Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761069284. (Age:13+) Recommended.
Gwen lives in hiding - running her father's blacksmith shop in secret while dreaming of being a knight, and also being attracted to girls - all a dangerous mix in the small village she lives in. Lady Isobelle is almost the opposite - not really in the shadows as a Lady, always running around, talking her way out of trouble - until now, when her guardian puts her and her dowry as the prize for the winner of the Tournament of Dragonslayers. Whichever knight wins the tournament, wins her. When the two girls meet, sparks fly and a daring scheme is concocted - Lady Isobelle could win her freedom and Gwen could win glory - but losing? Could mean the end of everything... And love? It wasn't part of the plan...
Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner have written yet another fantastic book, full of witty banter, quick action and excellent characters. Well paced and swapping between the two lead characters points of view, the book moves swiftly and there will be enough predictability and guessing that readers will feel comfortable and on the edge of their seat. Readers will enjoy this tale set in medieval times, with an added LGBTQIA+ twist, instead of the usual lady and knight - and the nod to early feminism. Kaufman and Spooner together are always a winner, and Lady's Knight is right up there with their previous collaborations.
University of Queensland Press, 2026. ISBN: 9780702271045. (Age:10-14)
Twelve year old Dell (aka Adelaide) is the second child in a family of four girls cared for by their father. All of them have been dealing with the emotional difficulties that follow their mother’s departure from their family to chase alien contact and pursue the appearance of crop circles. Tully in North Queensland is renowned for its own cyclonic torments and Dell has become an avid climate and weather watcher while her mother wanders the country throwing promises of her return to the family in random bursts. When a local crop circle appears it creates a wave of interest and brings their flighty mother back and ignites emotional turmoil in the family. Can Dell and her sisters survive the torment of having their alien-focused mother back in their life and can they trust her promises? And can Dell sort out what is the battle she should really fight? Who should be believed and who can be trusted?
This is an emotionally-charged story, and one feels the weight of the storms that are brewing for the family. Alongside the family drama, Dell and her friend also deal with school-based bullying and Dell seems to be carrying the weight of the abandonment by her mother for all her family. A neighbour also is impacted by the local crop circle interest with some loose parallels to Dell’s story. Each chapter is headed by a weather report to highlight Dell’s climate interests and the issues of climate change and animal species under threat are mentioned as well. (Dell’s mother thinks that aliens will be able to help solve climate distress, while Dell is focusing on more scientific research.) Dell’s grandmother has had her own relationship chaos in the past but has finally settled with affable Grandpa-number-Four (this seems excessive and unnecessary in the development of Grandma Mo-mo’s character) and is now a calming influence in the family. Sometimes the highly charged relationship drama seems a little too fraught and strangely out of the ordinary for a comfortable read for readers aged 10-14, but the chasing after aliens has an edge of humour amid the seriousness.
This delightful narrative non-fiction picture book is a joy to read. It offers young readers a creative and interesting glimpse into all things fruit related. With Costa Georgiadis’s trademark humour, enthusiasm and colourful style, he takes children on an adventurous ‘fruity’ journey where they will discover and learn all sorts of interesting and fascinating facts about fruit.
The clever showcasing of the life cycle diagram provides a gentle introduction and perfect teaching moment even for the youngest readers. It is a simple way to explain how fruit grows. Following this is a page children will love especially the mention of bum, undies and poop! The ‘Guess the Fruit’ game where the characters are deciding if fruit is bitter, sweet or sour could lead to discussions about what a fruit is – especially those we know as vegetables, and like and dislikes amongst young children.
First Nations communities share stories and traditions about fruit. It is part of their daily life whether used a food or medicine. Coming together and sharing fruit is an important part of all cultures. Children may be familiar with the season of preserving fruit. Many cultures do this as a family tradition when there is an abundance of fruit.
The vibrant and engaging illustrations paired with Costa’s thoughtful and personalised approach will encourage Costa’s Garden: Fruit to become a favourite for educators, parents and children.
