Weekend reads roundup: 3 May 2026, part two

 

Creatures: Aotearoa.

Written by Dylan Owen.

Gecko Press, 2008.

Picture book.

“Promotes New Zealand art with an animal theme to young children. Images include painting, sculpture, photography and jewellery. Artists featured include: Jeff Thomson, Richard Killeen, Jocelyn Carlin, Michael Tuffery, Richard Taylor, Warwick Freeman, Anne-Marie O'Brien.”

Possible read-alikes:

• Kahlo's koalas illustrated by Grace Helmer.
• Leafy critters by Yvonne Lacet.
• I spy: colors in art devised & selected by Lucy Micklethwait.
• Look! look! look! at sculpture by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace andLinda K. Friedlaender. 
• Celestino Piatti's animal ABC by Hans Schumacher and Celestino Piatti, English text by Jon Reid.
• My New Zealand ABC book and My new Zealand colours book and My New Zealand 123 book by James Brown, with objects from the Te Papa collection. 

Isabel and the invisible world.

Written by Alan Lightman.

Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki.

MIT Kids Press, 2023.

Picture book.

This went somewhere I wasn’t expecting – I thought a present for a child wanting to see invisible things would have been a microscope, rather than a prism.

Possible read-alikes:

• You are light by Aaron Becker.
• Shadow catchers by Kirsty Murray and Karen Blair. 
• The rainbow bear by Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman.
• Let's get tiny!: jumping into the science of the smallest part of matter with quantum physics by Chris Ferrie.
• Do not lick this book by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost, scanning electron microscope images by Linnea Rundgren.
• Speck: an itty-bitty epic by Margaux Meganck.

 

Mr Mornington's favourite things.

Written and illustrated by Karen George.

Welbeck Flame, 2023.

Picture book.

The love between a small child and their elderly neighbour – including when he moves into care, as a result of his dementia.

Possible read-alikes:

• Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas.
• Harry and Walter by Kathy Stinson and Qin Leng.
• Great Aunt Margot and me by Bryher Mackenzie and Rhiannon Archard.
• Holding on by Sophia N. Lee and Isabel Roxas.
• The Forgettery by Rachel Ip and Laura Hughes.
• The tide by Clare Helen Welsh and Ashling Lindsay.
• Blimmin' Koro! = Kātahi rā, e Koro e! by Jill Bevan-Brown and Trish Bowles, Māori translation by Māhaki Bevan-Brown.
• The garden we share by Zoë Tucker and Julianna Swaney.
• Old friends by Margaret Aitken and Lenny Wen. 

Earthquake.

Written by Jackie French.

Illustrated by Bruce Whatley.

Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Australia, 2022.

Australian.

Picture book.

Inspired by the Newcastle earthquake.

Part of a series:

• Flood: the 2010-2011 Queensland floods.   
• Fire. 
• Cyclone: 1974 Darwin. 
• Drought.         
• Pandemic: 1914 Flu.             
• Plague.           
• Tornado.

Possible read-alikes:

• Quaky cat by Diana Noonan and Gavin Bishop.
• Pearl in a whirl: how one fluffy cat braved the floods by Catherine Robertson and Fifi Colston.
• Night on the sand by Monica Mayper and Jaime Kim.
• I am the storm by Jane Yolen,  Heidi E. Y. Stemple, and Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell. 

The writer.

Written by Davide Calí.

Illustrated by Monica Barengo.

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022.

Translated from Italian.

Picture book.

A dog tries to keep his human writing, instead ends up dealing with a new relationship.

Possible read-alikes:

• Walter does his best: a Frenchie adventure in kindness and muddy paws by Eva Pilgrim and Jessica Gibson.
• A family for Louie by Alexandra Thompson.
• The truck cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell.
• The bookshop dog by Harriet Evans and Claire Shorrock.

 

The glow: life, death & the light within.

Written by Rebekah Lipp.

Ilustrated by Craig Phillips.

Wilding Books Limited, 2026.

Sophisticated picture book.

Rhyming text.

Death and grief.

Very spiritual – ie new-age-y.  

