Weekend reads: 14 and 15 March 2026: Part four

Elephant can't jump.

Written by Pip Jones.

Illustrated by Robert Starling.

Simon & Schuster, 2025.

Picture book.

A tale of determination and friendship.

Possible read-alikes:

• Don’t blink by Tom Booth.
• Superwolf by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty.
• The fastest tortoise in town by Howard Calvert and Karen Obuhanych.
• Ernest by Catherine Rayner.

Oliver Jeffers

By Martin Salisbury

Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.

Adult nonfiction.

Oliver Jeffers is phenomenal. That is all.

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.

Goodnight already!

Written by Jory John.

Illustrated by Benji Davies.

Harper, 2015.

Picture book.

Duck loves his next-door neighbour, Bear. But Bear just wants to sleep. I feel for Bear.

Possible read-alikes:

• Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins.
• The Kerfuffle by Clotilde Perrin, translated by Daniel Hahn.
• Sweet and Sour by Brian Yanish and Stacy Ebert.
• Mouse & Giraffe by Kelly DiPucchio and Jen Corace.

Your island.

Written and illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Candlewick Press, 2025.

Board book

I can see this as a felt-board – or interactive retelling. Maybe mixing up the elements of the whole series, which includes:

• Your farm.
• Your island.
• Your forest.
• Your truck.

 

Community snowman.

Written by Deborah Kerbel.

Illustrated by Tine Modeweg-Hansen.

Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2025.

Picture book.

Wordless.

A whole community comes together to create a snowman – and community connections.

Possible read-alikes:

• The concrete garden by Bob Graham.
• A sprinkle of happiness by Lucy Rowland and David Litchfield.
• Accidentally Kelly Street by Briony Stewart, based on 'Accidentally Kelly Street' written by T. O'Connor.
• The boy and the elephant by Freya Blackwood.
• Jigsaw: a puzzle in the post by Bob Graham.
• Cake for everyone by The Tjong Khing.

 

Judith Kerr.  Written by Joanna Carey. Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2020.

Adult nonfiction. Judith Kerr was a treasure.

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.

Easter cuddle.

Written by Kate Mayes.

Illustrated by Sara Acton.

ABC Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Australian.

Bunnies on an Easter egg hunt.

Possible read-alikes:

• Winnie-the-Pooh's Easter hunt by Jane Riordan and Andrew Grey.
• Hap-pea Easter by Keith Baker.
• Cuddle time by Libby Gleeson and Julie Vivas.
• Paddington's Easter egg hunt by Michael Bond, Karen Jankel, and R.W. Alley.

 

Ten little caterpillars.

Written by Bill Martin and Michael Sampson.

Illustrated by Lois Ehlert.

Little Simon, 2025.

Board book.

Counting,

A classic counting book – from one to 10.

Possible read-alikes:

• My first 123 by Shirley Hughes.
• Little yellow digger 123 by Peter Gilderdale and Fifi Colston.
• Number garden: introducing first numbers through nature by Isabel Otter and Sophie Ledesma.
• The Pigeon won’t count to 10! by Mo Willems.

This book is just bananas.

By Al Murphy.

Scholastic Australia, 2025.

Picture book.

Australian.

Rhyming text.

Incredibly silly and bananas.

Possible read-alongs:

• Banana by Ed Vere.
• Banana, banana, banana by Sarah Finan.
• The book with no pictures by Matt Novak.
• The watermelon seed by Greg Pizzoli.

 

Sand-play time on the sun-baked beach.

Written by Juliette MacIver.

Illustrated by Lily Uivel.

Scholastic NZ, 2026.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

Rhyming text.

Counting.

Everything will say counting, but there’s addition and subtraction as well.

Possible read-alikes:

• The nickle nackle tree by Lynley Dodd.
• How many animals can fit in this book? by Natalia Yaskina.
• 100 goats and Granny! by Atinuke and Lauren Hinds.
• 100 mighty dragons all named Broccoli by David LaRochelle and Lian Cho.