With everything from excellent illustrated stories for encouraging new readers, to bold debuts for teens, it’s just as well it’s much too cold to do anything but snuggle inside with one of these superb new books.

Both of my picture book recommendations for the month take the reader on an important journey of self-discovery, but in markedly different ways.

In Mr Huff, Anna Walker’s subtle, detailed ink and pencil artwork is both beautiful and emotive. A little boy who cannot shake the bad mood he wakes up with learns that ignoring it will not help it to go away. The poignancy of the story is perfectly offset with the ever-expanding character of Mr Huff and his adorable little face. Just try getting through this one without exclaiming, ‘Ohhh, Mr Huff!’

By contrast, in The Worm Who Knew Karate! Terry Denton lends newcomer Jill Lever’s story some highly energetic leap-off-the-page illustrations, which will truly delight those younger siblings who eagerly eye the Treehouse series but don’t yet have the reading skills for them. This is story of Brian, a panicked worm who discovers the benefits of karate, including self-discipline and socialisation. Although this is a picture book format, it would make a satisfying early reader.

You can find more on books for new readers in a blog post from earlier this week: On the importance of pictures to encourage young readers. In the article, I talk about two of my favourites books of the month: Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey (his first junior novel) and Travels of an Extraordinary Hamster (a graphic novel that will have dry-humoured 8-year-olds and over in stitches).

I also have it on good authority that graphic novel Unicorn On A Roll is a worthy successor to Phoebe and her Unicorn, for those who like their mythical animals droll. Or, for a more contemporary series, Chrissie Perry’s Penelope Perfect is worth checking out. With line drawings and generous layout, Penelope is a great next-step from Sally Rippin’s Billie B Mysteries. I really love the tone of these books; this is an engaging and smart fiction series in which Australian school children will find plenty to recognise about their daily experiences.

For more confident readers, there are three fantastic books to follow.

We’re so delighted to see a new novel from Martine Murray, the author of Henrietta, There’s No One Better, and The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley. Molly and Pim and the Millions of Stars is a beautiful novel, inside and out, and well worth the wait.

The many fans of Morris Gleitzman’s riveting series, which started with Once, will be clamouring for the next chapter in Felix’s story – Soon – which takes place in the wake of Poland’s liberation after WW2. This month, we have it available at a special price of $15.99.

The top tip from my colleague at the Carlton shop, Angela Crocombe, is The ACB with Honora Lee, which she says is a beautiful book for a parent and 9+ child to share, about an unconventional girl and her equally unconventional gran.

Both of my YA picks this month are bold debuts.

I completely surrendered to The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle, in which reality and memory are as tricky as each other in a story about how secrets can distort everything in a family. I really can’t wait to see what this author does next.

And equally powerful is Risk by Australian newcomer Fleur Ferris, whose novel tackles an incredibly important – and terrifying – topic. Ferris is a former police officer and paramedic, and her firsthand experiences are in evidence in this powerful story. Even though Risk takes us to a scary place, Ferris still manages to do what the best YA authors always achieve – leave us on a note of hope and empowerment. Readers who enjoyed the very tense Cry Blue Murder by fellow Australians Kim Kane and Marion Roberts, should add Risk to their To Be Read pile.

Emily Gale