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What Do You Call Your Mum?

Apr17
What Do You Call Your Mum?

What Do You Call Your Mum?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Do You Call Your Mum?

Ashleigh Barton

Martina Heiduczek

ABC Books, 2026

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780733343810

In every country around the world are mums – some short, some tall.

Though they go by different names, we love them one and all.

Whether it’s Mummy, Mama, Mum or Ma, or a word from another language altogether the bond between mother and child and the memories we make are unique and both Barton and Heiduczek have captured them perfectly in this new companion to What Do You Call Your Dad?,  What Do You Call Your Grandpa? and What Do You Call Your Grandma?,  another celebration of the special relationships with special people in our lives, regardless of the name we call them.

Apart from giving little ones a chance to share the special things that they do with their mum, maybe even different to those that their siblings do, it provides an opportunity to introduce the concept of people speaking different languages because they come from different places, and, beginning with the first word that so many say, regardless of their heritage,  share that special word for our female parent while learning new ones.  Build a word wall with photos and labels to explore how many languages are spoken in students’ homes.

Great for promoting inclusivity as well as being the focus for Mother’s Day on May 10!!!

Up, Down, Over, Through

Mar23
Up, Down, Over, Through

Up, Down, Over, Through

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up, Down, Over, Through

Jane Godwin

Kim Drane

Lothian Children’s, 2026

24pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780734423733

Take a young child to a playground where there are things to climb up, slide down, crawl under, swing across and wriggle through and then sit back and watch them play.  Within minutes they will have joined with other children also there, regardless of age or any other factor, and they will be having fun in the moment with their new friends as they just savour the joy of the physical activity.  There are no formalities, no  names, no handshakes, no judgements – just kids being kids with older ones helping and protecting those younger and smaller, all just playing together, enjoying what they are doing and who they are with.  No adults needed. 

And in this joyous new book, those moments have been captured by both author and illustrator, as though they were sitting on the park bench together with a camera and their own little ones.  

The pictures capture all the fun two little ones are having together as they explore, discover and navigate climbing frames, slides. merry-go-rounds and all the other devices that are there just for their enjoyment, while minimal rhyming text captures their conversation and emphasises spatial concepts, encouraging young readers to be more aware of their surroundings and learn and use the words that describe their position to the objects within them as they take the first steps that will eventually lead to all sorts of more sophisticated mathematical and mapping outcomes as they mature. Just as the storybook children explore their playground, so too are there opportunities for the reader to explore their own, as they, themselves, go up, down, over, through, behind, beside, beneath and beyond combining movement and learning in the best way possible – having fun, perhaps even meeting challenges like, “Find something you can hide behind”. Teachers’ notes offer more ideas. 

But more importantly, it is the celebration of childhood, the complete acceptance of a stranger and the friendship sparked through enjoying a shared activity that puts the sparkle in this story, that so many others with a similar pedagogical focus lack. 

 

 

 

My Super Uncle

Mar17
My Super Uncle

My Super Uncle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Super Uncle

Dannika Patterson

Seantelle Walsh

Ford Street, 2026

32pp., hbk., RRP $a27.95

9781922696540

My friends all love my uncle
when he jokes and fools around.
To me, he’s super special
’cause he never lets me down.
I don’t need x-ray vision,
to see the way he cares.
I don’t need super senses,
to know he’ll be right there.

Families come in all shapes and sizes – always have, always will – but now, more than ever before, those shapes and sizes can not only be accepted, but be celebrated. And in this joyful story, it is the shape of a family of two mums, a child and the sperm donor – depicted in a delightful “child’s” drawing on the endpapers, an a subtle hint on the front cover – that is celebrated.

But because endpapers are often overlooked, for much of this story, it seems that the little girl is just celebrating the joy and fun she has with a special adult in her life, and their unique relationship is not revealed till the final pages. But how excited will many little readers be when they see their family structure depicted in such a happy way, not just through the rhyming text but also the warm-hearted, realistic illustrations that convey a sense that these are real people, not just book characters -as, indeed, they are. 

While first term is often a time when young students investigate and share their family structures, learning about the internal relationships between the various adults and children, comprehensive teachers’ notes offer ways to delve deeper into the story behind the story, to use the clues in the illustrations to understand that each character has their own story rather than just being a 2D representation of an anonymous, imagined person and to appreciate the diversity of family structures in the 21st century. While this might be this little girl’s story, every child has one.

