Category Picture Books

Lena and the Bear

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Lena and the Bear
Katya Balen and Laura Carlin
Walker Books

One night Lena hears a cry echoing around her cosy home. Despite being scared of the dark and the wild, she dons her boots and sets out into the blackness to find the perpetrator of the painful cry. When she comes upon it, there before her stands a bear with ‘shining metal teeth in its paws’. It’s a cruel trap: no wonder the bear is roaring in agony. having removed the trap, Lena takes the bear home to her little house and makes him some food that it quickly consumes, as it does other items too. Gradually the girl becomes comfortable with her ursine visitor and cares for him, tending to his paw and his other needs. Far from his forest home though, the bear seems sad so Lena tells him tales of wonderful places she conjures forth in her imagination.

These stories of new worlds enrapture the bear until his eyes are once again filled with stars.

Then one morning, the bear takes Lena’s hand in his paw and leads her outside into the wild, her heart a-thumping. All around them is cold air and tall, tall trees; the entire place is full of stories but as darkness falls, having watched the moon rise in the soft glowing sky, back to Lena’s home they go. Once inside, the bear sits at the window staring out and the following morning he’s no longer in his cosy blanket. Out into the wild goes Lena, searching for her friend till come early evening, there he stands in his natural environment once more.

Lena has one more story for the bear – a ‘tale of a brave wild girl and a brave wild bear’ – the best story so far but as the two then snuggle close to one another for the last time, Lena knows that loving her bear friend means letting him go. And so they part …

Katya Balen’s quietly moving, poignant tale leaves gaps for readers/listeners to fill and Laura Carlin’s painterly illustrations complement the telling superbly well. With its exploration of friendship, love, letting go and freedom, this is a great book to share with children from reception right through to KS2. Depending on their age and maturity different things will emerge during discussions making the book one that can be revisited several times during the primary school school years.

Kiki & me

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Kiki & me
Leo Timmers
Gecko Press

Translated by David Colmer, this amazingly illustrated story is seen through the eyes of a black horse.
Kiki a small girl, takes a shine to the creature immediately the ramp is lowered and the horse revealed. The child cares for the horse, feeding and watering it, keeping it warm, grooming it and more; they even play imaginative games together.
At first the horse is slightly scared of its surroundings but before long the two are going on long rides together and Kiki shares her secrets with her equine companion.

Seasons pass, years pass and then Kiki starts spending lots of time with a new male friend causing the horse to feel lonely and insecure. ‘Maybe Kiki didn’t want me anymore.’ Readers will likely share the animal’s fear of being abandoned. But then along comes Bruno, a companion of the skewbald kind. Moreover, Kiki makes it evident that she still loves the narrator horse: maybe four can be better than two. What do readers think?

Leo Timmers’ exquisite scenes are either black-and-white sequences where each drawing of the horse emphasises its muscular body and these alternate with richly hued, wordless panoramic landscapes executed in acrylics. You don’t need to be a horse-lover to appreciate this poignant book: its stunning illustrations and ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’ story will surely immediately captivate anyone who peruses its pages.

Little Ghost and the Robot

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Little Ghost and the Robot
David Litchfield
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Little Ghost lives happily in an abandoned house and all she wants is somebody to play with. Then one day some men bring a large box and leave it at the house; on it is a label saying HOGARTHS. Noises start coming from inside the box and out jumps a robot. Little Ghost invites the robot to play with her but Robot responds, “Playing games is not logical.” Little Ghost persists and they play all manner of games before Robot realises that he’s been delivered to the wrong place. When Little Ghost suggests that Hogarths could be Robot’s family and explains the meaning of family, Robot asks her to help find them. Off they set to the big city – an extremely busy place with crowds of people. But there’s one woman, who is all by herself; she introduces herself as Mrs Potts. She tells the visitors that the building they are outside is a theatre but she’s too scared to go in alone in case she feels sad. The newcomers talk to Mrs Potts, help her overcome her fear and in they all go.

The theatre is a truly magical place and afterwards Mrs P. offers to take them to the Hogarths, which she knows. First though, Little Ghost wants to see one more magical thing and all three sit beneath a tree and watch the sun setting over the skyline. Then it’s time to find Robot’s family; but it turns out that HOGARTHS is not a family but a large factory where robots are made. But unlike Robot, these other robots seem lifeless.

Little Ghost then offers to be Robot’s family to which he willingly agrees. Back they all go to the abandoned house where they bid farewell to Mrs Potts or do they? Perhaps a family of three would be better than a family of two …

David Litchfield’s soft textured dreamy scenes blend smudgy, magical mists and sparkles and when they reach the big bustling city, there’s a deep pinkish red glow to the sky, while at ground level, the dazzling lights shine out like diamonds. Affection and love shine forth too, from the words of the story, a touching tale of found family, which will surely fascinate children.

Pricklepaper’s Letter Magic

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Pricklepaper’s Letter Magic
Tom Read Wilson and Rebecca Bagley
Words & Pictures

From his cover portrait Pricklepaper the hedgehog is an immediately endearing character. His home is in London’s Regent’s Park where he enjoys collecting scraps of paper. He doesn’t immediately consign these scraps to the rubbish bin as you might expect; rather he uses the letters thereon to make whole words. However, his special talent is to use his letters to alter existing words.

One day when out for a walk he makes the word ‘pullover’ and ends up with a cosy garment that is just right for the hedgehog’s warm personality. As a result he becomes known as the park’s ‘pullover’ friend. In the evening as Pricklepaper strolls near the water’s edge he hears a voice say, “I really am awfully tired of this boat!” What he sees is a lion rowing the boat round in circles having lost one of his oars overboard. The kind-hearted hedgehog comes to the rescue and gives Lion the letter R from one of his quills.

Pricklepaper continues in similar fashion giving letters to in turn, the fountain of Triton in Queen Mary’s Garden and a performing pigeon despairing that she’ll have to cancel her concert.

When he reaches Regent’s Park Cafe, he stops by the rubbish bin to hear Rat’s problem and once again he comes up trumps.

By now the hedgehog is weary and home he goes where he discovers that just four letters are remaining on his quills. They were letters that once were a part of pullover. Can you guess what word he made?

