Weekend reads roundup: 10 May 2026, part four

No, I'm a... shark!

Written by Mike Henson.

Illustrated by Ana Gomez.

Happy Yak, 2026.

Picture book.

The perfect answer to “What do you want to be when you grown up?”

Possible read-alikes:

• No, I'm a... flamingo! by Catharine Robertson and Ana Gomez.
• I'd rather be a shark by Laura Bunting and Philip Bunting.
• Hack and Whack by Francesca Simon.
• No, David! by David Shannon.
• When I grow up by Tim Minchin and Steve Antony.

 

This letter says I love you.

Written by Lucy Rowland.

Illustrated by Sharon Rentta.

Includes a letter by Matilda Handy.

Scholastic, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

Based on a real thing. A young girl writes letters to her late grandmother.

Possible read-alikes:

• Sylvester's letter by Matthew Burgess and Josh Cochran.
• Sora's seashells by Helena Ku Rhee, Stella Lim, and Ji-Hyuk Kim.
• Mum's jumper by Jayde Perkin.
• Fox and the mystery letter by Alex G. Griffiths.
• Dear Mr. G by Christine Evans and Gracey Zhang. 

What will my story be?

Written and illustrated by Nidhi Chanani.

Viking, 2021.

Picture book.

A wonderful group of aunties inspire a young girl to imagine her future.

Possible read-alikes:

• What will you be? by Yamile Saied Mâendez and Kate Alizadeh.
• I promise by LeBron James and Nina Mata.
• What are you waiting for? by Marcy Campbell and Shelley Johannes.
• The story house by Vikki Conley and Jennifer Falkner.
• The whale child by Elizabeth Pulford and Jane Smith.
• Mae among the stars by Roda Ahmed and Stasia Burrington.

 

We are all one.

Written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.

Little Tiger, 2026.

Picture book.

Peek-through pages.

Connection to nature.

Possible read-alikes:

• I am the universe by Vasanti Unka.
• A river running through you by Amy-Jane Beer and Elin Manon.
• My friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan and Francesca Sanna.
• Nature knows by Yvette Farmer and Chloe Jasmin Harris.
• Earthspeak = Boodjar Wangkiny by Sean McCann and Jade Goodwin.
• Nature trail by Benjamin Zephaniah and Nila Aye.
• The stuff of stars by Marion Dane Bauer and Ekua Holmes. 

Storm.

Written by Claire Saxby.

Illustrated by Jess Racklyeft.

Allen & Unwin, 2026.

Picture book.

Wild weather with the build-up of a storm.

Possible read-alikes:

• To catch a cloud by Elena De Roo and Hannah Peck.
• Yucky weather by B G Barnstormer and Heather LeMay.
• Meet the weather by Caryl Hart and Bethan Woollvin.
• Wonder why by Lisa Varchol Perron and Nik Henderson.
• Safe at last by Richard Jones.
• Storm by Jane Bunn, Zanni Louise, and Dasha Riley. 

Welcome, Uncle Nowruz!: a Persian New Year's story.

Written and illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh.

NorthSouth Books Inc, 2026.

Picture book.

Based on a Persian tale of waiting for spring – and Nowruz / New Year.

Possible read-alikes:

• Celebrate Nowruz!: a Persian New Year holiday to honor spring by Zohreh Ghahremani and Susie Ghahremani.
• Happy Songkran day!: the Thai New Year celebration by Dow Phumiruk.
• Welcoming the Lunar New Year by Lara Lee and Natelle Quek.
• Let's celebrate Matariki by Abel Junior Tutagalevao and Rebecca Gibbs.
• Tāwhirimātea: a song for Matariki by June Pitman-Hayes, Kat Quin, and Ngaere Roberts.

 

Solo.

Written and illustrated by Neil Clark.

Rocket Bird Books, 2026.

Picture book.

When your outside is shy, but your inside is full to bursting.

Possible read-alikes:

• Tiny worlds by Brittany Cicchese.
• Agatha May and the anglerfish by Nora Morrison, Jessie Ann Foley, and Mika Song.
• Wallflowers by Mackenzie Joy.
• Sometimes it's nice to be alone by Amy Hest and Philip Stead.  
• A place just for me by Loredana Baldinucci and Melinda Berti, translated by Monica Meneghetti.
• A quiet girl by Peter Carnavas.
• Too much!: an overwhelming day by Jolene Gutiérrez and Angel Chang.
• A friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey and Mika Song.
• Meesha makes friends by Tom Percival. 

