Con, a middle schooler, is confused and consumed with inner rage, perceiving the world is against him. He narrates so we will have some inkling of his evocative inner turmoil and self-loathing, fearing that his dad left them because he was bad. When he lashes out at his regular tormentor at school, even his best friend Kyron becomes afraid of him. Suspended from school, his mother can’t risk taking any more time off work and Con’s mindset spirals during the lonely days alone in the apartment. It doesn’t help that his violent assault on Mickey has provoked Mickey's brother’s gang to get square. Afraid to leave the building, he is boosted when Mr Williams invites him to visit the rooftop garden, built by Gloria and himself.
I spread my arms out wide and I whoop. What is this? I say to Mr Williams. He’s opening the sea-green shed. What is this place? Peace, he says and he laughs…this young Con, is the Upside.
Con truly is uplifted by the vast clean sky above and Gloria’s rows of overflowing garden planters. But his salve comes from helping Mr Wilson care for the homeing pigeons. Con is awestruck by the birds' beauty, sensitivity and intelligence. He loves to handle them, admire their differently toned grey and irridescent feathers. He listens to the stories of their navigational abilities as couriers to distant towns, and feels proud they trust and accept him. Watching the impact of the old man’s kindness and later the community’s support makes this a truly heartwarming read.
Con knows he’s earned Mr Williams trust when the old man takes a trip for a few days, leaving the pigeons in his care. Before his return Con has an idea to use the birds to send his own messages far and wide in order to track down his father. But before the birds return, vandals learn about the “Upside” from Kyron, and nothing will ever be as good again – or so Con believes - Mr Wilson is not the only good guy in the neighbourhood.
Jessica Cruikshank ‘s painted cover, unlike her sketched chapter motif, is a portrait of Con surrounded by the wonders of The Upside. The publisher includes a teaser for Balen’s new novel October, October, an About the Author section and Teaching notes.
All ages will learn about a boy finding peace and beauty from being present with family, friends and nature. Katya Balen’s books convey hope and possibility through very different characters - figuring it out with a little help from humans (and animals) who keep showing up for them.
Themes Family, Acceptance, Self-belief, Bullying schools, City, Pigeons.
Deborah Robins
Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne revenge by Brian Freeman
Head of Zeus, 2026. ISBN: 9781035920082. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
Jason Bourne is part of Treadstone, a super-secretive organisation that uses Bourne’s skills, as an assassin and spy, to control information and manipulate the direction of world powers and operatives. Bourne though has had significant portions of his memory wiped out and frequently struggles to work out his place in the secretive world of his life, and the manipulation of Treadstone seems to impact his own life disastrously. In trying to unravel his own involvement in past deaths involving Chinese assassins he becomes embroiled in an investigation with missing data files, extremely intrusive surveillance, a mega-rich businessman and double agents and untrustworthy sources of information. Where will Bourne end up this time, and will he ever fill the holes of his past or is he just a pawn in a larger contest?
For those who have begun the Bourne series through Robert Ludlum’s books or have watched the Bourne movies, this next instalment in the action-packed series, will be another reading delight for Bourne fans. The confusion of a life with significant amnesiac gaps is part of the intrigue of the Bourne sagas, but there is significant violence included in the life of an assassin and much mistrust between characters. This is a book for adult readers that like action and espionage stories. The Mega-rich character has surveillance capabilities that defy description and raise suspicion about the world of wealth and the power it can wield. Bizarrely, Bourne is described as a ‘moral’ assassin and yet much happens in this complex story that muddies this definition. With a fast-paced style and some convoluted plot twists, this is a book for adult readers who can cope with the roller-coaster ride of the assassin, with violent action and sexual activity as part of his role. The story is compelling, confronting and confusing in equal measure.
Themes Espionage, Assassins, Lies and truth, Memories, Amnesia, Psychological therapy.
