Weekend reads roundup: 16 May 2026, part one

 

Now I see autumn.

Written by Mac Barnett.

Illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Simon & Schuster, 2026.

Board book.

I’ve now read all the books in this series – and I’m ashamed of how long it took for me to pick up it’s all the same text in each one. The magic in these books is Jon Klassen’s illustrations.

Possible read-alikes:

• Cat's seasons by Airlie Anderson.
• A cat book of seasons by Nicoletta Costa.
• When autumn comes by Ekaterina Trukhan.
• Autumn by Gerda Muller. 

Wild places: the life of naturalist David Attenborough.

Written by Hayley Rocco.

Illustrated by John Rocco.

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023.

Illustrated nonfiction / biography.

Just what it says on the tin.

Possible read-alikes:

• Wild planet: the life and wisdom of Sir David Attenborough by Hayley Rocco and John Rocco.
• Wild life: the extraordinary adventures of Sir David Attenborough by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and Helen Shoesmith.
• A gift of dust: how Saharan plumes feed the planet by Martha Brockenbrough.
• Wangari's trees of peace: a true story from Africa by Jeanette Winter.
• Planting stories: the life of librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise and Paola Escobar.
• We are water protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade.

 

I do not like stories.

Written by Andrew Larsen.

Illustrated by Carey Sookocheff.

Owlkids Books, 2020.

Picture book.

I’m with the protagonist – I, too, would rather be at home with my cat/s.

Possible read-alikes:

• That's not Stella by Donna Fredin.
• Just one more story by Perry Emerson and Sean Julian.
• Everywhere with you by Carlie Sorosiak and Devon Holzwarth. 

 

All from a walnut.

Written by Ammi-Joan Paquette.

Illustrated by Felicita Sala.

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2022.

Sophisticated picture book.

A poignant story of tradition, generational knowledge, immigration, love, and grief. Life cycles, life lessons, and death.

Possible read-alikes:  

• Nell plants a tree by Anne Wynter and Daniel Miyares.
• This is the tree we planted by Kate McMullan and Alison Friend.
• Wren's nest by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Eugenia Nobati.
• Grandpa is here by Tanya Rosie and Chuck Groenink.
• The oak tree by Julia Donaldson and Victoria Sandoy.
• More than a tree by Sarah Kurpiel.
• Grandpa Green by Lane Smith.        
• Birdsong by Julie Flett.
• The garden we share by Zoë Tucker and Julianna Swaney. 

Clara and the birds.

Written and illustrated by Emma Simpson.

Milky Way Picture Books, 2024.

Sophisticated picture book.

A story of shyness and needing solitude – and not fitting in.

Possible read-alikes:

• Solo by Neil Clark.
• The coziest place on the moon by Maria Popova and Sarah Jacoby.
• Agatha May and the anglerfish by Nora Morrison, Jessie Ann Foley, and Mika Song.
• The grumpy ghost upstairs by Mamiko Shiotani; translated by Polly Lawson.
• Everything in its place: a story of books and belonging by Pauline David-Sax and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow.
• Daisy by Jessixa Bagley.
• Bird Boy by Matthew Burgess and Shahrzad Maydani.

 

The whale and the snapper = Tohorā me te Tāmure.

By Jo Van Dam, Ariana Stevens, and Richard Hoit.

Scholastic New Zealand, 2026.

Aotearoa

Picture book.

Bilingual.

Rhyming.

Retelling of the Lion and Mouse by Aesop.

Possible read-alikes:

• The lion & the mouse by Jerry Pinkney.
• Sharky McShark and the teensy wee crab by Alison Murray.
• Aesop's fables introduced by Marcus Sedgwick, translated by S. A. Handford, illustrated by Brian Robb.
• The lion and the mouse by Amanda Wood and Nataraj Noj. 

Kekeno, curious explorer.

Written by Katie Furze.

Illustrated by Ned Barraud.

Scholastic New Zealand, 2026.

Aotearoa.

Picture book nonfiction.

Katie Furze is doing a fine line in picture book nonfiction featuring endemic creatures of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Possible read-alikes:

• Narwhal: the Arctic unicorn by Justin Anderson and Jo Weaver.
• Elizabeth, queen of the seas by Lynne Cox and Brian Floca.
• Inky's amazing escape: how a very smart octopus found his way home by Sy Montgomery and Amy Schimler-Safford. 

You're in my heart.

Written and illustrated by Sawyer Cloud.

Tate Publishing, 2026.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

Missing family while away.

Note: creator lives in Madagascar.

Possible read-alikes:

• All the love in the world by Louise Fedele and Ana Toro.
• Where three oceans meet by Rajani LaRocca and Archana Sreenivasan.
• Ivanhoe Swift left home at six by Jane Godwin and A. Yi.
• The day the crayons made friends by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers.
• I'm not sleepy by Raahat Kaduji.
• I send you a hug by Anne Booth and Åsa Gilland.
• Mina's magic malong by Eva Wong Nava, June Ho, and Novita Elisa. 

Curly Cat. The Acrobat.

Written by Jennifer Somervell.

Illustrated by Zerika van Jaarsveld.

Landing Lights Press, 2025.

Picture book.

Aotearoa New Zealand.

A bit meh. A cat who wants to be an acrobat, and is discouraged by friends.

Possible read-alikes:

• Jeff goes wild by Angie Rozelaar.
• Another by Christian Robinson.
• Not a cat: a memoir by Winter Miller and Danica Novgorodoff.  

Welcome to our table.

Written by Laura Mucha and Ed Smith.

Illustrated by Harriet Lynas.

Nosy Crow, 2023.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Food traditions from around the world.

Possible read-alikes:

• Our favourite food: taste 20 delicious dishes from around the world by Valerie Wilding and Åsa Gilland.
• World of food by Sandra Lawrence and Violeta Noy.
• History is delicious by Joshua Lurie and Laura Foy.
• Chews your own tasty adventure: a cooking journey where YOU get to choose the ingredients!: vegetarian recipes from around the world by Dr Sai Pathmanathan and Lucia Vinti.