Review: Funcles

Imagine having a family so large that you have a ‘gazillion uncles’. 

If you had to make a family tree poster for school, how big would it need to be? 

Ginormous - that's how big!

This is exactly what happens in Funcles when a child is tasked with creating a family tree for a school project and excitedly tells his teacher that he’ll need more than one worksheet.

Review: I am Brown

'I am brown. 

I am beautiful 

I am perfect’ 

I am Brown is an inviting and poetic picture book that celebrates pride, culture and diversity.

The colour palette is rich and warm, highlighting the children and their beautiful brown skin tones, hair types and eye colours.

Hear from kids all over the world about what they like to eat and what they wear. Learn about the languages they speak and the places they go to pray. 

See their hopes for the future, their passions and gifts, and that no two children are exactly the same.

Sunday Shelfie - Filo's Butterflies

Happy #sundayshelfie day! It is my pleasure to welcome Litea Fuata and Myo Yim. This week we are celebrating their beautiful picture book Filo’s Butterflies

Filo is going to dance at his aunties’ Samoan wedding! He’s been rehearsing the steps for his first siva fa’ataupati for weeks, but now there are butterflies dancing in his belly. 

As the day goes on, the butterflies grow bigger and bolder. Will they stop him from performing the siva and having a good time? 

Filo’s Butterflies is a charming picture book about how a young Samoan boy calms his nerves before his first siva performance at a family wedding.

Written by Litea Fuata

Illustrated by Myo Yim

Published by Bright Light Publishing 

Visit Picture Book Book Club @picturebookbc on Instagram

Review: My Dreamtime Match

My Dreamtime Match is written by husband and wife duo Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton and follows their earlier titles, Our Mob and Our Dance. 

    Gulpa gaka! Welcome! Let’s play and run!

    My name is Jahleel. Come join the fun!

Follow Jahleel and his team as they play in the annual AFL Indigenous Round. Learn about how Indigenous culture and AFL come together in this important event named after Yorta Yorta player, Sir Doug Nicholls. 

Review: Hafsa’s Way

Hafsa will not take no for an answer. She intends to be a doctor but her parents do not hold the same dream for her. Her parents don't support the idea of girls being doctors and believe she should follow a more traditional path and seek marriage.

As a companion novel to the Amal Unbound and Omar Rising, we are once more transported to a small Pakistani village, hours away from the big city of Lahore. 

Hafsa Imtiaz discovers a flyer advertising the Bukhara Summer Science Camp, in Lahore, that teaches kids about medicine. She applies without her parents’ permission and is excited to be accepted. Her parents believe the camp is expensive and will not let her go to Lahore unsupervised. Hafsa persuades her father to let her go after her sister, Shabnam and her husband, Sohail, who live near the camp, offer to pay for the camp and let her stay with them.

Review: My Super Uncle

A striking cover and dazzling end papers promote the joy that fills this gorgeous picture book that speaks of love in its many forms.

Imaginative rhyming text accompanies vibrant colour illustrations which spill over every page, always focusing on the two characters - the girl and her super interesting uncle, with backgrounds of family scenes and the natural world.

Review : Come Home, Bigibila

Bigibila, the echidna, entered the world when Gawarrgay, the Dark Emu, was high in the sky. Surrounded by love, smells and sounds, she instantly knew this was her Country and this was her Place.

Bigibila grew into an inquisitive little animal and one day decided she would like to explore more of her Country. 

But such an adventure brings dangers she did not predict and suddenly finding her way home is not easy at all.

Review: My Nonna Loves

For fans of My Nonno Loves comes the perfect companion book - My Nonna Loves.

Nonna is an adorable Italian grandparent. She loves getting up early and talking to the chickens. She loves baking biscotti and going to the markets. She loves knitting and sewing and even the occasional bit of gossip.

But more than anything she loves her family.

Review: WillieBoy Eats The World

WillieBoy Eats the World is an exuberant rhyming picture book about a dachshund named WillieBoy and his human companion Steve, who discover that the world is full of delicious food, if only you're willing to try it.

WillieBoy narrates the story with boundless enthusiasm. He and Steve are creatures of habit, perfectly happy with their beloved Italian food, shrimp in spicy sauce, lasagna, linguini with clams, pizza, and cannoli. But a visit to a new dog park changes everything.

Review: Here Come the Cousins

Here Come the Cousins is a joyful and exuberant celebration of family and summer holidays by the beach. There is love, laughter, and nostalgia by the bucket and spadeful.

Written by Maggie Hutchings and illustrated by Sarah Zweck, Here Come the Cousins tells the story of a pack of boisterous cousins who descend on Pop’s beach house for a summer of fun.

Bunk beds are allotted, heights are measured, and then it’s on with the swimmers and off to the beach!

Review: Myra in the Middle

As the oldest child in my family, I could tell you many stories about how difficult it can be to have to ‘pave the way’ for my siblings. However, I have no idea of the trials and tribulations of being the youngest child – or the middle child for that matter.

Happily, there are books that address such matters, allowing us all a window into the experiences of others.

Up until the birth of her baby brother, seven-year-old Myra was the youngest of two, but now she is in the new position of ‘middle child’. 

It’s a bit of a nothing zone – a space where she's invisible, forgotten and not the ‘-est’ of anything. Myra’s not quite sure what her role is or where she fits anymore, only that she’s been relegated to the squashy middle seat in the car and she's been given the position of midfielder in her soccer team.

Happy Easter! A Picture Book Celebration

Happy Easter!

KBR celebrates this Easter with a look back at some of the picture books we've enjoyed over the years - some relating directly to Easter or with the theme of eggs, spring and new life. 

Some may be new to you, some quite old. If these titles are no longer on the shelf, consider giving them a second life by scouring second-hand stores or resale sites online.

Click on each cover for its review, and also check out this Easter Books post from 2014 and KBR Recommends: Vintage Easter Books from 2011, which is utterly fabulous.

No matter how you celebrate this time of year, we wish you a peaceful and uplifting time with family and friends - and maybe even a hint of chocolate.

Interview: Alysia Kelly on Celebration Festival

Alysia Kelly’s debut picture book Celebration Festival brings colour, curiosity and a sense of global celebration to young readers. The story follows Evie and her loyal dog Biscuit as they travel through a lively festival filled with traditions, foods and festivities from around the world. 

Through playful storytelling and vibrant moments of discovery, the book invites children to explore how different cultures celebrate together, and how joy, community and connection can be found in every corner of the globe.

Here, Alysia shares with Kids' Book Review the inspiration behind her debut, her journey into picture book writing, and what she hopes young readers will take away from the story.

Review: Claris and the Easter Delight

Adorable Claris is back as the flowers bloom in Paris and the joy of Easter is at hand. When Megan Hess expanded her repertoire of fashion, art and design to include little Claris, it was a genius stroke.

Nearly a dozen titles later and this tiny fashionista has charmed her way into the hearts of little girls in legion. There is no doubt that the prettiness of these books, combined with the always good fun rhyming stories, have been a sure-fire winner with the little ones aged around 4 upwards.

Review: Easter Cuddle

Two talented creators team up again for this Easter book which will delight tiny readers, and would make a superb gift for a newly arrived little human. The Easter Bunny at our house always delivered a new book as well as chocolate, so if that’s also a tradition for you, this is a perfect choice.

In the same style as their previous two titles in this ‘series’ Mummy Cuddle and Daddy Cuddle, the story line is simple, the text is sweet and the short sentences are exactly right for those tiny ears you want to nibble gently.

Review: Bush Turkey Easter Hunt

Bush Turkey is back! 

The scene for Bush Turkey Easter Hunt it set with a reminder that bush turkeys like to create big, messy nests.

It’s while Bush Turkey is making a nest that he discovers a gold egg. This must be something special because it’s gold and shiny. 

As he explores further afield Bush Turkey finds more and more eggs, in a range of colours, but all shiny.

Unfortunately, the humans are not happy with Bush Turkey scratching around. Not only is he causing a mess, he’s unaware that he’s wrecking the Easter egg hunt.

Review: Banjo the Hot Cross Bun

Just when is the right time for hot cross buns to appear on the shelves? 

Is Boxing Day too early? 

Banjo the Hot Cross Bun certainly arrives in store on Boxing Day, and it causes something of a stir. 

Even Banjo is outraged. He feels it’s way too early to be on sale. Hot cross buns are for Easter! 

Banjo throws a tantrum and causes chaos in the bakery. 

Through the fruit and vegetables, chocolates and lollies, Banjo is intent on making a mess.

Picture Book Podium : Easter edition!

Welcome to the 'Picture Book Podium'. These four new gems are getting us excited for Easter! Buns, bilbies, bush turkeys and bunnies! 

Reviews: The First Easter

With it’s happy yellow cover adorned with primary colours, embossed stars, people, animals, doves and little floaty things, this book is impossible not to pick up!

A beautiful book for every family who celebrates the Easter holiday.

The First Easter, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft, is indeed a beautiful and accessible narrative, depicting the events and special symbols of Easter in a child-centric and compassionate way. 

A Very KBR Christmas! 2025

It's that time of the year again when the KBR team like to do their bit for the festive season. This year's question has the potential to give SC the rest he deserves - or at least, according to some of our responses - relieve him of a few calories! So without further ado, from us to you all, a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Question: If you could relieve Santa of just one task this Christmas this season, what would it be and why?

Tania – KBR Founder: Oh, Santa – talk about overloaded! I would 100% relieve Santa of his children’s picture book deliveries, for two reasons… Firstly so I could take a peek and enjoy them all before delivery (remember that time stands still on Christmas Eve, so yes, I’ll be able to read them ALL… with a mug of gingerbread hot chocolate, of course).

And secondly so I could take note of all the addresses they were delivered to. Then I could pop back on Christmas morning to peek down the chimney and watch the wide-eyed delight as little ones unwrap their books and tumble into magical stories from all over the world.