Myra in the Middle by Seetha Dodd illustrated by Peter Cheong

Think about the expression cup half full or cup half empty. Myra feels as though her cup in empty. Her new baby brother has just arrived so now she is the middle kid.

"I've been the youngest member of the Menon family for seven years and nine months. So, for a minute I'm confused. Then I realise she means Zeeshan, of course. He's the youngest one now. Anya's the oldest child, but she's always been the oldest. It's only me who has to change."

You can see Myra on the cover playing soccer (football). Her parents are distracted with the new baby but they do give permission for Myra to try out for the team.

"Grace is a striker, so she will get to score the goals. April is a goalkeeper, so she must stop the other team from scoring. My heart goes THUMP THUMP THUMP. What about me? Where an I going to be?"

The coach, Mr Ellis, sends her to the middle.

"Nothing exciting happens in the middle of a soccer pitch. All I do is get the ball and pass it to Grace."

The third issue is school. Myra feels invisible and her teacher confirms this by always mixing her up with another classmate. I cheered when Myra finally found her voice and calmly wrote her name on the white board after solving a maths problem. AND the teacher was so gracious with her response too.

Myra makes a list - There are so many bad things about being in the middle - squashed in the back seat of the car with no window to look out of; ignored like piggy in the middle; invisible like the hole of a doughnut; and lost like in the middle of nowhere. I really enjoyed the way Myra set out her concerns in little tables and Venn diagrams. 

Luckily for Myra, her grandmother Muthashi lives with the family. She is so wise and she is a listener. I loved the way she used a simple cream filled biscuit to show Myra just how important the middle can be!

Soccer fans will enjoy chapters 18 and 19 which describe the match you may have anticipated from the cover. This book is easy to read with larger print, 167 illustrated pages and a fast paced honest story about fitting in and change and family. This book will be enjoyed by readers aged 7+. 

Thanks to UQP for sending me a review copy of Myra in the Middle. 

Publisher blurb: Seven-year-old Myra likes maths, football and things staying the same. She lives with her mum, dad, Muthashi (grandma) and big sister, Anya. Her world flips upside down when her family welcomes a new baby. Myra is now a middle child – and everyone knows middle kids always get forgotten. On top of that, Myra tries out for the school’s soccer team, only to be put in the midfield. She can’t show off her skills when nothing exciting ever happens there! What will it take for Myra to feel marvellous in the middle?

A heartfelt story for readers aged 5 to 8 about speaking up for yourself (and others!) and standing out – not by being the loudest, but by being yourself. Readings

Myra’s handwritten wordplay and puzzles; the generous use of white space; and appealing black-and-white line drawings by Peter Cheong all contribute to the text being inviting to a newly confident reader. ... This book will have broad appeal to children aged 6-8, particularly children from migrant families who will be excited to see themselves in the funny, thoughtful, chatty character of Myra. Storylinks

Large print and line spacing make Myra in the Middle a great book for young readers moving from junior novels up to longer chapter books. Myra loves maths and uses it to sort day to day problems, showing readers that Maths is present in everyday life, not just the classroom. What book Next

Seetha Dodd is an emerging children’s author who loves wordplay, humorous rhyme and lyrical prose. Her fiction has been published in The School Magazine and in print and audio anthologies by Spineless Wonders and Hunter Writers’ Centre. Drawing on her Malaysian–Indian heritage, and themes of family, identity and belonging, Seetha writes stories that empower children to challenge stereotypes and to celebrate uniqueness in all forms. She lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her husband and three children. Myra in the Middle is her debut novel. 

Rosa by Starlight by Hilary McKay

Such is the power of a story like Rosa by Starlight I had to keep putting this book down to take a break because I was so worried about young Rosa. Her despicable aunt and uncle most certainly mean to harm her. Yes I do mean murder her!

When Rosa was four her parents were killed in an accident. The kindly neighbors tried to look after her but they were elderly and she was so young. There was great relief when an aunt and uncle arrived. Now Rosa would be cared for. But who are these people? The aunt locks Rosa in her room each night. They empty the house of all clutter and memories. Rosa loved the apple tree in her garden. They chop it down. Rosa loves to read an old book of fairy tales left by her parents. Her aunt throws it away. I can hear you gasping. Luckily Rosa is a brave and resourceful girl. She learns how to climb out of her bedroom and takes solace in the quiet evenings and star filled sky. She is also able to retrieve her precious book each time it is taken. Rosa does have one friend - the cat from next door named Balthazaar.

