(20 books)

Grumpy Monkey
Suzanne Lang
Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can’t understand it—how can he be in a bad mood when it’s such a beautiful day? They encourage him not to hunch, to smile, and to do things that make them happy. But Jim can’t take all the advice and has a bit of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?A hilarious picture book about dealing with unexplained feelings and the danger in suppressing them. Suzanne and Max Lang bring hilarity and levity to this very important lesson. This picture book demonstrates to kids that they are allowed to feel their feelings, though they should be careful not to hurt others in the process.

Amy Gets Eaten
Adam Kay
This is the hilarious (and admittedly a tiny bit gross) tale of Amy, a small piece of sweetcorn who is eaten by Noah, a medium-sized boy. The story follows Amy on her funny, gooey and anatomically-accurate adventure through the human body as she discovers lots of facts about digestion. (It's fair to say that parents might learn a little bit too.)The first-ever picture book from Adam Kay and Henry Paker.Endorsements"An enjoyably gross look at the human body. Hours of gruesome fun guaranteed." — i"Like listening to a teacher who makes pupils fall about." — Sunday Times"Totally brilliant!" — Jacqueline Wilson"Fun and informative." — Malorie Blackman"Very funny — this exciting book is bound to inspire the next generation of medics." — Sunday Express"A ridiculously funny read that will delight, gross out and educate all at the same time." — Independent"Educational and entertaining. It should be on the national curriculum!" — Harry Hill"Completely marvellous and very funny." — BookTrust

Peter Rabbit: Head Over Tail: inspired by Beatrix Potter's iconic character
Rachel Bright
Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter's world-famous creation, is hopping off on new adventures in this brand new picture book series created by Rachel Bright and Nicola Kinnear.Peter Rabbit is full of ideas to get his chores done quickly, playing is much more fun. So when Mrs Rabbit wants him to help with the washing, he has the perfect idea — a super-speedy washing line! It's great fun, until Squirrel Nutkin jumps on too and the pair go head over tail...This mischievous little rabbit has been a favourite character for over 100 years and in Head Over Tail, Rachel Bright and Nicola Kinnear have brought their own unmistakable flair to the world of Peter Rabbit, and have created a tale full of scrapes, adventure, and trademark quick-thinking by this much-loved rabbit.Head Over Tail is the first in this new series and is sure to delight Peter Rabbit fans young and old.

Speak Up
Miranda Paul
When something really matters, one voice can make a difference. This spirited picture book celebrates diversity and encourages kids to speak up, unite with others, and take action when they see something that needs to be fixed.Join a diverse group of kids on a busy school day as they discover so many different ways to speak up and make their voices heard! From shouting out gratitude for a special treat to challenging a rule that isn’t fair, these young students show that simple, everyday actions can help people and make the world a better place.

The Artist
Ed Vere
One brave little artist goes on one epic adventure to share her art, and in doing so learns that it doesn't matter if you colour outside the lines, that art is full of heart... and that maybe you are an artist too!What is an artist?Someone who sees beauty... Someone with a mind full of colours, feelings, and ideas... Someone who plays and dreams and makes...From the award-winning Ed Vere comes a joyful and inspirational celebration of beauty, mistakes and the artist in all of usEndorsements‘The Artist's optimistic ending, in particular, makes it perfect for bedtime reading and bedtime dreaming for little artists. It’s a useful reminder for grown-up artists too.’ — Art Quarterly

The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds
Marisabina Russo
Here's the perfect bedtime read-aloud for the very youngest child. The text is filled with fun noises—click clack, click clack—and a repeating refrain—good night, good night, sleep tight—that's sure to have kids chiming in as they follow the antics of these bunnies who won't stay in bed. Kids will identify with the mischievous bunnies and their desire to play. Meanwhile, parents will empathize with Mama and Daddy's struggle to get them to sleep.

A Rainbow of My Own
Don Freeman
A small boy imagines what it would be like to have his own rainbow to play with.

Bruno, the Standing Cat
Nadine Robert
When a box arrives on Peter’s doorstep, he opens it to find Bruno, a cat who is standing up on two legs. It is very odd. Bruno likes to chew bubble gum, play house, and skateboard—and refuses to engage in any catlike behavior. But Peter likes Bruno, and so they become friends and do everything they can think of together.Meet a silly and absurd cat who’s like no cat you’ve ever met before, in this inventive and unusual book.Jean Jullien is an emerging picture-book creator and the illustrator of the picture-book version of John Lennon’s song “Imagine.” He works in a signature thick black line and bold, flat color. His quirky, subversive humor is childlike at its core, and kids will delight in his light and irreverent approach.