It is two months since Luna Wilkinson and her family have moved to a house with a spooky forest at the bottom of the garden. A new area means a new school and 12-year-old Luna has a plan to break into the tight knit friendship groups by taking part in the school vampire musical ‘Bite Me'. She doesn’t currently have any friends so needs to bribe her younger brother to help her learn her lines. The price is to practise soccer with him and when the ball disappears into the scary forest Luna must retrieve it. In the forest she is bitten by something and what follows is bizarre. Luna thinks swearing is not cool, just an indication the swearer can’t think of a more interesting word, but that evening at home it starts, involuntary, intermittent swearing she can’t control. (The swear words are redacted). The only control she has is to stop speaking, not a good start to preparation for an audition. To make matters worse, at school Vivian Dally-Watkins and her cohort of musical hopefuls warn Luna off auditioning in no uncertain terms. Luna doesn’t give up, she decides to research the swearing phenomenon at the library, find out how to lift the curse and still ace the audition for the musical despite the bullying girls. All doesn't go to plan but in doing so she makes a friend, uncovers bigger adversaries and finds the power to defeat them.
I was a bit worried about this book when I read on the back that the curse 'forces her to blurt out every swear word in the dictionary' with its uncomfortable association with Tourette’s syndrome. I am still not sure about it but the story is great, cleverly plotted and unpredictable with a balance of fun and scary bits, writing which will extend vocabulary, lots of action and a brave central character.
Themes Adventure, Being cursed, School bullying.
Sue Speck
The seriously epic holiday of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby
This is the ninth book in the Lottie Brooks series. 13-year-old Lottie is reunited with her frenemy Amber. Lottie is invited to join Amber, her father, Mark, and a potential stepfamily, on a skiing trip to a French resort. Things are awkward from the outset when Lottie sleeps in and has to wear her nightie with “I love ponies” on the plane trip. Then she accidentally loses her passport and ticket and nearly causes them to miss the flight. And no one seems to realize she has never learnt to ski. But the real problem is between Amber and her father. Why doesn’t he defend Amber in the disagreements she has with entitled, shoe-obsessed mother, Tamara, and her selfish, spoilt children? None of the children want Tamara and Mark to marry, so can they prevent Tamara and Mark doing that? And then there’s the battle over who gets to win the heart of Antoine the French heart throb.
The seriously epic holiday of Lottie Brooks is in a popular diary format. It is peppered with simple comic illustrations. WhatsApp chats help the reader learn more about Lottie’s friends and her boyfriend. Lottie’s take on the dramas unfolding on the holiday are really funny. Fortunately for the reader Lottie isn’t perfect, competing with 5-year-olds to win the daily ski prize at the ski school or hogging all the Easter eggs in the Easter egg hunt is hardly mature. Yet Lottie is not a fan of the affluence and lack of manners and gratitude by Tamara and her children. She is from a more humble and caring family background and being away from them makes her realize how much she appreciates them all. Lottie is also somewhat understanding of Amber’s bad behaviour in the light of Amber's parents’ divorce. This was a very entertaining quick read and similar to the fun book The embarrassing confessions of Gracie Sparks by Fiona Harris.
Themes Friendship issues, Family problems, Skiing.
The FIFA World Cup 26 Kids' Handbook is the perfect accompaniment for young readers following the World Cup. Taking place between June 11 and July 19 2026 in the US, Canada and Mexico, this event only happens every four years.
This highly accessible glossy publication will provide soccer-mad children with an opportunity to learn facts about the 48 teams taking part as well as key players, find out more about the event including a glimpse of all the stadiums of where the games will take place, past winners, awards, record breakers and so much more.
There are opportunities for children to test their skills in the Play Zone and keep records of the 2026 World Cup action.
Themes Sport, Soccer, World Cup, Teams, Profiles, Facts, Puzzles.
Kathryn Beilby
The Construction Site Band by Jennifer Loakes and Kelly Canby
A wonderfully involving look at changes within our cities, encourages children to use their voices, hands and feet to make the noise associated with a city construction site. Each day shows a stage in the workings of a construction site. The day begins with the workers, trucks and cement mixer arriving at the site. Blinds and curtains in the houses nearby are still closed, people still asleep. No noise yet. The workers are ready, the cement mixer churns and rumbles, the people wake up, their curtains open. The jack hammer jumps, rat-a-tat-tat-tat bellows over the city.
