Have you ever wanted a best friend? A friend to share your favourite hobbies and places and secrets with? That’s what our special squirrel protagonist wants. He just wants a very best friend. He meets Pock, and Pock is a wonderful best friend (even if he is a little quiet). But then Moo comes along, and he seems like a great best friend, too. So what do you do when you have two wonderful friends that could both be your best friend? How do you choose which one should be the best, because you can’t have two best friends. Can you? A Better Best Friend is a thought-provoking picture book about ..read more

Jerk Chicken Magic is a delightful journey into the life of a multi-generational immigrant family, the Higgins, from the point of view of charming 6-year-old Lizzy.  Set against the backdrop of Jamaica's flavorful culinary tradition, this book takes readers on a savory adventure through the magic of jerk chicken. Authored by Noel-Andrew and Roxanne Bennett, Jerk Chicken Magic is more than just a children's picture book—it's a celebration of resilience, adaptability, and the profound significance of preserving cultural heritage.  As Lizzy learns about the history and preparation of j ..read more

At only 24 years of age, Sydney’s Alexia Paglia is adding to her already growing list of achievements by releasing a new children’s book all about maintaining good heart health called My Strong Heart, just in time for Heart Health Week from 6th to 12th May. With cardiovascular disease (CVD) affecting 1 in 4 Australians (that’s over 4 million people), clinical researcher and medical student Alexia Paglia's mission is to lower the rates of CVD, improve health outcomes and educate children at a young age so they can take positive health behaviours well into adulthood. As well as recently winnin ..read more

In Shelwich, the tide has gifted tide-blessings to practically everyone in varying forms. Ista Flit’s gift is the ability to take on the appearance of any person she has seen, amongst other things. Her Pa had left Aunt Abigail’s house and come to Shelwich to work and buy a flat for them to live together. When his clarinet is delivered to Ista at her aunt’s place with a letter, she learns that he has disappeared. Ista leaves secretly and arrives in Shelwich to try and find him. The sinister Alexo Rokis, fox-faced and wolf-eyed, on her arrival, steals the clarinet, the only thing left of h ..read more

With a title so hefty it needs its own aeroplane seat, it’s no wonder that the laughs from this book are also weighty in the extreme. Author John Larkin (appropriate name!) may well be the ultimate dad-joker. In the best ways. Although Brittany & co are banned from bringing their horses to school, they figure out a way to travel for free to Paris and compete in an international event without a scrap of training. As you do. The tongue in cheek, rogue nature of Larkin’s prose mean that Brittany is at once a biting, visceral, naïve yet overall, (surprisingly!) accurate representation of an 1 ..read more

Smarty Pup, the smartest dog in the world, is back in an all new story, Talent Quest. The fourth book in Anh Do's Smarty Pup series is packed full of everyday adventures for new readers.  It begins with Dad's birthday. Birthdays mean presents and if they're to find the right one, JJ will need to remain strong against deliciously distracting food smells at the shops.  But what to buy for him? And do they have enough money to buy it?  JJ and Lily hunt for spare change without much luck. Then they discover they have the chance to win a cash prize at the school talent quest. What w ..read more

Kids do all sorts of things to our hearts, and this is the concept My Heart by Katrina McKelvey and Deb Hudson explores. When I found out you were coming … my heart glowed. When we shared our first snuggle … my heart melted. From birth through the toddler years and all the way up to the first day of school, this heart-warming picture book explores that loving connection between mum and child that grows as kids do. McKelvey pours her whole heart into this story, creating a wonderful book for the younglings as well as a story for older kids to explore when their older, to learn about their ..read more

Mia and her family live above their fruit shop. Their extended family are always around with lots of Greek food at the centre of their gatherings.  Mia loves to sing, dance, and entertain at every opportunity. She is excited because her stylish, beloved aunty - theia Athina who lives in Paris, is coming to visit. (Mia is her theia’s ‘one’ and ‘only’. That’s what her name means in Greek). The family is preparing a party to welcome her, with lots of traditional food. Cyprus haloumi is at the top of the list. At school, Mia’s drama teacher takes the class to see a play starring her favouri ..read more

Fear not, you are not seeing double. We are super excited to introduce another new Junior Reviewer into our illustrious KBR family.  Last week we met the delightful, Elle Freestone. Now it's time to put your hands together for the utterly fearless and fabulous, Asha Freestone.  Like her sister, Asha will be sharing her enthusiastic love of all things literary with us in the months to come.  We simply can't wait to read more, Asha! Meanwhile, welcome! Discover more about Asha via her 12 Curlies, below. 1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you. I can recite the alpha ..read more

One of the first things that is apparent with this stunning picture book, is the slightly subdued nature of the divine illustrations. Set on a rainy day, these pencil drawings are anything but gloomy – rather, they have an air of magic and mystery about them. Indeed, they are totally compelling in all the best ways. Reena hates rainy days. She hates the way the dark clouds make everything look so dull. Rekha loves rainy days. She loves the way the rain makes the earth smell. These sisters are utterly adorable, and when Rekha drags Reena outside to catch a glimpse of an amazing rainbow in the ..read more