Mailbox Monday - 25th August 2026

 On Mondays I will be posting the new books I have received for review, won and purchased over the previous week / month. And here I am again posted my Mailbox Monday on a day that isn't a Monday but Mailbox Tuesday just doesn't cut it.

The books from left to right:

Ella and the Call of the Wild by Cassy Polimeni

Publisher: UWA Publishing

Publication date: 1st August 2026

About the book:

Ella’s class is getting pen pals! They will be writing to kids at a school on the other side of the country. Everyone is excited except for Ella, who finds herself lost for words. What do you say to someone you have never met? But Ella soon discovers she and her pen pal are connected by more than just letters. A creature they both care about needs their help!

The Grey Beret's Guide to Surviving the Odds by Anna Battese

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 28th July 2026

About the book:

Odie Gusberry-Smith doesn't like surprises. But when a mysterious package arrives in the mail, she finds The Grey Beret's Guide to Surviving the Odds – a book that feels like it was written just for her.

Odie is going to need it, because her dad has had the ridiculous idea that they should go on a cruise. When calamity strikes (as she could have told you it would), Odie will need to use every trick in the Guide to keep herself and her alarmingly danger-prone group safe.

Along the way, she might just realise that the Guide is not the only thing she can rely on…

A New Kind of Beautiful by Suzy Zail

Publisher: Walker Books

Publication date: August 2026

About the book:

Paige Wilding has her future mapped out — the Year 10 Art prize. Graduation. A coveted spot in an elite art school in New York. But when she's diagnosed with an incurable eye disease, the perfect life she’s planned starts to blur.

She makes a choice to keep her condition secret and live louder, love wilder, and paint like her life depends on it. Only her best friend Jazz knows the truth, and is helping her cram a lifetime of colour into a single year.
But as her sight fades and she’s forced to give up painting, it’s Zac, her rival for the art prize, who helps Paige find a way back to her art and a new kind of beautiful; messy and imperfect but also raw, unfiltered and fiercely alive.

Who Will You Be? by Calum Smith

Publisher: Children's Book Boutique

Publication date: 2025

About the book:

A heartwarming journey through a parent's imagination wondering who their daughter might grow up to become.

From a fierce firefighter to a star reaching astronaut,

each page celebrates a different career path, told through gentle rhyme and accompanied with charming illustrations.

Hari's Bones by Danny Parker

Publisher: One Tentacle Publications

Publication date: 1st August 2026

About the book:

Hari’s bones are, of course, not bones. They are hopes, aspirations, dreams and ambitions. Who would want to risk breaking them? They are things that need time, time to nurture and develop. To change and adapt. They are the very stuff that keep us strong and supported. Our skeleton.

In avoiding trouble, Hari develops the very skills she will need to exceed all expectations. Her imagination and creativity are always working overtime—she may be dreaming…but she’s dreaming big!

Mama's Wedding by Circle Yuen

Publisher: Lantana Publishing

Publication date: 8th September 2026

About the book;

When Ruby and her little sister Cindy are asked to be Mama's flower girls, Cindy is thrilled, but Ruby's heart is full of questions. As the wedding day unfolds, Ruby witnesses her family change. With gentle support from Granny, Daddy Daniel, and Mama's new husband Alex, she begins to understand that love doesn't disappear ....

.... it can grow in the most surprising ways.

Family Feast by Brooke Graham

Publisher: EK Books

Publication date: 29th September 2026

About the book:

Tallula's family is so embarrassing!

They fight likes cats, they're louder than a herd of elephants and they have worse table manners than wild hogs.

So when Tallula discovers her best friend Mia will be coming to Family Feast she's horrified!

What will Mia think of her relatives? Or can Tallula come up with a plan to teach them to behave?

Love You, Daddy by Karen Blair

Publisher: Affirm Kids

Publication date: 28th July 2026

About the book:

Daddies can be gentle, be good listeners, keep us cosy, help us feel brave – and do so many other wonderful things.

With simple, heartfelt text and playful illustrations, this sturdy lift-the-flap book is perfect for little hands to explore and celebrate all the ways dads make every day special.

Poppy Makes Pockets by Jemima Parker

Publisher: EK Books

Publication date: 7th July 2026

poppy loves collecting treasures... but her clothes  rarely have any pockets. So she hatches a plan.

With scissors, old T-shirts and lots of determination, Poppy sews pockets for herself, her friends and eventually the whole neighbourhood.

Read my review HERE

A Hat for Every Harriet by Jess Horn

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 28th July 2026

About the book:

Harriet wears many hats. She has a hat for listening, for following the rules and even for being silly. Harriet wears a different hat for every job, because every job needs a different Harriet.

But one day, Harriet has too many hats to wear. Can she find a way to just be herself?

From the creators of Bernie Thinks in Boxes comes a beautiful story about thinking differently and accepting yourself in a neurotypical world.

Albert Upside Down by Ian Brown

Publisher: Graffeg Books

Publication date: 27th April 2021

About the book:

Albert the pet tortoise has a problem: trying to reach a tasty treat, he has ended up on his shell, upside down and stuck! Can the other garden creatures overcome their rivalry, team up and help him get back on his feet? Packed with comical, charming illustrations and vibrant colour, this timeless tale shows the power of working together, thinking creatively, and how even the smallest amount of assistance can make a very big difference.

Read my review HERE

Albert Supersize by Ian Brown

Publisher: Graffeg Books

Publication date: 8th March 2022

About the book:

Pet tortoise Albert is on his biggest adventure yet. He must tackle giant dinosaurs and a fiery volcano. Then, back in the garden, he’s called on to help his little friends with a big problem of their own.

Albert and the Pond by Ian Brown

Publisher: Graffeg Books

Publication date: 16th May 2023

About the book:

A new garden pond proves fascinating for Albert. Especially when he befriends an unusual underwater creature. But one day, his new friend vanishes and Albert is sad. He keeps checking to see if they have returned. His other garden chums do their best to cheer him up. But there is no sign – right up to Albert’s long winter sleep. Will the spring bring a happy reunion when Albert wakes and returns to the outdoors?

Albert and the Flood by Ian Brown

Publisher: Graffeg Books

Publication date: 24th September 2026

About the book:

Heavy rain has drenched the garden and the lawn is waterlogged. The garden' s annual

sports day is in jeopardy! Can Albert come up with a plan to save the day? Albert and his friends make a splash and learn it' s not always winning that' s important.

#ellaandthecallofthewild #thegreyberetsguidetosurvivingtheodds #anewkindofbeautiful #whowillyoube #harisbones #mamaswedding #familyfeast #loveyoudaddy #poppymakespockets #ahatforeveryharriet #albertupsidedown #albertsupersize #albertandtheflood #albertandthepond #littlesquirrelsbookshelf #childrenspicturebooks #newrelease #reviewbooks #middlegradereads #australianauthors #bookmail #ausbookbloggers #loveozya #loveozmg 

Mailbox Monday - 1st June 2026

MAILBOX MONDAY

On Mondays I will be posting the new books I have received for review, won and purchased over the previous week / month.

 Books for review:

Flynn of the Bin by Josh Fordham

Published by: Independently Published

on 17th March 2026

About the book:

Flynn looks like any other kid - except he lives in a bin. People make assumptions, jokes are made, and noses are held… but not everything is as it seems...!
Funny, warm and full of heart, Flynn of the Bin invites young readers to look a little closer, ask questions, and discover that some of the most amazing stories are hidden where you least expect them.

Spot the Dot by Kris Herbert

Published by EK Books

on 9th June 2026

About the book:

Meet Spot. A dot from what? Poor Spot forgot. Spot the Dot tells the story of a little dot trying to find his place in the world. When he realizes he’s forgotten where he came from, Spot goes on a journey of discovery. Is Spot a lost full stop? Or did he fall from a mushroom top? Along the way, Spot finds there are many wonderful places he might belong. Simple, rhythmic and graphic, Spot the Dot is a universal story of belonging and finding your own path.

Margo the Magpie's Wish by Terri Walls

Published by: Independently Published

on 1st November 2025

About the book:

Margo the magpie wishes she could laugh like a kookaburra or dazzle like a rainbow lorikeet.

But after a gentle chat with wise Daddy Magpie, she begins to see her own special qualities…and

makes one final wish.

The Billywood Chronicles by Caroline Jones

Published by Hawkeye Publishing

on 17th May 2026

About the book:

Some secrets protect you.

This one could kill him.

Billywood is a haven for twelve-year-old introvert, Jack. For his Grandad, it's a place of secrets. And for Eloy, it's the perfect spot to snatch Jack away.

Dragged through the portal into Orbis - a breathtaking but deadly world - Jack learns of The Deaths, a creeping for destroying everything in its path. If Orbis falls, Earth won't be far behind.

Someone has to stop them.

Turns out, that someone is Jack.

Shifters by Nicole Kelly

Published by Hawkeye Publishing

on 5th June 2026

About the book:

When Emily moves to Japan with her father, nothing feels familiar - she doesn't speak the language, she doesn't understand the culture, and she's never felt more alone.

But everything changes in Kyoto, when she meets Koji - a boy with a mysterious connection to the spirit world. As ancient magic stirs and dark forces begin to close in, Emily is drawn into a hidden world of shapeshifters and secrets.

If I Were Prime Minister by Trygve Skaug

Published by Lantana Publishing

on 26th may 2026

About the book:

A young boy gives his perspective on several things the grown-ups running the country could do differently.

How much happier would we be if all the adults went to nursery once a month to remind themselves how to play? How much safer would we be if Christmas lights were left up all year round to light everyone's way home?

This hilarious picture book treats profound topics with sensitivity and care. This is a book for all those children who dare to dream big and for all those adults who want to look on the world with fresh eyes.

#flynnofthebin #shifters #thebillywoodchronicles #margothemagieswish #spotthedot #ifiwasprimeminister #childrenspicturebooks #newrelease #reviewbooks #middlegradereads #australianauthors #bookmail #ausbookbloggers

Mailbox Monday - 11th May 2026

 

MAILBOX MONDAY

On Mondays I will be posting the new books I have received for review, won and purchased over the previous week / month.

Books for review:

Bella Grows a Bicycle by Lellie Lopter

Published by Five Mile Press

on 1st June 2026

About the book:

Bella wants a bicycle - 

But he birthday is months away!

When dad gives her a tiny seed, he sparks

an adventure that grows bigger every day.

From one small seed to one big dream,

Bella learns that the greatest things start small.

Our Family Zoo by Maura Pierlot

Published by Scholastic 

on 1st June 2026

About the book:

In a home bursting with animals, 

there’s always room for one more. 

 

But who will it be? 

What’s the perfect pet for a home already filled with lots and lots of fun and energetic animals? The biggest and best surprise is just around the corner ...

Belong by Sharon Seymour

Published by Westwords

on 1st April 2026

About the book:

A story about finding friends and fitting in. 

A gentle tale about how to belong.

#bellagrowsabicycle #ourfamilyzoo #belong #aussieauthor #reviewbooks #newrelease #picturebooks #ausbookbloggers #bookmail #2026releases 

Mailbox Monday - 16th March 2026

MAILBOX MONDAY

On Mondays I will be posting the new books I have received for review, won and purchased over the previous week / month.

 

Books for review:

Bravepaw and the Fangstone of Flintfall

Published by Allen & Unwin

on 3rd March 2026

About the book:

An epic Tail of Adventure! Can one gallant mouse find the Gems of Harmony and save her homeland from destruction?

