A bookseller shares her top picks for kids
Is there any greater book recommendation than a bookseller loving it so much, they choose to share it with their own loved ones? I think not! These are a few new favourites, by Kate Adams of Collins Booksellers Thirroul
By Kate Adams, of Collins Booksellers Thirroul
Is there any greater book recommendation than a bookseller loving it so much, they choose to share it with their own loved ones? I think not! These are a few new favourites that (avert your eyes, family and friends!) I’ll be gifting this year.
For babies and toddlers, I love how My First Lift-the-Flap Nursery Rhymes (illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius, ages 0-4) blends classic nursery rhymes with colourful, modern illustrations and interactive flaps that will engage even the tiniest of readers. There’s a QR code you can scan to hear the songs, which is particularly helpful if you find yourself struggling to remember the right tune.
My favourite picture book of the year is What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking (by Tina Oziewicz with illustrations by Aleksandra Zajac, all ages), a hugely imaginative and thoughtful exploration of the feelings that live inside us. “Calm strokes a dog. Insecurities build cages. Courage takes a nap in the middle of a dark forest.” Exquisitely illustrated and surprisingly substantial, this is a classic in the making!
The latest in the beloved Story Orchestra series is an interactive first piano sound book that we’ve had too much fun playing with ourselves. With The Story Orchestra: I Can Play (illustrated by Jessica Courtney Tickle, ages 3-7) you can learn eight famous classical tunes as easy 8-bar, one-finger melodies. Kids and grown-ups alike won’t be able to resist.
Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples (by Isaiah Firebrace with illustrations by Jaelyn Biomaiwai and design by Keisha Leon, ages 5+) furthers Firebrace’s mission to have Aboriginal history taught in every classroom by establishing a foundation of First Nations knowledge with 20 key topics, from the importance of Elders to the Dreaming. The illustrations are bold and contemporary, the text accessible yet impassioned. This is a perfect addition to any Australian home library.
Parents fantasising of a solution to the barrage of questions that pop into children’s minds at bedtime will delight in The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions (by Isabel Thomas with illustrations by Aaron Cushley, ages 4-8), as will their endlessly curious kids! This genius illustrated book offers answers to questions that have left me stumped as well as questions I can’t believe I’ve never thought of before.
Explore Your World: Creepiest Crawly Critters (by locals Tim Flannery and Emma Flannery with art by Jessie Willow Tucker) is the fourth in this bestselling series and any – or all! – of the books would make the perfect pressie for young nature lovers. This series is bursting with wild facts and vibrant illustrations that will have readers gasping in surprise, laughing with delight and learning lots along the way.
If you’re after an unputdownable novel for the young reader in your life, come see us in store so we can make a personal recommendation based on their likes and interests. There are SO many to choose from, and that’s why our team is here to help you find the perfect present!
Meet the writer
Kate Adams is a bookseller with more than 10 years’ experience in bookstores around Sydney. She has qualifications in writing, editing and book publishing, but reading and sharing book recommendations is much more fun! You can find her at Collins Booksellers Thirroul where she is the store manager. Kate lives in Wollongong with her partner and dog, both of whom you can also find working in the bookstore.