With its heartwarming final spread, this story is surely a winner. A word of warning though: it’s written in rhyme and you will need to read it through carefully before sharing it with a class or group to ensure you get the phrasing right. Ensure too that you allow plenty of time for children to look closely at Rebecca Bagley’s illustrations. They are full of fun details such as the frog in the origami boat and various minibeasts in playful mood throughout the story.

Little Kit’s Wish / Mr Jiggletoe

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There are both Tiny Tree Books – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Little Kit’s Wish
Cheryl Lawton Malone and Felipe Lancha

It’s fox cub Little Kit’s very first blue moon, a special night when the Lady of Light travels to the Old Woods to grant wishes to those who live there and Little Kit can make his own first wish. The trouble is he doesn’t know what to wish for even when his mother and then all the other creatures try to help. Little Kit follows the suggestions made by Turtle, Bullfrog, Mole, Spider, the fawns: he tries believing, pretending, imagining, listening but is still unable to decide on his wish.

As he’s pondering, down a moonbeam glides the Lady of Light making the garden a shimmering silver. Then in turn each of the animals whisper their wish to the Lady and one by one their wishes come true. Eventually the Lady asks Kit as he stands beside his Mama who whispers some sage advice, “ Listen with your heart.” With closed eyes Kit then follows her suggestion, listening with his heart to his mama’s love, his friends hope and the blue moon’s magic and then at long last he knows just what to wish for. What do you think it might be: assuredly it’s something amazing.

Felipe Lancha’s dreamy watercolour illustrations and Cheryl Lawton Malone’s touching words combine to make a tale of finding your heart’s desire. Yes it’s aimed at young children but it has something to say to adults too.

Mr Jiggletoe
Emily Wensley and Helen Morgan

Meet Mr Jiggletoe a dancer, tall of stature, slender and sporting a red top hat. He’d dance his favourite dance – the jive- spinning and kicking by day but also come the night, he’d waltz under the stars. The townsfolk loved to see him move and would stop and watch him but then one day, down came some sleety rain. This didn’t trouble Mr J. unduly and he was amazed to see a rainbow arcing across the grey sky. Stepping onto its glowing hues the dancer, watched by a little girl, Leah, began a new journey. He vanished by walking up the rainbow, Leah tells the townspeople. The people went away leaving Leah with an abiding feeling she’s unable to ignore.

Autumn comes and with it a change in the townsfolk, all except Leah who is determined to see the dancer return one day. She needs it to rain though and one sunny day Leah hears a loud cracking sound in the sky. “It’s time. Let’s get him back!” she cries, waving to the other people as she opens her umbrella and starts a dance of her own. Her brolly is a special brightly hued one and as she points it skywards, everyone begins to dance as something appears in the sky and down it slides somebody they’ve all been longing to see: at last Mr Jiggletoe is back. That’s when the town returns to happiness: Leah and Mr J. dance daily, making colours everywhere and eventually the town is famed for the dancers, Mr Jiggletoe – now a Sir and Leah who summoned that magical rainbow.

What an uplifting tale, told in rhyme: it almost makes you want to jump up and start dancing as you read it and watch the story unfold through Helen Morgan’s joy, sadness and finally once more, elation.

Dino’s Pizza Delivery Service / Your Dog is Controlling your Mind

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Below are 2 Tiny Tree Books titles – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Dino’s Pizza Delivery Service
Tom Phipps and Charlie Swan Pullin

A zany rhyming tale of how to and how not to, make many people’s favourite meal. It starts way back in prehistoric times with various dinosaurs providing instructions on the process – stomping and pressing, flipping and spinning and stretching the dough, then adding sauces carefully so as to have a crusty circumference. Next come toppings – your personal favourites – before the pizza is slid into the oven (using a tail so to do) and spinning it to get all round heat. Once cooked, place in a box and cut into slices ready for delivery. (Each step of the process uses a part to dinosaur anatomy.) Then off you fly to sell your yummy dino pizzas at prehistoric prices.

Fast forward millions of years: things have changed and pizzas are now made by chickens. Will they make a success of the pizza business? Assuredly they are successful at something else …
Charlie Swan Pullin’s wacky illustrations are just right for making young humans’ mouths water as they follow the dinosaurs process while perhaps giving them indigestion at the sight of the chickens’ catastrophic cooking as they attempt to take over the business.

A good book for beginner readers to get their teeth into as well as for reading aloud.

Your Dog is Controlling your Mind
Stephen Lynch and Davilyn Lynch

Dog owners, have you ever considered this: you are not in control of your canine companion, said creature is controlling you? It’s true: your furry friend has you at its beck and call. Don’t believe me: try listening to the young narrator of this book whose parents gave her a puppy for her birthday. She named it Sam and the two quickly became best pals doing everything together. She also notices that the whole neighbourhood appears to have suddenly become dog crazy. For instance there’s neighbour, Miss Gordon, once prim and proper, smartly clad and tidy home owner, but not so any more: her Rufus slobbers all over her and wipes his muddy paws on her classy coat. Teacher, Mr Magnusson spends much of his time following his pooch and picking up its poo, which he then has to carry in a bag while walking his poodle.
As for the narrator’s sister, she is super nice to Sam but pretty mean to little sister and as for their parents, Mum is prepared to get soaking wet while walking the dog and Dad will sacrifice a sausage (albeit secretly) and feed it to Sam, he that loafs around on the sofa all day.

Seems there’s no other explanation for all this strange behaviour by humans other than mind control. But what of moggies – they will likely be shipped off to a deserted island.

Be warned, treat your dog with TLC just in case canines control the country one day.

As a human who has cynophobia, I steer well clear of dogs and this tail-wagging tale, despite Davilyn Lynch’s charming illustrations, has made me all the more determined so to do. Nevertheless dog owners will be amused and likely lap it up.

The Incredible Other Side

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The Incredible Other Side
Andrew J. Ross
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

There’s something incredible behind the wall, so says the green-hatted character carrying a spade to the one sporting a blue hat. However, the spade cracks and breaks into two pieces. Along comes a yellow-hatted child with a rope hoping to climb over the wall; but as you might guess, the supposedly long, strong rope snaps cascading the climbers into the snow.

Having heard that something incredible awaits on the other side of the wall, up come two more children, one in purple, the other in red and they’re carrying a ladder. However despite it supposedly being sturdy – CRACK! The ladder falls apart.