Carolyn Hull
Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Text Publishing, 2026. ISBN: 9781923058774. (Age:10-14) Recommended.
What does sleepy Sommer Springs Tennessee have that Knoxville doesn’t? A Pony Club! For 11 yr old Harper that means a new vista - barn, horses and kids her own age coming and going in the paddock behind the cramped cottage she now shares with her mother. But she is a city kid and assumes she is not into horses – yet. In this first title in the Ride On series, Harper must settle down away from her city, her school, her mates, her best friend Cat and the father who “blew up” their family by having an affair with Cat’s mother.
Betrayal, divorce animal cruelty, friendships, bullying, racism, jealousy, horses and parenting are all ripe for discussion. Miss Chelsea mentors Harper as a stable hand since she has shown aptitude in saving a dying horse she was given. Through the Pony Club and school she meets a handful of horsey kids including Dante a Puerto Rican and Night who appears to be non-binary.
Phoneix, the abused horse is the therapy horse she didn’t know she needed. Who is saving who? Can she forgive her father, and her best friend who may have kept his secret? Or can Pheonix help her appreciate her natural affinity for horses - perhaps help her embrace grace and forgiveness.
Bona fide horse lover and two-time Newbery Honor–winning author of The War that Saved my Life, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley weaves several themes into the simple story of a girl’s first horse – a fragile but magnificent beast she has saved from the knackery even though she’s never ridden one before.
Haley Tippman designed the cover art in the style of colouring book outlines roughly shaded. Indeed some kids are forced to grow up too soon and Harper is healed in part by the object of her compassion – a new relationship that informs all her human relationships and losses to set them free.
Only 20 short chapters (176p) and author’s note, the School Library Journal proffers high praise: Not just for horse lovers; it is for anyone navigating major life changes and grappling with learning to forgive. Teacher's notes are also available.
Did you know? The word 'robot' comes from a Czech word, robota which means forced labour or work. Page 7
This is the prefect introduction to an intriguing and fascinating book about robots. Created in an ever-expanding field of computer science, engineering and maths, the construction of robots is advancing in every way. The author, Smriti Daniel, works for CSIRO and spends some of her days interviewing, writing and learning as much as she can about robots.
Beginning with a comprehensive history of the invention and continual development of robots, the book then moves onto how robots are used in rescues. They have been used in search & rescue, getting into places where it is unsafe for humans e.g. Fukushima and travelling long distances through space like the Voyager 1 spacecraft, or exploring deep below the earth’s surface both on land and at sea.
There is a discussion about roboticists: the people who create the robotic machines. Their background may be in mechanical or software engineering, biology, communications, marine biology, astrophysics and ethics. These roboticists can work in a number of different industries and fields including medicine and home automation. This appears to be an expanding and growing industry and may spark some future interest for young readers.
The written text is highly accessible, supported by clear explanations, labelled diagrams, photographs, and engaging “Did you know?” fact boxes. Profiles of dedicated scientists add a human dimension, while the glossary, index, and detailed contents page make the book especially useful for students and educators.
The inclusion of teacher notes further strengthens its value as a classroom resource and may provide an excellent starting point for educators. Robot Responders, Smriti Daniel, 9781486318421
Themes Robots, Rescues, Human collaboration, Ethics, Emerging Technologies.
Kathryn Beilby
Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm by Samantha-Ellen Bound
“Wherewithal has fallen. When their beloved home comes under siege, the Wherewithal crew flee through the portal to the Realm of Fae. Behind the walls of the Faerie Market, they search for ways to stop the increasingly powerful Red Cap from achieving Realms-wide domination. But Red Cap's army is growing stronger. Old and new enemies are rising, the Realms are in disarray, and Celeste's powers are gone - maybe for good. With a battle on the horizon, and the lives of all those she loves at risk, Celeste will require every bit of cleverness and cunning she has picked up from the Realms for this last fight.”
