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Bandits by Sha’an d’Anthes
Fern lives in a colourless, lifeless city and has only ever seen trees as pictures in her books. Fern is told that the bandits who come in the middle of the night to steal from the city dwellers are bad guys, but when she follows them back to their home she discovers a land of colour, life, friendship and a future she believes in.
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Bandits is an adventure story that can be a jumping off point for parents to talk about more complex topics like friendship, the environment, urbanisation, prejudice and diversity. Sha’an d’Anthes is an author and illustrator from Sydney. Her work is vibrant, playful and curious; delighting children and adults alike. For children aged 4+. Published by hachette.com.au RRP $24.99.
Back to Sleep by Zoë Foster Blake
A warm and funny bedtime story where it’s the parents who won’t go to sleep. Back to Sleep is a reflection of Zoë’s much-loved brand and profile, told with an authenticity and humour born of experience. Poor Finn is looking forward to drifting off to sleep in his cosy warm bed, when Mummy appears wanting a drink. Finn resettles her and has just fallen asleep, when he’s woken again . . . this time by Daddy, who’s had a bad dream. And so it goes. Just when Finn has one parent back to sleep, the other wakes up! When will these two sleep through the night? Published by Penguin Books $19.95
Poppy Picker by Stella Stamatakis
When Poppy Picker keeps putting her finger up her nose, we know it won’t end well. Her parents are disgusted, her teachers’ upset, and her friends grossed out. She’s been warned about the Booger Monster many times. But will she listen before it’s too late? Poppy Picker was inspired by author Stella’s own story of losing part of her finger as a young child. In the classroom as a primary school teacher Stella created many tales to engage her students as to how and why her finger was missing. “My students would shriek in delight and horror as I would embellish the story of the booger monster and how he bit my finger off. www.stellastamatakis.com RRP from $16.95
The Ee in the Deep Blue Sea by Judith Barker
This is the story of the ee. A curious sound as you can see. The EE in the Deep Blue Sea is a fun. Australian-themed phoneme story that teaches young readers about the vowel sound ee and where they can find it in different words. The book explores many undersea and reef environments and introduces children to twenty of the creatures that live there. Published by Woodslane RRP $16.99
A polar bear in Sydney Harbour? When Hannah spots a polar bear in Sydney Harbour, she knows something isn’t right ... But even worse, none of the adults seem to notice him at all. Can Hannah help her new friend find his way back home?
From the creators of If I Was Prime Minister comes an empowering and inspiring new picture book about standing tall and shining bright. Published by Harper Collins RRP $24.99.
Everyone on the island is getting ready for Aunty’s wedding. Maningawu wears her best hat and I wear a wurrijinga in my hair. We all dress up, but I still don’t understand. Why do people have a wedding? A warm family story that celebrates love and culture from actor, activist, writer and Australian sweetheart, Miranda Tapsell, and Joshua Tyler, cowriter of Top End Wedding, lushly illustrated by Samantha Fry. www.stellastamatakis.com RRP $24.95
HOWL by Kat Patrick
Maggie has had a very bad day. First of all, the sun was the wrong shape, in a sky that was too blue. The spaghetti was too long, and her pyjamas were the wrong kind of pyjama. Then Maggie begins to have wolfish thoughts...
Howl is a masterfully told and exquisitely drawn story of a young girl’s way of expressing and resolving big feelings. Available from Scribble Kids Books RRP $24.99.
Vote 4 Me by Krys Saclier
The students of Mount Mayhem primary school are fed up. Their uniform is hideous, the tuckshop sells only healthy food, and the sports cupboard is empty. It’s time to find a leader who will speak on their behalf. But who will it be? They need an election! Fortunately Ms Sparks is an expert on preferential voting. Voting has never been so much fun. Australia’s preferential voting system explained! Key curriculum topic covered in the most delightful way. Excellent teacher support material and classroom activities available for download. Published by Wild Dog Books RRP $24.95
Poopy Pants and Potty Rants by Dale ‘Daisy’ Thomas
‘Hey there, kiddo! The time is right for you. ‘You’re going to learn the big-kid way to do a wee and poo!’ After an amazing AFL career, Daisy retired at the end of 2019 and can now most often be found singing along to Frozen with his daughter, Tilly. Poopy Pants is a hilarious look at the hits and misses of toilet training, focusing on the delightful bond between a father and a daughter. With relatable gems like ‘this time it must be true!’, a reward chart and 120 stickers inside, this is a warm-hearted, funny celebration of parenting and potty training. Published by Albert Street Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin RRP $19.95
We all have that one friend. The one who expects the world, but never remembers your birthday. The one who ditches your dinner plans when you’re already halfway to the restaurant. Why do we keep these people in our lives? How do we go about getting rid of these crappy companions?
This is the no-bullshit, essential guide for anyone devoting their precious time and energy into maintaining friendships with toxic friends. Dr Hannah Korrel will help you to identify the bad friends in your life, understand what true friendship should look like, learn how to attract the best people, and become the best friend you can be yourself. Published by Impact Press $24.99
Paul Jennings Untwisted, by Paul Jennings
In the telling of his own tale, children’s author and screenwriter Paul Jennings demonstrates how seemingly small events can combine into a compelling drama. As if assembling the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle he puts together fragments, memories and anecdotes to reveal the portrait of a complex and weathered soul. The accounts of the trials and joys of turning his stories into episodes of the television program Round The Twist will be of special interest to the millions of fans of this series. Untwisted is revealing, moving and very funny. Paul Jennings has crafted perhaps his most masterful story yet ... the story of his life. Published by Allen and Unwin RRP $34.99
My Year of Living Mindfully by Shannon Harvey
From the director of the internationally acclaimed documentary of the same name, MY YEAR OF LIVING MINDFULLY is a book filled with compelling stories, groundbreaking science, and unexpected insights that go to the heart of what it means to be human in the twenty-first century.
In the midst of a global mental health crisis, millions of people have turned to mindfulness. But does it actually work? In a world-first experiment, journalist Shannon Harvey recruited a team of scientists to put mindful meditation to the test. But what began as a year-long self-experiment soon became a life-changing experience. Published by Hatchette RRP from $15.99.
The Music Advantage: How learning music helps your child’s brain and wellbeing by Anita Collins
As a ground-breaking music educator and popular expert on ABC TV and radio, Dr Anita Collins draws on the latest neurological research to reveal the extraordinary benefits of learning music, from newborns to teenagers. With practical strategies and real examples from home and school, The Music Advantage shows how parents and teachers can use music to improve reading skills, create focus, enhance memory and assist with behavioural habits in children. Published by Allen and Unwin RRP $32.99
