A Touch of Magic: April Highlights at Better Reading Kids

From magic and adventure to impactful and inspirational reads, we have a strong April TBR pile. Our highlights are below but we’d love to hear about what you’ve been reading this April.

Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna

When Cassie runs away from her dreary boarding school, in search of her missing mother, she ends up in the magical village of Hedgely and discovers she comes from a family of witches – women who protect Britain from the denizens of Faerie, who are all too real and far more frightening than the story books suggest.

Ages 9+

Buy a copy of Hedgewitch here.

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency #2: The Edge of the Ocean by L.D Lapinski

Pack your suitcase for the final magical adventure at the Strangeworlds Travel Agency! The Secrets of the Stormforest is the page-turning conclusion to L.D. Lapinski’s portal-fantasy series. A magical adventure that will take you to whole new worlds, perfect for fans of The Train to Impossible Places and Pages & Co.

Ages 9+

Buy a copy of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency #2: The Edge of the Ocean here.

Alfie the Brave by Richard Harris and Simon Howe

A delightful picture book about a dog called Alfie who longs to be bold and brave like other dogs. From Australian of the Year Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris, a key member of the cave-diving team that rescued the Wild Boar soccer team in Thailand.

Ages 0+

Buy Alfie the Brave here.

Welcome to Country: Ceremony by Adam Goodes, David Hardy and Ellie Laing

From Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, co-writer Ellie Laing, and Barkindji illustrator David Hardy, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community and caring for Country from the world’s oldest continuous culture.

Ages 4+

Buy a copy of Welcome to Country: Ceremony here.

Kicking Goals #3: Sports Day by Fiona Harris, Sam Kerr and Aki Fukuoka

It’s official! Eleven-year-old Sam Kerr is a fully-fledged soccer tragic! So, when the school’s annual Sports Day comes around, she is disappointed when soccer isn’t on the list of activities. A fun and engaging third novel in the Kicking Goals series, Sports Day continues the story of Sam Kerr while celebrating her love of soccer.

Ages 7+

Buy a copy of Kicking Goals #3: Sports Day here.

Sophia the Show Pony by Kate Waterhouse and Sally Spratt

From Australian racing royalty, journalist and media personality Kate Waterhouse, and illustrator and creative influencer Sally Spratt, comes an empowering story that will delight and enchant young readers. Kate Waterhouse’s first children’s book is a beautiful and timeless rhyming story about a pony who learns to believe in herself.

Ages 6+

Buy a copy of Sophia the Show Pony here.

The Boy Who Hatched Monsters by T.C. Shelley

T.C. Shelley’s magical fantasy trilogy is perfect for fans of Jennifer Bell, Sophie Anderson and Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book. With splendid characters and a high stakes plot, The Boy Who Hatched Monsters is a brilliant conclusion to Shelley’s enchanting series.

Ages 10+

Buy a copy of The Boy Who Hatched Monster here.

Swim, Shark, Swim! by Dom Conlon

Swim around the world with Shark as he explores ocean forests and coastal reefs, meeting hammerheads and great whites, stingrays and dolphins in a search for the place he calls home. With rich language and enchanting art, Swim, Shark, Swim! features fascinating facts to inspire a love of science and the natural world.

Ages 5+

Buy a copy of Swim, Shark, Swim! here.

Blood to Poison by Mary Watson

Seventeen-year-old Savannah is cursed. It’s a sinister family heirloom; passed down through the bloodline for hundreds of years, with one woman in every generation destined to die young. Blood to Poison is a furious and mesmerising story about discovering magic, historical rage and love in all its guises.

For young adult readers.

Buy a copy of Blood to Poison here.

Beastheart: Slayer by A.H. Blade

Beastheart is set in a fantastical world run by a complex hierarchy of Beasts called the new-Kind, which have magical or elemental powers. Humans have become the oppressed underclass, but rebellion is brewing as enemies struggle for power, and the truth about the origins of the Kind could tip the balance forever… The first in an epic, action-packed new adventure from the creators of Beast Quest – perfect for kids aged 9+ who love Eragon and His Dark Materials.

Ages 9+

Buy a copy of Beastheart: Slayer here.

Wylah: The Koorie Warrior by Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard

Welcome to Wylah’s world, where gigantic megafauna Guardians protect their tribes from invading dragons and magical Totems are used in epic battles. Inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture, Wylah: The Koorie Warrior is out on 31 May.

Ages 8+

Pre-order a copy of Wylah: The Koorie Warrior here.

The Best Liars in Riverview by Lin Thompson

Aubrey and Joel are like two tomato vines growing along the same crooked fence—weird, yet the same kind of weird. Then Joel disappears. Vanishes. Poof. And Aubrey was the last person to see him. From American author Lin Thompson comes this moving story of friendship, gender identity and belonging, for mature middle-grade readers.

Ages 9+

Buy a copy of The Best Liars in Riverview here.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard – Illustrated Edition by J.K. Rowling and Chris Riddell

An essential companion to the Harry Potter books, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of fairytales from the wizarding world, via the enchanted pen of J.K. Rowling. Now available in a paperback format featuring a brand new cover by Chris Riddell, this edition contains all of the mesmerising illustrations from the original hardback plus an exclusive additional art print of Harry, Ron and Hermione for readers to take out and keep. Prepare to be spellbound!

Ages 7+

Buy a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard – Illustrated Edition here.