From the introduction which described a wardrobe portal to another realm, the story had me intrigued. Was the story going to be a Narnia like tale? Immediately, a multitude of characters emerged alongside Celeste and I was grappling to identify each. Not having read any of the previous books in this series, I feel that I was initially challenged by the sheer quantity of different characters, many of whom had appeared in previous installments. In the beginning, I struggled to keep track of each character, their role in the story, their connections to others, and their special talents or abilities. On occasion, I was uncertain as to whether the author was describing an individual or a group of characters due to the pronouns used. Despite my difficult start, as the story unfolded and I got to know the characters, I found the book to be an engaging read.
Having been introduced to the Percy Jackson books by previous students, and enjoyed the links to mythology in Riordan’s series, this was similar and made it appealing to me. Other Percy Jackson fans may well enjoy this series too. (True confessions, though…I had to do some research as I read, in order to identify the mythological context of the characters mentioned in this book.)
As the story ended, I was totally invested and pleased to see the ways in which Celeste had grown and the sisters had come to respect one another. The end of the book was a satisfying conclusion to the series but certainly leaves the way open for future adventures.
My only advice to other readers would be…to make your life easier, read the Seven Wherewithal Way series in order!
Sometimes there are author and artist combinations in picture books that ensure success no matter what the subject material. To my mind, Jane Godwin and Anna Walker are one of these perfect matches. Accessible to readers of all ages, this book is uplifting and philosophical. Originally published as an ordinary picture book, the title has now been rereleased in board book format.
Despite the brevity of this simple story, it provides snippets of wisdom about the things that truly matter in life, and delivers a deeper and more profound truth than can be found in many lengthy tomes.
With advice about the daily administrivia of life, it advises the reader, “Don’t forget to make your bed, and wear socks that fit your feet…Don’t forget to brush your teeth…Don’t forget your coat.”
Wonder, hope, courage, creativity, play, imagination, and taking time to appreciate the joys of nature are all highlighted, as is the importance of positivity, kindness, caring for and helping others. The book concludes with a mention of community… “Don’t forget that life is long, you’re not alone, that you are strong, and don’t forget that you belong.”
With so many additional details hidden amongst the illustrations, this book will provide plenty of interest to even the youngest children. I have loved sharing this title with my eighteen-month-old grandson who has been engrossed in both pictures and story as we have read it on countless occasions already. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
The countdown is on to Greg Heffley’s birthday. Unfortunately, not only has he failed to invite his friends to his party, he’s been busy working out what to wish for on his special day. With his family seemingly preoccupied with a multitude of other activities, Greg realises that a surprise party is being planned…or is it? As his dreams dissolve, he decides that all he really wants is to receive a rare trading card that’s worth lots of money, and works hard to ensure this plan comes to fruition. Will he be successful or not?
As a teacher librarian, I’ve spent almost two decades issuing the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series to eager readers but, despite the simplicity of these books, have never read a single title. Finally, with the release of this title, the 20th in the series, I’ve read my first Jeff Kinney book and totally understand the appeal.
Published in a large, bold font, appearing to have been written on lined notebook, and interspersed with a multitude of simple, cartoon style illustrations, this series is easily accessible for emergent readers to those older readers who might otherwise be disinclined to pick up a book. There is a lot of humour included as we are shown what goes on in the head of young male, with nothing going quite as Greg has planned. Many readers would find it easy to relate to the story, hoping to have a positive resolution for the protagonist, in the belief that they too could experience the same. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, easily devoured in a single sitting but with enough detail in the illustrations to make it worth revisiting and investigating the humour more closely.
Themes Family, Friends, Fitting in, Wishes.
