Quick picks: our top recommendations
| Book | Author | Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Dear Santa: Doodles for You | Check on Amazon → | |
| Grug 123 | Check on Amazon → | |
| Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Concept Books: | Check on Amazon → | |
| Stripy Horse, Time for Bed | Check on Amazon → | |
| I Spy Little Toys | Check on Amazon → | |
| Lily’s Wish | Check on Amazon → |
Below are 22 titles in total — we’ve highlighted our 6 favourites above. Each one links straight through to Amazon AU.
There have been some small and affordable books published this year. This list is made up of those that have attracted our attention. Most of the books and accessories listed below are small enough to fit into a Christmas stocking. Others retail at a perfect price for a Secret Santa (K.K.) gift.
Under $5
Little Mates Series:
Little Mates are funny stories that will charm children for generations. The alliterative alphabet stories are delightful to read-aloud. There are 26 endearing Australian animal characters to collect!
Amazing Amelia
By Susannah McFarlane and Lachlan Creagh
ISBN:978-1741696783
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback (140 x 140mm)
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
Published in: Australia, February 2011
RRP: A$4.99
Suitable for ages 3+
You can read a review at Kids Book Review
Little Golden Books
Distributed through Random House, a large selection of Little Golden Books are available at bookstores, supermarkets and variety stores.
RRP: A$4.50
Dear Santa: Doodles for You
Michael O’Mara Books
ISBN:978-1742970769
Find Dear Santa: Doodles for You on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
RRP: A$4.95
Suitable for ages 4+
A wonderful little activity book with lots of pages to complete and colour for Santa.
Under $10
New Grug Books:
Grug is back with new pastel colours. Grug helps little readers learn the concepts of colour, numbers and letters with simple text and adorable, cheeky illustrations.
Grug Colours
Ted Prior
ISBN:978-0731815067
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Board Book
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, November 2011
RRP: A$9.99
Suitable for ages 1+
Grug ABC
Ted Prior
ISBN:978-0731815036
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Board book
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, November, 2011
RRP: A$9.99
Suitable for ages 1+
Grug 123
Ted Prior
EAN:978-0731815043
Format: Board book
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, November 2011
RRP: A$9.99
Suitable for ages 1+
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Concept Books:
Illustrations of May Gibbs’ Gumnut Babies are suitably matched to the concepts of numbers and colours. Royalties from the sale of these books is donated to Cerebral Palsy Alliance and the Northcott Society.
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Present 1 2 3
May Gibbs
ISBN:978-1742830230
Find Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Concept Books: on Amazon AU →
Format: Board book
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
RRP: A$9.99
Suitable for ages 1+
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Present Colours
May Gibbs
ISBN:978-1742830421
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Board book
Publisher: Scholastic Australia
RRP: A$9.99
Suitable for ages 1+
Stripy Horse, Time for Bed
Jim Helmore and Karen Wall
ISBN:978-1405253024
Find Stripy Horse, Time for Bed on Amazon AU →
Format: Board Book (169 x 151 mm)
Publisher: Find Stripy Horse, Time for Bed on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>Egmont Books Ltd, January 2011
RRP: A$9.95
Suitable for ages 2+
Stripy Horse- Just for You is also available (Check current price on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>9781405253055)
Stripy Horse books chronicle the events of a child’s day in a playful way. They are great for encouraging action from young readers.
I Spy Little Toys
Jean Marzollo
ISBN:978-0545220965
Find I Spy Little Toys on Amazon AU →
Format: Board book
Publisher: Cartwheel Books (Scholastic), September 2011
RRP: A$9.99
Suitable for ages 3+
Lily’s Wish
By Barbara Pyett and Serena Geddes
ISBN:978-1921042829
Find Lily’s Wish on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: New Frontier Publishing, November 2011
RRP: A$9.95
Suitable for ages 3+
A cute story that starts with Lily and Santa sharing letters with one another. Santa has to give much thought to a unusual request from Lily, one that doesn’t involve a material present.
Little Treasures: Jessica’s Box
Peter Carnavas
ISBN:978-1921928093
Find Little Treasures: Jessica’s Box on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: New Frontier Publishing, October 2011
RRP: A$9.95
Suitable for ages 5+
A perfect little book to give to a child starting school in the new year.
Little Treasures: Last Tree in the City
By Peter Carnavas
ISBN:978-1921928123
Find Little Treasures: Last Tree in the City on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: New Frontier Publishing, October 2011
RRP: $A9.95
Suitable for ages 4+
This book will inspire little green thumbs and environmentalists-in-training.
Billie B Brown Series:
Billie B Brown is an active and exciting young girl who early readers will be able to relate to.
The Best Project(Latest title)
Sally Rippin
ISBN:978-1921848018
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Check current price on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>Hardie Grant Egmont, August 2011
RRP: A$7.95
Suitable for ages 6+
Billie’s little brother is cute, but he can be annoying. Billie has to keep everything away from him. Especially the tower she has made for her school project..
Billie B Brown- The Perfect Present (A special Christmas title)
Sally Rippin
ISBN:978-1921759277
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Check current price on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>Hardie Grant Egmont, November 2010
RRP: A$7.95
Suitable for ages 6 +
Billie is bursting with excitement. It is Christmas tomorrow! She knows her presents must be hidden somewhere. A bit of peeking won’t hurt, will it?
Other Billie B Brown titles are available
Go Girl Series
The Go Girl series has been written to help young girls with new experiences and transitions.
Best Christmas Ever
Rowan McAuley
ISBN:978-1742970738
Find Go Girl Series on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Find Go Girl Series on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>Hardie Grant Egmont, November 2011
RRP: A$9.95
Suitable for ages 7+
Other Go Girl titles are available
Sophie and the Shadow Woods Series:
Sophie and the Shadow Woods is a great introduction to the fantasy genre for early readers.
The Bat Sprites
Linda Chapman and Lee Weatherly
ISBN:978-0007411733
Find Sophie and the Shadow Woods Series: on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback (194 x 129 x 11 mm)
Publisher: Find Sophie and the Shadow Woods Series: on Amazon AU →
&HCHP=TB_Sophie+And+The+Shadow+Woods:+The+Bat+Sprites” target=”_blank”>HarperCollins Children’s Books, December 2011
RRP: A$9.99
Suitable for ages 7+
On her tenth birthday, tomboy Sophie learns she is the Guardian of the magical gateway, and that her destiny is to protect the human world from the goblins, trolls and evil sprites that inhabit the Shadow Woods.
Other books in the series are also available
Pocket Rocket Books:
Pocket Rocket books are best selling stories published in a small format.
Naughty Stories- The Girl Who Blew Up Her Brother
Christopher Milne
ISBN:978-1921848902
Find Pocket Rocket Books: on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback (118 x 178 mm)
Publisher: Find Pocket Rocket Books: on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>Hardie Grant Egmont, July 2011
RP: A$5.00
Suitable for ages 6+
Pocket Rocket: Zac Power Sky High
H. I. Larry
ISBN:978-1921848841
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Check current price on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>Hardie Grant Egmont, July 2011
RRP: A$5.00
Suitable for ages 7+
Other Pocket Rocket Books available
Battle Boy Series:
# 15: Underwater War
Charlie Carter
ISBN:978-0330404327
Find Battle Boy Series: on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Find Battle Boy Series: on Amazon AU →
&Author=Carter,%20Charlie” target=”_blank”>Pan Macmillan, December 2011
RRP: A$9.99
Suitable for ages 7+
Battle Boy 005 enters his biggest battle yet. It’s the battle of the Atlantic – the longest battle of the Second World War, fought between German U-boats and Allied ships.
Other Battle Boy titles are available
Unicorn Riders Series:
An adventure series for early readers which promotes friendship and teamwork. Each of the first four books of the series focus on the four characters who make up the Unicorn Riders.
Quinn’s Riddles
Aleesah Darlison (Illustrated by Jill Brailsford)
ISBN:978-1921529979
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback (130 x 200mm)
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, October 2011
RRP: $A6.50
Suitable for ages 8+
Following a series of riddles, the Unicorn Riders must rescue Queen Heart’s young son from his kidnappers.
Other Unicorn Riders titles are available
A little over $10
What Am I?
Salina Yoon
ISBN:978-0545178532
Find A little over $10 on Amazon AU →
Format: Board book (190 x 152mm)
Publisher: Cartwheel Books (Scholastic), January 2011
RRP: A$12.99
Suitable for ages 0+
An interactive book for little hands. Children are encouraged to make guesses using rhyming clues and image silhouettes before pulling a tab to reveal a hidden object.
Who Am I?
Salina Yoon
ISBN:978-0545178525
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Board book (190 x 152mm)
Publisher: Cartwheel Books (Scholastic), January 2011
RPP: A$12.99
Suitable for ages 0+
An interactive book for little hands. Children are encouraged to make guesses using rhyming clues and image silhouettes before pulling a tab to reveal a hidden animal.
Parrot Carrot
Jol and Kate Temple and Jon Foye
ISBN:978-1742376868
Find Parrot Carrot on Amazon AU →
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, November 2011
RRP: A$12.99
Suitable for ages 2+
A padded little book that combines word play with funny pictures . An app is also available to complement this book. Read our full review.
It’s a Book-Midi Book
Lane Smith
ISBN:978-1921977466
Find It’s a Book-Midi Book on Amazon AU →
Format: Hardback (140 x 120mm)
Publisher: Walker Books, December 2011
RRP: A$12.95
Suitable for ages 4+
A little book that reminds us of how enchanting books can be in a high-tech world. Read our review of the original It’s A Book
We are All Born Free
Amnesty International
ISBN:978-1847801517
Find We are All Born Free on Amazon AU →
Format: Hardcover (130 x 150mm)
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (Walker Books), September 2011
RRP: A$12.95
Suitable for ages 5+
A collaborative effort between international artists has produced this delightful mini book illustrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Royalties from the sale of this book are donated to Amnesty International.
Yves Saint Laurent Colouring Book
Yves Saint Laurent
ISBN:978-1406333824
Find Yves Saint Laurent Colouring Book on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback (130 x 180mm)
Publisher: Walker Books, February 2011
RRP: A$12.95
Suitable for ages 7+
A suitable gift for budding fashionistas.
E is for Echidna
Bronwyn Bancroft
ISBN:978-1921714610
Find E is for Echidna on Amazon AU →
Format: Board book (177 x 181 mm)
Publisher: Little Hare (Find E is for Echidna on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>Hardie Grant Egmont), August 2011
RRP: A$14.95
Suitable for ages: 1+
A bright and beautiful word book focusing on the wonderful animals, plants and food of Australia.
Paul Thurlby’s Alphabet
Paul Thurlby
ISBN:978-1921759499
Find Paul Thurlby’s Alphabet on Amazon AU →
Format: Board book (211 x 163 mm)
Publisher: Find Paul Thurlby’s Alphabet on Amazon AU →
” target=”_blank”>Hardie Grant Egmont, April 2011
RRP: A$14.95
Suitable for ages 1+
This is a hip and stylish alphabet book for toddlers and preschoolers. Paul Thurlby turns each letter of the alphabet into a quirky and clever illustration.
The ABC Book of Machines
Helen Martin, Judith Simpson and Cheryl Orsini
ISBN:978-0733329586
Find The ABC Book of Machines on Amazon AU →
Format: Board Book (185 x 149 x 16 mm)
Publisher: ABC Books (Find The ABC Book of Machines on Amazon AU →
&HCHP=TB_The+ABC+Book+of+Machines” target=”_blank”>Harper Collins), July 2011
RRP: A$14.99
Suitable for ages 3+
An informative little book perfect for imaginative children who want to know what makes machines tick.
Animal Tales:
The Animal Tales series is made up of four books, each narrated by a different Australian Animal who finds itself in danger. Set in the early settlement period of Australia the stories show what little understanding humans (called Uprights by the animals) had of native Australian animals. Included at he back of each book is a description of the animal and original interpretations of the animals drawn by the early settlers.
Each book retails for A$14.95
Suitable for ages 5+
The Tale of Kaz Kangaroo
Susan Hall and Ben Guy
ISBN:978-0642277299
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Hardback
Publisher: National Library of Australia, May 2011
The Uprights initially think of a kangaroo as a dog or a deer. They learn that kangaroos can hop with their young in its pouch.
The Tale of Kyla Koala
Susan Hall
ISBN:978-0642277268
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Hardback
Publisher: National Library of Australia, May 2011
The Uprights initially mistake the koala for a bear. They learn that Koalas consume gum leaves, not milk.
The Tale of Wil Wombat
Susan Hall
ISBN:978-0642277275
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Hardback
Publisher: National Library of Australia, May 2011
The Uprights learn that wombats, even young ones, have long claws that make them master diggers.
The Tale of Peek Platypus
Susan Hall
ISBN:978-0642277282
Check current price on Amazon AU →
Format: Hardback
Publisher: National Library of Australia, May 2011
Initially confusing the platypus with a duck or a mole, the Uprights learn that a platypus needs water to breathe.
Once Upon a Time…
Nick Sharratt
ISBN:978-1406331929
Find Once Upon a Time… on Amazon AU →
Format: Paperback (220 x 240mm)
Publisher: Walker Books, August 2011
RRP: A$15.95
Suitable for ages 3+
Based on size and price this book only narrowly makes it onto this list of stocking fillers. I just had to include it though because it has been one of my daughter’s favourite books of the year. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure-story for toddlers and preschoolers. This book has all the ingredients of a good fairytale: a place to live, a friend, some magic, wishes and a happy ending. Cut-out objects are included that help young readers finish the sentences and create their own unique story.
A similar title by Nick Sharratt, Pirate Pete, is also available
Accessories
My Little Bookcase Bookplates
RRP: A$ 1.50 each or $5.00 for a set of five bookplates
My Little Bookcase is not a store. If you’re interested in purchasing bookplates please send an email to [email protected] and include your name, email address, delivery address and quantity required.
No More Dog Ears- Ribbon Bookmarks & Gifts
Bookmarks start at $10.00
I have purchased one of these as a gift for my next door neighbour. The quality is outstanding. Check out the range of bookmarks available at No More Dog Ears Bookmarks.
Cafe Secrets Melbourne: EAT for little ones
RRP: A$9.95
This is really a gift for the family. Having these cards means that your kids can get involved in choosing where you eat your family breakfast on a Sunday morning, rather than mum doing a search on the internet.
Available in Readings stores, selected Dymocks & Collins bookstores, newsagents, kids’ boutiques and some featured cafes. It is also available to purchase directly through Little Eats.
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How we use books as stocking gifts
Joel’s family has done the “a small book in every stocking” thing for three generations. The team has stress-tested it across budget years, twin-Christmases, and one memorable year with five kids under seven. A few truths:
- Five short books beat one long book. A stocking with five small books gives a child five distinct moments of opening and excitement. One large book gives them one. Don’t over-spend on a single big-format hardback when a stack of $8 paperbacks does more emotional work.
- Match the book to a small treat. A picnic-themed book + a chocolate. A bath-themed book + bath crayons. A cooking-themed book + a wooden spoon. The book becomes the activity invitation, not just the object.
- Buy two of the same book for siblings. If you’ve got more than one kid, identical-title gifts head off a lot of arguments and signal that books aren’t a competition. Older siblings sometimes resent “the baby got a book like mine” until they realise it’s on purpose.
- Use op-shops and library sales. Stocking books don’t need to be new. A $2 thrift-shop board book wrapped in tissue is a $20 stocking moment.
- Keep one stocking book back for Boxing Day. Christmas morning is overwhelming. A child opening one more book on the 26th, when everyone’s less wired, often gets more out of it than the morning-of pile.
Why books-in-stockings matter
Stocking gifts are one of the few moments in the year where the “small token of affection” pose still works. They’re not the main present, they’re not expected to dazzle, and the child opens them when they’re still in pyjamas. That’s the emotional climate where a book lands harder than a plastic toy. The toy lights up for 30 seconds; the book lasts a year.
The other thing books in stockings do well is set the tone for the whole day. A child who opens a book first, on the carpet, in pyjamas, with a parent quietly nearby, is calmer for the rest of Christmas Day. We’ve never tested this against a control group, but every Bookcase parent will swear to it.
Frequently asked questions
What’s a sensible per-book budget for stocking books?
$5–$15 per book is the sweet spot. Below $5 you’re into impulse-buy quality; above $15 the book stops being a stocking item and starts feeling like a main present.
Where do we actually buy these without breaking the bank?
Independent bookshop chasing-up-leftover-stock sales (October–November), Big W book sections, op-shops, library book sales, and Booktopia’s “under $10” filter. We’ve also had luck with the Amazon AU bargain bins on the days right after Black Friday.
Best stocking book for the kid who’s “outgrown” picture books?
A small chapter book counts. Or a Where’s Wally / I Spy / activity-style book that’s technically a picture book but reads as “old enough.” Don’t feel pressure to graduate them out of the format prematurely.
Are any of these books large/hardback enough to be a main present?
A few of the bigger anthology titles edge into “under-the-tree” territory. We’ve marked those in individual reviews. Most of the list is deliberately small-format.
Shop the full list on Amazon AU
Each link below opens an Amazon AU search for that title’s exact ISBN. We earn a small commission if you decide to buy — thank you, it keeps the lights on at the Bookcase.
- Dear Santa: Doodles for You
- Grug 123
- Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Concept Books:
- Stripy Horse, Time for Bed
- I Spy Little Toys
- Lily’s Wish
- Little Treasures: Jessica’s Box
- Little Treasures: Last Tree in the City
- Go Girl Series
- Sophie and the Shadow Woods Series:
- Pocket Rocket Books:
- Battle Boy Series:
- A little over $10
- Parrot Carrot
- It’s a Book-Midi Book
- We are All Born Free
- Yves Saint Laurent Colouring Book
- E is for Echidna
- Paul Thurlby’s Alphabet
- The ABC Book of Machines
- Once Upon a Time…
- Cafe Secrets Melbourne: EAT for little ones
📚 Looking for more book lists?
We’ve curated 28 picture-book lists across six themes — Family, Christmas & ANZAC, Australian identity, Learning to Read, Gifts & Milestones, and Themes & Activities. Hand-read by the team, age-graded, and ready to use.