In Australia, at least, we have come a long way in the last decade being able to provide and promote stories like this that strayed beyond the ‘norm’ – as recently as 2015 some principals wanted to be kept in the loop so they could field any parental complaints in an informed manner, while many teacher librarians themselves, felt that to read such inclusions without prior parental approval would be “outrageous and cause uproar” – and although there will still be concerns about sharing a story about family diversity, sexual orientation or assisted reproduction,  even though most are more than willing to share those relating to physical disabilities, mental health issues, particular illnesses and different cultural, social and religious backgrounds as we try to promote the message that these things should not define the person or their worth, IMO it is essential that we think of the child first.  Books like this are a critical element of their mental health so they see themselves and their circumstances in everyday books, are not marginalised, made to feel that they have done something wrong or are somehow different because of the choices made about and for them by the adults in their lives, and the more we share stories that celebrate diversity the more we normalise the child’s situation and experiences.  

Just like the story behind Charles M. Schultz introducing a black character into the Peanuts comic strip has been well-documented and there are stories galore of how this impacted young black readers in the US, particularly, so too must we think of those whose origins are not what is considered ‘traditional’ and as well as books like this and Guess How I was Born  and Rainbowsaurus,  among others,  the teachers’ notes also provide links to several appropriate websites including 10 Ways to Rethink the Family Tree Project – and be more inclusive to all students.

Perhaps we, as educators, can also be the superhero who doesn’t wear a cape, by starting the conversations and actively fostering inclusion and acceptance. 

The Umbrella

Mar11
The Umbrella

The Umbrella

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Umbrella

Niki Foreman

Binny Talib

Penguin, 2026

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781761348242

It’s pouring rain and all the kids are sheltering under the umbrella.  Except for one little girl who doesn’t fit, no matter how hard she tries.

But then she asks herself, “Do I need to fit? ” And while she acknowledges that she would like to, and even makes friends with others who don’t fit either and getting their own umbrella, she has the self-awareness to realise that even that is not a good fit and gradually realises that maybe she doesn’t need to fit at all – there is plenty of fun to be had being in the rain… 

Written entirely in conversation with the story being beautifully interpreted in the illustrations as a seamless whole – the epitome of a picture book IMO – this is a story that looks like it is for younger readers but which, in fact, has much broader appeal and potential. 

Promoted by the publisher as being written by “author and parent with intimate experience of neurodivergence“,  it can indeed, be a story about embracing your different way of thinking and viewing the world but it could be applied to any form of difference whether that be having red hair and glasses in a world that valued voluptuous blondes; having different beliefs and traditions, speaking a different language, wearing different clothes, eating different foods or any of the myriad of other differences that make us unique as individuals. Do we really need to be under the same umbrella?  And what happens when those who do fit and are sheltering under that umbrella lift it and see what life in the rain can be like?  From first turn of the cover where the reader sees all sorts of individual children out in the rain, some with the protection of an umbrella and many without to the final endpage of all being gathered together under the arc of the multi-coloured rainbow this is a celebration of diversity, discovery and inclusion that will resonate widely.

But beyond that, there is also a story of the emotions of being the person who is “different”.  How do they cope with the pressure of feeling the need to fit in?  How do they manage their emotions when they realise that even if they turn themselves upside down, they don’t? What is it like to feel invisible and unheard? How do those under the umbrella project their feelings, consciously or not, and how does that projection impact their ‘target”? Why do they feel the need for the umbrella’s protection? What might happen if they step out from under? How much courage does it take to be the first to step out from the umbrella, perhaps risking the wrath of those who stay, and acknowledge the ‘outsider’? What rainbows to see and puddles to stomp in might they find? Conversely, how much courage does it take to be the ‘outsider’ and question whether you need to fit under the umbrella and ultimately deciding you don’t?  Examining such questions helps build emotional intelligence and empathy as young students begin to learn to put themselves in another’s shoes, and view things through different lenses. Penguin NZ has compiled a short list of other books with a similar theme that together with this one, might help reduce the level of anxiety and bullying that seems to be so prevalent. 

And taking the whole even further for older students investigating literary devices, how does this book use the umbrella as a metaphor for a much less tangible concept about the expectations of groups, communities and societies in general? 

Ideal for those who move to the beat of their own drum, as well as those who feel everyone should be in time.

 

 

The Lonely Lunch Club

Mar8
The Lonely Lunch Club

The Lonely Lunch Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lonely Lunch Club

Maddy Mara

Laura Stitzel

Affirm Kids, 2026

92pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

9781923419308

What have alien butt spiders, broken benches, and school lunch times got in common?  And how do they bring a bunch of kids together to form a new friendship group?

