Terrific 10: Gardening

If you have kids, pretty much any time is a good time to be out in the garden. Gardens are fodder for the soul and imagination. They allow kids to explore, create, dream, wonder, and get good and dirty. Here are some all-time favourite picture books about gardening. They're all enchanting and great fun to read, and they're sure to encourage little ones to plant seeds, dig holes, or just watch things grow.

Florette, by Anna Walker, Penguin, $24.99, 9780670079414, 4+, KBR review

Terrific 10: Clever Interactive Books

These books all elicit enthusiastic participatory reactions from their readers. Some do it by addressing the reader and asking direct questions that need to be answered before the story can move on. Some do it by giving instructions and tasks that need to be followed. Others still have a combination of both techniques, however all of the listed titles achieve their interactive elements without the inclusion of flaps, pop ups or other amazing gimics. 

All in all, these books are irresistible to little hands and are guaranteed to be enthralling and exciting on each and every read.

Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson, Harper Collins Publishers, $19.99, 9780062274472, 3-6

This is Not a Book by Jean Jullien, Phaidon, $14.95, 9780714871127, 2 - 100, KBR Review

The Odd One Out: A Spotting Book by Britta Teckentrup, Big Picture Press, $19.99, 9781848773516, 3-8, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Grumpy Books

Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer, Albert Whitman & Company, $33.99, 9780807530757, 2-7

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins, Disney Hyperion, $28.99, 9781484730881, 3-8, KBR Review

Penguin by Polly Dunbar, Walker Books, $16.95, 9781406312461, $16.95, 3-8, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Dogs

Yip! Snap! Yap! by Charles Fuge, Walker Books, $14.99, 9781582460970, 0-4

This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Byrne, Oxford University Press, $17.95, 9780192737298, 3-7

Ted by Leila Rudge, Walker Books Australia, $27.99, 9781921977503, 3-7, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Sloths

SnoozeFEST by Samantha Berger and Kristyna Litten, Penguin, $27.99, 9780803740464, 4+, KBR Review

The Sloth Who Came to Stay by Margaret Wild and Vivienne To, Allen & Unwin, $24.99, 9781760290221, 3-6, 

Archie: No Ordinary Sloth by Heath McKenzie, The Five Mile Press, $19.95, 9781760067892, 4-8, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Snail Mail

These days snail mail is understood to be a 'thing of the past', but if your kids are anything like mine, they still get a huge thrill from checking the letter box each day, and find it especially exciting to receive their annual stash of birthday parcels and Christmas cards. 

Here we have gathered a list of ten terrific picture books that all feature post, mail, letters or postcards, which are not only enormous fun to read but might even inspire yourself and your little ones to invest some time in creating your very own snail mail to post out.

Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett, Pan Macmillan, $14.99, 9781405090759, 2-8, KBR Review

Dear Greenpeace by Simon James, Walker Books, $16.99, 9781406367409, 4-8

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers, Harper Collins, $24.99, 9780007513758, 4+, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Beautiful Gift Books to Welcome Baby

On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman, St Martin's Press, $26.99, 9780312346065, 0-7


If Kisses Were Colours by Janet Lawler and Alison Jay, Dial Children, $33.99, 9780803726178, 0-7


Kissed by the Moon by Alison Lester, Penguin Books Australia, $19.99, 9780670076758, 0-6, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Body Protection

These picture books offer a starting point for parents and caregivers wishing to teach their children about sexual abuse prevention and reporting. The books listed below aim to give children knowledge about their bodies and the privacy they should expect, while empowering them to say no when needed, as well as equipping them with strategies for what they should do if they do experience abuse.

The first five books on this list are focused on introducing young children to body awareness and body protection techniques:

Only For Me by Michelle Derrig and Nicole Mackenzie, Dewfall Publishing, $15.95, 9780994452801, 2+, KBR Review, click here for more information.


My Underpants Rule! by Kate and Rod Power, Kids Rule Publishing, $20.99, 9780992953003, 4+, click here for more information.