The aunt and uncle sell fake grass (although no one is allowed to use that term). They have a plan to grow rich by selling their product all over the world and so that is why Rosa finds herself in Venice. Her aunt and uncle deposit her in an old rundown hotel - they stay somewhere else. No one speaks English but the owners of the hotel are very kind. Rosa is lonely in Venice but she does find some cats for company. Then comes the scene where she stumbles upon her Aunt and Uncle on the Rialto Bridge. 

"I believe there is a very strong current under the centre of the bridge. If we both take one arm, do you think we could manage?' ... Their voices were so calm, do detached, that Rosa couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was it a dream? Was it a joke? Why was her uncle peering earnestly over the parapet? ... 'All being well, our troubles will simply vanish, so let us make haste, my sweet."

Have you worked this out?  They plan to throw Rosa off the bridge. Luckily magic takes over ... 

Orphans in stories like this usually have to suffer some hardship - think of The Willoughbys; the children in A Series of Unfortunate Events; and The Unadoptables. But unlike these examples, where I knew the orphan or orphans would be okay - the dangers she faces and potential murder of young Rosa felt so very real - I was living in this story set in Venice with all the twisting alleys and the threat of falling into the dangerous waters of the canal. 

Bookseller blurb: Rosa lives in a world where she discovers there is magic. It arrives with Balthazar, a large black cat, just when she needs it most. Even so, it takes all her courage to stay hopeful and adventurous when her dreadful aunt and uncle move into her life. And when she finds herself abandoned in the ancient city of Venice, can magic help her then? Perhaps it can. The stars are watching, and there are lots of cats in Venice.

Reading a review of Rosa by Starlight from Just Imagine I learned a new word: chiaroscuro effect. It means the strong contrast between light and dark. Another reviewer used the words "a charming Ghibli-esque tale of a girl..."

Whilst Rosa’s story is a heart-wrenching exploration of loneliness, told through the window of magical realism, it is also a story imbued with a sense of awe and a feeling of hope.  The Venetian setting of shadows and light adds to the magic of the story and gives the reader a sense of being ‘outside of reality’ as they explore the Venice Rosa experiences from its hotels and piazzas to its bridges and waterways … and her unique bond with its feline friends. Book Craic

There are some golden moments, with Rosa desperately trying to get admitted into an orphanage or else irritating every person on her plane journey by asking the stewards to repeat their demonstration as she had not understood it first time round. The atmosphere of Venice at its most beguiling – and sometimes dangerous – is also well caught, backed up by Keith Robinson’s beautiful line drawings. Books for Keeps

Born in Boston, Lincolnshire, Hilary McKay grew up in a household of readers and read voraciously from an early age. After studying Botany and Zoology at St Andrews University, she went on to work as a biochemist, but always wanted to write. Hilary's novels have won numerous awards including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Smarties Award and the Whitbread Children's Book Award. She lives in a small village in Derbyshire with her family. She is the author of over forty books. I previously talked about The Skylarks War and I now discover there is a sequel - The Swallows Flight (Kirkus Star review). Some years ago I also read Straw into Gold. 

Companion books to read after Rosa by Starlight:

The Hotel Balzaar

Eloise and the Bucket of Stars

The Secret Starling

Journey to the River Sea

The Paperbark Tree Committee by Karys McEwan

"Being a teenager is all about swimming along with only your fin showing, trying to look like a shark, when really you're just an average fish. Never revealing you're not as brave as you look, never admitting that everyone else is in the same ocean. 

It's terrifying. And exhausting."

Art (Arthur) and his younger brother Hillary have moved with dad and his partner to Melbourne. Dad is a writer (of Young Adult fiction ironically) who rides an emotional roller-coaster of writer's block, breakthrough, doubt and insecurity. This means Dad is constantly distracted and has not formed any sort of real relationship with his two sons.

"We all know the stages of his writing by now - frustration when he can't think of an idea or has an idea he can't quite figure out, over-the-top joy when he finally settles on something, absence when he starts writing, grumpiness when he has writer's block, then mania when he's back on a roll, nervousness while he waits for feedback from his editor, and back and forth between those last few until the book is published. And then it's all the highs and lows of review and author talks, and then, luck us, it starts all over again."

The main theme of this book is the exploration of the complexities of relationships. Art has a good relationship with his younger brother but as Art enters his teenage years there are of course some complications. Art also has a good relationship with his stepmother Sally, but there is his underlying fear that she might one day leave the family as his mother has done. 

Art works hard to make new friends - Micah and Lexi - at his new school in Melbourne and, even though it felt slightly contrived, it was interesting to see how, once he found two friends, he decided to be proactive and find more. The running scenes reminded me of the wonderful Tracks series by Jason Reynolds.

On the downside, as I said, Art has a very complex relationship with his distant and dysfunctional father. Sorry to say this but I just couldn't believe a parent, an adult, could be so deliberately unkind, uncommunicative and so insensitive towards his two sons and new partner. Dad's whole focus on being or becoming a famous writer, to my eye, portrayed a really really bad impression of that profession. 

The other relationship Art has to navigate is with the school bully - Jack. It always seems little too obvious to me when, as readers, we make the discovery that Jack comes from a dysfunctional family and that his own father is also a bully. I am sure this sadly is a real experience for some kids but after reading many hundreds of books that feature bullies I do find this all a bit too predictable. 

Things I liked in this book: Art's relationship with Hillary - it is terrific to read about siblings who get on well with each other (albeit with some ups and downs); Sally the step mum is a fantastic character - wise and loving; and the final poem Art writes to perform with his after school writing group is emotional, truthful and worth thinking about deeply.

The CBCA judges mention emotional intelligence and I thought about this too. It was good to see both boys were 'allowed to cry' and in the scene where Art tries to convince Hillary that they should trick their dad into proposing marriage to Sally; it is Hillary who shows enormous maturity when he talks about how this could badly hurt Sally. 

"I think this is the worst idea you've ever had ... By far. ... Dad won't go along with it. We'll get in huge trouble and Saly is just going to get hurt ... "

The title is not exactly a central focus of the story - Art and Hillary had a special tree in their former town and they used it to talk through their problems using the idea of a committee with an agenda. In Melbourne they find a new tree - a paperbark - but Art feels self-conscious when kids from his school see him climbing a tree like a little kid. Moving away from needing to use the tree to talk to each other links with the themes in this book of change and growing up. 

The CBCA selected 25 Younger Readers Notable titles (long list) for their 2026 award. Last week the short list of 6 were announced and I was utterly dismayed that FIVE of my predictions did not make the cut. I have seen The Paperbark Tree Committee in several shops since it was first released in April 2025 but the cover and blurb did not really grab my attention. 

Because this book is on the 2026 CBCA short list for Younger Readers I needed to read it (done) and then think about it perhaps a little more deeply than I usually do.

As an adult reader I one plot point did not ring true for me. Art wants to 'get back at' Jack, the boy who has been bullying him. He sets up a plan with the help of his new friends to distract the librarian (why isn't she called a Teacher-Librarian) so he can get into the library or school computer system called Orbit. In NSW schools Orbit is one part of our library management system which is called Oliver. Orbit is the simple OPAC (online public access catalogue) designed for use by the younger students in a Primary school it is not part of the school administration software. I did hold my breath when Art tried to 'hack' the library circulation computer hoping to alter Jack's school records and I was glad when none of his attempts at guessing the password were successful. 

Generally I only quote review comments that echo my own thoughts but here is the one from Readings (Melbourne bookshop) and I have to say I really disagree with their use of the word hilarious: 

The Paperbark Tree Committee is a gorgeous, heartfelt and hilarious tale of navigating change, bullying and growing up, and learning to appreciate loved ones for who they are.

Other reviews: Reading Time; The Book Muse; Read Plus; and Paperbark words an interview with Joy Lawn.

There are teaching notes on the publisher page but again I am going to say I think this book better suits an individual reader and I cannot imagine dissecting every scene/page/incident as part of a class novel study. 

Blurb from author page: Twelve-year-old Art and his younger brother Hilary are great friends, best friends. When they move to Melbourne from a small town in Queensland things seem to be easy for Hilary, who is still in primary school, but Art struggles to fit in, and he’s become a target for school bully Jack. His dad is too busy to give him much attention, but Art has his stepmum, Sally, who is always ready to listen. And there’s the paperbark tree. Art and Hilary climb into its branches and hold a secret meeting whenever they need to sort things out. The only problem is Art’s not sure he still wants to be part of the paperbark tree committee. He’s getting older and he thinks he needs to solve his problems on his own.

Here are the judges' comments:

Companion books:

A Good day for climbing Trees

The Final Year

My Brother Ben

Hattie Peck by Emma Levey

"Hattie Peck had only ever laid one egg, and it had never hatched. Poor Hattie, she simply loved eggs. They were all she thought about, and all she dreamed about. Eggs, eggs, eggs."

So off she went around the world collecting eggs - hundreds of eggs.

Little Hattie Peck loved eggs! Big ones, small ones, speckled ones. All she wanted was an egg of her own. One day, Hattie left her cosy coop on an adventure to find all the abandoned eggs of the world. And find them she did! But what will happen when they hatch?

Next term some classes at the school where I volunteer each week will explore the topic of eggs! This simple looking picture book would make a terrific starting point after you and your class perhaps brainstorm all the animals that lay eggs.

List of some animals that lay eggs: ants, bedbugs, bees, butterflies, birds, chickens, cockroaches, chameleon lizards, crocodiles, ducks, mosquitoes, emu, ostrich, owl, peacock, penguin, platypus, shark, seahorses, snails, snakes, echidna, and turtle. 

You will find lots of these on the final spread of Hattie Peck. 

Hattie Peck contains delicious words: plucked; embark; venture; battled; vast; deepest depths; clambered; trekked; precious; soared; hauled; trudged; blustery; and colossal. 

I can see this book being used for Reader's Theatre. Emma Levey has some colouring pages on her website. You will need to look in a library to find the books about Hattie because they were published in 2016 and so sadly are no longer in print. 

You can see more books by Emma Levey here. She lives in Wales. I also found a second book about Hattie:

Here are some other books that explore eggs (there are lots more - just ask your Teacher-Librarian):

The Great Shark egg case Hunt

Meet Sylvia Long

This is not an egg

First the egg

Hatch

The Emperor's Egg

Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate

I am always on the hunt (as you might know if you read this blog regularly) for easy or beginner chapter books with appealing stories and hopefully also colour illustrations. I am not a huge fan of the illustrations in this series but the stories are fun!! and well written as you would expect from a master storyteller like Katherine Applegate.

This sweet, seven-chapter early-reader series opener employs simple language, with several short sentences per page and lots of dialogue, to bring these close friends and their fun adventures to endearing life; young readers will be charmed. The colorful illustrations that combine collage and digital techniques are lively and expressive. Kirkus

Here is a video where Katherine Applegate talks about and reads the first book in this book series (11 minutes).  You could also check out the US publisher page (Macmillan). 

Book One Doggo and Pupper blurb: Doggo is used to things being a certain way in his family. He likes routine. Cat says he’s become boring. That is, until Pupper shows up! Pupper is playful and messy, and turns the house upside down. Soon, the humans realize that Pupper needs some training, and off he goes to puppy school. When Pupper comes back, he’s well-behaved. He’s not playful. He’s not messy. But Doggo soon realizes that Pupper also isn’t happy. So Doggo steps in to help, and rediscovers what it means to have fun.

Book Two Save the World blurb: Doggo likes routine: napping, eating, and more napping. Life is good.

Life is good for Pupper, too, even though he worries a lot, about things like giant squirrels. If he were braver, he might even be a hero. Maybe even a hero who can fly! But heroes aren’t afraid of giant squirrels . . . When Doggo and Pupper meet a baby bird who also has worries, they are determined to help. Doggo and Pupper may not know how to fly, but they are very good helpers. Maybe they are even heroes!  [Book two has a Kirkus Star review: Charming and utterly delightful.]

Book Three Search for Cozy blurb: When Cat announces that the Humans have given her a surprise present, Doggo and Pupper are all ears. But when they find out that Cat has a new bed and misses her old one, they set out to help her search for cozy.

Sadly, I do need to tell you that these books may be too expensive for your school library - yes they are available but the cost between AUS$20 and AUS$25 each. I realise up to AUS$75 is too much to spend on just three books.

Sato and the elephants by Juanita Havill illustrated by Jean and Mou-sien Tseng

I picked this book up from a library discard pile. Sato and the elephants was published in 1993 and the library copy was purchased in 1995 which means it has been in the library for over thirty years. I hope in that time the world has become a safer place for elephants.

Sato watches his father carving ivory. He really wants to become as skilled as his father. He does know ivory comes from elephant but it takes a terrible experience to really give him an understanding of this.

He buys a large piece of scarce ivory from a trader for a very high price. As he works over many days on his carving he sees something lodged inside the ivory itself - it is a bullet. Sato's dreams are then filled with the real scene - elephants living in on the wild plains of Africa. When he wakes up he makes a vow to never use ivory again. Marble will now be his new medium for carving. 

I don't imagine this book will be easy to find but if I were to share it in my library I would read it to a Grade five or six group as a discussion starter about animal rights, animal exploitation, and the continuing issues of poaching. You might be able to access this BTN (Behind the News ABC TV) program from 2016. Here are a couple of companion books to explore the topic of animal rights:

Ivan the remarkable true story of the shopping mall gorilla

Jean and Mou-Sien were classmates at the Fine Art Department of the National Normal University in Taiwan. After graduation, they married and worked as teachers, designers, and illustrators. They also worked for a UNICEF Project in Taiwan, editing and designing 165 picture books-thirty of which they illustrated themselves. Their book Lovely Toys won the 1971 Golden Book Award for the best picture book illustration. Mou-Sien also won the Golden Goblet Award for Excellent Achievement at Chinese Painting in 1990. Here is one of their books which is by Margaret Mahy:

Find more books about elephants in these two posts from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything:

International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos; and Elephant Day.

Bothered by Bugs by Emily Gravett

If your class are talking about the balance of nature - the role of every tiny creature in an ecosystem - this book is simply perfect. 

Publisher blurb: Pete the Badger is choosing a delicious recipe from his new fruit cookbook when his peace is interrupted by a teeny tiny fly. The fly becomes a swarm and soon all the animals are being bothered by bugs and insects of all kinds . . . before helping Pete to rid the forest of every single one. Disaster! Now nobody's around to clean up the poo, and come autumn, there's not a berry or a cherry to be found. But the lesson is learned, the bugs are released, and order is restored to the forest once again.

Infused with humour, this superb picture book carries an important message about the natural world. Wonderful to read aloud, the witty, rhyming text provides rhythm and pace. Children will adore exploring the exquisitely detailed illustrations, particularly a sumptuous picnic on the final pages, which is crammed with delectable cakes, tarts, and summer puddings. Book Trust

Here is one of the irresistible illustrations:

Here are two another books by Emily Gravett featuring the same woodland animals:

The topic of eliminating one part of the natural food chain and how this can be catastrophic is beautifully explained in this picture book for young children (but I would also be happy to share Bothered by Bugs with an older group of students in Grades 3 and 4. And with your senior classes do make sure you explore this book:

Sparrow Girl

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by all the books that you have not yet discovered? I feel like this every time I visit the fabulously well stocked library where I volunteer every week. Even if I had several lifetimes I am sure I could never discover every treasure held by this library. The Teacher-Librarian was very aware of this book by the famous author/illustrator Emily Gravett book and she shared it with me because it has been short listed for the 2026 UKLA Book Awards. It really is a very good idea to keep your eye on as many international children's book awards as you can from UK, USA, New Zealand, and Canada. I am so happy to have discovered Bothered by Bugs. Add this book to your library wish list today!

Here is a partial list of other books written and illustrated by Emily Gravett - you should try to add as many of these as you can afford to your school or local library:

• Wolves (2005)
• Orange Pear Apple Bear (2006)
• Meerkat Mail (2006)
• Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears (2007)
• Monkey and Me (2007)
• The Odd Egg (2008)
• Spells (2008)
• Dogs (2009)
• The Rabbit Problem (2009)
• Blue Chameleon (2010)
• Wolf Won't Bite! (2011)
• Again! (2011)
• Matilda's Cat (2 August 2012)[12]
• Little Mouse's Big Book of Beasts (2013)
• Bear and Hare: Go Fishing (2014)
• Bear and Hare: Snow! (2014)
• Bear and Hare: Where's Bear? (2015)
• Bear and Hare: Mine! (2016)
• Tidy (2016)
• Old Hat (2017)
• Cyril and Pat (2018)
• Meerkat Christmas (2019)
• Too Much Stuff (2020)
• 10 Cats (2022)
• 10 Dogs (2023)
• Bothered by Bugs (2024)
• Bear's Nap (2025)

My Pet Goldfish by Catherine Rayner

"When I was four, I got my first ever pet: a fish no bigger than my hand, with red and orange scales. My very own goldfish! He didn't have a name yet so I got to choose one - and I called him 'Richard'".

Richard is not alone - he lives in a fish tank with her sister's fish. The young girl loves spending time with Richard - telling him about her day. Sandy, the boy next door also has some goldfish but this live in pond in his garden. When you turn to the page filled with the fish in Sandy's pond you will gasp at all the colours.

There are facts on each page of this book: did you know there are over two hundred different kinds of goldfish with names like comets, bubble eyes and pompoms. And did you know that a group of goldfish is called a “troubling” or that the oldest ever goldfish was 43 years old?

Eventually Richard grows too big for the fish tank and so the girl takes him over to Sandy's to live in his pond. 

Because this book is a combination of narrative and nonfiction it contains an index, further reading list, and a page of author notes. 

My Pet Goldfish was published in 2021 - I am not sure how I missed it. AND it is illustrated (and written) by Catherine Rayner which is another reason I should have been aware of this book. Here is a video of Catherine reading her book. 

The lovely and delicate mixed-media illustrations sparkle with color; we see Richard, other fish, bubbles, and aquatic plants drift serenely in gentle waters. ... Delightful and validating for first-time or would-be goldfish guardians. Kirkus

In the US this book has a different cover:

In the library where I spend a joyous day as a volunteer the Teacher-Librarian has gathered together all of her books from the Nature Storybook (or previously Read and Wonder) series from Walker books. I think she might have nearly every one of these splendid nonfiction titles. Recently she set up a display of books about goldfish and it proved very popular with the children and now this topic links perfectly with one of the CBCA 2026 Early Childhood shortlisted titles - Derek.

Derek

UKLA Book Awards 2026 Shortlist 7-10

The UKLA Book Awards are the only national (UK) 

children's book awards judged by teachers.

The UKLA Book Awards 2026 shortlist highlights a diverse range of outstanding children’s and young-people’s books across four age-based categories, spanning 3-14+. Hand-selected by teachers for their quality, creativity and relevance, these titles offer exceptional storytelling, engaging ideas and rich reading experiences.  Here is the full list of six shortlisted titles. These two are titles I have read (and loved) from the 7-10 Shortlist.

After. Written by Pádraig Kenny

Birdie. Written by J P Rose

Read more here including books for 3-6 and 11-14+

In addition to the two titles above which made the shortlist you can see the longlist and from the longlist I have talked about:

The Falling Boy. Written by David Almond

Leo and Ralph. Written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas AUSTRALIAN!!!!

Ghostlines .Written by Katya Balen

Fallout. Written by Lesley Parr (blog post coming soon)

Ettie and the Midnight Pool. Written by Julia Green and illustrated by Pam Smy

The DANZ Awards Longlist 2026

The DANZ Awards celebrate diverse children’s fiction published in Australia and New Zealand, honouring books that challenge stereotypes, push boundaries, and highlight diverse and marginalised communities, including those representing disability, culture, LGBTQI+, race and religion. 

The ASLA DANZ Awards aim to encourage inclusivity and spotlight authentic representation, providing marginalised voices with recognition and support. They also aims to influence book-buyers and educators to prioritise such works. The awards spotlight the wonderful books which provide mirrors, windows and sliding doors into different lives, and build empathy and understanding of people from all walks of life. 

PICTURE BOOK LONGLIST

From this list I have talked about

Bapa's Last Canoe; A Lemon for Safiya; and The Truck Cat

CHAPTER BOOK LONGLIST

MIDDLE GRADE LONGLIST

From this list I have talked about

The Silken Thread

My April reading pile

It is  April 3rd so I am little late with this post which I titled my April reading pile. My "to read" pile is, as always, slightly out of control and it does contain books that have lingered for many months (Leila and the Blue Fox August 2025) and as usual other books seem to have jumped up the queue while my pile grows taller.

