Does the young reader in your life love funny hijinks, quests of bravery, and escaping evil villains?
Has more time at home awakened a love of books in your primary-school-aged kids?
Anita Heiss, Ursula Dubosarsky, Oliver Phommavanh and Damon Young are four of Australia's favourite kids' book authors.
To help provide some inspiration to keen young readers (and their parents), we asked these much-loved writers to recommend four classic kids' books, and four more recent favourites.
Before revealing the books they chose, let's introduce our panel.
Anita Heiss is a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation of Central NSW, and an author of novels for both adults and children.
Her books for children include Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic, co-written with Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin, and two kids' novels written with students from La Perouse Public School — Yirra and Her Deadly Dog Demon and Demon Guards the School Yard.
Ursula Dubosarsky is the 2020-2021 Australian Children's Laureate and is the author of more than 60 books including Brindabella and The Game of the Goose.
Oliver Phommavanh is a comedian and author of eight books for young readers, including Don't Follow Vee and Thai-riffic!
And Damon Young is a philosopher and author for adults and children. He's written six books for children, including My Dad is a Dragon and My Mum is a Magician.
Here are four books from the recent past recommended by Anita, Ursula, Oliver, and Damon:
Girls Can Fly by Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina
Recommended by Anita Heiss
When Anita reads Girls Can Fly, she feels inspired, hopeful, and strong.
It's a book of advice by the award-winning Aboriginal author Sally Morgan (My Place) and her daughter Ambelin Kwaymullina.
"This book is uplifting, inspiring and motivational, and will encourage young girls to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. I love that this vibrant book reminded me to always, always like myself."
The Bad Beginning by Daniel Handler
Recommended by Ursula Dubosarsky
"I couldn't stop smiling when I read this book and a lot of the time I would laugh out loud," says Ursula.
"The Bad Beginning is about three children who have a terrible calamity fall upon them, which they can't do anything about. Each child manages to survive one bizarre ordeal after another through their own individual strengths and oddities, and by looking out for each other.
"I guess this coronavirus is our world's giant calamity. I wonder who Count Olaf is though…
"It's so funny, so witty, so silly, so inventive, so crazy, and the language is just glorious. At the same time there is something serious underneath it all, if you stop to think about it. Definitely the sort of story you don't want to end, so it's good there are 12 books in the series!"
Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
Recommended by Oliver Phommavanh
"We all need a laugh during these times and this story of two brothers migrating to Australia has a tonne of them," says Oliver.
"I think readers will empathise with Jingwen and his annoying little brother, being cooped up at home all the time, on top of getting used to living in a new country. Plus there's a healthy amount of cake-talk in this book, and so readers may be inspired to bake!
"When I read Pie in the Sky it made me joyful and reminiscent about my own childhood [trying to get along with my little sister during those long boring holidays at home]."
The Vault duology: Hive and Rogue by AJ Betts
Recommended by Damon Young
"AJ Betts' Vault duology, Hive and Rogue, follows the adventures of Hayley: beekeeper and post-apocalyptic wanderer.
"These novels involve many "now" issues — including ecocide, cruelty to refugees, surveillance states, the loss of history.
"They also offer a moving portrait of friendship. But my favourite part is Hayley's curiosity. She floats into a new world (familiar to us), and Betts' use of language to convey Hayley's fear and excitement is bang on. She makes the ordinary wonderful."
And here are classics recommended by Anita, Ursula, Oliver, and Damon:
Digger J. Jones by Richard J Frankland
Recommended by Anita Heiss
"While Digger J. Jones is a novel set around the serious times of the Vietnam War and the 1967 referendum, this book is written in a way that will engage, educate and entertain young readers.
"And it is very, very funny. For example, Digger starts to read the Bible and is confused about the word begat, and who's begatting who and why.
"I also laughed at episodes of Digger and Darcy-the-Dick — his once arch-rival, now best mate — kissing girls behind the shed, something Digger calls "fishlicking'.
"When I read this book, I felt I got an insight into the mind and behaviour of young fellas, their friendships and their hijinks. During these challenging, sometimes scary times, an escape while learning is important, and necessary."
Climb a Lonely Hill by Lilith Norman
Recommended by Ursula Dubosarsky
"I read this book in 1970 when I was 11, when it won the Children's Book Council Book of the Year award.
"It's very different to Lemony Snicket, but it also starts with a terrible disaster, in this case a car accident.
"The two surviving children have to fend for themselves and make their way to safety through the Australian outback desert. And it's not the only problem they have in their lives… So this is a book about all kinds of courage and coping in the face of a very tough time.
"I remember how this book left me breathless. When you read a book like this it's as though you step into the world of the characters … more than that, you become one of them and you start to feel how they feel and you wonder, like they do, what on Earth is going to happen next!"
The Deltora Quest series by Emily Rodda
Recommended by Oliver Phommavanh
"Being stuck at home fuels a desire and longing for adventure or other fantasy worlds," says Oliver.
"Deltora Quest still holds up today as a timeless quest, set out like a video game in book form, with enduring characters and plenty of action to give you a break from recent events. There are two further series and another companion series after that, so there's plenty to binge-read afterwards.
"Emily Rodda was inspired by video games when she was writing these books, so she knows how to hook you in from the start, with a relentless pace
"She remains one of the best world-builders in children's books. Even the most reluctant reader will find themselves being lost in this world, and wondering about its characters."
Batman: A Death in the Family written by Jim Starlin and illustrated by Jim Aparo
Recommended by Damon Young
"Some of the most powerful stories from my childhood were comics. Batman, especially.
"A Death in the Family portrayed the murder of Robin, Batman's sidekick and ward. I remember feeling suddenly more mature. I had joined an adult cabal: one in which death was a genuine threat. If Robin could die, anyone could.
"But perhaps more importantly, I just saw Batman as a character of hope. He was broken, but he made himself into something cool. He'd never be happy, but he was beautiful in his dogged, disciplined rage. It's a fantasy, but it's the fantasy I needed — and perhaps still need.
"Why read Batman now? Because it's fun. And because it's always a good time to carefully examine juvenile power fantasies."
A final word from Australian Children's Laureate Ursula Dubosarsky
"Keep reading everyone! I know it's hard at the moment to find all the books you'd like to read, especially with the libraries being closed, but hang in there!"
"Borrow books from your friends, re-read books you've read before, buy books online, read electronic books from the library or listen to audiobooks. Don't stop reading, whatever you do."
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