Children’s and Young Adult Books Read in 2025

In 2025, I read 198 children’s books, from picture books to middle grade books and young adult books. I covered every age range possible. I also have a separate post for young adult books. I covered a lot of different themes and ideas in this, as well as reading as diversely as possible. There seems to have been something different about most of these books, and I explored history, fantasy, neurodiversity, disability, and all different identities and aspects of knowledge that were made much more accessible in the forms of some of these books. These elements are explained in the reviews.

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. Chickenpox by Remy Lai
3. Salty by Sandi Parsons
4. Legend of the Lighthouse Moon by Helen Edwards
5. Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles by Corey Tutt, art by Ben Williams
6. Riz Chester: The Evidence Track by RA Stephens
7. The Not-So-Little Tree by Marcus Addison
8. How to Be Normal by Ange Crawford
9. The Other Shadow by Tania Ingram
10. The 113^th Assistant Librarian by Stuart Wilson
11. Hello Butterfly by Leanne Frost
12. Tuckshop Terrors by Leo Baker
13. Square Me, Round World: Stories of Growing Up in a World Not Built for You by Chelsea Luker and Eliza Fricker
14. A Good Kind of Trouble by Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward
15. Bravepaw and the Rotwood Mire by L.M. Wilkinson and Lavanya Naidu
16. Clutterbugs by Maura Pierlot and Maya Bora
17. My Mum Is the Best by Nic McPickle and Tommy Doyle
18. Little Bones by Sandy Bigna
19. Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson
20. Epically Good Greek Myths by R.A. Spratt
21. Sunny at the End of the World by Steph Bowe
22. Parrot Palace by Susanne Gervay, Pooja Mathur and illustrated by Sarah Tabassum
23. Spirit of the Crocodile by Aaron Fa’aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White
24. Moonboy by Anna Ciddor
25. Bold Ben Hall by Sophie Masson
26. The Missing Book by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern
27. The Secret Ingredient by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern
28. Wilder Zoo: Neeka and the Missing Key by Tina Strachan and illustrated by Max Hamilton
29. Bin Chicken Goes for Gold by Kate and Jol Temple, illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh
30. The Hunt for the Tasmanian Tiger by David Webby
31. Finding Alfie: A D-Day Story by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Michael Foreman
32. The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln
33. Volcano by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
34. Jo and the No by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Judy Watson
35. Tubowgule: A Sydney Opera House History by Melissa-Jane Fogarty, illustrated by Dylan Finney
36. Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout
37. Stories from Magic Beach by Alison Lester and Robert Connolly
38. The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners by Reece Carter
39. How to Sail to Somewhere by Ashleigh Barton
40. The Paperbark Tree Committee by Karys McEwan
41. The Thylacine and the Time Machine by Renée Treml
42. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
43. Frog Squad: Sink or Swim by Kate and Jol Temple, illustrated by Shiloh Gordon
44. The Colt from Old Regret by Dianne Wolfer and Erica Wagner
45. The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
46. Seven Wherewithal Way: Into the Faerie Realm by Samantha-Ellen Bound
47. Woodwitch by Skye McKenna
48. Kip of the Karoo by Emma Gourlay
49. Me and You by Ellie Royce
50. My Cousins, My World by Sharara Attani and Michelle Pereira
51. Yildaan: Our Dreaming Track by Uncle Bud Marshall with Yandaara, artwork by Hannah Smith and Elaine Carmady
52. Blood Moon Bride by Demet Divaroren
53. Win, Lose, Kill, Die by Cynthia Murphy
54. Splinters by Rachel Delahaye
55. Ella at Eden: The Missing Piece by Laura Sieveking
56. Into the Wild by Hayley Lawrence
57.  Our Dance by Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton, illustrated by Janelle Burger
58. The Only Branch on the Family Tree by Sherryl Clark
59. On Gallant Wings by Helen Edwards
