All the Ways I See by Nas Campanella and Eliza Hull illustrated by Sophie Beer

"I can't see the summer, but it's clear in my mind. I hear it, 
I feel it, in my heart all the time."

It is a summer day and so the family head to the beach - mum and dad with their two young daughters. Now it is time for sunscreen and a game with the seaweed followed by the building of a terrific sandcastle. Dad buys some hot chips and then mum and the little girl - the one you can see on the cover of the book, head into the water. 

"She lets me know when waves are coming. I smile as I hear the ocean humming ... The waves brush me lightly."

It seems somehow wrong to say this - but this book is visually so delightful. The little girl on the cover is wearing a vibrant flower design swimsuit and her face glows as she turns towards the sunshine. The end papers are filled with all the all the objects mentioned in the story - shells; ice cream; sunhat; waves; sunscreen; and chips. If you and your young reading companion linger over the end papers you might also see a white cane - go back now - it is also on the cover. My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has just penned a blog post about white canes. 

As you read make sure you notice the way this little girl uses all her other senses - smell, touch, sound and taste. Her day at the beach is just as much fun with mum taking her hand while they swim and dad describing all the special sights. In this book the blind child is the central character - we 'see' the world through her senses.

Huge thanks to Allen and Unwin for my copy of All the Ways I See which was published this week! Make sure you add this beautiful book to your Primary or Preschool library (AUS$24.99). 

The Teachers Notes on the publisher web page have some good discussion points you could use with a group of older students along with an extensive list of related picture books, non fiction and web links.

I wish we had been able to add this book to my former school library where we had a blind student named Nelson. He would be an adult by now, but it would have been so good to share this book with each of his classes as he progressed through our school from kindergarten to Grade Six. 

All the Ways I See is a joyful, lyrical story about a day at the beach from a blind child's perspective as she experiences the baking heat, the sticky sand, the hum of the ocean, the smell of hot chips and the splash of the waves. Readings Melbourne

Most people know what the beach looks like, but could you describe the heat, the smells and the sounds? How would you describe it to someone who couldn’t see what you were looking at? This book does just that. It’s a cool way to experience the beach, and to teach readers that not everyone experiences things the way they do. But most importantly, it’s an utter joyful example of disability representation from three fabulous disabled creatives. The Book Muse

This book is sure to be submitted by IBBY Australia for the prestigious IBBY Collection for Young People with Disabilities. This collection has two sections. All the Ways I See fits Category One and Category Two.

Category Two 

Portrayals of Disability provide examples of respectful representations of disabilities. ...  In choosing these books, we hope to encourage a more inclusive understanding of disability that gives people a new language to talk about their experiences and validates the experiences of those who are rarely represented in literature.

Nas Campanella is the ABC's National Disability Affairs Reporter. Nas is blind and lives with a neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) which means she can't read braille. After completing a Communications degree at the University of Technology Sydney, majoring in journalism she started with the ABC as a cadet and has worked in several senior roles since including producing, presenting and regional reporting. While working for Triple J she became the world's first blind newsreader to read news live to air. She is passionate about sharing stories from disabled people.

Here is quote from the 2025 IBBY booklet which certainly applies to this new book from Nas Campanella: "People with a specific disability or condition can usually depict their lived experience more easily and authentically than an author who has relied on research."

Category One

Accessible Books includes formats that can help a child or teen to read independently. For those who need to read with a partner, we have chosen formats that allow for as much participation as possible. These formats include braille, sign language, picture communication symbols, tactile books and easy-to-read books.

The IBBY selection committee from Toronto also said: "It is exciting to see enhanced print texts that have additional access points or information. These include QR codes, CDs or digital audio content, braille, sign language, picture communication symbols and better tactile illustrations."

All the Ways I See has accessibility features including easy-to-turn pages with rounded corners and textured elements for a tactile experience. You can feel the shells, the sand, the little girl's hat, sandy footprints, and even the waves. All the Ways I See also has a QR code for an audio and sign language version of this book and there is a website where you can order a braille edition. 

I will update this post in a few days - I am going to an event at Gleebooks where Nas Campanella will talk about her book. 

