Nothing is more universal than children’s embarrassment at the hands (or in this case, wings) of a parent or carer. Enter My Mum is a Bird by Melbourne author Angie Cui and illustrator Evie Barrow. Within a diverse cast, our protagonist has a unique family: her mum is a bird! She doesn’t have a normal job, or eat normal food, or speak English, and worst of all, she doesn’t drive or ride or walk to school: she flies. How is our protagonist supposed to survive the embarrassment of parents’ and carers’ day with a mum like that?

In 40 beautifully illustrated pages, take a journey to acceptance, pride and self-identity, embracing our differences (not being divided by them). I challenge any adult not to be immediately yanked back a couple of decades to feel the shrinking, blushing shame of an embarrassing parent, or to get a little misty-eyed at the lovely ending. For ages 3+.