Recommended new kids' books in October
This is an absolutely bumper month for children’s books. Discover beautifully illustrated stories for kids of all ages, magical and adventurous middle fiction reads, and a portable, interactive crash course in ancient Egypt.
Find our best recommendations for teen books this month here.
CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE MONTH
The first book in a magical new series for ages 8-12, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow tells the story of a cursed 11-year-old girl who is whisked off to an enchanting and odd city to compete for membership of the mysterious Wundrous Society.
Our reviewer, Bronte, described it as ‘shiveringly, thrillingly wonderful’. In fact, everyone at Readings is so excited about this debut novel that we raved about it en masse. We encourage you to hand Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow to every Harry Potter fan you know (adults included) and really, any keen young reader who likes whimsy, adventure and nail-biting competitions.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow is due to arrive at our shops on Tuesday 10 October.
RECOMMENDED NEW PICTURE BOOKS
Hurrah! After feeling slight envy about Hello, Sydney!, Melbourne now gets its own picture book tribute: Hello, Melbourne!. This bright and breezy picture book visits all of Melbourne’s iconic sights, and packs in plenty of amazing facts and absorbing details. Our reviewer, Angela, says: 'This is a delightful introduction to Melbourne for a visiting child, a reminder of the many reasons to love the city for a local, or the perfect present for an international friend.’ For ages 3 and up.
You can read our full review here.
Aussie Legends Alphabet is a truly wonderful tribute to 24 accomplished Australians. This fun and informative traipse through Aussie achievement covers a wide range of favourite and familiar legends: Adam Goodes, Kath & Kim, Lee Lin Chin, Bob Hawke, Phar Lap, Fred Hollows, and more. Adults and kids alike will love the bold graphic style and admiring descriptions of these icons. For ages 3 and up.
Tim Minchin’s delightful song from Matilda the Musical has been turned into a picture book, with the help of award-winning illustrator Steve Antony. When I Grow Up features Minchin’s wistful and humorous words, given new meaning by three young gambolling children who are enjoying the delights of childhood, while fantasising about the freedoms of adulthood. For ages 3 and up.
Big Fella Rain transports the reader to northern Australia to revel in a rain storm that transforms the dry and dusty landscape, and brings animals out in droves. This evocative picture book uses descriptive language economically and to great effect, and beautiful depictions of sky, clouds, rain, dirt, birds and animals. For ages 3 and up.
Julia Donaldson has a new book out which is always a reason to celebrate. The Ugly Five is the wonderful story of five plain-looking savannah animals – a wildebeest, warthog, Spotted Hyena, Lappet-Faced Vulture and Marabou Stork – who band together and find pride in their unique appearances, and love for their good deeds. As always, Donaldson’s rhyming text is bouncy and engaging, and Axel Scheffler’s illustrations make you love these so-called ugly animals even more.
JUNIOR FICTION
Good Night Sleep Tight is a collection of illustrated short stories for young readers about a fox and a rabbit who live together harmoniously in a little house, along with their crew of animal friends and their collective shenanigans. Fox and Rabbit’s main troubles in life are creating new and imaginative ways to wish each other good night, and actually getting to sleep. Our reviewer, Athina, is convinced this ‘gorgeous, quirky little gem is a must-have for any home library’. For ages 4 and up.
You can read our full review here.
Bad Guys fans rejoice. Episode 6 has arrives and it’s looking grim for Mr Wolf, Mr Shark, Mr Snake and Mr Piranha in Aliens vs Bad Guys. Apparently these aliens have a lot of butts, so… that can’t be good, right? For ages 6 and up.
MIDDLE FICTION
You won’t find a cuter and more tender-hearted book this year than The Wonderling by Mira Bartok. Arthur is a fox-like boy who lives at the Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures under the iron rule of the very unsympathetic Miss Carbunkle. Arthur and the other groundlings (half-animal, half-human children) live a troubled life, until there is an opportunity for escape and adventure calls.
Our reviewer Natalie promises that The Wonderling ‘will have you holding your breath in fear, hope and wonder’. You can read her full review here.
Beloved Tasmanian author Lian Tanner is back with the first book in a new trilogy, The Rogues, which is set in the same world as her wonderful The Keepers trilogy. Pummel, an honest, if not slightly naive, farmboy, is unwittingly caught up in a dastardly plot of the evil Lord Rump (great name!) and his granddaughter Duckling, in a story involving magical powers, an assassination plot, and plenty of double-crossing. For ages 9 and up.
Our reviewer Natalie loved its ‘thrilling, well-paced plot, where the stakes are raised, suspense builds and danger looms large’. You can read her full review here.
How To Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell has started a new series with The Wizards of Once. Drawing on ancient British stories and myth, the book is set at a time when wizards and warriors are at war, and witches are rumoured to be extinct. Xar, a young wizard boy who has yet to receive his powers, and Wish, a young warrior girl in possession of a contraband magical object, are thrown together for a spiralling adventure that sees them turn from enemies into allies.
Cowell’s inimitable jagged illustrations, scribbles and annotations, and a tongue-in-cheek omniscient narrator, help bring this funny and thrilling book to life. For ages 9 and up.