Jo Schenkel
Old games by Fiona Hardy
Affirm Press, 2026. ISBN: 9781761638275. (Age:Adult, young adult)
When private investigators Teddy and Alice are tasked with finding the ashes of a famous tennis player, Perry Perrineau, who has been dead seven years it is understandable that the player’s husband, Suneet Prasad, wants a discreet investigation out of the public eye. The urn containing his ashes disappeared during a party at their luxurious house on the Mornington Peninsula to celebrate the unveiling of a statue of the celebrity. As Teddy is still recovering from being shot in the shoulder and Alice’s sister had been hired in a security role at the party, Choker, their boss might have thought it a suitably routine job for the friends, but it turns out to be far more dangerous. Their investigations begin with those attending the party and they find a growing list of suspects, from the sculptor who likes to incorporate something personal into her creations and the fanatical tennis fan, to his mother, fiercely protective of her son’s celebrity. No strangers to violence the pair travel up and down the peninsula pressuring suspects to give up their secrets about Perry’s life and death. This is the sequel to Unbury the Dead and I probably would have enjoyed it more had I read that first. I found I had to refer to my notes to see who the many minor characters were and there seems to be a considerable backstory unrelated to the plot. Bursts of violence seem a bit pasted-on for effect, especially the gunshot which triggers the traumatised Teddy. I am not familiar with the setting but was not left with a sense of place. Those who do know the Mornington Peninsula and have read the previous book may well enjoy this one.
Themes crime investigation.
Sue Speck
The wheels on the bus and other songs by Play School
ABC Kids, 2025. ISBN: 9780733344428. (Age:All)
For anyone who grew up watching Play School, each song in this collection will undoubtedly be well and truly entrenched in your brain already. Accompanied by photographs of Jemima, Humpty and Ted, this book will provide a delightful trip down memory lane for Australian parents and grandparents who were allowed to enjoy a daily dose of screen time, watching this iconic program on television. It was only looking closely at the cover that I recalled that 2025 was in fact the 60th anniversary of this show. Whilst the book doesn’t contain the levels of humour that could be delivered on screen, the book is a must have for anyone wanting to maintain connections to the program, passing on the simple joys of song and rhyme to the next generation.
Containing snippets from The Wheels on the Bus, Five Little Ducks, Old MacDonald had a Farm, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Little Peter Rabbit, There were Five in the Bed, Der Glumph, A Sailor went to Sea Sea Sea, and Five Little Speckled Frogs, I’m guessing you will be able to sing along with each song as you flip through the pages. Although many of the songs have additional verses, this gives a glimpse of each nonetheless.
Hatzopoulou’s romantic fantasy is a very timely novel, with its strong arguments for peace and kindness instead of war. The world is threatened by strange Dark creatures emerging from underground through sewer manholes and cracks in the Earth, but for Sascia, a girl who has always been fascinated by the Dark, this inspires an insatiable curiosity, not fear. She and her cousin Danny nurture the Darkmoths and Darkplants they discover, and work for the Umbra program for Young Researchers similarly exploring the mysteries of the Darkworld. But for most people, the Dark presents a threat, and the government rushes to develop stronger weapons to defeat their perceived enemy.
Moth dark is an unusual mix of myth and time travel. Sascia is like an Ariadne of Greek myth determined to find a way through a labyrinth of danger and confusion, whilst Nugau the princet, the gender fluid being she falls in love with, appears sometimes from the future, sometimes from the past, their two interweaving timelines knotted together as ‘ymneen’. It’s a story of crossing timelines rather than time travel as such, but the novel retains the emotional flavour of Niffenegger’s The time traveler’s wife.
Sascia’s close friendship with her ever loyal and supportive wheelchair bound cousin Danny and the loving embrace of her hardworking Greek family provides a grounding element to an otherwise fantastical story; a brush of realism over a magical tale, adding warmth and humour.
The pages turn quickly as Hatzopoulou keeps the tension level high. I’m sure YA readers will be easily drawn into this latest romantasy with its determined and fearless female protagonist and the strong moral messages of kindness and caring for others different from ourselves.
Themes Romantasy, Myth, LGBTQIA+, Diversity, War.
