Lucy 📖 Lover of Reading and Picture Books

Today’s #bookmatchmonday comes with a preface: this picture book pair will make you want to sell your house and go on an adventure!! 🌊🚌 ‘We Live on a Boat’ and ‘We Live in a Bus’ by ✍️🎨 Dave Petzold are warm, adventurous picture books celebrating a family who have chosen lives a little less ordinary. In one, a family sails the seas aboard a boat called ‘Lucky Sea Legs’ while in the other they travel the roads in a bus named ‘Gracie Joy Rufus Bean’. Both stories beautifully capture the rhythms of everyday family life alongside the excitement of constant movement and discovery. I loved the way Petzold balances adventure with the practical details children are so curious about — planning routes, cleaning solar panels, hanging out washing, preparing meals and navigating life in small spaces. The books invite readers to imagine not only the freedom of life on the road or ocean, but also the routines and teamwork that make it possible. The illustrations are filled with perspective, texture and detail, immersing readers in sweeping landscapes, underwater scenes and cosy interiors. There’s a sense of wonder throughout both books, while still feeling grounded and authentic. Perfect for children who dream of adventure, travel or simply imagining different ways of living — and for adults wanting to live vicariously through the pages too (meeee!) Thank you to @thamesandhudsonau for our review copies. #picturebookpair #weliveinabus #weliveonaboat #australianpicturebooks

For this week’s Sunday Shelfie, I’ve chosen some fractured fairytales and clever fairytale reinventions — stories that twist, retell and play with the tales we think we already know. From wolves with bad reputations to crocodiles in place of bears, to a celebration of natural locs — these books invite children to look at familiar stories in completely new ways. Some use a title to tell a different story like Goldilocks to Boldilocks while others reinvent the traditional tales. Fairytale retellings are such a wonderful way to build comprehension too, encouraging children to compare versions, notice patterns and think critically about perspective, character and storytelling. ✨ Top shelf (left to right): 📚 Mary Had a Little Lamb: What Really Happened ✍️ Amelia McInerney 🎨 Natashia Curtin 📚 Axel Scheffler’s Treasury of Fairy Tales 🎨 Axel Scheffler 📚 Hansel & Gretel ✍️ 🎨 Bethan Woollvin Middle shelf (left to right): 📚 Little Red ✍️ 🎨Bethan Woollvin 📚 The Greedy Wolf ✍️ Timothy Knapman 🎨 Jean Jullien 📚 Miss Understood ✍️ Kathryn Apel 🎨 Beau Wylie Bottom shelf (left to right): 📚 Boldilocks ✍️ Deborah Frenkel 🎨 Carla Hoffenberg 📚 Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles ✍️ Michael Rosen 🎨 David Melling 📚 Unbearable ✍️ Kathryn Apel 🎨 Beau Wylie #sundayshelfie #fracturedfairytales #picturebooks #lovefourreading #childrensbooks

‘Time to Go to the Park’ written by Emma Bowd and illustrated by Leila Rudge is a fun rhyming picture book celebrating the simple joy of a day at the park — swings, slides, snacks, dogs, a skateboarding Grandpa and imaginative play with friends. If you have little people, you’ll know how often requests for a park trip pop up and this book captures that familiar childhood excitement beautifully. The soft pencil illustrations are warm and inviting, filled with little details children will enjoy revisiting. What also stood out to me was the incidental disability representation woven naturally throughout the story. Mum uses a wheelchair, presented as simply part of everyday family life and community, reflecting the diversity of real families in a thoughtful and authentic way. This was a considered choice by the author who is a disability advocate and former occupational therapist. A delightfully illustrated read aloud for toddlers and preschoolers that would pair perfectly with a picnic rug and a trip to the playground afterwards! Like Emma Bowd’s other work, this book sits so comfortably within the early childhood category, capturing familiar experiences in a child-centred way. Thank you to @harperkidsau for our gifted review copy. #timetogotothepark #lovefourreading #picturebookreview #disabilityrepresentation #australianpicturebooks

Looking for junior fiction books for an independent reader and need a new title? Here are some fun, highly illustrated series with short chapters, accessible vocabulary and lots of humour to help build reading confidence without it feeling overwhelming. From quirky superpower wig wearing guinea pigs to secret languages between friends and Greek myths with a twist — there’s something here for a range of interests and reading stages. Perfect for newly independent readers moving on from early readers and ready for chapter books. Reading ages vary from child to child but I always get asked so please take this as a loose age guide but I think these would suit 6-10yr olds. 📚 Featured titles: A Little Bit Lola series ✍️ Kiah Thomas 🎨 Bec Kitson Billie B Brown three book Super series ✍️ Sally Rippin 🎨 Aki Fukuoka Guinea Wigs: Fur Power! (First in series) ✍️ Rebecca McRitchie 🎨 Shiloh Gordon Sunny and Storm (First in series) ✍️ Tanya Hennessy 🎨 Rachael McLean Ludicrous Legends: Myths with a Twist (First in series) ✍️ Jol Temple 🎨 David Conley Thank you to the publishers for their review copies. My nine year old twins have been spoilt for choice with these! (One loved the Billie B Brown, Lola and Sunny and Storm books. The other laughed out loud at the Guinea Wigs and Ludicrous Legends books — and those of you who know them will know exactly who loved what!) #juniorfiction #kidsbooks #aussiekidsbooks #emergingreaders #lovefourreading

