Hansel and Gretel.
Written by Stephen King.
Illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
Hodder Children’s Books, 2025.
A nostalgia item – for fans of the creators.
Both creators ae known to favour the dark and gothic. Which
makes this an uncomfortable fit with a child audience.
My first things that go.
Illustrated by Alina Ruban.
Clever Publishing, 2024.
Board book.
A solid addition, perfect for transport / vehicle obsessed
toddlers – with some less-familiar options.
Small, speckled egg.
Written by Maury Auld.
Illustrated by Anna Terreros-Martin.
Mama Makes Books, 2023.
Non-fiction.
A wonderful early natural science book, all about the Arctic
Tern.
There’s additional information around the edges, while
telling the story of one tern.
The very hungry caterpillar's lift-and-learn farm.
Puffin Books, 2024.
Board book.
The World of Eric Carle are much of a muchness – but they do
have reasonably sturdy flaps, and the appeal and familiarity of the beloved
character.
A delicious story.
Written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg.
Hippo Park, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers,
2023.
Picture book.
Great for two to three readers – and as a readers theatre. A
book about books and stories.
We are all amazing.
Written by Paul Crumble.
Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.
Omnibus Books, 2025.
Australian.
Picture book.
Positive and affirming.
Tracks through time: the history of the world told through
animal adventures.
Written by David Long.
Illustrated by Vinh Nguyẽ̂n
and Ròng Pham.
Hodder Children's Books, 2025.
Interesting premise, which I think tries too hard to work.
Some of the connections are a bit stretched.
Princesses break free.
Written by Timothy Knapman.
Illustrated by Jenny Løvlie.
Walker Books, 2022.
Princess Tilly breaks out of her stereotypical role – and inspires
others to do the same. Not just princesses, but princes, and dragons, and witches.
The great Christmas tree race.
Written by Naomi Jones.
Illustrated by James Jones.
Ladybird Books, 2025.
Picture book.
All the Christmas decorations want to be at the top of the
tree.
A cute, bordering on cutsey, Christmas tale.
A wild child's book of birds.
Written by Dara McAnulty.
Illustrated by Barry Falls.
Macmillan Children's Books, 2022.
Non-fiction.
It wasn’t obvious that these were birds in Britain and
Ireland, so I felt it was lacking. Now I know that it is just from the British
Isles, I don’t mind so much.
A good guide – with some general information for all birds.
Together, a forest: drawing connections between nature's
diversity and our own.
Written and illustrated by Roz MacLean.
Henry Holt and Company, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
Neurodiverse children and how they relate to the natural
world.
Worthy and earnest.
The playdate. [Originally published in Swedish as Hemma hos
Harald Henriksson.]
Written by Uje Brandelius.
Illustrated by Clara Dackenberg.
Translated by Nichola Smalley.
Lantana Publishing, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
A playdate which highlights the different lives of two children.
One with, and one without.
The illustrations show that the girl’s mum is the cleaner
for the other family. Which does explain why they do not share lunch with the
hosts.
The author was asked to write a children’s book – and, as a
composer and singer, often with political messages – he took the chance to raise
questions about society, in a format that is approachable for children.
Written and illustrated by Liana Finck.
Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2025.
Picture book.
Validation and exploration of the roller coaster of emotions.
Sometimes it is hard to articulate HOW or WHAT you’re feeling – which is true
for adults and children.
Giving children the freedom and vocabulary now, will help
them develop as more rounded adults.
Note: the creator is neurodiverse.
Paper chase.
Written by Julia Donaldson.
Illustrated by Victoria Sandøy.
Alison Green Books, 2025.
Picture book. Rhyming text.
Two children meet and form a friendship – one without names
or details. They return to the park, hoping to find their friend.
Meanwhile, the tree they met under has been processed and
turned into paper – a book and a paper plane.
Facts about the paper making process are included.
Written and illustrated by Regina Linke.
Little, Brown and Company, 2025.
Sophisticated picture book.
Told what to do – and not to do – to bring home the giant
ox, Ah-Fu is scared. But, his intuition helps the two of them get home safely.
