This fun picture book by the wonderful Mem Fox will suit toddlers and pre-schoolers, maybe even school-aged children. Have lots of fun reading the words and comparing them to what’s going on in the pictures. When a mouse invades the peace of the house, what the cat does, and what the dog does, couldn’t be more different, right?

Another wonderful novel for children aged 10+ from the Australian writer, Katrina Nannestad. Katrina’s We are wolves (2020) set during WWII, followed a family of three orphaned children in East Prussia as the Russians invaded Germany. This next novel centres on 6-year-old Sasha, who is forced into being a solider with the Russian Army. Katrina’s books are simple yet evocatively written, convey emotion, and paint a vivid picture of war-time Europe, as seen through the eyes of children.

If you enjoyed the Series of Unfortunate Events series, then get happy because Lemony Snicket is back with a new novel! This “true” story begins with a bewildering note slipped under the door: “You had poison for breakfast”. Our hero, Snicket, then spends a lot of the story meandering around his favourite things: wordplay, secrecy, espionage, problem-solving and witty one-liners. It’s a short read: fun, funny, a bit nerdy and classic Snicket.

This non-fiction book for children is easily read, with topics covered in one to two pages. The six chapters explore the knowledge of Australia’s first people, and our first scientists: the first astronomers, the first engineers, the first land managers. This accessible book offers loads of fascinating insights into Indigenous knowledge, and comes with an extensive reference list if you want to read further.