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Spare Kisses (Pip Harry, illus Yiscah Marcatili, Lothian)
Released April 2026
A young girl’s close and loving relationship with her grandmother is the subject of Pip Harry’s Spare Kisses. Told in gentle rhyme, the story follows Eve and her sprightly nan... Read more
The Curator (Wendy Tyrer, Perentie Press)
Released April 2026
Set against the inspiring backdrop of the National Gallery of Victoria, The Curator is a young adult graphic novel by author and illustrator Wendy Tyrer that delivers a gripping adventure... Read more
Frank the Monster (Mats Strandberg, trans Julia Marshall, illus Sofia Falkenhem, Gecko)
Released April 2026
Frank the Monster is a gentle introduction to horror in chapter-book form, written by Swedish writer Mats Strandberg and translated into English by Julia Marshall. The story follows Frank, a... Read more
Myra in the Middle (Seetha Dodd, illus Peter Cheong, UQP)
Released April 2026
Uplifting and true to life, Seetha Dodd’s Myra in the Middle is a junior novel that weaves together themes of family, identity and navigating change. Myra, a 7-year-old maths enthusiast... Read more
Fearless (Kelly Canby, Fremantle)
Released April 2026
Kelly Canby’s Fearless will delight and reassure children, parents and teachers with its hopeful message that fear need not be overwhelming or permanent. Bea Ware is frightened of everything, moving... Read more
The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks (Fiona Harris, Affirm)
Released April 2026
In The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks, Fiona Harris (Musical Markus) introduces 12-year-old “Rock Goddess” Gracie Sparks, who is devastated to be starting at a different high school than her... Read more
Come Home, Bigibila (Corey Tutt & Irma Gold, illus Jessica Tedim, A&U Children’s)
Released April 2026
For parents and teachers seeking engaging, educational First Nations stories, Come Home, Bigibila is an ideal starting point. Written by Kamilaroi man Corey Tutt (The First Scientists) and Irma Gold... Read more
The Escape Game (Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss, Penguin)
Released April 2026
The Escape Game is the new, immediately captivating YA mystery by Marissa Meyer (Cinder, Renegades) and Tamara Moss (Lintang and the Pirate Queen), set in the world of reality television, where... Read more
Fuzzy Feelings (Michelle Mackintosh, illus Cat Rabbit, Little Smith)
Released April 2026
Michelle Mackintosh and Cat Rabbit’s Fuzzy Feelings has a resonant line on the cover that sets the emotional tone for the book: “When you have big feelings, everything can be... Read more
Life and Breath: Stories (Ursula Dubosarsky, Christmas Press)
Released March 2026
Life and Breath: Stories brings together 13 short stories by Ursula Dubosarsky, offering a delightful showcase of her distinctive ability to inhabit the shifting borderlands between memory, imagination and self-discovery. Though... Read more
The Belly of a Wolf (Julianne Negri, UWA Publishing)
Released March 2026
The Belly of a Wolf is a powerful young adult verse novel by award-winning writer Julianne Negri. Little Red is grieving and struggling to return to school and connect with... Read more
The Mighty Pipsqueak (Poppy & Pipsqueak #1) (Deborah Kelly, illus Amie Sabadin, Wombat)
Released March 2026
The Mighty Pipsqueak is the first charming book in the Poppy & Pipsqueak series by Deborah Kelly for readers aged 6 to 10. Poppy lives on a farm with her... Read more
The Flower Garden: A Changi Secret (Claire Saxby, illus Lucia Masciullo, Walker)
Released March 2026
Complex history becomes accessible to young readers when told through intimate, human stories; The Flower Garden: A Changi Secret uses this technique elegantly. CBCA-winning author Claire Saxby (Iceberg) and illustrator Lucia... Read more
My Super Uncle (Dannika Patterson, illus Seantelle Walsh, Ford St)
Released March 2026
My Super Uncle is a charming picture book about a child and their “everyday superhero” uncle. Written by Dannika Patterson (Zoom) and illustrated by contemporary Noongar artist Seantelle Walsh, each... Read more
Forever & Ever (Allanah Hunt, Text)
Released March 2026
Forever & Ever is Barkindji and Malyangapa author Allanah Hunt’s debut novel and a devastating exploration of first love, loss and the perilous work of growing up. Set in the... Read more
The Lonely Lunch Club (Your Next Read Silver) (Maddy Mara, illus Laura Stitzel, Affirm)
Released March 2026
The Lonely Lunch Club, written by Maddy Mara and illustrated by Laura Stitzel, is the first title in the Your Next Read Silver series. Benji and Alice both drift to... Read more
Good Young Men (Gary Lonesborough, A&U Children’s)
Released March 2026
Good Young Men is the 4th novel from award-winning Yuin author Gary Lonesborough (I’m Not Really Here), told from the perspective of 3 First Nations boys in Year 12 who... Read more
Genie Snail (Bethany Loveridge, illus Chris Kennett, Little Book Press)
Released March 2026
In Genie Snail, author Bethany Loveridge (Renegade Timeline Officer) and illustrator Chris Kennett combine forces to deliver a bright, engaging and hilarious story about a young child who meets a... Read more
The Feathers of Farwood and the Gripps Curse (Jayne McIntyre, Riveted Press)
Released March 2026
Jayne McIntyre’s debut novel, The Feathers of Farwood and the Gripps Curse, is the first in a new trilogy. Set in the small Australian town of Farwood, the story blends... Read more
Nature Knows (Yvette Farmer, illus Chloe Jasmine Harris, T&H)
Released March 2026
Nature Knows is a gentle picture book that steps quietly into the growing conversation around children’s wellbeing and the restorative power of time outdoors. Yvette Farmer, a primary school teacher with... Read more
