Dave Petzold’s latest picture book, We Live in a Bus, reminds me of my treasured copies of Alison Lester’s Are We There Yet?, an Australian modern classic. Sharing the story of a family on a roadtrip in Australia, Petzold draws our attention to the small and large wonders of nature and the world around us.

This particular family travels in their bus, which is named ‘Gracie Joy Rufus Bean’, a delightful and well-loved vehicle. Together, the family and the bus share the adventures of camping under the stars and the freedom of the open air. With fun, colour-filled pages, this book reminds us to stop and marvel at the beauty around us and take joy in the simple act of being outdoors. Petzold brings together a light but detailed style of illustrations, making rereading an experience full of new finds – a necessary aspect when your little one inevitably asks to hear it again. For ages 2+.