Why does Benji go to sit on  the worst bench in the whole school instead of playing footy, when everyone knows he always plays footy at lunchtime? And who is Mabel?

All of these questions are answered in this new story for newly independent readers that will resonate with so many who find school lunchtimes long and lonely. 

Part of a new series Your Next Read , specifically written and designed to keep emerging readers reading by offering them stories that meet their interests, written by leading Australian authors and formatted to support their growing independence, this is the first of four in the Silver category for those aged 5-8 to be released this month, with two more to be released in July while there will be stories for those 7-9 in the Gold category coming in October. 

Evolving from the popularity of  a group founded by well-respected teacher librarian Megan Daley and authors Allison Tate and Allison Rushby in 2017, the series is “specifically designed to fill the need for chapter books that strike a balance between child satisfaction and parental approval” so that parents can “find the right ‘good book’ for your kid at the right time”.  For the school setting, there are teachers’ notes aligned to the Australian Curriculum available for each book, but, more importantly, there are also supports to empower the reader to identify their own next read with  some questions to help them determine the genre they like to read – Mystery Master, Family Favourite, Animal Ally or Spooky Seeker – as well as icons to colour to narrow the choices down, and these icons are also a feature of the cover of each book,  For example, The Lonely Lunch Club features the icons for friendship, school and funny books immediately summarising its thrust while the teachers’ notes  not only encourage exploration of the story itself, but how what has been learned could be applied more widely, such as establishing a Buddy Bench for their school, taking leadership and ownership of the entire project, with all the academic and social skills that would entail.

Create a Buddy Bench for your school

Create a Buddy Bench for your school

While there are any number of stories and series that support younger readers as they transition from reading instruction to reading independence, IMO you can never have too many that are built on sound educational pedagogy and written and produced with the readers’ needs explicitly in mind.  This series deserves a prominent place in the Select-a-Series section of the library collection. 

 

 

A Dash of Adventure

Feb24
A Dash of Adventure

A Dash of Adventure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Dash of Adventure

Julie Williams & Mitch Oates

Caroline Keys

Little Steps, 2025

32pp.,. hbk., RRP $a26.99

9781923306424

Going to the supermarket for groceries is hardly the most exciting way to spend your time, especially if you’re in a wheelchair . 

BUT, if you  have a big brother with a healthy, lively imagination who helps you see your wheelchair as a tractor, and the supermarket aisles as a farm, then it can be a whole lot more fun. 

Co-author Mitch Oates lives with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and this story reflects his belief that his disability is not a limitation but rather “an opportunity to discover things in my own unique way.”  Through Millie, he and Julie, his support worker and best friend, want to show that kids are kids regardless of their circumstances and they just want to have fun, even if that means exploring the world from a new perspective.  How much more fun is shopping when the fruit aisle is an orchard and the dairy shelves a busy farm?   It’s about possibilities rather than limitations, and hopefully will open up conversations around inclusion and connections,  and anyone can make the ordinary extraordinary. Just as importantly, it is one of a few books that has the main character in a wheelchair  – others might include such kids in the illustrations but seldom in the lead role – and so it is an opportunity for others like Millie to see themselves in a story -we can never underestimate how self-affirming that is.

This is a joyful celebration of inclusion and teaching notes to further discussion and understanding are available. 

Oh Brother

Feb21
Oh Brother

Oh Brother

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh Brother

Georgina Chadderton

Penguin, 2026

288pp., graphic novel, RRP $A19.99

9781761046346

A brief glance at the blurb of this debut graphic novel suggests it is a situation that will resonate with many students… 

New house.  New school.  New best friend?  For a nervous kid who doesn’t like change, it’s a lot to deal with.

But there the comparison ends for most because this is not just another story about such a familiar situation, particularly at this time of the year. Subtitled “a graphic memoir” it is the real-life story of Gina, the author, growing up alongside a brother with high-needs autism and an intellectual disability, including being almost non-verbal with a unique way of communicating with his family,  at a time when autism was scarcely understood by lay people, let alone accepted as a genuine disability.  Even though great strides had been made in schools, children like Rob were seen as the “naughty” children, confrontational, disruptive and therefore unaccepted and isolated from “normal” children.  

So while it’s tough enough for Gina to transition to high school in a new neighbourhood where neither she nor her brother’s needs are known, and all the changes that that brings, without the additional challenges of puberty, having a brother who “causes chaos” adds another dimension. Although the need for strict routines, and locks on doors and cupboards to keep Rob safe and as balanced as possible are normal for Gina, the situation is strange for those outside of the family and so making friends and participating in commonplace events is not easy for her. 