Backyard Fairies
Phoebe Wahl
Fairies are real, and they're all around us! Award-winning author-illustrator Phoebe Wahl offers a fanciful and beautifully illustrated peek into the hidden world of fairies, sprites, and other magical creatures.A girl searches for fairies in her backyard and the woods beyond, following little clues and traces of magic. Fairies and other magical creatures can be found on every page, hidden among the flowers, trees and pebbles. But although readers can see them, the girl keeps searching, just one step behind... In the end, it is clear (both to the girl and readers) that there is magic all around, even when it's hidden in plain sight.Phoebe Wahl takes us deep into the world of fairies, and her vibrant, multi-textured woodland scenes are every bit as enchanting as the creatures therein.A gorgeously illustrated paean to imagination and the natural world.Endorsements"Delightful... This gently magical outing will appeal not only to longtime lovers of European folklore, but also to fans of the popular \"fairy door\" phenomenon." — Kirkus Reviews

Not Now, Noor!
Farhana Islam
Noor loves her mum, and all the other hijabi women in her family, but wonders why do they wear headscarves? Is it so they can hide snacks for later? Or because they're a super spy and hiding their secret identity? Full of curiosity, Noor sets out to find her answer, but her family are all busy and have no time to answer this important question. Just as Noor is ready to give up on her quest, her Ammu arrives home and knows just the thing to say. This heartwarming yet funny tale is a celebration of Muslim women, curious children, and family love.

Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy
Lynley Dodd
Hairy Maclary goes off for a walk with a few of his friends — and comes up against a nasty surprise, in the shape of the cat Scarface Claw, who chases the dogs away.

Don't Say Elephant!
Stuart Heritage
Pancakes and Cha-Cha are set for a perfect day of pizza and playing in the park—when they are surprised by a genie granting wishes! What in the whole wide world will they wish for? Treasure or magical powers? Or a pizza the size of a paddling pool? Or maybe — just maybe — they'll be surprised by something unexpected. Stuart Heritage and Nicola Slater are back with a warm-hearted and very funny story about brotherly love, the art of compromise and an elephant covered in cheese.

Mommy, Mama, and Me
Lesléa Newman
Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its mommies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there's no limit to what a loving family can do together.It shares the loving bond between same-sex parents and their children.

Big
Vashti Harrison
This deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance.The first picture book written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.EndorsementsA New York Times bestseller.A National Book Award finalist.From a New York Times bestselling creator.

Hope Is a Hop
Katrina Moore
A moving exploration of hope, from its resilient roots to its sprouting—and surprising!—possibilities.When Eva's hopes for a cheerful flower garden are dashed by a rascally—and hungry!—rabbit, she sinks into despair. But it's from this new vantage point that she discovers something surprising and wonderful about her four-legged nemesis that reminds Eva of her own growing family and inspires her to try again.Told in sweet, lyrical verse and accompanied by tender illustrations, Hope is a Hop shares a powerful message; its heart-tugging artwork and bunny motif make it a natural choice for gifting.

Jabari Jumps
Gaia Cornwall
Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash.

11 Words for Love
Randa Abdel-Fattah
There are eleven words for love, and my family knows them all.A family flees their homeland to find safety in another country, carrying little more than a suitcase full of love.As their journey unfolds, the oldest child narrates 11 meanings for love in Arabic as her family show, and are shown, all different kinds of love in their new home, and they also remember the love they have for their homeland and for those left behind or lost along the way.In the Arabic language, there are over 50 words describing the degrees of love. That's 50 stories, 50 life-worlds. This lyrical and heartwarming book takes you on a journey through 11 of these Arabic expressions for love.EndorsementsShortlisted for the 2023 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Children's Literature.A CBCA Notable Picture Book of the Year 2023.Shortlisted for the 2023 Multicultural NSW Award.'Randa's rich words and Maxine's moving illustrations make this book sing' — The Australian Women's Weekly'An uplifting, emotionally charged story . . . matched with bold illustrations that exude deep warmth' — Sydney Morning Herald'A beautifully rendered, timely picture book created with heart' — Books+Publishing

Leo Can Swim
Anna McQuinn
Leo, Lola’s little brother from Leo Loves Baby Time, is back in a new adventure at the pool.Leo loves the water! Leo and Daddy go to swim class where they kick, bounce, splash around, and dive like little fish. Joining other babies and their caretakers in the pool guarantees unforgettable fun. This sweet story, full of action and sound effects, is a gentle introduction to pool facilities and parent-child swim lessons with a cast of diverse families who love to splash and play together.

These Olive Trees
Aya Ghanameh
The story of a Palestinian family’s ties to the land, and how one young girl finds a way to care for her home, even as she says goodbye.It’s 1967 in Nablus, Palestine.Oraib loves the olive trees that grow outside the refugee camp where she lives. Each harvest, she and her mama pick the small fruits and she eagerly stomp stomp stomps on them to release their golden oil. Olives have always tied her family to the land, as Oraib learns from the stories Mama tells of a home before war.But war has come to their door once more, forcing them to flee. Even as her family is uprooted, Oraib makes a solemn promise to her beloved olive trees. She will see to it that their legacy lives on for generations to come.Debut author-illustrator Aya Ghanameh boldly paints a tale of bitterness, hope, and the power of believing in a free and thriving future.

Glamorous Glasses
Barbara Johansen Newman
Bobbie and Joanie are best friends and best cousins, and they do everything together. So when Joanie has to get glasses, Bobbie figures she'll get them, too—especially once she discovers the fabulous frames on display at the eyeglasses store. Meanwhile, Joanie has the opposite reaction. Glasses make her feel different and look different. And they're uncomfortable. So the ever-resourceful Bobbie comes up with a perfect plan to make both of them happy. Illustrations full of rich, comical details enhance this story about friendship and a classic childhood experience.