The best Australian children’s books of 2023: Alice Pung, Davina Bell, Sean Avery and more
As a mother of three primary school-age children, and a teacher-librarian, I read a ridiculous number of books with and to young people. I spend my days recommending books to children and hearing their views on the ones that have resonated with them. When I hear the pleas of “one more time!” after a read-aloud, or struggle to keep particular books on the library shelves due to student demand, I know that we’ve struck gold.
A commonly used analogy posits that books should serve as both windows and mirrors. I want to see the children in my life recognising themselves in the characters on the page, while glimpsing other ways of being, seeing and knowing through reading.
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The small but prolific Australian children’s publishing industry produced many books of windows and mirrors this year, but my criteria for this list was simple: Which 2023 books by Australian creators were regularly requested by the children in my life?
Picture books
What to Do When You’re Not Sure What to Do by Davina Bell and Hilary Jean Tapper, Lothian Children’s Books
Snippets of advice
What to Do serves as a compassionate guide for children navigating unfamiliar situations and emotions.
Bell’s text interplays tenderly with Tapper’s vignettes, spotlighting significant everyday moments and challenges; in one scene a child’s hesitation before an escalator is accompanied by the gentle encouragement, “A bigger step.”
The book imparts strategies without being didactic. A companion to the duo’s first book, What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say, it empowers children to navigate unfamiliar scenarios with confidence.
Nothing Alike by Zewlan Moor and Peter Cheong, Bright Light
Inspired by #sorrywrongasian
Zewlan Moor herself repeatedly faced mistaken identity due to her resemblance to another Asian author. Then one day her son confessed to not being able to tell two Asian classmates apart.
In Nothing Alike, Reuben is having difficulty distinguishing between Esmé and Eunwoo. Upon deeper reflection, Reuben realises he does know enough about the girls to be able to differentiate them. In this realisation, young Reuben personifies the effort to be antiracist.
Nothing Alike delicately delves into racial microaggressions and stereotypes, providing an ideal starting point for profound conversations about perception, friendship and the importance of actively combating biases.
Who’s Afraid of the Light? by Anna McGregor, Scribble
Dive into bioluminescence
Embark on a journey to the ocean’s midnight zone and delve into the world of bioluminescence with this winner of best children’s reader in the Whitley book awards.
Fergus, our engaging protagonist, speaks directly to readers as he tries to elude creatures using bioluminescence. The ultimate revelation of Fergus’s identity unfolds in a humorous show-don’t-tell fashion.
The illustrations mimic childhood scratch art, featuring black spreads that reveal fluorescent details beneath. To add an extra touch of magic, the cover glows in the dark.
Junior fiction
Hello Twigs series by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood, Hardie Grant Children’s
Humorous graphic novels
Created by the bestselling authors of Real Pigeons, this lively junior graphic novel series is pitch-perfect for newly independent readers.
Featuring an endearing ensemble of anthropomorphised twigs (and a stump), the series follows their adventures, emphasising teamwork, creativity and problem-solving, all while celebrating friendship and the wonders of the natural world.
With 48 pages in each book, complete with full-colour illustrations and straightforward text, the uncluttered format is perfect for both shared read-alouds and nurturing the reading stamina of young readers eager for longer texts.
Friendly Bee and Friends series by Sean E Avery, Walker Books Australia
Un-bee-lievably sweet character
Crafted by a rising star of the Australian kid lit scene, Sean E Avery, Friendly Bee is an optimistic insect on a mission to befriend bugs, whether they welcome it or not.
Presented in a comic strip layout with vibrant yellow and black illustrations, these books effortlessly mix narrative with nonfiction. Friendly Bee often finds himself in amusing predicaments,but fortunately his reluctant BFF, Angry Wasp, regularly steps in to rescue the cheerful bee from impending disaster. Clever Cricket chimes in with fascinating bug facts amid Friendly Bee’s entertaining escapades.
Packed with entertaining characters, rambunctious action and constant laughs, these books mark the beginning of an exciting graphic novel series for young readers.
Cub and Brown by Edwina Wyatt and Evie Barrow, Walker Books Australia
Heartwarming friendship tales
Edwina Wyatt, author of the Magnolia Moon trilogy, has a flair for writing stories infused with whimsy and delight. Her latest offering is no exception.
Cub, an always-prepared boy scout, faces uncertainty when confronted by a bear in the woods. Brown, a bear living in a human house, becomes an unexpected companion. Their joint adventures delve into the nature of true friendship, overcoming irrational fears and honing outdoor survival skills.
Across 12 chapters, Cub and Brown exchange life lessons inspired by Cub’s scout guidelines in this charming exploration of camaraderie and personal growth.
Middle to upper primary
The Perilous Promotion of Trilby Moffat by Kate Temple and Christopher Cooper, Lothian Children’s Books
Quirky temporal adventure
Kate Temple, half of the duo behind popular children’s titles including Bin Chicken, Yours Truly, Alice Toolie, and the Underdogs series, has crafted this quirky series centred on an ordinary girl inheriting the most important job in the world – Timekeeper.
