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

Our World full of Wonder by Jevita Nilson illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

This book is published by the CSIRO here in Australia. I did not read the blurb and I didn't focus on the cover when I first 'dived in'.  In my mind the places in this book were in Australia so imagine my surprise when I discovered I had just been on a journey around the world and had seen places that were totally new to me and others that should have been familiar such as one from Australia - The Great Barrier Reef and Iguzau Falls in South America.

"There is a place where the night sky is a ballet of light, where ghostly greens swirl above snow-capped mountains, and reflections dazzle the darkness."

Aurora Borealis

"There is a place where the rocks are streaked with colour, where ancient mountains rise from the land, and time has revealed a hidden rainbow palette."

Rainbow Mountain China (Zhangye National Geopark)

"There is a place where a mysterious cave holds magical wonders, where explorers climbed over monstrous crystals glistening in the depths of Earth."

Cave of the Crystals Mexico (Sierra de Naica in Chihuahua)

Here are all the places you can visit in this book - it is sure to inspire young (and old) travellers:

- Aurora borealis, North Pole
- The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- The Rainbow Mountains, China
- Reynisfjara Beach (black sand beach), Iceland
- Lake Hillier, Australia
- Sequoia National Park, United States of America
- Catatumbo lightning, Venezuela
- The Cave of the Crystals, Mexico
- Valley of Flowers National Park, India
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil
- Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar
- Vaadhoo Island (Sea of Stars), Maldives

Here is a list with examples of the exquisite vocabulary used in this book: ballet of light; multicoloured maze; rainbow palette; fairy-floss water; streaks of silver pierce the clouds; the torrent's roar; eerie shadows; and illuminating the moonless night.

Here is the blurb from the back cover: Explore fascinating phenomena and places around the world in this vibrant picture book. Our world is full of amazing natural wonders. From sparkling seas and towering trees, to valleys, lakes and waterfalls, there are extraordinary places that seem too magical to be true but can be found right here on planet Earth. There are ghostly green lights of the aurora borealis near the North Pole, and exquisite rainbow mountains in China. There is a lake in Australia so pink it looks like fairy floss, and giant crystal caves hidden below Mexico. These are just some of the incredible places you will discover in Our World Full of Wonder. Shall we go explore?

Here are the brief Scholastic Teacher's Notes. There is a link on the publisher page to a more detailed set of teaches notes.

I wonder why oh why this book did not make the 2025 CBCA Eve Pownall (Non Fiction) notables list - this is a book that SHOULD be added to your school library. If you purchase standing orders from a supplier you may already have this book. This is a book to treasure in your library and it would also be a wonderful gift for a child aged 8+. 

You can see more books by Jess Racklyeft. Here is the second book in this series:

Earth's wildlife is nothing short of extraordinary. There are colour-changing chameleons in the forests of Madagascar and cliff-climbing goats in the European Alps. There are fluorescent fish in the depths of the Mariana Trench and wildfire-surviving echidnas in the Australian bush. Our World of Wild Wonders explores the unique animal species that inhabit our planet. Some mighty, some meek, but all wondrous in their own special way. Shall we go explore?

Hans Christian Andersen Award Nominees for 2026

The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international recognition given to creators of children’s books whose complete works have made an important, lasting contribution to children's literature. The Author's Award has been given since 1956 and the Illustrator's Award since 1966. The Award consists of a gold medal and a diploma, presented at a ceremony during the biennial IBBY World Congress which in 2026 will be held in Ottawa, Canada. 

At the end of the nomination period on 15 February 2025, 78 candidates from 44 countries were confirmed as nominees to the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Awards. Among these, 41 are nominated in the Writing category and 37 are nominated in the Illustration category. This is in an unprecedented volume of candidates and the highest-ever number of participating countries. 

I will pen a post with more details about many of these fabulous book creators over the coming weeks. 

Here are a few names for you to investigate if you are reading this in Australia:

Authors: 

Emily Rodda (Australia)

Michael Rosen 

Pam Munoz Ryan

Eoin Colfer

Timothée de Fombelle 

Illustrators:

Bruce Whatley (Australia)

Emily Gravett 

Sophie Blackall (see her dossier here) Ruby's wish is one of her five books sent to the HCAA Jury. 

Leo Timmers

Ivar Da Coll

Linda Bondestam 

Beatrice Alemagna

Oyvind Torseter (I have read his books The Hole and Brown)

Elena Odriozola (see her dossier here)

Art by Elena Odriozola (Spain) for the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2022

Farmhouse

IBBY Australia are thrilled to announce our HCAA nominees: Bruce Whatley (illustration) and Emily Rodda (writing).

Here is the dossier for Bruce Whatley

I have fond memories of Bruce Whatley visiting my school library in Lithgow, NSW not long after his first book The Ugliest Dog in the World was published. I am so pleased that we have submitted his book One Tree by Christopher Cheng as one of the five titles sent to the jury. It has the most stunning illustrations.

Here is the dossier for Emily Rodda

I read Bob the Builder to thousands of Grade Two kids in my school library. I also read the small Solo title Green Fingers to many groups. Emily Rodda is the author of over 100 books. His name was Walter is one of the five books sent to the HCAA jury.

Meet the illustrator Lemniscates

When I see the name Lemniscates on a book cover I know it will be a special book for the youngest children. Her books are always filled with interesting art and curious subjects.

Carme Lemniscates is an award-winning author, illustrator and designer of children’s books who sees each book project as a complete undertaking in which the text, illustrations and graphic design converge with the same spirit from beginning to end. In 2010, after more than fifteen years of illustrating and designing children’s books for publishers, she founded Lemniscates Studio in her home city of Barcelona to create her own children’s book projects, which she both writes and illustrates.

Lemniscates Studio is an author/illustrator/designer collective that creates children's books and storybook apps. Established in Barcelona in 2010, Lemniscates has a special interest in books that encourage creative thinking and curiosity about subjects such as nature, the environment, friendship, adoption, fear and self-acceptance.

Illustration from Birds by Carme Lemniscates

Here is the newest book from Lemniscates due for publication later this year:

When Paloma arrives at the big building with so many other children living there, she stays silent and watches. But soon the cozy red carpet beckons—a place for her to draw and make friends, learn the language and learn to read. More change looms, however, and the children learn they'll have to leave their beloved carpet behind, so Paloma and her friends get creative and imagine a fitting farewell for their magic carpet.

These are a set of spiral bound board books for babies introducing them to famous poets. There is also one about Shakespeare and also about Edgar Allan Poe.

Trees which is one of the covers I shared at the top of this post, has a very simple but also lyrical text:

"Trees sleep in winter and wake up in spring. They bear fruit in summer and drop their leaves in autumn. Trees have their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. ... Trees cannot change their place in the world, so they are patient and learn to live where they are."

I previously talked about Silence.