Summer 2025-26 Book Reviews with little Unity

Captain Danger and the Stupid Shadow

Captain Danger lives for danger, it’s in his name after all. He also loves his faithful dog-sidekick, Django. What he doesn’t love is his shadow making a nuisance of itself while he’s trying to hang out the washing, so he hangs his shadow out on the line too. But when the shadow manages to escape Captain Danger must embark on a hair-raising adventure overcoming a volcano, an evil two-headed pink bird and a game of tag with a dragon, all while clad in nothing but his undies (as per the washing debacle). This has all the ingredients for a laugh-out-loud adventure, and the illustrations are a graphic, colourful delight, bringing the outlandish creatures and vibrant places to life. All in all, a charming and fabulously silly tale that’s a complete joy to look at, right down to the end papers. / Elka

Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois

An artist biography that is a piece of beauty in its own right. Bourgeois’ artistic journey was inspired by her family history in tapestry, especially from her mother “not unlike a spider, a repairer of broken things.” The dreamlike watercolour illustrations are stunning and give a real sense of the process of her work, and there is an additional author note at the end to fill in the gaps. To really get the full Bourgeois immersion, pop into Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tāmaki before 17 May to catch an exhibition of six decades of her work. / Roger

This Fatal Kiss

After a tragic event, which she cannot remember, Gisela has found herself trapped in the spirit world where life as a water nymph holds a certain charm and magical benefit. Nymphs and other creatures exist alongside the human world in relatively peaceful harmony but Gisela longs to return, both to her family and also to a life she feels cheated out of. Enlisting the help of an unlikely ally she embarks on a quest to capture the affection of someone (anyone) before it’s too late. This was so much fun to read; a blend of Polish folklore and queer romance with a few gentle twists and turns, plus a nod to The Little Mermaid, as Gisela requires true-love’s-first-kiss in order to return to the mortal world. / Venice

Livia in Rome

Livia lives in Scotland, but her heart beats for Rome. When she and her mother fly across the world to help get the family business, an old school Italian bar, back on track, she worries that she might not be local enough for her new position. Her new coworker, Giulio, is perfectly perfect: a very Italian, annoyingly handsome, vespa-riding golden-boy that everyone adores – especially Livia’s grandmother. They spend a summer bickering (and later flirting) and hatching a plan to save the bar. This was such a lovely and refreshing summer read – one of my favourite young adult romances to date. Livia and Giulio were delightful, and I found myself really invested in their story. By the end I knew that two things are certain: there really is nothing better than a summer romance; and the Italians sure know how to French. / Issy

Welcome to the Best Bakery

My! What big feet you have! The wolf in question may be big, hairy and very scary … but just so happens to also be the proprietor of a van selling mouth-watering treats. A tempting stop-off for our hungry, bread loving bunny. Yue Zhang has cast a delightful ensemble of animal creatures to illuminate this recognisable urban setting in all its whimsical detail. No sinister Red Riding Hood intentions here, this is purely an homage to baked goods, friendship and how a little teamwork can make for a happier outcome. And like bunny and wolf this deserves to be enjoyed with warm cups of tea and a little something just out of the oven. / Roger