Titch knows that she must find the Gems of Harmony if she is to have any hope of fulfilling the prophecy of Bravepaw.

If only she knew where to begin her quest!

The magnificent Library of Lexhelm seems to hold the answers, or at least its books can help Titch and her friends ask the right questions as they journey into danger ...

But prophecies can be twisted, enemies can be slippery, and sometimes the person it is hardest to trust is yourself.

With all of Alluria on the line, can Titch make the right decision? 

Treeshape by Trace Balla

Published by Allen & Unwin

on 3rd March 2026

About the book:

This beautiful book tells the story of young Trace's awakening to the preciousness of the environment, including her participation in the protests against uranium mining at Jabiluka in the 1980s. Channelling her gift for visual storytelling, Trace reveals emotional truths, shares her commitment to environmental activism, highlights trees that have been meaningful in her life, and explores her deep appreciation of place and connection with First Nations peoples.

With its delicate artwork, heartfelt storytelling and timely themes of compassion and environmental care, this graphic novel will resonate with readers of all ages.

Handbooks for Little Humans- Inclusion by Zanni Louise

Published by Affirm Press on 24th February 2026.

About the book:

Whew, being a human can be tricky sometimes, don't you think?
There are so many things to learn, brushing your teeth, your left and right and how to sign your name.
Here’s another thing to add to your being inclusive.
What does that mean? Good question! Being inclusive means we make the world feel friendly and safe for everyone.
Shall we take a look?
 

#bravepawandthefangstoneofflintfall #treeshape #inclusion #aussieauthor #reviewbooks #newrelease #picturebooks #ausbookbloggers #bookmail #2026releases 

Mailbox Monday - 16th February 2026

 

MAILBOX MONDAY

On Mondays I will be posting the new books I have received for review, won and purchased over the previous week / month.

Book for review:

The Fast Lane by Pip Harrry

Published by Larrikin House available from 28th April 2026.

About the book:

Every day, in sunshine or showers,

Daisy swam precisely 100 laps at

her local pool.

When laidback Frank bombs into The Fast lane, speedy lapper Daisy is frustrated by his slow strokes. Will this fiercely competitive piggy find room in her heart (and her lane) for a dawdling frog?

A charming, fun picture book for kids with a competitive side.

My Spinning Anxious Brain by Dani Vee

Published by Larrikin House available from 31st March 2026

About the book:

My Spinning Anxious Brain celebrates the resilience and courage it takes to have anxiety.

A positive story that empowers kids to accept their brains, love who they are and normalise their feelings.

This beautiful picture book explores the challenges of experiencing anxiety while providing strategies to help keep kids calm.

Celebration Festival by Alysia Kelly

Published by Larrikin House on 28th January 2026

About the book:

Evie Loves Celebrating!

This year she's judging the grand Celebration Festival, with her cheeky pup, Biscuit (who does not like fireworks!).

With so many wonderful cultures to learn about and celebrations to discover, how will Evie choose a winner?

Join Evie on her Celebrations adventure as she learns Mandarin, plunges into freezing water and squelches tomatoes!

#thefastlane #myanxiousspinningbrain #celebrationfestival #aussieauthor #reviewbooks #newrelease #picturebooks #ausbookbloggers #bookmail #2026releases 

Mailbox Monday - Sat 17th January 2026

MAILBOX MONDAY

On Mondays (yes, I know it's Saturday but let's not let that little detail get in the way of a good post title) I will be posting the new books I have received for review, won and purchased over the previous week/ month.

The Midnight Chew by Sally Morgan

About the book: 

In this fun, canine adventure, Boofa Boy Jones and Skippy Gillespie must learn the importance of sharing.

When Boofa Boy Jones steals Skippy Gillespie’s very big bone, a marvellous doggy race ensues. All through the night the pair run through the suburban streets from the doggy dump to the dog park and home again. But who will win the mighty bone, and will they feast all alone?

