Weekend Reads round-up: 19 October: part two

Tiger's perfectly different day.

Written and illustrated by Alison Murray.

Orchard Books, 2026.

Picture book.

A search for sameness is confronted by a different day.

Possible read-alikes:

• Mr Brown's bad day by Lou Peacock and Alison Friend.
• Upside down Friday by Lana Spasevski and Nicky Johnston.
• Once upon a tiger by Sarah Massini.
• Augustus and his smile by Catherine Rayner.

 

What made you smile today?

Written by Lou Peacock.

Illustrated by Raquel Catalina.

Nosy Crow, 2026.

Picture book.

Noticing the good things, even when times are tough.

Possible read-alikes:

• The little book of joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams and Rachel Neumann, illustrated by Raphael López.
• Augustus and his smile by Catherine Rayner.
• Tiny good things by Gabrielle Tozer and Sophie Beer. 
• Finding things by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek.
• This is happy! by Anna Ross and Debi Gliori.
• Tiny wonders by Sally Soweol Han

 

Bart is different.

Written and illustrated by Barroux.

Otter-Barry Books, 2026.

Picture book.

A spider swinging to his own artistic inclinations.

Possible read-alikes:

• Craft Roach by Rachel Burke and Daniel Gray-Barnett.
• The star maker's apprentice by Sam Hay and Xin Li.
• Sand cakes by Kallie George and Devon Holzwarth.
• Sometimes you find a dragon by Viviane Schwarz.
• Aaaarrgghh, spider! by Lydia Monks.
• Ish by Peter H. Reynolds.
• I am an artist by Nikki Slade Robinson.

 

Whoa Panda!

Written and illustrated by C.S. Jennings.

Penguin Random House, 2025.

Picture book.

Learning about personal boundaries.

Possible read-alikes:

• Hug? by Charlene Chua.
• The boy who loved everyone by Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring.
• No hugs! by Deirdre A. Prischmann and Sarah Jennings.  
• Can I give you a squish? by Emily Neilson.
• Don't hug Doug (he doesn't like it) by Carrie Finison and Daniel Wiseman.
• From my head to my toes, I say what goes by Charlotte Barkla and Jacqui Lee.

 

Lisa Carrington rescues a rascal.

Written by Lisa Carrington.

Illustrated by Scott Pearson.

Huia, 2026.

Aotearoa.

Picture book.

Dame Lisa Carrington’s picture books have a message – but it never hits you over the head. Support and encouragement to overcome fears.

Possible read-alikes:

• A stick and a stone by Sarina Dickson and Hilary Jean Tapper.  
• Dobby: based on a true story by Marion Day and Emma Gustafson.
• Koala ark by Stephen Michael King.
• The dream keeper by Anna Walker.
• Shy Willow by Cat Min.

 

One amazing story.

Written and illustrated by Richard Jones.

Simon & Schuster, 2026.

Picture book.

Counting, imagination, fantasy residents. Counting up and down.

Possible read-alikes:

• Tell me a dragon by Jackie Morris.
• Ten little rabbits by Maurice Sendak.  
• Frostfire by Elly MacKay.
• This book is bursting with monsters! by Christina Dorner and Édouard Manceau.

 

 

The dragon slayer and his super special suit.

Written by Kyle Worley.

Illustrated by Kaja Kajfez.

B&H Publishing Group, 2026.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

Christian – with Jesus as saviour and dragon slayer.

 

Isla and the sky.

Written and illustrated by Greg Stobbs.

Oxford University Press, 2026.

Picture book.

Sky as a person, trying to please everyone – and not being herself.

Possible read-alikes:

• Little cloud by Anne Booth and Sarah Massini.
• Meet the weather by Caryl Hart and Bethan Woollvin.
• Sunny and Stormy by Sarah Holliday.
• The little cloud by Pam Fong.
• Willow takes on the weather by Rachel Noble and Annabel Tempest.
• Shibu's tail by Tess Thomas and Kamwei Fong.
• Hazel is all that by Chad Otis.

 

This book just stole my cat!

Written and illustrated by Richard Byrne.

Oxford University Press, 2018.

Interactive.

Picture book.

So much fun! Wonderful use of the book’s gutter.

Part of a series.

Possible read-alikes:

• There's a monster in your book by Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott.
• Come on out! by Alberto Lot.
• Do not open this book by Andy Lee and Heath McKenzie.
• Don't push the button! by Bill Cotter.

 

Fox & Rabbit.

Written by Beth Ferry.

Illustrated by Gergely Dudás.

Amulet Books, 2020.

Graphic novel.  

Opposites can be friends. Great beginner read.

Possible read-alikes:

• SandyPants! by Raymond McGrath.
• Donut feed the squirrels by Mika Song.
• Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Tabor.
• Pea, Bee, & Jay by Brian "Smitty" Smith.
• Worm and Butterfly are friends by Kaz Windness.
• Gnome and Rat by Lauren Stohler.
• Pizza and Taco by Stephen Shaskan.  
• Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell.
• Neill Cameron's Donut Squad by Neill Cameron.