Weekend Reads: 30 November 2024

My First Animals. 

By Émilie Lapeyre. 

Ladybird Books, 2022. 

ISBN 9780241549018. 

Board book. 

A world of words book. Asks questions, so is good for demonstrating how to integrate that into your sharing of books with little ones. 

Simple and clear. 

Who Needs a Hug? 

By Dean Hacohen and Sherry Scharschmidt. 

Candlewick Press, 2021. 

ISBN 9781536212495. 

Board book. 

Very cute, pretty standard board book. 

Shapes. 

By Sasha Morton. 

Boxer Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781915801456. 

Board book. 

A Spring Street touch and trace book. 

Tactile book. 

Encourages looking around you to spot the shapes found in the book. 

Run Like a Rabbit. 

By Alison Lester. 

Allen & Unwin, 2021. 

ISBN 9781915801456. 

Australian. 

Board book. 

Great book for interactive / movement storytimes.

Hello Dinosaur: Iguanodon. 

By David Partington. 

Campbell Books / Pan Macmillan, 2024. 

ISBN 9781035016952. 

Board book. 

A good introduction to the iguanodon, with sturdy pull and push tabs and slides. 

Hey! Look at You! 

By Sandra Boynton. 

Boynton Bookworks, 2024.  

ISBN 9781665953160. 

Rhyming text. 

Animal-shaped mirrors, and animal sounds make a magical combination. 

We Are Friends in the Sky. 

By Sue Downing. 

Dorling Kindersley, 2021. 

ISBN 9780241510629. 

Board book. 

Friendships between various creatures / beings / elements (what do you call them?) And, and introduction to the solar system, of a sort. 

Donut Touch! 

Seb Davey and Alex Willmore. 

Gemini Children's Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781917082099. 

Board book. 

Sharing and donuts. A good interactive book for younger children. 

Great read-aloud potential. Spot the differences between pages. Guess who ate the donuts. 

The Good Night Garage. 

By Tori Kosara. 

Flying Eye Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781838741778. 

Rhyming text. 

Andromorphic animals and vehicles. 

 

The Velvet Messenger. 

By Megan Hess. 

Hardie Grant, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761212666. 

Rhyming text. Unexpectedly darker than I expected. Definitely Disney evil queen territory. 

Long and aimed at older picture book readers. 

There's an audience for these, and it is pretty girly. 

Tiny Jenny: little fairy, big trouble. 

By Briony may Smith. 

Walker Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781529526806. 

A small human-like fairy (ie sans wings) is adopted by a family of wrens. She is teased, and sets off to find her people. She meets the fairies, and they are bad. 

With the help of good friends, and her family, good overcomes them. 

Alphabet. 

By Alain Grée. 

Button Books, 2024 (originally published in 2012). 

ISBN 9781787081628. 

Why are there only some lines of text? It just confused me. 

Lulu Gets a Cat! 

By Anna McQuinn  and Rosalind Beardshaw. 

Alanna Max, 2024 (originally published in 2018). 

ISBN 9781907825583. 

A quite earnest book about pet adoption, including practicing the skills needs to care for one. 

People Are My Favorite Places. 

By Ani Castillo. 

Little, Brown and Company, 2024. 

ISBN 9780316424660. 

A lockdown-inspired book. 

This would be interesting to share in a storytime about senses, as so many of the missing things are sensory experiences. 

The Monster Game. 

By Philip Bunting. 

Omnibus Books / Scholastic Aust, 2023. 

ISBN 9781760975197. 

Australian. 

Anxiety? Bedtime fear? It is sort of funny, might sort of work, but I'm not convinced this will help any little one struggling with monster at bedtime fears. 

Night Lunch. 

Eric Fan. 

Tundra Books, 2022. 

ISBN 9780735270572. 

Atmospheric and sepia-toned. Quirky and quiet. 

Older children. 

What's In a Name? He Aha Tō te Ingoa? 

By Renisa Viraj Maki, Hona Black, and Isobel Joy Te Aho-White. 

Oratia Media, 2024. 

ISBN 9781990042638. 

A very earnest book, very well-meaning, and with an important message. The importance of names and pronouncing them correctly. 

Just it doesn't work 100%, as an enjoyable story. 

We're Moving Away. 

By Niña Nill. 

Bright Light, 2023. 

ISBN 9781761212321. 

Australian. 

The problems of moving countries: of leaving parts of yourself behind. But, also finding new things and experiences, and people, in your new country. 

Dear Moko. 

By Hinemoa Elder and Miriama Grace-Smith. 

Penguin, 2024. 

ISBN 9781776953417. 

