The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood

There are a lot of layers to this story. This will be a book that you do need to think about. I first read this book in May last year and after several re-readings I am still pondering some aspects of this elusive story. I do like the final images where everyone has come together to enjoy the garden. This is reminiscent of another wonderful book about a garden - Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten by Bob Graham.

When you open The Garden of Broken Things you will see a small orange cat on the front and back end papers. He or she is looking back toward the reader beckoning you to come on in. The early pages before the story begins are very important - take your time with them. On the half title page people are enjoying and restoring the garden. These are scenes from the garden in the past. On the title page there is a hint that the owner of the garden has grown older. We see her with her husband and then sitting alone.  Turning to the first page readers can see the garden in the context of the street. It is indeed overgrown and broken. The little house is falling down and it is almost engulfed by the trees that surround it. 

"Number 9 Ardent Street was a lonely place, with windows like sad eyes."

The children explore the garden but it is Sadie follows the cat and who finds the old woman.

" ... the cat found a lap. It belonged to an old woman, bent with time and weariness."

Sadie doesn't ask questions. She just sits beside the woman and talks about her day and her school and she even reads her home reader "with lots of expression". Sadie stays late into the evening sitting beside the lady and as night falls the lady seems to "come back to life". 

"The woman's hand was warm, and her skin felt like paper."

Sadie is reunited with her parents who presumably have been searching for her. Then we have a stark white page. Is this meant to signify heaven? We see the woman with her head lifted up in her pale coat and then on the next page she is gone. Did the touch of kindness shown by Sadie allow the woman to move on? Was she waiting for this small human connection or perhaps waiting for permission to leave?

I haven’t made it clear what happens to the woman. Stories without a clear ending, that leave you thinking, always appeal to me. So there are plenty of gaps in the illustrations and text where readers can make assumptions. I’ve had quite a few adults ask me if there’s been a printing error on the page where the old woman is looking upwards and surrounded by white. It was planned that way! Freya Blackwood

Take a look at the annotation by our National Centre for Australian Children's Literature. Here is a quote: "Led by the cat, Sadie goes deeper into the garden and finds a little old lady, still in her dressing gown, asleep on a bench. Unperturbed by her silence, Sadie chats away about her day and the things that are important to her and then reads a book to the old lady. As darkness descends, Sadie falls asleep, and it is only then that the woman stirs. The other children have already gone home, so the old lady, her mind full of fond memories, takes Sadie home to her worried parents. Her job done; she realises that she is ready to let go. But, before she does, she leaves her fabulous garden to the children of Ardent Street."

Here are the teachers notes from the publisher. I was shocked to see they say this book is for ages 3+. In my view it is a book to share and talk about with a child aged 7+. Read more here. And I have a 'meet the illustrator' post where you can see other books by Freya Blackwood. Freya discusses her book in more detail here. 

The book description tells us The Garden of Broken Things celebrates curiosity and the joy of listening. But I think this rich, layered story is about so much more – grief and loss; perception and reality; belonging; memories and honouring the past; nature; resilience; growth and transformation; and ageing. Reading Time

The transformation from the sad and lonely to the wild and joyful is a direct result of the children’s interest in, and enjoyment of, all the forgotten garden can offer. It is a subtle examination of the sometimes ignoring of the elderly and old (or broken) things, and a sound message that simply because something or someone has grown old, it does not mean that these things have become superfluous or disposable. Just so Stories

The CBCA judges in their Notables report said: The Garden of Broken Things is a poignant story about open-mindedness, curiosity and the importance of listening. Curious and open-minded, young Sadie follows a cat into a backyard and discovers an old lady seated on a bench. Through Sadie’s kindness and the power of connection, the old lady is awoken from her statue-like state. The use of figurative language coupled with the highly expressive water colour, pencil and pastel illustrations provide the reader with insights into the full range of human emotions, both light and dark. This tender story beautifully represents the power of human connection across generations and is suitable for a very broad audience from small children to adults.

Here is an interview of Freya Blackwood about her book with Joy Lawn and you can also see inside this book. 

It is interesting to ponder the name of the street chosen by Freya Blackwood. Ardent means "showing strong feelings or passionate."  

