Something for Everyone: June Highlights at Better Reading Kids

As we enter the school holidays—with some areas are entering lockdown—parents may feel they need to get creative to keep the kids and teens occupied. Luckily, this month’s books have done the work for you. From magic and wizardry to monsters, and from nature to coming-of-age titles, there’s something for everyone!

Here are the top titles on our reading list in June:

The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife by Maz Evans

No matter how much someone tells you to keep it in, it’ll always find its way out. And very soon, Scarlett notices that every time she pushes her feelings down, something explodes. Like … really, properly explodes. It might be her teacher’s slimy green smoothie. A huge pot of purple paint. Or a massive pile of elephant poo at the zoo. And let’s hope Scarlett doesn’t get mad at Aunty’s wedding – that wedding cake is HUGE…

Readers aged 7+

The Book of Australian Trees by Inga Simpson and Alicia Rogerson

This book is a love song to Australian trees, from the red ironbark to the grey gum, the Moreton Bay fig to the Queensland bottle tree. The first book for children from one of Australia’s most beloved authors. What trees breathe out, we breathe in. They are a vital part of the Earth’s ecosystems. When you first stand in a forest, the trees all seem the same. But if you look more closely, they are each a little different, like people.

Readers aged 8+

Goal!!! by Lydia Williams and Lucinda Gifford

Join Little Lydia and her new friends as they all strive to be their best AND work together as a team. Another wonderful picture book about the joy and friendships to be found in sport. A joyous and triumphant picture book about friendship, sport, and teamwork by Lydia Williams, goalkeeper for the Australian Matildas and for Arsenal in the UK.

Readers aged 5+

Have You Seen My Friend? by Jo Dabrowski

Have you seen my friend? He was sitting right there. And then he disappeared. Like magic. With clever flaps, snappy text, and bright and bold use of collage, this cheeky and surprising board book from exciting new talent Jo Dabrowski tells a hilarious tale of friendship, determination, and the importance of always having a trick up your sleeve.

Readers aged 1+

How To Make a Pet Monster #2: Flummox by Lili Wilkinson and Dustin Spence

Have you ever wanted a pet monster? If you’re like Artie, the answer is NO, because you think monsters don’t exist. They made HODGEPODGE, who’s a bit furry and a bit stinky. Now, Willow wants to make a best friend, but Artie’s worried. Now that he knows monsters are real, what if this new one is really dangerous? A fantastically readable, gloriously funny and collectable new junior fiction series.

Readers aged 7+

100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze by Clayton Zane Comber

Can a list save a life? Xander Maze loves lists, and his grandmother is #1 on his list of People I Love Most in the World. But now that Nanna has stage 4 cancer, can a new list of 100 Remarkable Feats really save her? Particularly when his list contains difficult things like #2 Make a Friend and #3 Make a Best Friend – plus #10 Kiss a Girl. Funny, moving and with a protagonist you can’t help but fall in love with.

YA readers

The Wizard of Once series by Cressida Cowell

From Cressida Cowell, the bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon, comes an exciting high-adventure series—set in an ancient, magical time, full of Wizards, Warriors, Giants and Sprites. Perfect for those who love fantasy and adventure. This is the story of a young boy Wizard and a young girl Warrior who have been taught since birth to hate each other like poison; and the thrilling tale of what happens when their two worlds collide.

Readers aged 9+

We Are Inevitable by Gayle Forman

So far, the inevitable hasn’t worked out so well for Aaron Stein. While his friends have gone to college and moved on with their lives, Aaron’s been left behind, running a failing bookshop with his dad, Ira. What he needs is a lucky break, the good kind of inevitable. And then he meets Hannah. And could they – their relationship, their meeting – possibly be the inevitable Aaron’s been waiting for? A heartbreaking story about finding yourself and your people, from the bestselling author of If I Stay,

YA readers

The Lucky List by Rachael Lippincott

Two girls, one list and twelve chances to fall in love this summer . . .Emily’s always been lucky. Well, technically her mum was the lucky one, and since she died, Emily’s started to feel like her luck’s run out. When Emily finds her mum’s senior-year bucket list, she finds twelve ways to feel close to her again.But if she wants to check everything off, she’ll need help – help in the form of Blake.A captivating, heartfelt love story about learning who you are, and who you love, when the person you’ve always shared yourself with is gone.

YA readers