The ‘Preschool Problems’ series by Ali Rutstein and Nina Nill taps into the very real “big feelings” of the preschool years through playful animal metaphors and relatable everyday challenges. From separation anxiety at daycare and resisting bath time to toilet learning and the wobbly journey of learning to ride a bike — these books understand the emotional world of little children. I really loved the decision to dress each child as an animal throughout the stories. It feels perfectly matched to the imaginative play stage preschoolers are in and adds a softness and humour to topics that can otherwise feel stressful for families. The newest title in the series, ‘Butterflies Do Not Ride Their Bikes’, explores the perseverance required when learning something new doesn’t instantly go to plan. Zara imagines bike riding will feel graceful and easy — like a butterfly flying — but quickly discovers there are crashes, wobbles and frustrations along the way. The intergenerational relationship with Grandpa adds warmth and reassurance to the story and the message about resilience never feels heavy-handed. The illustrations are expressive and sweet with plenty of emotional cues for young readers to connect with. These are the kind of books that invite conversation rather than trying to “fix” behaviour — making them ideal for preschoolers navigating new experiences and growing independence. Thank you to @hardiegrantkids for our gifted copies for review.

I have a #bookmatchmonday for children who love stories filled with hidden magic, whimsical illustrations and the wonder of the natural world. ‘Fairy Forest’ is the latest follow up to the very successful ‘Fairy Beach’ by Sheila Knaggs and Jennifer Falkner. These companion picture books celebrate the enchantment tucked quietly within Australian bush and beach landscapes as tiny fairies and sprites emerge amongst rock pools, sandy shores, riverbanks, grasses and gum trees. Written in lyrical rhyming prose, both books invite children to slow down, observe closely and imagine what tiny worlds might exist just beyond our sight. Jennifer Falkner’s illustrations are absolutely captivating with delicate details young readers will love revisiting to spot hidden fairies scattered throughout each spread. I also appreciated the diversity amongst the sprites and fairies, along with the way nature itself becomes the source of magic and adventure. Fans of Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies or beautifully illustrated whimsical picture books will adore this Australian fairy duo. Perfect for children who love imaginative play, outdoor adventures and stories that spark wonder. ‘Fairy Beach’ was previously gifted for review by @affirmpress and ‘Fairy Forest’ was purchased by me. #fairybeach #fairyforest #picturebookpair #australianpicturebook

It’s Mothers Day in Australia and the U.S. today. I’m thinking of the Mums who carry the mental load, the mums who long to be Mums, the Mums missing a child, the Mums mothering without a Mum, the Mums whose mother is a memory or losing their memories, the Grandmothers who step in and support, the mother figures, the Mums who parent with illness. Happy Mother’s Day. Here are some books about grandmothers, mothers and those who care. A mixture of previously gifted for review and purchased books. Top Shelf * My Mum’s Amazing — ✍️ Phil Cummings 🎨 Hannah Marks * My Nonna Loves — ✍️ Adele Frittitta 🎨 Claudia Frittitta * My Mum is the Best! — ✍️ Nic McPickle 🎨 Tommy Doyle * All the Ways Mum Will Be There for You — ✍️ Sarah Ayoub 🎨 Kate Moon Middle shelf (left to right) * Spare Kisses — ✍️ Pip Harry 🎨 Yiscah Marcatili * Before We Met — ✍️ Gabrielle Tozer 🎨 Sophie Beer * A Mother is a House — ✍️ 🎨Aurore Petit * Baby’s First Mother’s Day — ✍️ 🎨Cheryl Orsini Bottom shelf (left to right) * Mum’s Busy Work — ✍️ Jacinda Ardern 🎨 Ruby Jones * All Mums — ✍️ Sarah Kate Ellis 🎨 Kristen Ellis-Henderson 🎨 Max Rambaldi * Mama and Mummy and Me in the Middle — ✍️ Nina LaCour 🎨 Kaylani Juanita * You’ll Always Be My Baby — ✍️ Jessica Urlichs 🎨 Jedda Robaard #sundaysshelfie #kidsbookshelfie #mothersdaybooks #picturebooksaboutmothers #picturebooks

Children who love facts, animals and asking endless questions will devour these Australian Geographic titles! ‘The World’s Most… ‘series combines real animal photography, bite-sized information, glossaries, contents pages, captions and “Fast Facts” to make non-fiction feel exciting and accessible for young readers. I particularly love how visually organised these books are. Children can dip in and out of pages independently while also learning important non-fiction text features that support comprehension, vocabulary and research skills. Perfect for curious kids, reluctant readers and animal lovers alike. These are the type of non-fiction books I loved to read as a child. Featured: 📚 World’s Most Extreme 📚 World’s Most Freaky 📚 World’s Most Deadly Edited by @savvhollis with cover design by @andywarrendesign internal design by @hannahjanzen_ — we thank @hardiegrantkids for our gifted review copies — my nine year old twins grabbed these! #lovefourreading #childrensbooks #nonfictionbooks #australiangeographic #kidsbookstagram