The smallest child then steps forward saying, “There’s only one thing to do. You’ll have to go through the wall.” She ignores the others’ comments as they stomp off. Could it be however, that in order to reach the INCREDIBLE OTHER SIDE you have to think rather differently.

A delightfully droll story celebrating problem-solving of the creative kind: try thinking outside the box is the message.

I Will Haunt This

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I Will Haunt This
Viviane Schwarz and Chris Riddell
Walker Books

In an attic is an ancient vase, a haunted vase. Along comes a cat and sends the vase tumbling, so we’re left with seventy two pieces and a little ghost – now free.

Off goes the ghost to do some haunting somewhere other than the attic. The house belongs to pleasant people with lots of new things so the ghost continues on its way searching in cupboards. In one it discovers a very large, warm cosy sweater – just the thing to haunt decides the ghost, especially as it’s a jumper full of hope and love. Snugly within the garment, the ghost dances till the evening when a girl arrives and is astonished to see a dancing jumper. Said jumper introduces itself and the girl asks why it’s wearing the jumper knitted by her grandpa. Amused she invites the ghost to become her friend and inquires where it lives.

Its response results in it being given a new place to haunt, a place full of warm memories. The ghost very much approves of its new situation and goes on to help the girl with her drawing, something she’s been struggling with. She continues with her drawing long into the night and in the morning shows the ghost what she’s drawn and says who it’s for.

How do you think the ghost reacts?

This truly tender tale shows how unlikely items can hold great importance; and that it’s vital we appreciate the time spent with friends, new and not so new, as well as valuing made objects created specially for us with love.

As always, Chris Riddell’s illustrations are stunning; the picture drawn by the girl for the ghost is one readers and listeners will want to spend ages poring over its fine details. A fantastic combination of words and pictures.

Robber Rabbit

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Robber Rabbit
Lucy Rowland and Alessandro Montagnana
Scholastic

A woodland glen is home to lots of different creatures – squirrels, badgers, mice, hedgehogs and more. One day a little rabbit, seeking a home decides to move into the large tree and make it his own. Then one day a big wind blows through the woods sweeping away all the berries and seeds till the only food remaining is on and around Rabbit’s home tree. Needless to say Rabbit is delighted but despite the plethora of tasty treats he refuses to share it, leaving the other animals with rumbling tummies.
Rabbit cooks and eats all day until bedtime but then his sleep is suddenly broken and he finds himself shouting, “Something is wrong! The others are hungry. They’ll think I’m rude! …” Up he leaps concerned that they’ll come and steal it. The following morning the greedy Rabbit builds a tall barricade around his trees

and even though that evening he is aware of the other creatures’ needs, he still maintains that he’s been fair.

Next day Rabbit’s mood is different and he is surprised at how quiet it is around his home. Some days later a realisation dawns and Rabbit shouts an apology and offers food to all his woodland friends. Only a single bird hears and Rabbit enlists its help. Off flies the tiny bird and come the morning, it finds Rabbit’s pals. At midday loud crashing and banging disturbs Rabbit’s lunch preparations; he grabs his spade and off he goes to join the others busily destroying the surrounding wall, after which he invites them all in to share a feast.

At last Rabbit has learned a vital life lesson, or may be more than one …

With its final flap reveal, this rhyming story has an important message, not just for the protagonist but for us all.

A Little Bit Braver

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A Little Bit Braver
Nicola Kinnear
Alison Green Books (Scholastic)

Luna and Logan return with a new fear to overcome. Time was that Logan was a stop-at-home bunny and his pal Luna was full of bravado but now having discovered how exciting adventures can be, he accompanies Luna everywhere. They’d set off daily in search of something new with Luna ensuring that they’d return home before dark.

Then one day, Logan doesn’t want to go home; he’s having way too much fun and anyway they’ve both got torches and something to eat. But Luna suddenly admits that she’s scared of the dark – the kind of dark that’s all around. Logan tells his friend how amazing night is and wants to show why, to which Luna reluctantly agrees, if he does so on their way home. Down the hill they go; Logan points out all the nocturnal creatures but all Luna is interested in is getting home as fast as possible, no matter the sounds around and which creature makes which sound. So fast does she go that Logan suddenly realises that his friend can no longer see nor hear him. Moreover, Logan gets himself hurt, lost and very wet and stinky. ‘Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!’ what could that be?

Happily it’s not a monster but a friend coming to the rescue.

Can their walk home together change the way that Logan feels about the dark? Can Luna help him conquer his nyctophobia?

Many small children have a fear of the dark and Nicola Kinnear’s amusing story with its wonderfully expressive illustrations is ideal for helping them to talk about how they feel and perhaps their fear might even begin to wane.

No Way! I’ll Stay!

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No Way! I’ll Stay!
Donna David and Dao Linh
Scholastic

This story, narrated by Bear, starts in Farley Forest where the leaves on the trees are turning golden and red, indicating that it’s time for the animals to prepare for the winter’s chills. Bear tells readers that Bird should be getting ready to leave for warmer climes. Bird hears his name but isn’t happy to hear about migrating; in fact he flatly refuses, saying, “No way! … I’ll stay right here!” Bird goes on to talk of why – the gorgeous view and how the wind tickles his feathers. Bear continues to try persuading his feathered friend but Bird is having none of it and continues to reply, “… No way! I’ll stay!” Seemingly Bird’s mind is completely closed on the topic of migration.
Then suddenly one of Bear’s comments elicits ‘Humph. maybe I’ll go just this once.” from Bird and off it flies with a hasty goodbye.


On arrival at what looks like the tropical African plains, Bird is welcomed by fellow avian migrants and even admits this new place is not so bad after all. So much so that when the hot, hot sun dries out the ground of Whispering Plain, the animals know they need to prepare for the long, hot summer months and Bird gets ready to leave or …

The dialogue between the two main characters is sure to bring a smile to both adult readers and young listeners and the latter will delight in joining in the repeat refrain, “No way! I’ll stay! There are some wonderfully amusing details in Dao Linh’s illustrations such as Bird’s satchel-like bag and the expression on the face of the grub that Bird is consuming.

A fun book to share as the leaves turn red and brown and in addition to enjoying the story, little ones will learn something about migration as they listen. (There are also some basic facts on the final spread .)

Earth Ever After

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Earth Ever After
Elin Manon
Big Picture Press

By means of Elin Manon’s lyrical text and awesome illustrations, Mother Earth becomes the narrator of a story that takes readers on a journey that starts with Earth’s creation and the birth of life itself all the way through to the present day,

a journey through which we witness the transformation of the planet and its profound bond with humanity itself. More than a mere story however, it reminds us all that we share a crucial responsibility to do all we can to protect the world around us.

All is not yet lost; there is hope so long as we together, in groups and individually think about ways we can live more harmoniously with this amazing planet we inhabit but do NOT own. Thought alone though is not enough; it’s action that will save the Earth.

I’ve never seen anything quite like Elin Manon’s stunning book before: I’d love to see one in every primary and secondary school collection to be shared, discussed and acted upon. Our relationship with nature is everyone’s responsibility.

The Pumpkin Thief / Squirrel & Duck’s Autumn Adventure

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The Pumpkin Thief
Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater
Scholastic

Bird has a new favourite activity – growing vegetables. Squirrel though is not convinced: “Nothing is happening! They’re never going to grow!” he insists. However, come the autumn, Bird has five pumpkins to show for his labours. Squirrel’s favourite is an enormous orange one.
Bird hints that Squirrel might consider giving him some help so off goes Squirrel to get his work gloves, only to find there are only four pumpkins remaining. The bushy-tailed creature then decides to do some watering, simultaneously noticing that the number of pumpkins is now three.

On discovering, having filled the watering can, that just two gourds remain, Squirrel is suspicious, eventually concluding that there’s a thief about. Where is Bird now? Surely not taken by that thief. Time to look for clues. Squirrel finds a feather, peck marks, footprints and more, then uses these to construct a sketch of the suspect.

What readers may work out is that each clue points to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. It transpires that Bird was off presenting pumpkins to their other pals and has kept the largest to give to “my very best friend.” You can guess who that is. Why though has Squirrel dragged it right up into the branches of a tree? “So the pumpkin thief can’t find it, of course1” comes the answer.

The final spread comprises pumpkin facts.

Young listeners and readers will delight in the captivating main characters especially Squirrel’s persistence, Bird’s kindness and the crazy antics depicted in Nicola Slater’s vibrant scenes of the autumnal mystery.
Definitely a book to share with KS1 classes in the first part of the autumn term.
So too is:

Squirrel & Duck’s Autumn Adventure
Harriet Stone and Moonlie
Words & Pictures

We join friends, Kit the squirrel and Willow the duck as they explore the joys of autumn, their favourite season. Willow’s remark that it’s difficult to see Kit as his fur blends in with the red and orange of the leaves at this time of year, prompts the squirrel to suggest they play a game of hide-and-seek. Kit hides first but is quickly discovered by his friend and very soon they have run out of new places to hide. Reluctant to stop the game so quickly Kit hides again, but having squeezed into a seemingly ideal hiding spot, he comes upon a mouse. The mouse remains still no matter how much Kit wriggles around and eventually Willow appears on the scene. This alarms the mouse and it explains that being a nocturnal creature, it was fast asleep.

Suddenly as they talk, Kit notices the golden glow of the afternoon sun and this delights the little rodent. Eventually the three of them snuggle up together and fall asleep. What do you think their dreams were about?

After the fun story there’s a ‘Did You Know?’ spread giving information about both squirrels and ducks, make a red squirrel and craft a little duck instructions and a spot the difference game.

With Moonlie’s glowing scenes and Harriet Stone’s engaging text that capture the magic of the season, this is a charming book to curl up and enjoy as the nights begin to draw in. Alternatively it’s a good one to share with Foundation Stage children early in the autumn term.

What Not To Do In Outer Space

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What Not To Do In Outer Space
Anna Crowley Redding and Victoria Stebleva
Happy Yak

Are you ready to blast off into space?  ‘SPACE FANS. We are T-minus 30 seconds from lift off!  Get ready, there is so much to do in Outer Spaaaaaaaaaace!’ Thus begins the young narrator’s livestream of his epic trip to outer space.

Aboard the space craft too is robotic research assistant, Herschel, and ready to answer questions via the ‘live chat’ are Dr Joan Kepler and Dr Obi Lightbody. The narrator may be all set to entertain enthusiasts watching back home but the irritating tour guide seems to be endeavouring to spoil all his fun. Suppose then that you want to try floating and catching every drop of your milk with your mouth, that’s a no no! It’s way too dangerous and could short-circuit the spaceship’s electronics.
So what about opening the window to see what space smells like? Absolutely not: space will vacuum the air out of the spaceship and your lungs. And anyway, ‘space smells like burning metal.’

Additional no no’s include a space race; a snowball fight on Mars;

getting out of the spaceship and grabbing a diamond specially for your mum. It seems that you cannot do anything at all that’s fun in space. Hmm!

During the expedition questions pop up via the livestream and the docs. answer them. In this way interesting space facts are integrated into the adventure. With these awesome facts and a whole lot of laugh-out-loud moments, this book offers a wealth of learning opportunities. Curious children will love this quirky presentation.

Little Minotaur

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Little Minotaur
Gaia Alessi
Walker Books

In this book, debut author Gaia Alessi reimagines the ancient Greek myth of the Minotaur with Asterion (the ‘Starry One’) as a bull-headed boy born to Queen Pasiphaë, growing up in a loving family, rather than as a monster to be slain. Asterion is a gentle child who loves nothing better than to spend his time out in nature especially among the birds. The boy struggles to speak and sounds like a foghorn when he does but his mother isn’t bothered by his manner of speaking; neither is his sister Ariadne.

Then, one summer’s day the brother and sister come upon some children hunting a lizard and they manage to scare them away thanks to the sound that emanates from Asterion’s mouth.

However, as he grows in size and stature, rumours about the so-called ‘Minotaur’, a half-man, half-beast nightmare that eats two people at a time, spreads among the people of Crete.

Can he fight the people’s prejudice and show them that he’s not the frightening monster they think he is, the one that should be slain; instead he’s merely a misunderstood boy who deserves love and understanding. Perhaps he can even engineer his own ending …

A moving story that celebrates difference and how love’s power can overcome animosity and malevolence. Gais Alessi’s mixed media illustrations capture the siblings’ feelings superbly as well as beautifully evoking the natural world so loved by Asterion and his family.