60. How to Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing by Cressida Cowell
61. Poppy’s Monster by Shelly Higgs
62. The Potion Experiment by Elle McFadzean
63. Anzac Girl: The War Diaries of Alice Ross-King by Kate Simpson
64. The Surface Trials by HM Waugh
65. The Edge Of Everything by Miranda Luby
66. Earth Speak: Boodjar Wangkiny by Sean McCann and Jade Goodwin
67. Willow Bright’s Secret Plot by A.L. Tait
68. A Loo of One’s Own: A Mostly True Tale of Australia’s First Female Parliamentarians by Eleri Harris
69. This Dream Will Devour Us by Emma Clancey
70. The Last Egg by Sofie Laguna and Jess Racklyeft
71. The Girls Who Changed the World: Ming and Maria Explore the Universe by Jackie French
72. Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
73. Villain by Adrian Beck
74. The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn
75. Somewhere Lost by Just Write for Kids and Friends
76. The Girl and the Ghost by Jacqueline Harvey
77. Wombat Dreaming by Caz Goodwin and Zoë Bennett
78. Welcome to Miracle by Shara Curlett
79. R.I.P Nanny Tobbins by Lucie Stevens
80. Sidney of Sydney by Sue Whiting and Liz Anelli
81. Quoll by Christopher Cheng and Cindy Lane
82. Music Camp by Penny Tangey
83. Golden by Jade Timms
84. Everglade: Rise of the Witch by Kitty Black
85. The Year We Escaped by Suzanne Leal
86. Shmoof by Heidi McKinnon
87. The Girl in the Painting by Dee White, illustrated by Sarah Anthony
88. Who Might You Be by Robert Henderson
89. The Enchantment of Gold Eagle by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
90. Made of Steam and Stardust by Bianca Breen
91. Edie Tells a Lie by Ingrid Laguna
92. The Lies We Tell Ourselves by Maura Pierlot
93. Find Me on the Coast by Jess McGeachin
94. Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough
95. The Mushroom in the Sky by Jackie French
96. Peculiar Parents by Stephanie Owen Reeder and Ingrid Bartkowiak
97. Skipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue
98. Andromache in the Dark by Gabriel Bergmoser
99. Breaking School Rules is Easy by Rosie Schonell
100. Ella at Eden Super Special: Paris Adventure by Laura Sieveking
101. Alpacas in Space by Matt Cosgrove
102. When Dark Waters Burn by Zena Shapter
103. Friday Barnes: In Plain Sight by R.A. Spratt
104. Neeka and the Storm by Tina Strachan, illustrated by Max Hamilton
105. Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
106. Hedgehog or Echidna? Animals Who Are the Same but Different by Ashleigh Barton and illustrated by Amandine Thomas
107. Gloam by Jack MacKay
108. A Gift from the Birds by Caroline Stills
109. My Name is Jemima by Olivia Muscat, illustrated by Allison Colpoys
110. Mango and Hopscotch: The Inspiring Story of a Brave Kangaroo and her Joey Rescued from the Floodwaters by Sophie Cunningham, illustrated by Anil Tortop
111. Moonlight and Dust by Jasmin McGaughey
112. Danger Road by A.L. Tait
113. Pirate Academy: New Kid on Deck by Justin Somper
114. Vesper Jones and Marshmallow by Karen Hendriks, illustrated by Francesca Corso
115. Secret Keeper by Di Walker
116. The Set-Up Girl by Sasha Vey
117. Weaving Us Together by Lay Maloney
118. Oceanforged #1: The Wicked Ship by Amelia Mellor
119. Looking Out and Beyond by Toby Hammserschlag
120. Tiny Dancer by Patrick Guest, illustrated by Mateja Jager
121. The Pull of the Moon by Pip Smith  
122. Drift by Pip Harry
123. Our History:  A House Divided by Clare Hallifax
124. Animals on Country: Let’s look after the animals with Uncle Kuu by Victor Steffensen and illustrated by Sandra Steffensen
125. Bert’s Adventure in Bubbly Forest by Nicole Steyn
126. Song of a Thousand Seas by Zana Fraillon
127. Thunderhead by Sophie Beer
128. Promises and Other Lies by Sue Whiting
129. Flip by Rebecca Fraser
130. Rainbow Street by R.W.R McDonald, illustrated by Kelly Canby
131. Bin Chicken Lights Up the Night by Kate and Jol Temple, illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh
132. Koala Fairies by Anna Pignataro
133. I Believe in You by Dani Colvin
134. 11 Ruby Road 1950 by Charlotte Barkla
135. Alice with a Why: Return to Wonderland by Anna James
136. This Fatal Kiss by Alicia Jasinska
137. How Big Is Love? By Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler, illustrated by Jade Goodwin
138. Evie P and Me by Petra James and illustrated by Andrew Joyner
139. The Peach King by Inga Simpson, illustrated by Tannya Harricks
140. Naynay and the Mermaid by Tasma Walton, illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis
141. Seawitch (Hedgewitch #3) by Skye McKenna
142. Liam the Chid and the Kangaroo Warriors by Meredith Downes
143. A Guide to Falling off the Map by Zanni L Arnot
144. Mega Rich Guinea Pigs by Kate and Jol Temple
145. Mooshy Crackerjack’s Big Day by Suzanne Patterson and illustrated by Maia Batumashvili
146. Dogs with Jobs by Max Hamilton
147. The Callers: The Hidden Forest by Kiah Thomas
148. Maisy Hayes is Not For Sale by Allayne L Webster
149. Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping by Craig Silvey
150. The 12 Birds of Christmas by Jodie McLeod, illustrated by Eloise Short
151. Catch by Sarah Brill
152. Worst Pets Ever: Locked Up by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove
153. The Legend of Jessie Hickman by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac
154. Millie Mak Makes Her Mark by Alice Pung and illustrated by Sher Rill Ng
155. Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis Featherstone
156. There’s a Prawn in Parliament House by Annabel Crabb, illustrated by First Dog on the Moon
157. The Messy Bath Monster by Tina Wilson, music by Matt Ottley
158. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
159. The Story Writer’s Handbook: Adventures in Creative Writing by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini
160. Dead Scary: Ghost Guitar by TJ Doom
161. The Keeper of the Octopus by Neridah McMullin
162. Frances Bloom by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Marina Zlatanova
163. Spud and Snowball and the Fancy Fish by Judith Rossell
164. Stonewitch (Hedgewitch #4) by Skye McKenna
165. The Friendship Book by Zanni Louise, illustrated by Nicky Johnston
166. Where Would You Go by Alison Lester and Jane Godwin and the children at Yalingu Yirramboi – the Royal Children’s Hospital School
167. Villain: Respawn by Adrian Beck
168. The Wintrish Girl (Talismans of Fate #1) by Melanie La’brooy
169. Being Indy by Zoe Gaetjens, illustrated by Estee Sarsfield
170. Whatever the Weather, We’re In This Together by Jessica Braithwaite and Rebecca Ralfe, art by Laura Bee
171. This is Us: Essential Poems for Young People by Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit
172. What Have They Done to Liza McLean? by Amy Doak
173. A Murder Is Going Down by Kate Emery
174. Juniper’s Painting by Catherine Bauer, illustrated by Jennifer Horn
175. The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee
176. All Shall Mourn by Ellie Marney
177. The Ship of Doom (The Butterfly Club #1) by M.A. Bennett
178. The Official Agatha Christie Detectives Club: 50 Mystery Puzzles for Children by Agatha Christie Ltd, Dr Gareth Moore, Laura Jayne Ayres
179. The Mummy’s Curse (The Butterfly Club #2) by M.A. Bennett
180. The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton
181. giwang by Belinda Bridge, illustrated by Peta-Joy Williams
182. Space Demons by Gillian Rubinstein
183. The Mona Lisa Mystery (The Butterfly Club #3) by M.A. Bennett
184. Trip to the Moon (The Butterfly Club #4) by M.A. Bennet
185. Dawn of the Dragons by Mari Mancusi
186. The Girl and the Ghost: Family Secrets by Jacqueline Harvey
187. Underdog: #LoveOzYA Short Stories edited by Tobias Madden
188. The Colours of Nature: Discover the beautiful colours that brighten our world by Catherine Barr, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat
189. Wish You Dead by Rebecca Westcott
190. Travelling Bookshop #6: Mim and the Mother Muddle by Katrina Nannestad
191. Alice-Miranda on Holiday by Jacqueline Harvey
192. The 113^th Assistant Librarian: Lost in a Book by Stuart Wilson
193. The Tempus Imperium by Juliet A Paine
194. The Kids’ Guide to Speaking Your Mind Without Losing Your Cool by Dr Matt Agnew
195. The Flower Garden by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Lucia Masciullo
196. Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead by Jacqueline Harvey
197. The Nutcracker by E.T.A Hoffman, illustrated by Valeria Decampo
198. Alice-Miranda at Sea by Jacqueline Harvey