The always-surprising Shaun Micallef releases his first book for kids this month: Tales from a Tall Forest is a collection of twisted fairy tales. Released in hardcover, and with fantastically gothic illustrations by Jonathan Bentley, these stories are a hilarious mash-up of well-known and lesser-known characters and plots, delivered in true absurd Micallef style. For ages 9 and up.
NEW BOOKS IN POPULAR SERIES
School holidays are great time to catch up on the next instalment in a favourite series.
Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead, The third book of the Magnus Chase series, has arrived. Prepare to face angry sea gods, hostile giants, and an evil fire-breathing dragon. For ages 9 and up.
Quest for Glory continues on from where the original The School for Good and Evil trilogy left off, and is the first book of the School for Good and Evil: The Camelot Years trilogy. This is the start of a new era as the Nevers and Evers move beyond school and into the wider world. For ages 10 and up.
The Silver Mask, the fourth book in the Magisterium series arrives this month – an excellent series for fantasy readers of ages 9 and up.
And it was time for the third Harry Potter book to receive illustrator Jim Kay’s magical treatment with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Illustrated Edition. These illustrated editions are stunning, find all three books here.
TWO GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR OLDER READERS
Two illustrated picture books for older readers impress us this month, both depicting stories of troubled journeys.
Together with illustrator Rovina Cai, Margo Lanagan has created the atmospheric Tintinnabula. In this book, a young woman sets out from devastated and barren lands on a quest for calm and peace. This is a poetic story of finding stillness and comfort from within. You can read our review here.
Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer has collaborated with Andrew Donkin and illustrator Giovanni Rigano with Illegal, a graphic novel that follows 12-year-old Ebo as he traverses the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea on his own to (hopefully) reach Europe. This is a compassionate and gripping read.
NON-FICTION PICKS FOR KIDS
If you only ever buy one book on Ancient Egypt in your life, it should probably be Egyptomania. This stunning large-format book features vibrant illustrations, lift-the-flaps, elegant design and intricate details to be revealed in the reading. Our very impressed reviewer, Angela, says: ‘In a spectacular testament to the unforgettable Egyptians, this book brings history to brilliant life and will turn even the most disinterested reader into an Egyptomaniac.’ Eygptomania goes into depth into all aspects of the civilisation: from agriculture and geography, to architecture, mythology and language. For ages 6 and up.
You can read Angela’s full review here.
Learn about a slice of fascinating Australian history in Carole Wilkinson’s Ten Pound Pom. Wilkinson’s family came to Australia under the post-war assisted migrant scheme between the UK and Australia, so this story has a wonderfully personal and detailed touch. Liz Anelli’s illustrations perfectly capture and illuminate the journey and arrival. For ages 8 and up.
We’re loving Curiosity: the story of a Mars rover, which charmingly describes scientific exploration on Mars, through the rover’s eyes. The illustrations, graphics, diagrams and large font make this an easy, informative and cute read. For ages 4 and up.
Some perennial favourites have also arrived in-store. Guinness World Records 2018, Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition 2018 and Ripley’s Believe it or Not 2018 are primed and ready for all the fact and trivia lovers out there.
CHILDREN’S CLASSIC OF THE MONTH
Readings Doncaster bookseller Ellen recently took a trip down memory lane with Cornelia Funke’s 2002 novel, The Thief Lord, a wonderful, evocative adventure set in Venice. Brothers Prosper and Bo run away and join a group of youngsters living in an abandoned cinema, ably catered for by the mysterious Robin-Hood-like figure of the Thief Lord.
Ellen describes The Thief Lord as ‘an unforgettable book, with a touch of magic that will have readers of all ages under its spell’. For ages 9 and up.
You can read Ellen’s full review here.
RECOMMENDATIONS & A HIGHLY SCIENTIFIC QUIZ
We get a lot of questions about books for newborn babies in our shops, so we’ve put together a long list of recommendations for board books that are perfect for early development and learning. If you’re unsure what to buy for a baby’s first year, this guide is packed with great suggestions.
We’ve also compiled a list of fantastic children’s books from emerging Australian authors that we’ve loved this year. The books on this list are all suitable for ages 8-12, and widely varied in their scope – from horror to whimsy, from fantastical worlds to life in war-stricken Sudan. You’ll find something for every kind of reader on this list, and you’ll be supporting a new local author as well.
Finally, if you have a mischievous side, you might like to take our highly scientific quiz to determined which naughty character from children’s literature you are. It’s time to decide once and for all whether you’re a Pippi or a Harriet.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS FOR KIDS
Readings Kids is hosting some exciting literary guests this month.
At 11.30 am on Saturday 7 October, radio personality Jo Stanley will be dropping by the bookshop to sign copies of her first children’s book series: Play Like a Girl. This fun and humour-filled new series weaves the ordinary world of young girls with the thrill and excitement of AFL, and is presented in partnership with the AFLW. This event is free, and there’s no need to book.
Megan McKean and Ella Mulvey will both be visiting the shop for special story times. Bring the kids along at 10am on Friday 20 October to hear McKean read from her stylish new picture book, Hello, Melbourne!. And then return the following day at 10.30am to hear Mulvey read from her charming new picture book, The Rabbit-hole Golf Course. Both events are free, and there’s no need to book.
We’re also inviting you to celebrate Halloween early at 4.30pm on Monday 30 October. Creative Write It is running a spooky writing workshop and kids of ages 7-12 can create their very own horror story. Entry is $5 per person. Please book here.