Rosa by Starlight by Hilary McKay illustrated by Keith Robinson

I actually finished this one today so I will talk about it in more detail soon. Here is the publisher blurb: Rosa lives in a world where she discovers there is magic. It arrives with Balthazar, a large black cat, just when she needs it most. Even so, it takes all her courage to stay hopeful and adventurous when her dreadful aunt and uncle move into her life. And when she finds herself abandoned in the ancient city of Venice, can magic help her then? Perhaps it can. The stars are watching, and there are lots of cats in Venice . . .

Why did I pick up this book from a major chain retailer? I really like the cover and I have read other books by Hilary McKay such as The Skylarks' War.

I am Ray's Imaginary friend by Brian Moses illustrated by Bethan Welby

Bookseller blurb: Did you know there was a School for Imaginary Friends? Well there is and one of its star pupils is the narrator of Ray's story. Ray loves life in his village, until one day he hears his parents talking about moving house. Horrified by the idea, Ray invents an imaginary friend to talk to and even runs away. Eventually Ray is able to accept the move, and also the Ukrainian refugee mother and child who come to live with his family in their new home. As Ray finds his feet again, the Imaginary Friend wonders if he is needed any more, or if he can also move on?

Why did I pick this one? I saw this in a shop a few days ago. I recognised the title as one I had seen mentioned on social media, I do like the cover, and I am a huge fan of imaginary friend stories such as Leo and Ralph; O'Diddy; Crenshaw; Bob; and Tish. 

LoveReading4Kids said: This (I am Ray's Imaginary Friend) heartwarming story is a real masterclass in the power of empathy. The verse structure makes this a very accessible read and the delicate and beautiful line drawings throughout, add to the appeal, making it a real must have for home or classroom.

Romeo v Julie by RA Spratt

Publisher blurb: Selby does not want to be in the school play. She is much happier behind the scenes painting sets – anything to avoid standing on stage in front of an audience, performing for disinterested classmates and overenthusiastic parents. So Selby did not plan on landing the lead role of Juliet . . . and she certainly never planned to land in Verona and meet Juliet in person. With chaos, wit and R.A. Spratt wisdom, if those who rush stumble and fall, Romeo and Juliet are about to crash-land into a modern-day town!

Why and where did I find this one? The wonderful manager of Gleebooks Kids recommended this one. I am not really a fan of timeslip stories although I have read a couple of others based on Shakespeare such as King of Shadows by Susan Cooper. 

Rima's Rebellion by Margarita Engle

Publisher blurb: Rima loves to ride horses alongside her abuela and Las Mambisas, the fierce women veterans who fought during Cuba’s wars for independence. Feminists from many backgrounds have gathered in voting clubs to demand suffrage and equality for women, but not everybody wants equality for all—especially not for someone like Rima. In 1920s Cuba, illegitimate children like her are bullied and shunned. Rima dreams of a day when she is free from fear and shame, the way she feels when she’s riding with Las Mambisas. As she seeks her way, Rima forges unexpected friendships with others who long for freedom, especially a handsome young artist named Maceo. Through turbulent times, hope soars, and with it…love.

Why did I buy this?  I have read (and loved) other books by Margarita Engle. I started looking for her books after meeting her at a USBBY conference. Rima's Rebellion is a Young Adult title but I found it on the Middle grade shelves in a city bookstore. It is a verse novel and I love this format. 

The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon

Blurb: Subhi is a refugee. Born in an Australian permanent detention centre after his mother fled the violence of a distant homeland, life behind the fences is all he has ever known. But as he grows, his imagination gets bigger too, until it is bursting at the limits of his world. The Night Sea brings him gifts, the faraway whales sing to him, and the birds tell their stories. The most vivid story of all, however, is the one that arrives one night in the form of Jimmie, a scruffy, impatient girl who appears from the other side of the wires, and brings a notebook written by the mother she lost. Unable to read it, she relies on Subhi to unravel her own family's love songs and tragedies. Subhi and Jimmie might both find a way to freedom, as their tales unfold. But not until each of them has been braver than ever before.

I picked this book up at a charity book fair late in 2025. A few months ago I read another book by Zana Fraillon - The Ones that Disappeared. I also hoped, well actually expected, her junior verse novel Song of a Thousand Seas would win the CBCA 2026 Younger Readers award but sadly and to my great frustration it did not even make the shortlist. 

Dog Star by Megan Shepherd

Blurb from the author page:  Laika is a Cold Dog, a stray pup fighting for her life on the streets of Moscow. Then, one winter night, she is plucked from her alley to become a starflyer, a dog trained to travel into space. Distrustful of people, Laika tries to do everything she can to escape. That is, until she meets Nina. Nina is a Cold Girl, lonely and full of questions. Her best friend has moved to America in a rush, leaving Nina to face the school bullies all by herself. Plus, her father’s work as a scientist in the Soviet Space Program grows more secretive by the day. When the two meet in her father’s laboratory, their growing bond slowly warms the chill that has settled in each other’s hearts. As the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union grows fierce, Laika and Nina uncover shocking secrets and hard truths that will test their friendship. How will they find the courage to chase their dreams all the way to the stars?

I picked this one up in Abbeys in Sydney. Here is the Kirkus review. I have read a couple of other books about Laika - the dog sent into space. I talk about this here. The blurb reminded me of A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga.

A Roomful of Magic by John Marsden

Blurb from the author web page: Naomi and Nick are staying the night with their friends Sam and Lucy when they hear the sound of someone crying coming from far away. They all begin to investigate, and soon find a light coming from beneath the floor under Sam’s bed, and a ladder leading down into a very curious mist... As they descend the ladder, the children find themselves amongst many tall dark trees, and Sam and Naomi know they have returned to the magic rainforest. This time there are new problems to solve, and some old friends to help find solutions. But there are some old enemies too, who will do anything to cause mischief!

I picked this up from a pile of discarded library books. I did have this book in my former school library (the nephew and niece of the late John Marsden were two of our students) but I had not read it.

My Sweet Orange Tree by Jose Mauro de Vasconcelos

Publisher blurb: Meet Zezé – Brazil’s naughtiest and most loveable boy, his talent for mischief matched only by his great kindness. When he grows up he wants to be a poet with a bow-tie, but for now, he entertains himself playing pranks on the residents of his family’s poor Rio de Janeiro neighborhood and inventing friends to play with. Zezé’s pranks can be a little too mischievous – at least, so say his parents, who punish him harshly when he misbehaves. His father is out of work and the family unhappiness falls hardest on Zezé, the second-youngest of seven siblings. That is, until he meets a real friend, and his life begins to change. With the help of Pinkie, the talking orange tree, Manuel, who gives Zezé rides in his car, and with his own endless supply of resourcefulness and imagination, Zezé will triumph over any adversity. This worldwide classic of children’s literature has never been out of print in Brazil since it was first published in 1968. Translated into an astonishing number of languages, it has won the hearts of millions of young readers from Korea to Turkey, Poland to Thailand, and many other countries too, with its inimitable blend of the heart-rending and the whimsical.

I do enjoy the classics shelves in well stocked independent bookstores. I found this intriguing 1968 book in Gleebooks. 

Vicky and Jun friends at play by Patricia Toht illustrated by Hoang Giang

Blurb from author page: Meet Vicky, a lively squirrel, bursting with great ideas, and June, a gentle hedgehog, thoughtful and reserved. Vicky likes games that are loud and fast, like Follow the Leader (and she always wants to be the leader). June prefers to read or play quiet games like I Spy. Can two critters who are so different still be the very best of friends?

I am always on the hunt for satisfying early chapter books for newly independent readers and if they have colour illustrations as this one does - that's even better. I borrowed this from the library where I volunteer. Sadly this one might be a little too expensive if you have a limited book budget ($20). The second book from the series Vicky and June: Pals and Petals is due out later this year.

Rumpelstiltskin by Mac Barnett illustrated by Carson Ellis

This is a new picture book and it is fabulous. I knew I HAD to have this book after reading Mac Barnett, Jon Klasses and Carson Ellis discussing it here. 

There is the first bit, where the girl’s father sets in motion a dangerous set of challenges: his daughter must go to court and weave straw into gold. This bit has a very classic fairy tale rule of three structure, where the girl is placed, over three nights, into three increasingly large rooms, with increasingly large piles of straw.

Jon and Mac take deep dives into lots of books - click this link. 

Finally I do have a backlog of newAustralian books I have finished that I will talk about over the coming weeks - Once upon Tomorrow by Karen Comer; The Surface Trials by HM Waugh; Nerds vs Aliens by Barry Jonsberg; and Raised by Wolves by Tristan Bancks plus a few picture books I picked up from a library yesterday!