This month we recommend a glut of gorgeous picture books, read about ghosts and time-traveling granddads, and celebrate the 2017 shortlist for the Readings Children’s Book Prize.

(Find our best recommendations for teen books this month here.)

PICTURE BOOKS

In Anna Walker’s Florette, Mae has just moved to from the country to the city and is having a hard time with her new environment. She’s desperate to find some nature in the centre of Paris, and eventually finds a most wonderfully green place that inspires her. Malvern children’s and YA specialist Athina says that Florette is an ‘exquisite celebration of the power of nature and the creativity of a child’.

You can read Athina’s full review here. For ages 3 and up.

Moving house is also the subject of Clara’s Goodbye. Author Libby Gleeson and illustrator Anna Pignataro come together to create a sombre and beautiful story of three siblings saying goodbye to their beloved house, each in their own way. In Clara’s case, it’s a special and poignant dance in their old bedroom.

You can read our review here. For ages 3 and up.

Award-winning author-illustrator duo Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys have returned with Under the Love Umbrella, a book that presents four diverse children encountering everyday setbacks with the help of an invisible umbrella of love extending from their parents or carers. We recently included this title on our list of loving picture books for children who worry.

You can read our review here. For ages 3 and up.

I’m thoroughly enchanted by the gentle humour and keen observation of the natural world in A Walk in the Bush by Gwyn Perkins. Iggy the cat spends a delightful day with Granddad crushing eucalyptus leaves, listening to bird calls and searching for goannas. This book is as refreshing, comforting and stimulating as a weekend bushwalk.

For ages 3 and up.

You will never meet anyone who has loved a book more than Lucy in Lucy’s Book. Lucy’s enthusiasm for her favourite library book spreads to everyone in her life, and the sought-after book gets passed from kid to kid and family to family. An enthusiastic homage to how fiercely we can love a particular book.

For ages 4 and up.

JUNIOR FICTION

We find out about the before of Henrietta the Go-Getter in Martine Murray’s newly released prequel – Henrietta and the Perfect Night. Henrietta has to be patient while her mum is cooking up a new baby. Luckily she can distract herself with thoughts of starting school, and her enthusiastic investigations lead her to her best friend, Olive Higgie. Hawthorn children’s and YA specialist Alexa describes Henrietta as ideal for those who ‘like ‘exhillperating’ dilemmas and magical thinking’.

You can read Alexa’s full review here. For ages 5 and up

A Parisian dog and a cat strike up a friendship in Diva and Flea by children’s literature heavyweights Mo Willems and Tony Diterlizzi. Diva is a small dog who lives in a comfortable apartments, while Flea is a cat of the streets, the neighbourhood flaneur. When they meet and become friends, they try out each other’s lifestyle. Readings Kids children’s and YA specialist Dani describes this title as ‘a perfect book for beginner readers, a wonderful, sweet story about two friends being brave and trying new things.’

You can read Dani’s full review here. For ages 6 and up.

MIDDLE FICTION

11-year-old Alex has a grand plan in See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng. He wants to build a rocket and launch his iPod into space, loaded with home-made audio recordings showing alien lifeforms what life is like on Earth. Alex is an extraordinarily thoughtful boy who is on a quest for answers to the biggest questions. St Kilda children’s and YA specialist Kim can’t speak highly enough of this book, describing it as ‘funny, clever, extraordinarily warm’.

You can read Kim’s full review here. For ages 10 and up.

Comedian and TV personality Peter Helliar has written his first children’s book – Frankie Fish and the Sonic Suitcase is a time-travelling, funny, family caper. Granddad has been up to some dodgy time-warping business, and it’s up to Frankie to put up with his his crotchety ways and find a way to save his family.

You can read our review here. For ages 8 and up.

Lovers of slightly creepy and gothic tales will enjoy Alison Rushby’s The Turnkey, which is set in London’s Highgate Cemetery during World War II and blends historical fact with supernatural elements. This is the story of Flossie, a 12-year-old girl (and ghost) employed at the cemetery, who spots the ghost of an SS soldier behaving very strangely.

You can read our review here. For ages 9 and up.

THE READINGS CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE SHORTLIST 2017

A few weeks ago, we were so delighted to present this year’s Readings Children’s Book Prize Shortlist. A team of our children’s specialists have chosen six books that we think will delight young readers.

The shortlist includes:

Escape to Moon Islands by Mardi McConnochie
A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee
Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters by Ailsa Wild
The Secrets We Keep by Nova Weetman
Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller
Grover finds a Home by Claire Garth

We’re also pleased to be offering the ENTIRE shortlist in a specially priced bundle. This bundle is available online and from Readings Kids.

A SPOTLIGHT ON TARA BOOKS

Some of the most carefully-crafted and interesting picture and art books we stock are the ones produced by Tara Books, an Indian publishing house based in Chennai. Their books are created by a collective of writers, designers and artists, and often feature handmade and manual production methods.

If you love fine, folk and tribal art, or would like a window into Indian mythology, literature and culture, you’ll be delighted with titles like The Night Life of Trees, Alphabets are Amazing Animals and 8 Ways to Draw an Elephant.

A wider selection of Tara Books titles can be found here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Over the next few weeks, Readings Kids is hosting two special story times. Both story time are completely free, and there’s no need to book. Drop by the shop at 10.30am on Saturday 18 March to hear Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys read from Under the Love Umbrella. And come by again at 10.30am on Saturday 1 April to hear Tai Snaith read from Slow Down World.

You’re also invited to join us for the launch of the sixth and final book in Carole Wilkinson’s much-loved Dragonkeeper series, Bronze Bird Tower. Come by Readings Kids at 6pm on Thursday 23 March to join in the celebration. You can find more details here.

And if you’re a teacher or a librarian, you might be temped by our special evening dedicated to the CBCA shortlist and Readings Children’s Book Prize Shortlist. This talk will take place at Readings Kids at 6pm on Tuesday 28 March, and we’re pleased to offer 20% off any book purchases on the night. You can find more details here. (Please note, this event is free, but space is strictly limited!)

Leanne Hall