Children's Picture Books

Designed
I am Perfectly Designed
by Karamo Brown
Book
 
I am Perfectly Designed is a joyful celebration of loving who you are, exactly as you are. Written by Karamo Brown, culture expert on the hit Netflix series Queer Eye, and his son Jason, this empowering story sees a boy and his father take a walk through the city chatting about all the ways in which they are perfectly designed for each other. From playing in the park and getting ice cream to dressing up for Halloween and staring at the moon, the father and son remember past events and look forward to the future together. Funny and warm, with bright and lively pictures, this is a book for families of all kinds, everywhere.

Cloud
The cloud
by Hannah Cumming
Book

Everyone has bad days, and children are no exception. When a black cloud descends on a little girl at school, support from a classmate with a great deal of imagination helps to brighten up everyone's lives. The atmospheric illustrations really tell the story in this delightful picture book.


Red
The kindest red: a story of hijab and friendship
by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Book

I want a kind world. A world where kindness passes from one to another. When Faizah's teacher asks her class to imagine what kind of world they want to live in Faizah imagines a world where everyone is kind to one another, and tries to create that world in the school playground. But what Faizah wants most is to be like her big sister, Asiya. Will Faizah's classmates repay her kindness and find a way for her to match Asiya in time for school photo day?


Anzac Violin
The Anzac violin: Alexander Aitken's story
by Jennifer Beck
Book

This a WWI-era picture book intended for children aged 6+ and based on true events and a real-life young soldier from Dunedin named Alexander Aitken, who was a brilliant mathematician and a gifted violinist, as well as an artifact - the violin - that has survived the war and remains on display at Otago Boys High to this day.


The Anzac Biscuit Man
The Anzac biscuit man
by Peter Millett
Book

One day, an old couple who love baking fresh biscuits discover a recipe for an ANZAC Biscuit Man. Later that morning they hear a cry coming from the oven, 'Let me out! Let me out! It's hotter than a barbecue in here...' They open their oven and out jumps the ANZAC Biscuit Man! Can anyone catch this cheeky, baked runaway?


Abigal And The Making Of The Moon
Abigal and the making of the moon
by Matthew Cunningham
Book

One clear day, Abigail thinks of a question and knows that she won't be able to do anything else if she doesn't have an answer to it. 'Daddy,' she asked, 'where did the Moon come from?' 'From the Earth, Abigail,' replied Daddy. 'The Moon was once a part of the Earth.' 'It was?' Abigail asked. 'But how did it get in the sky? And how does it stay in the sky? And why do we only ever see one side of the Moon?


The Rabbit Listened
The Rabbit Listened
by Cori Doerrfeld
Book

When Taylor's block castle is destroyed, all the animals think they know just what to do, but only the rabbit quietly listens to how Taylor is feeling.


Let Me Be Frank
Let me be Frank
by Jessica Urlichs
Book

There are so many toys, and games we can play. Whatever we choose, let's do it our way. Join Frank and Quinn on their playdate - there are no limits to which toys they can play with and which games they can choose. A fun rhyming picture book to read with children to reinforce that they can choose to be and do the things that feel most like them. A book perfect for encouraging being proud of who you are.

Children's Non Fiction

The Brain Forest
The brain forest
by Sandhya Menon
Book

Come explore The Brain Forest, which follows a mother and her son down the path of understanding the different ways brains can be. Brains that go fast, brains that go slow, brains that do what they're told, brains that say NO! A heart-warming read that helps celebrate neurodiversity without dismissing its challenges, and centers around building a strengths-based society where everyone is valued for what they have to offer. This book helps start conversations and offers ideas to the reader about what they can do to create more inclusive environments.