In episode 133 of the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast:

Our favourite reads of 2023 (aka The Office Christmas Party)

You’re invited to the TeamYKNR Office Christmas Party (BYO drinks and virtual Kris Kringle) for a rundown of our favourite reads of 2023 and a guest appearance from Allison Rushby.

From picture books to YA, we’re each nominating our ten fave books (possibly more from the rebels among us) published this year. Join us to Deck The Bookshelves (chandelier swinging strictly at your own risk)!

Books we mention

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Team Your Kid’s Next Read Fave Books 2023

Picture books

Anchored by Debra Tidball (ill. by Arielle Lu)

Neil, The Amazing Sea Cucumber by Amelia McInerney (ill. by Lucinda Gifford)

The Gargoyle by Zana Fraillon and Ross Morgan

Pasta! by Felice Arena and Beatrice Cerocchi

Stay for Dinner by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira

You’re Fabulous As You Are by Sophie Beer

Alight: A Story of Fire and Nature by Sam Lloyd (ill. Samantha Metcalf) 

The Garden at the End of the World by Cassy Polimeni (ill. Briony Stewart)

Nikki Hind: Dressed for Success by John Dickson (ill. Chantel de Sousa)

Craig Shanahan: Cooking up a Storm by John Dickson (ill. Claudia Frittitta)

Matt Formston: Surfing in the Dark by John Dickson (ill. Phillip Bunting)

A Life Song by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker

Ten Blocks to the Big Wok: a Mandarin counting book by Ying-Hwa Hu 

Junior Fiction

The Wish Sisters (series) by Allison Rushby (ill. Karen Blair)

Millie Mak The Maker by Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng

Fluff: Bullies Beware by Matt Stanton

Miss Penny Dreadful and The Mermaid’s Locks (series) by Allison Rushby

Little Ash (series) by Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin

Willa and Woof (series) by Jacqueline Harvey. Illustrations by A. Yi

‘Hello Twigs’ series by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood

Middle Grade

Queenie in Seven Moves by Zanni Louise 

The Mud Puddlers by Pamela Rushby 

Hamlet is Not Okay by R. A. Spratt (lower YA)

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

The Thames and Tide Club by Katya Balen

Foxlight by Katya Balen

The Hotel Witch by Jessica Miller

Ghost Book by Remy Lai

It’s the Sound of the Thing by Maxine Beneba Clarke

The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster

Sunshine on Vinegar Street by Karen Comer 

Indigo in the Storm by Kate Gordon 

Aster’s Good Right Things by Kate Gordon

Xavier In the Meantime by Kate Gordon

The First Summer of Callie McGee by A.L. Tait 

Scar Town by Tristan Bancks

YA

Grace Notes by Karen Comer 

I am The Mau (and other stories) by Chemutai Glasheen 

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath (series) by Garth Nix

Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

Borderland by Graham Akhurst 

Burn by Melanie Saward 

We Could be Something by Will Kostakis 

Party Extras

Megan’s Christmas Storm

• 50mL rum
• 1 sprig rosemary
• 1 slice orange
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Bundaberg Spiced Ginger Beer

Bananagrams Native Bees of Queensland (poster) by Gina Cranston

Connect with your show hosts

Facebook | Allison Tait | Megan Daley Twitter | Allison Tait  | Megan Daley Instagram at Allison Tait | Megan Daley The YKNR community on Facebook here.  Meet Allison Rushby, the third member of #teamyknr. Find out about Allison and her books here.