Weekend reads: 22 February 2026 Part One

I read SO MUCH over this week, I've split the post into six parts - each with ten books. 

That's not Stella.

Written and illustrated by Donna Fredin.

Flying Eye Books, 2025.

Milo is convinced that the cat in their house is not their cat, Stella – no matter what his mother says, and no matter how much the cat looks like Stella.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Mildred and the copycat by Jono Ganz.

·         Meet Mim by Sandra Severgnini.

·         First day of Unicorn School by Jess Hernandez and Mariano Epelbaum.

 

Every little thing.

Adapted by Cedella Marley.

Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton.

Based on the song "Three little birds" by Bob Marley.

Chronicle Books, 2015.

It’s really hard not to sing this one – even if the text isn’t exactly the same as the song.

Other Bob Marley picture book adaptations:

·         One Love by Cedella Marley and Vanessa-Brantley-Newton.

·         Get Up, Stand Up by Cedella Marley and John Cay Cabuay.

·         Pajammin’ by Ziggy Marley and Letícia Moreno.

 

Your farm.

Written and illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Candlewick Press, 2025.

I can see this as a felt-board – or interactive retelling.

Part of a series, which includes:

·         Your island.

·         Your forest.

·         Your truck.

 

 

Taku puka tukutuku.

Text and design by Mihikeita Ngata.

MITA Creative, 2025.

In te reo Māori.

"The contents of this book has a particular affinity to the East Coast, inspired by the tukutuku work in Waiomatatini" - Title page verso.

"Created in a black and white style to appeal to the developing eye of pēpi, all the way through to pakeke interested in learning, the intent is for the strong contrast and minimalist presentation to imbue long-lasting memory and recognition of the contents within - the terms used come from the East Coast" - Publisher information. 

 

Nau mai ki te ao.

Nā Mihikeita Ngata.

Mihikeita Ngata, 2024.

"This book started off as an idea on how to explain to our child how they came to be, in a simple and unique way, and one that also respected our want for them to be immersed in Te Reo Māori ... It has been written from the perspective of a mātua reading it to their tamaiti"--Back cover. 

Music is in everything.

Written by Ziggy Marley.

Illustrated by Ag Jatkowska.  

Akashic Books, 2022.

Pots and pans are just the most obvious makeshift instruments this family uses.

For more inspiration, you could also read:

·         Sounds like Joy by Yesenia Moises.

·         Squeak! rumble! whomp! whomp! whomp!: a sonic adventure by Wynton Marsalis and Paul Rogers.

·         The day Bell found her sound by Lizzy O'Donnell.

The twist-a-roo.  

Written by Kathleen Doherty.  

Illustrated by Kristyna Litten.

Holiday House, 2023.

I’m obviously on a different wave length to cataloguers. The subjects on my library catalogue are: Forest animals; helping behaviour; winter; badgers.

My notes say: obsession; kaleidoscopes; friends.

Anyhoo – it’s a take on the Ant and the Grasshopper fable.

Possible read-alikes:

·         The lost egg by Brenna Burns Yu.

·         If Winter comes, tell it I'm not here by Simona Ciraolo.

·         Shh!: we have a plan by Chris Haughton.

The sun never hurries.

Written by Roxane Turcotte.

Illustrated by Lucie Crovatto.

Translated by Barbara Creary, from the original French Le sablier de Papijo.

Time, time pieces, grandparents, mindfulness.

Possible read-alikes:

·         In time by Marina Ruiz.

·         We go slow by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and Aaron Becker.

·         Here and now by Julia Denos and E. B. Goodale.

·         Dad, don't miss it! by Qiaoqiao Li.

 

Between.

Written and illustrated by Anna Walker.

Scribble, 2025.

Australian.

Subdued colour and sparse text makes this a thoughtful read about friendship – one for older readers.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Walls by Tania Ingram and Ruth-Mary Smith.

·         I don't care by Julie Fogliano ; pictures by Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal.

·         Moon & Sun by Melinda Szymanik and Malene Laugesen.

·         Moth & Butterfly: ta-da! by Dev Petty and Ana Aranda.

 

The space between.

Written by Clare Helen Welsh.

Illustrated by Fiona Lumbers.

This is a very lovely story about moving house, and becoming comfortable in the space between – between being home in one place, and then the next – and many other moments of transformation.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Word trouble by Vyara Boyadjieva.

·         My tree by Hope Lim and Il Sung Na.

·         Say goodbye... Say hello by Cori Doerrfeld.

·         Binna's dalgona by Sojung Kim-McCarthy.