The changes in perspective help show how both are feeling –
small or brave.
Inspired by Chinese philosophy.
The author is Taiwanese-American.
The boy who lost his spark.
Written by Maggie O’Farrell.
Illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini.
Walker Books, 2022.
Large format illustrated fiction.
Is the strangeness due to Jem’s unhappiness of his family’s
move? Or is it due the nouka – who he doesn’t believe in?
Heading towards the worthy designation.
The publisher is definitely trying to raise interest due to
the author’s adult fiction becoming a movie. Because, honestly, it is weird
having a reference to an adult book on a children’s book.
Where the deer slip through.
Written by Katey Howes.
Illustrated by Beth Krommes.
Beach Lane Books, 2025.
Picture book.
Rhyming text.
Wildlife, through the course of a summer day, slip through a
gap in the hedge to visit a farm.
Told through the cadence of ‘The House that Jack built.’
It is strongly based in America.
Where are you, Brontë?
Written by Tomie dePaola.
Illustrated by Barbara McClintock.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025.
Picture book.
The last manuscript of beloved Tomie dePaola is a fitting
tribute to such a wonderful man, and children’s literature luminary.
The illustrator has managed to marry her own style with that
of Tomie’s.
It is a tale of grief, and friendship, and love. Of a dog’s
life, shared with her human.
Like Brontë, Tomie is much missed – and has left a hole.
A handful of quiet: happiness in four pebbles.
Written and illustrated by Thích Nĥát Hạnh.
Plum Blossom Books, 2012.
An introduction to meditation techniques.
Simple, but perfect for the age group.
Tickle my ears. [Originally published in German as Nur noch
kurz die Ohren kraulen?]
Written and illustrated by Jörg Mühle.
Gecko Press, 2016.
Translated by Catherine Chidgey.
Board book.
The Little Rabbit books are a delight.
They are perfect to read one-on-one, or in a small group.
Perfect interactive books for the younger crowd.
Animal snap: farm.
Written by Ruth Symons.
Illustrated by Mel Matthews.
Templar Books, 2025.
Board book.
Flip the pages to match the baby to their grown-up.
Simple and cute.
Spoops: the little spirits of Halloween.
Written by A.J. LoCascio.
Illustrated by Laurie A. Conley.
Top Shelf Productions, an imprint of IDW Publishing, 2025.
Early chapter book.
Holly loves Halloween, but her dentist parents do not. All
they see are teeth rotting due to too many sweets.
Holly watches the fun from her bedroom window, but then the
Spoops arrive – the magical beings that come from the scooped out jack-o-lanterns.
Planet Earth: discover our place in space.
Written by Shoshana Z. Weider.
Illustrated by Dawn Cooper.
Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2025.
Non-fiction.
Exactly as it says in the subtitle. Except, it’s not space –
but the solar system.
Forts.
Written by Katie Venit.
Illustrated by Kenard Pak.
Viking, 2025.
A poem in praise of forts – the ones of our imagination, the
ones we create as tree houses, or out of blankets.
Penny Penguin.
Written by Raffi.
Illustrated by Dan Tavis.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2025.
Board book.
I’m not convinced by songs that are made into books.
Especially if they keep the repeating lines, and refrains.
I find them difficult to read aloud.
One keen koala ABC.
Written by Margaret Wild.
Illustrated by Bruce Whatley.
Scholastic, 2025.
Picture book.
Australian.
I love both of these creators.
I love so much of this book.
I’m just not entirely sold on the entirety. Sometimes the
letter is the name of the animal, and sometimes it’s not. Inconsistent patterning
isn’t the best when you are dealing with younger readers / listeners. Which is
not something I’d have expected from this publishing trio.
Rhyming text.
The bear and the hare and the fair.
Written by Em Lynas.
Illustrated by Matt Hunt.
Nosy Crow Ltd, 2025.
Picture book.
Similar in cadence and feel to Green Eggs and Ham.
Fun and slightly anarchic.
Rhyming text.
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