Helen Eddy
Before you close your eyes by Scott Stuart & Jess Racklyeft
This gorgeous picture book is filled with easily accessible snippets of wisdom for readers of all ages. With each page containing two pairs of rhyming couplets, accompanied by delightful and detailed pastel illustrations, this title holds a lot of appeal and interest for even the youngest of children.
Important advice is offered on each page…
Learn from your mistakes, but let them go Celebrate the positives Show gratitude for nature, friends and people who help Be resilient when things are hard or don’t go your way Expect to experience a range of emotions Dream and be ready for new adventures Rest and know you are loved
The blurb accurately describes this book as follows “With its gentle lullaby-like text and warm, comforting art, Before You Close Your Eyes encourages children to reflect on their day, be proud of what they’ve achieved and let go of things they can’t control as they head off to sleep. From bestselling author Scott Stuart and award-winning illustrator Jess Racklyeft comes your family’s new bedtime ritual.”
Parents or caregivers who choose to follow this advice, helping children reflect on the day’s experiences using these prompts, will most likely assist children to be at peace with themselves each night, better prepared to face the joys and challenges of the coming day.
Themes Bedtime.
Jo Schenkel
The Whisperwicks: The impossible trials by Jordan Lees
Penguin Random House, 2025. ISBN: 9780241625101. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
From the opening pages, bearing snippets from “The Book of Barely Believable Stories”, one is drawn into another world where the celebration of the Midsommer festival is underway. Claris meets a young boy who knows her name but not his own, thereby setting the scene for mystery and adventure.
Meanwhile, the mundane Wyvern-on-the-Water is far less interesting, until Benjemiah Creek finds a piece of witchstone, and reconnects with the magic he has previously experienced. His joy grows as his doll is restored to life and he is able to hug his ‘poppet’. Soon, the pair is transported back to Wreathenwold where problems await.
Quickly, Benjemiah reconnects with his friend Elizabella Cotton whom he had met on his first visit to Wreathenwold, and they are joined by new friends Mea and Silas the mapmaker. As a team, they work together to save the missing children of Wreathenwold. Will Mildred Fogge’s ‘wisdom’ help them to fix everything before Midsommer ends or not?
Friendship, loyalty, problem solving and acceptance of others are key themes of the story, as differences are embraced and new connections are made. As the story concludes, Benjemiah’s mother describes him as being “incomprehensibly reckless and stupid, but brave nontheless…” and the importance of family, security, affection and honesty shine through.
The good news for the reader is that it’s clear Benjemiah’s adventures in Wreathenwold are not over yet.
Not having read the first book in the series before reading this title, I’ll be keen to read it now and will eagerly look forward to the third installment.
This is another tale of bizarre and ridiculous adventure involving Skulduggery Pleasant, the skeletal super-charged problem solver in the world of impossibility. With his faithful side-kick Valkyrie Cain they have regularly ‘saved the world’ and in this mystery-detective-adventure they become homicide investigators and responsible for unraveling a future that could be apocalyptic. And all of this is liberally coated with a thick layer of sarcasm.
This is the kind of ridiculous adventure that only fans of Skulduggery Pleasant could love. It entangles the skeletal wonder worker and his assistant into a series of deaths (including one with a beheading) that take place within the Department of Prophecies. The result is exceptionally eccentric and twisted and there are characters that are chronically lacking in intelligence or fortitude. Sidebar conversations are often dripping with a viscous sarcasm that takes attention from any plot progress but adds a humorous quality to the story dealing with prophetic, magical or evil intentions. I am not sure that this will immediately appeal to those with a gentle nature or a preference for realism in fiction, but readers aged 11-14, who have previously discovered the unconventional realm of Skulduggery Pleasant and who are impressed by the sarcastic tone scattered through the book, will pick up this latest Derek Landy offering with a measure of pleasure. Skulduggery is not my favourite ‘hero’ and I do not particularly love the weirdness of this plot or the ‘evil’ characters that drop in to create a twist or two, but there are moments of lightness that overcome my reticence.