The bulldozer bumps a working beat, whar-whar-but. Children will be at this moment stomping and bumping, stamping and rat-a-tat-tatting around the room. But now is the time for a break. A wind blows and the people in the flats nearby have a nap while it is quiet.
Then the wrecking ball starts its work. Crash it goes across the pages. A compactor packs down the broken material while the children conduct. The day winds down as the trucks go tiki, tiki, honk. Then it is time for a finale, as all the noises come together and cover the pages with words of the construction site. Crash, rumble, whistle, eee-oooo, bump, rat-a-tat-tat, while the children come home from school, the workers put down their tools and the families come out of the houses around the site. Together they applaud the end of the day when the noise stops, and it is time for a rest, because the work will start again tomorrow.
Wonderfully loud, colourful illustrations cover each page, showing in bright colours the sounds made on the site.
This is a great involving read as kids emulate the noises made by the workings on a construction site. Children will look at such sites with a different point of view, nothing the various noises made by the different machines and people.
Themes Construction, Machines, STEM, Music.
Fran Knight
Disgraceful by Rachel Fox McLeod
Simon & Schuster, 2026. ISBN: 9781761634147. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
When Grace Miller’s life implodes, she lurches from respectable supportive wife of an evangelical pastor to a footloose wild woman wanting to explore all the experiences she has missed out on in her thoroughly conservative life. With her friend Susie’s prompting, she develops a ‘f*ck-it’ list of ‘bad decisions’, sexual adventures, and first-time escapades that many would hesitate to engage with. But for Grace it is a release of pent-up emotions that have been stifled even from childhood.
While Grace’s gold-starred list of experiences make for highly amusing situations that will provoke equal measures of laughter, awe, and horror, Fox McLeod weaves in a dark story of domestic violence and repression that has fractured relationships between mother and daughter and also between sisters, and friends. She reveals how societal expectations of mothers and of wives, while rewarding on one hand, can also be fraught with anxiety and fear of failure. For Grace, freedom means rediscovering her identity and sense of self-worth, acknowledging her failures, and resolving to keep trying, keep taking the next step forward.
The message is to fully embrace life, reach out to friends and family, and seize the joy. ‘It’s never too late to be what you might have been’. Both hilarious and moving, this debut novel will resonate with the mature female reader.
This reader is surprised and delighted that J.K Rowling has seen fit to write some little pocket guides to the Harry Potter stories. As a teacher and librarian, it has been both heartwarming and heartbreaking to see struggling readers proudly lugging Harry Potter tomes around with them in an effort to be seen to be fully across the Harry Potter books like their peers. These Pocket Potters: Little guides to the Harry Potter stories will make the Harry Potter books more accessible without revealing any surprises that would spoil reading the stories.
The popularity of the Harry Potter series has not abated since Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone was first published in 1997. The books progress in length and complexity but the lexical density stays about the same with Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone having a lexile level of about 880L and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows being about 1030L. The series becomes more complex but many times little kids like to be seen as fully across the whole series. Maybe Rowling herself has seen this - hence the pocket guides. Noone is going to lose any dignity by reading the pocket guides and they provide a lot of insight to everybody (including this reader).
Each of these Pocket Potters has as its subject a different character from the series. It seems that a different artist is selected for each title which happily gives an opportunity for a variety of artists to work on Rowling's books - something that must surely be good for their resumes - a delight to see. Available in the Pocket Potters series are Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and the newly published Professor Dumbledore (of this review) and Luna Lovegood. Hagrid and Dobby will be published in August 2026. All together they make a desirable series to collect.
Pocket Potters: Professor Dumbledore brings Professor Dumbledore to life with plenty of detail that will help the reader of the Harry Potter books. There is no index and no chapter guides. If you want specific information you must flip through pages that bring to light specific aspects of Dumbledore's life and character. Double page spreads tackle different topics eg. Dumbledore's office, Fawkes (Dumbledore's companion), Dumbledore's style, his friendship with Hagrid, his wizardry, his protection and teaching of Harry, and the most beautiful - Dumbledore's values- Lumos! Information is scattered over the pages, designed to take the reader on an adventurous reading journey by requiring that they sometimes turn the book sideways or scan left to right, round and down. The pages contain cartoon like sketches, many arrows pointing from text to picture and many quotes from the books. One very useful page "Welcome to Hogwarts" explains in an annotated picture chart, the structure of Hogwarts (its leadership and house system).
The values imparted by the Harry Potter series are on full show on the "Lumos" page where Dumbledore is quoted over and over again with quotes such as, "You fail to recognise that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!" and "Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth..."
Columbian illustrator Paola Escobar has illlustrated the pocketbook with many, many detailed drawings of a muted, pastel colour.
Pocket Potters: Professor Dumbledore is a delightful and informative little pocket book guide to the Harry Potter books that you will want to add to your collection.
Themes Mini guide to Professor Dumbledore, Character, Leadership, Wizardry, Protection, Love, Loyalty, Courage, Light vs darkness.
Wendy Jeffrey
StEvEn and Parker: Dinos are forever by Parker James
Based on the hit YouTube channel StEvEn and Parker, this graphic novel is sure to grab the imagination of any child who is obsessed with dinosaurs and those who love a good story with fabulous illustrations. It stars StEvEn, an 8 year old who is obsessed with dinosaurs and his long suffering and responsible brother, Parker. StEvEn is the self-appointed CEO of the Dino Club and is in love with Bianca, Parker’s girlfriend. Eager to impress her, he wants to join the pair on a ride at the Orange County Fair, but he does not meet the height requirement. Disgusted about this, he roams around and finally finds a soft dinosaur that he calls Tatum. He decides that Tatum is his new best friend and is very reluctant to try and find his original owner. However Parker insists and what ensures is hilarious.
There are many laugh out loud moments as StEvEn desperately tries to hold onto Tatum while Parker comes up with ways to find its owner. StEvEn’s antics are very funny and Parker is very patient with him as he gets him out of trouble. The bright colours and expressive faces bring the siblings to life and the reader will be delighted with the strong bond that they have.
StEvEn & Parker: Dinos Are Forever! is a light-hearted and fun graphic novel that will leave readers hoping that there are more to come.
Bea is afraid of everything. She is scared hearing the tapping on her window at night, she hates ladders and shadows, is frightened by trampolines, lives constantly with anxiety, and in awe of her friend, Annie Venture, who is the exact opposite. Annie is totally fearless. She eagerly scales ladders, jumps on trampolines, even blows up balloons without raising a sweat. Bea can only look on, knotted as she is by all her fears. Annie tells Bea that she has shed her fears one day at a time.
Bea sees that she does not have to shed all her fears at once, realising that one at a time will be achievable. Before long she is able to take her turn on the trampoline, can scale ladders, blow balloons and sit under a ceiling fan with ease. But she still has one big fear to overcome; the noise at the window at night.
Emboldened, she sneaks over to the window torch in hand and finds the answer to one of her biggest fears.
Pages are filled with words listing the many things Bea is afraid of. Young readers will enjoy peering through the lists adding some of their own. The sweeping lists move the eyes across each page, involving the reader in recognising the things some people are scared of. From trampolines to jumping spiders, jellyfish and colouring books, the lists will engage readers as they spy things that concern them. Some words are offered in large print, again involving the readers in focussing their imaginations. I love the way the two girls are featured, with Annie with her blow away hair, and Bea peering around corners. Readers will love attributing emotions to these two as they read and look, taking in the detail on each page, following the cat and its antics as it mimics Bea and the changes she is going through in developing her fearlessness.
This is a wonderful book to share with younger readers, showing that they are not alone in having anxious moments, and giving them a way to overcome this. The exuberant illustrations will delight all readers, and the play on words encourage their language skills. Teacher's notes and an activity are available from the publisher.
Themes Fear and anxiety, Humour.