This book has been shortlisted for our CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) 2025 Awards

Here in this blog I have already talked about

A leaf called Greaf

The Truck Cat

These long-loved things

Giraffe Island by Sofia Chanfreau illustrated by Amanda Chanfreau translated by Julia Marshall

Vega lives on an island with her father. Her grandfather lives nearby. The island, when viewed from above, is shaped like a giraffe.

"there's an island shaped like a giraffe - it you look at it from above or on a map and use your imagination. It has three legs and a small tail, a large body and a long neck which ends in a head. In the middle of its body is a big lake, called Giraffe's Heart. The water in that lake is as sweet as lemonade ..."

The main town on Giraffe Island is called Capital City not because it is the capital but because the word capital means head and that's where the town is located - on the head of the giraffe. I guess you can already anticipate this will be a very inventive and imaginative story. 

Vega has a special gift. She can see all sorts of fantastical animals. Her father cannot see them but luckily she shares this gift with her grandfather and he has lots of these creatures in his wonderful garden. Her father likes things to be organised and he strictly keeps to a routine - even with the sequence of their meals and he won't answer any questions about her absent mother. Verga can read his moodsby looking at his eyebrows. When they eat dinner together he draws a chalk circle around the table (this seems very curious) and he always sings a special goodnight song but just lately all of these routines have changed after a strange woman arrives. Everything about her feels cold. There's even ice forming beside her white car. Verga used to share all her school news with her father every night. She has just been given a letter from a pen pal and she is so excited about all the possibilities of a new friend but her father is so changed, and he seems so distracted that she decides it might be better not to tell him. 

At least Vega can talk to her Grandfather Hector (even though he also won't talk about her mother). On her visit Vega hears something moving under the blueberry bushes and then a boy emerges. His name is Nelson and he also goes to her school. They are in different classrooms side by side and their teacher Ms Hum runs between the two rooms to teach both groups. (I love this idea and the classroom names are also very different). Nelson is a collector and he has a special book where he keeps notes of his curious discoveries. He also carries an old tape recorder and he uses it to record laughter. He has 33 laughs in his collection.

"There was something about Nelson that made Vega want to tell him everything. He was like a hungry puppy, pouncing on everything and gobbling it up. Like a waterfall that never stopped. He never frowned when he explained something like the other children at school. And there were no clouds above his head either."

Together Vega and Nelson begin collecting facts. Vega's pen pal lives with a circus troupe. Vega's grandfather Hector seems to have a connection with circuses. They closely examine an old photo of Vega's mum and find more hints. Then Vega and Nelson they decide they need to make the journey to the mainland because Janna, the pen pal, and her circus will be performing there. Vega has never taken the long ferry trip across the open sea but there is no need to worry because Hector has the most amazing car called a Muffinmobile. Yes it does make muffins, but it can also travel on land and on the water. The journey is wild but they do arrive at the circus eventually. That is great but Dad and Viola (that freezing cold woman) have followed them. Vega is sure she will uncover the truth about her mother and her past by asking questions at the circus but they have to hurry and so far none of the performers, interviewed mainly by Nelson, seem able to help.

You have already worked out this is a quirky book. The lake tastes like lemonade. In the town where Vega lives there are a number of disused factories. Think about these hamsters!

"Many of the buildings' windows were broken and you could glimpse old, rusted machines inside that no one knew how to use anymore. Rats and voles had built nests inside the furnace and control rooms, and escaped hamsters used gears and old conveyor belts as exercise equipment."

I love the names of the animals invented for this book: frudbimbles, spoonlurks, fasterer, trunktoothed rumpling and fourfentipedes. The black and white art in this book is also very special - it reminded me of the drawings by Judith Rossell in her Withering-by-sea books. You can see the illustrations here. 

You can read Chapter Two here. 

