New Releases - January 2026

We’ve already had a bumper crop of new releases from our amazing Author Pen Pals so far this year. Please join us in congratulating them on their beautiful new books and stay tuned for more to come!

January Releases

Josie Montano - Casa Mia
Illustrated by Kristen Willis
Published by IP Kidz
1st January, 2026

Casa Mia is a heartwarming children's picture book about family, memory, and the power of home.

Josie’s an international award-winning author & screenwriter with 27 years and 70 resources within the industry, and is a storyteller who strives to advocate and who celebrates diversity.
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www.booksbyjosie.com.au

​Lawrey Goodrick - Half-Life: The AA Battery Adventure
Published by Hawkeye Books
24th January, 2026

Half-Life: The AA Battery Adventure is a STEM-infused coming-of-age adventure that follows two AA batteries seeking freedom from powering electronic devices and escape from the oppression of the Electrician overlords (humans).

Lawrey Goodrick writes whimsical, witty and outrageous stories that reflect his hyperactive and animated imagination, stories constructed from complex subject matter, simplified into thought-provoking perspectives for middle grade readers.

https://hawkeyebooks.com.au/collections/new-release/products/half-life

Dr Helen Edwards - A Light on the Rocks
Published by Riveted Press
28th January, 2026

Set across two timelines, connected by place, mystery, and magic, A Light on the Rocks is a haunting tale about survival, self-belief and the wild beauty of the sea.

Dr Helen Edwards is an award-winning author and speaker who writes stories of nature, history and magic.

www.helenedwardswrites.com
www.rivetedpress.com.au

Gemma Creegan - The Little Mushroom Village
Published by BookSpring
January 2026

My debut picture book is written and illustrated by me and explores a whimsical mushroom village through the changing seasons.

I'm a British-Australian children's writer and illustrator who is inspired by nature, books and travel.

Bilingual Children's Book About Mushrooms and Mice Overview - BookSpring