Told in comic format which is Chadderton’s preferred medium to express herself, it explores her childhood in Adelaide and the impact living with Rob has, but rather than being dramatic and self-centred, its purpose is to educate and advocate for understanding, tolerance and acceptance, and, in the process, not only gives others in similar circumstances a voice, but also says, “You are seen and understood.” Explanations for such things as Rob’s meltdowns and what to do when one happens are sensitively addressed in the context of the characters’ conversations as well as cartoons which clearly explain the signs to look for such as hunched shoulders, fingers in his ears and “the air feels electric”. Yet, rather than frustration, there is a strong undertone of love, joy,  resilience and it-is-what-it-is.

Author’s notes explain her purpose and that while, on the whole, it is true, memories can be fickle and change with time and perception. We learn where Rob is now, and also that Gina, too, was diagnosed on the Spectrum at 32, but although she suspected that she might have been, that hasn’t influenced her story-telling.

Usually, books for upper primary plus students would be passed on to reviewers for that age group because the focus of this blog is stories to encourage younger children to read, but this is such an important one that achieves what the author set out to do so well – educate, advocate, and give a voice to others in a similar situation – that it needs to be as widely shared as possible.  One to add to the collection and let all the other Ginas read. 

Ginger’s Courage

Nov26
Ginger's Courage

Ginger’s Courage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ginger’s Courage

Lynsey Patterson

Angela Perrini

Little Steps, 2025

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781923306042

Ginger the dog loves playing football with her two friends, a kelpie and a terrier, playing every day regardless of the weather.  She has developed remarkable skills over time, kicking, dribbling, heading the ball and defending the goal.  But one day, when she is more intent on the ball than the traffic she has an accident that results in a leg being amputated, and for months she lies in her bed, getting more and more disconsolate convincing herself she will never get to play again.  Until the day she at last got up and went to the park and saw another little dog, also with only three legs, who seemed to be having lots of fun regardless of the missing leg…

This is a story that may well resonate with some children who have had to suffer major setbacks in their lives, have fallen into a funk of “Poor me” and are having trouble seeing a brighter future.  Like Ginger it is natural to grieve for lost dreams and aspirations, and the grief can overwhelm the ability to set new ones, particularly for young people who live in the here and now, without the experience to appreciate the old adage that “life goes on.”  So perhaps they will draw strength from Ginger’s story that they are not alone with a disability or whatever catastrophe has befallen them, that they can accept and love their new self,  and find a workaround that with persistence and perseverance, pulls them back into friendships and fun again.  So that while they might not be kicking goals in the way they envisaged, they are kicking them in their own way. They are not defined by their disability, but rather the courage it takes to get back up and try again.  Just as Ginger’s new team embraces others with different abilities, disabilities, strengths and challenges, so too can they find acceptance and inclusion and extend that to others. 

Written in rhyme that bounces along, with energetic and empathetic illustrations, I shared this with my preschoolers during my weekly story-sharing session and while they responded positively to it, a couple of the sharp-eyed budding football players remarked that the ball was the wrong shape.  It should be round if it is going to be dribbled and headed, they told me, and “that shape doesn’t roll like soccer ball.” Out of the mouths of babes…

That aside, there are extensive teachers’ notes aligned to the Australian curriculum available to explore the story further with young readers. 

 

 

 

 

The Cockatoo Crew (series)

Nov7
The Cockatoo Crew (series)

The Cockatoo Crew (series)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cockatoo Crew (series)

Elif’s Itchy Palm

9781760803148

Sambu Won’t Grow 

9781760803155

Lora Inak

Kruti Desai

UWAP, 2025

90pp., pbk., RRP $A15.99

As this school year draws to a close, we all recognise the gamut of feelings some students are experiencing as they face a move to a new school, whether it’s because it’s the natural next step in their education, family circumstances or something else that is uprooting them from their comfort zone. Anticipation, expectation, trepidation, anxiety, fear  – all underpinned by the common concern about will they be liked and will they make friends.  Then compound those feelings by being in a new country, knowing no one except your family and scarcely speaking a word of English.  All you know are the few words you learned in school in Türkiye and yet, here you are, in a new country, quieter, greener, wider, bigger  and cleaner than what you are used to with no familiar sights, sounds or smells .