There were two things that drew me to this book when I saw it on the shelf at a local book shop - Three Sparrows.  Firstly, the publisher is Gecko Press - they always deliver fabulous books. Secondly when I saw the words "winner of the Finlandia Junior prize" on the back cover I knew this was a translated book. If you think about book translation, especially of a novel like this with over 200 pages, the book has to be worth this process. I have no language skills but I can appreciate that it must take hours and hours to translate a book - maintaining more than the words - keeping the spirit and essence of the story. Read more about the translation of this book here. This book originally comes from Sweden.  I have included the cover at the bottom of this post. When I see a book has been translated I usually discover a fabulous story - that is certainly true of Giraffe Island. 

I highly, highly recommend Giraffe Island. It would be a perfect book to read aloud to your child or to a Grade 4 or 5 class. 

This is the first children’s novel for primary and Intermediate readers that I have read for at least a year and I can assure you that you will not read a better story this year. It is a fantasy adventure mystery story with a dose of magic thrown in. ... Once you start will will not put it down. Bobs Books Blog

Full of magical realism, this story is fun to read, fascinating to look at and will capture your imagination. This is a book that is all about family, love and friendship. Giraffe Island was the winner of the Finlandia Junior Prize and was nominated for the Nordic Council Children’s Young People’s Literature Prize. It deserves a place on your bookshelf and in your heart; it is a truly magical read and I am so glad that I got to read it. Just Imagine

Publisher blurb: Far away in the middle of the sea there is an island shaped like a giraffe. Nine-year-old Vega lives there with her father and grandfather—a gardener and former ringmaster. Their shed—the Paraphenalium—is filled with every possible thing you didn’t know you needed. Vega’s bathroom is home to a gray bear with shampoo-lathered fur, and every day she talks with the asphalt beaver and crosswalk zebra on the way to school. Her best friend is Nelson, who observes things others don’t notice and keeps a notebook of mysteries and facts. Vega and Nelson set out to save Vega’s father and find her mother in a search that leads them to a unique circus and unexpected answers.

Companion book:

The What on Earth Institute of Wonder

Odder: An Otter's story by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Charles Santoso

Many older readers will have met Odder via the verse novel with the same title by Katherine Applegate. That book has 270 pages. It is fairly easy to read because of the format but the intended audience is readers aged 9+.  Now we also have Odder: An Otter's story which is a picture book for readers aged 5+.  Huge thanks to University of Queensland Press for sending an advance copy.

Look at the cover of this new picture book - it is sure to appeal to all young readers. How can anyone resist this sweet little sea otter - she seems to be looking straight at the reader on the cover inviting you to explore her story. Then there is the added bonus that this book is a based on a true story. Children are always fascinated by true animal stories. Odder: An otter's story is a book you should certainly consider adding to your school library collection. Older readers might like to borrow the verse novel and the picture book. I would be keen to display them side by side in the library. Reading a verse novel can be quite an emotional experience. It is so impressive that, even with the pared back text, Katherine Applegate gives her readers of this picture book version beautiful insights into the emotions of little Odder.

I did a brief comparison of the two texts - of course the picture book story is very much abridged. 

Verse Novel:

page 23 "Her mother called her 'Odder' from the moment she was born. Something about the way the little pup never settled, something about the way her eyes were always full of questions."

Picture Book:

page one "They call her 'Odder' from the moment she is born. Something about the way the little pup never settles, something about the way her eyes are full of questions."

Odder is saved by humans, they teach her the skills her mother would have passed on about swimming, and grooming and eating crabs. Eventually Odder is released back into the ocean but sadly she is attacked by a shark. Luckily, she survives and is rescued again.

"This time, though, she will never go back to the ocean. The shark bite has forever changed her. She can no longer move the way she was meant to move. She can no longer play the way she was meant to play." 

But there is something important Odder can do. Another pup has been rescued. The little pup is so helpless.

"Little one,' Odder whispers, 'I will teach you how to crack open crabs, and fluff up your fur, and use your tummy as a table.' ... 'But most of all, silly minnow, I am going to teach you how to play."

Bookseller blurb: Meet Odder, the Queen of Play! She twists, darts, weaves, and rolls, leaving frothy trails behind her. Why just somersault when you can triple-doughnut? Why dive when you can dazzle? Odder spends her days playing underwater and learning from her mother, until a storm changes everything and she is rescued by humans. Based on Katherine Applegate's bestselling novel, this lyrical story, inspired by a true programme pairing orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, explores resilience, healing, and the vital role of play through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved creatures.

