Weekend reads: 22 February 2026: Part four

 

A hatful of dreams.

Written and illustrated by Bob Graham.

Walker Books, 2025.

Australian.

Picture book.

A story of a magical grandfather – but also a family who are determined to stay in their house, while the street empties around them.

Possible read-alikes:

• The bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane by Mike Lucas and Sofya Karmazina.
• Evelyn Del Rey is moving away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sánchez.
• A sprinkle of happiness by Lucy Rowland and David Litchfield.
• Christmas lights on Mistletoe Street by Kate Thompson and Natelle Quek.
• Windows by Julia Denos and E.B. Goodale.
• The concrete garden by Bob Graham.
• Out of the blue by Robert Tregoning and Stef Murphy.

 

The witching hour.

Written by Jennifer Harris.

Illustrated by Adelina Lirius. 

Picture book.

LGBTQIA+.

Bedtime drama with toddlers and witches.

The toddler seems to have two mothers.

Possible read-alikes:

• Bedtime, not playtime! by Lawrence Schimel & Elina Braslina.
• The kiss by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar.
• It simply can't be bedtime by Pamela Paul and Steven Salerno. 
• The baby who stayed awake forever by Sandra Salsbury. 
• You choose bedtime by Nick Sharratt.
• The witch of Maketu and the bleating lambs by Anika Moa and Rebecca Ter Borg.

The teeny-weeny unicorn.

Written and illustrated by Shawn Harris.

Random House, 2024.

Picture book.

Sequel is The teeny-weeny unicorn’s great big wish.

The problems with being teeny-weeny in a world built for bigger creatures.

Possible read-alikes:

• Tiny T. Rex and the impossible hug by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck.
• Wee unicorn by Meg McLaren.
• Are you big? and Are you small? by Mo Willems.
• The Tiny Explorers by Kat Macleod.
• The littlest yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley.

 

 

The doll box.

Written by Deborah Kelly.

Illustrated by Joanna Bartel.

EK, 2024.

Australian.

Picture book.

Family stories told through dolls of ancestors.

Possible read-alikes:

• A present from the past by Jennifer Beck and Lindy Fisher.
• The Arabic quilt: an immigrant story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan.  
• The most beautiful thing by Kao Kalia Yang and Khoa Le.

 

Freya finds the giants. [no cover available.] 

Written by Johanna Klein.

Illustrated by Ronnie Baker.

Johanna Klein Books, 2025.

Picture book.

Aotearoa New Zealand.

Lessons from Freya’s mother, who has passed away. Not highly recommended.

Possible read-alikes / read instead-ofs:

• Dad, don't miss it! by Qiaoqiao Li.
• A guide to rocks by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan.
• A map into the world by Kao Kalia Yang and Seo Kim.
• Thimble by Rebecca Young and Tull Suwannakit.

Binna's dalgon.

Written and illustrated by Sojung Kim-McCarthy.

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025.

Picture book.

Learning new languages and making new friends in a new country.

Possible read-alikes:

• Shoes off, please by Helena Ku Rhee and Myo Yim.
• Words that taste like home by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira.
• Bilal cooks daal by Aisha Saeed and Anoosha Syed.
• Luli and the language of tea by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum.
• Tomatoes in my lunchbox by Costantia Manoli and Magdalena Mora.
• The name jar by Yangsook Choi.
• Gibberish by Young Vo.

 

 

Hidden gem.

Written and illustrated by Linda Liu.

Henry Holt and Company, 2023.

Picture book.

Can a rock be special when he is ‘just’ a pebble?

Possible read-alikes:

• Rick the rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan.
• Granny Rex by Kurtis Scaletta and Nik Henderson.
• Basil dreams big: perfect for encouraging resilience & self-belief! by Lu Fraser and Sarah Warburton.
• The Museum of Lost Teeth by Elyssa Friedland and Gladys Jose.

Grandmother from the East, grandmother from the West.

Written by Jacinta Liu.

Illustrated by Freda Chiu.

Hachette Australia, 2025.

Picture book.

Australian.

A celebration of two grandmothers of different heritage – but the same love.