The Search For Our Cosmic Neighbours

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The Search For Our Cosmic Neighbours
Chloe Savage
Walker Books

This awesome book follows Commander Julia and her space team aboard Mission Star Drifter. They have already spent ten years searching the galaxy to discover the answer to humankind’s greatest question: are we alone in the universe? The excitement of their expedition has already worn thin and Commander Julia has finally had enough. However, she decides that rather than declare the mission a failure, they will try one last planet.

What they anticipate is yet another lifeless, desolate wasteland but instead, thanks to the dog, Khan, they find themselves face to face with curious space creatures – a whole community of them. They too have eyes, arms and legs like the human crew but the earthlings have so much to learn

and interestingly the space creatures seem to do lots of things simply for the joy they bring.

Basking in how brilliant it is to be alive in the universe is something the human visitors try for a while; they even defer their return to Earth and stay a bit longer to enjoy this new way of seeing things.

It’s great to see how the book celebrates scientific roles, particularly women in STEM such as the astrobotanist, Lata and of course, Julia the mission’s astrobiologist. It’s great as well that the story will certainly have readers pondering on and discussing what it means to exist in the vast universe.

A book that definitely deserves to be on family bookshelves, in classroom libraries and anywhere else that young people come together.

Finding Mister Tibbles

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Finding Mister Tibbles
Emma Yarlett
Walker Books

It’s Tibbles rather than Nibbles that is the subject of the search in Emma Yarlett’s new picture book. Mister Tibbles goes missing one Monday morning and the small boy narrator has looked all over the place, so he tells readers. To alert others to his being absent the boy makes reward posters and goes out distributing them as well as calling on neighbours in case the missing canine creature is hiding close by. The first visit is to Bobbie Plod and Officer Wag and despite having not seen Mister T. they have noticed a strange smell emanating from upstairs. The two invite the boy in for a snack and to look around. There’s certainly a strange smell but no Mister Tibbles.

The next stop is at Number 2, home of two clowns. They too invite the boy in to search but there’s no sign of Mister Tibbles. The same is so at Number 3, Wylde West’s residence, though he has seen a wriggly tail upstairs. No luck as to its identity however.

In Number 4 accessed by water, lives Coral. In dives the boy in the hope that the stripy thing she’s seen splashing around is he whom he’s searching for; it’s stripy but it is not Mister Tibbles. Number 5 is a castle with a drawbridge, home to a dragon of the friendly kind who provides yummy toasted marshmallow sandwiches and a strange orange thing but no Mister Tibbles, not even in the turrets. Not anywhere at all; he’s lost forever.

Back walks the narrator towards his home and suddenly a familiar smell emanates from the canopy of a tree; that and a stripy, orange tail wriggling through the leaves. Could it be? … Maybe it’s time for a welcome back home celebration at last.

With it’s fun final twist, this is a story that involves young children right from the start with various flaps to open and the wealth of details inside the residences to explore.

The Forest Is a Part of Me

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The Forest Is a Part of Me
Elizabeth Wathuti O.G.W
Little Tiger

Written in a pictorial autobiographic style, Elizabeth Wathuti, Kenyan climate activist and Founder of the Green Generation Initiative, calls upon we readers to appreciate what forests are and what they offer. A tree lover from a very young age, the author tells how she planted her very first tree when she was just seven years old and since then has become part of the forest herself, growing alongside not only that tree but many others too.

She talks of how forests help humans and a wealth of creatures large and small from ‘the tiny ant to the mighty elephant.’ as well as human communities. We’re reminded of the huge threat to our planet that global deforestation poses especially when carried out in a rapid and ruthless fashion; this is heartbreaking for the author and to many readers too. It’s absolutely vital that we humans value and look after our forests the world over.

Elizabeth Wathuti’s poetic, powerfully moving narrative is illustrated by Michelle Pereira’s whose scenes of the verdant, thriving forest rich in fauna as well as flora, are a joy to behold, made all the more so with strategically placed cutouts.
As the ‘about the author’ final paragraph states, ‘Our future depends on how we nurture our bond with the natural world, because when we protect the forest – when we protect nature – we are really protecting a part of ourselves.’

(The publishers were mindful of these words as the book has been made on wood free paper, using mineral-oil-free inks that do not include petroleum-derived mineral oils. The result is paper that feels special to the touch.)
The final page of the book includes some ‘How can you help? advice which we can all follow.

Little Wolf’s Big Huff

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Little Wolf’s Big Huff
Harriet Howe and Katie Cottle
Templar Books

Taking a trip to watch the Wolf Moon rise has become an annual event for Little Wolf and Daddy Wolf. With just the two of them it’s a ‘wonderfully-waggy-tailed time’ for them, but especially for the little cub.

However this year, another wolf has taken Little Wolf’s place as the littlest in his pack and because Mummy Wolf is poorly on Wolf Moon Day, all his brothers and sisters are also coming. Little Wolf tries his best to feel pleased about this ‘Everyone Else Day’ but he knows things won’t be the same. Assuredly, he’s right about that.
Things go from bad to worse as nobody is interested in Little Wolf’s den design,

then he injures himself and ends up in the mud and not a single other wolf has noticed, and eventually big feelings begin bubbling in his belly, moving on to tingle in his tail and then to fizz all through his fur. Instead of feeling like Little Wolf, the little creature feels big and bad. He huffs and he puffs and …

Time for Daddy Wolf to help his Little Wolf before too much damage is done. This he does by teaching him what he calls ‘The Way of the Wolf’ – a special power hidden deep inside every wolf. Will it work and if so, then what …
Young children will definitely relate to Little Wolf’s worry wobbles and his ensuing BIG feelings when things don’t go as planned. 

Pebble and Po

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Pebble and Po
Emma Simpson
Little Tiger

Late one night Pebble falls fast asleep in a soft, comfy place. Little does she know until the next morning that she’s slept on the tummy of a large bear. She names the bear Po and soon after hears a loud rumble emanating from the creature’s tummy. Suspecting that her new friend is hungry, Pebble leads the way through the forest to search for food.