In the US this picture book is published by Macmillan. 

I previously read and loved Odder - the verse novel. It spent over 52 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Now University of Queensland Press have acquired the rights to Odder - the picture book edition.  Here is a quote from their Instagram page:

UQP is thrilled to announce that we've acquired the picture book edition of ‘Odder: An Otter's Story’ by Newbery Medallist Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso. Adapted from the middle-grade verse novel of the same title, the story follows a playful sea otter pup named Odder whose life is turned upside down when she is separated from her mother during a storm. It is a poetic and heartwarming tale of resilience, healing and wildlife conservation.⁠ UQP has acquired ANZ rights and will publish in May 2025.⁠

US cover

In my blog post about the original verse novel I said: The character of little Odder is sure to linger with you long after reading this warm-hearted story. I think this book would be terrific to read aloud or you could give it to any animal lover aged 9+. One powerful aspect of this storytelling is the way Katherine Applegate uses point of view. As a reader you really are right inside the head, heart and eyes of the young otter called Odder.

Here is the UK cover of the original verse novel:

UK cover

You are sure to be familiar with other splendid books by Katherine Applegate - if you click on the label assigned to this post you can read many of her other books.

Wishtree

Click here for a link to my blog post about the books in the Ivan series

Dogtown (book one); Mouse and his dog (book two)

Otto the top dog by Catherine Rayner

Otto has a terrific life and best of all he has his 'lovely comfy' cushion-soft basket. Otto is also a kind dog, and he loves to share so it seems quite natural that he would ask a friend to come over for a visit and, because they are both a little tired, Otto tells Lupin he is welcome to share his basket. 

This is of course just the beginning because Lupin tells other dogs at the park about Otto's wonderful basket. Eventually even more dogs arrive, and poor old Otto is totally squashed and unhappy. How can he solve this problem without hurting the feelings of his friends?

If you love dogs and you love endpapers you have to find this book! I can imagine spending time with your young reading companion looking closely at the face of each dog (there are over 90) talking about each dog - their breed and personality.

Publisher blurb: After Otto invites one of his friends to share his comfy basket, word quickly spreads around the neighbourhood. Soon he's sharing his cosy bed with all the dogs in the area, even taking in the local strays! Before he knows it, everyone is having the best sleep in his beloved basket: everyone, but Otto! Will Otto ever get his basket back to himself? And will he still like it if he does?

Here is a review from IBBY.uk: The illustrations are wonderful, so accurately drawn in each dog’s own body and character. A perfect book about kindness and sharing, and re-thinking what to do when things at first don’t work perfectly.

I think all primary school libraries should have at least one, but preferably more, book by Catherine Rayner. Her art is amazing yes, but her stories also always have another deeper layer of meaning such as the themes in this book about kindness, sharing, and problem solving. You can see a few pages inside this book here. My friend is crazy about her dog - she is sure to love this book because one of the dogs from the park is named Bentley! With your class you could make a list of all the dog names from this book and then make a list of pets and their names from your class. This book was published in 2024 and the hardcover is only AUS$27 but many of Catherine Rayner's books are now available in paperback. 

Pop the name Catherine Rayner into my side bar or 

click her name on the labels for this post to read more about some of these books.

100 Outstanding Picture Books 2025 Bologna Children's Book fair

 

Nearly all of the books on this list are not yet translated into English and many most probably will not make our Australian market but I found all the different covers, titles and subjects fascinating and in some cases these were books I wish I could read right now! Visitors at the recent Bologna Children's Book Fair are sure to have seen many of these books. Here is the link to the list of 100.  I have put a few examples below. I stumbled across this list because Britta Teckentrup posted photos from Bologna where she was proudly showing her book written by the Hans Christian Andersen award winning author Cao Wenxuan from China. 

Skimming through the100 Outstanding Picture Books page (luckily the titles are presented in English) you will see some BIG names - Julie Flett; Eva Lindstrom; Armin Greder; and Serge Bloch. Do you see any other names you recognise?

