Happy 2025! Welcome to JWFK’s Summer Collection of books to enjoy and treasure over the holidays and in the lead up to the return to school!
We’ve selected 16 spectacular children’s titles from 2024 that refresh our minds, rejuvenate our souls and reenergise our hearts. From magical adventures at the seaside to exploring small (and wide) worlds around us, taking in the quiet moments to partying to our hearts’ content, discovering the most amazingly creative possibilities and conjuring our biggest imaginations, there’s plenty to delight in these summer holidays! Here are some of our favourites from the blog, including links to interviews with their talented creators, in alphabetical order. Enjoy! 🙂
100 School Days, Deborah Frenkel (author), Laura Stitzel (illus.), Affirm Press.
Before we know it, we’ll be returning to school, and for our youngest school starters, this picture book is a must! This gorgeous book is about all the little (and big) steps, firsts and achievements that culminate into the centurial celebration of reaching 100 days of school! The sublime watercolour illustrations bounce off the pages with enthusiasm as we share in the joyous milestones of those adorable youngsters on their adventure through schooling life. Such a nostalgic treasure for every classroom (and home) bookshelf!
Read the interview with illustrator Laura Stitzel here.
Amigo the Capybara, Amy Freund (author), Kooky Chooky (illus.), Five Mile.
Here comes Amigo, the friendliest and most energetic rodent you could ever meet! Everyone loves a quirky, dancing capybara, except Mila, the grumpy chinchilla. Reminiscent of stories like Tiddalik where rollicking performances are cast to cheer up the lead character, here too, Amigo navigates his relationship with Mila with gusto, compromise, joy and heart. With vibrantly textured and engaging illustrations by Kooky Chooky, this rhyming, expressive celebration of friendship is perfect for young party-goers and lovers of capybaras! (Who isn’t?!)
Read the interview with Amy Freund here.
Cheer Up, Blobfish!, Julie Murphy (author), Rachel Tribout (illus.), Affirm Press.
Celebrate this Festival of Fish with a story where kindness takes centre-stage in the effort to delight a seemingly downcast mate. This increasingly talked about, misunderstood creature of the deep – the blobfish – features in this upbeat and energetic rhyming tale that welcomes difference and embraces uniqueness no matter who you are in the wide ocean. Cheer Up, Blobfish! is bound to turn any frown upside down!
Read the interview with Julie Murphy here.
Counting to Calm, Prasha Sooful (author), Betania Zacarias (illus.), Soaring Kite Books.
Counting to Calm, a board book for the early years age group, focuses on ten practical steps, from one to ten, to regulating emotions, centring oneself in a calm and mindful manner, and repositioning energy in positive ways. Written in charming rhyming couplets to appeal to young listeners, paired with adorable bright and colourful illustrations, this book is the perfect rejuvenation for the soul (especially needed during the holidays!).
Read the interview with Prasha Sooful here.
Everyone Wants an Octopus Book, Liz Ledden (author), Makoto Koji (illus.), Hardie Grant.
Here is an important and timely tale of finding and embracing one’s selves on the shelves (and in the ocean)! A gorgeously told story in amiable dialogue, starring Inky the octopus and a host of marine friends (in their very own book!), this tentacular tale is one of diversity and representation. With stunning, bright and fun illustrations by animator, Makoto Koji, you’ll want to swim to the nearest bookshop to add this to your own bookshelf!
Read the interview with Liz Ledden here.
Fairy Beach, Sheila Knaggs (author), Jennifer Falkner (illus.), Affirm Press.
You can always feel the twinkle and sparkle of magic when fairies are around, and at Fairy Beach, there’s an abundance of wonder and mystique to be found. A truly special Australian story of summer beach night secrets, told in lilting rhyme to match the gentle seashore, accompanied with the quintessence of fairytale magic in its deep evening-hued watercolours. The beautiful representation of our sunny beach fun mixed in with charming hidden nightly surprises make this book utterly magical for readers, beach-goers (and fairy-lovers) of all ages.
Read the interview with Sheila Knaggs and Jennifer Falkner here.
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five, Carla Fitzgerald (author), UQP.
For kids heading into their senior primary school years – this one’s for you! Read this during the school holidays and you’ll be set. This middle grade chapter book comes with hilarious, unique and wacky world record attempts, but more importantly, awesomely fun and wholesome themes of friendship, kindness, self-confidence and persistence. Will Sam prove his special, extraordinary abilities to be the best?
Read the interview with Carla Fitzgerald here.
Kev and Trev: Snot Funny Sea Stories, Kylie Howarth (author, illus.), Affirm Press.
The first in this junior fiction graphic novel series is literally wildly comical as well as literally made to accommodate neurodivergent and hesitant readers and spark their interest in books. It includes carefully designed layouts, fonts, word choice, sentence types and other reading conventions, whilst splashing in rhyme, punny puns, jokes and a whole lot of crazy comm-ocean. Dive into the fun with Kev and Trev as they hunt for mysterious merpugs and missing emergency snacks on their sail through the high, and wild seas! Snot boring whatsoever – actually fin-tastic!