Whakatauki and whakatauaki (Māori proverbs / sayings) aimed at mokopuna (grandchildren / descendants) provide life lessons. 

Look and Cook Breakfast: a first book of recipes in pictures. 

By Valorie Fisher. 

Astra Young Readers, 2024. 

ISBN 9781662620683. 

An earnest attempt at making a recipe book for visual learners, and those beginning to read. There is a fair amount of text to get through in order to understand the pictures.

Art of Protest: what a revolution looks like. 

By De Nichols, Molly Mendoza, Diego Becas, Olivia Twist. 

Big Picture Press, 2021. 

ISBN 9781787417663. 

Protest artwork from around the world, from the 1960s to now. 

Art Is Everywhere. 

By Joe Haddow and Ellie Hawes. 

uclanpublishing, 2023. 

ISBN 9781915235565. 

Non-fiction. 

I appreciated how broad the definition of art is. From sculpture, to comics, to poetry. 

Includes tips to make your own art. 

Gold Rush: the untold story of the First Nations women who started the Klondike gold rush. 

By Flora Delargy. 

Wide Eyed Editions, 2024. 

ISBN 9780711263871. 

I struggled to find the First Nations women in this book. Woman, yes. 

But, it seemed to be mainly a succession of white women. 

Weekend Reads: 30 November 2024: Christmas.

The Pōhutukawa Tree. 

By Linda Adamson and Hope McConnell. 

Puffin, 2024 (this edition).  

ISBN 9781776957330. 

Aotearoa. Bilingual. 

Picture book version of the song, originally published years ago. 

This works better as a book than a song, I feel. 

Santarella. 

By Suzy Senior and Lucy Semple. 

Little Tiger, 2024. 

ISBN 9781801045032. 

Rhyming text. 

Great twist at the end. 

For ages 4 and up. 

Waiting for Christmas is Not Easy. 

I Love Christmas. 

By Maria Bazykina. 

Clever Publishing / Clever Media Group, 2024. 

ISBNs 9781956560640 / 9781956560664. 

Right on the borderline of being didactic. Terribly earnest and moralistic. 

Not recommended. 

Socks: a kid's Christmas lament. 

By J. D. McPherson and Anika Orrock. 

Walker Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781536237023. 

Based on the author's song. 

As a giver of (hand-knitted) socks, and a receiver of socks, I feel they are an unappreciated gifted - and too much maligned. 

Funny, if you're that way inclined. 

Captain Christmas. 

By Karl Newson and Tom Knight. 

Bloomsbury, 2024. 

ISBN 9781526641380. 

Rhyming text. 

Pirates who find another way, via giving of Christmas gifts, ie being Santa. 

The Muttcracker. 

By Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilive. 

Simon & Schuster, 2024. 

ISBN 9781398530270. 

A ballet-loving dog finds their place in the annual Christmas performance. 

The Special Gift. 

By Ruth Doyle and Carmen Saldaña. 

Orchard Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781408369166. 

Loosely Christmas, in that it is about the message of Christmas and giving. And following a star to find purpose. 

When Santa Got Stuck In a Gum Tree. 

By Jackie Hosking and Nathaniel Eckstrom. 

Walker Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781760657406. 

Australian. 

A cumulative rescue tale, featuring Australian animals and an increasingly undressed Santa. 

The Christmas Tree Mouse. 

By Joseph Coelho and Farah Shah. 

Puffin, 2024. 

ISBN 9780241585481. 

Who knew the mouse was such an important character in the Christmas story! 

A delightful story. 

Mr Santa. 

By Jarvis. 

Walker, 2024. 

ISBN 9781529511574. 

A one-sided conversation between a young child and Mr Santa (who is there in the illustrations). 

So many questions to ask Santa. Including such vitally important ones as whether his belly button is an innie or an outie. 

The softness of the illustrations perfectly matches the gentle story. 

Elves on Strike. 

By Nicola Edwards and Pauline Gregory. 

Little Tiger, 2024. 

ISBN 9781838916411. 

When you look at the conditions Santa's elves operate under, I'm surprised it has taken them this long to strike. 

Especially when Santa sits in his armchair, with his feet up. 

On the Hunt for Santa. 

By Lesley Gibbes and Stephen Michael King. 

Working Title Press, 2024. 

ISBN 9781922033109. 

Australian. 

Three friends are hunting for Santa. And, not the reason you'd expect. 

Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle. 

By Stephanie Thatcher. 

Scholastic, 2024. 

ISBN 9781775438274. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

A Christmas grump of a cat meets a Christmas fan of a dog. 

Weekend Reads: 10 November 2024

The Iguanodon's Horn: how artists and scientists put a dinosaur back together again and again - - and again. 

