Discover the new kids books our booksellers are excited about this month!
Picture Books
The Bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane
Mike Lucas, illustrated by Sofya Karmazina
I think Mike Lucas and Sofya Karmazina’s The Bookshop on Lemon Tree Lane might just be my new favourite picture book. With beautiful illustrations and wonderful, rhyming text, I can’t wait to read it at Story Time at Readings Kids! The story follows a young child whose favourite bookshop is about to change – something that they’re not exactly looking forward to. However, after the bookshop’s reopening, they learn that though it won’t ever be quite the same, sometimes, changes aren’t all that bad and the new bookshop can be just as magical and adventure-filled as it was before.
Together, Lucas and Karmazina have struck the perfect balance of text and illustrations, telling a story that is great for anyone needing a reminder that changes can be tough, but also very rewarding – or for anyone in need of an excellent picture book. Suitable for all ages but perfect for kids aged 2–6.
Reviewed by Lili Reus-Smit.
My Name is Jemima
Olivia Muscat, illustrated by Allison Colpoys
My Name is Jemima, written by disability activist Olivia Muscat, is a much-needed picture book all about the life of a guide dog. Brought to us with bright and beautiful illustrations by Allison Colpoys (award-winning illustrator of All the Ways to Be Smart, and Under the Love Umbrella), Jemima, Muscat’s very own guide dog, tells us all about her very important job and what it means to be a guide dog.
Whether it be at the beach, the office or on public transport, we see how Jemima’s job is instrumental in Muscat’s everyday life and we come to appreciate their special bond. Throughout the story, Jemima teaches us when it is appropriate to pat guide dogs and when we should let them focus on their job, an idea that’s not always easy to understand.
This book acts as a wonderful educational tool for children, helping them gain insight into service animals and their handlers. For ages 4+.
Reviewed by Lili Reus-Smit.
A Farm by the Sea
Jillian Packer
This lovely picture book shares a day in the life of a child who is lucky enough to live on a farm by the sea. Animals are greeted and chores are completed before some imaginative time is spent at the beach dancing and enjoying the many small delights of the natural world. Dinner and a bath are followed by some quiet time on the porch – dolphin spotting – before being tucked up in a cosy bed, listening to the waves, ready for sleep after a busy, magical day.
Filled with lovely details to notice, the illustrations are teeming with stylised flowers, birds, shells and seaweed, giving them a decorative, folky feel reminiscent of textiles. This is a warm and peaceful book that can be shared at bedtime, like a lullaby. What a dream it would be to live on a farm by the sea! For ages 2+.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
Middle Grade
Music Camp
Penny Tangey
Penny Tangey, winner of The Readings Children’s Prize 2021 for As Fast As I Can, returns with a new novel perfect for all music lovers. Music Camp follows Miley, who lost her home in a flood the year before the book begins. She is super excited that she has won a scholarship to attend a selective five-day music camp, where she can prove that the recorder should be considered a professional instrument – especially to Juliet. Juliet has music running in her veins: her late father was an esteemed clarinet player and he continues to inspire her every day to become just as great as he was. The inclusion of the recorder in the music camp offends everything Juliet believes in. But with new weather reports threatening the camp with flooding and a cancelled concert, can they find harmony even amid their differences?
Like many who had an Australian education, my only experience with the recorder was in primary school, with different instruments in high school, and ultimately never again thinking about it, despite its rich history in medieval times and classical music. Tangey asks us to dismantle the hierarchy of musical instruments and celebrate each wonderful tune musicians can make.
Music Camp is a fun, uplifting story about music, climate change, and pursuing your dreams. For ages 8+.
Reviewed by Aurelia Orr.
Rise of the Witch (Everglade, Book 1)
Kitty Black, illustrated by Rebecca Crane
Ever since her mother was killed for being a witch, Wren has lived with her cantankerous aunt in the town of Everglade. Witches are banned in Everglade, so Wren can’t let anyone know that she might have magical powers, which she most definitely does, if she only knew how to use them.
When Wren finds a magical necklace and others discover her magic, she is forced to outwit a terrifying creature called the Eater, who wants the necklace, and then climb over the wall that encircles their city to escape Everglade forever. With Wren’s best friend Blue following her and a goat-boy she accidentally summoned inside a fairy circle, they travel to a magical place called Meadow Court, where there just might be other witches, or at least relief from a world of witch‑haters.
This funny, character-driven magical adventure had me utterly captivated. It’s perfect for middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy stories. For ages 9+.
Reviewed by Angela Crocombe.
Kids Classic of the Month
Moon Man
Tomi Ungerer
Curious Moon Man catches a shooting star as it is heading to earth one day. On Earth, Moon Man is met with suspicion and hostility from the government and thrown in jail. Luckily, Moon Man’s size changes with the phases of the moon, so he can escape through the cell bars during a thin phase. Moon Man finally enjoys some time on Earth, appreciating nature, then dancing at a wonderful costume party. Sadly, a killjoy calls the cops and Moon Man is back on the run, eventually finding a way to return to his moon home. Despite offering moments of beauty and solidarity, Earth did not prove to be an especially welcoming place.
Moon Man was published in 1966, yet remains a strikingly relevant reflection on our treatment of outsiders. French artist Tomi Ungerer is widely regarded as one of the greatest picture book creators of all time. In addition to books, Ungerer was known for comics, posters and design work, all evident in the thick lines and bold colours of his illustrations. He never thought of his picture books as specifically for children, and the funny, subversive, gently anti-authoritarian Moon Man remains a glorious reading experience for all ages.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
