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. 

Weekend reads round-up: 5 April 2026

 

Your truck.

Written and illustrated by Jon Klassen

Walker Books, 2026.

Board book.

Part of a board book series Your Things. These are simple, yet there’s so much to look at and enjoy.

I can see these working as felt boards – except you’d miss the wonderful illustrations.

There is so much skill in making something so pared back.

Series:

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

Possible read-alikes:

• The world and everything in it by Kevin Henkes.
• Dinosaur vs library by Bob Shea.
• I’d rather be a cat by Laura and Philip Bunting. 

Banana bop!: a monster show.

Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton.

Boynton Bookworks, 2025.

Board book.

Rhyming text.

What is it about bananas that is so funny?

Another Boynton banger of a book.

Possible read-alikes:

• Banana by Ed Vere. 
• Banana, banana, banana! by Sarah Finan.
• Are you a banana? by Robert Starling.
• 1, 2, 3, Do the Unicorn by Michelle Robinson and Rosalind Beardshaw.
• Skip to my moo: a rollicking barnyard story by Iza Trapani and Maddie Frost. 

Super Magic Boy. 3, I am a slime monster.

Written and illustrated by Jarod Roselló.

RH Graphic, 2025.

Graphic novel.

Hugo and Dino must stop a slime monster from destroying the library!

A fun early graphic novel.

Possible read-alikes:

• Sir Ladybug. 3, Sir Ladybug and the bookworms by Corey R. Tabor.
• Gabby & Gator by James Burks.
• Banana Fox and the book-eating robot by James Kochalka.
• Fox & Rabbit. 1 by Beth Ferry and Gergely Dudás.
• Alan, king of the universe by Tom McLaughlin.
• The adventures of Anders by Gregory Mackay.
• Cat & cat adventures by Susie Yi.
• Teen Titans go! To the library by Franco and Art Baltazar.
• Box tales. Grow, strawberries, grow! by James Burks. 

If it's Lunar New Year and you know it ...

Written and illustrated by Belinda Chen.

Nosy Crow Ltd, 2026.

Board book. With sliding pages.

I asked a staff member about this one, and they were as indecisive and uncertain as am about it. I don’t think it is one they’d be sharing at Lunar New Year storytimes in the future.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• Chinese New Year colors = 春节的颜色 by Rich Lo.
• Welcoming the Lunar New Year by Lara Lee and Natelle Quek.
• Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin.
• Happy all-idays! by Cindy Jin and Rob Sayegh Jr.  
• What do you do to celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek.
• Chinese New Year by Ilaria Falorsi.
• Maisy's Chinese New Year by Lucy Cousins.
• Peppa's Chinese New Year adapted by Mandy Archer and Cala Spinner. 

 

Wild life: an animal history of Aotearoa.

Written by Philippa Werry.

Oratia Books, 2026.

Nonfiction.

Although classified as an adult book, this is accessible to interested children.

Possible read-alikes:

• An extraordinary land: discoveries and mysteries from wild New Zealand by Peter Hayden and Rod Morris.
• Wildlife of Aotearoa by Gavin Bishop.
• Animals of Aotearoa: explore & discover New Zealand's wildlife by Gillian Candler and Ned Barraud.
• Why is that lake so blue?: a children's guide to New Zealand's natural world by Simon Pollard.
• Critters of Aotearoa: 50 bizarre but lovable members of our wildlife community by Nicola Toki and Lily Duval.

  

The secrets of mushrooms.

Written by Ginevra Picoco and Lorenzo Cocchi.

Illustrated by Ester Castelnouvo and Valentina Figus.

Welbeck Children's Books, an imprint of Hachette Children's Group, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

A solid introduction to mushrooms and fungi.

Possible read-alikes:

• Fungarium by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya, and others.
• The mushroom fan club by Elise Gravel.
• All about mushrooms by Alice Pattullo.
• Hello fungi by Nina Chakrabarti.
• Encyclopedia of plants, fungi and lichens for young readers by Tereza Němcová and Tomáš Pernický.
• Humongous fungus by Lynne Boddy and Wenjia Tang.
• Weird and wonderful nature by Ben Hoare, Kaley McKean, and Dr. Chris Gibson. 

Every Monday Mabel.

Written and illustrated by Jashar Awan.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Picture book.

I’ve seen a few videos of children who love rubbish / garbage day – because of the trucks or the workers. This picture book is all about Mabel, who is one of their fans.

Possible read-alikes:

• Noodles on a bicycle by Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang.
• I'm the bin lorry driver by Katie Woolley and David Semple.
• Charlie the bin truck driver by Nikki Swaby and Katrina Hill.
• The bin monster by Annabelle Hale.
• Trash truck by Max Keane. 

Our world in pictures bugs, butterflies, beetles & bees.

Consultant Professor Adam Hart.

Written by Ben Ffrancon Dowds, Andrea Mills, and Lizzie Munsey.

Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2026.

Pictorial nonfiction.

This is the book you need to have around when reading Lauren Child’s But excuse me that is my book – which is about Lola and her favourite library book: Beetles, bugs and butterflies.

Possible read-alikes:

• The observologist by Giselle Clarkson.
• Shapes of nature: a kaleidoscope of the natural world by Ben Hoare and Sally Caulwell.
• Entomology by Anna Claybourne and Daniel Limón.
• An anthology of remarkable bugs by Jess French, Angela Rizza, and Daniel Long.
• A whole world of minibeasts by Anna Claybourne and Yekyung Kwon.
• Insectarium by Emily Carter and Dave Goulson. 

The heart: history, science and lots of love.

Written and illustrated by Noemí Fabra.

Translated by Gabriella Aldeman.

Post Wave Children's Books, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Symbolic and realistic information about the heart.

Possible read-alikes:

• Heartbeat by Doe Boyle and Daniel Long.
• All about the heart by Remi Kowalski and Tonia Composto.
• The hero heart by Roopa Farooki and Viola Wang.
• Mysteries of the human body: weird and wonderful anatomy by Azmain Chowdhury and Daniel Nelson.
• Your sense-ational human body by Emma Young and John Devolle.
• A really short journey through the body by Bill Bryson, adapted by Emma Young, illustrations by Daniel Long & Dawn Cooper & Jesús Sotés & Katie Ponder. 

Lucky's star: the story of a meteorite.

Written by Mark Greenwood.

Illustrated by Lucia Masciullo.

CSIRO Publishing, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

Australian.

Based on a real-life meteorite, which fell in 1969 in Victoria, Australia.

Possible read-alongs:

• How the meteorite got to the museum by Jessie Hartland.
• Oh no, Astro! by Matt Roeser and Brad Woodard.
• Ada and the galaxies by Alan Lightman, Olga Pastuchiv, and Susanna Chapman.

 

Igor and the mending mice.

Written and illustrated by Alexander Mostov.

Ivy Kids Eco, 2026.

Picture book.

Igor’s tailoring business is threatened by recycling mice – until he figures out it’s better to work with them.

A fable about working outside (ish) capitalism, and embracing individuality and environmental concerns.

Possible read-alikes:

• Made by Maxine by Ruth Spiro and Holly Hatam.
• Joseph had a little overcoat by Simms Taback.
• Something from nothing adapted from a Jewish folktale by Phoebe Gilman.
• I had a favorite dress and I had a favourite hat by Boni Ashburn and Robyn Ng.
• Where's your creativity? by Aaron Rosen, Riley Watts, and Marika Maijala.

 

This book will make you a scientist.

Written by Sheila Kanani.

Illustrated by Ellen Surrey.

Nosy Crow, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Experiments and activities based on scientists and their careers.

Possible read-alikes:

• The tinkering workshop: explore, invent & build with everyday materials: 100 hands-on STEAM projects by Ryan Jenkins.
• Stay curious and keep exploring: next level: 50 bigger, bolder science experiments to do with the whole family by Emily Calandrelli.
• What do scientists do? by Can Tuğrul, Geraldine Sy, and Tom Mumbray.
• 50 fantastic science jobs by Tom Jackson. 

Integrity.

Written by Zanni Louise.

Illustrated by Jingting Wang.

Affirm Press, 2026.

Integrity is a nebulous thing – but this book does its best to define it, in terms appropriate to the age group. If only more politicians and leaders read it.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

• A kids book about choices by Kyle Quilausing.
• 101 things every kid needs to know: important skills that prepare kids for life! by Jamie Thorne.
• What is right &​ wrong? Who decides? Where do values come from? and other big questions by Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young.

 

The fossil hunter.

Written and illustrated by Kate Winter.

Puffin, 2023.

Sophisticated nonfiction picture book.

An introduction to Mary Anning.

Possible read-alikes / read-alongs:

• Dinosaur hunter: Joan Wiffen's awesome fossil discoveries by David Hill and Phoebe Morris.
• Fossil hunter: how Mary Anning changed the science of prehistoric life by Cheryl Blackford.
• The fossil girl: Mary Anning's dinosaur discovery by Catherine Brighton.
• Dragon bones: the fantastic fossil discoveries of Mary Anning by Sarah Glenn Marsh and Maris Wicks.
• Stone girl, bone girl by Laurence Anholt and Sheila Moxley.
• Nothing stopped Sophie: a story of unshakable mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe and Barbara McClintock.
• Joan procter, dragon doctor: the woman who loved reptiles by Patricia Valdez and Felicita Sala. 

The watermelon seed.

Written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli.

Disney Hyperion, 2013.

Picture book.

Whomst amongst us didn’t panic when they ate a fruit seed?

Possible read-alikes:

• Scaredy squirrel by Mélanie Watt.
• There's no such thing by Heidi McKinnon.
• What about worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins. 

Birds.

Written and illustrated by Anne-Kathrin Behl.

Nosy Crow, 2026.

Board book with sliders.

Sliding pages and bright illustrations make this an appealing book for the young and curious.

Possible read-alikes:

• Beautiful birds illustrated by Chorkung.
• Maisy loves birds by Lucy Cousins
• Peek inside a bird's nest by Anna Milbourne and Stephanie Fizer Coleman.
• Look! A bird!: 20 feathered friends to touch and trace by Anya Serota and Christine Berrie.

 

Start with a teapot: an unexpected guide to the art of drawing.

Written and illustrated by Enric Lax.

Translated by Daniel Hahn.

Originally published in Catalan as El manual de dibujo definitive.

Gecko Press, 2025.

Illustrated nonfiction.

A riotous book! Just, don’t expect to be able to draw afterwards.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dot! scribble! go! by Hervé Tullet.
• I can only draw worms by Will Mabbitt.
• I cannot draw a horse by Charise Mericle Harper.
• Sometimes you find a dragon by Viviane Schwarz. 

Horses & us: true stories of horses and their humans.

Written and illustrated by Johanna Emeney.

Massey University Press, 2026.

Illustrated nonfiction.

Aotearoa.

Small vignettes about various horses and horse people around Aotearoa.

Possible read-alikes:

• Animal helpers: how animals from around the world help us by Ben Hubbard and Sara Ugolotti.
• Dogs with jobs by Andrea Rowe and Julia Murray.
• Horse power: how horses changed the world by Jennifer Thermes.
• Tracks through time: the history of the world told through animal adventures by David Long, Rßông Pham and Vinh Nguyõên. 

All the way home

Written and illustrated by Debi Gliori.

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC , 2018. 

Picture book. 

An adventure story of a penguin Dad and his egg. Wonderful fun, and Gliori has a way with penguins, which I adore. Shout out to unexpected Christmas tie-in.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dragon loves Penguin by Debi Glori.
• Lost and found by Oliver Jeffers.
• Poles apart by Jeanne Willis and Jarvis.
• Penguin's egg by Anna Kemp and Alice Courtley.
• Jonty Gentoo: the adventures of a penguin by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
• Born to fly by Patrick Guest and Jonathan Bentley.
• Ming's iceberg by Kiri Lightfoot and Kimberly Andrews.
• Where the heart is by Irma Gold and Susannah Crispe.
• Penguin parcel by Victoria Cassanell.

 

 

Library lion.

Written by Michelle Knudsen.  Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.

Candlewick Press, 2006. 

Picture book. 

Sometimes you need to be loud in the library – especially when something is wrong with a friend.

Possible read-alikes:

• I'm so happy you're here: a celebration of library joy by Mychal Threets and Lorraine Nam.
• Pukapuka by Vasanti Unka and Justin Kereama.
• Books aren't for bears by Mark Barry and Katy Halford.
• No cats in the library by Lauren Emmons.
• Leilong the library bus by Julia Liu and Bei Lynn, translated by Helen Wang.
• Lost in the library and Where is our library? by Josh Funk and Stevie Lewis.
• The night library by David Zeltser and Raul Colón.
• Wild about books by Judy Sierra and Marc Brown.
• The library dragon and Return of the library dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy and Michael P. White.

Weekend Reads: 7 January 2025

Getting ready for summer themed books for storytime! 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's First Summer. 

By Eric Carle. 

Penguin Random House, 2022. 

