Auntie's bangles.
Written by Dean Atta.
Illustrated by Alea Marley.
Orchard Books, 2026.
Sophisticated picture book.
Beti wants to be able to help his cousin, Rama, after the
death of her mother – his aunt.
A gentle story, one which acknowledges the loss felt by the
extended family.
Possible read-alongs:
- The invisible parade by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio.
- The circles in the sky by Karl James Mountford.
- When Grandfather flew by Patricia MacLachlan and Chris Sheban.
- I wish I could tell you by Jean-François Sénéchal and Chiaki Okada; translated by Nick Frost and Catherine Ostiguy.
Roots of love.
Written by Sarah Asuquo.
Illustrated by Ruthine Burton.
Scholastic, 2024.
Picture book.
The early days of a parental separation, and how that
affects the child’s world view – and the worry over how they’ll be seen by
others. Multicultural community and diverse school community, eg two dads,
Hijabi women, wheelchair users.
Note: a rather swift acceptance of the new family dynamic –
now the child knows that there are other families around who are not two-parent
ones.
Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:
- The comet by Joe Todd-Stanton.
- Will it be okay? by Crescent Dragonwagon and Jessica Love.
- In-between places by Alex Killian and Grady McFerrin.
- Two people can by Blessing Musariri and Maisie Paradise Shearring.
- Some families change by Galatola Jessica and Jenni Barrand.
- One day at a time by Rachel Ip and Natelle Quek.
Smooches!
Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton.
Little, Brown and Company, 2025.
Board book.
Rhyming text.
A bedtime story.
Possible read-alikes:
- The kiss and The hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar.
- A kiss like this by Mary Murphy.
- The runaway hug by Nick Bland and Freya Blackwood.
- How to make a bedtime by Meg McKinlay and Karen Blair.
- Tuck me in! by Nathan W. Pyle.
- Good night belly button by Lucie Brunellière.
- Tickle my ears by Jörg Mühle.
Wanted: the cutest baby in the world.
Written by Davina Bell.
Illustrated by Sarah Zweck.
Thames & Hudson Australia, 2026.
Picture book.
Australian.
Beware! Once the cutest baby in the world is in your house –
life will never be the same!
Possible read-alikes:
- Big, big love by Lisa Fuller and Samantha Campbell.
- One you by Frances Stickley and Åsa Gilland.
- Can't stop kissing that baby by K.L. Going and Fiona Lee.
- Our gorgeous baby by Smriti Halls and Eve Coy.
- Miimi and Buwaarr = Mother and baby by Melissa Greenwood and Miimi + Jiinda.
- My dream for you by Ash Barty, Jasmin McGaughey, and Jade Goodwin.
- Avocado baby by John Burningham.
A place just for me.
Written by Loredana Baldinucci.
Illustrated by Melinda Berti.
Translated by Monica Meneghetti, from the Italian Una
tana tutta per me.
Greystone Kids/Greystone Books, 2025.
Picture book.
The youngest mouse wants to find somewhere quiet for him to
do nothing. What a wonderful wish! But, none of the neighbours have the right
place, either. Thank goodness for his mother!
Possible read-alikes:
- Sometimes it's nice to be alone by Amy Hest and Philip Stead.
- Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard.
- Bear is never alone by Marc Veerkamp and Jeska Verstegen; translated by Laura Watkinson.
- Leave me alone by Vera Brosgol.
- Bear by Natalia Shaloshvili.
- I really, really don't like parties by Angie Morgan.
- How to party like a snail by Naseem Hrab and Kelly Collier.
An anthology of stargazing: a collection of stars and
constellations.
Written by Abigail Beall.
Illustrated by Angela Rizza and Dilbag Singh.
Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2025.
Illustrated nonfiction.
Constellations and star patterns – in both hemispheres.
Includes the astrological constellations. But, only Western ones.
Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:
- Star stories by Andy Wilx and Anita Ganeri.
- Matariki around the world: a cluster of stars, a cluster of stories by Rangi Matamua, Miriama Kamo, and Isobel Joy Te Aho-White.
- Stars, planets, and their patterns by Thomas K. Adamson.
- Stars before bedtime: a mindful fall-asleep book by Claire Grace, Dr Jessamy Hibberd, and Hannah Tolson.
Sing, hum, strum, and drum.
Written by by Rachelle Burk.
Illustrated by Junissa Bianda.
Callisto Publishing, 2025.
Board book.
Rhyming book.
Great book of music sounds.
Possible read-alongs:
- Sounds good!: discover 50 instruments text and illustrations Ole Könnecke; music Hans Könnecke; translated by Melody Shaw.
- Squeak! rumble! whomp! whomp! whomp!: a sonic adventure by Wynton Marsalis and Paul Rogers.
- Listen to my trumpet by Mo Willems.
- Music is in everything by Ziggy Marley and Ag Jatkowska.
- Animal music by Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt.
- Bing, bop, bam: time to jam! by Valerie Bolling and Sabrena Khadija.
- Ear worm! by Jo Knowles and Galia Bernstein.
- Thundermaestro by Annemarie Riley Guertin and Maria Brzozowska.
- Bertie and the bear by Pamela Allen.
Whooo is still awake?
Written and illustrated by
Brigette Barrager.
Random House, 2025.
Picture book.
Rhyming text.
A simple nighttime palette – with
blazing yellow eyes – make a striking visual.
Possible read-alikes:
- Night animals and Night animals need sleep too by Gianna Marino.
- Sam can't sleep by Davide Cali and Anna Aparicio Català.
- Sleep is for babies by Emily McDowall and Julia Hegetusch.
Dick Bruna.
By Bruce Ingman and Ramona
Reihill.
Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.
Adult nonfiction.
Written by an illustrator – with an
illustrator as the series consultant (Quentin Blake) – this is an interesting
introduction to Dick Bruna’s life and work.
It is a bit once-over-lightly, but that means it still accessible to older child readers, too.
The Illustrators series includes:
Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake
and Laurie Britton Newell.
Raymond Briggs by Nicolette Jones.
Dick Bruna by Bruce Ingman and
Ramona Reihill.
Walter Crane by Jenny Uglow.
Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett.
Oliver Jeffers by Martin
Salisbury.
Judith Kerr by Joanna Carey.
Miroslav Šašek by Martin
Salisbury.
Posy Simmonds by Paul Gravett.
Raymond Briggs
By Nicolette Jones.
Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.
Adult nonfiction.
A simple – deceptively so – introduction
to Raymond Briggs’ life and work.
There is a thread of sadness
throughout – and in both his life and work.
The Illustrators series includes:
Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake and Laurie Britton Newell.
Raymond Briggs by Nicolette Jones.
Dick Bruna by Bruce Ingman and Ramona Reihill.
Walter Crane by Jenny Uglow.
Tove Jansson by Paul Gravett.
Oliver Jeffers by Martin Salisbury.
Judith Kerr by Joanna Carey.
Miroslav Šašek by Martin Salisbury.
Posy Simmonds by Paul Gravett.