What I Read in January 2026

February 5, 2026 by Sally Leave a Comment

January has come and gone, which means time to look back at what I read in the month. At this time every year I contemplate whether sharing my monthly reading is helpful to anyone other than me but this year I have realised it is helpful to ME and that is okay. Keeping a record of what I read, and keeping myself accountable by posting it on my website, is a small thing and if it helps anyone else along the way – with book choices, or knowing I read their book – that’s a good thing, too.

So, in January I read a total of five books – three for children and two for adults, and here’s the list:

Children’s Books.

1. Six Summers of Tash and Leopold, by Danielle Binks (Lothian, 2024). Appropriate that the first title I read for the year had summer in the title. Gorgeous story of friendship, family and bravery in a range of forms.
2. The Bakehouse, by Joy Cowley (Gecko Press, 2015). Set in rural NZ during Word War 2, and telling the story of a boy who sets out to use a deserted bakehouse as a bunker – but instead finds a soldier sheltering within. Well woven.
3. The Glimme, by Emily Rodda & Marc McBride (Scholastic, 2019). I love this pairing of author and illustrator, and this hard cover offering with McBride’s divine illustrations is a delight.

Books for Adults

1. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. I wanted to read this after coming across an online piece somewhere about how Stevenson’s version of pirates in this book has shaped the tropes, stereotypes and beliefs of successive generations about pirates. This led me to pick this up from my classic book shelf, and while I was surprised that I didn’t remember much of the detail (especially the amount of murder and killing throughout), I still enjoyed rediscovering this.
2. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House, 2025). I’m a fan of the Mel Robbins Podcast and have bene meaning to read this one since it came out. I found it useful, with the appeal being the reminders and lessons about navigating relationships, other people’s opinions and more.

So that brings my total for 2026 so far to, unsurprisingly, 5 books. Like last year I am not setting a goal number, but I do have a goal this year to set aside more deliberate time and space for reading for pleasure. Goal achieved in January.

What have you been reading?

Happy World Read Aloud Day – and happy Head Hog

February 5, 2026 by Sally Leave a Comment

Yesterday was World Read Aloud Day and, on impulse, I offered to read to my colleagues at Curtin’s School of Education following our first whole school meeting of the year. It was especially lovely to introduce them to Head Hog, which continues to be my favourite picture book to read aloud during appearances and school visits.

You can see (and hear) the enthusiasm of my lovely colleagues – you are never too old to enjoy a picture book.

Enjoy!

One Word for 2026

January 12, 2026 by Sally

Every January I spend time thinking about the word I will choose as my word for the year. Instead of making a big resolution, or a list of them, or setting big targets, I choose a word I hope will guide me for the year.

Last year my word was Create. The year before Health. This year I tossed a few ideas around – almost choosing health again, since I ended 2025 with some niggling health issues. But, as I packed up my Christmas decorations, the word jumped out at me – literally.

As soon as I picked that decoration up (it had fallen off the tree as I removed something else) I knew it was the perfect word to guide me this year because it’s actually a word I’ve found myself using more and more of late. For those of you who, like me, are worried about the state of the world at the moment, you might think Joy is a strange choice. But in scary times, in times when we can seem powerless, joy becomes a form of resistance (you can read more about this here, and elsewhere) .

Joy is a starting point when we feel stuck, a reminder of good when we see evil and pain, and a force for change when we share it with others.

So, in 2026, I’m trying to choose joy whenever and wherever I can, in ways big and small. In my work, in my leisure and in unexpected moments.

One of the small ways I’m doing that is to try to make sure that every day, at least once a day, I make a note of something that gave me a moment of joy that day. This tin, now empty of the liquorice allsorts which also gave joy over Christmas, has a slot on the top, meant to become a money box I suppose. But it is the perfect thing for to post my little notes into – and putting it on my bedside table, with a notebook and pen, reminds me to do it.

So far, I have noted everyday things (like seeing George joyfully playing on the beach),

and random things, like seeing a dragon protecting a moat (or a creek, at least).Can you see it?

