1. A Grain of Hope by Nicola Philp & Aldy Aguirre
2. All the Ways to be Smart by Davina Bell & Allison Colpoys
3. Fing by David Walliams & Tony Ross
4. Real Pigeons Fight Crime by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood
5. Where’s Mrs Kangaroo by Ingela P Arrhenius
6. Wilam: A Birrarung Story by Aunty Joy Murphy, Andrew Kelly & Lisa Kennedy
7. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo
8. Elementals: Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman
9. The Peacock Detectives by Carly Nugent
10. Lottie and Walter by Anna Walker

Two stunning new picture books are among our 10 bestselling children’s and YA books of last week. Leading the chart in the top spot is Nicola Philp and Aldy Aguirre’s A Grain of Hope, which explores the refugee experience using dual narratives on facing pages. One story follows a dog called Dok and the other a refugee girl named Hanan. Both are escaping unsafe lives and their stories mirror each other. Philp’s story and Aguirre’s gentle watercolours will prompt discussions with young children about compassion and hope, and raise questions about society’s willingness to sometimes assist animals quicker than we assist humans.

The second new picture book is the stunning Wilam: A Birrarung Story by Aunty Joy Murphy, Andrew Kelly & Lisa Kennedy. Wilam means ‘home’ in Woiwurrung, the language of the Wurundjeri people, and this book depicts the many flora and fauna that make their homes along the Birrarung (the Yarra river). Murphy and Kennedy previously brought us the beautiful celebration of Wurundjeri land, Welcome to Country, and their follow-up is ‘a must-have for every school, library and home in Victoria’, writes our reviewer Angela.

Other children’s and YA bestsellers this week include two other gorgeous local picture books (All the Ways to be Smart and Lottie and Walter), three books from our Readings Children’s Book Prize shortlist (Real Pigeons Fight Crime, Elementals: Ice Wolves and The Peacock Detectives), and books by David Walliams and Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo.