Junior Book Club – this month’s reads
Friday, 8 May 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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Bedtime and No Buts Dan Thomas & Richard Watson Scholastic ISBN: 9781761640681 RRP: $19.99 Age: 3 and over |
| Why young readers will love it: “Boris has endless excuses for not going to bed in this all-too-relatable story. Club readers might enjoy sharing their own clever bedtime delay tactics and challenge themselves to imagine even more excuses for why they can’t go to bed. The wilder the better! They could also take a close look at the dialogue-style narration. How do fonts and positioning with illustrations help distinguish who’s speaking?” – Rebecca Young, senior publisher, Scholastic | |
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Bring It Back Deborah Kelly Wombat Books ISBN: 9781761113635 RRP: $14.99 Age: 8 and over Teacher resources |
| Why young readers will love it: “Bring It Back is all about a boy named Liam who’s unsettled about the idea of going into high school the following year and starts to follow the lead of Clint, a new kid in primary school. It isn’t long before Liam finds himself in serious trouble. It’s all about identity, peer influence, growing up and making good decisions. Bring It Back is also the first book in the Wombat Shorts series, middle-grade novellas created for quick reads. They’re suitable for everyday readers wanting a quick story, as well as reluctant readers.” – Lynne Stringer, editor, Wombat Books | |
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Captain Smellybottom and the Queen’s Lost Gold Ray Willis Boolarong Press ISBN: 9781923321281 RRP: $21.99 Age: 8 to 12 |
| Why young readers will love it: “Readers will be hooked from the very first page by the irresistible mix of pirates, treasure and outrageous humour. Captain Smellybottom is the kind of villain kids love to hate –disgusting, dramatic and completely unforgettable. Mack is a relatable and inspiring hero, showing young readers that you don’t need to be the strongest to win – just brave, clever and determined. His journey makes the story not just exciting, but meaningful.
“This is a book for reluctant readers, kids who love humour mixed with adventure and fans of imaginative, slightly cheeky storytelling. Above all, this book delivers that perfect balance of heart, humour, and high-stakes adventure, leaving readers eager for the next instalment in the series.” – Emily Kelly, sales and marketing manager, Boolarong Press |
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Don’t Let Them Leave Mike Lucas Penguin ISBN: 9781761355462 RRP: $19.99 Age: 14 and over |
| Why young readers will love it: “Ghosts, a cursed island, and one gripping story! Inspired by Cornish folklore and Gothic themes, Don’t Let Them Leave is an utterly terrifying story that stays with you long after you close the final page. Mike Lucas continues to flex his horror-writing muscles with this sinister, spooky tale.” – Lara Fox, marketing executive, PRH | |
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The Dream Keeper Anna Walker Walker Books ISBN: 9781529520682 RRP: $27.99 Age: 3 to 7 |
| Why young readers will love it: “In a quietly powerful exploration of imagination, courage and resilience, The Dream Keeper follows the story of a young girl and a turtle on parallel journeys across the city and sea, each navigating uncertainty and discovering strength in unexpected places. With its emphasis on visual storytelling and the emotional nuance of everyday moments, this picture book offers a strong angle for Junior Book Club readers interested in illustrations, rich with the themes of fantasy and imagination.” – Laura Mowlem, publicist, Walker Books | |
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If I Could Eat the Stars Ed Sally Murphy & Rebecca M Newman, illus Briony Stewart Fremantle Press ISBN: 9781760996482 RRP: $17.99 Age: 8 and over |
| Why young readers will love it: “Young readers will love it because it is interactive and fun, thought-provoking and accessible. Poetry is best when it is read aloud, and this delightfully dippable collection is packed with poems of all shapes and sizes that young readers won’t be able to resist sharing. Whether it is James Foley’s laugh-out-loud two-line ‘terse verse’ or Meg McKinlay’s thoughtful ‘Lessons from Trees’, there is a poem here for every member of the book club.” – Alex Allan, CEO, Fremantle | |
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Once Upon Tomorrow Karen Comer Lothian ISBN: 9780734424013 RRP: $19.99 Age: 14 to 18 Teacher resources |
| Why young readers will love it: “From the award-winning author of Grace Notes, this luminous verse novel explores the interwoven stories of three girls on the cusp of life as they search for truth and connection amid family dysfunction, climate change and the march of new technology. Spanning 100 years from the present to the future, Once Upon Tomorrow deftly navigates challenging and important topics which can be discussed in a book club setting, including teen pregnancy, philosophy and spirituality, environmental damage and the treatment of women across history.” – Jeanmarie Morosin, head of children’s publishing, Lothian | |
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Soccer, I Just Love It! Alister Nicholson, illus Tom Jellett A&U Children’s ISBN: 9781761182860 RRP: $22.99 Age: 4 to 8 |
| Why young readers will love it: “Perfectly timed to coincide with the football fever that surrounds the Men’s World Cup, Soccer, I Just Love It! is a wonderful celebration of the beautiful game. Readers will love the jaunty rhyme, engaging tone and energetic illustrations, which will encourage young soccer fans to enjoy the game on the page and in the park, and will inspire dreams of World Cup glory.” – Jodie Webster, publisher, books for children & young adults, A&U | |
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We Live on a Boat Dave Petzold T&H ISBN: 9781760765439 RRP: $26.99 Age: 4 to 7 Teacher resources |
| Why young readers will love it: “Following a free-spirited family aboard their beloved boat Lucky Sea Legs, Dave Petzold has crafted a windswept adventure that is both wild and warm – full of moonlit swims, salt spray and the joy of a life built around togetherness and curiosity. For families who dream of adventure or who just love a great read-aloud, We Live on a Boat is a book that lingers. “Funny and utterly charming, the book stretches young imaginations and invites kids to rethink where – and how – a family can live. Young readers will instantly be won over by Petzold’s fun, lively illustrations and a story that gently challenges everything they think they know about home. We Live on a Boat invites kids to dream well beyond four walls and a backyard and out to the open seas where anything is possible.” – Olivia Mattiske, marketing & publicity coordinator, T&H | |
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The Wild Unknown Emily Gale Text ISBN: 9781923058835 RRP: $16.99 Age: 10 and over Teacher resources |
| Why young readers will love it: “This is a fast-paced mystery where the protagonist, Eddie, lives in a world full of tech: a bot in his ear giving him advice all day, a bathroom scale that identifies illnesses, and classroom bots keeping track of him at school. When Theo disappears and Eddie begins developing strange powers, Eddie must work with his friends to connect the clues. The Wild Unknown is a hopeful story that raises questions about the difference between real and online friends, and is likely to make for timely discussion among young readers.” – Aideen Gallagher, publicist, Text | |
Category: Book Club
