EK Books publish such meaningful reads that support children and adults in coping with the big, and often scary, issues that life throws up. Dealing with illness, embracing a message of positivity in the face of a struggle and encompassing the healing power of nature, Pear of Hope is a tender-hearted read about a little girl with cancer and her recovery.

Anna loved hanging out in the old pear tree at the bottom of her garden, it was great for climbing up, swinging from and lazing under. But one day everything changed. With Anna seriously ill in bed and the tree fighting its own lonely battle for survival they need each other more than ever. The pear tree provides comfort, strength and hope, and when Anna sows a seed from one of the tree’s pears, she is planting the seeds of recovery in every sense.

Dad’s can fix anything right? After all, it’s what dads do.

A young girl’s Dad is the absolute best at fixing things. He can mend furniture, repair toys and untangle string. He’s always around to pick up the pieces and stick them back together after any ‘accident situations’. But there’s one thing that cannot be fixed, Mama. Mama is sick and when she is no longer around Dad and daughter need more than just glue and sticky tape to help repair their broken lives.

I cannot imagine what it must be like to experience the loss of a parent as a young child, that life-shattering moment when mummy or daddy is simply no longer around. How do you explain what has happened to a child? How do you explore their grief with them? How can you enable them to move on? Thankfully, the team at EK Books work with some incredibly talented authors and illustrators who seek to provide support, comfort and reassurance to parents and children.

Created by experienced clinical psychologist, Lynn Jenkins, and art therapist and former paediatric nurse, Kirrili Lonergan, comes a wonderfully thoughtful story that will be well-received by any young children dealing with a loss, be it of a tree or something else.

Tree has been the centre-piece of the village for many years. Everyone loves visiting Tree who is a great listener, has the answers to any problem and makes everyone feel better about themselves. It is also the perfect place to read, play, relax and socialise. So when Tree begins to look different, Loppy and Curly are very concerned. Tree’s life has come to an end and it is time to say goodbye…

Everyday, Scott takes his bear, Buttons, with him to school. He needs his bear to help him feel brave because of Duncan. Duncan is a bully and is always mean to Scott. It’s only Wednesday and already this week Duncan has called Scott names, ripped up his work and stolen his chocolate bar. Buttons has mysteriously vanished too. Without Buttons, Scott needs to find his inner brave. Can he do it? Will he stop Duncan and his bullying ways?

School can be difficult for lots of reasons and one of those can be because a particular child goes out of their way to be mean and spiteful to others. In this story, Duncan is that boy, Scott is the one that is the recipient of all of Duncan’s meanness and Scott’s bear, Buttons, is the one that helps him feel brave.

Welcome to Horror Heights, the brilliant creep-tastic new series from award-winning stand-up comedian, television writer and all-round entertainer, Bec Hill.

Eleven-year-old Connie is the ‘Queen of Slime’, a title she has earned by impressing her friends with new tubs of the gooey stuff on a regular basis. However, when her dad has an accident and is unable to go to the supermarket Connie has to get creative to make sure she has some new slime for school on Monday.

But Connie doesn’t create slime, she creates a living thing that rapidly evolves into something far bigger. Soon, it’s not just Connie’s ‘Queen of Slime’ title that is under threat, her life, her friends lives and the whole of Horror Heights could be in danger if Connie cannot put a stop to her creation…

You probably know the name Rob Biddulph; expert creator of picture books, brilliant #DrawWithRob sessions during the Covid pandemic and world-record holder for the biggest on-line art lesson. The multi-talented Rob has now used his very capable hands to create an awesome middle-grade read that is jam-packed with his fantastic drawings.

Peanut Jones is having a tough time. Her dad mysteriously disappeared a year ago and whilst her mum is convinced that he walked out on the family Peanut is sure that there is another explanation. To make matters worse, she is struggling to settle into her new school where Maths and Science take precedence over her love for drawing.

Kicking Goals is the debut middle-grade series from Aussie soccer legend Sam Kerr, co-authored by Fiona Harris and illustrated by Aki Fukuoka.

Aussie Rules Football has been in the Kerr family for years. When the family are not at the Subiaco Oval watching their beloved West Coast Eagles they can be found on the footy field playing and coaching or at home where the hallway is used to practice their kicks.

Sam is devastated when she is kicked off the under 12’s team, the boys are getting bigger, the tackles are getting rougher and there is too much risk of a serious injury. Off the team and without her favourite sport, Sam is at a loss until best friend Dylan suggests flipping code and joining his soccer team. But what will her family think? Will the coach want a girl on the team? Will Chelsea, the school bully, scupper Sam’s chances?

When twelve-year-old Maya Clayton’s sleep expert father invented a special device that allows you to slip into other people’s dreams he was excited at the prospect of discovering more about the human imagination. What he did not plan was for his villainous boss of Somnia Incorporated, Lilith Delamere, to trap him in a nightmare from which he cannot escape.

Maya isn’t the only one who needs to stop Lilith, siblings Teddy and Bea have uncovered a terrible plot that involves their mum. It is time to assemble the Dream Bandits. But can they take down Lilith, shake-off General Pheare, defeat a crack squad of security goons, stop the dastardly plan and bring Professor Dexter back…

I love a good graphic novel and this first in a new series from Isabel Roxas is a thoroughly fun one to dive into with its outrageous storyline and ridiculous sequence of events.

When oddballs, Ruby, Agnes and Roberta struggle to get enough members to form their own clubs at the Salmagundi Boys and Girls Club of Shadyside, Queens they band together and become Team POM, named after their individual loves of Pigeons, Ocean stuff and Miscellaneous things.

Their first project is to become synchronised swim champions like the Diving Divas. Struggling with their routine, the sudden appearance of a giant squid in their pool is surely what they need to propel them to stardom. Except the Diving Divas are up to no good and their shady looking bosses are determined to get their clutches on Cyd the squid. Will Team POM synch or swim? And who will end up with squid ink on their face?

There are an abundance of illustrated funny chapter books for children aged 7+ but sometimes one comes along that elevates itself above the crowd and waves its fox tail. In what will be a series, Nadia Shireen’s debut middle-grade read is the perfect dose of funny.

Fox cubs Ted and Nancy live in a bush in the park in the Big City, scavenging for food from the greasy bins of Speedy Chicken. Life is greasy and grimy but more than satisfactory and things would have been OK if Ted hadn’t accidentally mistaken the meanest cat’s tail for a hotdog and bitten it off.

Now Princess Buttons is mad and the siblings need somewhere to lie low. When helpful rat Sven suggests Grimwood, Ted thinks all of his dreams have come true. There’ll be leaves and grass and mud to roam in and a forest full of animals to play with.