Archie the Amazing Axolotl by Lana Johnson

About the book:

Archie is a pink axolotl who lives in the shimmering waters of Wiggle Bottom Lagoon. He's full of energy, creativity, and ideas, so many ideas. He loves to build things out of pebbles and pondweed, and sometimes he blurts out his thoughts before he's even finished thinking them. But oh, the brilliance that lives in Archie's mind.

The Pout Pout Fish Movie Storybook

About the book:

The Pout-Pout Fish is a glum, gloomy swimmer who doesn't quite fit in . . . But maybe he hasn't gone on the right adventure yet! Swim along with Mr. Fish as he discovers new places and meets new friends. Turns out being pouty isn't really his destiny. It's much easier to find the courage to be yourself with friends by your side.

The movie tie-in edition of the New York Times bestselling, blockbuster sensation The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna features new characters and many fin-tastic surprises.

Vivi & Oki: What's That Sound by Domonika Tomanek

About the book:

As the first book in the Vivi and Oki series it gently introduces early sounds to help your baby begin connecting sounds with words.

Whether you're snuggling up at home or reading on the go, make story time playful and fun.

A Friend for Hope by Amie White

About the book:

Nine-year-old Zoe Meadows is the new kid in Ivy Creek. For homeschooled Zoe, every day starts the same: breakfast, then to the living room where Miss Ellis awaits. Only today, Zoe can’t focus—not when she notices neighborhood children playing outside, children she’s yet to meet.

Watching all this unfold, Zoe’s parents decide it’s time for a companion—the furry kind, to be precise. Everything changes when Zoe meets Hope at the dog shelter for the first time. The two girls form an inseparable bond over the following months and find in each other the one thing they both craved for a long, long time: a forever friend.


#themidnightchew #archietheamazingaxolotl #thepoutpoutfish #viviandokiwhatsthatsound #afriendforhope #picturebooks #bookmail #australianauthor #ausbookbloggers #friendship #sharing #earlylearning

Mailbox Monday - 14th October 2025

 MAILBOX MONDAY

On Mondays I will be posting the new books I have received for review, won and purchased over the previous week / month.

Books received for review:

Being Indy by Zoe Gaetjens

About the book:

There is no finer place to live than on North Mountain. Folks come from everywhere wanting to live there - including Indy. But the mountain was ruled by Percival, and he had rules. He didn't let anyone in.

This is a story of trying to fit in, and discovering the true worth of being yourself.

I'm Very Busy by Oliver Jeffers

About the book:

It’s Bridget’s birthday, and she thinks it would be fun to spend the day with friends. But Royal has places to go, Rodney has to see a man about a dog, Regis has to wash his hair, and Pearl has a list of items she needs to cross off as quickly as she can. Bridget’s friends are all too busy to hang out!

Will Bridget have to spend her birthday all alone?

The Messy Bath Monster by Tina Wilson

About the book:

Monkey knows there's a MONSTER hiding in the bathroom because it leaves a HUGE MESS behind. Will Monkey discover who the bath monster really is?

In this second book in the Monkey's Great Adventures series, Monkey dives deep into a colourful underwater world in search of the Messy Bath Monster, meeting many sea creatures along the way ... but is it all just in his imagination?

Imaginative, nostalgic and quirky, the Monkey's Great Adventures series, with bespoke hand-knitted toys, is beautifully photographed in locations around the world. Monkey, an endearing soft toy, finds himself in all sorts of scrapes where he learns about himself and the world around him. The book includes original music composed by acclaimed artist, Matt Ottley. 

Cleo the Cloud by Bec Benini

About the book:

Cleo is a small, round cloud who wishes she looked like her impressively -shaped cloud friends. Join her on a journey across the sky where she discovers the magic of self-acceptance, and that being different is a beautiful thing.

#beingindy #imverybusy #themessybathmonster #cleothecloud #newrelease #childrensbooks #bookmail #picturebooks #australianauthor #bookreviews