April New Releases

Did you spot these titles by our fabulous Author Pen Pal creators in the wild this April? Congratulations to all!

April Releases 2026

Katrina Germein - Girls Like
Illustrated by Deb Hudson
Published by New South Books
1st April, 2026

Bursting with energy, colour, and fun, Girls Like, is a joyous celebration of all the ways to be a girl.

Katrina Germein is a best-selling author of award-winning picture books.

https://katrinagermein.com/
https://newsouthbooks.com.au/books/girls-like/  
​

Kim de Haan - Daisy and Bug Treehouse Troubles
Published by Perentie Press
1st April, 2026

Daisy wants to build the BEST TREEHOUSE EVER - but with no tree and Daisy’s bad reputation for “good” ideas, Bug suspects things are about to get out of control.

www.kimdehaan.com
www.perentiepress.com 

Nathan Luff - Fuzzball Paw Prints
Illustrated by James Foley
Published by Walker Books
1st April, 2026

When Luca’s mum and dad give him a special present for his birthday, he hopes it’s the pet dog he’s been waiting for but instead, he gets Fuzzball, a guinea pig.

Nathan Luff is the author of Jungle Escape and The Nerd Herd and Family Disasters series. He is also the Children’s and YA programmer for Sydney Writers’ Festival.

http://www.nathanluff.com.au
https://www.walkerbooks.com.au

​R. A. Stephens - Connected
Illustrated by Tamlyn Teow
Published by Wombat Books
1st April, 2026

Demonstrated using mathematics this picture book shows us that we are all connected.
R. A. Stephens is an author, maths and science teacher and publisher who loves to tell stories with an educational edge.
www.rastephens.com

Janeen Brian - Somewhere You Can Dream
Illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper
Published by Allen & Unwin
1st April, 2026

Written in rhyme, Somewhere You Can Dream is about that special place where you can be yourself, where  you’re filled with enjoyment and contentment and  your mind can wander and dream.

Janeen Brian is an award-winning, best selling author and poet who writes in most genres but especially loves the challenge and joy of picture books.

www.janeenbrian.com

Hayley Gannon – Luna’s World 3: Camp Chaos
Illustrated by Michelle Conn
Published by Affirm Press
1st April, 2026
 
Luna discovers school camp isn't all toasted marshmallows and fun activities: being away from home is an adventure in itself.
 
Hayley Gannon is both an author and teacher librarian who adores children’s literature!

​https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/authors/Hayley-Gannon/237063108​

Sharon Giltrow - Samara Rubin and The Utility Belt and Toby King and The Utility Belt
Illustrated by Thu Vu
Published by GiltWrote Publishing
11th and 22nd April, 2026
Samara Rubin and The Utility Belt is a speculative junior fiction book about finding the courage to stand up for yourself, with magical tools, a cute sidekick, a 'super' family it has something for everyone.

Toby King and The Utility Belt is a speculative junior fiction book about the true meaning of friendship, with magical tools, a cute sidekick, a 'super' family it has something for everyone.

An award-nominated children's author, Sharon writes stories that bring joy, laughter and connection to families everywhere.

https://www.sharongiltrowauthor.com/

Emma Bowd - Time to Go to the Park
Illustrated by Leila Rudge
Published by HarperCollins Children's Books
28th April, 2026

Time to Go to the Park is a fun, feel-good book for preschoolers that captures the everyday joys of childhood and family life.

Emma Bowd is an internationally published, bestselling and award-winning author, and a dedicated literacy and disability advocate.

https://emmabowd.com/
https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460767245/time-to-go-to-the-park-a-beautifully-illustrated-keepsake-picture-book-to-inspire-joyful-family-adventures-in-nature/

Emily Gale - The Wild Unknown
Published by Text Publishing
28th April, 2026

The Wild Unknown is a gripping adventure set in a near-future world where the truth can be difficult to find and where real friends will always be better than the smartest tech.
Emily Gale’s other middle-grade novels are The Other Side of Summer, Elsewhere Girls and Outlaw Girls (co-written with Nova Weetman), and The Goodbye Year, which have all been shortlisted for a number of Australian awards.
https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/the-wild-unknown
https://emilygalebooks.com/

Anita Sachlikidis - Coby and the Magical Escape (Dragon Pets #5)
Published by Clucky Feathers Books
2026

Join Coby and his Dragon Pet Capri on their exciting adventure in the magical world – can they track down the cheeky escapees before they get into serious trouble?

Anita Sachlikidis creates vivid, entertaining stories for children in Cairns, Australia with her husband, two high-energy children and a flock of pretty, opinionated chickens.
https://anitasachlikidis.com/