Weekend Reads: 10 November 2024

The Iguanodon's Horn: how artists and scientists put a dinosaur back together again and again - - and again. 

By Sean Rubin. 

Clarion Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9780063239210. 

Great introduction to dinosaurs, seen through the lens of whatever was known - or believed - at the time. 

Where's My Pet? Whiskers: with lift-and-find flaps.  

By Beth Hamilton and Carly Gledhill. 

Little Tiger, 2024. 

ISBN 9781838915650. 

Board book. 

Simple, fun, and a cute ending. 

Who's Jolly? 

By Camilla Reid and Nila Aye. 

Macmillan Children's, 2024. 

ISBN 9781035031702. 

Board Book. Lift-the-flap.

Christmas. 

Solid offering. Nothing dramatic. 

Cheese! 

By Felice Arena and Beatrice Cerocchi. 

Affirm Press, 2024. 

ISBN 9781922992833. 

Australian. 

Rhyming Text. And how do you get cheese names to rhyme like that! 

Read alongside Pasta by the same creators. 

Nose to Nose. 

By Thyra Heder. 

Abrams Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781419757518. 

Really interesting way to convey the importance of scent marking with dogs. And, of trying to fit in. 

The Young Queens Collection: The Curious Crown. 

By Megan Hess. 

Hardie Grant, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761212673. 

Christmas. 

Rhyming couplets. 

Serviceable, but slightly leaden rhymes. The creator knows her audience, and caters to it. 

Busy Betty & the Perfect Christmas Present. 

By Reese Witherspoon and Xindi Yan. 

Puffin Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761047527. 

Christmas. 

A serviceable Christmas story about the importance of caring - and that it isn't about money or buying presents. 

Where To Hide a Star. 

By Oliver Jeffers. 

HarperCollins, 2024. 

ISBN 9780008579685. 

The sequel to: 

• How to Catch a Sar. 
• Lost and Found. 
• The Way Back Home. 
• Up and Down.

Exquisite as always. 

Maisy's Rocket. 

By Lucy Cousins. 

Walker Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781529520712. 

Board book. 

A lovely and educational addition to the Maisy books. Perfect for wannabe astronauts. 

Giinagay Juluum, Hello Mountains. 

By Melissa Greenwood. 

HarperCollins, 2024. 

ISBN 9780733343025. 

Australian. Indigenous creator. Bilingual. 

Part of a series of books by Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood. A glimpse into the world view of one of Australia's first people. 

The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms.  

The Three Little Tardigardes: a slightly scientific fairy tale. 

By Sandra Fay. 

Henry Hold and Company, 2021 / 2024. 

ISBNs 9781250776082 and 9781250776099. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Wonky, quirky, factual, scientific, subversive. What more could you want? Definitely aimed at school-aged children. 

To Stir With Love. 

By Kate Mildenhall and Jess Racklyeft. 

Simon & Schuster, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761426391. 

Australian. 

Dementia, in the early stages. Generational sharing. Family photos are included in the illustrations. 

Sometimes It's Nice to be Alone. 

By Amy Hest and Philip Christian Stead. 

Neal Porter Books / Holiday House 2023. 

ISBN 9780823449477. 

Something about this title caught my attention, for some reason. 

Saving Wānanga: the true story of a kea rescue. 

By Kris Herbert. 

Potton & Burton, 2024. 

ISBN 9781988550671. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Non-fiction, told as a story in picture book form. 

I'm not sure about this one. It's ok. 

Secret Gardeners: growing community and healing the earth. 

By Maija Hurme, Lina Laurent, Jen Pulju Porter, Sofia Karlsson. 

Pajama Press, 2024. 

ISBN 9781772782479. 

A story of community and determined children. Includes tidbits of information about no-till gardening. 

The Cars and Trucks Book. 

By Todd Parr. 

Little Brown and Company, 2018. 

ISBN 9780316506625. 

What isn't there to love about a Todd Parr book? He is a master. 

A Really Short History of Words. 

By Emma Young, adapted from Bill Bryson; Daniel Long, Dawn Cooper, Katie Ponder. 

Puffin, 2024. 

ISBN 9780241666173. 

I'm a word nerd, and have read many Bill Bryson books about the English language. 

It's great to have this version of children available. 

One Upon a Word: a word-origin dictionary for kids: building vocabulary through etymology, definitions & stories. 

By Jess Zarafarris and Marco Marella. 

Rockridge Press, 2020. 

ISBN 9781646112593. 

Another one for my word nerd heart. 

The History of Information. 

By Chris Haughton. 

Dorling Kindersley, 2024. 

ISBN 9780241553916. 

Vibrant, full of information. Interesting choices in layout and typography. 

A weighty, for children, book.