Four statues in a museum decide that it is time to return home. A Neptune like man with a trident, a Venus like female Greek statue, a bust that looks like Julius Caesar and a statue of a thinker, all decide that they need to be home. They raid the lost and found collection, clothing themselves in outfits that might help them fit in. They say goodbye to their friends then find their way to the sea, catching a ship to Italy. They feel immediately that they have found home but what to do next. They find Julius Caesar at the Colosseum and he uses words that are strange to them, telling them to get out of his spotlight.
They explore the city, deciding that things have changed so much that there is no longer a place for them.
Finding themselves in a forest, they take shelter, even suggesting they return to the museum. But Elvira greets then and asks them to go to her house. Here she feeds them, even though they cannot eat, and gives them a bath, their first in two thousand years, before they are tucked into bed to sleep. They find a life for themselves in Elvira’s garden, the most beautiful backyard in the village.
They are home.
Distinctive illustrations support the story as the four statues search for their home.
Using only a few colours, the wonderful characters are brought to life as they don modern clothes and search for that part of the ancient world they came form.
Kids will enjoy recognising the places they go to, and the places they were from. The ideas promoted by the story will encourage readers to think about some major issues felt by museums and countries today. Just where do the statues belong? How did they get from their countries of origin to a museum far away? The title, The Returnus, is a humorous nod to the idea of returning cultural artefacts to the country of origin. This is called Repatriation and is an idea being discussed widely.
The illustrations evoke details of some places the statues would have known during their lifetimes two thousand years before, and will encourage readers to find out what they are and where to see them.
Themes Humour, Rome, Statues, Museums, Repatriation, Cultural icons.
Fran Knight
The future book by Mac Barnett. Illus. by Shawn Harris
Simon & Schuster, 2026. ISBN: 9781761639302. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
In the future the sun is called moon, the moon is called sun. It is a place where bananas are called apples and apples … well, apples no longer exist. Readers will dive head long into this book of topsy turvy, of things being differently named in the future. And stretch their imaginations.
If you sneeze, you say, ‘Forgive me, Susan’, while to say thank you means a fish is placed on one’s head. All deliciously silly and nonsensical, ensuring kids will be rolling around helplessly laughing as the book is read aloud. And spare a thought for the person reading, tears rolling down their faces as they turn the page to see an array of people all called by the same name, Charlie Cheese Face, or stumble over the cat being called a Meowing life form, and the dog, well, he is called dog.
I love the way the text has the reader thinking ahead, but then something quite different from what is envisaged, occurs. It keeps the readers on their toes.
Noses are not called noses in the future, but mushrooms, so a plate of mushrooms for breakfast in the future, could look less inviting than expected.
Each page offers a different meaning for words well known, and offers a different slant on the use of that word. Kids will be enraptured thinking of wider implications, or sharing sentences with the new words replacing the old.
Bolly Molly hoo hoo is the name of a supermarket in the future, and a short story uses all the words from the book, about a trip to the bolly bolly hoo hoo to buy some fruit.
Lots of sentences will be constructed using the new words, and suggestions for other words, while kids get their tongues around the ones offered.
The illustrations reflect the fun of the text, making sure readers understand the text in all of its silliness. Ink and gouache illustrations fill each page, offering an image of the word under discussion. On the cover a man with incredible futuristic sunglasses sits quietly with a fish on his head. Questions will immediately spring to readers’minds as they open the book, anticipating … well, just anticipating.
This wonderfully involving nonsensical story will captivate kids with its delicious humour and equally enthralling illustrations. The idea of looking back from the future will provoke kids into thinking about the changes that will occur, and what it will mean for them. And will entertain, provoke and cause lots of laughter. And the Simon and Schuster website tells us that two more books in the series will be published. What larks.