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• City dog, country frog by Mo Willems and Jon J. Muth.
• What happens when we die? by J.R. Becker and Max Rambaldi.
• Fox: a circle of life story by Isabel Thomas and Daniel Egnéus.
• Dear moon by Stephen Wunderli and Maria Luisa di Gravio. 
• Farewell Anahera by Vanessa Hatley-Owen and Scott Irvine, translated by Kanapu Rangitauira.
• Waiting for Wolf by Sandra Dieckmann.
• The mountains of Tibet by Mordicai Gerstein, introduced by Sogyal Rinpoche. 

Who left the light on?

Written by Richard Marnier.

Illustrated by Aude Maurel.

Translated from the French by Emma Ramadan.

Restless Books, 2018.

Picture book.

A story of differences and breaking out of the mould – of being ‘normal’.

Possible read-alikes:

• Along came a different by Tom McLaughlin.
• Something Else by Kathryn Cave and Chris Riddell.
• Whose house is this? by Chihiro Takeuchi.
• Millie Fleur's poison garden by Christy Mandin.
• The wonderful stranges by Melanie & Monica Koster.

 

You can't be a pterodactyl!

Written by James Breakwell.

Illustrated by Sophie Corrigan.

Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023.

Picture book.

If you don’t want to know what kids really want to be – don’t ask. Not all children are going to fall into the expected answer.

Possible read-alikes:

• Lulu is a rhinoceros by Jason Flom with Allison Flom, and Sophie Corrigan.
• Agatha May and the anglerfish by Nora Morrison and Jessie Ann Foley, and Mika Song.
• The only astronaut by Mahak Jain and Andrea Stegmaier. 

Celebrate Nowruz!: a Persian New Year holiday to honor spring.

Written by Zohreh Ghahremani.

Illustrated by Susie Ghahremani.

Godwin Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Possible read-alikes:

• Welcome, Uncle Nowruz!: a Persian New Year's story by Rashin Kheiriyeh.
• My Grandma and me by Mina Javaherbin and Lindsey Yankey.
• Sugar in milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le.
• Waiting for Hanami by J.P. Takahashi and HifuMiyo.
• Happy holi!: celebrating the Festival of Colours by Chitra Soundar and Amberin Huq.
• Xiaoyu's spring by Bao Dongni and Yu Painyi.
• What do you do to celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek.

 

3 2 1 to the Moon!: a counting book.

Written by Stacy McAnulty.

Illustrated by Joey Chou.

Odd Dot, 2025.

Board book.

Counting book.

Possible read-alikes:

• One cheetah, one cherry: a book of beautiful numbers by Jackie Morris.
• Ten green bottoms by Barry Timms and Mike Byrne.
• Let's zoom up to the stars!.
• Peep inside space by Simona Dimitri and Anna Milbourne.
• Let's go into space!: a peep-through book by Petr Horáček.
• Science around us: a question-and-answer book by Maria Neradova.

 

Invisible dogs.

Written and illustrated by Ruby Wright.

Rocket Bird Books, 2024.

Picture book.

School shyness leads to imagination games with Grandpa – and invisible dogs!

Multi-cultural class.

Possible read-alikes:

• A Dragon Called Spark by Lily Murray and Kirsti Beautyman.
• I'm feeling (a little bit) shy by Anna Milbourne and Åsa Gilland.
• My beautiful voice by Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoys.
• The boy who dreamed dragons by Caryl Lewis and Carmen Saldaña.
• We can play anything! by Marit Törnqvist, translated and adapted by Polly Lawson.
• The boy who dreamed dragons by Caryl Lewis and Carmen Saldaña.

 

Blanket.

Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.

Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2022.

Picture book.

Wordless.

Sadness, made easier by a friend’s presence.

Possible read-alikes:

• Listen, Hippo! by Gabriel Evans.
• Annie's cat is sad by Heather Smith and Karen Obuhanych.
• The farmer and the clown by Marla Frazee.
• The rabbit listened by Cori Doerrfeld.

 

An invitation to the Botanic Gardens.

Written by Charlotte Guillain.

Illustrated by Helen Shoesmith.

Welbeck Editions, 2024.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Behind the scenes look at Kew Gardens.

Possible read-alikes:

• Meet the mini-mammals: a night at the Natural History Museum by Melissa Stewart.
• Grow, forage and make: fun things to do with plants by Alys Fowler and Heidi Griffiths.
• A year in Fleurville: recipes from balconies, rooftops, and gardens by Felicita Sala.
• The garden's secrets by Sarah Johnson and Deborah Hinde.
• Botanicum by Katie Scott and Kathy Willis.