Read the interview with Kylie Howarth here.
Like a Gannet, Kirsten Ealand (author), Deb Hudson (illus.), Windy Hollow Books.
The gannet, an Australian diving bird, is cleverly depicted as a metaphor for little Francie’s interpersonal journey from apprehension to confidence, from the safety of the swimming pool to the challenge of the highest diving board. It’s a nostalgic reminder, particularly for Kirsten (but for many of us, too!) of those childhood summer days at the pool, navigating new skills and experiences in and around the water. Stunning, fresh and energising watercolour illustrations by the superb Deb Hudson splash and sparkle with glistening life, and love, and inspiring triumph. Dive right in and experience the exhilarating joy, just like a gannet!
Read the interview with Kirsten Ealand here.
Mia’s World, Amelia Donnelly (author), Jennifer Bouron (illus.), Little Steps Publishing.
An empowering and divine picture book to bring in the new year; Mia’s World is about awakening the light in our hearts, resilience and connection through cultural and spiritual teachings. This title gently guides readers to reflect upon and learn about interfaith religions and traditions; the beauty and essence of ancient and modern cultures brilliantly captured by illustrator Jennifer Bouron in warm, natural earth tones. Mia’s World is one of those rare and unique treasures with a timeless, universal appeal.
Read the interview with Amelia Donnelly here.
Our Shellharbour, Karen Hendriks (author), Emma Stuart (illus.), Little Shell Books.
From the opening endpapers and all the way through, we are drawn in to the complete beauty, wonder and awe of this New South Wales coastline town, Shellharbour. Written from a place of love, Karen Hendriks brings readers into her home, on a magical adventure exploring ‘from the mountains to the sea‘ with Lani and Oli. A beautifully lilting narrative combines perfectly with the visually stunning watercolour landscapes from Emma Stuart, refreshing our senses at every page turn. Welcome to Our Shellharbour!
Read the interview with Karen Hendriks here.
Pet Sitters; Billy Goat Boogie, Ella Shine (authors), Lisa Flanagan (illus.), Puddle Dog Press.
The Pet Sitters series are purr-fect as both read alouds and for newly independent junior readers (and animal-lovers) looking for an adorably heartwarming and absolutely hilarious set of books to engage in an enjoyable reading experience. In this tale, in Barefoot Springs, Lina and Cassie find themselves on a bleating, or rather, a blaring pet sitting assignment with a billy goat that likes to… dance! Billy Goat Boogie is a hysterically hilarious episode with apt vocabulary and illustrations that will most certainly keep readers on their toes (and hooves) until the very end!
Read the guest post from Ella Shine (Penny Reeve and Cecily Anne Paterson) here.
Ray, Sarah Zweck (author, illus.), Little Book Press.
Over the break, take the time to stop and appreciate the little things around you. Sarah’s sweet narrative and mixed-media illustrations meld together just perfectly, creating something gentle, hopeful, and simply beautiful to read, look at and ponder – just as you would being captivated by a fluttering butterfly! Big feelings of loss and disappointment turn into heartwarming happiness when a child finds joy and comfort in the little things around them. Gorgeous!
Read the interview with Sarah Zweck here.
Riley’s FAILPROOF Guide to Breaking a School Record, Dani Vee (author), Jules Faber (illus.), Larrikin House.
Here’s another sensational record-breaking guide for junior to middle graders! (You know it’s essential holiday reading!) Could watching other people’s epic FAILS be any funnier?! ‘From being superglued to the principal’s dog, accidentally swallowing the class pet and being constantly embarrassed by her dad who is intent on saving the world in a kaftan.’ Well, if you’re Riley Noodle, trying to break a school record may just be the most important thing to conquer … but is it? Through the ridiculousness comes valuable life lessons in this fast-paced adventure, gloriously supported with illustrator extraordinaire, Jules Faber‘s smart and witty sketches. So good.
Read the interview with Dani Vee here.
Three Dresses, Wanda Gibson (author, illus.), UQP.
Wanda Gibson’s energy comes through in her story based on her childhood and holidays with her family in Far North Queensland. Her illustrations capture the joy of simple things such as walks on the beach, climbing sand hills and wearing her favourite new dress. Such a beautiful nostalgic, summer feel!
Read the interview with Wanda Gibson here.
Two Can Be Trouble, Penny Macoun (author), Paul Nash (illus.), Macoun Publications.
Meet Toby and Jordan – two brothers who inadvertently turn their backyard (and their mum’s clean washing) into a wet, sandy and dirty mess! Two Can Be Trouble is a picture book splashed with fun, humour and warmth for readers who understand the joys of sibling play (and sometimes, rivalry!). Two Can Be Trouble is a rollicking tale of teamwork and brotherly love, with plenty of scope for encouraging leisurely, yet responsible, outdoor play. Perfect for summer outdoor fun!
Read the interview with Penny Macoun here.
Thanks to our brilliant creators, once again, for all the wonderful book treasures we are privileged to share and discover on the blog. Look forward to more enchanting reads in 2025!
Happy reading, writing, creating and exploring! x
