ellas-book-list: The Best Book Recommendations For Kids and Families Every Month

It is well documented that reading from an early age helps children develop their cognitive abilities, expands their knowledge, and boosts their communication skills. It also opens up new worlds of exploration, igniting imagination and cultivating creativity.

Finding the right books for your children, in the genres and topics that interest them, makes reading a joy, encouraging them to read more and nurturing a lifelong love of books.

In an exciting partnership with Hachette Australia, we bring you ellas-book-list - a curated monthly collection of the very best book recommendations for kids and families, to inspire little bookworms to get cosy and escape between the pages.

The Best Book Recommendations For Kids and Families Every Month

Books For the Littlest Ones

What to Do When You're Not Sure What to Do
Davina Bell and Hilary Jean Tapper

A warm and whimsical guide to negotiating life's little and big moments, What to Do When You're Not Sure What to Do focuses on situations outside a child's home and domestic realm where they might feel unsure.

The Wobblysaurus
Rachel Bright and Chris Chatterton

A funny and reassuring tale about perseverance and resilience, The Wobblysaurus offers a reassuring reminder that everyone starts off wobbly when trying something new.

If I Was a Horse
Sophie Blackall

From two-time Caldecott Medallist Sophie Blackall comes If I Was a Horse, a joyful picture book that captures, with exuberant illustrations, the astonishing spectacle of a child imagining life as a horse.

Books For Bigger Kids Ages 7-10 Years

Heroes, Rebels and Innovators: Inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Karen Wyld and Jaelyn Biumaiwai

Be inspired and amazed by these incredible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander icons! With colourful artwork and evocative writing, Heroes, Rebels and Innovators tells stories every Australian should know.

Cranky Chicken
Katherine Battersby

What happens when a very cranky chicken meets a very cheerful worm? Perfect for newly independent readers, Cranky Chicken is the first extremely funny story in a charming illustrated series about an unlikely friendship that will warm your heart and make you laugh.

How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry
Sami Bayly

Discover the stories, secrets and tricks behind some remarkable creatures who use camouflage and mimicry to not only survive but thrive. How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry is the latest fascinating book from award-winning author and illustrator Sami Bayly.

Books For Independent Readers Ages 9+

Horror Heights: The Slime
Bec Hill

Welcome to Horror Heights: can the children who live here conceal the strange goings-on behind closed doors? GOOSEBUMPS for a new generation, Horror Heights: The Slime is the first in a creeptastic series.

Which Way Round the Galaxy
Cressida Cowell

Come with me if you dare, and take the Which Way to Anywhere... Hold on tight for Which Way Round the Galaxy, the sequel to this out-of-this-world adventure from the bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon.

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valour
by Ally Carter

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valour is the first book in a captivating series full of mystery, mayhem, and friendship, and will keep you guessing right until the very end.

Books and Activities for Grown Ups

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard
Natasha Lester

History said she was just a man's muse. History was wrong. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is an exquisite new novel by bestselling author Natasha Lester.

Secret Garden: 10th Anniversary Limited Special Edition
Johanna Basford

Colour and complete this special 10th-anniversary edition of Secret Garden, the book that started a global craze. Features a brand-new, specially commissioned fold-out poster to celebrate ten years of colouring.

Finding My Bella Vita
Pia Miranda

From one of Australia’s most-loved actors comes Finding My Bella Vita, a charming, honest and uplifting memoir full of heart and humour that reminds us all of the two things that matter most - love and family.

More ellas-book-list Book Recommendations

Catch Up On September's Book List

Books For the Littlest Ones

Roobee Roo: That’s Me!
Nico and Candy Robertson

Roobee Roo: That’s Me! is about an adorable and curious little kangaroo with a magical pouch full of surprises. Join Roobee in this delightful and uniquely Australian lift-the-flap board book series for fans of Spot and Maisy.

We Know a Place
Maxine Beneba Clarke

We Know a Place is a joyous illustrated tribute to bookshops everywhere, and the special place they hold in children's hearts and minds, from of one Australia's most beloved writers.

Under the Moonlight
Susannah Crispe

A gentle story about showing bravery in the face of your fears that is sure to be a bedtime favourite. Under the Moonlight is perfect for fans of The Very Cranky Bear and The Gruffalo's Child.