The Perilous Promotion, the second book in the Trilby Moffat series, seamlessly continues from the cliffhanger of the first, The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat, which gained an immediate fan following with its wacky time-twisting adventures, clever wordplay and rude cats. If you haven’t read the first book, never fear. A university-educated thylacine acts as the narrator, quickly bringing the reader up to speed.
A must-read for lovers of madcap adventures.
Millie Mak the Maker by Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng, HarperCollins
Creativity as a superpower
Millie Mak is the thoughtful yet gripping story of a “new kid” navigating the complexities of her Scottish-Chinese Australian identity at school and home. Resourceful Millie finds joy in transforming old items into something new. Her innovation and creativity aid her in navigating and resolving challenging situations.
The diverse cast of characters mirrors the multicultural landscape of Australian schoolyards, enabling the narrative to gently explore race, bullying, socioeconomics, culture and intergenerational relationships in an age-appropriate manner.
Included are craft instructions encourage readers to take part in Millie’s projects using materials readily available at home.
Uncle Xbox by Jared Thomas, Magabala Books
Coming-of-age IRL
Dusty is left to deal with a gamut of emotions when his stepdad leaves the family, taking his Xbox with him. Across 12 short chapters, an unlikely set of mentors encourage Dusty to embrace life beyond the console and to explore his culture and connection to country.
Dr Jared Thomas, author of the Game Day series (with NBA player Patty Mills), My Spare Heart, Calypso Summer and Songs That Sound Like Blood, has sensitively captured the complexity of growing up in an increasingly digital world.
Young adult
We Didn’t Think it Through by Gary Lonesborough, Allen & Unwin Children’s
Joyride gone wrong
This compelling, character-driven read draws upon author Gary Lonesborough’s work with Aboriginal boys within the juvenile justice system.
Jamie, the protagonist, driven by relentless racist bullying and fuelled by alcohol and anger, makes a poor choice to take the bully’s car for a joyride. This decision triggers a chain of events, leading the 17-year-old to be labelled a “danger to society” by the justice system.
As Jamie navigates incarceration, Lonesborough guides young readers to reflect on the impact of systemic and daily racism on young Aboriginal lives.
Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight, Simon & Schuster
Connection among capitalism
In her first foray into young adult fiction, Tegan Bennett Daylight creates a thought-provoking Lord of the Flies-meets-Breakfast Club mashup.
Time stops at 5.17pm on a Thursday for a group of six teenagers who find themselves disconnected from the outside world, trapped in a shopping centre.
This page-turner is propelled by its diverse characters and their burgeoning friendships. As the teens try to figure out how to survive in this parallel universe, Bennett Daylight explores how capitalism shapes the self-concepts of young people in the 2020s.
Scar Town by Tristan Bancks, Puffin
Quest for truth
Tristan Bancks, with his cinematic style and fast-paced plots, is an expert at asking the reader to consider what they would do if they were in the same situation as his characters.
In his latest mystery thriller, a trio of friends uncover bones and a stash of cash that threaten to reveal the many secrets of the enigmatic town in which they live. Bancks has written an action-packed nailbiter that asks young readers to question how far they would go for the truth.
Nonfiction
Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism by Yassmin Abdel-Magied and Aleesha Nandhra, Walker Books
Towards racial justice
This book, by the writer, activist, engineer and broadcaster Yassmin Abdel-Magied, isn’t about projecting guilt on to young humans for historical wrongs. It aims to equip them with the knowledge and skills to question the racist and inequitable systems in the world around them.
Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism offers tips and tools for young readers to play a role in creating a fairer and safer world for everyone. The Q&A format and bright graphics ensure that the information is easily accessible for young minds.
This Book Thinks Ya Deadly! by Corey Tutt and Molly Hunt, Hardie Grant Explore
First Nations biographies
Corey Tutt OAM, founder of Deadly Science and author of The First Scientists, has filled this compendium with 80 profiles of diverse First Nations Australians who are achieving amazing things in their respective fields.
Corey’s writing style makes it feel as though you’re having a conversation with a mate. Molly Hunt’s bold, graphic illustrations create a stunning portrait series, featuring the likes of Prof Marcia Langton, Miranda Tapsell, Tony Armstrong, Dr Anita Heiss, Danzal Baker (Baker Boy), Adam Goodes and Blak Douglas.
It’s the Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke, Hardie Grant Children’s
Poetry is cool
This poetry collection is a joyous celebration of language. It contains 100 poems – haiku, sonnets, narrative verse, tongue twisters – that detail the minutiae and magic of everyday life and cover the spectrum of growing up, from peanut butter and eating hot chips on Fridays to love and annoying little sisters.
Beneba Clarke has created a non-intimidating introduction to poetry for primary school readers that can be enjoyed independently or through shared read-alouds.
How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry by Sami Bayly, Lothian Children’s Books
Masters of disguise
The author and illustrator Sami Bayly creates the kind of natural history nonfiction books that can be pored over for extensive periods. Her books are visual feasts that impart quirky facts.
Her latest book features many clever creatures who adapt their appearance and use disguise and imitation to adapt to their surroundings. The perfect book for any aspiring David Attenborough.