Here are four of the books that I hope I can see some time in the future. I asked Britta Teckentrup (on Instagram) about this book and she said the rights were being negotiated. The world of book rights in a mystery to me.

The Little Cicada and the Old Ox (China)

by Cao Wenxuan and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup

Publisher blurb (German site): When a cicada saves the life of an old, stubborn ox, a lifelong friendship takes its beginning, as from that day on, the two are inseparable. Often, the cicada rests on an apple tree but even more often, it lands on one of the horns of the old ox or on his back and accompanies him to the meadow on the bank of the river. They spend all of their time together until the cicada has to leave this world … The old ox promises to watch over the cicada’s children. After the larva’s have gone underground (like cicadas are known to do), the old ox stands guard by the apple tree, day and night, year after year. And one night, the little cicadas finally emerge from the earth and climb up the apple tree, one by one. The old ox watches them and marvels and can’t get enough of them. But at some point, his eyes close. Perhaps he has fallen asleep. Or maybe he is already on his way to heaven, looking for his little cicada …

For a Thousand Blouses a Day (Italy)

Text: Serena Ballista

Illustrations: Sonia Maria Luce Possentini

The jury said: Deeply emotional and personal historical account of New York’s worst ever industrial accident. Evocative storytelling using the garment as a narrative voice to guide the reader through themes of migration, workers’ rights, the oppression of women and the exploitation of human capital. The highly emotive cover image, combined with a poignant title draws the reader in, the artwork combines witness statements, archive references and exploits a graphic novel/picture book format. The expressive, black and white imagery articulates the tragic and painful subject matter, evolving into a beautiful dedication to our heroine Rose.

Nobody but Me (Sweden)

Text and illustrations: Sara Lundberg

The jury said: Lyrical, magical, fantastical, dreamlike and at the same time intimate, symbolic, sentimental and universal, this book bewitched the judges. Thick with tributes to the greats of literature and art, from Matisse to Sendak, from the painting of Rousseau to contemporary illustration, Sara Lundberg’s book combines a perfect use of different compositional registers with a rich and varied page layout. The images describe an imaginative and poignant educational journey that crosses realistic and imaginary places and landscapes, encountering dangers as well as magical helpers. Floating on the surface of the river, condensing a great adventure into a short space of time, expanding the space of their own autonomy through adventure, the central character and the author invite us to witness the magic of a perfect childhood novel.

The Walk of the Field Mouse

by Nadine Robert illustrated by Valerio Vidali

Bookseller blurb: One morning, out for one of its usual walks, a field mouse discovers something rather unusual: a mysterious blue object sitting at the foot of a big rock. As a group of animals gather to carefully inspect the object, they realize that a robin's egg has rolled down from its nest all the way at the top. Wondering who will roll it back up, the field mouse quickly volunteers, only to be met with laughter and mockery from its fellow animals. The field mouse, spurred on by a determination to prove them wrong, musters all of its strength to take on the Sisyphean task-but will it succeed?

Here is the Kirkus Star review.

Inclusive Book Awards

IBC, a literary charity whose free website makes it easy for families, librarians and teachers to source books to diversify their bookshelves. Now in their second year, the awards span three categories focusing on diverse titles for younger readers: baby & toddler books (for ages one to three), picture books (for ages three to seven) and highly illustrated children’s fiction (for ages five to nine).

Here is the winner and one of the shortlisted titles for 2025:

Two People Can, created by an award-winning Zimbabwean poet and British illustrator, explores loss, change and family, capturing the emotions of a mother and child in a deeply affecting way. 

Blurb: Shingai's father has gone and Shingai and his mum are all alone and feeling lost. Shingai can’t contain the whirlwind of emotions inside him any more. He needs to let his feelings out.

Shingai is grieving his father, and his grief comes out as anger. He smashes the flowers in the garden and then begins to 'attack' things in the house. At first mum is so upset with him but then she realises her son needs to express his grief so in a beautiful moment she completely changes her reaction and grabs two boxes of cereal, and she shakes their contents all over the floor. Then mum sits down and cries. Shingai runs outside because seeing his mum crying is just too much. Under some bushes he sees two flowers still standing tall - these flowers escaped his earlier rampage. 