Possible read-alikes:

• Nana, Nenek & Nina by Liza Ferneyhough.
• A Grandma's Magic by Asa Gilland.
• Brand-new bubbe by Sarah Aronson and Ariel Landy.
• I'll go and come back by Rajani LaRocca and Sara Palacios.
• Amy Wu and the patchwork dragon by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua.
• Let me fix you a plate: a tale of two kitchens by Elizabeth Lilly.

 

Let me fix you a plate: a tale of two kitchens.

Written and illustrated by Elizabeth Lilly.

Random House, 2021.

Picture book.

Two families, two houses, two family gatherings.

Possible read-alikes:

• Going down home with daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons and Daniel Minter.
• Dumpling day by Meera Sriram, Inés de Antuñano; with recipes by Laurel P. Jackson.
• Our little kitchen by Jillian Tamaki.
• All kinds of special by Tammi Sauer and Fernando Martin.
• Ruby's reunion day dinner by Angela Dalton and Jestenia Southerland.

Laolao's dumplings.

Written by Dane Liu.

Illustrated by ShinYeon Moon.

Goodwin Books, Henry Holt and Company 2023.

Millie’s Laolao is unwell, and Millie is determined to make dumplings to make her better.

A story of community and family.

Possible read-alikes:

• Dancing dumplings for my one and only by Eva Wong Nava and Natelle Quek.
• Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai.
• Great Aunt Margot and me by Bryher Mackenzie and Rhiannon Archard.
• Masala chai, fast and slow by Rajani LaRocca and  Neha Rawat.
• Spicy spicy hot! by Lenny Wen.

Weekend reads: 22 February 2026: Part Three

 

 

Kip and the Squiggledoodle

Written and illustrated by Em Cosh.

Farshore, 2025.

Picture book.

An imaginary friend story.

Perfectly serviceable – but there are others I would recommend instead.

Possible read-alikes:

• My friend, Billy Whiskers by David Litchfield.
• Just the two of us by Polly Noakes.
• Scribbly by Ged Adamson.
• Bear is a Bear by Jonathan Stutzman and Dan Santat.

 

Lobsters can't knit.

Written by Karla Courtney.

Illustrated by Nicholas John Frith.

Berbay Publishing Pty Ltd, 2024.

Picture book.

Dreams! Aspirations! Cooperation! Helpful friends! Knitting!

With all of that going on, you’d think I’d love this book.

It’s ok. Maybe.

Possible read-alikes, or instead-ofs:

• Elephant can’t jump by Pip Jones and Robert Starling.
• The witch of Maketu and the bleating lambs by Anika Moa and Rebecca Ter Borg.
• Big Frog can’t fit in by Mo Willems.
• Ernest by Catherine Rayner.
• Knitting for dogs by Laurel Molk.
• Humble Bumble by Miriama Kamo and Craig Phillips.

 

Brave Maeve.

Written by Lydia Donev.

Illustrated by Silvia Colombo.

Tiny Seed Publishing, an imprint of Starfish Bay Publishing, 2024.

Picture books.

Trying new things – even when you really, really want to do it – is hard.

Possible read-alikes:

• Bhangra boogie by Hena Khan and Sandhya Prabhat.
• The dolls’ house by Tanya Rosie and Claudia Ravalli.
• The invisible boy by Trudy Ludwig and Patrice Barton.
• My first day by Nic Naitanui and Fátima Anaya.
• John’s turn by Mac Barnett and Kate Berube.

 

Still there was bread.

Written by Lisl H. Detlefsen.

Illustrated by David Soman.

Harper, 2024.

Picture book.

Baking and sharing family recipes.

I’m undecided about this one. And that includes the illustrations.

Possible read-alikes, or instead-ofs:

• To stir with love by Kate Mildenhall.
• Dancing dumplings for my one and only by Eva Wong Nava and Natelle Quek.
• Laolao's dumplings by Dane Liu and ShinYeon Moon.
• Boys don't fry by Kimberly Lee and Charlene Chua.
• Cora cooks pancit by Dorina Lazo Gilmore and Kristi Valiant.

Punk rocker poodle.

Written by Laura Dockrill.

Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat.

Faber, 2022.

Picture book.

Rhyming.

The trials and tribulations of a toddler-like poodle, told in rhyming rap style text.

