Momo celebrating time to read: Emmie Builds Something New by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

Emmie was little. But her ideas were big. ...

Everything was just the way she liked it. Until one day ...

Turn the page - an enormous shadow fills the space - yes, it is a cat. Emmie has read lots of books about cats such as "Care of Cats"; "Puss in Boots"; and "Cats in Wonderland".

Image source: Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

This cat is terrifying so Emmie hides inside her little home, but Emmie is a problem solver. She is determined to scare that cat away. As with the way with all good stories she tries three times to make the perfect robot-like monster which she is sure will work. Her final creation sprays water all over the cat and at this point Emmie realises something - this little soggy cat is not scary at all. Is there a way to fix this situation? Perhaps the word 'sorry' will help.

Thinking about the book design - the end papers are terrific and I love the illustration on the title page. With your library group talk about the use of a cog to dot the 'i' in the title and the choice of font and use of capital letters. You might notice Emmie is wearing glasses - do these make her look smarter? Does it matter that the bell has a crack? Opposite the title page Emmie is surrounded by a tangle of wool - why does she look triumphant? Compare this with the second last page after your reading. And this is also a 'noisy story' which means it will be perfect to read aloud.

Sprang! Crash! Bang! Boom! Bash! Swooped! Crash! Bang! Boom!
Stamped! Stomped! Splashed! Yippee! Hooray!

On the whole, it’s a welcome reminder that it’s just as important to be kind as it is to be smart. A sweet social-emotional book that’s the cat’s (and the mouse’s) pajamas. Kirkus

This delightful story not only entertains but also inspires young readers, especially girls with a passion for STEM. Join Emmie on her roller-coaster journey of discovery, where every challenge is an opportunity to create, learn, and ultimately build a bridge of understanding with her newfound companion. Ultimately Emmie finds a way to coexist with the cat and discovers that empathy is the pathway to peace and friendship. A Book and a Hug

The cool-toned palette--full of teals, coppers, and dusty greens--adds to the atmosphere, giving the attic world a muted glow that feels both forgotten and full of potential. The perspective shifts and textured lines bring Emmie's world to life with energy and wit. The illustrations brim with mechanical marvels and visual riddles, and the story hints at broader ideas: that even long-held assumptions, like cats and mice being enemies, can be reimagined through curiosity, creativity, and a little kindness. Shelf Awareness

In your school library or Kindy or Grade One classroom it would be fun to explore either the topic of inventions or the topic of the rivalry between the cats and mice. With an older group you could investigate women inventors such as Joy Mangano; Hertha Ayrton; Ada Lovelace; Margaret Eloise Knight or Josephine Cochrane. I am sure you can think of many others. Take a look at this Pinterest from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. It is could also be interesting to talk about the reversal in this story where the mouse has the upper hand over the cat. Your senior students could look at Mr Maxwell's Mouse as a comparison text.

Here are some sketches by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall from her book.

I had Emmie Builds Something New in a basket of books I borrowed from a school library at the end of 2025. Today I saw someone on social media say this was their favorite Australian picture book of 2025 - that's a big call so I knew I needed to look more closely at Emmie Builds Something New. I do like Emmie Builds Something New - surely it will be listed as a CBCA Notable Picture Book in 2026.

Here are other books illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. I previously talked about Summer Blue.