Board Book. 

Rhyming text. 

Maisy Loves Water. 

Written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins. 

Walker Books, 2024. 

Board Book. Great introductory science book about water in various guises. 

Jules Vs the Ocean. 

Written and illustrated by Jessie Sima. 

Simon & Schuster, 2020. 

A lesson in tides and waves. Sisterly cooperation.  

Oliver's Fruit Salad. 

Written by Vivian French. Illustrated by Alison Barlett. 

Hodder, 1998. 

Could work for storytime. Food preparation, and preferences. 

Best Day Ever! 

Written by Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by Leah Nixon. 

Houghton Mifflin Court, 2021. 

Rhyming text from the point of view of a dog. Disability representation. 

Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures. 

Written by Tricia Springstubb. Illustrated by Elaheh Taherian. 

Candlewick Press, 2020. 

Intergenerational, and race, friendship. Collage illustrations. 

Splash!

Written and illustrated by Leslie Patricelli. 

Walker Books, 2022. 

Rhyming text board book. A wonderful, simple, story of a visit to a beach with a friend. 

Beach Bummer. 

Written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins. 

Disney-Hyperion, 2024. 

I love Bruce! 

Sun Shower. 

Written by Melinda Szymanik. Illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White. 

Scholastic, 2023. 

Aotearoa. 

New Zealand birds, taniwha in the harbour. 

Magic Beach. 

Written and illustrated by Alison Lester. 

30th Anniversary edition: Crows Nest, 2024. 

Australia. 

Rhyming couplets of a wonderful, classic, story. 

Grandpa and Thomas. 

and

Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella. 

Written and illustrated by Pamela Allen. 

Viking, 2023 and 2006. 

Aotearoa / Australia. 

Pamela Allen is proudly claimed by both Aotearoa and Australia. She was born, raised, educated in Aotearoa - and returned there after 30 years in Australia. Her writing and illustrating career began in Australia. 

These two books include many of the things Pamela's books are known for: the use of language and sound, the story, and the wonderful relationships between characters. . 

Beach Song. 

Written by Ros Moriarty. Illustrated by Samantha Campbell. 

Allen & Unwin, 2024. 

Australia. 

Sweet Pea Summer. 

Written and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell. 

Candlewick, 2021. 

A young girl spends summer with her grandparents, as her mother is hospitalised. 

Find Spot at the Beach. 

Written and illustrated by Eric Hill. 

Puffin, 2024. 

A lift-the-flap board book. 

One Yellow Sun. 

Written and illustrated by Michael Arndt. 

Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2020. 

A rainbow counting down book. 

Moon & Sun. 

Written by Melinda Szymanik. Illustrated by Malene Laugesen. 

Upstart Press Ltd, 2021. 

Aotearoa. A story of differences and sibling rivalry. 

Goodnight Sun. 

Written by Eoin McLaughlin. Illustrated by Morag Hood. 

Faber and Faber, 2024. 

A reluctant-to-go-to-bed sun is encouraged to do so by other 'heavenly' bodies. 

Summer Song. 

Written by Kevin Henkes. Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. 

Greenwillow, 2020. 

The senses of summer. 

At the Bach. 

Written by Joy Cowley. Illustrated by Jean Tapper. 

Gecko Press, 2023. 

Aotearoa. 

A rhyming celebration of a summer at an Aotearoa beach house. 

Summer Feet. 

Written by Sheree Fitch. Illustrated by Carolyn Fisher. 

Nimbus Publishing, 2020. 

Diverse characters. 

Bears at the Beach. 

Written by Shirley Parenteau. Illustrated by David Walker. 

Candlewick Press, 2021. 

Rhyming text. 

Sing Me Summer. 

Written by Jane Godwin. Illustrated by Alison Lester. 

Affirm Press, 2020. 

Australia. 

Rhyming couplets celebrate the seasons. 

Hello Summer. 

Written and illustrated by Jo Lindley. 

Farshore, 2023.

Part of a series about seasons, featuring fairies and mindfulness. 

Summer is Here. 

Written by Renée Watson. Illustrated by Bea Jackson. 

Bloombury, 2024. 

Diverse characters in race and body shape / size. 

Hot Dog. 

Written and illustrated by Doug Salati. 

Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. 

Finding calm in the ocean. 

When the Sun Goes Home. 

Written and illustrated by Momoko Abe. 

Orchard Books, 2021.

Emotions and masking.