It’s Elif’s first day at Cockatoo Hill English Language School and despite her dede reassuring her that it won’t be long before she feels she belongs, Elif is very nervous.  She meets her special helper who speaks both Turkish and English and who will be by her side at school helping her until she has the confidence to cope but how long will that be? And then she meets the Cockatoo Crew, her eight classmates each from a different part of the world, and each with different beliefs, perspectives and stories. Could these be the friends she has been craving?

This is the first in this new series that is for those who are newly independent readers, whether they are like Elif and just mastering this new language, or just mastering reading or both,  And from the get-go where the front pages greet you with a range of “portraits’ of kids welcoming you in their own language, you know that this is going to be a stand-above series because it is filling a gap in the collection by putting the reader directly into the shoes of Elif and Sambu and the others so they can view the world through the lens of those not born here, who don’t speak the language, are unfamiliar with the food and games, and don’t necessarily understand  the quirky things that Australians do.  Yet, at the same time as learning to appreciate the challenges such children face, it is soon clear through the stories that despite the differences all children share the same hopes, aspirations and fears.  Elif is worried that she has lost the special $2 coin here dede gave her; Sambu that even though he is about to be 10 he is not tall  like his Kenyan Massai Warrior ancestors… And just as the English-speaking child learns that, so too, the non-English speaking child sees a story about themselves and their first experiences as they put their foot in the door of the Introductory English Centre for the first time… and learn that you do not have to be the same as everyone else to fit in and belong.  

With all the supports these children need, including familiar characters and situations, uncomplicated storylines,  shorter chapters, larger fonts and plenty of illustrations to illuminate unfamiliar concepts and vocabulary, the production crew has nailed the formatting, while the critical issue of a well–written, engaging story remains central.

Throughout my time in schools, including an IEC, and particularly on a gazillion playground duties,  if I’ve learned anything, it is that despite any differences they might have on the surface, kids will find a work-around so they can play together, enjoy each other’s company, and have fun.  Everything else is irrelevant because after all, we all smile in the same language.  And this series captures that perfectly, making it a must-have in any school where there is anyone from elsewhere who needs some support and reassurance – with the language or otherwise.  

A simple way to welcome all out students and their families - the kids had to dress themselves in one of the variations of our school uniform! The chatter to ensure they had an original combo was exciting to eavesdrop on...

A simple way to welcome all out students and their families – the kids had to dress themselves in one of the variations of our school uniform! The chatter to ensure they had an original combo was exciting to eavesdrop on…

The Giant

Sep26
The Giant

The Giant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Giant

Sophie Masson

Lorena Carrington

MidNight Sun, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781922858658 

Deep in his cave the giant woke and stretched.  He had been asleep for so long that moss fell out of his ears, little creatures scuttled from his hair and his beard and when he yawned a passing goat got such a fright it leapt up and nearly reached the moon!!!!

But worse was to come – when the giant began to walk to town to see all his old friends, his footsteps made it feel like an earthquake rumbling and the people fled in fear.  He had been asleep so long that no one remembered him! They didn’t recall him as being friendly and fun so they hid, which made the giant wonder why he had been gone so long, and so he began to cry.  But giant’s tears are not ordinary tears and before long, there was a river running through the town.  Until…  Because two young children recall a picture book about the giant which had portrayed him as a good friend who knew how to play, they offer a hand of friendship and acceptance in the way that kids who know no fear and accept everyone at face value, do. 

Lorena Carrington’s portrayal of the giant as a skinny ragged character contrasts with the young reader’s imagined stereotype of the huge, heavy giant, while older readers may relate him to Quentin Blake’s depiction of Dahl’s BFG  enabling them to accept that this giant may not be the menacing threat that the villagers fear, and as he and the children play together and the townspeople come out from hiding, so the giant appears to fill out more, be less rough around the edges as though knowing he hasn’t been forgotten and consigned to the memory of the picture book fulfils and softens him.  Carrington has also cleverly used a collage of photography and digital design to help little ones envisage just how big he is, perhaps inspiring lessons in vocabulary building as they discover synonyms and similes for ‘big’ and ‘small’.  There is also much to explore through the contrasting endpapers – even without reading the pages in-between, more advanced readers might like to predict what they are about to encounter. 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Just as with the award-winning Satin,  Masson and Carrington have given readers of all ages a story with so many layers to explore as well as new leads to follow as students read more stories, legends and folklore about giants and pierce the stereotype. 

Did Finn McCool really create The Giant's Causeway in Ireland?

Did Finn McCool really create The Giant’s Causeway in Ireland?