Tashi’s colourful activity book is full of fun for 5–8 year olds! They can make a dragon, a boat, a pop-up tiger card and a diorama. Or they can have lots of fun playing a special board game. After investigating the treasure chest of words and the tricky word puzzle, it’s time to help Tashi rescue the children in the Warlord’s maze and find the Baron’s gold with the treasure map. There’s even a brandnew Tashi adventure story, ‘Tashi and the Strangers’, to read.

It’s not just people who have busy days – baby wombats have a lot to do, too! Sleeping is BORING, so Baby Wombat heads out to play, explore and meet new friends. The week fills up quickly when you have to dig holes, eat flowers and scratch your rump on fence posts. This follow-up to the Diary of a Wombat (HarperCollins. Board. $15) features the same combination of minimalist text and engaging images and is sure to have youngsters chuckling as they ponder life as a dumpy marsupial. Ages 2+

This is classic Emily Rodda. As in the Rowan and Deltora Quest series, there’s a quest, an ordinary child who must find the bravery and intelligence within themselves to overcome the many perils and trials they face, and riddles and mysteries for readers. The third book in the Rondo series sees cousins Leo and Mimi return to their friends in the world inside a music box. Can they stop the Blue Queen from spreading her evil? Well, yes, but the fun is in finding out how. Also available: a handsome three-volume Rondo boxed set ($89.95). Ages 9+

Moving house can be traumatic for children, and so it is for Clancy. He has moved from a home of cosy spaces to a large house of shadows and dark corners that has a yard with nothing but a snail and a pile of empty boxes. But soon Clancy builds a cardboard box tower that attracts Millie from over the fence. Then their adventures begin. Libby Gleeson’s delightful artwork brings life to this story illustrating how imagination and newfound friendship light up a child’s world. Ages 4+

Any child who has ever had a bath will realise that the title of this book is manifestly true. In fact, this book folds out into a single almighty centrefold to reveal just how many uses of rubber ducks there are besides floating in a bath. And flipping the pages over will reveal something that most children won’t have realised: rubber ducks actually find it useful to have a child as well. A delightful, whimsical, double-sided tale for ages 3+.

Told through blogs, exam answers, diaries and reports written as part of a gothic fiction elective in the HSC English exam, this riveting young adult novel is about school life, ghosts, burgeoning sexuality, secrets, madness, passion, dysfunctional families, difference, relationships – and that terrifying moment in the final year of high school when you realise that the future’s come to get you. This fourth – and perhaps last – volume in Moriarty’s popular Ashbury High series set in a Sydney private school will appeal to girls and boys aged 15+.

Any child who has ever had a bath will realise that the title of this book is manifestly true. In fact, this book folds out into a single almighty centrefold to reveal just how many uses of rubber ducks there are besides floating in a bath. And flipping the pages over will reveal something that most children won’t have realised: rubber ducks actually find it useful to have a child as well. A delightful, whimsical, double-sided tale for ages 3+.

Action, action, action. Readers will barely draw breath as they race through Cameron Ormond’s adventures as a fugitive from unknown enemies, needing to solve a series of genuinely puzzling mysteries. In the first few pages there is a deathly warning from an enigmatic man, a boat accident, a shark attack and a helicopter rescue. And things get even more dangerous from there. Be warned, there’s a cliff-hanger ending and there are 11 more books to come in the series (one each month from February). Ages 12+

From the exuberant to the moving, from bum jokes to metafiction, Kids’ Night In! has it all. The third anthology of kids’ bits and pieces published to raise money for aid agency War Child not only has a great range of stories, but also cartoons, recipes and poems, as well as a sprinkling of true stories that will give kids insights into the contributors’ minds. As well as providing encounters with familiar authors, Kids’ Night In! 3 is a great way for children to meet new favourites. Ages 7+

It’s the cusp of WWI, and all the European powers are building arms. Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run from his enemies when he meets Deryn Sharp, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. Both children end up on the Leviathan, a massive whale airship, on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure – one that will change both their lives forever. Superb magical realist storytelling accompanied by intricate and evocative illustrations make this essential summer reading for children aged 10+.

Get to the end of this novel, and you’ll turn straight back to the first page to reread it. New York teenager Micah is a compulsive liar, lying even to the reader she promises she is telling the truth to. The book seems to revolve around the identity of the murderer of her sort-of-boyfriend, but there is another deeper secret at the book’s heart. But is even that secret true? Complex and utterly seductive, Liar is for readers at the upper end of the young adult age range who are as smart as the book itself.

