Junior Book Club – this month’s reads
Friday, 5 September 2025 Books+Publishing @booksandpublishing
Searching for your next great read to share with kids? Our Junior Book Club highlights 10 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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Big Dreams (Sleepover BFFs #1) Fiona Harris Scholastic ISBN 9781761642265 RRP $15.99 Age: 9+ |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘Sleepover BFFs is a new series for middle-grade readers who love books like The Babysitters Club. The series focuses on a group of girls who set up a sleepover business, helping younger kids run themed sleepover parties. Readers will love the relatable themes of friendship, facing failures, teamwork and rivalries. It will appeal to both reluctant and proficient readers and is an accessible story for a wide audience. Perfect for book clubs with readers of varying ability with talking points around conflict resolution and reaching personal goals.’ – Laura Sieveking, publisher, Scholastic | |
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Childish Morris Gleitzman Penguin ISBN 9781761343759 RRP $16.99 Age: 7+ Teacher’s notes |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘Childish is a humorous stand-alone novel about two 11-year-olds (Arkie and Dot) who tackle a problem in their neighbourhood (pesky potholes!) that adults seem unable to acknowledge, let alone solve. Young readers will be cheering for our kid heroes as they take on grown-up grumpiness with bravery, patience, sympathy and creative thinking. This delightful story showcases the resilience and creativity of kids in the face of adversity!’ – Rebecca Diep, head of children’s campaigns, PRH | |
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Dig, Chop, Shake Timothy Nabegeyo and Children of the Djalama Clan with Sandra Lees ILF ISBN 9781923179349 RRP $24.99 Age: 4+ |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘Perfect for the littlest ones, the colours and action verses will have them jumping off their feet and dancing around the home as you read. Created by the Djalama Clan from West Arnhem Land, this book will captivate early readers with its accompanying song – accessible via a QR code on the back cover – and introduce them to some Kunwinjku words along the way.’ – Nea Close-Brown, editor, ILF |
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A Guide to Falling Off the Map Zanni L Arnot Lothian ISBN 9780734423597 RRP $19.99 Age: 12+ |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘This is a funny, tender, messy and authentic story about two teens who fall in love on the precipice of things falling apart. Tender and insightful, this is perfect for fans of Biffy James, Nina Kenwood and E Lockhart. This is Australian YA at its very best.’ – Jeanmarie Morosin, Head of Children’s Publishing | |
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Mega Rich Guinea Pigs Kate & Jol Temple HarperCollins ISBN 9781460767207 RRP $16.99 Age: 8+ |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘Young readers will love Mega Rich Guinea Pigs because they will want to know how five talking guinea pigs (and one capybara that thinks he is a guinea pig) spend their fortune by tapping their butts to pay for anything they want! They call it BUTT PAY.’ – Ana Vivas, Publisher | |
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This Season’s Draft Jason Gent A&U ISBN 9781761181696 RRP $19.99 Age: 13–18 |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘Set in the year leading up to the AFL Draft, following the experiences of six teenagers who are in its orbit, this superb YA novel is unique, compelling and full of footy. Perfect for sporty kids who will get swept along by the action, then quietly caught up in the emotion.’ – Jodie Webster, publisher, A&U | |
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One Koala, One Hundred Trees Leesa Allinson, illus Heather Potter & Mark Jackson Wild Dog Books ISBN 9781742036854 RRP $24.99 Age: Interest level 3+, reading level 6+ Teacher’s notes |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘Young readers will love this book because koalas are equal parts fascinating and adorable, but also because the story taps into that basic, innate desire so many of us have to care for the environment and all of it’s creatures. The artwork also features many beautiful, funny details for readers to discover as dad hurries around after his koala-saving kids. Illustrators Heather Potter and Mark Jackson, the genius team behind One Little Dung Beetle, work their magic again with one of Australia’s favourite furry icons. This story, filled with themes of community, family, conservation and sustainability, will prompt rich discussions about how we care for our environment and investigation into the organisations already undertaking this important work. The book and accompanying teachers’ notes will encourage people of all ages to get out in their communities and find out how they can help.’ – Mark Russell and Lisa Mclellan, editorial assistants, Wild Dog Books | |
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Song of a Thousand Seas Zana Fraillon UQP ISBN 9780702266317 RRP $14.99 Age: 8+ Teacher’s notes |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘From the brilliant mind of award-winning author Zana Fraillon comes this lyrical verse novel about homecoming and friendship. Told through the perspective of Houdini the octopus, Song of a Thousand Seas crackles with energy and plays with poetic language that engages young readers to the last page. Brimming with heart, hope and octopus facts, this mesmerising story teaches young readers about healing our oceans and each other. ’ – Cathy Vallance, children’s publisher, UQP | |
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Too Big to be a Fairy (A Little Bit Lola #1) Kiah Thomas, illus Bec Kitson HGCP ISBN 9781761214547 RRP $12.99 Age: 4–8 |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘Between Lola’s over-the-top plans and the super cute artwork, this series is perfect for book clubs. It’s the kind of story that will have kids giggling and spark creative conversations about how they would tackle the situation if they were in Lola’s shoes.’ – Steve Shepherd Spargo, children’s campaign manager, HGCP | |
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Windy Washing Day Yvonne Low, illus Kate Talbot Midnight Sun ISBN 9781922858672 RRP $29.99 Age: 3–7 Teacher’s notes |
| Why young readers will love it: ‘Windy Washing Day is a delightfully funny, rhyming romp filled with crazy zoo animal antics. This is the perfect read-aloud story with accompanying hilarious illustrations. Young readers will love the anticipation of seeing where the flying clothing will land and what the animals do with the washing. The colourful and textured illustrations keep youngsters busy spotting cheeky details, and the rhythmic text rolls easily off the tongue. An ordinary day, which becomes extraordinary.’ – Anna Solding, publishing director, MidnightSun | |
Category: Book Club