By Sean Rubin. 

Clarion Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9780063239210. 

Great introduction to dinosaurs, seen through the lens of whatever was known - or believed - at the time. 

Where's My Pet? Whiskers: with lift-and-find flaps.  

By Beth Hamilton and Carly Gledhill. 

Little Tiger, 2024. 

ISBN 9781838915650. 

Board book. 

Simple, fun, and a cute ending. 

Who's Jolly? 

By Camilla Reid and Nila Aye. 

Macmillan Children's, 2024. 

ISBN 9781035031702. 

Board Book. Lift-the-flap.

Christmas. 

Solid offering. Nothing dramatic. 

Cheese! 

By Felice Arena and Beatrice Cerocchi. 

Affirm Press, 2024. 

ISBN 9781922992833. 

Australian. 

Rhyming Text. And how do you get cheese names to rhyme like that! 

Read alongside Pasta by the same creators. 

Nose to Nose. 

By Thyra Heder. 

Abrams Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781419757518. 

Really interesting way to convey the importance of scent marking with dogs. And, of trying to fit in. 

The Young Queens Collection: The Curious Crown. 

By Megan Hess. 

Hardie Grant, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761212673. 

Christmas. 

Rhyming couplets. 

Serviceable, but slightly leaden rhymes. The creator knows her audience, and caters to it. 

Busy Betty & the Perfect Christmas Present. 

By Reese Witherspoon and Xindi Yan. 

Puffin Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761047527. 

Christmas. 

A serviceable Christmas story about the importance of caring - and that it isn't about money or buying presents. 

Where To Hide a Star. 

By Oliver Jeffers. 

HarperCollins, 2024. 

ISBN 9780008579685. 

The sequel to: 

• How to Catch a Sar. 
• Lost and Found. 
• The Way Back Home. 
• Up and Down.

Exquisite as always. 

Maisy's Rocket. 

By Lucy Cousins. 

Walker Books, 2024. 

ISBN 9781529520712. 

Board book. 

A lovely and educational addition to the Maisy books. Perfect for wannabe astronauts. 

Giinagay Juluum, Hello Mountains. 

By Melissa Greenwood. 

HarperCollins, 2024. 

ISBN 9780733343025. 

Australian. Indigenous creator. Bilingual. 

Part of a series of books by Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood. A glimpse into the world view of one of Australia's first people. 

The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms.  

The Three Little Tardigardes: a slightly scientific fairy tale. 

By Sandra Fay. 

Henry Hold and Company, 2021 / 2024. 

ISBNs 9781250776082 and 9781250776099. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Wonky, quirky, factual, scientific, subversive. What more could you want? Definitely aimed at school-aged children. 

To Stir With Love. 

By Kate Mildenhall and Jess Racklyeft. 

Simon & Schuster, 2024. 

ISBN 9781761426391. 

Australian. 

Dementia, in the early stages. Generational sharing. Family photos are included in the illustrations. 

Sometimes It's Nice to be Alone. 

By Amy Hest and Philip Christian Stead. 

Neal Porter Books / Holiday House 2023. 

ISBN 9780823449477. 

Something about this title caught my attention, for some reason. 

Saving Wānanga: the true story of a kea rescue. 

By Kris Herbert. 

Potton & Burton, 2024. 

ISBN 9781988550671. 

Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Non-fiction, told as a story in picture book form. 

I'm not sure about this one. It's ok. 

Secret Gardeners: growing community and healing the earth. 

By Maija Hurme, Lina Laurent, Jen Pulju Porter, Sofia Karlsson. 

Pajama Press, 2024. 

ISBN 9781772782479. 

A story of community and determined children. Includes tidbits of information about no-till gardening. 

The Cars and Trucks Book. 

By Todd Parr. 

Little Brown and Company, 2018. 

ISBN 9780316506625. 

What isn't there to love about a Todd Parr book? He is a master. 

A Really Short History of Words. 

By Emma Young, adapted from Bill Bryson; Daniel Long, Dawn Cooper, Katie Ponder. 

Puffin, 2024. 

ISBN 9780241666173. 

I'm a word nerd, and have read many Bill Bryson books about the English language. 

It's great to have this version of children available. 

One Upon a Word: a word-origin dictionary for kids: building vocabulary through etymology, definitions & stories. 

By Jess Zarafarris and Marco Marella. 

Rockridge Press, 2020. 

ISBN 9781646112593. 

Another one for my word nerd heart. 

The History of Information. 

By Chris Haughton. 

Dorling Kindersley, 2024. 

ISBN 9780241553916. 

Vibrant, full of information. Interesting choices in layout and typography. 

A weighty, for children, book.