Children’s fiction – Rebel Library

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez | Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts

Inspire the next generation with this engaging picture book starring Sofia Valdez, a community leader who stands up for what she believes in!

Every morning, Abuelo walks Sofia to school . . . until one day, when Abuelo hurts his ankle at a local landfill and he can no longer do so. Sofia misses her Abuelo and wonders what she can do about the dangerous Mount Trashmore. Then she gets an idea―the town can turn the slimy mess into a park! She brainstorms and plans and finally works up the courage to go to City Hall―only to be told by a clerk that she can’t build a park because she’s just a kid! Sofia is down but not out, and she sets out to prove what one kid can do.

Age:5 to 7 years

Foxlight | Katya Balen

Winner of the 2024 Wainwright Prize for Children’s Writing

Fen and Rey were found curled up small and tight in the fiery fur of the foxes at the very edge of the wildlands. Fen is loud and fierce and free. She feels a connection to foxes and a calling from the wild that she’s desperate to return to. Rey is quiet and shy and an expert on nature. She reads about the birds, feeds the lands and nurtures the world around her.

They are twin sisters. Different and the same. Separate and connected. They will always have each other, even if they don’t have a mother and don’t know their beginning. But they do want answers. Answers to who their mother is and where she might be. What their story is and how it began. So when a fox appears late one night at the house, Fen and Rey see it as a sign – it’s here to lead them to their truth, find their real family and fill the missing piece they have felt since they were born.

Foxlight is a heart-breaking and heart-warming story about sisterhood, found family and accepting love in the most unusual and unknown places.

Lyrical, with a quality of fairy tale – a finely crafted celebration of nature, sisterhood, stories and love. – The Times

Quietly wild, richly thoughtful. – The Guardian

Books for Children, Books for Young Adults

The Lost Whale | Hannah Gold

In this enchanting children’s novel, Rio has been sent to live in California with a grandmother he barely knows while his mum is in hospital back home. Alone and adrift, the only thing that makes him smile is joining his new friend Marina on her dad’s whale watching trips. That is until an incredible encounter with White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea changes everything. But when White Beak goes missing, Rio must set out on a desperate quest to find his whale and somehow save his mum.

Perfect for readers of 8+, and beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold.

Books for Children

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening | Robert Frost

Robert Frost’s classic poem receives a child-like twist through charming illustrations by Susan Jeffers. This picture book, which has been in print since 1978, is beloved by generations of children for its evocations of New England winters and a man with “promises to keep.” It’s a beautifully illustrated tale about human interconnectedness with nature, even in the depths of winter.

Suitable for Children Age 4-12

Books for Children

Inch and Grub: A Story About Cavemen | Alastair Chisholm

In this delightful consumerist caper, illustrated by David Roberts, the wonderfully hairy Inch and Grub compete to acquire possessions, from fire and chairs to phones and computers. The contest spirals to ever ridiculous heights until they each have a HUGE wobbling mountain of stuff! But their desire to go one better than the other is in danger of toppling their friendship until, at last, they realise what is most valuable of all – each other.

Suitable for Children Age 3-7

Books for Children

Eco Rangers: Wildfire Rescue | Candice Lemon-Scott

Young readers who love mysteries and the environment will love the action-packed story of Ebony and Jay, best friends who love to rescue wildlife. After a devastating wildfire in the bushland, Ebony and Jay are doing their best to find and rescue injured animals. Readers will help Ebony and Jay search for clues and nurse a possum back to health.