The Ultimate Book Gift Guide for Kids of All Ages!

The Ultimate Book Gift Guide for Kids of All Ages!

For the little ones

Bluey: Sleepytime

It’s sleepytime at the Heeler house, and Bingo is determined to do a ‘big girl sleep’ and wake up in her own bed. This is a huge and beautiful book that follows Bingo through a fantastical space-themed dreamscape.

Themes: Family, bedtime, love. Ages 3+

Buy a copy of Bluey: Sleepytime here.

Bluey: Christmas Swim

While spending Christmas Day around the pool at her cousin’s house, Bluey gets upset as the family are a bit too rough with her new toy.

Themes: Family, Christmas, Forgiveness. Ages 3+

Buy a copy of Bluey: Christmas Swim here.

Bluey: Camping

Bluey makes a new friend, Jean Luc, on her family camping trip. Though they can’t speak the same language, Bluey and Jean Luc have many adventures and learn about the magic of friendship.

Themes: Friendship, nature. Ages 3+

Buy a copy of Bluey: Camping here.

Scaredy Bath by Zoë Foster Blake, illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett

Scaredy Bath does not like bath time . . . the piping hot water, the gooey muck and especially the small boisterous grubby ones that shout and splash! A bubble-filled ode to bath time chaos, as seen from the bath’s point of view.

Themes: Family, bathtime, overcoming anxiety. Ages 3+

Buy a copy of Scaredy Bath here.

Where Are You, Magoo? by Briony Stewart

The mischievous and loveable puppy, who we first met in We Love You, Magoo, is hiding around the home. Kids will love finding Magoo in all sorts of silly places.

Themes: Pets, hide and seek, family. Ages 1+

Buy a copy of Where Are You, Magoo? here.

Cat Dog by Mem Fox and Mark Teague

In this zippy, call-and-response style adventure, a cat and a dog are astonished to find a mouse in their house! The three circle each other while the story sometimes correctly describes their antics – and sometimes doesn’t. Young readers will love pointing out which parts are right and wrong.

Themes: Humour, pets, action. Ages 3+

Buy a copy of Cat Dog here.

For junior readers

Born to Run by Cathy Freeman, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

As a little girl, Cathy Freeman had only one dream – to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Cathy tells her story and how the power of self-belief, hard work and a loving family can help you reach the stars.

Themes: Family, dreams, running. Ages 4+

Buy a copy of Born to Run here.

Everything Under the Sun by Molly Oldfield

A wonderful collection of 366 curious questions asked by children around the world, based on the award-winning podcast by Molly Oldfield.

Themes: Non-fiction, fun facts, illustrated. Ages 5+

Buy a copy of Everything Under the Sun here.

Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Cat by Monica McInerney, illustrated by Danny Snell

Marcie hasn’t had a great start to the Christmas holidays, but when Gran gifts Marcie a special wishing stone and George the cat starts talking, everything changes.

Themes: Family, competitions, magical realism. Ages 8+

Buy a copy of Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Cat here.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #16: Big Shot by Jeff Kinney

Our very un-sporty Greg Heffley somehow manages to join his school’s lowest-ranking basketball team. When everything is on the line and the ball is in Greg’s hands, will he rise to the occasion? Or will he blow his big shot?

Themes: Humour, illustrated, sports. Ages 8+

Buy a copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid #16: Big Shot here.

Always by Morris Gleitzman

The seventh and final part of Felix’s story, bringing together the heart-wrenching journey through Once, Then, After, Soon, Maybe and Now.

Themes: Family, refugees, racism. Ages 8+

Buy a copy of Always here.

Pony by R.J. Palacio

Silas Bird wakes in the dead of night, watching powerlessly as three strangers take his father away. Silas is left shaken and scared, with only his companion, Mittenwool, who happens to be a ghost. When a mysterious pony shows up at his door, Silas knows what to do.

Themes: Adventure, historical fiction, supernatural realism. Ages 8+

Buy a copy of Pony here.

Ranger’s Apprentice The Royal Ranger #5: Escape from Falaise by John Flanagan

Ranger Will and his (secretly) royal apprentice Maddie are imprisoned at Chateau des Falaises. The pair will need to survive a horseback dual with the garrison commander before completing what they came here to do: rescue a kidnapped prince.

Themes: Fantasy, adventure, action. Ages 10+

Buy a copy of Ranger’s Apprentice The Royal Ranger #5: Escape from Falaise here.

For teens

Real Magic by Ash Magic

Australian magician and TikTok star Ash Magic is here to turn your frown upside down with his story of success – overcoming struggles with ADHD and anxiety to pursue his dream of becoming a performer. Plus, you can learn some of the secrets to his magic tricks too!

Themes: Non-fiction, magic, mental health. Ages 10+

Buy a copy of Real Magic here.

Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden

Lucas Mason’s dreams of joining the Australian Ballet School are crushed after a terrible injury. Who is he without his identity as a dancer?

Themes: Coming-of-age, contemporary, romance. Ages 13+

Buy a copy of Anything But Fine here.

The Prison Healer #2: The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni

Kiva Meridan has survived the brutal world of Zalindov Prison and the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now she realises that navigating a complicated web of lies and discovering who to trust can be just as terrifying.

Themes: Fantasy, romance. Ages 13+

Buy a copy of The Prison Healer #2: The Gilded Cage here. 

 

The Magpie Society: Two for Joy by Zoe Sugg and Amy McCulloch

Audrey and Ivy, determined to bring fellow student Lola Radcliffe’s killer to justice, find themselves in the middle of a second mystery when a friend disappears in suspicious circumstances.

Themes: Thriller, mystery. Ages 13+

Buy a copy of The Magpie Society: Two for Joy here. 

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus

Three schoolmates wag school for the day and follow one of their fellow classmates around, only to be shocked as he unknowingly leads the trio to a murder scene. Another pulse-pounding thriller from the author of One of Us is Lying.

Themes: Thriller, mystery. Ages 13+

Buy a copy of You’ll Be the Death of Me here.

Made by Morgan by Morgan Hipworth

Teenage chef extraordinaire and TikTok star Morgan Hipworth shares his favourite, most famous and totally viral recipes.

Themes: Cookbook. Ages 13+

Buy a copy of Made by Morgan here.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Iris Hollow and her sisters embark on a disturbing journey to discover exactly what happened to them ten years ago, when they went missing for a month.

Themes: Thriller, horror, magical realism. Ages 15+

Buy a copy of House of Hollow here.

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