Possible read-alikes:

• Heavy metal badger by Duncan Beedle.
• My sister, the Todzilla by Jacinta Fround and Matt Shanks.
• Red red red by Polly Dunbar.
• The big scream by Kirsti Call and Denis Angelov.
• Don’t let the pigeon stay up late by Mo Willems.

The story factory.

Written and illustrated by Jam Dong.

Candlewick Press, 2025.

Picture book.

When the factory malfunctions, new stories are created.

Possible read-alikes:

• The dream factory by Steph Matuku and Zak Ātea.
• Explosion at the poem factory by Kyle Lukoff and Mark Hoffmann.
• Pūkeko who-keko? by Toby Morris.
• A delicious story by Barney Saltzberg.

A very happy Ramadan.

Written by A.M. Dassu.

Illustrated by Abeeha Tariq.

Scholastic, 2026.

Picture book.

Rayhan decides to try and fast for Ramadan, but he finds it hard. Includes information about who isn’t expected to fast.

Possible read-alikes or along-side with:

• The gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard and Laura K. Horton.
• The proudest blue: a story of hijab and family by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S. K. Ali, and Hatem Aly.
• Not now, Noor! by Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani.
• Ramadan for everyone by Aya Khalil and Rashin Kheiriyeh.
• How my Koro became a star by Brianne Te Paa and Story Hemi Moorhouse.

We are definitely human

Written and illustrated by X. Fang.

Pushkin Press, 2025.

Picture book.

The visitors who have crashed in Mr Li’s field are very definitely (not) human. Mr Li and his neighbours do the neighbourly – especially rural – thing and help them fix their vehicle to return to their travels.

Possible read-alikes:

• The stray by Molly Ruttan.
• To activate space portal lift here by Antoinette Portis.
• Beegu by Alexis Deacon.
• The spaceman by Randy Cecil.
• The way back home by Oliver Jeffers.
• A home for Spark the dragon by Michael Sheen, Jess Webb, and Sarah Massini.

 

 

Smart George.

Written and illustrated by Jules Feiffer.

Michael di Capua Books/HarperCollins Publishers, 2020.

Picture book.

Sequel to Bark George.

Can George count? Or is it too hard?

Possible read-alikes: 

• One thing by Lauren Child.
• 100 goats and Granny by Atinuke and Lauren Hinds.
• Seven samosas: counting at the market by Kabir Sehgal, Surishtha Sehgal, and Jing Jing Tsong. 

 

“The trouble with dogs!”

Written and illustrated by Bob Graham.

Walker, 2027.

Picture book. 

Australian. 

The very cute puppy from “Let’s get a pup!” needs training – but the training doesn’t go to plan. And Dave the puppy is not the only one who learns new skills.

Possible read-alikes: 

• How to heal a broken wing by Bob Graham.
• 15 things not to do with a puppy by Margaret McAllister and Holly Sterling.
• The fastest tortoise in town by Howard Calvert and Karen Obuhanych.
• Pig the rebel by Aaron Blabey. 

Weekend reads: 22 February 2026: Part Two

Find Vincent van Gogh: a spotting book.

By the Van Gogh Museum.

Illustrated by Chloe Jasmine Harris. 

Laurence King Publishing, 2025. 

Information about van Gogh’s life and art, and spot the thing challenges.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Camille and the sunflowers: a story about Vincent van Gogh by Laurence Anholt.

·         Van Gogh's dog by Georgia Larson and Grace Helmer.

·         Chasing the sun by Liu Hao.

·         Katie and the starry night by James Mayhew.

 

The dancing letters.

Written by Evelyne Fournier.

Illustrated by Aurélien Galvan.

Translated from the French Lettres qui dansant by Carine Laforest.

CrackBoom!, 2023.

Picture book.

Dyslexia and neurodiversity. Also, love and grandmothers.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Brilliant Bea by Shaina Rudolph & Mary Vukadinovich; and Fiona Lee.

·         Abdul's story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Tiffany Rose.

·         Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld.

·         Going down home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons and Daniel Minter.

·         A squiggly story by Andrew Larsen and Mike Lowery.

Hazel is all that.

Written and illustrated by Chad Otis.

Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2025.

Picture book.

Emotions – and not limiting, or believing that everyone / every dog is just one thing – forever.

Possible read-alikes:

·         A guide to rocks by Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan.

·         This that what by Katy Ashworth and Colleen Larmour.  

·         Some days you’ll have days like these by Josh Pyke and Stephen Michael King.

·         Shibu’s tail by Tess Thomas and Kamwei Fong.

·         Red is not angry, blue is not sad by Alicia Acosta & Luis Amavisca; and Anuska Allepuz.

 

 

Moon Mouse.

Written by Corrinne Averiss.

Illustrated by Lorna Hill.

Orchard Books, 2024.

Picture book.

A happy-by-themselves mouse does want a friend – but they live on the moon. Shyness stops them for making direct contact – but make a friend anyway.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Shy Willow by Cat Min.

·         Library mouse by Daniel Kirk.

·         Sophie’s shell by Jo Rooks.

 

Confetti.

Writte by Dean Atta.

Illustrated by Alea Marley.

Orchard Books, 2024.

Picture book.

Celebration and joy, found through confetti.

Includes LGBTQIA+ representation.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Sloths love parties by Rory H. Mather and Binny Talib.

·         What do you do to celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek.

·         The world needs the wonder you see by Joanna Gaines and Julianna Swaney.

We're going to find the monster!

Written by Malorie Blackman.

Illustrated by Dapo Adeola.

Puffin Books, 2021.

Picture book.

A tale of imagination and family.

Possible read-alikes:

·         The bear in my family by Maya Tatsukawa.

·         My brother is a tiger by Joaquín Camp.

·         Let's rumble!: a rough-and-tumble book of play by Rachel G. Payne and Jose Pimienta.

Wrapping things.

Written by Linda Burgess.

Illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper.  

Allen & Unwin, 2025.

Aotearoa.

Picture book.

Newborn sibling – with an older sibling who loves wrapping things up.

Possible read-alikes:

·         100 chapatis by Derek Mascarenhas and by Shantala Robinson.  

·         The very best words by Erin Munro and Sarah Trolle.

·         Reading to baby by Margaret Wild and Hannah Sommerville.  

 

Perfect.

Written by Waka T. Brown.

Illustrated by Yuko Jones.

Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2024.

Picture book.

The burden of perfection – or feeling like you need everything (including yourself) to be perfect.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Broken by X. Fang.

·         Pretty perfect Kitty-corn by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham.

·         Perfect Pedro by Simon Philip and Ella Okstad.

·         Imperfectly perfect by Perry Emerson and Hoang Giang.

·         Small things mended by Casey W. Robinson and Nancy Whitesides.  

My rice is best!

Written by Selina Brown.

Illustrated by Maxwell A. Oginni.

Puffin, 2025.

Picture book.

The ending made me think about a conversation I’ve had with coworkers about rice pudding!

Possible read alikes:

·         Luli and the language of tea by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum.

·         Tomatoes in my lunchbox by Costantia Manoli and Magdalena Mora.

·         Have you eaten?: a story of food, friendship, and kindness by Su Youn Lee.

·         This book is my best friend by Robin Robinson.

·         All kinds of special by Tammi Sauer and Fernando Martin.

 

Penguin parcel.

Written and illustrated by Victoria Cassanell.

Macmillan Children's Books, 2021.

Picture book.

Longing for a pet / companion vs longing for family / home.

Although very cute – and a book which shows the different polar regions – this could be read as a deeper tale of keeping wild animals in captivity.

Possible read alikes.

·         Poles apart by Jeanne Willis and Jarvis.

·         Lost and found by Oliver Jeffers.

·         Starbird by Sharon King-Chai.

·         Come back, Gosling by Anne Booth and David Litchfield.

·         The story of Girl and Fish by Caroline Parada.

Weekend reads: 22 February 2026: Part One

I read SO MUCH over this week, I've split the post into six parts - each with ten books. 

That's not Stella.

Written and illustrated by Donna Fredin.

Flying Eye Books, 2025.

Milo is convinced that the cat in their house is not their cat, Stella – no matter what his mother says, and no matter how much the cat looks like Stella.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Mildred and the copycat by Jono Ganz.

