdinand Magellan’s journey. Emphasis on spice trade and the Moluccas. Also mention of the Doctrine of Discovery.

Possible read-alongs:

• True story by Robyn Kahukiwa.
• Tupia, Isaac & Cook : the search for 'The Great South Land' by Mark Wilson.
• The adventures of Tupaia by Courtney Sina Meredith and Mat Tait.
• The unlikely story of Bennelong and Phillip by Michael Sedunary and Bern Emmerichs.
• We are explorers: extraordinary women who discovered the world by Kari Herbert.
• The atlas of great journeys by Philip Steele and Christian Gralingen.
• The incredible yet true adventures of Alexander von Humboldt: the greatest inventor-naturalist-scientist-explorer who ever lived by Volker Mehnert, Claudia Lieb, translated by Becky L. Crook.
• Amazing expeditions: journeys that changed the world by Anita Ganeri and Michael Mullan.
• Incredible journeys: discovery, adventure, danger, endurance by Levison Wood and Sam Brewster.

 

My heart was a tree: poems and stories to celebrate trees.

Written by Michael Morpurgo.

Illustrated by Yuval Zommer.

Two Hoots, 2023.

Inspired by a Ted Hughes poem, this collection crosses styles, times, and the world.

“My Own True Family”

Once I crept in an oakwood—I was looking for a stag.

I met an old woman there—all knobbly stick and rag.

She said: ‘I have your secret here inside my little bag.’

 

Then she began to cackle and I began to quake.

She opened up her little bag and I came twice awake—

Surrounded by a staring tribe and me tied to a stake.

They said: ‘We are the oak-trees and your own true family.

We are chopped down, we are torn up, you do not blink an eye.

Unless you make a promise now—now you are going to die.’

‘Whenever you see an oak-tree felled, swear now you will plant two.

Unless you swear the black oak bark will wrinkle over you

And root you among the oaks where you were born but never grew.’

This was my dream beneath the boughs, the dream that altered me.

When I came out of the oakwood, back to human company,

My walk was the walk of a human child, but my heart was a tree.

 

Possible read-alongs:

• A year of nature poems by Joseph Coelho and Kelly Louise Judd.
• The letterbox cat and other poems by Paula Green and Myles Lawford.
• Wonder: the Natural History Museum poetry book chosen by Ana Sampson.
• Our Earth is a poem: poetry about nature.
• Poems to save the world with chosen and illustrated by Chris Riddell.
• Poems from a green and blue planet edited by Sabrina Mahfouz, illustrated by Aaron Cushley.
• Outside in: nature poems by Daniel Thompson and Julia Murray.
• I am the seed that grew the tree selected by Fiona Waters, illustrated by Frann Presto-Gannon.
• Out there in the wild: poems on nature by Nicola Davies, James Carter, Dom Conlon, illustrated by Diana Catchpole.
• National Geographic book of nature poetry: with favorites from Langston Hughes, Naomi Shihab Nye, Billy Collins, and more: more than 200 poems with photographs that float, zoom, and bloom! edited by J. Patrick Lewis.

 

Mo's stick.

Written and illustrated by Fiona Lumbers.

Little Tiger, 2026.

Picture book.

A tale about imagination and play; disappointment and celebration.

Possible read-alikes:

• What to do with a stick by Jane Yolen and Paolo Domeniconi.
• Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld.
• Not a stick by Antoinette Portis.
• Imagine that by Jonathan D. Voss.

 

 

The lucky shack.

Written by Apsara Baldovino.

Illustrated by Jennifer Faulkner.

Working Title Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books, 2023.

Australian.

Picture book.

A journey through years and seasons, from the point of view of a seaside shack.

Possible read-alikes:

• Home for Margaret by Denise Davy and Bérengère Delaporte.
• Enchanted beach by Esther Freud and Emma Chinnery.
• Birdsong by Julie Flett.
• House finds a home by Katy S. Duffield and Jen Corace.
• The happy house by Elena Feldman and Irina Avgustinovich.
• A house that once was by Julie Fogliano and Lane Smith. 

A boy, his dog and the sea.

Written and illustrated by Anthony Browne.

Walker Books, 2023.

Picture book.

A reluctant dog walk to the beach reveals drama.

A loving memorial to a loved, and missed, brother.

Possible read-alikes:

• Gigantic by Rob Biddulph.
• A friend for George by Gabriel Evans.
• There might be lobsters by Carolyn Crimi and Laurel Molk.
• Granny and Bean by Karen Hesse and Charlotte Voake.
• Fetch by Jorey Hurley.
• Maybe later, Georgie by Luke Scriven.
• I am a bird by Dana Walrath and Jaime Kim.
• The world awaits by Tomos Roberts and Nomoco.
• Night on the sand by Monica Mayper and Jaime Kim.
• I hear you, ocean by Kallie George and Carmen Mok.  
• The turtle who turned the tide by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. 

Peter & Ernesto: a tale of two sloths.

Written and illustrated by Graham Annable.

First Second, an imprint of Roaring Book Press, 2018.

Graphic novel.

Sold to me as “I think the sloths are gay! They’re so lovely.”

So – of course, I had to read it.

Possible read-alikes:

• Pocket Peaches by Dora Wang.
• Sloth sleuth by Cyndia Marko.
• Bug scouts by Mike Lowery.
• Bug boys by Laura Knetzger.
• Pencil & Eraser by Jenny Alvarado.
• Worm and Butterfly are friends always by Kaz Windness.
• Pizza and Taco by Stephen Shaskan.
• Bitty and Bub: best buds by Janee Trasler.
• Baloney and friends by Grey Pizzoli.