On their way the two meet some new friends – a bird with an injured wing in search of rest and a fox hiding from the stormy weather.

They all take refuge in a dark cave that becomes lit by fireflies until the storm passes and then after a while Pebble realises that they’re lost and asks for help from the others but they then find the confidence to ask for help too. The strong, silent Po is equally as endearing and caring as Pebble but shows empathy and care for others differently.

Emma Simpson captures the personality of each really well in the mixed media scenes for her gentle story and young listeners will delight in spotting the little white mouse that accompanies Pebble and Po on their adventure but is not mentioned in the text (I wonder where the umbrella came from that it holds in the storm.)

This reassuring book is likely to become a much requested favourite with young children at story time and is a great one for opening up discussions about finding the confidence to ask for help, as well as showing kindness and empathy towards others. “Asking for help isn’t easy. But it’s just about the bravest thing you can do.” So says Pebble as the story concludes.

Frankenkitty

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Frankenkitty
Maudie Powell-Tuck and Mini Grey
Little Tiger

There’s an adorable-looking kitty in the castle laboratory: is she or is she not responsible for all the terrible things that start happening?

“Here is a tale to chill the blood and thrill the soul—a tale of spooky paws and eerie claws… the tale of Frankenkitty” So begins the disembodied, talking skull narrator of this story that seems to be implying Frankenkitty, has been fashioned from many disparate parts. As his daughter Olive looks on, Frankenkitty’s inventor wails, “I’ve created a monster!” He goes on to tell her that they’re doomed on account of such things as slimy creatures in the bath, ‘spine-chilling sprouts … menacing moths! … slimy socks’.

The inventor is certain the castle is cursed despite what Olive thinks. Moreover the mummy starts unravelling and the mice terrorise the cook. Time to get rid of that loathsome creature decides the butler who proceeds to throw Frankenkitty out into the snow. Calm reigns. But could that adorable, forlorn-looking kitty be a cute creature after all? I wonder what listeners to the tale think. Do they agree with the inventor or his daughter?

The author includes plenty of horror motifs but essentially this tale is mock scary, and not likely to give readers nightmares even with Mini Grey’s splendidly detailed illustrations that are equally fun-scary in the way she shows the frights that abound within the that dark castle with ‘walls as grey as old knickers.’ – I love that.

Clive Penguin Learns To Fly, Sort Of / I Am A Squirrel

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Clive Penguin Learns To Fly, Sort Of
Huw Lewis Jones and Ben Sanders
Little Tiger

This second story sees Clive Penguin dreaming of soaring through the sky like the ‘majestic’ gulls that reside in the same frozen parts as penguins. However, Clive doesn’t really want to admit how he feels, calling their ability to fly around as ‘Just showing off ’ Nevertheless he decides that being brave and adventurous, and certainly not afraid of heights, he will take flight and soar through the sky. So … after a number of crazy schemes, he launches himself and … yes he does become airborne.

Young listeners/ readers will of course be rooting for the penguin, particularly as he involves them in discussion about which are better, seagulls or penguins.

One thing you can say about Clive is that he’s a determined character and I love the dead-pan dialogue employed by the author in this quirky story. Equally enjoyable is Ben Sanders’ visual portrayal of the character with that fluorescent orange bobble hat, which is part and parcel of his unorthodox personality.

Immediately engaging and delightfully droll.

I Am A Squirrel
Scott Rothman and Tom Tinn-Disbury
Happy Yak

The young boy narrator of this story insists that he’s a squirrel that loves to run, jump, climb trees and have squirrel friends to play with. He also enjoys playing with his family but his elder brother won’t join in because he doesn’t believe his sibling is a squirrel. “Why don’t you eat acorns, sleep outside in a tree, feel afraid of dogs?” he wants to know. All of these questions are answered, some with ‘unsquirrel’ responses. However the dog question prompts the younger boy to admit in no uncertain terms, “I DO NOT CARE for HAWKS, a view I share with my other squirrel friends. Hawks are one of our most fearsome enemies.”

Determined to curtail his brother’s pretending once and for all, big brother tells him, Fine. If you’re a squirrel, then … “I AM A HAWK!”

He continues by talking of his hawk features, including a predatory characteristic that might just put pay to all the squirrel imaginary play of his younger brother. How though will this story conclude?

This ode to imaginary play, is a hilarious read aloud, cleverly told by author Scott Rothman and equally playfully illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury who has clearly enjoyed sprinkling his scenes with squirrels of the real sort.

A Wild Lullaby

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A Wild Lullaby
Jackie Morris and Cathy Fisher
Otter-Barry Books

In this beautiful bedtime story a mother sings a lullaby to her child. She describes the various ways in which wild creatures all over the world settle their little ones.

In the field, the red fox barks; in the sea the whales hang side by side with their young and it’s the waves that create a lullaby for the seal pup as it snuggles close to its parent. Safe in an ice cave, bear cubs curl within their mother’s paws, and curled close to their mother in the jungle, tiger cubs hear the song of the breeze moving the leaves, their mother’s purring and the whirring of the bush crickets.

High up in the treetops in a nest built of branches, osprey chicks will hear the adult telling of the long journey over land and sea they will one day undertake: ‘A lullaby / of movement / around the turning world.’

Having guided her foal to a sheltered spot on the mossy heathland a Mother pony ‘sings songs of wild wonder’, the snow leopard family in the high rocks, and the elephants on the open plains watch over their young.

After singing her song throughout the day, it’s time for the mother owl to wake up and take flight in search for food to sate the appetites of the owl children as all around ‘Night sounds sing, / across land, across sky,/ a wild, / beautiful / lullaby.’


Jackie Morris’s lyrical text together with Cathy Fisher’s amazingly realistic watercolour paintings of the various creatures convey a feeling of peace and gentleness all across our wild and wonderful world.

How to Scare Blue Monster

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How to Scare Blue Monster
Petr Horáček
Otter-Barry Books

According to Blue Monster’s friends, Fox, Wolf, Raccoon and the rabbits the sounds he made when approaching made them very scared. However they are bemused by Blue Monster’s response, “Scared? What does that mean?” Even more so when Blue Monster requests that they teach him what it is to be scared: they agree to do so however.

