The fabulous new books keep coming from our talented Author Pen Pals! Here are the February 2026 releases (along with one January title that hopped on in!)

Congratulations Author Pen Pal, Sharon Giltrow on the release of your new book.

Toby King and the Utility Belt is Book 2 in Sharon's early MG series THE UTILITY BELT.
https://t.ly/PMNn7

Toby King wants his life to change. He is lonely and wishes he had friends. Lots of friends. Toby has watched Samara Rubin use her mysterious, magical utility belt. Why doesn’t Toby’s identical belt work? Book 2 of an engaging new adventure series.

Illustrated by: Thu Vu
Published by: Clear Fork Press
​

Congratulations to all our Author Pen Pals on your November releases!

Julie Murphy – Dog Beach
Illustrated by Annie White
Published by NLA Publishing
Publication date 1 November 2024
​
Look who’s at the dog beach!
Strong dogs, long dogs,
Playing dogs, staying dogs,
Black dogs, brown dogs, go-to-town dogs…
Going to the beach is a big part of Australian culture and, for many people, so are dogs! This book doubles the fun, celebrating all of the different types of dogs that we Aussies love.
 
With joyful illustrations by Annie White, a short, rhythmic story, and educational backmatter about guide dogs, farm dogs,  story dogs and more. 

www.juliemurphybooks.com

Cover designer: Fiona Suherman; Publisher: GenZ Publishing, USA.

​While mourning the loss of her boyfriend in tragic circumstances, sixteen-year-old Rebecca and her late boyfriend's brother Calum discover a buried suitcase in an icehouse in Scotland, and grow closer as they attempt to solve the mystery behind it.

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DHZ7K9M3

​Illustrator: Hannah Sommerville
Publisher: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing  

Little people love to explore little worlds! Explore the hidden spaces and sounds across the sand dunes with this beautiful board book for our smallest nature-lovers, from the CBCA award-winning creators of In the Rockpool and Jetty Jumping, Andrea Rowe and Hannah Sommerville.

https://www.hardiegrantgift.com.au/books/amid-the-sand-dunes-9781761213786

Congratulations to all our Author Pen Pals who have had October releases.

It’s the 1970s and on Kangaroo Island, Mona McKenna and her brother Albert live with their grandparents at Cape Willoughby Lighthouse. For five long years they have mourned their mother and longed for their missing father to return. Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a year earlier, Mona has been increasingly acting in ways that make her hate herself. While she loves the rugged beauty of their isolated sanctuary—and dearly loves her grandparents—she yearns for her parents and finds her diabetes frightening and confusing. Mona finds solace in the treasures she collects along the island's shores. But when she encounters a mysterious sea lion pup, Neo, the world as she knows it is forever changed. The two siblings embark on a journey that leads them to uncover secrets hidden within their family's past. As they bond with Neo, Mona and Albert's quest for truth takes them deeper into the heart of Kangaroo Island. With the fate of their beloved lighthouse hanging in the balance, they must summon courage and resilience to protect their home and the endangered sea lions who call it their own. Rich with folklore and brimming with adventure, Legend of the Lighthouse Moon is a dazzling tale of family, resilience, and the enduring magic of the sea. Join Mona on a journey of self-discovery where the whispers of the past guide her towards a future filled with hope, love, and legends brought to life.

Published by Riveted Press
​https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Legend-of-the-Lighthouse-Moon/Helen-Edwards/9781763526013

Cheer on little Francie as she goes through the excitement and apprehension of her first time on the diving board in this celebration of summer days at the pool, cousins and one little fledgling who wants to be a gannet.

https://www.kirstenealand.com/#/like-a-gannet/
​

illustrated by Kathy Creamer

Stanley is a septopus – a seven-tentacled octopus. Life can be difficult when the octopus world is built for the eight-tentacled. Games don’t work the way you expect, clothes don’t fit and even things like preparing a meal are a challenge.
 
What’s worse, Stanley’s parents worry about him so much that they’re scared to let him do anything fun. His sister and brothers tease and bully him. All Stanley wants is a chance to live a normal life in the ocean … and to find some friends. Is that too much for a septopus to hope for?
 
Suitable for children aged 8 -12 years

https://www.rebeccafung.com/

These fabulous new titles by our fabulous Author Pen Pal Creators are also out early this month. Congratulations!!

Illustrator: Beau Wylie
Publisher: Scholastic
Blurb: What's really on the other side of the fence? Greener grass? Or UDDER CHAOS?! 
Released: September 2024
Author Website: https://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/books/madcows
​Publisher Website: https://shop.scholastic.com.au/Product/100135762/Mad-Cows 

Cockatoo
A poetic story about a yellow-tailed black cockatoo's first year of life. 
Released 1 September 2024
Illustrated by Max Hamilton
Published by Windy Hollow Books
 
The Welcome Cookies
Everyone enjoys the friendliness of their favourite café. But what happens when the place you love suddenly changes?
Released 4 September 2024
Illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan
Published by EK Books
 
https://kayebaillie.com/
​​

August was a busy month for our Author Pen Pals celebrating the joy that is Book Week and everything that goes with it. September is looking to be just as busy with a heap more fantastic new book releases.

Illustrated by Novia Heroanto
Published by Wombat Books

You should always be prepared for when a dragon tourist lands in your backyard.

​Your visitor will need to meet the family, learn table manners and go sightseeing. Will you qualify as a top host? 
 
While this hilarious book is full of silliness, it also explores language barriers and non-verbal communication.  The heartwarming ending leaves readers with a beautiful message of embracing differences, and how a hug has universal meaning.


 https://jeanettestampone.com/
https://wombatrhiza.com.au/wombatbooks/

Before We Met is a joyous celebration of growing families of all shapes and sizes.

Illustrated by Sophie Beer
Published by Harper Collins

https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460764961/before-we-met/

Sweetie, Martha and Jacob explore Logan’s indigenous and colonial past and present.
What surprises will they discover?
Uncover Logan’s history, attractions, parklands, wildlife and rivers.
Full of wonder and optimism, this book provides an inspiring trail guide for children and families to enjoy the City of Logan.

Illustrated by Megan Forward
Published by Digital Future Press

Riz Chester loves mysteries, and with an interest in forensics she keeps finding crime. But nothing has happened for months. Will they solve another mystery?

​Another forensic science inspired story for young readers. 

 https://wombatrhiza.com.au/search.php?search_query=riz+chester

The awesome new books from our author pen pal creators keep coming.

Illustrated by Paul Nash

​Brothers can play together happily and then they can disagree. Toby and Jordan are brothers that have lots of fun together and often get into mischief and disagree. This book tells the story of one afternoon when some innocent fun turns into a whole lot of trouble.

​Chloe Lives with her Mother and their dog on the coast near the Ocean. Chloe loves animals. Chloe worries a lot and Chloe and the Driftwood Dolls deals with what Chloe worries about and how she gets over her fears and anxiety.

The Lost History is the highly anticipated sequel to the multi-award-winning The Wintrish Girl. Another thrilling and funny fantasy adventure for middle-grade readers, it features at least six impossibly daring escapes, important life lessons about truth and spare socks, a sinister game of Twenty Questions and a cursed family tree. And some very dangerous cheese. 

​Published by UQP

Illustrated by Hykie Breeze
Published by UWA Publishing
​
Ella hates her new house. She wants to be back in her old house with her best friend Viv next door ... until one day Ella discovers a secret pond in her neighbours’ backyard with an orchestra of frogs! At her new school Ella meets Mai and learns about their class frog bog project.

But when Ella finds out that the neighbours’ secret pond is under threat Ella and Mai must come up with a plan to save the frogs – before it's too late!
www.cassypolimeni.wordpress.com

Illustrated by Zoe Bennett
Published by Affirm Press

Bernie thinks in boxes. She has boxes for everything: for home, for school and even for the park. Bernie likes boxes. When things fit into boxes, they make sense.

But one day, Bernie's boxes collide, and she must find a way to make sense of her world again.

A beautiful story about thinking differently and navigating change in a neurotypical world.

www.jesshornauthor.com
www.instagram.com/jesshornauthor

Written by Sam Squiers
Published by New Frontier Publishing

“Running with Wings” is a special book about Mimmi and Frankie's friendship, sport and enjoying the journey in reaching your dreams. Frankie and Mimmi’s bond grows through the challenges they meet together and we ALL learn a little along the way. We are better in showing representation in books but often kids with disabilities are the background characters and if they’re the main character, often the book centres on their disability. Normalising differences starts with the next generation and the books they grow up with play a big role in that. 

​ https://laraporter.com

Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley
Published by Allen & Unwin

The night was frosty dark but we were snug and cosy in the kitchen. 
When suddenly SNAP! the lights went out
and the dark came flooding in around us.
Mama? Dad? 
I was scared!
In the dark of night, a neighbourhood becomes a new country to explore, and an ordinary winter evening turns into a family adventure. A reassuring story about finding comfort in community from the award-winning creators of Ella and the Ocean. 

https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Lian-Tanner,-illustrated-by-Jonathan-Bentley-When-the-Lights-Went-Out-9781761180019