Summer Reads For Kids

If you're hunting for a book to gift a child or young adult in your life, or simply need a few un-put-downable reads ready to enthral kids set loose on summer holidays, check out these recommendations from Amelia Lush, Head of Children’s and YA Programs.    

As always, we encourage you to grab a copy of these books from our friends at Gleebooks or your local independent bookshop.

Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day

By Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys

A new book from author-illustrator team Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys is always worthy of celebration, and Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day is no exception. Their previous books, The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade, Under the Love Umbrella and All the Ways to be Smart, guided children through the wonders and challenges of being small. Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day is an ode to making mistakes and trying again, and exploring the tricky feelings that can arise in the face of perceived failure. Bell’s gorgeous rhyming text and Colpoys’ stunning illustrations make this an essential bookshelf addition.

Treasure in the Lake

By Jason Pamment

It has been a real joy to see the growth of locally published graphic novels over the last five years or so, with creators such as Remy Lai, Gavin Aung Than, Renée Treml, Campbell Whyte and Mike Barry now joined by the exceptional Jason Pamment. Pamment’s background in animation is apparent from the first page, and this beautifully illustrated full-colour tale of best friends Iris and Sam and the hidden city they discover while exploring a dry riverbed on the outskirts of town will enrapture readers aged eight and up. It’s an epic adventure perfect for kids to immerse themselves in over the summer holidays and will engage both reluctant and avid readers equally. 

Hometown Haunts

Edited by Poppy Nwosu

If you have a teen to buy for and are at a loss, anthologies are often one of the best options! Hometown Haunts, a new collection of short horror stories by some of Australia’s best young adult writers, is an extraordinary showcase of the depth and breadth of talent we have in this country. Readers will no doubt find new stories from long-time favourites and be introduced to authors for the first time, providing endless reading opportunities for 2022. It’s almost impossible to pick stand-out stories, but ‘Seek and Destroy’, Jared Thomas’ tale of a disturbed burial ground, and the body-horror of Alison Evans’ ‘Angel Eyes’ have still got a vice-like grip on my daydreams ... or are they nightmares?