Not big things – though I hope to add plenty of those too – but moments of joy. Noting them after the event brings an another smile every time. And if, during the year, I find it hard to feel joyfully, I’ll open the tin and remind myself of those moments.

In between times, I want to work to make joy much more a part of who I am – so that I can spread it to those around me. And, lest anyone think this frivolous, I’m using joy not to ignore the wrong in the world, but to try to counter it.

The little decoration is now hanging above my desk as a daily reminder while I work. Here’s hoping I can spread some of that joy to you through what I do.

Here’s a to a joyful 2026.

What I Read in December 2025

January 5, 2026 by Sally

A new month and so time to round up my reading for December. And, of course, a New Year, so the last of my reading for 2025. Was glad to get a bit more time to read after a hectic year, and finished eight books. Here they are.

Books for Children

The Wombles, by Elisabeth Beresford (Puffin Books, 1968). Found this copy in an op-shop and it fell apart as I read it, but I didn’t care, because it was a lovely trip down memory lane with a childhood favourite. Found myself singing the television theme song from the series based on the book.
Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady: The Robin Miller Story, by Dianne Wolfer (Fremantle Press, 2025). How wonderful to read the story of Robin Miller, who single handedly ensured remote Western Australians received much needed polio vaccines, just one of the many things she did both for Western Australia and to be a pioneer for women aviators.
Duck Boy, by Christobel Mattingley (Angus & Robertson, 1983). It’s the second time in the past two months that I had a book in my TBR pile which I’d accidentally bought twice. But having loved this when I read it last year (?), I was happy to read this one again.
When I Am Happiest, by Rose Lagercrantz & Eva Eriksson (Gecko Press, 2015). A delightful little chapter book about a girl who finds happiness even in some really difficult times.
The Four Seasons of Lucy McKenzie, by Kirsty Murray (Allen & Unwin, 2013). A time slip story from a writer I really admire.
Mila & Ivy by Katrina McKelvey & Jasmine Berry (Wombat Books, 2022). Gifted this one at the CBCA WA annual dinner, when Jasmine won it as part of a book pack. Glad I finally read it – a lovely story of sister trouble (and connection).
Volcano, by Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft (Allen & Unwin, 2025). Claire Saxby is a genius and a writer I really really admire. She’s also a wonderful friend – so I was lucky to catch up with her at the PETAA Conference in October and get this one signed. Claire and Jess Racklyeft together produce outstanding books, and this one is, of course, no exception.

Books for Adults

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, by Dylan Thomas (Penguin Archive, 2025). Poetry, portable sized Penguin edition. Winning all round.

That brings my total for 2025 to 100. That’s a low total for me – especially given that I include picture books (ones that are new to me). But I actually aimed to focus more on quality than quantity in 2025, and I think I achieved that. I’d like to stick to that in 2026 but do aim to make sure I am reading more new release books. I also have a big goal this year – to read War and Peace in its entirety. That will slow down my total, but it’s a long time goal I’ve had.

What have you been reading?

What I Read in November 2025

December 8, 2025 by Sally

Another month finished, and another look at what I read for the month. Just six books. This year I aimed to read slower and not worry about the numbers – and I haven’t – but as I near the end of the year I am aware of the wonderful books that have come out this year that I haven’t read, and so for 2026 I’ll be trying to make time for more new release books so I don’t fall too far behind all of the goodness that is being produced. Anyway, here’s what I read in November

Books for Children

Childish, by Morris Gleitzman (Penguin, 2025). Kids solving problems too big for adults to deal with? What’s not to love – but also, I noticed this is notable for having a school where every teacher is supportive and understanding, which I really liked.
Almost There and Almost Not, by Linda Urban (Atheneum, 2021). Sometimes a book has a cover so beautiful I just have to buy it. Rarely this happens twice for the same book. Yes, I bought this book twice, once a year or so ago, and again more recently. Of course when I started reading I realised my mistake – but I read it again anyway because it is good.
The Surface Trials, by HM Waugh (Allen & Unwin, 2025). Love Heather Waugh’s ability to weave a sci fi tale for young readers.
A Crash of Rhinos, by Patricia Mullins (ABC Books, 2010). Fun with collective nouns is the subtitle and fun is right – real/traditional collective nouns, as well as some made up ones just for fun.
Velvet Paws & Whiskers, by Jean Chapman, illustrated by Deborah Niland (Hodder, 1979). I picked this up in an op shop. Cat themed stories, poems, activities, facts and more.

Books for Young Adults

The Foal in the Wire, by Robbie Coburn (Lothian, 2025). A moving verse novel about a troubled pair of neighbours who find and raise an injured foal, along the way finding ways to heal themselves.

This brings my total for the year to 92. Hoping to crack the century by year’s end.

What I Read in October 2025

November 4, 2025 by Sally

October has ended, and it’s time to share what I read. I got through 13 books, more than in previous months, partly because there’s a few picture books in there, but also because I spent time on aeroplanes, which is always a good chance to catch up on some reading. Anyway, here’s what I got through.

Books for Children

1. Everywhere Babies 2, by Susan Meyers, illustrated by Marla Frazee (Harper Collins, 2001). Read for a project I’m working on at university. Such a lovely celebration of babies, and families all their forms.
2. Not cute., by Philip Bunting (Scholastic, 2020). Needed a funny book to share with my children’s literature class, and this one was it.
3. Play the Shape Game, by Anthony Browne (Walker Books, 2010). A gift from my gorgeous friend Tamara after my deep dive into Browne’s picture books earlier this year, and discussions we’d had about using this book in one of our units at university. A treasure.
4. Making the Shrine: stories from Victoria’s war memorial, by Laura J. Carroll (Crossley Press, 2024). A clever piece of history writing, with the use of graphic novel format to tell 25 stories that span the making of Victoria’s war memorial.
5. The Forest in the Tree: How Fungi Shape the Earth , by Alisa Wild, Aviva Reed, Briony Barr and Gregory Crocetti (CSIRO Publishing, 2024). Part of the CSIRO Small Friends series, this one tells the story of fungi and the vital part they play in forests and ecosystems.
6. Democracy!: A positive primer on people power. , by Philip Bunting (Hardie Grant, 2023). Bunting is such a clever author/illustrator – he has the power to make readers laugh but also to share complex and important topics with that humour blended with insight.
7. Song of a Thousand Seas, by Zana Fraillon (UQP, 2025). Read this in one setting because I just couldn’t put it down, falling in love with the voice of the octopus, Houdini, and Fraillon’s mastery of the verse form.

Books for Young Adults

The Realm of Possibility,by David Levithan (Alfred Knopf, 2004). Found this on my verse novel bookshelf when I was looking for something else and was surprised to realise I hadn’t read it. Clever use of multiple voices (20) while still weaving a strong narrative.
Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds (Faber & Faber). Oh wow. A stunning verse novel that shows just how powerful the form can be. And, as you’ll see, I then sat down and read the graphic novel version, too.
Long Way Down (The Graphic Novel), by Jason Reynolds, with art by Danica Novgorodoff (Simon & Schuster). Reading this straight after the verse novel allowed me to see the text (literally) from a different angle, and to really engage with the depth of this story. So good in both forms!
The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo (Harper Collins, 2018). And a fourth YA verse novel. From the US, and not new, but new to me, and excellent.
Drift, by Pip Harry (Lothian, 2025). And a fifth. The luxury of having such a deep dive into verse novels is partly in seeing so many different ways they are used. Dealing with some complex topics, including cyber bullying and self harm, this is also warm and touching.

Books for Adults

The Mademoiselle Alliance: Inspired by a true story, by Natasha Lester (Hachette, 2025). I was lucky enough to hear Natasha speak about this one earlier in the year. I love reading about the under-explored parts of history – especially when it profiles the women who, so often, are at risk of disappearing from memory.

That brings my annual total to 86, with only two months to go. How is it almost the end of the year?

What have you been reading?