Bracelets for Bina's brothers.

Written by Rajani LaRocca.

Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat.

Charlesbridge, 2021.

Picture book.

Maths, patterns, problem solving – and a special holiday for siblings. A great mix!

Possible read-alikes:

• Raashi's Rakhis: a new celebration of Raksha Bandhan by Sheetal Sheth.
• Festival of colors by Kabir Sehgal, Surishtha Sehgal, and Vashti Harrison.
• The last marshmallow by Grace Lin.
• Sari sisters by Anitha Rao-Robinson andAnoosha Syed.
• Pitter pattern by Joyce Hesselberth. 

Do you see the tiger?

Written by Philip Ardagh.

Illustrated by David Melling.

Candlewick Press, 2025.

Picture book.

Is there really a tiger on the train?

Possible read-alikes:

• A lion in the meadow by Margaret Mahy and Jenny Williams.
• Milo imagines the world by Matt De Le Peña and Christian Robinson.
• There's a tiger in the garden by Lizzy Stewart.
• Momo sees the sea by Avani Dwivedi.
• How do you hide a hippo? by Rebecca Grant and Jedda Robaard.
• The grizzled grist does not exist! by Juliette MacIver and Sarah Davis. 

Poems to save the world with.

Chosen and illustrated by Chris Riddell.

Macmillan, 2020.

Poetry.

Part of a series, which includes: Poems to live your life by ad Poems to fall in love with.

Possible read-alikes:

• I like this poem: a classic anthology to treasure edited by Kaye Webb; illustrated by Antony Maitland.
• Pick and mix poetry: children's verse chosen by Julia Donaldson; illustrated by Becky Thorns.
• The big amazing poetry book: 52 weeks of poetry from 52 brilliant poets chosen by Gaby Morgan; and illustrated by Chris Riddell; foreword by Roger McGough.
• A poet for every day of the year edited by Allie Esiri.
• A world full of poems selected by Sylvia M. Vardell; illustrated by Sonny Ross.  
• Fire burn, cauldron bubble: magical poems chosen by Paul Cookson; illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon.
• Flights of fancy: stories, pictures and inspiration from ten Children's Laureates.

Weekend reads roundup: 3 May 2026, part one

 

The umbrella.

Written by Niki Foreman.

Illustrated by Binny Talib.

Penguin Books, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

Neurodiversity / difference. Not fitting in, and deciding whether you actually want to.

Possible read-alikes:

• Different by Eva Eland.  
• Scotty and the Scotties by Gabriel Evans.
• The Rock family band by Robert Tregoning and Laura Brenlla.
• Wild for Winnie by Laura Marx Fitzgerald and Jenny Løvlie.
• Narwhal vs. kindergarten by Vanessa Roeder.
• The blue umbrella by Emily Ann Davison and Momoko Abe.
• Under the umbrella by Catherine Buquet and Marion Arbona, translated by Erin Woods. 

Dear Acorn (Love, Oak): letter poems to friends.

Written by Joyce Sidman.

Illustrated by Melissa Sweet.

Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025.

Illustrated poetry.

Conversations between big and little things in our ecosystem.

Poetry of perspective and connection.

Possible read-alikes:

• Groovy fish and other poems by Paula Green.
• Our Earth is a poem: poetry about nature.
• The dirt book: poems about animals that live beneath our feet by David L. Harrison and Kate Cosgrove.
• The proper way to meet a hedgehog: and other how-to poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Richard Jones.
• Earth verse: haiku from the ground up by Sally M. Walker and William Grill.
• Dear Earth... from your friends in room 5 by Erin Dealey and Luisa Uribe.
• Dear dragon by Josh Funk and Rodolfo Montalvo. 

Nature knows.

Written by Yvette Farmer.

Illustrated by Chloe Jasmin Harris. 

