Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels

<p>Poetry with wonder and wit; a heartwarming tale for horse lovers; a portal to the future; a brilliant YA wartime romance and more</p><p><br><strong><a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/small-monster-big-monster-9781837292110/?utm_source=editoriallink&amp;utm_medium=merch&amp;utm_campaign=article">Small Monster, Big Monster</a></strong><strong> by Allan Sanders, Phaidon, £7.95</strong><strong><br></strong>Refrigerator is EMPTY. Monster is FULL (of pizza!). An eye-wateringly bright board book, featuring splendidly zany, toddler-pleasing pairs of opposites.</p><p><strong><a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/the-flying-machine-of-dreams-9781915659989/?utm_source=editoriallink&amp;utm_medium=merch&amp;utm_campaign=article">The Flying Machine of Dreams</a> by Kate Wakeling</strong><strong>, illustrated by Viviane Schwarz, Otter-Barry, £12.99</strong><strong><br></strong>A delectable picture-book collaboration that perfectly distils the wonder of the everyday, from the textures of a leaf to a squishy-cushioned den. Wakeling’s irresistible poetry is richly heightened by Schwarz’s sweet, strange illustrations.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/aug/28/childrens-books-roundup-the-best-new-picture-books-and-novels">Continue reading...</a>