The following morning Blue Monster goes out walking and there in his pathway is a pile of leaves containing Wolf. Rather than being scared Blue Monster recognises his friend. A similar thing happens when the monster encounters something white that goes, “Boo! Boo! Boo!” This time Blue Monster is amused and tells the rabbits and Racoon that they made him laugh.

Fox’s “Boo!” from up on a branch causes the monster to ask, “When are you going to teach me to be scared?”
Fox is left speechless and off he goes to meet the others in the meadow and there he suggests trying out his idea.

On his walk the next day Blue Monster meets … Nobody: this he finds strange. He wonders where all his friends are and having searched everywhere, calls out, “Where are you?” It’s a perplexed, lonely and worried Blue Monster that sits down and contemplates what might’ve happened to his friends. Supposing they are lost. Now it is Blue Monster’s turn to be scared ‘…

Really scared!” so he tells Fox, Raccoon, Wolf and the rabbits having given them all a hug.
Petr Horáček’s mixed media collage style illustrations for this second Blue Monster story are superb: those scribbles are so effective and I loved the mango print in the first scene. In fact all the printed items (block print or otherwise) add considerably to the overall effect and the depiction of the animals’ eyes catch their changing mood as the story unfolds.

A story to share, ponder upon and discuss, especially on the topic of what it means to be scared.

Bear Heart

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Bear Heart
Louise Greig and Hoang Giang
Flying Eye Books

Earnest is a bear, but he’s no ordinary bear. He has a heart that is big and it’s absolutely full of all the things that he loves – a large honeycomb, a blue flower, some salmon, his favourite tree – yet there always seems to be room for just one more thing. That is until he meets something huge. It’s a lion and Earnest can tell by its eyes that it needs a place in someone’s heart. Feeling that his own heart can’t accommodate the lion, Earnest tries asking some of his friends to help. However, none of them can: what will the bear do?
Earnest thinks and then makes a very brave decision. It’s one that rather than giving him a heavy heart, fills it with happiness.

Before the end of this gentle tale, the bear encounters another creature in whose heart, the lion truly belongs. he has another important decision to make and in so doing has learns a very important life lesson: true love sometimes comes from letting go.
Louise Greig’s tender, yet powerful telling is complemented by Hoang Giang’s equally tender scenes of Earnest’s changing emotions as the story unfolds.

This huge hug of a book is one that can be read on many levels and so deserves a place in family collections and in all class collections from the Foundation Stage to KS2.

A Long Tail

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A Long Tail
Rebecca Atkinson and Kate Read
Happy Yak

Children can have fun as they follow the tactile trail of the tremendously long tail in this tale, a tale narrated by a little girl who discovers its tip disappearing through the front door that is slightly ajar. She follows the tail with its wealth of patterns as it meanders over the pages zigzagging, curling, looping, twirling left, right, over and under and across, out of her house, through the park,

onto the bus to school and finally back home once more.

At the end of the trail waiting to meet its new human friend is a Looperloo. It is, as the little girl tells us ‘so hugely, so lollopy and sweet. The cutest, most magical friend you could meet.’ The two of them eat, enjoy a bath, play and read a story together before bouncing right into bed beneath a ‘great big tail-ey heap’ and falling fast asleep.

A delightfully unusual, playful story with occasional die-cut pages, and near the end of the book, a large fold waiting for the reader’s hand to reveal the creature.

The Tale That Time Sews

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The Tale That Time Sews
Sita Brahmachari and Jane Ray
Templar Books

A little girl is waiting for the birth of a new sibling and her nana is busy sewing a very special patchwork story quilt. As she works, Nana shares the story of her own personal journey, a journey of flight over land and sea from her homeland, the finding of special love in a safe, peaceful country – the joining together from fragile threads, a new beginning where happiness awaits. A happiness that includes the arrival of a tiny baby who will be wrapped up in the wonderful gift – that beautiful patchwork quilt, a gift of the warmth of what went before, intergenerational love and the hope and promise of what is to come. With each patch added, the girl’s understanding of her own place in the world is enhanced.

There’s a familiar repeat pattern underlying Sita Brahmachari’s telling of this heartwarming story inspired by her experience and that of Jane Ray at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants.

There are lots of interesting details in Jane Ray’s illustrations – the Shiva Nataraja and the toran stretched out over the fireplace in one scene for example,

the patchwork piece showing a hand decorated with a mehndi design, the nesting bird (an Indian Roller maybe?). Whichever spread you choose, the reader is drawn right in and almost feels a part of the family too.

A book to cherish and to return to over and over.

I Am Going To Jump This Log

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I Am Going To Jump This Log
Stephanie Stansbie and Jack Viant
Little Tiger

Frog has decided that he’s going to jump over the log. It’s going to be easy and he will sail over brilliantly. However, things don’t exactly go to plan. No matter how much he procrastinates, day dreaming, snacking and limbering up, (I love those leg warmers Frog wears) and how frustrated he becomes, he remains on the wrong side of that log until finally he accomplishes his goal, albeit with a little assistance from a passing avian. But then what should await him but … Yes! Another challenge…

This fantastically funny story told from the frog’s viewpoint has so much to offer. I love Jack Viant’s bold, bright, expressive illustrations. Readers will need to peruse the scenes carefully to discover all the hilarious details

and if the book, with Stephanie Stansbie’s aptly minimal text, is shared with a class or group, plenty of time will be needed for visual exploration as well as discussion of the text.

I think it’s one of those books that children will demand is read over and over and over. It would also work well as a book for those beginning to gain confidence as readers, to try for themselves.

The Boy, The Father and the Bear

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The Boy, The Father and the Bear
Per Gustavsson
Greystone Kids

‘Once upon a time, a boy lived with his father where the forest and the blue sea met.’ So begins a mysterious four part tale of loss and transformation.

The first part tells how the boy and his father spend their time collecting berries, fishing or playing soccer close to their home where sea and forest met. However when the boy expresses curiosity about what was in both the forest and the sea, his father tells him of bears living in the forest and sharks swimming in the sea, both of which they need to beware of.

