Children's Staff Picks

An absurdly laugh-out-loud picture book about the villainy of fish. Why, dear reader, must you NEVER EVER trust fish? 1) They spend all their time in the water where we can't see them. 2) Some are as big as a bus-that is not okay. 3) We don't know what they're teaching in their "schools." 4) They are likely plotting our doom. This nature-guide-gone-wrong is a hilarious, off-the-rails exploration of the seemingly innocent animals that live in the water.

Once upon a time there were two good friends, a frog and a toad. From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other - just as best friends should be.

Jack thinks boys don't write poetry, only girls do, and every time he tries to write something his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments, and Jack can't avoid them. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

August Wood lives in the far north of the Arctic. His best friend is a husky called Blaze, and he's the younger brother of April Wood - the girl who once famously rescued a polar bear. But one summer's day, when a sudden snowstorm strikes, August goes missing. With temperatures plummeting, it's up to April, Bear and Blaze to track him down and bring him safely home... before it's too late.

When her grandfather Rex is hospitalised, 11-year-old Ruby retreats to the forest with her trusty dog sidekick and a weird old doll she wants to get rid of. Near the treehouse built by Rex, she discovers a kiwi burrow. And is that a white kiwi chick she sees? Ruby and her friend Spider uncover a plot by the local vet to catch the white kiwi for an international smuggling ring. Together with a social misfit, who is both ex-convict and nature lover - and perhaps some mystical help from the local patupaiarehe - they manage to expose and catch the crooked vet.

Still reeling from the life-changing challenges that propelled him and his mother across the country, Josh finds solace in the California wilderness and in the newfound friendship with his cousin Holly. But on a trip into the nearby forest, Josh and Holly suddenly find themselves in the middle of a frighteningly powerful firestorm, one which threatens to burn down everything in its path. Josh needs to confront the family issues burning him up inside, but first he'll have to survive the flames roaring all around him.

In this tongue-in-cheek guide, a kid expert explains to young readers how to teach their grown-up about the basics of climate science and global warming.

In this hilarious, yet fact-filled book, Elise Gravel uses her kid-friendly wit and quirky illustration style to break down what fake news is, why people spread it, and how to tell what is real and what isn't. And that's the truth!

Can you take on over 30 new challenges and survive? Take on a world of exciting new challenges in Minecraft, from hilarious quick trials, to epic longer missions and everything in between! This brand new series comes with clear instructions, survival prompts and maximum fun. The entertaining illustrations and informative text make this book is the perfect companion for avid gamers who want to make the most of their time in Minecraft. Show you heroic side by beating all the challenges with top marks, or embrace your devious side by building PvP maps for your friends to try and survive!