Weekend Reads round-up, 27 September 2026, part three

Which dinosaur are you?

Written by Grace Rockley.

Illustrated by Valeria Danilova.

Welbeck Children's Books, 2026.

Picture book.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Can be read as a picture book.

A few dinosaurs are picked out to make you think about what you like, or are good at.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dinosaur knowledge genius! by Dr Chris Barker and Riley Black.
• Who might you be? by R. Henderson.
• Bum or face?: can you tell which end you're looking at? by Kari Lavelle. 

Shine like the stars.

Written by Anna Wilson.

Illustrated by Harry Woodgate.

Andersen Press, 2023.

Picture book.

Connection to the natural world, and reaching our potential.

Possible read-alikes:

• The stuff of stars by Marion Dane Bauer and Ekua Holmes.
• A way to the stars by David Almond and Gill Smith.
• We are all one by Britta Teckentrup.
• My friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan and Francesca Sanna.
• I am the universe by Vasanti Unka.
• Here we are: notes for living on planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers.
• Just one little light by Kat Yeh and Isabelle Arsenault.
• The comet by Joe Todd-Stanton. 

Jeong is Jeong.

Written by Jessica Yoon.

Illustrated by Michelle Lee.

Make Me A World, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, [2026]

Picture book.

A wonderful glimpse into an aspect of Korean culture and language. Some words and concepts are difficult to translate.

Possible read-alikes:

• Binna's dalgona by Sojung Kim-McCarthy.
• Shoes off, please by Helena Ku Rhee and Myo Yim.
• What is love? by Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis.
• Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas.   

Flock.

Written and illustrated by Gemma Koomen.

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2019.

Picture book.

Shy, loneliness – but finding your place.

It is lovely. I’m sort of conflicted because being shy and enjoying your own community and space does not necessarily mean you’re lonely. Except Sylvia has taken it to the extreme and not socialised with anyone.

Possible read-alikes:

• Shy Willow by Cat Min.
• Everything in its place: a story of books and belonging by Pauline David-Sax and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow.
• Nook by Sally Anne Garland.
• The dolls' house by Tanya Rosie and Claudia Ravalli.
• Little echo by Al Rodin.
• Paper chase by Julia Donaldson and Victoria Sandøy.
• Tiny Jenny: little fairy, big trouble by Briony May Smith. 

The butterfly house.

Written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate.

Affirm Press, 2025.

Picture book.

Isolated and depressed elderly neighbour. Curious young neighbour. Support and care within the community.

Possible read-alikes:

• The garden of broken things by Freya Blackwood.
• Christmas lights on Mistletoe Street by Kate Thompson and Natelle Quek.
• Rose meets Mr Wintergarten by Bob Graham.
• Dear Mr. G by Christine Evans and Gracey Zhang.
• The tree next door by Charlie Moyler and Martin Stanev.
• My poet by Patricia MacLachlan and Jen Hill.
• Reggie Round and the aga panthers by Jane Grant and Martina Heiduczek.
• Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the backyard treasures by Tricia Springstubb and Elaheh Taherian. 

Too many rabbits.

Written by Davide Calì.

Illustrated by Emanuele Benetti.

Translated from Italian by Angus Yuen-Killick.

Red Comet Press, 2023.

Picture book. Translation.

Counting and out of control rabbits.

Possible read-alikes:

• The rabbit problem by Emily Gravett.
• Matisse and the runaway rabbit by Georgia Larson and Iratxe Lopez de Munain.
• Oh, Carrots! by Mariajo Illustrajo.
• Too many carrots by Katy Hudson.
• Ten little rabbits by Maurice Sendak.
• 100 goats and granny! by Atinuke and Lauren Hinds.
• Seahorses are sold out by Katja Gehrmann and Constanze Spengler; translated by Shelley Tanaka.

 

The tiny star.

Written by Mem Fox.

Illustrated by Freya Blackwood.

Puffin Books, 2019.

Australian.

Picture book.

I love this book so much. The poignancy. The warmth – in text and illustration.

It’s a circle of life story, but so much more.

Possible read-alikes:

• The boy and the elephant by Freya Blackwood.
• The lost robot by Joe Todd-Stanton.
• Millie and the frame of wonder by Phil Cummings and Shane Devries.
• What stars are for by Margeaux Davis.
• My little star by Rory H. Mather and Matt Shanks. 

 
Dragon world

Written by Tamara Macfarlane.

Illustrated by Alessandra Fusi.

Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Got to love dragons.

I found it odd that there weren’t taniwha included, as almost every dragon book includes them. Unless the author decided it was a sea monster?

Possible read-alikes:

• Underwater world by Tamara Macfarlane and Alessandra Fusi.
• Fabulous creatures by Cornelia Funke and Ruby Warnecke; translated from German by Anna Schmitt Funke.
• Monsterlogica by Martin Maudsley and Victoria Topping.
• Real-life mythical creatures and their stories of survival by Anita Ganeri and Diego Vaisberg.
• Beasts of the ancient world: a kids' guide to mythical creatures, from the sphinx to the minotaur, dragons to baku by Marchella Ward and Asia Orlando.

   

The ghostkeeper.

Written and illustrated by Johanna Taylor.

Letters by Micah Myers.

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2024.

Graphic novel.  LGBTQIA+.

Ghosts, relationships, being different, life purpose, family obligations.

Possible read-alikes:

• The pale queen byEthan M. Aldridge.
• The moth keeper by K. O'Neill.
• The witch boy by Molly Knox Ostertag.
• Ghost roast by Shawnelle Gibbs & Shawneé Gibbs, Emily Cannon, and Aishwarya Tandon.
• Hollow by Shannon Watters & Branden Boyer-White, Berenice Nelle, Kaitlyn Musto, Kieran Quigley, Gonçalo Lopes, and Jim Campbell.
• Galaxy: the prettiest star by Jadzia Axelrod, Jess Taylor with Cris Peter, and Ariana Maher.