Bonus book list: As recommended by...

Every book recommended by YKNR podcast guests so far this year

We’ve hit the halfway mark for 2026 (aside: Where did it go???), which seems like the perfect time to recap the books recommended by the authors who have visited the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast between January and June in this bonus YKNR newsletter post.

Our ‘10 minutes with’ interviews rarely stick to the prescribed 10 minutes in length, but are always a fascinating and illuminating blend of new book insights, writing and creativity tips and advice, publishing industry expertise, author life updates and more.

And, of course, each time Allison asks our guests to recommend a book or books that they believe the Your Kid’s Next Read community simply HAS to know about.

While every recommendation is listed in the comprehensive show notes for each episode (find them at yourkidsnextread.com.au), keeping track of them for your book shopping list isn’t always easy.

So we’ve done the work for you and listed them all below, from picture books to young adult titles and even books for adult readers.

These are the books that some of Australia’s top authors are raving about. (The author who recommended the book is listed beside the title – click their name to discover the show notes for their episode and listen to hear them talk about their recommendation.)

Picture Books

•‘Looking After Country With Fire: Aboriginal Burning Knowledge with Uncle Kuu’ by Victor Steffensen, illustrated by Sandra Steffensen (Niraj Lal, ep 236)

•‘The Philharmonic Gets Dressed’ by Karla Kuskin and Marc Simont (Tom Jellett, ep 239)

6+

•‘Chippy Chasers: Chippy Jackpot’ by Sam Cotton (David Conley, ep 234)

•Ivy and Bean (series) by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall (Maddy Mara, ep 237)

•Squishy Taylor (series) by Ailsa Wild and Ben Wood (Maddy Mara, ep 237)

•‘Myra In The Middle’ by Seetha Dodd, illustrated by Peter Cheong (Peter Carnavas, ep 252)

8+

•‘The Girl Who Brought Mischief’ by Katrina Nannestad (Amelia Mellor, ep 241)

•‘Mega Rich Guinea Pigs’ by Kate and Jol Temple (Rebecca McRitchie, ep 243) (Matt Stanton, ep 245) (Listen to the first chapter)

•Showerland (trilogy) by Nat Amoore, illustrated by James Hart (Matt Stanton, ep 245)

10+

•‘Epically Good Greek Myths’ by R. A. Spratt (David Conley, ep 234)

•Friday Barnes (series) by R. A. Spratt (Maddy Mara, ep 237)

•Villain (series) by Adrian Beck (Amelia Mellor, ep 241)

•‘Raised By Wolves’ by Tristan Bancks (Rebecca McRitchie, ep 243)

•‘How To Sail To Somewhere’ by Ashleigh Barton (Samera Kamaleddine, ep 247)

•‘Ghost Book’ by Remy Lai (Sally Rippin, ep 254)

•‘Read At Your Own Risk’ by Remy Lai (Sally Rippin, ep 254)

•‘Queen of Dogs’ by Jo Weatherstone (Sally Rippin, ep 254)

•‘Annie And Maeve Are Definitely Not Friends’ by Olivia Muscat (Danielle Binks, ep 238) (Listen to the first chapter)

Young Adult

•‘The Belly Of A Wolf’ by Julianne Negri (Danielle Binks, ep 238)

•‘I Hope This Doesn’t Find You’ by Ann Liang (Danielle Binks, ep 238)

•‘Room To Breathe’ by Kasie West (Danielle Binks, ep 238)

•‘This Stays Between Us’ by Margot McGovern (Danielle Binks, ep 238)

•‘Red Star Rebels’ by Amie Kaufman (Lili Wilkinson, ep 240)

•‘The Boy From The Mish’ by Gary Lonesborough (Meg Caddy, ep 251)

•‘Hive’ by A. J. Betts (Meg Caddy, ep 251)

•‘Florrie: A Football Love Story’ by Anna Trench (Peter Carnavas, ep 252)

Other/Adult

•‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’ by Stephen King (Jol Temple, ep 234)

•‘The Biggest Estate On Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia’ by Bill Gammage (Niraj Lal, ep 236)

•‘Fire Country: How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia’ by Victor Steffenson (Niraj Lal, ep 236)

•‘The Tin-Pot Foreign General and the Old Iron Woman’ by Raymond Briggs (Tom Jellett, ep 239)

•‘The Hobbit’ by J. R. R. Tolkien (Matt Stanton, ep 245)

•‘Yeah, The Boys’ by Holden Sheppard (Meg Caddy, ep 251)

You may have noticed some ‘listen to the first chapter’ links in the list above.

Our Friday First Chapters series now features 50+ episodes showcasing an Australian author reading the first chapter (or two) of their latest novel, from junior fiction to Young Adult reads. It’s a brilliant way to give your young readers a taster of a new book.

Find all the Friday First Chapters episodes here.

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