Thames & Hudson Australia, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

I was going to say that this is heading towards a bit ‘preachy’ and then I read the author’s biography, which says she “has worked with the University of Western Sydney on research exploring how nature-based interventions support children's wellbeing.” Well, that explains it. I’m not saying the book is bad, just has a message and cause that is more prominent than others.

Possible read-alikes:

• Earthspeak = Boodjar Wangkiny by Sean McCann and Jade Goodwin.
• Rush! rush! by Elena de Roo and Jenny Cooper.  
• We are all one by Britta Teckentrup.
• A song full of sky by Ruth Doyle and Britta Teckentrup.
• The wild outside: explore the nature beyond your doorstep by Rachel Ip and Katie Hickey.
• Simple thanks by Deborah Wiles and Bao Luu.

 

Fearless.

Written and illustrated by Kelly Canby.

Fremantle Press, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

Punn-y names make the lesson-heavy message pretty blatant: Bea Ware and Annie Venture. The characters are as cardboard stereotyped as their names lead you to feel.

Possible read-alikes / instead-ofs:

• A little bit worried by Ciara Gavin, Tim Warnes.
• When I feel brave by Britta Teckentrup.
• Mabel and the big wide world by Paul Stewart and Jane Porter.
• Victor the wolf with worries by Catherine Rayner. 

Little Hector and the big idea.

Written and illustrated by Ruth Paul.

Puffin, 2019.

Picture book.

Aotearoa.

An environmental message: ocean pollution.

Possible read-alikes:

• Clean up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola.
• Fish by Brendan Kearney.
• Tiny crab is a tidy crab by Paula Bowles.
• The mess that we made by Michelle Lord and Julia Blattman.
• The lighthouse keeper's mystery by Ronda Armitage and David Armitage.
• Celia Seagull and the plastic sea by Nicole Miller and Lily Uivel.

 

You've got this, little pangolin.

Written by Tọlá Okogwu.

Illustrated by Shirley Hottier.

Simon & Schuster, 2026.

Picture book.

A little pangolin is determined to be grown-up, but that takes time.

Possible read-alikes:

• Sometimes we fall by Randall de Sève and Kate Gardiner.
• The magical yet by Angela DiTerlizzi and Lorena Alvarez.
• As strong as the river by Sarah Noble.

 

Bella the Storyteller.

Written and illustrated by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros.

Andersen Press, 2023.

Picture book.

I’m with the audience – I’m not sure I’d want Bella telling my stories! Definitely over-the-top.

Possible read-alikes:

• This and that by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek.
• Help! We need a story by James Harris and Mariajo Ilustrajo.
• Shortest bedtime story ever by David Campbell and Samar Kabir.
• A delicious story by Barney Saltzberg.
• A unicorn, a dinosaur, and a shark walk into a book by Jonathan Fenske.

  

It's my bird-day!

Written and illustrated by Mo Willems.

Union Square Kids, 2026.

Picture book.

Welcome back, Pigeon! There’s a very surprising twist at the end.

Possible read-alikes:

• I'm very busy: a (nearly forgotten) birthday book by Oliver Jeffers.
• Two birthdays: a Cedric and Boo book by Tim Hopgood.
• Bea's bad day by Tom Percival.
• Happy birthday, Dog! and Cat by Annabel Pitcher and Fabi Santiago.
• Happy birthday to me by Stacy Gregg and Ruth Paul.

 

The future book.

Written by Mac Barnett.

Illustrated by Shawn Harris.

Simon and Schuster, 2026.

Picture book.

Completely ridiculous – and perfect for reading aloud to older children, ie school-aged.

Possible read-alikes:

• The book with no pictures by B.J. Novak.
• This is a ball by Beck and Matt Stanton.
• Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld.
• I say ooh you say aah by John Kane. 

Can I sit with you?

Written and illustrated by Sarah Jacoby.

Chronicle Books, 2021.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

Stray dog looking for a home.

Possible read-alikes:

• Three and Mutt dog! by Stephen Michael King.
• Mr Scruff by Simon James.
• I am a wolf by Kelly Leigh Miller.
• A job for Penelope by Melanie Mikecz.
• My friend Andy by Emma Chinnery.
• Penny and the little lost puppy by Emily Sutton.
• Ginger finds a home by Charlotte Voake.
• Can I be your dog? by Troy Cummings.