·         Meet Mim by Sandra Severgnini.

·         First day of Unicorn School by Jess Hernandez and Mariano Epelbaum.

 

Every little thing.

Adapted by Cedella Marley.

Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton.

Based on the song "Three little birds" by Bob Marley.

Chronicle Books, 2015.

It’s really hard not to sing this one – even if the text isn’t exactly the same as the song.

Other Bob Marley picture book adaptations:

·         One Love by Cedella Marley and Vanessa-Brantley-Newton.

·         Get Up, Stand Up by Cedella Marley and John Cay Cabuay.

·         Pajammin’ by Ziggy Marley and Letícia Moreno.

 

Your farm.

Written and illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Candlewick Press, 2025.

I can see this as a felt-board – or interactive retelling.

Part of a series, which includes:

·         Your island.

·         Your forest.

·         Your truck.

 

 

Taku puka tukutuku.

Text and design by Mihikeita Ngata.

MITA Creative, 2025.

In te reo Māori.

"The contents of this book has a particular affinity to the East Coast, inspired by the tukutuku work in Waiomatatini" - Title page verso.

"Created in a black and white style to appeal to the developing eye of pēpi, all the way through to pakeke interested in learning, the intent is for the strong contrast and minimalist presentation to imbue long-lasting memory and recognition of the contents within - the terms used come from the East Coast" - Publisher information. 

 

Nau mai ki te ao.

Nā Mihikeita Ngata.

Mihikeita Ngata, 2024.

"This book started off as an idea on how to explain to our child how they came to be, in a simple and unique way, and one that also respected our want for them to be immersed in Te Reo Māori ... It has been written from the perspective of a mātua reading it to their tamaiti"--Back cover. 

Music is in everything.

Written by Ziggy Marley.

Illustrated by Ag Jatkowska.  

Akashic Books, 2022.

Pots and pans are just the most obvious makeshift instruments this family uses.

For more inspiration, you could also read:

·         Sounds like Joy by Yesenia Moises.

·         Squeak! rumble! whomp! whomp! whomp!: a sonic adventure by Wynton Marsalis and Paul Rogers.

·         The day Bell found her sound by Lizzy O'Donnell.

The twist-a-roo.  

Written by Kathleen Doherty.  

Illustrated by Kristyna Litten.

Holiday House, 2023.

I’m obviously on a different wave length to cataloguers. The subjects on my library catalogue are: Forest animals; helping behaviour; winter; badgers.

My notes say: obsession; kaleidoscopes; friends.

Anyhoo – it’s a take on the Ant and the Grasshopper fable.

Possible read-alikes:

·         The lost egg by Brenna Burns Yu.

·         If Winter comes, tell it I'm not here by Simona Ciraolo.

·         Shh!: we have a plan by Chris Haughton.

The sun never hurries.

Written by Roxane Turcotte.

Illustrated by Lucie Crovatto.

Translated by Barbara Creary, from the original French Le sablier de Papijo.

Time, time pieces, grandparents, mindfulness.

Possible read-alikes:

·         In time by Marina Ruiz.

·         We go slow by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and Aaron Becker.

·         Here and now by Julia Denos and E. B. Goodale.

·         Dad, don't miss it! by Qiaoqiao Li.

 

Between.

Written and illustrated by Anna Walker.

Scribble, 2025.

Australian.

Subdued colour and sparse text makes this a thoughtful read about friendship – one for older readers.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Walls by Tania Ingram and Ruth-Mary Smith.

·         I don't care by Julie Fogliano ; pictures by Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal.

·         Moon & Sun by Melinda Szymanik and Malene Laugesen.

·         Moth & Butterfly: ta-da! by Dev Petty and Ana Aranda.

 

The space between.

Written by Clare Helen Welsh.

Illustrated by Fiona Lumbers.

This is a very lovely story about moving house, and becoming comfortable in the space between – between being home in one place, and then the next – and many other moments of transformation.

Possible read-alikes:

·         Word trouble by Vyara Boyadjieva.

·         My tree by Hope Lim and Il Sung Na.

·         Say goodbye... Say hello by Cori Doerrfeld.

·         Binna's dalgona by Sojung Kim-McCarthy.