Review: Who Will You Be? by Calum Smith

 Who Will You Be? is a charming story about a father imagining the many career paths his young daughter may take in life. The beautiful foil title text really enhances this sweet cover.

illustrated by Danica Publico

Publisher: Children's Book Boutique

Publication date: 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 28

RRP: AU$24.95 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the author

This delightful picture book tells the story of a father's wonder over what future his young daughter's life will hold. From veterinarian or astronaut to athlete or teacher each profession showcasing his daughter's strengths.

Young children will see themselves in each role as it is described in simple text with accompanying pictures by Danica Publico.

Calum Smith explores some of the career paths a child may take as they grow older. Different occupations that require different personality traits.

Who Will You Be? is a read-out-loud story brimming with love.

The charming illustrations by Danica Publico in subdued colour tones give a calming feel to the story making it perfect for wind-down bedtime reading.

This hardcover story book also has an accompanying softcover colouring book with all the images from the story. Match the colours in the story or use your imagination to make it as colourful as you like.

Even though the father has all these dreams for his daughter, ultimately he simply wants her to believe in herself. There is no limit to who you may become.

My rating 4.5 / 5 👧👧👧👧½

Recommended age: 3 - 6 years

Both the story book and colouring book can be ordered through the publishers website:  https://childrensbookboutique.com.au/

#whowillyoube #calumsmith #childrenspicturebook #australianauthor #littlesquirrelsbookshelf #ausbookbloggers

Review: If I Were Prime Minister by Trygve Skaug

If I Were Prime Minister was originally published in Norwegian and translated into English by Rosie Hedger.

If I Were Prime Minister is simply a fun read. It's not trying to teach children about how a country is run. It is more about what makes you happy and how you think you could make your country a happier, more fun place to live in, through a child's perspective.

illustrated by Ella Okstad

translated by Rosie Hedger

Publisher: Lantana ( sold through Simon & Schuster)

Publication date: 26th May 2026

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 40

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Books on Tour

I loved this book because, just for a few minutes children can forget climate change, wars, anxiety, gender and all the social issues surrounding them today and escape to a place that is fun and a bit silly.

Christmas lights all year round, trampolines lining the streets, free ice cream, extra screen time for kids, everyone would have a pool, bicycles and dogs for all. My adult brain is spinning!!

If I Were Prime Minister  also opens the opportunity with older children to discuss serious issues that heads of countries must deal with and the important question of who is paying for all this.

However, I took my adulting hat off and read this for the pure joy.

Ella Okstad's gorgeous cartoon style black and white illustrations with pops of colour in muted tones paired with illustrations of the little boy with crayons in hand and the inky style thumb prints on the pages give the impression that the young narrator fashioned the book himself.

Even though we don't have squirrels in Australia I loved all the little squirrels popping up throughout the pages.

If I Were Prime Minister is a great addition to the family bookshelf. Read it for the pure joy your children will get from the child fueled indulgence.

Start a conversation with your little ones; "What would you do if you were Prime Minister for a day?"

My rating 4 / 5 🛉🛉🛉🛉

Recommended age: 3 - 5 years

#ifiwereprimeminister #trygveskaugauthor #ellaokstadillustrator #bookontouraustralia #ausbookbloggers

Review: Juniper's Painting by Catherine Bauer

 Join Juniper in this enchanting children's picture book as she turns a dull day into a bright and sunny day through patience and creativity.

Illustrated by Jennifer Horn

Publisher: Wombat Books

Publication date: 7th October 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: $26.99AU

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Books on Tour PR

Juniper loves spending time on the beach but today is a murky day with the sun covered by rain clouds forcing everyone indoors.

After exhausting all her inside activities Juniper's mind wanders back to the beach and the sand.

Her mother asks her to paint a picture while she finishes off some work. Juniper imagines the beach on a bright sunny day and she was soon immersed in painting a glorious summer scene.

Juniper's Painting is such a delightful picture book. First we see the murky grey day with the wind blowing, then Juniper trying her best to amuse herself while her mother is busy working. 

Juniper's Painting teaches young children that while it may be cold and dark outside you can still conjure a bright sunny day by creating the sunny memories inside you.

I really liked the message that sometimes mum is busy and Juniper had to find ways to amuse herself but once mum was free she took Juniper down to the beach.

