Junior Book Club – this month’s reads
Friday, 6 February 2026 Books+Publishing @booksandpublishing
Searching for your next great read to share with kids? Our Junior Book Club highlights new titles each month that are perfect for classrooms, libraries and family reading time. From fun and imaginative adventures to books that spark curiosity and conversation, these are the latest releases worth adding to your shelves and sharing with young readers of all ages.
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Ayaiga: Neighbour and Hero Thomas Higgs with Colin Hall, illus Wally Wilfred NLA Publishing ISBN: 9781922507785 RRP: $24.99 Age: 10 to 14 Teacher’s notes |
| Why young readers will love it: “This book tells the remarkable true story of Australia’s only Indigenous recipient of the Albert Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life. It is a tale of courage, heroism and selflessness that will inspire classroom discussions about the story’s place in Australia’s history, and the ongoing work of reconciliation.” – Madeleine Warburton, senior administration officer, NLA | |
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Behind the Screens Niraj Lal, illus Aśka UQP ISBN: 9780702268946 RRP: $19.99 Age: 9 to 13 |
| Why young readers will love it: “This illustrated guide to getting your first phone, navigating the internet and knowing who to trust online is essential for 9 to 13-year-olds. Written by the charismatic Niraj Lal, host of the ABC’s kids’ podcast Imagine This, Behind the Screens is a balanced and optimistic resource that empowers our next generation with the awareness and confidence to safely spend time online. Highly readable and informative, this book should have a spot in every classroom, library and family home.” – Cathy Vallance, publisher, UQP | |
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Calm Your Farm Dale Baker Big Sky Publishing ISBN: 9781923514256 RRP: $24.99 Age: 4 to 8 |
| Why young readers will love it: “Book clubs and classrooms love stories that mix humour with lessons about emotions and resilience. Calm Your Farm isn’t just a rhyming romp; it’s a hilarious guide to handling chaos with calm, as flying pigs, water-gun-wielding ducks and a stressed farmer create comedy that teaches emotional regulation and mindfulness. Dale Baker’s vibrant illustrations and zany rhymes spark laughter, discussion and reflection in both home and school settings.” – Mika Gonzales, marketing and social media assistant, Big Sky Publishing | |
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The Firefly Crown Yxavel Magno Dino Bloomsbury Children’s Books ISBN: 9781547615162 RRP: $24.99 Age: 8 to 12 Teacher’s notes |
| Why young readers will love it: “The Firefly Crown is perfect for junior book clubs because there are so many fascinating topics to discuss, such as: if you could wield insect magic, which insect would you choose? (For the record, I’d choose a Christmas Beetle because maybe then I’d get the power of Christmas!) It’s always magical to learn about a new culture. Yxavel Magno Dino was the first Filipino author I’d ever read. There will be a lot of Aussie kids out there who either have Filipino heritage themselves or who have Filipino friends. This book will be a fun starting point for learning more about the fantastic, magical creatures and legends of the Philippines. But most important of all, The Firefly Crown just has everything that kids love: an unlikely hero, temperamental magic and heart-stopping adventure!” – Sonia Palmisano, children’s book manager, Bloomsbury | |
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Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees Kate Foster Walker ISBN: 9781760659936 RRP: $17.99 Age: 8 and over |
| Why young readers will love it: “For young readers who enjoy a little chaos and adventure, Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees is one not to be missed. Readers can dive into the mystery alongside the detective trio – Freddie, a neurodivergent boy; his eccentric grandma Lilly; and his trusty assistance dog, Hobnob. Kate Foster’s new series is perfect for young readers seeking suspense, adventure and a wild mix of animal fun. With curiosity, courage and clever sleuthing at its core, this story will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next book in the Freddie Jones series and will have them returning to the characters they love and trust.” – Laura Mowlem, publicist, Walker | |
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Ludicrous Legends Jol Temple and David Conley HarperCollins ISBN: 9781460767719 RRP: $16.99 Age: 7 and over |
| Why young readers will love it: “Ludicrous Legends reimagines the action-packed Ancient Greek myths with a hilarious twist, offering a fresh take that young readers will love. Its modern language and comic-style illustrations not only bring the stories to life but also make them accessible and engaging for reluctant readers. Fans of Percy Jackson will connect with the humour, the relatable characters and the timeless themes of adventure and self-discovery, sparking conversations and inspiring imaginations.” – Ana Vivas, publisher, HarperCollins | |
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My Brother Otto Ingrid Laguna Text ISBN: 9781923058729 RRP: $14.99 Age: 8 and over Teacher’s notes |