Warning: kids will love this book! ‘Is This A Plum?’ by Dan Ojari and his son Finn is a delightfully silly and interactive picture book filled with peephole illustrations, visual surprises and playful rhyming reveals. Each page invites children to guess what they’re seeing before the page turn reveals something completely unexpected — a plum becomes a hippo’s bum, a spider turns into a tiger, a snake is a cake! The clever cut-outs and rhyming text make this a fantastic read-aloud for building prediction skills, visual literacy and identifying rhyme patterns in a way that feels effortless and fun. A quirky, laugh-out-loud picture book that’s been much loved by my youngest two in our household. Thank you to @penguinkidsaustralia for our gifted review copy. #funnybooksforkids #picturebookfun #readaloudbooks #rhymingpicturebook #lovefourreading_picturebook

‘The Big Box of Feelings’ is written by Megan Jacobson with illustrations by Beck Feiner and is a thoughtful picture book exploring emotions through the metaphor of feelings being something we “wear.” I loved the way the book acknowledges both the strengths emotions can bring and the ways they can sometimes feel overwhelming for children too. The repeated reminder to “remember my breath and my words” offers a practical strategy for emotional regulation throughout the story. Books about feelings can sometimes lean towards the didactic, but children can’t develop emotional vocabulary if they aren’t exposed to the language of emotions in meaningful and accessible ways. Stories like this help give children the words to better recognise, express and manage their feelings while also opening important conversations with the adults who care for them. I also appreciated some of the book’s points of difference — particularly that the child shares these emotions with a grandparent rather than a parent, as well as the clever visual metaphor of “wearing” feelings throughout the story. Published by @walkerbooksaus — we borrowed a copy from the library. #lovefourreading_selbooks #selbooksforkids #selbooks #thebigboxoffeelings

I love picture books that send me down a little local history rabbit hole and ‘Audrey Skips’ did exactly that. For those not familiar, Audrey is the little skipping girl from the famous neon Skipping Girl Vinegar sign in Abbotsford, Melbourne. First erected in 1936, the sign became a much-loved landmark, dimmed after difficult economic times and the war years and removed and subsequently disappearing in the late 1960s. It was eventually restored after community pressure. This story is a beautiful tribute to that history — and to the way some places and symbols become woven into the memory of a city. Andrea Rowe’s writing is full of rhythm, movement and wonderfully descriptive verbs. Audrey doesn’t just skip — she dances, skitters, criss-crosses, flickers, fizzes and blinks. It would make such a rich mentor text for writing, especially when exploring strong verbs, onomatopoeia and descriptive phrasing. Lisa Coutts’ luminous illustrations are just gorgeous. The dark city streets, glowing lights and warm red of Audrey’s dress all work together to create a nostalgic, magical feeling. There’s a lovely sense of Melbourne’s past held within each page. This is a picture book about history, yes, but also about kindness, community, memory and conservation — about what we choose to keep, and why it matters. A really lovely book for Australian families, classrooms exploring local history or anyone who enjoys picture books that preserve the stories behind our landmarks. Thank you to @midnightsunpublishing and @andrearowe_coastwriter for our gifted review copy. #lovefourreading #audreyskips #teachkidstuesday #mentortextmonday #factualfictionfriday

‘The Dream Keeper’ by Anna Walker is a magical picture book about the worries that can arrive at bedtime and the comfort children may find in stories, dreams and imagination. A little girl lies awake in the dark, full of worry, while a determined turtle makes its way towards her with the comfort of a dream. It’s an imaginative story about courage, reassurance and the small glimmers of light that can reach us when the night feels overwhelming. Anna Walker’s illustrations are absolutely exquisite. There is so much to notice in every spread — the tiny details of a child’s bedroom, the soft glow of lanterns, the movement between real and imagined worlds, and the way darkness is handled with warmth rather than fear. I especially love the nod in the endpapers to a child’s own drawing as the inspiration for the determined turtle Dream Keeper. There’s also a Victor Hugo quote in the endpapers — “What makes night within us may leave stars.” It feels especially poignant for parents who know the long, interrupted nights of worry, wakefulness or comforting a sleepless child. The quote suggests that those hard moments do not remain arduous but with time, they can soften into memories of closeness, comfort and love. When the cost of living is so high, buying a picture book can feel like a considered choice — so it’s worth choosing one children will revisit often. With Anna Walker’s rich, intricate illustrations, this is a book to return to again and again, and a reminder that picture books are often a child’s first experience of art. I purchased our copy. #annawalkerbooks #picturebookswelove #booksforbedtime #australianpicturebook #thedreamkeeper