The end of the holidays are looming large but you still have time to start a good book – here’s one from a Canberra author, designed to get you feeling at your best.

And, if you are dreading getting back into the daily routine of getting kids off to school or childcare, there’s a humorous picture book to help you through.

Well! Well, Well… is a practical guide to self-improvement and all-round good health, recognising the value of small steps rather than grand gestures.

Well! Well, Well … A guide to help you find and unleash the best version of yourself by Canberra teacher and marathon runner Alistair M Scherer (independently published through Writing with Light, Australia 2025; design by Writing with Light) provides a refreshing and realistic approach to wholistic wellness. It acknowledges the difficulty of that path and the value of small steps rather than grand gestures.

The book is both a deeply personal reflection and a step-by-step guide to self-improvement and all-round good health. The author speaks of his own experiences and challenges, citing examples of positive decisions and actions by well-known figures. It contains a detailed reference list for further reading.

This is a slim volume of 176 pages which will fit comfortably into a bag or briefcase for regular dipping with practical exercises and procedures that anyone can follow or adapt to their own circumstances.

Disclosing my interest in this book as designer and publisher, rather than fully reviewing it, I quote the testimonial of Dr Kate Roberts, Hyrox Coach, acupuncturist and mental health specialist from New Zealand, whose words are quoted on the back cover: As a performance coach and mental health professional, I’ve read countless books on wellbeing – but Well! Well, Well … really hit home. Al’s voice is raw and relatable. It’s a deeply human, practical guide to navigating the messy reality of growth.

What I love most is how Al blends insight with action. The activities are thoughtful and useable, the quotes beautifully chosen and the honesty throughout is meaningful.

I found myself reflecting on my own journey as I read – and I suspect most readers will too. This book doesn’t just talk about change; it invites you to live it.

The book is available at Canberra bookstores and will be released on print, on demand platforms and as an audio book in 2026.

In Wait a Minute!, Shelly Unwin and Lana Azore playfully explore the frustration of getting young children out the door in the morning.

January is also a time of respite in Australia for busy parents, a break from the daily routines of getting kids off to school or childcare and all the demands this involves. The early mornings can be stressful for families trying to juggle work and school with deadlines for getting out of the house fully prepared for the day.

This experience is humorously but aptly portrayed by writer Shelly Unwin, a long-time though now former Canberran and illustrator Lana Azore in their picture book Wait a Minute! (Larrikin House, Australia 2025; design and artwork by Mary Anastasiou – imaginecreative.com.au)

The endless delaying tactics of the small child when “time to go!” is announced are playfully presented with a series of unfinished words at the end of the prevaricating sentences: “Wait a minute! I’ve got to tie my sh…” becomes … “sheep together” on the next page.

Small children will get the joke, but parents will identify with the frustration and the need for super-human patience on the part of the parent. To the great credit of the put-upon mother in this story, she retains a smile throughout.

The artist cleverly manages to show both the chaos and the love in this typical household. Every delay is indulged and the small child is encouraged to complete all the tasks of the early morning rush – shoes, teeth, lunch, bag, coat, water bottle, a reminder about Mum’s keys. Then, thank goodness, they’re out the door and on the road with a car full of animals – a sheep, tiger, llama, baboon, crab, hippopotamus, buffalo and kangaroo, as well as the kitchen sink and a kayak.

One can only hope the mother in this story gets a calming cup of tea after dropping her child to his destination.

This is an insightful picture book, perhaps to be used as a lesson to families or simply an expression of fellow feeling. This too will pass!

Barbie Robinson is co-founder and a content creator for Living Arts Canberra, a not for profit media outfit supporting arts and community in the Canberra region and books worldwide through its website, podcast interviews and a 24/7 internet radio station.