This book is for every child who experiences the world 

in their own beautiful way. Nas Campanella

Eliza Hull OAM is an award-winning writer, musical artist and disability advocate based in Victoria. A proud disabled woman living with the neurological condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth, Eliza is passionate about amplifying the voices and experiences of people with disability across media, literature and the arts. Her children's book Come Over to My House, co-written with children's author Sally Rippin, celebrates friendship, accessibility and inclusive play, introducing young readers to disability through joyful and everyday experiences. It was a CBCA Notable Book and named in the Guardian top 10 children's books of all time. In 2026, Eliza received an Order of Australia Medal in recognition of her service to people with disability and the arts. 

I previously talked about this book by Sophie Beer:

Thunderhead

Companion books:

The Sound of Colours

The Seeing Stick

The Black Book of Colours

I Love Vincent

Letters to a Dog by Piers Torday illustrated by Alice McKinley

I, for real, sat down to write a letter to a DOG. But you’re not just any dog – you’re a little brown-and-white terrier. With short legs and a wagging tail. And the softest, gentlest eyes. I don’t even know your name, but when I saw you at the dog home last week, I just knew we were going to be friends. 

This is a sweet story about a young boy - Jamie Monroe who is desperate for a dog. His mum has died and his dad has become very distant. Before going to hospital Jamie visited a dog shelter and he saw the perfect little dog. He decides to write a letter to 'Dog'. 

Letters to a Dog is a Barrington Stoke book which means it is short (72 pages) and easy to read and contains a story that will appeal to young readers - in this case aged 8+.

Blurb from author webpage: Jamie is in hospital waiting for a life-changing operation. And to make a difficult time even harder, he’s fallen out with his dad and refuses to speak to him when he comes to visit. To keep his spirits up, nurse Shirley suggests he writes a letter to the dog he desperately wants to adopt from the local dogs’ home. But imagine his surprise when Dog writes back!

Dear Jamie, Many thanks for your letter dated last Tuesday, which I can confirm has arrived. Please note that because of the large volume of correspondence being received, there may be a short delay in answering your query. Yours sincerely, c/o Cute Dogs Home London P.S. Please note that this letter has been sniffed for security and training purposes. P.P.S. Please be patient. I am a dog. But please know I am reading your letters. Every word.

Did 'Dog' really write this letter? Jamie thinks it feels a little like AI. He is totally shocked that 'Dog' has replied so he decides to write back. It is seven days until his surgery so there is a letter for each day and in each letter, Jamie shares his deep feelings about what has happened in his life and more importantly why he has stopped talking to his dad. 

This is a beautifully told, empathetic story that does not shy away from the heartbreak that families go through when dealing with loss and the different ways that people cope with grief. It also a story that shines with love, memories and promises fulfilled. Book Craic

Torday’s skill as a writer has created a lively, well-crafted story with a character who speaks directly to the young reader. The illustrations by Alice McKinley add that important visual element. The Barrington Stoke format ensures that this will attract a wide range of readers. This is an excellent addition to any library – a story rooted in a reality that will have a wide appeal. Books for Keeps

Piers Torday began his career in theatre and then television as a producer and writer. He is the author of the Last Wild trilogy, titles within which have won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the UKLA Award and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. In 2016, There may be a Castle was a Times Children's Book of the Year. In regular demand as a speaker at schools and festivals, Piers is also a reading helper with Beanstalk, a former judge on the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, a Patron of Reading at Heathmere School and a trustee of the Pleasance Theatre.

Click the label Barrington Stoke on this post to see lots more books from this excellent publisher. I was in a bookstore recently and talking to the young book seller I mentioned Barrington Stoke - she had not heard of them. I do think (if you are a bookseller) you should consider stocking some books from this series. I especially loved their YA titles which I have shared here. 

Millie and the Frame of wonder by Phil Cummings illustrated by Shane Devries

Without being didactic this book gently introduces the idea of mindfulness and of slowing down enough to see your world.

Millie finds an old picture frame on a household throw out pile. When she holds up the frame she makes a discovery - suddenly she can see the world in a whole different way. This is a sweet idea but it becomes way more poignant when she uses the frame to help her little sister who is in hospital.

Opening sentence:

"Millie Biggins lived at the end pf Puddle Bridge Lane."

This is such an inviting story opening - as a reader I knew I would really enjoy meeting a girl called Millie Biggins.

When you share this book with your young reading companion make sure you linger over the end papers - front and back. You could also use this book to talk about recycling and of course it would be very easy to make your own picture frames and then use them to explore your school or neighborhood. 

I think Millie and the Frame of Wonder is a book you should just share in your library or family but if you need discussion ideas Scholastic have written some teachers notes. 

This is story that could truly inspire parents and teachers to find or make a frame of wonder and let young (and old) find one’s own moment of joy and happiness to share and discuss. A truly delightful book worth sharing with our young readers. Kids' Book Review

I loved a previous book by Phil Cummings and Shane Devries:

Crumbs

Phil is an award-winning author who developed a love of children’s literature when working as a teacher. It was during this time that Phil decided to write a children’s book. He soon discovered that it wasn’t easy, and after seven years of rejection, Phil’s first book Goodness Gracious!, illustrated by Craig Smith, was published by Omnibus/Penguin in 1989. Since then, Phil has written over sixty books for children. His most recent titles include Echidna Jim Went For A Swim, Be Brave Pink Piglet, Anzac Biscuits, Ride, Ricardo, Ride!, Bridie’s Boots, and Boy.  

In 1990 Phil visited my school library in Lithgow and I have very strong memories of his presentation and of sharing Goodness Gracious with the readers in my school. 

Newspaper Hats

The Hidden Hat

A boy and a ball

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe

A beautiful book, deserving a permanent place in library collections. Kirkus Star review

"A man named Muraro lived in his village with his two daughters, who were called Manyaya and Nyasha. Everyone agreed Manyaya and Nyasha were very beautiful."

The twin girls might look beautiful but only one has a kind heart. Manyara boasts to her sister that when she becomes the queen Nyasha will be her servant. She even says these terrible words: "I'm certain that father loves you best. But when I am a queen, everyone will know that your silly kindness is only weakness."

Nyasha does not let these harsh words affect her. She tends her garden, sings over her work and even befriends a small garden snake. 

One morning a messenger arrives - the time has come for the King to select a wife. Manyaya is sure she will be picked so she sets off before everyone else is awake. On the way several things happen. She meets a boy who asks for food - she yells at him and moves on. She meets an old woman who tries to give her advice. As with the young boy, she scolds the woman and rushes away. The old woman has told Manyaya not to laugh at the trees and to be polite to the man who has his head under his arm. Of course she disregards this advice. 

Nyasha makes the same journey but her actions are the opposite. She shares food with the young boy; she listens to the old woman and shares some sunflower seeds with her. On arrival at the city her sister rushes out to warn her about a great monster with five heads, but when Nyasha enters the chamber she finds her garden snake - and then watches as he transforms into the King.

If this story feels familiar you might be thinking of Cinderella. My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has a fantastic Pinterest collection of Cinderella stories. 

Your school or public library are such important places. Yes they will have many of the newest books and the popular books but they should also have older books - treasures like this one from 1988. I picked up my copy at a recent charity book sale for just AUS$2. I did have this book in my former school library so I might gift this one to a different school. This book is still available but it costs between AUS$35 and AUS$50.

Awards for Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters:

• Caldecott Honor Book
• Parents' Choice Silver Honor
• Horn Book Fanfare
• Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
• Coretta Scott King Award (Illustrator)
• Reading Rainbow Book
• ALA Notable Children’s Book

Bookseller blurb: Inspired by a traditional African folktale, this is the story of Mufaro, who is proud of his two beautiful daughters. Nyasha is kind and considerate, but everyone-except Mufaro-knows that Manyara is selfish and bad-tempered. When the Great King decides to take a wife and invites the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land to appear before him, Mufaro brings both of his daughters-but only one can be queen. Who will the king choose

John Steptoe (1950 - 1989) was also born in Brooklyn, but unfortunately his life was short, as he died when he was only 38. He began his first book (Stevie) when he was only sixteen. All of his published work (which included 15 picture books in 20 years) deals with the African American experience, issues and concerns. Very few authors and illustrators were African Americans at that time and he helped to change the stereotypical view of his people. He used his own family as models for the characters in his best known and Caldecott Honor book Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale. This beautiful book is a retelling of the Cinderella story set in ancient Africa among the ruins of Zimbabwe. Kinderbookswitheverything

Betsy Bird and her sister talk about Mufaro's Beautiful Sisters on their podcast episode 8.

Here is the cover of the paperback edition:

Companion books:

The Talking eggs

The Girl with a brave heart

Robin by Sarah Ann Juckes illustrated by Linde Faas

Eddie is the older brother. His sister, Scarlet, has been unwell ever since she was born - she has serious heart issues and has been in and out of hospital. Eddie does love his sister but he is now tired of being the 'good boy' and tired of coming second with his parents. His feelings have been building up and up and they make him feel so desperately guilty.

While Scarlet is in hospital this time Eddie goes to stay with his uncle John who lives near a wild forest. His uncle tells Eddie about some of the special trees:

"I always found the trees to be the most excellent listeners ... particularly for secrets that we don't feel we can tell a person yet."

Eddie goes to the forest and he expresses some of his pent-up feelings and rage inside one of the hollow tree trunks. Oddly he then meets first a tiny robin and then a strange girl. She talks about hunting monsters and also about being brave. At school Eddie meets another boy named Richard and he seems to offer similar advice about being bold and brave. 

Scarlet meanwhile has her operation and (spoiler alert) she is fine. This seems to mean there is no longer any need for the forest girl named Mari to exist. 

Publisher blurb: Eddie feels invisible - his sister Scarlet isn't well and nobody seems to remember that he's here. Out in the forest, as the ice hardens and winter gets deeper, the world is quiet. But there's a monster deep among the trees - a monster that's growing with every sad and angry thought Eddie says out loud. When a little red bird takes him to meet Mari, a strange and fierce girl with blurred edges just like him, she shows Eddie how to be loud, how to make new friends at school and enjoy the music he loves again.  As Scarlet's big operation approaches and Eddie gathers his courage to finally be heard, will he find his way back through the snow and put the monster to rest once and for all?

Robin is a strange story. Even now, days later, I am not sure quite what this story was trying to say. And I had one unresolved plot point when Uncle John seems to know this girl?

"I met a girl yesterday, ... she was wearing strange clothes and carrying a knife and bow and arrow. And she was sort of see-through, like a ghost. But she didn't feel like a ghost. She said she was a story, so I don't know."

At its heart this is a story about healing and identity and finding your voice. I did like the term used by one review - glass siblings. Sensitive readers aged 10+ who enjoy emotional stories and magical realism could enjoy this book. The cover certainly enticed me.  Each of these reviews has more plot details:

The main character starts to become bolder as he explores his wintery landscape and finally finds his voice to make sure that he is heard and not forgotten. The story is very powerful and explores themes of illness within a family and the effect it has. It shares an important message through great imagery which is then coupled with the beautiful illustrations ... Books for Topics

Over time, Eddie learns to do things for himself and finds his voice. He learns that he doesn’t always need to be a good, quiet boy – it’s ok to be angry and release the monster inside, to be true to himself – to be fierce, fearless and loved. Robin is a story of empowerment, friendship and hope. Set in the snowy forest, it’s the perfect winter read ... Scope for Imagination

It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming to watch Eddie realize that the monster in the woods isn’t a villain to be defeated by a sword, but a manifestation of his own suppressed grief. By trying to stay quiet and brave, he has actually been feeding the beast.

I saw Robin in one of our Sydney bookstores - The Constant Readers. Very strangely the hardcover edition was only AUS$18. This book is fairly new - published in 2025. I quickly read a few reviews while I was in the shop and they all praised this book.

Sarah Ann Juckes writes books for young people. Her YA debut Outside (Penguin) was nominated for the Carnegie Medal Award 2020, shortlisted for Mslexia’s Children’s Novel Award, and longlisted for the Bath Novel Award. Her second YA novel, The World Between Us was published in March 2021, and The Hunt for the Nightingale was her first Middle Grade Novel. She works with writers from all over the world via Jericho Writers and is on the board for Creative Future – a charity supporting under-represented writers. You can often find her hibernating in her writing shed in East Sussex, with her cat.

I mentioned this book here

You can see more books illustrated by Linde Faas here. Linde lives in Norway. I previously mentioned her IBBY Silent book in this post from 2019. 

Little Blue Where are you? by Sally Morgan illustrated by Karen Blair

"One bright and shimmery summer's day Skippy Gillespie went out to play with a pitter pat of his small dog paws and a scritchetty scratch of his small dog claws."

Little Blue - the baby duck - is lost and even worse she is being hunted by an enormous cat named Rocky Road Jack. Luckily Skippy Gillespie and his friend Boofa Boy Jones are able to spring into action and save the day. 

Thanks to Fremantle Press for sending me a copy of this new book which has just been published. Here are the teacher's notes. Little Blue where are you? is a book I would read to a preschool group for enjoyment. There are lots of ideas in the teacher's notes but in my view it would be best select the ideas that suit your class or library group and not attempt every question or activity. This could also be a book you could adapt for a reader's theatre with older students presenting the story for the youngest children in your school. I am imagining doing this will the addition of percussion instruments as a way to add sounds to the story. Your art teacher could also use this double page spread showing sunlight on the lake as a lesson inspiration.

Publisher blurb: Skippy Gillespie is taking himself for a walk in the park – but he is not alone! Rocky Road Jack has followed him, and that nasty cat now has his eyes firmly on a tiny duckling. Will Skippy save the day, and will Little Blue ever get home to his mother?

Your young reading companion will hear some wonderful words (real and invented) in this story - shimmery, slashetty, quailed, charging, and frenzied.

Here is the review from Readings Melbourne:

• It’s made for reading aloud. Morgan’s bouncy rhymes are packed with playful sound words, and we can already hear little ones joining in by the second read. It’s the kind of book that gets requested again at bedtime.
• Skippy is a hero worth rooting for. When he spots a small creature in trouble, he doesn’t walk past. With his mate Boofa Boy Jones, he steps up to help. It opens up easy conversations with kids about kindness and looking out for others.
• Karen Blair’s illustrations are full of movement. Ears flap, legs stretch and water swirls across the page. Some words are even drawn to look like they sound. The characters’ faces show exactly how everyone is feeling, which makes this a lovely book for talking about emotions.

The publicity notes for Little Blue mention The Detective Dog series by Julia Donaldson; Dog Beach by Julie Murphy; and the Hairy Maclary series by Lynley Dodd. 

I previously talked about this book which is the first in this series also by Sally Morgan and Karen Blair which is where we first met Skippy Gillespie.

The Midnight Chew

Here are a couple of my own favourite books about ducks:

The Other Ducks

Just Ducks

Don't Fidget a Feather!

These are my rocks: A story about collecting by Bethan Woollvin

This is one of those special books that 'breaks the fourth wall'. Think about the opening sentence which speaks directly to the reader:

"So, I've heard you'd like to be a collector! Well, you've come to the right place. I'll teach you everything you need to know to be a real collector. But I'll warn you, it's hard work. First off, let's turn on the light."

Our narrator has a huge collection of large and small things, but when you opened the cupboard (turned the page) the biggest things all spilled out. Hopefully you can help squish them back in. Oh and watch out for that spider. There is a rock collection, as the cover tells you, but also collections of pointy things, prickly things, stinky things, fan mail, bananas, and the one I loved the most - a collection of invisible things which is actually a collection of air, thoughts and dreams. I suggest you also try to find the picture book In a Jar by Deborah Marcero to further explore this idea of collecting things in jars. 

It would be fun to read this book at the start of the school year if your young class of Grade 1-3 students like to present 'news' or 'show and tell' to their class. These are my rocks was published in 2025 and is available in hardcover and paperback. This book would be an excellent addition to your school library. 

I rarely read book dedications, but this one caught my eye:

"For Mom - who held my hand as we combed the beach for shells and, even now, slips the occasional rock or pinecone into my pocket."

Publisher blurb: Join the narrator, as they proudly introduce the reader to their prized collection, featuring BIG things to small things … and spiky things to wobbly things! Each page is bursting with humour – and they are interactive too – with children encouraged to interact with the book, with invitations to point, make noises, clap their hands and think about what they could collect.. Interactive books engage young children and capture their natural curiosity and These Are My Rocks encourages the development of important early-learning skills such as listening, choosing, matching, counting and moving by playing on the theme of interaction. 

The last page encourages youngsters to become collectors themselves, but they won’t need much convincing; Woollvin’s quirky, conversational text and artwork will have already persuaded them to follow suit. Kirkus

Here is another book that I suggest reading as a way to talk about those 'class news' sessions.

Lousia May Pickett

Here are some other books by Bethan Woollvin: