Welcome to This Glorious Mess Big Kids. A twice-weekly look at parenting as it really is - confusing, exhausting, inspiring, funny, and full of surprises. So many surprises!

Are you trying to find a good book for your kids this summer? 

Maybe you’ve got a keen reader who reads just about everything? Or a kid who never picks up a book?

Today Holly and Andrew are joined by Allison Tait, bestselling author and podcaster to share her summer read recommendations for kids of all ages, interests and levels.

Plus this week's parenting mentor's question, what to do when your kid is starting at a new school? 

THE END BITS

You can hear more of Allison on her podcast, Your Kids Next Read and join the Your Kids Next Read Facebook community here.

LINKS

ALL THE BOOKS WE MENTIONED (AND MORE) 

Picture books

Searching for Cicadas by Lesley Gibbes, illustrated by Lesley Watson 4+ (read together or 7+ read alone)

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing. Illustrated by David Hardy (read together or 7+ read alone)

Book of Curious Birdsby Jennifer Cossins

The Encyclopedia of Peculiar Pairs by Sami Bayly

Junior fiction (Ages 5 - 8) 

School of Monsters by Sally Rippin (series) (5+)

What Zola Did by Melina Marchetta (seres) (6+)

Sporty Kids  and Besties by Felice Arena and illustrated by Tom Jellett  (6+)

The First Scientists by Corey Tutt, illustrated by Blak Douglas

Junior Fiction (Ages 8 - 10) 

Click and Clash graphic novel series by Kayla Miller 

The Book Of Australian Trees by Inga Simpson and illustrated by Alicia Rogerson

The Australia Survival Guide by George Ivanoff

Junior Fiction (Ages 9 -13)

Graphic novels

Sisters, Ghosts, Babysitters Club by Raina Telgeimeir

Pie In The Sky, Pawcasso,Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai

Verse novels

The Little Wave by Pip Harry

Mina And The Whole Wide World by Sherryl Clark, art by Briony Stewart

Strong storylines

Kensy and Max series by Jacqueline Harvey

Missing And The Book of Chanceby Sue Whiting

Twitch by M. G. Leonard

The Fire Star by A. L. Tait

Escape

Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Catby Monica McInerney

Eliza Vanda’s Button Box by Emily Rodda

Elsewhere Girls by Emly Gale and Nova Weetman

Funny Kid series by Matt Stanton

The Right Way To Rock by Nat Amoore

Pippa’s Island by Belinda Murrell.

Outdoors

Your Wild Journal by Brooke Davis

Young Adult 

Illuminae (series) and Aurora Cycle (series) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Ghost Bird by Lisa Fuller

Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina 

Dark Rise by C. S. Pacat

Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix

The Boy From The Mish by Gary Lonesborough 

You Were Made For Me and What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillame

Can’t Say It Went To Plan by Gabrielle Tozer

Social Queue by Kay Kerr 

How To Repaint a Life by Steven Herrick 

The F Team by Rawah Arja 

GET IN TOUCH

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at tgm@mamamia.com.au

CREDITS

Hosts:Holly Wainwright & Andrew Daddo

Guest: Allison Tait

Audio Production: Rhiannon Mooney

Producer: Mikayla Floriano 

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au 

Welcome to This Glorious Mess Big Kids. A twice-weekly look at parenting as it really is - confusing, exhausting, inspiring, funny, and full of surprises. So many surprises!
Are you trying to find a good book for your kids this summer?&nbsp;
Maybe you&rsquo;ve got a keen reader who reads just about everything? Or a kid who never picks up a book?
Today Holly and Andrew are joined by Allison Tait, bestselling author and podcaster to share her summer read recommendations for kids of all ages, interests and levels.
Plus this week's parenting mentor's question, what to do when your kid is starting at a new school?&nbsp;
THE END BITS
You can hear more of Allison on her podcast, <a href="https://childrensbooksdaily.com/podcast/">Your Kids Next Read</a> and join the Your Kids Next Read Facebook community <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/276634156006126">here.</a>
LINKS
ALL THE BOOKS WE MENTIONED (AND MORE)&nbsp;
Picture books
<a href="https://fave.co/3F3roW8">Searching for Cicadas</a>&nbsp;by Lesley Gibbes, illustrated by Lesley Watson 4+ (read together or 7+ read alone)
<a href="https://fave.co/3IYOHD2" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/oe5JYW&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1639798940694000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ytZoc-6hil9Xf8dCal1gj">Somebody&rsquo;s Land</a>&nbsp;by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing. Illustrated by David Hardy (read together or 7+ read alone)
<a href="https://fave.co/3p2iRgD">Book of Curious Birds</a> by Jennifer Cossins
<a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-illustrated-encyclopaedia-of-peculiar-pairs-in-nature-sami-bayly/book/9780734420046.html">The Encyclopedia of Peculiar Pairs</a>&nbsp;by Sami Bayly
Junior fiction (Ages 5 - 8)&nbsp;
<a href="https://fave.co/3F03R8y">School of Monsters</a> by Sally Rippin (series) (5+)
<a href="https://fave.co/31WLof3">What Zola Did</a> by Melina Marchetta (seres) (6+)
<a href="https://fave.co/3saioLd">Sporty Kids </a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-besties-show-and-smell-felice-arena%2Fbook%2F9781760890988.html">Besties</a> by Felice Arena and illustrated by Tom Jellett&nbsp; (6+)
<a href="https://fave.co/3F85Jwe">The First Scientists</a> by Corey Tutt,&nbsp;illustrated by Blak Douglas
Junior Fiction (Ages 8 - 10)&nbsp;
<a href="https://fave.co/3qaCR06" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/WDRrbJ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1639798940694000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3njKevFZuImygpfJw0qBmO">Click</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fclash-kayla-miller%2Fbook%2F9780358242192.html">Clash</a> graphic novel series&nbsp;by Kayla Miller&nbsp;
<a href="https://fave.co/3q6RBg6">The Book Of Australian Trees</a>&nbsp;by Inga Simpson and illustrated by Alicia Rogerson
<a href="https://fave.co/3e5Pd3D">The Australia Survival Guide</a> by George Ivanoff
Junior Fiction (Ages 9 -13)
Graphic novels
<a href="https://fave.co/3J06Pw7">Sisters</a>, <a href="https://fave.co/32afz1Q">Ghosts</a>, <a href="https://fave.co/3GRvUYw">Babysitters Club </a>by Raina Telgeimeir
<a href="https://fave.co/3s7I7Ee">Pie In The Sky</a>, <a href="https://fave.co/3sd9EUT">Pawcasso,</a> <a href="https://fave.co/3F6prYX">Fly on the Wall</a> by Remy Lai
Verse novels
<a href="https://fave.co/3pY7UMm">The Little Wave</a> by Pip Harry
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fmina-and-the-whole-wide-world-sherryl-clark%2Fbook%2F9780702263231.html">Mina And The Whole Wide World</a> by Sherryl Clark, art by Briony Stewart
Strong storylines
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fbreaking-news-jacqueline-harvey%2Fbook%2F9780143780656.html">Kensy and Max</a> series by Jacqueline Harvey
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fmissing-sue-whiting%2Fbook%2F9781760650032.html">Missing</a> And <a href="https://fave.co/3mccmWy">The Book of Chance </a>by Sue Whiting
<a href="https://fave.co/3E3x0OZ">Twitch</a> by M. G. Leonard
<a href="https://fave.co/3E5ZTKl">The Fire Star&nbsp;</a>by A. L. Tait
Escape
<a href="https://fave.co/3mbHrKl">Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Cat </a>by Monica McInerney
<a href="https://fave.co/3p2DER9">Eliza Vanda&rsquo;s Button Box </a>by Emily Rodda
<a href="https://fave.co/3s7JhQ6">Elsewhere Girls</a> by Emly Gale and Nova Weetman
<a href="https://fave.co/3yHrsIY">Funny Kid</a> series by Matt Stanton
<a href="https://fave.co/3q3uHGB">The Right Way To Rock</a> by Nat Amoore
<a href="https://fave.co/3q6oFoC">Pippa&rsquo;s Island</a> by Belinda Murrell.
Outdoors
<a href="https://birchandbear.com.au/product/your-wild-journal/">Your Wild Journal</a> by Brooke Davis
Young Adult&nbsp;
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Filluminae-amie-kaufman%2Fbook%2F9781760875404.html">Illuminae </a>(series) and <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Faurora-rising-amie-kaufman%2Fbook%2F9781760295738.html">Aurora Cycle</a> (series) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fghost-bird-lisa-fuller%2Fbook%2F9780702260230.html">Ghost Bird</a> by Lisa Fuller
<a href="https://fave.co/3F9qFCT">Catching Teller Crow</a> by&nbsp;Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina&nbsp;
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fdark-rise-c-s-pacat%2Fbook%2F9781760875749.html">Dark Rise </a>by C. S. Pacat
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fterciel-and-elinor-garth-nix%2Fbook%2F9781760878818.html">Terciel and Elinor</a> by Garth Nix
<a href="https://fave.co/3q6T06s">The Boy From The Mish</a> by Gary Lonesborough&nbsp;
<a href="https://fave.co/3yCZH4i">You Were Made For Me</a> and <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fwhat-i-like-about-me-jenna-guillaume%2Fbook%2F9781682632789.html">What I Like About Me </a>by Jenna Guillame
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fcan-t-say-it-went-to-plan-gabrielle-tozer%2Fbook%2F9781460758533.html">Can&rsquo;t Say It Went To Plan</a> by Gabrielle Tozer
<a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fsocial-queue-kay-kerr%2Fbook%2F9781922458018.html">Social Queue</a> by Kay Kerr&nbsp;
<a href="https://fave.co/33rxWzU">How To Repaint a Life</a> by&nbsp;Steven Herrick&nbsp;
<a href="https://fave.co/3se6iRw">The F Team </a>by Rawah Arja&nbsp;
GET IN TOUCH
Feedback? We&rsquo;re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at <a href="mailto:tgm@mamamia.com.au">tgm@mamamia.com.au</a>
<a href="mailto:podcast@mamamia.com.au"></a>CREDITS
Hosts: <a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/author/holly-wainwright/">Holly Wainwright</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/author/andrew-daddo/">Andrew Daddo</a>
Guest:&nbsp;<a href="https://allisontait.com/">Allison Tait</a>
Audio Production: Rhiannon Mooney
Producer: Mikayla Floriano&nbsp;
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Just by reading our articles or listening to our podcasts, you&rsquo;re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We&rsquo;re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and we aim to get to 1,000. Find out more at mamamia.com.au&nbsp;

A weekly look at parenting as it truly is: confusing, exhausting, inspiring, funny, and full of surprises. Join Tegan Natoli and Libby Trickett every Monday as they discuss all the disasters and delights of parenting with a healthy dose of advice from our trusted experts.

A weekly look at parenting as it truly is: confusing, exhausting, inspiring, funny, and full of surprises. Join Tegan Natoli and Libby Trickett every Monday as they discuss all the disasters and delights of parenting with a healthy dose of advice from our trusted experts.

Imperfect stories from the frontlines of parenting.

Advertisement