Aussie Kids Books

This picture book is really a work of art, from the front cover through to the final endpapers, and is really as much for adults as it is for children. I was completely enchanted by the melancholic darkness of the illustrations, and felt quite a visceral response in relation to some of the darker themes this book touches on - including regeneration, destruction of our planet and wildlife, loss and grief. We follow the story of a polar bear cub who is lost in the snow and look

This beautiful picture book is the perfect reading choice as we remember and commemorate the sacrifices made in war, on Anzac Day here in Australia. This book is inspired by the story of Sister Marie Eileen Craig, who was one of a group of nurses who flew to the frontline in Papua New Guinea during WWII to rescue injured soldiers. They are known as the Flying Angels. The story gives us an insight into both the horrors of war, and the compassion of the nurses who bravely went

Thank you to Hachette and Tandem Collective Global for gifting the boys and I a copy of this amazing book as part of the Hachette Kids Australia/NZ Readalong! We absolutely adored this one. Here are the reasons why we loved this book: *For its messages about sustainability and caring for our environment and finding friendship in unlikely places. *For the curious and empathetic protagonist Fern, who enjoys reading and who isn't afraid to venture out of the confines of her gre

The boys and I were very lucky to be gifted a copy of this fun and heart-warming book as part of the Hachette Kids Readalong. A family of birds finds a lonesome egg and take it home with them. They are surprised and thrilled when a bright green crocodile pops out of the egg one day! The bird family unquestioningly welcome Croccy to their family, despite him looking and behaving differently to the way they do. The other animals constantly question why the bird family keep Cro

The boys and I were very excited to be joining in a readalong of quality picture books, hosted by Hachette Kids Australia/New Zealand and Tandem Collective Global. Thank you to Hachette for our gifted copies of these picture books. Day 1 of the readalong showcased the beautiful Dugong Magic. The cover itself is stunning, with sparkly silver font and soft shades of blue. We loved this book for its environmental message, the lyricism of the writing, the warm depiction of love b

The Easter bunny delivered this fun and colourful picture book to our household much to the delight of my kids - they love Easter-themed books. The animals in this book are taking part in an Easter hat parade, and everyone is wondering - who will win first prize? Make sure to examine the end-papers of this book with your kids before you start reading - the broken Easter eggs and banana skins littered on the ground provide a hint as to what might happen in the story! Strap you

I really love this unique and beautifully crafted picture book – particularly for its strong and innovative protagonist Claire, who yearns to make an impact on the world and change things for the better. But at times Clare feels overwhelmed by all the online information and news stories she is able to access on a daily basis. Will she find a way to advocate for change in a way that both empowers her and enables her to become more integrated into her community? Claire is a pro

This is one of those beautifully heart-warming picture books where the words and the illustrations work together in perfect harmony, the images enhancing and building upon the gentle whimsical flow of the narrative. We get a strong sense of Mo from the very first page - both from the depiction of the solitary figure in his enclosed landscape and the simple line of text: "Mo lived alone and he liked it that way." Into his secluded world comes Crow - quietly persistent as he ta

There is much humour and heart in this gorgeous story of a little burlesque dancing peach named Dita, whose dream is to dance on the stage. Dita practises regularly and loves to perform in front of her loved ones at home. But when she gets the opportunity to audition for a world renowned dancer, will Dita mange to wow the famous Ms Von Teese at her audition? This beautifully written and illustrated picture book delivers the important messages of being true to yourself, and ha

This book has become a huge favourite in our household and is chosen regularly by Mr 4 as his bedtime read. We love this book for its humour, relatable content, and colourful expressive illustrations. Let’s face it – what parent hasn’t had to deal with the various stages a hungry child moves through as we negotiate with them what we are going to eat for dinner? My kids regularly ask the question, ‘What’s for dinner?’ as they walk into the kitchen (sometimes just after lunch t

Not only does this picture book have perfect summer vibes, with its beach setting and bright sun-drenched illustrations, but it also celebrates teamwork and kindness. William and Rose are ready for a day at the beach, keen to make some new friends and watch them play. Along the way, they find themselves engaged in helping out their new friends when they run into obstacles. Young readers will delight in seeing how William manages to help out three crabs stranded on a boat out

This delightful picture book engages its young readers from the first page through its use of bright colours, and questions directed at the reader to invite audience participation. The fun fast-paced story reflects daily life in a remote Australian community, through the escapades of some playful pesky dogs! Energy and colour bursts off each page of this book. The vibrant illustrations will appeal to the young child, as will the use of repetition and rhyming in the text. Youn

This beautifully written and illustrated picture book tells a magical story about a young girl and her beloved horse, who together 'roam wild and free,' making friends, finding treasure, and fleeing scary wolves! The dreamy flowing rhythm of the narrative is a joy to read aloud and the illustrations are a perfect accompaniment - with scenes of soft starlit skies and tranquil shades of pink, blue and purple enhancing the gentle rhythmic flow of the text. This is a story that s

Here is my pick of the best picture book to share with your little people on Christmas Eve: 'Rudie Nudie Christmas,' written and illustrated by Emma Quay. Mr 3 and I have enjoyed reading this book in the lead up to Christmas - it exudes a joyous sense of festive fun and excitement that young readers (and carers!) will readily relate to. In this follow-up book to the acclaimed 'Rudie Nudie' (also a favourite in my household), Nudie One and Two dash through the household on C

Make sure to add this delightfully festive book to your kid's Christmas book collection! Playful rhymes make this book a joy to read aloud. The rollicking rhythm is designed to engage young readers, who will delight in joining in. Equally engaging are the illustrations, each page exploding with colour and movement. Even the colours exude a festive vibe, with bright greens and reds adorning each page. Your kids will love seeing how their favourite hero Macca the alpaca celebra

This is a lyrical and visually compelling picture book with a powerful message about environment and climate change. This book will appeal to a wide audience - younger readers will be engaged by the beautiful flow and rhythm of the narrative, and the beautifully rendered illustrations, while older readers will strongly associate with the warning about global warning. There is rising tension in the narrative, as the people in the city continue to ignore the messages of warning

This is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book which shines a light on the Black Lives Matter movement. Our children most likely have some sort of awareness of the global civil rights movement, but it can be challenging for parents attempting to answer questions about why injustices are occurring. I remember trying to find a way to talk through issues of racism and civil rights with Mr 8 when he saw footage of George Floyd on the news (who died when a policeman kn

Hearing possums scrabbling and thumping outside as darkness falls is a common Australian suburban experience, and this story transports us into the heart of these nocturnal escapades. The possums bang, hiss, shake and screech - creating their own orchestra as they roam their urban environment. The playful use of onomatopoeia makes this book a lot of fun to read aloud and children will no doubt enjoy joining in with the delightful cacophony of sound! The moon-splashed illustra

This picture book, in the style of a graphic novel, is an engrossing account of young Clancy’s adventure with Uncle Egg, around Gariwerd (the Grampian mountains in Victoria) to find the source of the Glenelg River. The story flows in a meandering way, much as a river might – at times reflective and gentle, at other times rushing ahead. At first Clancy is distracted by external discomforts, such as his heavy backpack, and sore feet – but eventually, as he adjusts to the physic

This book starts gently, showing a young boy kicking a ball with his older brother - but very quickly we realise the boys are in the middle of a war zone, as the sky roars like thunder and buildings crumble to the ground. The older brother grabs his young brother by the arm, urging him to run. Particularly moving is the image of the father protecting his boys, his body curved around theirs as they huddle indoors; then later, after the dust has settled, the tenderness of the f