"Dad is gone but we're the two flowers left, and we still have each other."

Publisher blurb: Aminah's life is full of warmth and joy, from days spent in the golden sunshine eating juicy mangoes, to evenings curled up reading adventure stories with her grandfather, Da. But one day, Aminah is told she'll be leaving with her parents for their very own adventure, one that will take her away from Da and the sunny comforts of the life she's known . . .

Aminah moves to a completely different country - it looks like the UK. Her old home was filled with colours especially lots of yellow but this new place is cold and dull and so sad. Her grandfather is full of encouragement. He cannot be with them but they can talk on the phone and he is sure Aminah will find her colour again. She sees a beautiful yellow coat in a shop. It is perfect for a game in the snow and that is where Aminah finds a new friend. 

It would be great to pair this with our Australian book:

Here are the 2025 shortlisted titles:

Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green and Francis Martin

Strong Like Me by Kelechi Okafor and Michaela Dias-Hayes

Terrible Horses by Raymond Antrobus and Ken Wilson-Max

Two People Can by Blessing Musariri and Maisie Paradise Shearring

Until You Find the Sun by Maryam Hassan and Anna Wilson

Destiny Ink: Sleepover Surprise by Adeola Sokunbi

Keisha Jones Is a Force of Nature by Natalie Denny and Chanté Timothy

Marv and the Humongous Hamster by Alex Falase-Koya and Paula Bowles

Secret Beast Club: The Mer-People of Crystal Pier by Robin Birch and Jobe Anderson

You can find the 2024 shortlisted picture book titles and Fiction for ages 6-9. One of them was this one:

Budgie

The IBC web page has an extensive collection of their favourite titles. These lists go on for over 50 pages so set aside some time to explore these terrific suggestions. Here are a few that I would love to read:

Kirkus review

Higher Ground publisher blurb: After a great flood swallows their city, a wise grandmother, her two grandchildren, and their pet rabbit find themselves stranded on the only safe place left—the rooftop of their home. With nothing but their small garden and a handful of supplies, they must learn to survive in a world where the familiar streets have turned to endless water. Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, as they face hunger, storms, and the uncertainty of what lies beyond the horizon. But through each hardship, the grandmother shares words of wisdom, teaching her grandchildren the power of resilience, kindness, and hope. As their garden grows, so too does their belief that even in the darkest times, life finds a way forward.

Publisher blurb: This is the lyrical true tale of the author’s refugee journey with her family from Vietnam to the United Kingdom at just three years old, leaving home behind to set out in a tiny boat, first down a muddy river delta and then across the vastness of the sea. Spare, intimate, and rooted in specific history yet also profoundly universal, Chi Thai’s story is a reflection of crossings made daily in all corners of the world by families like hers who brave hunger, thirst, fear, and uncertainty in search of safety and a place to call home. With poetic text and warm, child-friendly illustrations from artist Linh Dao, this is the story of one remarkable family’s courage and resilience.

Bookseller blurb: Lots of people look after Fatima and her friends at the children's home, but Aunty Rae always makes Fatima feel special and loved. Even as the other children leave with their new parents, Aunty Rae encourages and cares for Fatima, filling her life with warmth and hope. Through the uncertainty and disappointments, Aunty Rae is a constant support. Together, Fatima and Aunty Rae look out at the bright North Star and dream of Fatima's happy future with a family waiting for her somewhere. But the brightest light in Little Fatima's life is her Aunty Rae, her bright shining star.

Bookseller blurb: Juhi loves helping her Appa sell flowers to the local community. In Appa's flower shop, Juhi knows the language of love - lilies for adoration, irises for hugs and kisses. She knows the language of faith - frangipani for full moon days, red hibiscus for the temple. But when her Appa tells her that her favourite customer has passed away, she does not know the language of grief. While Appa makes a bouquet of lilies and orchids to bring to Mr Potter's funeral, Juhi decides to make him one final bouquet of her own. What flowers will she choose to remember a man who was always so full of life?

Publisher blurb: Bibi and Mo love to watch the first swallows arriving home to their lake in the summer. But soon, just like the swallows, Bibi has to go north for work. He tells Mo to think of him flying with the birds, and just like the swallows, when summer comes again, he will journey across the cities, oceans, grasslands and jungle, and over the tops of the mountains back to Mo.

