Picture this: picture books for older readers

Window Jeannie Baker: Wordless book showing the world outside Ben’s window, from his birth and throughout his life. We see changes in the natural and man-made environment.
Voices in the park Anthony Browne: Four people visit the park; four voices tell their version of what happened.
Willy’s pictures Anthony Browne: Willy the chimp takes a fresh look at some of the world’s more famous paintings, and adds his own, uniquely Willy, touch.
Cat on the island Gary Crew: Set in New Zealand, this book tells the true story of the establishment of a lighthouse on Stephens Island (now a wildlife refuge) and the extinction of the Stephens Island Wren. Magnificent illustrations with a concise, haunting story of extinction.
Memorial Gary Crew: A memorial tree is planted when the soldiers return from war in 1918. But will anyone really remember?
The serpent’s tale Gary Crew: A boy pesters his Mother to buy him a bracelet at a fair. His dreams that night are wild and terrifying and as we observe the world outside his window, we know he will be waking up to a different reality.
The wolves in the walls Neil Gaiman: Lucy tries to warn her family that there are wolves in the walls, but they don’t believe her until it is too late. Can the family stage a takeover and get their house back? Lively text contrasts with creepy illustrations.
Wolves Emily Gravett: Mr G Rabbit borrows a book on wolves from his local “burrowing” library. As he walks home, he fails to realise how close he is to encountering a real wolf. Will his story have a happy ending? It’s not spelt out in this mixed media book but there are clues for a careful observer.
After the war Bob Kerr: When the father comes home after the war, the family plant a tree. They watch it through the seasons, as the town changes and the family grows.
Home and away John Marsden: A regular Australian family suddenly faces life as refugees. Matt Ottley illustrates this story with a widely ranging style, it will provoke thought and provide a new view on a big issue.
The rabbits John Marsden: The rabbits came many grandparents ago. They spread across the country. No mountain could stop them;
Tibet: through the red box Peter Sis: Inside the red box lies his father’s diary — pages and pages of fragile paper with faded handwriting, telling the story of his father’s time in Tibet.
The Arrival Shaun Tan: A wordless book that illuminates the experiences of immigrants to a slightly fantastical country. Beautiful, beautiful grey and sepia toned illustrations that convey a lot of meaning. Winner of numerous awards.
The lost thing Shaun Tan: A bottle-top collector discovers a lost thing and finds a place for it.
Dust Colin Thompson: 13 international artists team with Thompson to illustrate this book that raised over $250,000 to help recovery from the 2005 Niger famine. Shows the suffering of children in the face of natural disasters.
The short and incredibly happy life of Riley Colin Thompson: The life of a human and the life of a rat are compared in this book that deals humorously with the ups and downs of life and how we approach them.
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick Chris Van Allsburg: A series of loosely related drawings that the reader constructs her own story to accompany.
The Wretched Stone Chris Van Allsburg: A strange glowing stone picked up on a sea voyage captivates a ship’s crew and has a terrible transforming effect on them.
Fox Margaret Wild: Magpie and Dog are friends, and Magpie rides with Dog, flying across the land. Fox waits and watches…
The woolvs in the sitee Margaret Wild: Set in a dystopian future world, this book is ambiguous and atmospheric in its terror. Ben, our teenage narrator, is terrified of encountering the ‘woolvs’ who live in his city and have killed his family, or have they? The reader is given little information to decide what the truth is, but various interpretations can only add to this haunting story.
The secret knowledge of grown-ups David Wisniewski: Learn the real reasons grown-ups tell you to do things. Steel your mind for the truth.