It portrays an important message of patience and rewards.

Jennifer Horn's watercolour illustrations perfectly reflect the atmosphere Catherine Bauer is portraying in the story. I think Jennifer was the perfect choice for illustrator.

The illustrations start off in blacks and greys with a tiny touch of colour that catches the eye. As Juniper starts to paint the colours emerge, blues, greens, reds and yellows, subtle but empowering.

Juniper's Painting is not only the perfect story book for an inside day but also a great introduction to teaching children to paint their feelings.

My rating 5 / 5 🖌🖌🖌🖌🖌

Recommended age: 4 - 8 years

#juniperspainting #catherinebauer #childrenspicturebook #australainauthor #blogtour #booksontour #justkidslit #kidsbookswelove

Review: The Messy Bath Monster by Tina Wilson

We loved Afloat in Venice here at Little Squirrel's Bookshelf! This was a fun and adventurous story about a toy monkey holidaying in Venice.

With the Covid shutdown (something we all want to forget) little Monkey was stranded at home so mum, Tina Wilson, decided an imaginative adventure in his own home would keep Monkey and his reader friends entertained.

Photography by Tina Wilson

Music by Matt Ottley

Knitting by Joan Wilson

Publisher: One Tentacle Publishing

Publication day: 1st October 2025

Series: Monkey's Great Adventures #2

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 36

RRP: $25.99AU (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the author

Monkey is sure there is a monster in the bathroom because it always makes a HUGE mess. One day he decides he must find this MESSY bath monster and dives deep into his bath water. What ensues is a delightful adventure as Monkey comes across some giant, and not so giant, sea creatures in his search for The Messy Bath Monster. Will he find out who is making all the mess?

The Messy Bath Monster not only features the amazing knitting talent of Tina's mother Joan Wilson but also has accompanying music by Matt Ottley, which can be downloaded by scanning the QR code in the book. Matt Ottley's music adds a unique element to this gorgeous children's picture book.

The wonderful array of hand knitted sea creatures combine with imaginative photographed scenes to offer an engaging and fun read-aloud story experience.

Big bright pages and limited text will keep even younger children engaged as when combined with the music the book is very much a sensory experience.

Reading The Messy Bath Monster along with its accompanying music invites children and their carers to slow down, engage and reflect on life's simple pleasures.

If you are a knitter, like me, you will love that pattern links to some of the knitted sea creatures are in the back of the book.

My rating 5 / 5 🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒

Recommended age: 2+

#themessybathmonster #tinawilsonartist #childrenspicturebook #afloatinvenice #ausbookbloggers #monkeysgreatadventures #bookswithknitting

Review: Crunch! Kaboom! by Conor Mills and Clodagh Starr

Crunch! Kaboom! is the perfect children’s picture book for a read aloud experience. It’s big and loud and perfect for kids who love trucks and excavators.

Illustrated by Alison Mutton

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 5th August 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 40

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: courtesy of the publisher 

Dazzlingly illustrated by Alison Mills with bright colours, enormous machines and lots of fun sounds to crunch, shake, dig and explode.
Crunch! Kaboom! Starts at an iron ore mine and follows the whole process from breaking up the earth to sorting the material, trucking it to the railroad and shipping it to be made into steel.

Crunch! Kaboom! is the perfect book for my little one who loves trucks but isn’t quite old enough to sit and listen to the whole story, but was mesmerised by the sounds and pictures. This is a fantastic educational tool that will grow with him as he understands more and more about the processes involved. But right now he just wants to see pictures of trucks.

This delightful children's book would make a fabulous educational tool for grades 2 - 4 to show the full process of making the steel that is in thousands of products we use everyday.

Big, bold illustrations by Alison Mutton reflect the colours of outback Australia.

My rating 5 / 5 🚧🚧🚧🚧🚧

Recommended age: 3 - 8 years

#crunchkaboom #conormills #clodaghstarr #alisonmutton #fremantlepress #trucks #diggers #ausbookbloggers #bookswithtrucks #childrenspicturebook #kidsbookswithtrucks #kidsbooksonmining #educationalchildrensbooks

Review: Charlotte & Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage by Teresa Argenbright

Charlotte & Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage is the second book in the Charlotte & Penelope series by Teresa Argenbright.

