Weekend reads: 22 February 2026: Part four

 

A hatful of dreams.

Written and illustrated by Bob Graham.

Walker Books, 2025.

Australian.

Picture book.

A story of a magical grandfather – but also a family who are determined to stay in their house, while the street empties around them.

Possible read-alikes:

• The bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane by Mike Lucas and Sofya Karmazina.
• Evelyn Del Rey is moving away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sánchez.
• A sprinkle of happiness by Lucy Rowland and David Litchfield.
• Christmas lights on Mistletoe Street by Kate Thompson and Natelle Quek.
• Windows by Julia Denos and E.B. Goodale.
• The concrete garden by Bob Graham.
• Out of the blue by Robert Tregoning and Stef Murphy.

 

The witching hour.

Written by Jennifer Harris.

Illustrated by Adelina Lirius. 

Picture book.

LGBTQIA+.

Bedtime drama with toddlers and witches.

The toddler seems to have two mothers.

Possible read-alikes:

• Bedtime, not playtime! by Lawrence Schimel & Elina Braslina.
• The kiss by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar.
• It simply can't be bedtime by Pamela Paul and Steven Salerno. 
• The baby who stayed awake forever by Sandra Salsbury. 
• You choose bedtime by Nick Sharratt.
• The witch of Maketu and the bleating lambs by Anika Moa and Rebecca Ter Borg.

The teeny-weeny unicorn.

Written and illustrated by Shawn Harris.

Random House, 2024.

Picture book.

Sequel is The teeny-weeny unicorn’s great big wish.

The problems with being teeny-weeny in a world built for bigger creatures.

Possible read-alikes:

• Tiny T. Rex and the impossible hug by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck.
• Wee unicorn by Meg McLaren.
• Are you big? and Are you small? by Mo Willems.
• The Tiny Explorers by Kat Macleod.
• The littlest yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley.

 

 

The doll box.

Written by Deborah Kelly.

Illustrated by Joanna Bartel.

EK, 2024.

Australian.

Picture book.

Family stories told through dolls of ancestors.

Possible read-alikes:

• A present from the past by Jennifer Beck and Lindy Fisher.
• The Arabic quilt: an immigrant story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan.  
• The most beautiful thing by Kao Kalia Yang and Khoa Le.

 

Freya finds the giants. [no cover available.] 

Written by Johanna Klein.

Illustrated by Ronnie Baker.

Johanna Klein Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Aotearoa New Zealand.

Lessons from Freya’s mother, who has passed away. Not highly recommended.

Possible read-alikes / read instead-ofs:

• Dad, don't miss it! by Qiaoqiao Li.
• A guide to rocks by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan.
• A map into the world by Kao Kalia Yang and Seo Kim.
• Thimble by Rebecca Young and Tull Suwannakit.

Binna's dalgon.

Written and illustrated by Sojung Kim-McCarthy.

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Picture book.

Learning new languages and making new friends in a new country.

Possible read-alikes:

• Shoes off, please by Helena Ku Rhee and Myo Yim.
• Words that taste like home by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira.
• Bilal cooks daal by Aisha Saeed and Anoosha Syed.
• Luli and the language of tea by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum.
• Tomatoes in my lunchbox by Costantia Manoli and Magdalena Mora.
• The name jar by Yangsook Choi.
• Gibberish by Young Vo.

 

 

Hidden gem.

Written and illustrated by Linda Liu.

Henry Holt and Company, 2023.

Picture book.

Can a rock be special when he is ‘just’ a pebble?

Possible read-alikes:

• Rick the rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan.
• Granny Rex by Kurtis Scaletta and Nik Henderson.
• Basil dreams big: perfect for encouraging resilience & self-belief! by Lu Fraser and Sarah Warburton.
• The Museum of Lost Teeth by Elyssa Friedland and Gladys Jose.

Grandmother from the East, grandmother from the West.

Written by Jacinta Liu.

Illustrated by Freda Chiu.

Hachette Australia, 2025.

Picture book.

Australian.

A celebration of two grandmothers of different heritage – but the same love.

Possible read-alikes:

• Nana, Nenek & Nina by Liza Ferneyhough.
• A Grandma's Magic by Asa Gilland.
• Brand-new bubbe by Sarah Aronson and Ariel Landy.
• I'll go and come back by Rajani LaRocca and Sara Palacios.
• Amy Wu and the patchwork dragon by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua.
• Let me fix you a plate: a tale of two kitchens by Elizabeth Lilly.

 

Let me fix you a plate: a tale of two kitchens.

Written and illustrated by Elizabeth Lilly.

Random House, 2021.

Picture book.

Two families, two houses, two family gatherings.

Possible read-alikes:

• Going down home with daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons and Daniel Minter.
• Dumpling day by Meera Sriram, Inés de Antuñano; with recipes by Laurel P. Jackson.
• Our little kitchen by Jillian Tamaki.
• All kinds of special by Tammi Sauer and Fernando Martin.
• Ruby's reunion day dinner by Angela Dalton and Jestenia Southerland.

Laolao's dumplings.

Written by Dane Liu.

Illustrated by ShinYeon Moon.

Goodwin Books, Henry Holt and Company 2023.

Millie’s Laolao is unwell, and Millie is determined to make dumplings to make her better.

A story of community and family.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dancing dumplings for my one and only by Eva Wong Nava and Natelle Quek.
• Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai.
• Great Aunt Margot and me by Bryher Mackenzie and Rhiannon Archard.
• Masala chai, fast and slow by Rajani LaRocca and  Neha Rawat.
• Spicy spicy hot! by Lenny Wen.