Discover the new kids' books our booksellers are excited about this month!
Picture Books
The House That Walked Away
Simon Howe
Anyone who’s ever felt out of place, or moved house, school, or even country will feel an immediate kinship with Simon Howe’s lushly illustrated and charming The House That Walked Away. A lonely, shingle-limbed house wanders the world looking for a home, but nowhere feels quite right. It almost feels invisible, but there is someone who sees the house, who cares for it, who also wants a home. A whole family of someones!
Their journey together is full of music, sharing, joy on sunny days and comfort on rainy days. Together, they are transformed. The illustrations seem to glow from within, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli and The Rainbow Fish while remaining altogether unique. Thanks to its short but sweet text and soothing storytelling style, The House That Walked Away is the perfect picture book for developing empathy and to remind us that shared joy makes for an easier journey. For ages 3+.
Reviewed by Tamuz Ellazam.
Banana Express
Jung Jinho, translated by Aerin Park
Bananas, with their creamy texture and bright yellow jacket, are a favourite snack for all kinds of people in a busy 24-hour city. The delivery of a bunch is the catalyst for this clever book, which highlights the connections between people forged through their activities. Workers fix the subway tracks through the night and eat breakfast at dawn. They eat fish caught by fishermen out at sea, on boats lit up with bulbs constructed in a factory. Cities and modern systems are often portrayed as impersonal and lonely, but this picture book instils a sense of solidarity and community by focusing on workers who keep the city alive, and food, which is enjoyed by all.
This translated picture book was originally published in South Korea. Its illustrations are bold and stylish in black, white, and yellow. Like Maurice Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen, Banana Express recognises that curious children wonder about what happens while they are tucked up in bed. It captures the feeling that exciting, interesting and delicious things are always happening in our big, wide world. For ages 3+.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
Junior Grade
Detective Kitty is on the Case! (Star Kitties, Book 1)
Laura Ellen Anderson
Star Kitties ticks all the boxes for young cat lovers! Detective Kitty is on the Case! is the first book in a new junior fiction series. A special key opens a secret door, and through that door is the magical world of star kitties! They are not ordinary cats. They are artists, inventors, and cupcake bakers! There is even a reading kitty named Felicity Page. Each kitty has a little star on their belly! It would not surprise me if the author grew up during the Care Bear era.
A fun map at the start of the book illustrates the magical world of Whiskery Paw. Tabitha loves to visit the kitties each week, but when she crosses into the magical world on her birthday, something is wrong. The queen has gone missing, and it’s time for Purrlock Holmes to investigate. With delightful detail, mystery, magic, and many cat-themed puns, Star Kitties is sure to delight readers aged 7+.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
Middle Grade
Kid
Peter Carnavas
I was immediately charmed by Kid, the miniature farm goat and delightful little titular star of Peter Carnavas’ heartwarming new novel. Kid has quite literally been taken under the wing of Audrey, a caring but feisty hen, and each night she tells him the story of his parents, who bravely chased a fox away from the farm. Kid tries to be brave too. As he practices zooming and jumping, he gazes up at the mountain and wonders about his parents. When he manages to leap over the farm fence, finding his family suddenly seems possible.
This moving adventure story features wonderful animal characters and lovely touches of Australian flora and fauna. It’s a book that celebrates friendship and sees courage, kindness and curiosity greatly rewarded.
Kid has the sort of universal, timeless appeal found in classic animal stories like The Sheep-Pig. It’s a perfect choice for a family or classroom read-aloud. I love this book! For ages 7+.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
Activity Books
Where’s Dragon in his Castle?
David MacPhail, illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson
Where’s Dragon in his Castle? is the perfect activity book for kids who dream of knighthood, wizardry, or owning a pet dragon. This fun and magical search-and-find adventure follows the dragon Blaze as he guides you through his castle and teaches you about medieval history.
Written by a real castle steward, Where’s Dragon in his Castle? is not only an entertaining search-and-find activity book, but a treasure hoard of facts both fun and foul. We travel through the great fortress of Dragon Castle to the bustling kitchens and gloomy dungeons; explore beyond the castle walls to terrifying battlefields, dramatic hunting parties, and exciting jousting tournaments; and search for heroic knights, cheeky jesters, and spooky ghosts haunting the dark hallways. We learn about the questionable hygiene and medical practices in medieval times, what moats and oubliettes are, the disturbing duties of a gong farmer, and so much more. Each page is an enchanting tapestry of beautifully detailed illustrations and charming characters to find, making this book a stunning work of art in which to spend hours admiring every little detail.
Although it is written for ages 5+, who’s to say adults can’t indulge in this feast for the eyes, living out every medieval fantasy too?
Reviewed by Aurelia Orr.
What If?: Tell a New Story Every Time
Tom Schamp
The ultimate remedy for having to reread the same picture book over and over comes in the form of Tom Schamp’s What if?, the ultimate unrepeatable story with around 45 options per page to create over 60 quintillion (that’s 18 zeroes!) different storylines. Encouraging creative and divergent thinking, What if? charges readers to follow their imagination on a journey from waking up (in a treehouse? On a cloud?), through getting dressed (in royal tights? A beekeeper outfit?), breakfast, shoes, transportation and onward through an adventure of choice!
Championing free thinking and creativity, What if? asks readers not just to think divergently while reading this book, but to take that thinking and bring it into crafts, storytelling and ways of approaching challenges in the real world. Young people who aren’t yet reading will relish the opportunity to build their storytelling muscles using the pictures, and children learning to read will be exposed to some wonderfully wacky vocabulary. For ages 4+.
Reviewed by Tamuz Ellazam.
Find even more new books for kids in the June Readings Monthly.
