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Fanny and Mina: The Fastest of Friends (Samantha Tidy, illus Hilary Cresp, Windy Hollow)

Released April 2026

Fanny and Mina: The Fastest of Friends, written by Samantha Tidy and illustrated by Hilary Cresp, is a narrative nonfiction picture book for readers aged 5 to 8. It introduces... Read more

The Friendship Paradox (Aśka, A&U Children’s)

The cover of "The Friendship Paradox" by Aska.

Released April 2026

The Friendship Paradox is a heartwarming YA graphic novel by author and artist Aśka (Stars in Their Eyes) about personal growth and friendship, with accessible science concepts sprinkled throughout. The... Read more

Crip Stories: An Anthology of Disabled Writers (ed BS Windon, Laura Pettenuzzo, Misbah Wolf & Katie Hansord, NewSouth)

Released April 2026

Crip Stories: An Anthology of Disabled Writers, edited by BS Windon, Laura Pettenuzzo, Misbah Wolf and Katie Hansord, in partnership with Mascara Literary Review and with the support of Creative... Read more

The Nocturnals (Frances Whiting, HarperCollins)

Released April 2026

Frances Whiting’s third novel, The Nocturnals, follows 5 teenagers in 1997 who promise “to love each other wholly” as they become inseparable in their final year of school. The group... Read more

The Last Word (Two Hearts) (A L Tait, Scholastic)

Released April 2026

Scholastic’s multi-authored Two Hearts series is capturing the Australian middle-grade romance market. It is notable for its appealing, tween-appropriate relationships, where friendships can evolve into gentle romance and culminate in... Read more

The Chateau on Sunset (Natasha Lester, Hachette)

Released April 2026

The Chateau on Sunset is the latest historical fiction novel from bestselling author Natasha Lester, set against both the glamour and the darkness of 1950s Hollywood. Told through split perspectives... Read more

Kill Your Boomers (Fiona Wright, Ultimo)

The cover of "Kill Your Boomers" by Fiona Wright.

Released April 2026

In her first work of fiction, Fiona Wright turns her sharp eye on Australia’s housing crisis. Kill Your Boomers centres on Keira, a 30-something writer who also nannies for the... Read more

The Angry Wives Club (Gabbie Stroud, A&U)

The cover of "The Angry Wives Club" by Gabbie Stroud.

Released April 2026

In The Angry Wives Club, Gabbie Stroud (Teacher, The Things That Matter Most) introduces 3 women who become friends at the gym in the small town of Shellwater Bay. It’s... Read more

Spare Kisses (Pip Harry, illus Yiscah Marcatili, Lothian)

Released April 2026

A young girl’s close and loving relationship with her grandmother is the subject of Pip Harry’s Spare Kisses. Told in gentle rhyme, the story follows Eve and her sprightly nan... Read more

The Curator (Wendy Tyrer, Perentie Press)

Released April 2026

Set against the inspiring backdrop of the National Gallery of Victoria, The Curator is a young adult graphic novel by author and illustrator Wendy Tyrer that delivers a gripping adventure... Read more

Frank the Monster (Mats Strandberg, trans Julia Marshall, illus Sofia Falkenhem, Gecko)

Released April 2026

Frank the Monster is a gentle introduction to horror in chapter-book form, written by Swedish writer Mats Strandberg and translated into English by Julia Marshall. The story follows Frank, a... Read more

High Time: How Australia Changed Its Mind About Illegal Drugs (Desmond Manderson, La Trobe)

Released April 2026

Desmond Manderson’s High Time charts the history of attitudes towards drugs in Australia, from anti-Chinese attacks on opium in the early 20th century to present-day concerns about vaping and pill... Read more

Myra in the Middle (Seetha Dodd, illus Peter Cheong, UQP)

Released April 2026

Uplifting and true to life, Seetha Dodd’s Myra in the Middle is a junior novel that weaves together themes of family, identity and navigating change. Myra, a 7-year-old maths enthusiast... Read more

Touching the Sky (Deborah Lawrie, ABC Books)

Released April 2026

In Touching the Sky, aviation pioneer Deborah Lawrie recounts her remarkable life and career, from her landmark fight to become Australia’s first female commercial pilot to decades spent in the... Read more

Fearless (Kelly Canby, Fremantle)

Released April 2026

Kelly Canby’s Fearless will delight and reassure children, parents and teachers with its hopeful message that fear need not be overwhelming or permanent. Bea Ware is frightened of everything, moving... Read more

Redbelly Crossing (Candice Fox, Penguin)

Released April 2026

Candice Fox (Crimson Lake) opens Redbelly Crossing with immediate authority: a rural pub, a blood-smeared doorknob and the uneasy sense that something deeply wrong has slipped quietly into an ordinary... Read more

The Ruin of Magic (Kate Holden, Black Inc.)

The cover of "The Ruin of Magic" by Kate Holden.

Released April 2026

In The Ruin of Magic, Kate Holden (In My Skin, The Romantic) examines enchantment, displacement and homesickness for places both real and imagined through a series of intimate essays. Blending... Read more

The Society of Literary Marauders (Sasha Wasley, Pantera)

Released April 2026

Sasha Wasley's The Society of Literary Marauders follows Annie, a bricklayer’s daughter from Perth, who travels to England in 1928 to pursue a long-held dream of studying at Oxford. She... Read more

The Conscious Traveller Hawai’i: The Definitive Guide to Ethical Travel (Kathleen Wong, Hardie Grant Explore)

Released April 2026

Kathleen Wong’s The Conscious Traveller Hawai‘i is a refreshing departure from conventional guidebooks, offering a thoughtful roadmap for travellers who want to experience Hawai‘i with respect and purpose. Wong invites readers... Read more

The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks (Fiona Harris, Affirm)

Released April 2026

In The Embarrassing Confessions of Gracie Sparks, Fiona Harris (Musical Markus) introduces 12-year-old “Rock Goddess” Gracie Sparks, who is devastated to be starting at a different high school than her... Read more