Fran Knight
Saving Shark Pup by Sharon Dalgleish. Illus. by Amandine Thomas
Allen & Unwin, 2026. ISBN: 9781761182013. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
Subtitled, the incredible true story, this engrossing tale gives readers an alternative view of sharks and their place in the environment, as a shark pup washes up on the beach.
Surprisingly a shark pup washes up on the beach at Manly in 2017. People try to drag it out to deeper water but can not get deep enough. Several divers with mesh gloves and a net carry the pup put to deeper waters, but disorientated the shark washes up on to the rocks, and is scratched and hurt.
The divers try once again. Using a net they lift the shark out of the water and take it to the Manly ocean pool where it rests for a while, all the humans having vacated the pool.
Locals bring the exhausted divers food and drink and sunglasses against the streaming afternoon sun. But they must use their chain mail gloves to guide the shark way from the sharp edges of the pool, and for an animal of its size, the pool is not deep enough.
Later, a rescue team takes the shark to a sea water tank where the shark can swim in deep water. Divers stay with it to ensure it stays safe. Once again the shark is lifted out of the space, this time taken onto a boat and out to sea where it is released.
The animal was not tagged, saving distress, so no one knows it if survived, but it was given a good chance of doing so by the community which helped in its rescue.
Illustrations support the story, focussing on the shark and its environment at various times during its rescue.
On each page are separate sentences in italics about sharks and their behaviour. Readers will quickly absorb this information testing against what they already know and watching the images of this shark’s rescue for clues about the shark and its needs.
The book not only gives a satisfying story about an animal rescue, but also shows what a community can do, working together, and learning a great deal about sharks as they read.
The first in a series about DI Ryan Wilkins, will please crime fiction fans. Here is an unusual sort of detective, partnered with someone so different that the animosity between them could not be more confronting. Wilkins was brought up in a trailer park outside Oxford, while Ray Wilkins, of affluent Nigerian-London heritage was educated at Baillol Colleges, Oxford. The pair were brought up close to each other but worlds apart. The trailer park is associated with low life and criminal activity, while Ray Wilkins reeks of money and privilege, through his accent, knowledge and clothing. The interaction between the two is a riveting part of this series. And you just know that by the end of book one they will have found common ground.
When a young woman is found strangled in the Provost’s study Wilkins is called in but the confusion of the two detectives with the same name, gives rise to more darts being thrown at the class divisions at Oxford. Ryan has been transferred to Oxford from another jurisdiction, where he assaulted the Bishop of Salisbury. Ryan turns up in this usual outfit, sloppy track pants, trainers and t-shirt. Unfazed by the Provost’s position, Ryan gets into hot water with his partner and his boss, asking the Provost questions that they find offensive. Ryan delves behind the Provost’s bluster and protestaitons, and despite Ryan being taken off the case, he is called back when the Provost’s wife asks for him to return, citing information he needs to hear.
Ryan sees things others do not see, and his background makes him cut across the privilege and machinations of college life.
The night of the murder, the Provost is host to Sheik al-Medina, hoping to bring an endowment to the college, but his links to the absque of human rights brings voices of dissension linked to several refugees working in the college.
A priceless copy of the Koran held within the library at the college is both a lure for the Sheik, and a reason for some wanting its repatriation.
Before long, Ryan has ruffled many feathers, and Ray is being blamed for his partner’s inadequacies. But despite Ryan’s unorthodox behaviour and Ray’s focused doggedness, the storm brewing above their heads, and the lies being told, many twists occur before a conclusion is reached. Plotted beautifully, many strands are followed before the red herrings can be pushed aside and the real killer revealed, along with their motivation.
I listened to this novel, and look forward to hearing the continuing series.
Themes Crime, Oxford, Detection, Refugees.
Fran Knight
Pocket Potters: Luna Lovegood by J.K. Rowling. Illus. by Helen Brady
This reader is surprised and delighted that J.K. Rowling has seen fit to write some little pocket guides to the Harry Potter stories. As a teacher and librarian, it has been both heartwarming and heartbreaking to see struggling readers proudly lugging Harry Potter tomes around with them in an effort to be seen to be fully across the Harry Potter books like their peers. These Pocket Potters: Little guides to the Harry Potter stories will make the Harry Potter books more accessible without revealing any surprises that would spoil reading the stories.
The popularity of the Harry Potter series has not abated since Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone was first published in 1997. The books progress in length and complexity but the lexical density stays about the same with Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone having a lexile level of about 880L and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows being about 1030L. The series becomes more complex but many times little kids like to be seen as fully across the whole series. Maybe Rowling herself has seen this - hence the pocket guides. Noone is going to lose any dignity by reading the pocket guides and they provide a lot of insight to everybody (including this reader).
Each of these Pocket Potters has as its subject a different character from the series. It seems that a different artist is selected for each title which happily gives an opportunity for a variety of artists to work on Rowling's books- something that must surely be good for their resumes- a delight to see. Available in the Pocket Potters series are Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and the newly published Professor Dumbledore and Luna Lovegood (of this review). Hagrid and Dobby will be published in August 2026. All together they make a desirable series to collect.
Pocket Potters: Luna Lovegood focuses on providing the reader with all the detailed knowledge that they would need to know to understand the character of Luna Lovegood. There is a page that gives the reader the background knowledge that they need to know about Ravenclaw House which is Luna's house. There are pages about her individuality, her relationship with Harry, her special affinity with magical animals and her powerful witch skills. Her whimsical, independent and happy, friendly nature is reflected in the quotes chosen and in the artwork. As Rowling chose to write a little pocket book guide to Luna, we can assume that Luna is one of her favourite characters - one who exhibits qualities that Rowling values.
English illustrator Helen Brady has illustrated the pocketbook with many, many detailed drawings of a muted, pastel colour. The drawings accompany each new topic which occupies a double spread. Some are diagrammatic like the sketch of Luna's house. All are annotated with scattered text fragments of information linked to illustrations by arrows.
Pocket Potters: Luna Lovegood is a delightful and informative little pocket book guide to the character of Luna Lovegood who figures quite largely in the Harry Potter series. You will want to add Pocket Potters: Luna Lovegood to your collection of little guides to the Harry Potter stories.
Themes Friendship, Magic, Being true to your unique self, Courage, Inclusion.
Wendy Jeffrey
Mr Bean's side splitting stories by Official Mr Bean
Mr Bean's side-splitting stories is a new paperback comic book based on the Mr. Bean: The Animated Series. It joins several "Official" Mr Bean comic books including Mr Bean's entertaining escapades, Mr Bean's Absurd adventures and Mr Bean's terrific tales. Each book features ten comic strip stories.
Although Mr Bean's side-splitting stories is targeted at the 7-10 year-old age group, it is a book to be enjoyed by older age groups too - especially by lovers of graphic novels, reluctant readers and fans of Mr Bean.
Mr Bean's side-splitting stories feature ten stories including a class room story where Bean tames an unruly class (somehow), hilarious misadventures with his foil, Mrs Wicket, adventures with Teddy, outings and disasters with the hapless Irma...well what can we expect when Mr Bean arrives with Irma at a Valentine Fair on Valentine's Day? What could possibly go wrong? For the real Bean aficionados the blue 3 wheeler car does keep turning up and Mr Bean is always in his mini causing trouble (especially in the game park where he keeps on bumping deliberately into lions amongst other things).
The animated series translates well into graphic novel format as Bean never says much. There is no need for much dialogue but lots of "Hmmm...", "Oo-er...", etc. The fun is in the action, the facial expressions and the visual gags. Mr Bean gets himself into ridiculous situations and always seems to bumble his way out leaving behind a trail of chaos of which he is usually not aware (except for the times when he deliberately and mischievously sets up the situation).The comic strips are bursting with onomatopoeic words e.g.,... " FWOOP", "YAY". "THUNK". "GIMME" etc.
With its brightly coloured comic strips, tilted panels (which emphasize the chaotic action), multi coloured fonts and speech/thought bubbles Mr Bean's side-splitting stories is a visual pleasure and hilarious to read. If you want a good laugh read this book, share it with your friends and collect more of the series!