Publisher blurb: Eunny wakes up slowly. She gets out of bed, goes to the window to look out at the busy street, and then heads downstairs. Soon it's time for school. Eunny and Mama step out into the crisp day, but they don't rush. They notice the pretty pink petals of new flowers, the changing red-gold leaves and the big blue sky above. It's easy to be happy on a blue sky morning.

A Happy Place by Britta Teckentrup

"A little star shines brightly through the bedroom window. It shines down on a sleepless mind, spinning with restless thoughts. Follow me, whispers the star, 
and I will help you to find a happy place."

This book begs to be read aloud with words like tippy-toed squirrel, bushy-tailed fox, long-eared hare and starry-eyed stoats. Perfect for a preschool group or a young reading companion aged 4+.

In a few months I will be talking to a small group of local Teacher-Librarians. One of the things I want to share is the importance of sharing the BEST picture books from around the world both for their stories but even more for the way picture books give children of all ages (from youngest up to young adult) an experience of some of the best art in the world.

Nighttime is one of Teckentrup’s specialties, and this gently soothing tale is no exception; it’s sure to have little ones on their way to the sweetest of dreams in no time. Dreamlike, quiet, delightful. Kirkus

A Happy Place is another triumph by Britta Teckentrup and her artwork provides a perfect backdrop to the text. It is calm and comforting, full of nature and little details that can be pored over and explored. Just Imagine

Hopefully you have one or two books in your school library illustrated by Britta Teckentrup. Her art is simply incredible. A Happy Place has flaps and die-cut pages so I was amazed to discover it is not too expensive in paperback [9781838916596]. Pop the name Britta Teckentrup into my side bar or click the label on this post to see more of her books.

The Bridges by Tom Percival

With busy parents and no books in her life Mia lives in a grey sad world. Then one day a kind person leaves a book on her doorstep. If you look closely you can see the giver of this gift. Mia begins to read her new book and the world opens up. There are adventures and colours and new friends and best of all she has something wonderful to share.

Publisher blurb: Mia feels alone; so alone that it's as if she lives on a small island, far out to sea. But then one day, Mia is given a book - the first she has ever been able to call her own. As Mia reads the book, bridges appear and her island fills with colour and life. And the more Mia reads, the stronger the bridges become, opening up a world of connection and hope...  Because a book can take you anywhere...

See inside The Bridges here. 

This is a book you could use as a jumping off point to talk about the 2025 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week slogan.

Here are some review comments about The Bridges:

This is a must for every book corner and would be a great read-aloud for Years 1 and 2. With older children, I can see it being used as a start of term stimulus for a wider project about books and reading. It would elicit some interesting discussions about the metaphor of the bridges and islands. What would you find on the islands you visit through reading? Just Imagine

The illustrations connect the reader closely with the child in the book, moving the colour palette from sombre greys at the start to sharper, bright colours as Mia begins to cross the bridges. Books for Keeps

Tom Percival uses the metaphor of bridges throughout the book to demonstrate how reading, words and books can lead us to new worlds and can help us to make incredible connections. Mia follows bridges which grow stronger the more she reads. She visits magical worlds, discovers new facts and makes friendships all because of the power of reading. Now a confident, volitional reader, Mia knows how to help others who look lost and alone – she offers her book to them and continues to build even more bridges. Books for Topics

Look for these other splendid books by Tom Percival:

The Invisible; The River; The Sea Saw

Frank and Bert book series by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

 

Chris’s superb colour pencil scenes exude energy, humour and pathos, perfectly capturing the changing emotions of his larger-than-life characters.  Red Reading Hub

Back in 2022 I talked about the first book from this series. This week I spied another and then made the wonderful and surprising discovery that Frank and Bert - the one where Bert plays football - is actually the fourth book. I am a huge fan of Chris Naylor-Ballesteros. 

Here is the blurb for each of these titles:

Frank and Bert: Frank and Bert are the best of friends and they LOVE to play hide and seek. But Bert the bear isn’t quite as good at hiding as he thinks he is . . . and Frank ALWAYS wins! Every. Single. Time.