 

 illustrated by Dan McGeehan

 

Publisher: Brown Books Kids

Publication date: 8th April 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of Smith Publicity Services

 

Charlotte and Penelope wake up with sniffles and sneezes and are stuck at home. Their menagerie of friends decide to put on a show to cheer them up.

 

This is a whimsical and fun story told in rhyming couplets that invites the reader to spend a jazz-filled afternoon with a marvelous group of talented animal friends as they put on a musical show to cheer the girls up.

 

Charlotte and Penelope and the Neighborhood Stage is a charming story with vibrant and amusing illustrations, by Dan McGeehan, that encourages imagination as the animals sing, dance and play different musical instruments.

 

This delightful book opens up conversations about the different animals featured, the different musical instruments played and the role of the conductor. Further talk on what other animals could join the band and the instruments they could play would expand on the educational value of the story.

 

My only small complaint with this book was, as a read aloud story the cadence of the verse felt slightly off to me.

 

My rating 4 / 5 🥁🥁🥁🥁

recommended age: 4 - 8 years 

 

#charlotteandpenelopeandtheneighborhoodstage #teresaargenbright #childrenspicturebook #introductiontomusic  

Book Review: Searching for Treasure by Johanna Bell

Follow along for a day at the beach as a young child collects a multitude of treasures they find on the sand. What will they do with all these treasures? There is a glorious, surprising finale.

 

 illustrated by Emma Long

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children's

Publication date: 4th February 2025

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 26

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Searching for Treasure has large, glorious double page spreads filled with vibrant illustrations of on shore treasures.

 

"Searching for treasure on the high tide line

one step two steps, what can you find?"

 

I loved that Searching for Treasure has two ways it can be read; large simple text is a prompt to look at the picture and point things out, plus there is small text between the treasures, educational facts winding between the illustrations. These were like hidden treasures in themselves.

 

Large cut out flaps lift to find more shoreline treasures.

 

Searching for Treasure is a beautiful, bright and bold story book perfect to be read before, or after, a trip to the beach. This book would also make a great bedtime story to remember a treasured family holiday.

 

With educational facts scattered throughout, Searching for Treasure is a book that will grow with your child.

 

recommended age: 3 - 6 years

My rating 5 / 5 🐚🐚🐚🐚🐚 

 

Book Review: The Backyard Games by Alister Nicholson

In The Backyard Games you can join in with the neighbourhood kids as they organise their own Olympic Games with lots of friendly competition, cheering and medals for all. 

 illustrated by Tom Jellett

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children

Publication date: 29th October 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 32

RRP: AU$19.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

The Backyard Games is a fun rhyming book written by Alister Nicholson and illustrated by Tom Jellett in fabulous full-colour double page spreads.

 

"What a glorious day for the Backyard Games! 

Who will be champions, household names?

We've planned and practiced; we've built our venue.

Now, a great sporting feast is on the menu."

The children pick the country they will represent and the games begin. There is competition, fun, cheering and a few mishaps but most of all there is laughter and working together as they celebrate the ceremony and fun of the games.

As the light begins to fade medals are given and everyone's a winner in The Backyard Games.

 

This is such a fun book and perfect for the upcoming school holidays. The Backyard Games is the perfect inspiration to gather the kids outside and make your own Olympic games day. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 🚲🏏🛹🏹🎾

Recommended age: 4 - 7 years 

 

 

Book Review: Dot! Scribble! Go! by Herve Tullet

 Dot! Scribble! Go!

by

Herve Tullet

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 3rd September 2024

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 56

RRP: AU$24.99 (hardback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Dot! Scribble! Go!

Dot! Scribble! Go! is our first look at a Herve Tullet book here at Little Squirrel's Bookshelf. Herve encourages artistic talent through imagination. His readers are invited to touch the pages and follow instructions to reveal the magic of art.

 

Filled with positive affirmations and exclamations of wonder each step of the way Dot! Scribble! Go! is a hands-on way to learn about following directions and an introduction to toddlers about colour, shape and the endless possibilities of dots, lines and scribbles.

 

I found the children got more enjoyment from trying the art hands on.

 

Dot! Scribble! Go! would be a wonderful book to use in an art class for young children to teach them to follow directions and that art can be fun, abstract and free flowing. It's all about having fun!

 

My rating 3 / 5 🖌🖌🖌

Recommended age: 3 - 6 years 

 

 

Book Review: Paper and Tape Crafts by Jennifer Perkins

 Paper and Tape Crafts

by

Jennifer Perkins

28 Inventive Activities for Kids Ages 8 - 12

 

Publisher: Rockridge Press

Publication date: 4th April 2023

Genre: Children's Craft

Pages: 130

Source: eBook via Netgalley 

 

Review: Paper and Tape Crafts

We are very big on crafting here and I was excited to get some new craft ideas.

Paper and Tape Crafts opens with an introduction and notes on safety which led me to think the book is aimed at the children working on the crafts alone. A list of supplies is a handy addition and I liked that many of the items can be found in a well stocked craft box.

There are also notes at the end of each activity to challenge you to take the craft further and to expand on what you have already made.

 

I've been involved in childcare and Playgroups for many years so most of the crafts were ones I had already made many times with preschoolers. I found of the 28 crafts detailed there were only 16 I found appealing.

I think this would be a handy book if you are new to crafting with recyclables however for me there was nothing particularly new or innovative.

Recommended age 5 - 10 years

My rating 2 / 5 ⭐⭐

Book Review: Who Lives Here? by Julia Donaldson

 Who Lives Here?

by

Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by Rebecca Cobb

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books 

Publication date: 25th July 2023

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 24

RRP: $26.99AU (Hardcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

Review Who Lives Here?

A little boy is excited when he is invited to a friend's house to play. However he doesn't know which house on South Street is Dan's.

The story invites the reader to look at each house and guess who might live there then lift the flap to see if you are right. A cook, a knight, a ghost, which house is Dan's?

We love everything Julia Donaldson here at Little Squirrel's Bookshelf! Her rhyming prose slide off the tongue and the children were eager to see who lived in each house.

This story is all about fun and when the boy finds Dan's house they have a great playdate playing with Dan's toys.

Rebecca Cobb's double paged illustrations are full of detail; a visual delight and wonderful prompts that enhance the prose.

Who Lives Here? with its hands-on lift the flap pages is sure to delight any child.

My rating 5 / 5 🏠🏠🏠🏠🏠

About the author

Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand.

About the illustrator

Rebecca Cobb has created a number of well-received picture books, including the heart-breakingly beautiful Missing Mummy and the critically acclaimed Aunt Amelia. She has also collaborated with some of the best-known names in children's publishing. Rebecca lives in Falmouth with her husband and young daughters.

 

Book Review: A Very Silly Reading Book: Meow by Alan Smith

 A Very Silly Reading Book : Meow

by

Alan Smith

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 6th February 2023

Genre: Children's / first reader

Pages: 27

Price: $7.71AU Kindle / $19.13AU Paperback 

Source: Courtesy of the author 

 

Review: A Very Silly Reading Book Meow

A Very Silly Reading Book is a fun way to get reluctant readers to pick up a book. Jay isn't interested in learning to read and I was eager to see how he would respond to this book.

 

It starts with an oath that the adult reads to say they will do everything the child reads in the book. We started with Dot reading the book and Jay's ears pricked up when she read 'kids are now the reading boss'. He does like to be the boss. There are lots of funny actions, like meowing like a cat, shaking your tail, rubbing your nose, that the adult has to do when the child reads from the book. Suddenly Jay wanted to read the book and be the boss. 

 

The pages are set out with extra-large text and and simple diagrams so as not to distract the reader from the text. It is well structured for first readers with repeated words at the start of each page to build confidence. The colour words have the corresponding background such as GREEN   YELLOW which also adds to the reader's confidence.

I think we read this book about twenty times with everyone having a turn at reading and doing the actions. I tired well before Jay.

I thought the colour background was a brilliant idea however, I would have liked to not have the colour background on the words at the end of the book so it wasn't as easy to guess the words. Other than that this was a fun book that included family time with learning.

Jay gave it 1,000 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dot's rating 4.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

 

 

Book Review: Lego City Building Site

 Lego City Building Site

 

A Push, Pull and Slide Book

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 10th August 2021

Genre: Children's Educational

Pages: 8

RRP: $9.99AU

Format: Boardbook

Source: Own purchase 

Our review of Lego City Building Site

 

Everybody get to work - let's knock down that wall.