 

ABC zoinks.

Written and illustrated by Claudia Rueda.

Candlewick Press, 2026.

Board book.

Silly book, but fun.

Possible read-alikes:

• The dangerous alphabet book by DK Ryland.
• Albert's ABCs: a sibling story by Henry Cole.
• Boing!: a very noisy ABC by Tim McCanna andJorge Martin.
• A is for apricat: learn your ABCs with these deliciously adorable food & critter mash-ups! by Mauro Gatti.

 

Love from The crayons.

Written by Drew Daywalt.

Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

HarperCollins Children's Books, 2019.

Picture book.

What colour are emotions? Love is every colour.

Possible read-alikes:

• Red is not angry, blue is not sad by Alicia Acosta, Luis Amavisca, and Anuska Allepuz.
• The colour of happy by Laura Baker and Angie Rozelaar.
• I feel teal by Lauren Rille and Aimée Sicuro.
• Colour my days by Ross Collins.

 

That's my daddy!

Written by Ruth Redford.

Illustrated by Dan Taylor.

Egmont, 2020.

Picture book.

All sorts of dads.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dadapalooza: a celebration of dads by Sarina Dickson and Ant Sang.
• Dads are incredible by Simon Philip and Dawn Lo.
• What do you call your dad? by Ashleigh Barton and Matina Heiduczek.
• Wild about dads by Philip Bunting.
• My Dad by Anthony Browne.

 

Monkeypig.

Written and illustrated by Huw Aaron.

Puffin, 2026.

Picture book.

Molly is hoping that she will not be outed by her fellow monkeys.

Possible read-alikes:

• Luigi, the spider who wanted to be a kitten by Michelle Knudsen and Kevin Hawkes.
• Lulu is a rhinoceros by Jason Flom, Allison Flom, and Sophie Corrigan.
• Jet the cat: (is not a cat) by Phaea Crede and Terry Runyan.
• I am not a fox by Karina Wolf and Chuck Groenink.
• Tiny Jenny: little fairy, big trouble by Briony May Smith.

 

Stuck.

Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

HarperCollins Children's Books, 2011.

Picture book.

Outrageously ridiculous and so much fun! A laugh out loud read aloud.

Possible read-alikes:

• I want my hat back by Jon Klassen.
• Shh! We have a plan by Chris Haughton.
• Blown away by Rob Biddulph.
• That is not a good idea! by Mo Willems.

 

The invisible alphabet.

Written by Joshua David Stein.

Illustrated by Ron Barrett.

Rise/Penguin Workshop, 2020.

Picture book.

A quirky alphabet book.

Simple line drawings with only one other colour – orange.

Possible read-alikes:

• One of these is not like the others by Barney Saltzberg.
• Alphabet under construction by  Denise Fleming.
• What about X?: an alphabet adventure by Anne Marie Houppert and Daniel Wiseman.
• A is for Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan and Matthew Myers.

 

 

The snow theatre.

Written and illustrated by Ryoji Arai.

Translated from Japanese by David Boyd.

Enchanted Lion Books, 2025.

Sophisticated picture book.

A tale of forgiveness and love – and imagination.

Possible read-alikes:

• 4 Yaks and a Yeti by Peter Hillary and Ant Sang.
• Camilla, cartographer by Julie Dillemuth, PhD and Laura Wood.
• Freya and the snake by Fredrik Sonck and Jenny Lucander, translated by B.J. Woodstein.
• Eyes that speak to the stars by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho.
• Snow by Cynthia Rylant and Lauren Stringer.
• Growing an artist: the story of a landscaper and his son by John Parra.

 

If I built a town.

Written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen.

Rocky Pond Books, 2025.

Picture book. Rhyming text.

An increasingly ridiculous imaginative walk through a child’s dream town – as he declaims it to the Mayor.