 

Witchicorn.

Written by Angela Woolfe.

Illustrated by Sarah Jennings.

Farshore, 2025.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

The power of good over evil – sort of. Only if the villagers can get over their prejudices and preconceived ideas of what a witch is.

Possible read-alikes:

• Pugicorn by Matilda Rose and Tim Budgen.
• Trixie the witch's cat by Nick Butterworth.
• Broom for two by Jennifer Maruno and Scot Ritchie.
• The wonderful stranges by Melanie & Monica Koster.
• The witchling's wish by Lu Fraser and Sarah Massini.
• Witch & wombat by Ashley Belote.
• A unicorn named Sparkle by Amy Young. 

This book is my best friend.

Written and illustrated by Robin Robinson.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023.

Picture book.

Told in speech bubbles, this book proves you never know why a certain book appeals to different people. Books as solace.

Possible read-alikes:  

• Pukapuka by Vasanti Unka, nā Justin Kereama ngā kōrero i whakamāori.
• But excuse me that is my book by Lauren Child.
• Once upon a book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner.
• Books make good friends by Jane Mount.
• Just one more story by Perry Emerson and Sean Julian.

 

Waiting for Hanami.

Written by J.P. Takahashi.

Illustrated by HifuMiyo.

Harper, 2025.   Picture book.

Cherry blossom festival and family reunion. I love how diverse the family is. In your face, assumptions and racism.

Possible read-alikes:

• When the sakura bloom by Narisa Togo. English adaptation by Michael Sedunary.
• Family reunion by Chad Richardson, Dad Richardson, and Ashleigh Corrin.
• Ruby's reunion day dinner by Angela Dalton and Jestenia Southerland.
• Moon messenger = Yue liang xin shi: a family reunion during the mid-autumn festival: a story told in English and Chinese by Wei Jie & Xia Xinxin, translated by Yijin Wert.
• Going down home with daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons.
• To Carnival!: a celebration in Saint Lucia by Baptiste Paul and Jana Glatt.
• Freedom soup by Tami Charles and Jacqueline Alcantara.
• Nisha knows best by Maryann Jacob Macias and Maithili Joshi. 

When I became your auntie.

Written by Susannah Shane.

Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.

Nosy Crow, 2026.

Picture book.

True story, when I became an auntie for the first time, I was determined to learn how to tie my shoelaces – because aunties need to know that. It doesn’t matter that I was the grand old age of 7, but now I was a whole ‘nother generation! I also had a recurring nightmare about my niblings falling into the creek near my home and nearly drowning, and there were sharks – and I couldn’t swim (still can’t) to save them. The nightmare stopped after my first four niblings.

Possible read-alikes:

• Aunty Miri's visits by Miriam Gee.
• Love grows by Ruth Spiro and Lucy Ruth Cummins.
• What will my story be? by Nidhi Chanani.

  

Tiny.

Written and illustrated by Laura Stitzel.

Walker Books Australia, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

Imagination and perspective. 

Possible read-alikes:

• He iti ranei ahau? by Philipp Winterberg and Nadja Wichmann, translation Reb Translations.
• I'm not small by Nina Crews.
• The tiptoeing tiger by Philippa Leathers.
• Are you big? and Are you small? by Mo Willems.
• The teeny-weeny unicorn by Shawn Harris.

 

Cub.

Written and illustrated by Jonty Howley.

Flying Eye Books, 2024.

Picture book.

Living with grandparent – possibly foster / long-term. Toy comes to life as comfort.

Possible read-alikes:

• Today I'm strong by Nadiya Hussain and Ella Bailey.
• My bright shining star by Fatima Whitbread and Rhian Wright.
• Dadaji's paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane.
• Tiny worlds by Brittany Cicchese.
• Ollie's magic bunny by Nicola Killen.

 

Squash, the cat.

Written and illustrated by Sasha Mayer

Random House Studio, 2023.

Picture book.

Squash is best friends with Maggie. But, can Maggie forgive him for destroying her new toy?

Possible read-alikes:

• I am a dragon!: a squabble & a quibble by Sabina Hahn.
• I'm sorry you got mad by Kyle Lukoff and Julie Kwon.
• George & Lenny are always together by Jon Agee.
• The one where Bert plays football by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros.