October 2026 book club picks
October 2026’s book club includes titles by Jon Klassen, Philip Reeve, Jamie Smart, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Jasbinder Bilan, Christine Pillainayagam, Emer Stamp, Laura Mucha and Míriam Bonastre Tur.
Gaia Stella author page
Gaia Stella biography
Gaia Stella is an Italian illustrator and author-illustrator of children’s picture books. She wrote and illustrated Welcome to My House: A Collection of First Words, a 48-page children’s book translated from French by Olivia Bartz and published by Chronicle in June 2017.
Welcome to My House: A Collection of First Words uses a cat named Olga to guide readers through rooms and household objects. The book introduces names for household items and includes a seek-and-find element built around the cat.
Stella also wrote and illustrated If I Were a Fungus, a 40-page picture book for young readers about fungi. Nanette McGuinness translated the book, and it was published on 5 March 2024.
Biography writer: Joanna Nance-Phillips
Children’s literature expert and primary school teacher with 30+ years of experience running a primary school library, teaching literacy and tutoring in the UK and abroad. Articles and reviews by Joanna Nance-Phillips 
Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in Autumn 2026
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2026. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction, young adult novels and non-fiction.
Children’s Literature News July 2026
Children’s book news for July 2026: Beth O’Brien wins the Carnegie and UKLA awards, Patrice Lawrence becomes Children’s Laureate, John Agard takes a third CLiPPA, and Little Smith launches.
Bestselling books by Gaia Stella
Browse Gaia Stella books on UK.Bookshop.orgBrowse Gaia Stella books on Waterstones.com
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