 

Join the construction crew as they demolish the old building, clear the rubble and start on a new buiding.

 

What can it be? 

 

Work the cement mixer, clear the rubble and lift the heavy doors.

 

Turn the page to reveal what the workers are building!

 

Lego City Building Site is another hands on book for toddlers, rich in imaginative play and themes of working together. We loved matching the Lego pieces and making our own building site.

 

⬇️⬆️➡️⬅️ With tabs to push, pull and slide on every page it’s a fun way to enhance motor skills, develop hand-eye coordination and grow the imagination.  

 

Made in hardy board format with thick pages and tabs that won't easily be torn or ripped out ensuring hours and hours of play.

The Lego City is a fabulous collection of books and we are eager  to collect the whole series.

 

Recommended age - 18months to 5 years

Our rating 5 / 5 👷👷👷👷👷

 

 

Book Review: Make Tracks - Cars by Johnny Dyrander

 Make Tracks: Cars

by

Johnny Dyrander

 

Publisher: Nosy Crow

Publication date: 2nd August 2022

Series: Make Tracks #4 

Pages: 10

RRP: $19.99

Format read: Boardbook 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

My review of Make Tracks: Cars

Jay loves this fun board book that helps build hand eye coordination

This sturdy board book features five different styles of cars and each car has their own track and tiny car counter that you can manoeuvre around the track. Stop at the crossings, drive around the winding road, race around the track, drive a four wheel drive around the muddy lake and catch a taxi into the airport.

Each car has a large glossy picture with all their features labeled. 

 

This will be a much loved book by any little car enthusiast. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Recommended age: 2+ 

About the author

Johnny Dyrander is an illustrator based in Stockholm, Sweden. He was born and raised above the Arctic circle in northern Sweden and grew up surrounded by reindeer and northern light. He moved to Stockholm in his early twenties and began studying at various art schools. He's been working as an illustrator since he finished his studies at the University College of Arts, Crafts & Design in Stockholm.

When he's not spending time in his office illustrating, Johnny likes to travel, spend time with his family or drive down to his house in southern Sweden, pick up a hammer and saw and pretend to be a carpenter. He builds things in wood with quite mixed results.

 

 

Book Review: Lego City Safari Rescue

 Lego City Safari Rescue

 

A Push, Pull and Slide Book

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Publication date: 12th July 2022

 

Pages: 10

 

RRP: $9.99 AUD

 

Format read: Boardbook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

 

My thoughts

 

Come on a rescue safari!

 

The park rangers need YOU.

 

🦁We were excited to receive the latest book in the push, pull and sliding fun of Lego City board books.

🐒Climb aboard the safari jeep and feed the swinging monkeys.
🐘Watch the elephants at their waterhole and check on the lion cubs 🦁

⬇️⬆️➡️⬅️ With tabs to push, pull and slide on every page it’s a fun way to enhance motor skills, develop hand-eye coordination and grow the imagination.

Name the animals, count the animals and talk about different safari animals, endangered species and protecting our wildlife.

The Lego City Safari Rescue is another playful board book, brimming with imaginative play, that we are happy to add to our shelf. 

 

 

 

 

 

We are big Lego and Duplo fans and this book will be cherished for years to come.

Recommended age 18months - 5 years

My rating 5 / 5 🦁🐘🐒🦒🐍 

 

 

Book Review: Lego City Police Patrol

Lego City Police Patrol

 

A Push, Pull and Slide Book 

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books

 

Publication date: 10th May 2022

 

Pages: 10

 

RRP: $9.99AUD

 

Format read: Boardbook

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

 

My review

The alert has gone out! the city bank has been robbed and Lego City Police Patrol 🚔🚓 are in pursuit. 

This is a fun board book with just enough text to keep a toddler interested. It’s all about the imaginative and creative play. Pull a tab to bring out the police car, push a tab to reveal the police helicopter and find where the robbers are hiding. Tabs to push, pull or slide on each scene. 

 

The intricate Lego scenes held Jay’s attention and he enjoyed making up his own story as he pushed and pulled the tabs. A fun book that he keeps coming back to, time and time again.
A great way to enhance fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and imaginative play.
A book that will be cherished by any young Lego or Duplo fan.
Suitable for ages 18months - 5 years.