But when it’s Bert’s turn to hide, and Frank has to decide between winning again OR making his friend happy, Frank learns that friendship is always the true winner. (Read the Kirkus review)

Frank and Bert: The One where Bert Learns to Ride a Bike: Bert isn’t very good at riding a bike. Here’s what happens. It always starts well, but then Bert wibble-wobbles all over the place, until . . . Oops! Whoops! Ouch! Do you see what I mean? Bert is CERTAIN he can ride his bike as well as Frank, but he is very wobbly! And even when they BOTH try riding Frank’s bike . . . it still goes very wrong! Will the best friends make it all the way down from the big hill? Of course! All they need is a little bit of confidence and trust in each other! (Read the Kirkus review)

Frank and Bert: The One with the Missing Biscuits: Frank and Bert are off for a picnic in the countryside. And Bert has brought a delicious surprise! But when he falls asleep, Frank can’t resist taking a peek . . . WOW! Bert has made Frank’s FAVOURITE biscuits! Surely, he won’t mind if Frank eats one . . . or two . . . or three . . . (Read the Kirkus review)

Frank and Bert: The One where Bert Plays Football: Meet Frank and Bert. They LOVE football and Frank is teaching Bert everything he knows . . . until Barbara turns up, the local football legend, and Frank drops everything to play with her. Poor old Bert. But when Frank finds himself in trouble, it’s Bert, his BFF, who is always there for him . . .

The glorious coloured-pencil illustrations are bursting with energy, expression and humour, and perfectly encapsulate the emotions of each character. Funny and heart-warming, this gem of a picture book demonstrates the importance of always being there for your friends. Book Trust

These should all be added to your primary school library. They are perfect discussion starters when you are talking about friends and friendships and kindness. 

The end papers in "The one where Bert plays football" are patterned like footballs (or soccer balls as we might call them here in Australia) in a vibrant hot pink. Frank is trying to teach Bert how to play but Bert either kicks the ball way too far or he trips over it. Then along comes Barbara and we have the classic story trope - twos company threes a crowd. To make matters worse Barbara is a football champion. In fact the book and Frank both say she's "the greatest football player IN THE WORLD." Frank is in heaven - Barbara wants to play with him! but this means he ignores his old friend. In an interesting twist this time it is the famous Barbara who kicks the ball high into a tree. Perhaps even soccer stars can miscalculate their kicking. Frank climbs the tree but:

"I'm a bit scared of heights, and I wish Bert was here, and I wish I hadn't gone off with Barbara, and I wish I hadn't ignored Bert, and if only I'd been a better friend."

At this point it would be good to just pause and let these words sink in. Is there a way for Frank and Bert to find each other again? And what about Barbara should she be allowed to join their game? And does it make any difference that Barbara is a girl soccer player?

I am not a sport fan, but I do love the way Chris Naylor-Ballesteros shows in this book that every position in a team is important. Not in an unkind way, but I cheered when Bert showed Barbara he also has soccer skills - it would be great to have him on your team!

I found an online seller with each of these titles for around AUS$20 each - which is a really good price for a set of books that are sure to be popular with readers and teachers. 

I previously adored this book by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros:

The Suitcase

International Children's Book Day 2025

For International Children's Book Day 2025 IBBY Australia have made a video to showcase the work of seven Australian organisations whose work matches the mission statements of IBBY:

Mission

• to promote international understanding through children's books
• to give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books with high literary and artistic standards
• to encourage the publication and distribution of quality children's books, especially in developing countries
• to provide support and training for those involved with children and children's literature
• to stimulate research and scholarly works in the field of children's literature
• to protect and uphold the Rights of the Child according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Here is a link to the video

When you watch our video you can elect to view it with and without subtitles.

Thank you to all the organisations who participated in our video - learn more about each of them from these links:

• National Centre for Australian Children's Literature NCACL
• The Literature Centre Western Australia
• Book Links Queensland
• The Indigenous Literacy Foundation ILF
• The Australian Children's Laureate Foundation ACLF
• The Children's Book Council of Australia CBCA