A mid-week edition.
The man whose mother was a pirate.
Written by Margaret Mahy.
Illustrated by Emma Collicott, winner of the 2025 Margaret
Mahy Illustration Prize.
Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand, 2026.
Aotearoa. Picture book.
I am unconvinced by the age difference in the illustrations
– the mother and son appear similar ages, if not the mother younger.
Other details in the illustrations are lovely, and they need
detailed observation.
The title always makes me smile, and reminds me of the child
who once asked me for the book “The pirate whose mother was a man.”
Possible read-alikes:
- The pirate mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant and Lydia Corry.
- My mom is a lioness by Swapna Haddow and Dapo Adeola.
- Never mess with a pirate princess by Holly Ryan and Siân Roberts.
- The pirates are coming! by John Condon and Matt Hunt.
Home.
Written by Rory H. Mather.
Illustrated by Matt Shanks.
Scholastic Australia, 2026.
Picture book.
Rhyming text.
Different home environments. Diverse people, including
refugees.
Possible read-alikes:
- Where the heart is by Shirley Marr and Michael Speechley.
- Home by Carson Ellis.
- You are the color by Rifk Ebeid and Noor Alshalabi.
- A home is a nest by Emma Carlisle.
- The suitcase and The teacup by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros.
A crinkled screaming thing.
Written by Sarah Tagholm.
Illustrated by Ruby Wright.
Andersen Press, 2026.
Picture book.
Baby’s point of view, from newborn to a toddler and big
sibling.
I love Tagholm’s word choice – she’s so much fun to read
aloud!
Possible read-alikes:
- Julius, the baby of the world by Kevin Henkes.
- This baby is not cute! by Miranda Birthisel and Jedda Robaard.
- Being the biggest by Molly Mead and Antonia Woodward.
- How to welcome a new baby by Jean Reagan and Lee Wildish.
- My brother the duck by Pat Zietlow Miller and Daniel Wiseman.
- When I'm big by Karen Blair.
Thesaurus has a secret.
Written and illustrated by Anya Glazer.
HarperCollinsPublishers, 2020.
Picture book.
Secret is the love of reading. Ends up converting all the
dinosaurs into loving storytime.
Possible read-alikes:
- Ronan the librarian by Tara Luebbe, Becky Cattie, and Victoria Maderna.
- Oliver and George by Peter Carnavas.
- Just one more story by Perry Emerson and Sean Julian.
- I will read to you by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso.
Chick pea.
Written and illustrated by Steve Antony.
Macmillan Children's Books, 2025.
Rainbow of food. And peas.
Possible read-alikes:
- The very hungry caterpillar eats dinner: a shapes book by illustrated by Eric Carle.
- Roll, roll, little pea by Bergame Cecile.
- Food fight by Alex Latimer.
- Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace.
- The monster mac and cheese party by Todd Parr.
- A little book about food by Leo Lionni and Jan Gerardi.
The library in the woods.
Written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey.
Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.
Carolrhoda Books, 2025.
Picture book.
Based on the author’s story. Segregation. Illiteracy.
Possible read-alikes:
- The little street library by Amy Adeney and Erin McClean.
- The great book-swapping machine by Emma Allen and Lisa Coutts.
- The horseback librarians by Jane Yolen and Alexandra Badiu.
- A library by Nikki Giovanni and Erin K. Robinson.
- Nour's secret library by Wafa' Tarnowska and Vali Mintzi.
- The librarian's stories by Lucy Falcone and Anna Wilson.
Better pets.
Written by Leigh Bardugo.
Illustrated by Liz Climo.
Roaring Brook Press, 2026.
Picture book.
Rhyming text – sort of. Pets rhyme with people’s names.
Salesman going OTT.
Possible read-alikes:
- Mr Price's Pet Emporium by Millie Lewis and Maria Bazykina.
- Miss Turie's magic by Joy Keller and Richard Watson.
- Would you rather? by Claire Philip and Abigail Tompkins.
- What pet should I get? by Dr. Seuss.
And then came you: when families grow, love grows too.
Written by Christina Shawn.
Illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani.
Chronicle
Books, [2025.
Picture book.
Rhyming text.
New family. Stepfather, pets, baby.
Possible read-alikes:
- Love comes first by Jenna Bush Hager, Barbara Pierce Bush, and Ramona Kaulitzki.
- Martha maps it out with family by Leigh Hodgkinson.
- Our family zoo by Maura Pierlot and A Yi.
- Family forest by Kim Kane and Lucia Masciullo.
- The pumpkin seed by Poppy O'Neill and Brizida Magro.
- Changing tides by Júlia Moscardó.
- Enough love? by Maggie Hutchings and Evie Barrow.
I fell in a hole.
Written and illustrated by Claire Zorn.
Walker Books Australia, 2026.
Australian.
Picture book.
Conversation – could make a good readers theatre. Helping
and problem solving.
Possible read-alikes:
- Meerkat mayhem by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek.
- Lucy fell down the mountain by Kevin Cornell.
- A cure for the hiccups by Jennifer E. Smith and Brandon James Scott.
- The hole by Kerry Brown and Lucia Masciullo.
- Sam & Dave dig a hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.
Read all about it!
Written by Benjamin Hall.
Illustrated by Martina Motzo.
HarperCollinsPublishers, 2026.
Picture book.
News, adventure – hedgehogs! Also a bit didactic – moral
about doing the right thing, even if it means breaking the rules (sort of, but
not really.)
Possible read-alikes:
- Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly.
- The bear, the piano, and Little Bear's concert by David Litchfield.
- Pricklepaper's letter magic by Tom Read Wilson and Rebecca Bagley.
- What do you do with a chance? by Kobi Yamada and Mae Besom.
