This month in kids books we travel back to the very beginnings of life, put on a fancy suit, solve mysteries, laugh, cry and admire amazing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from history.

Find our August picks for YA books here.

KIDS BOOK OF THE MONTH

Mim and the Baffling Bully by Katrina Nannestad & Cheryl Orsini

Mim Cohen roams the world in a travelling bookshop, with her dad and brother and a horse called Flossy. Flossy leads them where she will, to the place where they’re needed most … the place where the perfect book will find its way home.

Now Mim has arrived in a pretty Dutch village where she meets Willemina, a kind and gentle child, who is being bullied by a girl named Gerda. Mim knows they’re here to help Willemina. To change her life. To make her strong and brave and happy. If only Dad would find her the right book. If only he would stop giving everyone else the wrong book!

You can read her full review here.

For ages 7 and up.

SEVEN KIDS BOOKS TO READ THIS MONTH

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The Spectacular Suit by Kat Patrick & Hayley Wells

It’s almost Frankie’s birthday and everything is ready for her garden party - except for something to wear. All of her party dresses feel wrong. Her family tries to help, but it’s no good. What Frankie longs for is a suit. A spectacular suit …Can Frankie find the outfit of her dreams?

Our reviewer Angela was delighted by The Spectacular Suit, and said: ‘This is a vibrant, charming book about how clothes can make you feel special and the importance of wearing the clothes that reflect your identity.’

You can read her full review here.

For ages 3 and up.

It’s Owl Good by Renee Treml

Ollie is an owl who wears glasses. And Bea is a bunny with very big feet. They don’t know it yet, but they are about to be best friends. Can they help each other to find their OTTER-LY awesome inner superhero? Renee Treml, author of the fantastic Sherlock Bones graphic novels, has started a new series - The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea - of illustrated, full-colour junior chapter books. Book 2, Squeals on Wheels, is being published at the same time as Book 1.

Our reviewer Kim admired how Treml has balanced humour and depth in these charming and entertaining stories: ‘There’s a warmth to these stories where friendship and resilience triumph alongside all the laughs.’

You can read her full review here.

For ages 5 and up.

Aven Green Sleuthing Machine by Dusti Bowling & Gina Perry

Third-grader Aven Green has been solving mysteries for a whole month cracking such cases as The Mystery of the Cranky Mom. But can this perceptive detective solve two cases at the same time? First her teacher’s lunch bag disappears. Then Aven’s great-grandma’s dog goes missing. Fortunately, since Aven was born without arms, all the “arm” cells went to her super-powered brain instead. (That’s her theory.)

Aven Green Sleuthing Machine is a delightful illustrated introduction to the main character from Dusti Bowling’s middle grade novel Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and its sequel, for slightly younger readers. Our reviewer Alexa loved the mystery and mischief of this book and, most of all, loved its young protagonist: ‘I love Aven’s wit and enthusiasm. She approaches life and people with spontaneous delight but has the acuity to be considerate of others.’

You can read her full review here.

For ages 6 and up.

Exit Through the Gift Shop by Maryam Master & Astred Hicks (illustrator)

Anahita Rosalind Ghorban-Galaszczuk (or Ana) is discovering that life is absurd. As if dying of cancer (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) at the age of 12.5 isn’t bad enough, she still has to endure daily insults from her nemesis, Alyssa (Queen Mean) Anderson. Ana’s on a wild roller-coaster of life and death, kindness and cruelty, ordinary and extraordinary. And she’s got a few things to do before she exits…

Debut author Maryam Master comes from a very successful career writing for TV and the theatre, where she has helped both Oliver Jeffers and David Walliams bring their work to the stage. Our reviewer Claire felt that adults and children alike will admire this funny and heartbreaking tale: ‘Ana’s story covers some very intense and challenging topics, but it is all handled with such humour and heartfelt kindness.’

You can read her full review here.

For ages 8 and up.

Harklights by Tim Tilley

Wick has always lived in the dark and dreadful Harklights Match Factory and Orphanage, working tirelessly for greedy Old Ma Bogey. He only dreams of escaping, until one day a bird drops something impossible and magical at his feet - a tiny baby in an acorn cradle…As midnight chimes, Wick is visited by the Hobs, miniature protectors of the forest. Grateful for the kindness shown to their stolen child, they offer Wick the chance of a lifetime - escape from Harklights and begin a new life with them in the wild…

Our reviewer Athina loved this debut fantasy novel, and said: ‘This remarkable debut adventure is an atmospheric creation of beautifully imagined scenes and unforgettable characters: lovable heroes, contemptible villains, determined children and forest folk striving against the odds, culminating in a thoroughly surprising and satisfying ending.’

You can read her full review here.

For ages 8 and up.

Heroes, Rebels and Innovators by Karen Wyld & Jaelyn Biumaiwai

Powerful and exciting: here are seven inspiring stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from history. Amongst these are Patyegarang, a Darug woman who worked with a British officer of the First Fleet, teaching him words from local Aboriginal languages - together they made the first written record of any Aboriginal languages; Mohara Wacando-Lifu, a woman of Torres Strait Islander, Niue Islander and Papua New Guinea heritage and the first Indigenous woman to receive the Royal Humane Society’s Gold Medal for bravery; Yarri and Jacky Jacky, who led the rescue of sixty-nine people during the Gundagai floods of 1852.

For ages 8 and up.

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We Go Way Back by Idan Ben-Barak & Philip Bunting

What is life? How did it start? Long, long ago, no one knows exactly where or when, a tiny bubble formed that was a Little Bit Different. It was the first living cell. Everyone’s ancestor. And so the story of life begins …

Idan Ben-Barak (Do not lick this book) and Philip Bunting (The World’s Most Pointless Animals) are known separately as excellent and quirky picture book authors; in We Go Way Back they lead young readers through the origin of life on our planet, how an odd little bubble gave rise to the incredible web of life on Earth. Our reviewer Dani highly recommends this picture book for very curious kids, praising it for ‘using casual yet accurate language, clear illustrations and lots of jokes.’

You can read her full review here.

For ages 3 and up.

NEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS

• Do you know a young person who has been inspired by the Olympics? We have compiled a collection of sporty books for teens and a collection of sporty books for kids!

• More interested in escaping to other worlds? We recommend these recent escapist fantasy reads.

• You can explore our recent suggestions for kids and YA reads from First Nations writers here .

• If your household needs a pick-me-up then we think you might enjoy this list of picture books to lift your spirits.