Picture Books Read in 2025

I read 57 picture books in 2025 for review purposes on my own blog, and for Good Reading Magazine. I covered lots of different stories, non-fiction books and many different themes that showcased emotions, different aspects of Australian history and culture, and celebrations of life in general. Every book had its own charms, which is why it is so good that there are so many picture books, because picture books are for everyone, regardless of age. Picture books are often our first experiences with books, which is why it is so important to acknowledge them in a world where most people will often see adult books as more worthy. Tome, they are worthy and important, but they don’t make a reader. Kids’ books do.

I write roundups that are broad and focused, and split them into men, women, Australian, non-Australian, children’s, young adult, adult, LGBTQIA, Disabled and co-authored books. There is also a post with everything and a summary at the end. So if people want to look at something in particular, they can.

1. Searching for Treasure by Johanna Bell and Emma Long
2. The Not-So-Little Tree by Marcus Addison
3. Hello Butterfly by Leanne Frost
4. Clutterbugs by Maura Pierlot and Maya Bora
5. My Mum Is the Best by Nic McPickle and Tommy Doyle
6. Volcano by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
7. Jo and the No by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Judy Watson
8. Tubowgule: A Sydney Opera House History by Melissa-Jane Fogarty, illustrated by Dylan Finney
9. Stories from Magic Beach by Alison Lester and Robert Connolly
10. The Colt from Old Regret by Dianne Wolfer and Erica Wagner
11. Me and You by Ellie Royce
12. My Cousins, My World by Sharara Attani and Michelle Pereira
13. Yildaan: Our Dreaming Track by Uncle Bud Marshall with Yandaara, artwork by Hannah Smith and Elaine Carmady
14.  Our Dance by Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton, illustrated by Janelle Burger
15. Poppy’s Monster by Shelly Higgs
16. Anzac Girl: The War Diaries of Alice Ross-King by Kate Simpson
17. Earth Speak: Boodjar Wangkiny by Sean McCann and Jade Goodwin
18. A Loo of One’s Own: A Mostly True Tale of Australia’s First Female Parliamentarians by Eleri Harris
19. The Last Egg by Sofie Laguna and Jess Racklyeft
20. Somewhere Lost by Just Write for Kids and Friends
21. Wombat Dreaming by Caz Goodwin and Zoë Bennett
22. Sidney of Sydney by Sue Whiting and Liz Anelli
23. Quoll by Christopher Cheng and Cindy Lane
24. Shmoof by Heidi McKinnon
25. The Girl in the Painting by Dee White, illustrated by Sarah Anthony
26. Who Might You Be by Robert Henderson
27. The Enchantment of Gold Eagle by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
28. Find Me on the Coast by Jess McGeachin
29. Peculiar Parents by Stephanie Owen Reeder and Ingrid Bartkowiak
30. Alpacas in Space by Matt Cosgrove
31. Hedgehog or Echidna? Animals Who Are the Same but Different by Ashleigh Barton and illustrated by Amandine Thomas
32. My Name is Jemima by Olivia Muscat, illustrated by Allison Colpoys
33. Mango and Hopscotch: The Inspiring Story of a Brave Kangaroo and her Joey Rescued from the Floodwaters by Sophie Cunningham, illustrated by Anil Tortop
34. Vesper Jones and Marshmallow by Karen Hendriks, illustrated by Francesca Corso
35. Tiny Dancer by Patrick Guest, illustrated by Mateja Jager
36. Animals on Country: Let’s look after the animals with Uncle Kuu by Victor Steffensen and illustrated by Sandra Steffensen
37.  Bert’s Adventure in Bubbly Forest by Nicole Steyn
38. Rainbow Street by R.W.R McDonald, illustrated by Kelly Canby
39. Bin Chicken Lights Up the Night by Kate and Jol Temple, illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh
40. Koala Fairies by Anna Pignataro
41. I Believe in You by Dani Colvin
42. How Big Is Love? By Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler, illustrated by Jade Goodwin
43. The Peach King by Inga Simpson, illustrated by Tannya Harricks
44. Naynay and the Mermaid by Tasma Walton, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis
45. Mooshy Crackerjack’s Big Day by Suzanne Patterson and illustrated by Maia Batumashvili
46. Dogs with Jobs by Max Hamilton
47. The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short
48. The Legend of Jessie Hickman by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac
49. The Messy Bath Monster by Tina Wilson, music by Matt Ottley
50. The Friendship Book by Zanni Louise, illustrated by Nicky Johnston
51. Where Would You Go by Alison Lester and Jane Godwin and the children at Yalingu Yirramboi – the Royal Children’s Hospital School
52. Being Indy by Zoe Gaetjens, illustrated by Estee Sarsfield
53. Whatever the Weather, We’re In This Together by Jessica Braithwaite and Rebecca Ralfe, art by Laura Bee
54. giwang by Belinda Bridge, illustrated by Peta-Joy Williams
55. The Colours of Nature: Discover the beautiful colours that brighten our world by Catherine Barr, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat
56. The Flower Garden by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Lucia Masciullo
57. The Nutcracker by E.T.A Hoffman, illustrated by Valeria Decampo