Discover the new kids' books our booksellers are excited about this month!
Picture Books
The Midnight Chew
Sally Morgan, illustrated by Karen Blair
The Midnight Chew is a cheeky and cheerful canine adventure about Skippy Gillespie and Boofa Boy Jones. When Skippy Gillespie creeps out at night for a bite of his favourite bone, Boofa Boy Jones just has to have a bite too, resulting in a midnight chase for two. Through the darkened streets, the two playful dogs bound and bounce, racing across town to see who will end the night feasting on the delectable bone all alone.
The story is filled with energetic language that captures every paw-step and scurry, bringing Boofa and Skippy’s nighttime antics to life. Written by beloved Australian First Nations author Sally Morgan and beautifully illustrated by the talented Karen Blair, this story weaves together humour, warmth and a gentle message about sharing. A heartwarming story full of mischief and charm, The Midnight Chew is a delightful read for young readers and animal lovers alike. For ages 2+.
Reviewed by Vasilia Nerouppos.
A Lost Cause
Felicita Sala
Felicita Sala’s A Lost Cause is a gorgeous story for the kid who just can’t seem to keep track of their things! Pablo is very forgetful, leaving his belongings behind wherever he goes. At first his parents help him find each missing object, but eventually they decide it’s time for him to take responsibility for his own stuff. But Pablo keeps losing his treasures, and without his parents’ help, they seem to be gone for good. Luckily, just as he starts to get overwhelmed, Pablo finds a pet rock in his wardrobe who knows where to look for his stuff!
With adorable, full-colour illustrations, A Lost Cause is perfect for absent-minded kids who really do mean well! It encourages responsibility and taking care of your belongings, while staying kind and empathetic to the kids who can’t help but lose things, no matter how hard they try (and they do try)! For ages 4+.
Reviewed by Harvey Weir.
Between
Anna Walker
A gentle and beautiful new picture-book offering by well-loved Australian creator Anna Walker.
This is a beautiful book to share with any child in a quiet time before bed, inviting an understanding of connection, friendship and empathy.
Portrayed in stunning illustrations and sparse words, this picture book tells the tale of a meeting and developing friendship between a cabbage moth and a cricket. The gorgeous illustrations are thoroughly enthralling, rendered in spot colours that move along with poetic words. The stunning combination of watercolour, pencil and collage for which Walker is known creates an almost spray-paint effect that is subtle and gentle.
This is a beautiful book to share with any child in a quiet time before bed, inviting an understanding of connection, friendship and empathy. It would be a well-loved addition to any little library, in the style of a bestseller like Baby Bedtime by Mem Fox. It is perfect for ages 3+.
Reviewed by Melanie Barton.
Junior Grade
Spud and Snowball and the Fancy Fish (Spud and Snowball, Book 1)
Judith Rossell
Who hasn’t been tempted by the promise of a new, amazing thing that you absolutely must have? In this wacky, highly illustrated chapter book, cats Spud and Snowball see an ad for delicious ‘Fancy Fish’ on television and immediately order it online. But what arrives is not the fancy fish they were hoping to devour. Not only does this fancy fish call itself Sir Mimsy Woffle-Poffle-Foffington, but the fish also wants Spud and Snowball to be its butlers. Hilarious mayhem ensues, of course, as the cats try to keep up with the increasingly ridiculous demands of their fancy fish.
With a nod to the Seussian humour of The Cat in the Hat, Judith Rossell, author of The Midwatch, has written and illustrated a future classic that will utterly delight many readers (and their butlers) aged 6+. More Spud and Snowball, please!
Reviewed by Angela Crocombe.
Middle Grade
Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop
Martin Seneviratne & Krystal Sutherland
This a rollicking, fun debut following twin geniuses Patrick and Pearl Amarasinghe as they traverse the timeline. Pearl spends her time inventing never-before-seen technology and Patrick is an expert historian. This story begins as the twins are on the cusp of completing their craziest invention yet – a time machine. As they travel between past and present, their actions put them at odds with TIME, the secret organisation in charge of protecting the very fragile timeline. Prepare to laugh at the outrageous time antics, while also digging into themes of personal identity and culture. Author duo Martin Seneviratne and Krystal Sutherland dive deep into the importance of history defining who we are, while also challenging the reader to think about where history falls short and how we can improve the future.
Seneviratne is a debut author, but Krystal Sutherland already has quite a notable career in YA, having written titles such as House of Hollow and The Invocations. Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop is perfect for fans of adventure stories such as the Percy Jackson and Batthew Aromascent series. For ages 9+.
Reviewed by Alicia Guiney.
Kids Nonfiction
The Wizard’s Guide to Magical Experiments: 40 Science Experiments to Try at Home
A.J. Wood, illustrated by Jo Rioux
This stylish book of science experiments is presented as a guide for young wizards. The magical theme and enchanting detail throughout make for a hugely appealing and memorable introduction to science. Concepts like elements, the water cycle and energy are explored in 40 experiments. Materials used are everyday items like paper clips, tape and vinegar, but activities like ‘growing crystals’ and ‘invisible ink’ all have a certain supernatural flavour. There is even a section on my favourite scientific field: kitchen alchemy, which includes recipes for ‘Reaction bread’ and ‘Moon batter’. It also includes a few timely and fun ideas for Halloween-themed activities.
There are beautiful big gems on the cover, warm illustrations, and lots of special details throughout such as potion guides and other small books to discover within the pages. This is a book that will be treasured and it will make a perfect present for curious and creative kids. It’s suitable for kids aged 7–12 with some assistance from a grown-up.
Reviewed by Kim Gruschow.