My Body Belongs to Me! From My Head to My Toes by proFamilia and Dagmar Geisler, Skyhorse Publishing Inc, $28.99, 9781626363458, 4+, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Anzac Day - Remembrance

The ANZAC Tree by Christina Booth, Scholastic Australia, $24.99, 9781760154226, 5-9, KBR Review


Reflection: Remembering Those Who Serve in War by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg and Robin Cowcher, Walker Books Australia, $24.99, 9781922179050, 5-10, KBR Review


Memorial by Gary Crew and Shaun Tan, Hachette Australia, $16.99, 9780734405456, 8-12

Terrific 10: Anzac Day - Experiences of War

Gallipoli by Kerry Greenwood and Annie White, Scholastic, $24.99, 9781743621295, 6+, KBR Review


The Beach They Called Gallipoli by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, Harper Collins, $24.99, 9780732292263, 8+, KBR Review


Anzac Biscuits by Phil Cummings and Owen Swan, Scholastic, $24.99, 9781742833460, 4+, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Anti-Princesses

The Princess and the Presents by Caryl Hart and Sarah Warburton, Nosy Crow, $19.99, 9780857632609, 4+, KBR Review (Also see The Princess and the Christmas Rescue and The Princess and the Peas)


The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko, Annick Press, $14.99, 9780920236161, 3-8


The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie, Simon & Schuster, $19.99, 9781847388759, 3+, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Preparing for a New Baby

Lilli-Pilli's Sister by Anna Branford and Linda Catchlove, Walker Books Australia, $24.95, 9781921977589, 4+, KBR review

Olive Marshmallow by Kate Saunders, Five Mile Press, $16.95, 9781760061265, 3+, KBR review

Baby Glue by Tarryn Lean and Annie White, JoJo Publishing, $16.99, 9780987587930, 3 - 7, KBR review

Terrific 10: Seeking Refuge

Teacup by Rebecca Young and Matt Ottley, Scholastic Australia, $24.99, 9781743623848, 3-7


Welcome by Barroux, Egmont Children's Books, $19.99, 9781405280532, 3-7, KBR Review

Come by Chance by Madeleine Winch, Walker Books Australia, $16.99, 9781921150845, 2-7

Terrific 10: Books About the Library

Happy Library Lovers' Day! Make sure you celebrate by stopping in and connecting with your local library or immersing yourself in one of these fabulous picture books all about the wonders of the library! (Please note: officially Library Lovers' Day is tomorrow - the 14th February. We are so in love with our libraries here at KBR, we just couldn't wait to share these. Enjoy! ED)

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce, Simon & Schuster, $24.99, 9781442457027, 4-8, KBR eBook Review, Animated Short Film


Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen and Kevin Hawkes, Walker Books, $16.99, 9781406305678, 4-8


The Midnight Library by Kazuno Kohara, Pan Macmillan, $14.99, 9780230736092, 3-7

Terrific 10: Dinosaur Books

Tea Rex by Molly Idle, Viking, $27.99, 9780670014309, 3-8


I Wanna be a Great Big Dinosaur! by Heath McKenzie, Scholastic, $16.99, 9781743626009, 2-6, KBR Review


Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea, Hyperion, $26.99, 9781423113355, ages 2-5, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Books About Australia

The Family Hour in Australia by Tai Snaith, Thames & Hudson, $24.95, 9780500500330, 3-5, KBR Review


Australia: Illustrated by Tania McMartney, Exisle Publishing, $29.99, 9781925335217, 4+, KBR Review


Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy, Walker Books Australia, $24.99, 9781922244871, KBR Review

Terrific 10: Indigenous Australia

No WayYirrikipayi! by children from Milikapiti School, Melville Island, with Alison Lester, Indigenous Literacy Foundation, $19.99, 9780992478070,


Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy, Walker Books Australia, $24.99, 9781922244871, 5+, KBR Review



Silly Birds by Greg Dreise, Magabala Books, $24.95, 4+ KBR Review