‘Sunny the Shark’ by Remy Lai

‘Sunny the Shark’ is part of the “Surviving the Wild” series by Remy Lai, blending engaging storytelling with environmental education. Sunny the Shark is a fearsome predator. As the oceanic whitetip shark searches for her next meal, a chatty school of pilot fish trails behind, cleaning her in exchange for food crumbs. But when Sunny mistakes a plastic ring for prey and it gets caught around her fin, she soon struggles to hunt. The book is inspired by true events and includes factual information about climate change, sharks, and actionable steps for children to help protect the environment.

 

 

‘I Want to Be Spaghetti!’ by Kiera Wright-Ruiz

A humorous debut picture book about a little ramen packet seeking self-love and belonging in a spaghetti-obsessed world. From Ramen’s small shelf in the supermarket, they see spaghetti propaganda everywhere. They want to be celebrated, too. Maybe, Ramen misguidedly thinks, I have to change to be loved like that. “I want to be spaghetti!” they proclaim to the dismay of the rest of the instant noodle section.

But when Ramen is brought home and placed in a warm bowl of broth alongside new friends like Chashu, Narutomaki, and Nori, they realise they’ve always been perfect exactly the way they are. Through vibrant illustrations and a heartwarming narrative, this heartwarming story, illustrated by Claudia Lam, celebrates identity and community, along with being recognised for who you are.

‘A is for Bee’ by Ellen Heck

With its innovative approach to the alphabet, ‘A is for Bee’ is a beautifully illustrated multilingual book that introduces children to the diversity of languages. What letter does the word bee start with?

If you said “B” you’re right – in English!

But in many, many languages, it actually starts with A.

Bee is Anū in Igbo,

Aamoo in Ojibwe,

Abelha in Portuguese.

And Ari in Turkish.

Come and explore the gorgeous variations in the ways we talk about familiar things, unified and illuminated through Ellen Heck’s eye-catching, graphic scratchboard details and hidden letterforms. Each page showcases a letter and corresponding word from various languages, emphasising the rich tapestry of global communication.

‘The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Poppy Song Bakes a Way’ by Karina Yan Glaser

Meet the kids in Mrs. Z’s wacky and wonderful third-grade class! Poppy Song loves to bake just like her grandmother, but her skills are put to the test when a tricky recipe and a forgetful grandmother lead her into a sticky situation.

Poppy Song loves sharing sweet treats with other people – just like her grandmother Po Po, who used to have her own bakery. When the kids in Mrs. Z’s class hear about a fancy dessert called Dragon’s Beard candy, they can’t wait for Poppy to make some and bring it in.

Poppy is excited to try to make the candy, but she has other worries on her mind. Po Po has been acting differently lately, putting items back in the wrong places, even mixing up ingredients in the recipes she knows by heart! When this new forgetfulness puts Po Po in danger, Poppy must find the courage to help their family figure out a way forward. 

Both sweetly poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, with black-and-white illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor artist Kat Fajardo, Poppy’s story invites readers into Mrs. Z’s class where empathy and fun rule the school, from New York Times bestselling author Karina Yan Glaser.

‘Desert Queen’ by Jyoti Rajan Gopal

‘Desert Queen’ is a captivating story set in a desert landscape, exploring themes of resilience and self-discovery. The narrative follows the protagonist’s journey through challenges and triumphs, painting a vivid picture of life in the desert.

Fueled by an inner fire, young Harish yearns to join the captivating desert dancers, their music pulsing through his veins. But societal constraints paint a narrow path, one that clashes with his vibrant spirit. Through lyrical stanzas and Svabhu Kohli’s evocative art, Harish’s story unfolds, a tapestry woven with resilience and the transformative power of dance.

From village gatherings to Bollywood stages, Queen Harish twirls her way into hearts, leaving a trail of shattered stereotypes and empowering others to embrace their true selves. This is a celebration of courage, finding your inner queen, and dancing to your own rhythm.

‘Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple’ by Liz Garton Scanlon

Meet Bibsy Cross, the precocious eight-year-old heroine of this charming chapter book series, as she navigates a relationship with a teacher who thinks that Bibsy is just too much. ‘Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple’ is a charming story about making choices, facing consequences, and the value of honesty. This chapter book introduces Bibsy Cross, an eight-year-old who loves school, her cat, and her best friend, Natia. And she loves going to school. She might just love that most of all! However, third grade brings challenges with Mrs. Stumper, a teacher who finds Bibsy’s enthusiasm overwhelming. After a classroom incident where Mrs. Stumper punishes Bibsy by damaging her paper apple, and Bibsy feels disheartened and devastated. The story follows her journey to regain confidence and excel in her science fair project.