Possible read-alikes:

• The man from the land of Fandango by Margaret Mahy and Polly Dunbar.
• My best friend Tilly by Iris Samartzi, translated by Ikaros Publishing.
• Not-a-box city by Antoinette Portis.
• Your house is not just a house by Idris Goodwin and Lorraine Nam.
• Forts by Katie Venit and Kenard Pak.
• Where would you go? by Alison Lester, Jane Godwin and the children at Yalingbu Yiramboi - The Royal Children's Hospital School.
• We can play anything! by Marit Törnqvist, translated and adapted by Polly Lawson.
• If you were a city by Kyo Maclear and Francesca Sanna. 
• The spaces in between by Jaspreet Kaur and Manjit Thapp. 

 

Iguana miss you!

Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton.

Little, Brown and Company, 2026.

Picture book.

Rhyming text.

A poetic farewell. A great gift for school leavers, leaving home, moving away – anything, really.

Possible read-alikes:

• I send you a hug by Anne Booth and Åsa Gilland.
• How do dinosaurs say goodbye? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague.
• Evelyn Del Rey is moving away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sánchez.

 

 

I'd rather be a shark.

Written by Laura Bunting.

Illustrated by Philip Bunting.

Scholastic Australia, 2026.

Australian.

Picture book.

Part of a series all about annoyed children imagining life as something else.

Possible read-alikes:

• No, I'm a... shark! by Mike Henson, Ana Gomez.
• Butterflies do not ride their bikes by Ali Rutstein and Niña Nill.
• I don't want to be a frog by Dev Petty and Mike Boldt.

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 19

Share a NZ book for children or teens: that you are going to read next: 
 A lot of silly: a book of rhymes and nonsense. 
Written by Joy Cowley. 
Illustrated by David Barrow. 
Gecko Press, 2024.
ISBN 9781776575978. 

The fact this is a Joy Cowley collection is enough to sell it. 

But, the publicity around the book - and the launch - just make it even more irresistible. 

There was this article - content warnings in place - about her life, and this book. 

And, then this wonderful piece, after the launch. 

October Kiwi Kids Books: Day 11

Share a New Zealand book for children or teens: you would gift for a new baby. 
A treasure of NZ poems for children. 
Editor: Paula Green. 
Illustrator: Jenny Cooper. 
Publication: Random House New Zealand Children's, 2014; ISBN 9781775533566. 
Republished: Random House New Zealand, 2017; ISBN 9780143772194. 

I am a believer that newborn babies will listen to anything, as long as you read it with love.

What better than a treasury of poetry. 

I grew up with A. A. Milne poems, and I'm pleased that children from Aotearoa have this, and other, books of poetry about THEIR world, to grow up with and recite from. 

If you need any poetry recommendations, then Paula Green's website should be your first port of call. 

World Kid Lit Month 2023: Children's Poetry Book

Children's Poetry Book: 

Roar squeak purr: a New Zealand treasury of animal poems.
Edited by Paula Green; illustrated by Jenny Cooper.

Penguin Random House, 2022.

Paula Green is a doyen of Aotearoa poetry, especially of that written for children. And, of that written by children. 

There is so much to love about this book.

The production values. 

The range of poets.

The range of poems.

The illustrations.

But, what I really, really, really love - is the inclusion of the children's poems. 

The children are Poets, and they are treated with the respect and care as the adult, professional, poets. 

The children's poems are included on merit - and they more than stand up to that. 

World Kid Lit Month 2022: Day 17: Children's poetry translated from another language

Bingo: Children's poetry translated from another language:

Doggy slippers: poems

By Jorge Luján (with the contribution of Latin American children); translated by Elisa Amado; pictures by Isol. 

World Kid Lit Month 2021: HAITI

HAITI: 

Haiti my country. 

Poems by Haitian schoolchildren; illustrated by Rogé; translated by Solange Messier. 

Features poems inspired by the Haitian landscape written by students from Camp Perrin, Haiti.

World Kid Lit Month 2021: ENGLAND

ENGLAND: 

Chocolate cake. 

By Michael Rosen; illustrated by Kevin Waldron. 

A small boy who loved chocolate cake got himself into trouble when he finished off a whole cake in the middle of the night! When his mother found out he wondered if she would ever forget. 

For the BEST experience of this poem - watch the author! 

World Kid Lit Month 2020: Day 18: Poetry

Day 18: time for poetry!

There are so many amazing poets, I couldn't choose just one, so...

A treasury of NZ poems for children edited by Paula Green; illustrated by Jenny Cooper (2014).