There’s no escaping the fact that when you are little your parents make you do stuff you really don’t want to do. For Little Pea that is eating candy, for Little Hoot the owl it’s staying up late and for Little Oink the pig it’s being messy. This charming trilogy of tales in a topsy-turvy world will delight children of all ages, and may even prompt your little ones to eat spinach, go to bed early and tidy their rooms! Ages 4+

In her highly awaited new novel, the author of The Tale of Despereaux (Candlewick. PB. $24.95) conjures a haunting fable about trusting the unexpected – and making the extraordinary come true. When a fortune teller’s tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchenne knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortune teller’s mysterious answer (An elephant! An elephant will lead you there!) sets off a remarkable chain of events. Ages 8+

In the 1930s, T. S. Eliot composed a series of poems about cats for his godchildren. First collected and published under the moniker of Old Possum in 1939, the poems were later set to music to become the musical Cats. Here, we are privy to the full measure of catly behaviour: stealing roasts from ovens, dancing in the moonlight and miscellaneous caterwauling. The ragamuffin artwork of Axel Scheffler, familiar to readers of the Gruffalo series, perfectly complements the cast of wily, boisterous and cheeky feline characters. Ages 4+

The Red Piano is a retelling of the story of Zhu Xiao-Mei, a concert pianist who was ‘reeducated’ as a child in the camps of China’s Cultural Revolution. After long days toiling in the fields and undertaking self-criticism classes, the small girl slips away to illicitly practise the piano. Music brings some humanity into her life, in a system that has none. It brings happiness and a hint of freedom. Barroux’s stark artwork highlights the poignancy of this tale of human resilience in the face of oppression. Published in association with Amnesty International. Ages 9+

Nina lives with her father above the stables of the Royal Academy of Dancing Horses. When war looms, Nina’s father decides that they must take the parade stallions and flee to safety across the border. Nina is determined not to leave Zelda, a friendly cab horse that has been abandoned. But will the old mare be a help or a hindrance when danger awaits and they must cross the high mountain passes? A heart-warming tale about friendship and loyalty that will appeal to readers aged 8+.

This book presents a selection of 40 favourite Italian recipes adapted from the famous Silver Spoon cookbook by Amanda Grant, an expert on healthy eating for children. The recipes have been chosen for their simple instructions, fresh and healthy ingredients and delicious flavour, and are guaranteed to appeal to the fussiest of children. Fully illustrated throughout, with colour photographs of the finished dish, The Silver Spoon for Children will appeal to aspiring MasterChefs in every household. Ages 10+

Much more than a run-of-the-mill fantasy novel, Storyworld is a toolkit for telling stories that bids its readers to unlock their imaginations. Elaborately decorated cards provide the building blocks, but with no rigid rules the story is in the eye of the beholder: there are myriad ways to connect, shape and flesh out a narrative based on the cards and the teller’s imagination. Individual tales can go wherever the storyteller takes them. An accompanying book contains hints, suggestions and some sample stories to get things started. Ages 8+

The re-issue of this children’s classic will appeal as much to anyone who grew up in the ’70s as to today’s kids. Part of Sasek’s much-loved series on the countries and great cities of the world (This is Paris, This is Rome, This is New York), it provides a time-capsule snapshot of Australia, portrayed in distinctive artwork and described with wry humour. Kids will delight in the colourful portrayals of Australia’s architecture, landscape and wildlife, while parents are likely to get lost in wistful reverie at images of the Australia of yesteryear. Ages 6+

This book tells us that our brain contains billions of nerve cells – and we reckon reading it will get plenty of them buzzing! Bright sparks will love the heady(!) combination of scientific explanations of the functioning of the brain and senses, discussion of the lives of various geniuses throughout history, and countless nuggets of information that they discover here. With its fistful of optical illusions, puzzles and quizzes, this book offers hours of learning and fun for those aged 10 to 110.

Trixie Twinkle Toes is bored with the routines of perfuming and preening, posing and prancing that fill up her uneventful life. She may be a pampered poodle but she wants nothing more than to run through puddles. But will her owner, Verity Brulée, who does nothing more than sit inside whenever the weather is vaguely inclement, ever understand? Can Trixie change her image and get in touch with her inner dog? Another colourful, idiosyncratic and captivating tale from the author of the much-loved Charlie & Lola series. Ages 5+

Reciting the alphabet has never been so tactile, multidimensional or intriguing! Marion Bataille has created a masterpiece of origami, manuscript engineering and paper mechanics that really brings the alphabet to life. Through ingenious paper tucks, folds and levers the letters leap up from the page. Among others, C does a pirouette to become D, V is reflected in mirrored paper to become W, and X loses its tail to become Y. This will be a useful learning device for pre-schoolers and will have many an adult intrigued as well. Ages 4+

Hot on the heels of the bestselling adult edition comes this version for kids, which helps them put complex ideas into words, share and develop their ideas and feelings, and respect the views of others. Ages 5+

The world’s most valuable diamond has been stolen and Gerald Wilkins must solve the mystery. An irresistible adventure story and engrossing whodunit for readers aged 9+.

