Best picture books of 2024
Every year our staff vote for their favourite books of the past year. Here are the best picture books of 2024, as voted by Readings' staff!
The titles are displayed alphabetically by author.
Sky Country by Aunty Patsy Cameron, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy
‘This collaboration between two First Nations creators is an ancient story told by a grandmother to her grandchildren as they walk together. Using some traditional language, it tells how Trouwerner (Tasmania) was created by the Ancestral Beings, stars in the sky who made the seas, mountains and waterways, and gave fire to humans back in the Ice Age. With stunning oil on canvas illustrations that will captivate their imaginations, this is a beautiful story to share with young ones to give them an ancient perspective on the night sky. For ages 4+.’
– Angela Crocombe, senior book buyer
Dim Sum Palace by X. Fang
‘Liddy goes to bed very excited for tomorrow’s visit to Dim Sum Palace. In a stylish nod to Maurice Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen, she drifts off to a place where busy chefs are creating a beautiful array of mouth-watering dim sum. Pint-sized Liddy suddenly finds herself part of a sumptuous feast, as she is popped inside a dumpling on the empress’s table. Gorgeously illustrated with stunning endpapers, Taiwan-born author/illustrator X. Fang’s debut picture book is simply delicious. Chef’s kiss! For ages 3+.'
– Kim Gruschow, co-manager of Readings St Kilda
The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel, illustrated by Danny Snell
‘The first time I read this picture book, I read it out loud to my cat ... Tinka the truck cat lives all over Australia, as he travels in the cabin of an enormous truck that belongs to his owner, Yacoub.
The second time I read this picture book, I read it out loud to my mum ... Like Yacoub, my mother’s family came from another country, and the concept of home was a complicated one. When Tinka accidently leads Yacoub to a new family, our hearts were full ...
A picture book for all ages, and for everyone, human or feline.’
– This is an edited quote from Kate McIntosh’s review for Readings Monthly
Saturday is Pancake Day by Bernadette Green, illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett
‘When Dada Henry doesn’t get out of bed for Saturday morning pancakes with their family, Papa Milo is worried. Perhaps Henry doesn’t want pancakes today? Milo and the kids – Lily, Lena, and Gwendolyn – get creative in the kitchen and chaos ensues as they try to develop a dish that Dada Henry will love ... but perhaps the reason for Dada Henry’s absence at the breakfast table isn’t culinary at all.
This is a sweet and silly picture book about a creative and caring family. There’s lots of onomatopoeia and the kitchen drama makes it a fun read aloud for kids aged 2+.’
– This is an edited quote from Kim Gruschow’s review for Readings Monthly
Bernie Thinks in Boxes by Jess Horn, illustrated by Zoe Bennett
‘Bernie likes to keep everything compartmentalised in her life – school, home and play time. So, when she’s invited to a party by one of her school friends in the park with no one wearing school uniform, it is understandably challenging for her, and she runs away. But then Bernie and her mum think of an ingenious solution that helps Bernie celebrate with her school friends in a way that works for her. This charming story shows the importance of being true to yourself, with a focus on neurodiversity. For ages 3+.’
– Angela Crocombe, senior book buyer
How We Share Cake by Kim Hyo-eun, translated by Deborah Smith
‘A family of five children explain the logistics, tactics, disappointments and delights of sharing everything. Carefully divided slices, seating arrangements, sly sibling negotiations and hand-me-downs all feature in this hilarious tale. This picture book is translated from Korean, with a few Korean words remaining for keen readers to learn. The story functions as an entertaining introduction to maths while beautifully capturing and celebrating family. For ages 3+.'
– Kim Gruschow, co-manager of Readings St Kilda
Yanga Mother by Cheryl Leavy, illustrated by Christopher Bassi
‘What at first appears to be a beautiful but uncomplicated tale of a mother kangaroo and her joey, conveyed to readers through English and the Kooma language from the Murray-Darling Basin, is so much more.
Yanga Mother takes inspiration from a story that was shared with its award-winning author Cheryl Leavy by her grandmother, who was part of the Stolen Generations. “Mother is cloud, if ever you find yourself far away, look up and know mother is watching over you.” Long before Cheryl’s grandmother was taken, her mother would sing this tale to her.
With stunning images by Meriam and Yupungathi illustrator Christopher Bassi, we experience the enduring connection of family, no matter the distance. For ages 1+.’
– Claire Atherfold, manager of Readings State Library
Spiro by Anna McGregor
‘Spiro the spider is hungry and determined to catch something tasty. But no matter how he tries, or how he’s challenged to redesign his web, things continue to go wrong for poor Spiro. Luck is just not on his side ... or is it? Unbeknownst to Spiro, he may be about to be someone else’s meal.
This entertaining tale of perseverance by award-winning author/illustrator Anna McGregor brings the easily overlooked antics of a spider’s daily exploits to life. It is a joy to read and engage with the hilarious illustrations. For ages 2+.’
– Claire Atherfold, manager of Readings State Library
If You Run Out of Words by Felicita Sala
‘A child watches their parent talk all day, using their phone all day ... Eventually that child asks, "Will you have any words left for me?" ... so begins a journey full of imagination and constant "What if’s?"
In this day and age, taking the time to sit and read a beautiful picture book together is important in itself. Even better is reading a delightful picture book that explains in a fun and meaningful way to a child afraid of being ignored or forgotten that they are the most important thing in the world ... For ages 2+.’
– This is an edited quote from Kate McIntosh’s review for Readings Monthly
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (and Some Things You Didn't) by Briony Stewart
‘You can never be too prepared for certain questions. Luckily, if there are people in your life who are curious about a famous nocturnal dental enthusiast with wings, this new book has everything you need ...
With adorable illustrations that reveal more with every re-read, this is a charming picture book that reassures and entertains while addressing the burning questions we all have about the whole tooth-fairy set up. For ages 3+.’
– This is an edited quote from Elke Power’s review for Readings Monthly