| Why young readers will love it: “My Brother Otto is an important story that balances lightness and hope with big, emotional topics. Quinn’s expecting a baby brother, but she’s sick of all the excitement and wants things to stay just the way they are. But when Otto is born 3 months early, Quinn becomes the best big sister any baby brother could have. A gentle tale told from the heart, this is a story that will help spark conversations with young readers about loss, resilience and the enduring power of love.” – Aideen Gallagher, publicist, Text | |
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My Sister, the Todzilla Jacinta Froud, illus Matt Shanks Affirm ISBN: 9781923293298 RRP: $22.99 Age: 3 to 7 |
| Why young readers will love it: “Young readers and their grown-ups will love this book for its hilarious (yet very relatable) take on toddler tantrums and family dynamics. It’s packed with humour and heart, encouraging empathy, teamwork and problem-solving between siblings, while gently helping kids recognise and name big feelings. With vibrant, expressive illustrations and a storyline that reassures families they’re not alone, this is the perfect book for anyone navigating the chaos of toddlerhood.” – Tash Besliev, executive publisher, S&S | |
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Oh Brother Georgina Chadderton Penguin ISBN: 9781761046346 RRP: $19.99 Age: 9 and over |
| Why young readers will love it: “A fantastic graphic novel to start conversations on neurodiversity, Oh Brother is a graphic memoir detailing Georgina’s childhood growing up with her autistic brother Rob. Capturing the fun and the difficult moments of having a neurodiverse sibling, the memoir encourages visual literary and allows young readers to engage with non-fiction in an exciting, unique way.” – Lara Fox, children’s marketing executive, Penguin | |
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Our Voices Together Inda Ahmad Zahra and Sid Fini HGCP ISBN: 9781761211249 RRP: $24.99 Age: 4 to 9 |
| Why young readers will love it: “Kindness, compassion and love can change the world, but seeing the impacts of war can be incredibly hard to bear. This book demonstrates lots of ways we can show up and be a better ally, but more than that, it gives you hope, makes you feel braver and reminds you that one small voice can make a difference.” – Pooja Desai, publisher, HGCP | |
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Red Star Rebels Amie Kaufman A&U ISBN: 9781761182556 RRP: $24.99 Age: 12 to 18 |
| Why young readers will love it: “For me, Amie is the queen of banter! A fast-paced action romance suitable for young teens or anyone who enjoys will-they-won’t-they romantic tension, Red Star Rebels is about a privileged boy and a runaway girl trying to survive in what they believe is an abandoned Mars space station. Crackling with energy and wit, this is ideal for you if you loved the take-down-the-bad-guys-one-by-one of Die Hard, or the pressure-cooker, falling-in-love-during-a-disaster of Speed, or the make-it-yourself-with-sticky-tape-and-a-spoon ingenuity of The Martian.” – Anna McFarlane, publisher, A&U Children’s | |
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Romeo v Juliet RA Spratt Penguin ISBN: 9781761349744 RRP: $16.99 Age: 9 and over |
| Why young readers will love it: “Step into Verona with this new time-twisting tale from RA Spratt! A sword-swinging adventure full of Shakespearean hijinks and hilarious characters, young readers will love this fresh take on Romeo and Juliet, especially if they have recently studied it in class. Great for discussions on Shakespeare and adaptations!” – Lexi Stevens, children’s publicist, Penguin | |
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Ruby’s Perfect Fire Safety Plan Wendy Rudge & Tom Jellett Wild Dog ISBN: 9781742037110 RRP: $24.99 Age: 5 and over Teacher’s notes |
| Why young readers will love it: “Children soak up so much more information than we realise, and this is equally true when it comes to the frightening imagery of bushfires and floods on the news. Discussing a book like Ruby’s Perfect Fire Safety Plan in a book club setting is a great way to address these fears with children, but also to empower them to take small actions in their own homes so that they can feel prepared in the event of an emergency.” – Lisa Mclellan, editorial assistant, Wild Dog Books | |
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UnBEARable Kathryn Apel, illus Beau Wylie Scholastic ISBN: 9781761528842 RRP: $19.99 Age: 3 to 7 |
| Why young readers will love it: “In this captivating, colourful and witty adaptation of the classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears story, readers will instantly love the engaging rhyme, playful puns and clever details in the art. But UnBEARable also plays with perspective, urging readers to look deeper into the stories they’ve heard. It encourages discussion on character and intentions, and the readers in a Junior Book Club could passionately plead their case for who is the real swindler (or swindlers!) in this tale. It could also be interesting for them to read this alongside Miss Understood – a retelling of the classic Three Little Pigs – by the same creative duo, and identify similar themes of perspective and prejudice. Perhaps this would also prompt readers to challenge their impressions of characters in other well-known stories.” – Rebecca Young, senior publisher, Scholastic | |
Category: Book Club