An explosive, highly charged and hilarious adventure from the author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Vintage. PB. $24.95). Ages 9+

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone fighting against you? Twenty-four enter the televised reality game, but only the winner survives. Will Katniss make it through? Hugely exciting reading for ages 10+.

This deliciously dark illustrated children’s book full of morals and lessons will appeal to both adults and kids. Ages 6+

Celebrate the Chinese tradition of storytelling with this enchanting volume of 18 fairytales. Taken from all over China and spanning centuries of folklore, these classic stories reflect the culture of an ancient, exotic land. Children will delight to hear such magical tales as ‘The Red Pearls’, ‘Lover Cloud’ and ‘The Invisible Bird’. There are emperors and dragons, princes and princesses, kings, wizards, fairies and more. Certain to become a favourite for bedtime reading for children aged 8+.

The eighth instalment in the mega-popular Alex Rider series sees the junior operative kidnapped and whisked off to Africa. Thrilling reading for ages 9+.

Edie Amelia Sparks is a neat girl with very messy parents. When she discovers that her red monkey shoe is missing, she sets out to solve the mystery. Ages 7+

After imagining the fun of being a variety of animals from around the world, a sweet ending – and an attached mirror – remind little ones that the very best thing they can be is exactly who they are.

A comforting and wonderfully illustrated story about the cycle of life in its many forms. Ages 1+

This delightful picture book about a little girl going on a big adventure celebrates friendship, courage and the wonder of a child’s imagination. Ages 2+

Here’s a way to let your kids rifle through your stuff without risking them losing your credit cards, leaving fingerprints on your photos or tipping out your expensive perfume. This book/bag contains all sorts of die-cut cardboard objects that fold up, slip out and flip open. Here are all the accoutrements of everyday life – from handkerchiefs to hairbrushes, from postcards to passports. The clock with movable hands and spinning wheel for learning numbers and the alphabet make it an educational as well as entertaining ensemble. Ages 3+

Mr Green decides to get married so that he can get rid of the children’s beloved carer, Nanny Piggins. But neither the children nor their flying pig of a nanny will allow that to happen! Ages 7+

Does your child love maths? Pop The Number Devil in their Christmas stocking. Does your child loathe maths? Pop The Number Devil in their Christmas stocking. Robert is the second kind of child. He hates both maths and dreams until the quirky Number Devil forces his way into Robert’s sleep. Using dialogue to explain mathematical concepts, this book takes maths away from rote learning and into guided discovery. Adding warmth are the lush colour illustrations; a charming mix of oldfashioned and contemporary styles. Ages 10+

If you’ve never heard of the piratey lass with a sewn-up grin, this is your chance to catch up. This nearly wordless graphic novel launched the international phenomenon of toys, collectibles, video games and comics. Follow Scarygirl’s first meeting with her companions, the super-intelligent octopus, Blister, and the wise, carrot-chewing Bunniguru. To discover where Scarygirl comes from, the band set out for the city, but what lurks within the monster-like skyscrapers? The rich illustration style has become iconic, but here the original story is broken in two by a fascinating ‘intermission’ interview with Jurevicius on how he conceived this magical world. Buy a copy of Scarygirl and you’ll receive a copy of Nicki Greenberg’s graphic adaptation of The Great Gatsby (RRP $24.95) totally free!

With free copy of Great Gatsby

Loved Twilight? If so, you’re bound to enjoy Stiefvater’s novel about the romance between Minnesota schoolgirl Grace and teenage werewolf Sam. Ages 13+

Show Off is part comic book, part activity guide, part secret manual and 100% kid-friendly. Packed with easy, fun and highly visual step-by-step activities. Ages 10+

Help junior ballet dancers bring Tchaikovsky’s best-loved ballet to life with their very own ballet theatre, complete with dancers, music and story booklet. Ages 6+

The story of a trip from Tassie to the very tip of the Top End, with a hidden football to find in every colourfully illustrated page! Ages 6+

The latest in Butler Seder’s hugely successful scanimation series.