Books For Bigger Kids Ages 7-10 Years

My Deadly Boots
Carl Merrison, Hakea Hustler and Samantha Campbell

Can the shoes on your feet really make you jump higher? Walk taller? Dream bigger? My Deadly Boots is a joyous, empowering story about finding confidence within yourself, boots or no boots, from the award-winning authors of Black Cockatoo.

The Isabelle Stories Volume 2
Jane Godwin and Robin Cowcher

A warm and relatable series about all the special little moments and big dramas of being seven. The Isabelle Stories Volume 2 gently explores the trials and triumphs of friends, family, and school life.

The Curiosities
Zana Fraillon and Phil Lesnie

With the Curiosities, a whole world of wonders and possibilities awaits. The Curiosities is a beautiful celebration of disability, diversity, and pride in who you are, from one of Australia's most loved and awarded writers for children.

Books For Independent Readers Ages 9+

In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen
Kiran Millwood Hargrave

In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen is an epic new fantasy about the magic of nature, the lure of power, and the strength of love.

Are You There, Buddha?
Pip Harry

From the CBCA Award-winning author of The Little Wave comes Are You There, Buddha? - a fresh, funny, and very contemporary take on puberty, first periods, and relationships

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
L.D. Lapinski

At the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, each suitcase transports you to a different world. All you have to do is step inside—so pack your suitcase for a magical adventure in The Strangeworlds Travel Agency!

Books and Games For Grown Ups

The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons
Karin Smirnoff

The new Girl with the Dragon Tattoo thriller from Swedish bestselling author Karin Smirnoff will submerge you in a world of conspiracy and betrayal, old enemies and new friends, snow-bound wilderness, and corporate greed. Lisbeth Salander is BACK in The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons.

Tell Her She’s Dreamin’
Simone Amelia Jordan

From Australia's most successful hip-hop journalist comes Tell Her She's Dreamin', a deeply personal story of family, culture, and music that disrupts the long-held view that women, and racially diverse women especially, are limited in their power as bold, playful explorers. It is a timely manual for those hellbent on going places and an inspiration for anyone who has ever been told they can't.

Around the World in 50 Trees: A Jigsaw Puzzle
Lucille Clerc

Discover the world in 50 trees with this richly illustrated 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle! From the beech forests of southern Sweden to the North African argan trees and passing by India's sacred banyan, the Hawaiian koa, and right down to Australia's jarrah—this is a must-try for any puzzle lover.

Catch Up On August's Book List

Books for the Littlest Ones

The Balloon Blow Up
Andy Geppert

Even small questions are big when you're a kid. Illustrated in Andy Geppert's gorgeous gentle style, The Balloon Blow Up is about making your first big decision and caring for things that are precious to you...like a yellow balloon.

I am Lupe
Sela Ahosivi-Atiola and Yani Agustina

When a little girl with brown skin and curly hair notices she is different from her classmates, she asks her mother what she is. Her mother's answer is a celebration of all the wonderful differences that make each of us who we are. I am Lupe is a warm-hearted story that inspires big and little readers to embrace the things that make them who they are.

Charlie’s Whale
Libby Gleeson and Hannah Sommerville

Charlie loves whales. Minke whales, orcas, beluga whales and humpbacks, sperm whales and right whales, and especially the great blue whale. Little readers will delight in Charlie's obsession with these majestic giants from the sea in the beautifully illustrated Charlie’s Whale.

Books And Games For Bigger Kids Ages 7-10 Years

Boss Ladies of Science
Phillip Marsden

From astronomy and quantum physics to neuroscience, vaccinology, and primatology, Boss Ladies conquer in Boss Ladies of Science, an illustrated celebration of inspiring and empowered female scientists from around the world.

Amazing Animal Journeys
Jennifer Cossins

Did you know that Arctic terns have the longest migration of all birds, flying from the Arctic to Antarctica and back each year? Amazing Animal Journeys is a beautifully illustrated book chock-full of fascinating animal facts. It's perfect for readers aged 7+ who delight in learning about the animal kingdom and the world around them.

The A-Z of Cats
Seungyoun Kim

The A-Z of Cats is a puzzle that's as big as a cat—in the shape of a cat! Kids and parents alike can delight in recognising familiar breeds and learning new ones in Seungyoun Kim's gorgeous illustration.

Books For Independent Readers Ages 9+

Wednesday Weeks and the Tower of Shadows
Denis Knight and Cristy Burne

In a world of magic, can science save the day? Wednesday Weeks and the Tower of Shadows is the first in a seriously smart and funny series about a reluctant sorcerer's apprentice who would rather study science than magic.

How to Train Your Dragon
Cressida Cowell

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is a smallish Viking with a longish name. The Hairy Hooligan tribe thinks he's totally useless, but Hiccup is about to face his destiny...with one tiny dragon. Can he prove his worth and become a hero? In celebration of 20 years of How to Train Your Dragon, this special commemorative edition features the original story with exclusive content!

The Perilous Promotion of Trilby Moffat
Kate Temple

Trilby is about to find out that the job of Time Keeper is never done and the future has other plans for her...extremely perilous plans. Join Trilby and her friends on another adventure in The Perilous Promotion of Trilby Moffat, the exciting sequel to The Dangerous Business of Trilby Moffat.

Books For Grown Ups

Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society
Sophie Green

Between pulling up weeds and planting natives, four women discover that their local Sunshine Gardening Society is much more than an opportunity to chat about flowers. Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society is a warm, uplifting story of female friendship, community, and new beginnings from the beloved Sophie Green.

The Air Raid Book Club
Annie Lyons

The Air Raid Book Club is an emotional, uplifting, and captivating story of wartime London and the extraordinary power of books to shine a light and draw people together in the darkest of days, inspired by true events.

Catch Up On July's Book List

Books For the Littlest Ones

Backyard Buddies Andy Geppert
Backyard Buddies is a beautifully illustrated somewhat factual field guide full of buzzy facts (some of them even true) about the hoppy, crawly, wriggly, buzzy, fluttery critters that kids are likely to discover living in their backyard.

The Invisible String Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
This accessible, bestselling picture book phenomenon is about the unbreakable connections between loved ones. The Invisible String offers a very simple approach to overcoming loneliness, separation, or loss with an imaginative twist that children easily understand and embrace.

Mother Earth Libby Hathorn and Christina Booth
Mother Earth is a beautifully illustrated collection of original poems celebrating the wonder and complexity of nature and the environment; a book to treasure and to celebrate our precious environment for kids and families, students and teachers alike.

Books For Bigger Kids Ages 7-10 Years

The Gargoyle Zana Fraillon and Ross Morgan
The poignant story of an old gargoyle forced off his rooftop and the child who encounters him. From one of Australia's most critically acclaimed writers for children, The Gargoyle is an unforgettable story about conservation, aging, and legacies that will leave a forever imprint on your heart.

The Dragon on the Train Ben Brooks
A friendly dragon. A magical train. A journey beyond your wildest dreams. The Dragon on the Train is a heart-warming exploration of love and loss and the magic of hope and family from the bestselling author of The Impossible Boy.

How We Came To Be: Surprising Sea Creatures Sami Bayly
How We Came To Be: Surprising Sea Creatures is a deep dive through the ocean zones. Meet some of the most unusual creatures from the sea and hear their stories about how they have changed over millions of years to survive in the inky ocean depths. 

Books For Independent Readers Ages 9+

August & Jones Pip Harry
Shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers 2023. From the CBCA Award-winning author of The Little Wave comes August & Jones—the story of two extraordinary kids who discover the life-changing power of friendship and teamwork. 

A Walk in the Dark Jane Godwin
A gripping and suspenseful rite-of-passage novel about five teenagers and one night that will change them all, A Walk in the Dark is a must-read from award-winning author Jane Godwin.

Books and Games For Grown Ups

Southern Aurora Mark Brandi
The unforgettable new novel from the Dagger award-winning author of Wimmera, Mark Brandi, Southern Aurora shows small-town life is unforgiving if you're from the other side of the tracks.

Agatha Christie Bingo
Play bingo with the Queen of Crime! Collect characters, clues, and murder weapons on your bingo card to win in this ultra-fun game for grown-ups! 

The Paris Agent Kelly Rimmer
Two otherwise ordinary women become female spies in WWII France in The Paris Agent -  a sweeping new novel of historical suspense by New York Times bestselling author Kelly Rimmer.

More Book Love

Sydney's Most Kid-Friendly Libraries
Personalised Books For Kids: Give the Gift That Keeps on Giving
Last Minute Book Week Costumes

Have you signed up for our newsletter? Join ellaslist to get the best family and kid-friendly events, venues, classes and things to do NEAR YOU!