As the years pass, the boy notices that his father is getting older but not so himself. Then one day, despite his son’s pestering and best efforts to facilitate his participation, the father no longer wants to play soccer, insisting that he’s too tired. The days pass with the father sitting in a chair and not wanting to go outside until the boy notices roots growing from his father and burrowing their way through the floor. More time passes and the father has now completely turned into a tree that has grown so tall that its upper branches have cracked the ceiling. Now what? wonders his son. Eventually the house is no more, so large has the tree grown, so the boy climbs up and looks in turn towards the horizon and the sea,

Down comes the rain, causing the water to rise and rise and the boy to climb up and up. At last the tree starts moving through the water like a boat. Come the evening he feels completely alone but manages to fall asleep. It’s then his life changes for ever.
Next morning what should he discover but a bear sitting, absolutely still at the opposite end of the tree trunk looking at the boy. Having tried unsuccessfully to communicate with said bear, the boy decides to swim towards the land in the distance. In he jumps followed by the bear; the latter begins sinking and the boy dives down hoping to rescue it from the ocean floor. Eventually their feet touch what feels like ground and the boy realises what they’re resting on.

Instead of devouring the two, the shark rescues them and together they reach land where the boy falls fast asleep beneath the stars.

In the final part, the boy wakes to find no bear but he’s surrounded by trees, similar to those he’d left, trees that can used to build houses. However from the edge of the forest, the bear stands watching and the boy begins leaving food just in case … Finally he entices the creature right inside his house and so begins an unlikely friendship with his ursine friend doing the things the boy’s father had done once upon a time.
The book concludes with a poem, the final lines of which are: ‘Good new thoughts come every day / And Darkness lets me be’.

The colour of the digitally rendered pencil illustrations changes for each section – from green to purple to blue to brown. Told in a manner that leaves readers free to make their own interpretations, with its themes of life, death and fresh beginnings, this is a book that allows new meanings to emerge if read and discussed over and over.

Poo in the Zoo: Ready Set Poo

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Poo in the Zoo: Ready Set Poo
Steve Smallman and Ada Grey
Little Tiger

We return to the zoo of little Bob McGrew for the latest poo story, or rather, that’s where it begins. But then in dashes Hector Gloop sporting his top hat and tails and excitedly announcing a forthcoming race, of which he is sure to be the winner. He like all the other contestants will have to drive a vehicle powered solely by poop and the prize will be a golden poo. Just as Bob is wondering how such power is even possible up rides one Arabella Slater, aka a Poo Investigator and in her hand she’s holding a flask containing poo-fuel, made from poop. Eagerly she explains how she went about making said fuel and right after, off dashes Hector to start building himself a car. Arabella meanwhile sets about making more poo-poo fuel. Encouraged by Bob, the other zoo animals decide to make race cars too.

Come race day a range of fast-looking poop-powered vehicles are driven to the starting line, including one driven by Ebenezer Gloop, twin brother of Hector who confidently announces to his sibling, “ In any kind of test, I was always second best, / But now, dear Hector, I’ll be first and you’ll be number two!”

The race begins and Ebenezer starts well, from his viewpoint though not that of several of the other drivers as they head into the snowy mountains. Poor Arabella is treated to a small avalanche thanks to a gigantic trump that emanates from Ebenezer’s exhaust. He continues with his cheating ways throughout the jungle where another disaster happens and Ebenezer zooms off to claim his prize, so he says, until he hears just four pleading words. Who has called and what will Ebenezer decide to do thereafter? And who will be the winner of the race?

To find out, readers will need to get a copy of the book for themselves. For sure they’ll find plenty to laugh about both in Steve Smallman’s rhyming text and Ada Grey’s wacky illustrations. It’s a great read aloud.

Hogbert

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Hogbert
Briony May Smith
Walker Books

Hogbert is the littlest of six boar piglets who live in a faraway forest with their mother.  One day Mummy Boar tells her offspring that it’s time for their first exploration of the forest but warns them to stay quiet and stay together in case the big bad wolf is about. Hogbert follows his snout along a trail of delicious smells – cherries, berries and acorns – but suddenly realises that he’s by himself. Remembering his mother’s warning about the big, bad wolf, the fearful piglet huddles down to hide. Then he hears rustling sounds getting closer and closer; could it be that lupine character about to gobble him up?

However his fear is soon allayed by the appearance of Little Red, a squirrel on her way to visit her poorly granny. Does that sound familiar? Before long the two are worried, not by the wolf, but a snoring fawn and then two small bunnies, Nettle and Hosel that have also been led by the trail.
Then comes a “HOOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLLLLL!”

The next spread shows a lost looking wolf cub too, above the passage where the other creatures are making their way towards the open air. Eventually Hogbert leads them to the foot of a tall tree where a happy reunion takes place between adult creatures and their young ones. Time for Hogbert to bid farewell to his new friends: I love the “Smell you later!” goodbye to Red.

Indeed there’s so much to love especially Bryony’s mixed media depiction of the sylvan setting of the tale with its tall trees and those foxgloves, anemones and other wild flowers: and definitely not forgetting that tiny frog wearing a crown and sitting a-top a stone in a pond. Equally delightful is the lyrical telling with its fairy tale allusions, descriptions and occasional word play.

A great story to share with KS1 classes and individuals, making sure there’s plenty to time to peruse the pictures.

The Bakery Dragon

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The Bakery Dragon
Devin Elle Kurtz
Walker Books

Like all his fellow dragons, Ember loves gold more than anything else but his small stature prevents him from scaring anybody in the village enough to get it. Come dusk one day as the other dragons fly home with their latest spoils, Ember wanders into the foggy village led by a gold glimmer, only to discover that it’s a streetlamp. Continuing on his meandering he comes upon the window of a bakery and there, blanketed by warm light, falls asleep. During his slumbers a storm blows up and a kindly baker offers him shelter inside. She then proceeds to teach him her trade,

something that suits him very well. Ember can hardly believe his eyes at the product: trays of glowing golden toasty loaves of various shapes and sizes. The baker gives a tray to the little dragon and he flies back home where he lies atop his loaves, absorbing the wonderful aroma but feeling sad about missing the bakery.

This baker’s rich, buttery gold tastes even better than it smells and before long the delicious smell has attracted other dragons and their reactions to its delectable taste, gives Ember an idea. He returns to the bakery and after careful consideration, Ember and the baker establish what proves to be a very successful business arrangement. Finally, Ember has found his true gold and as we read on the final spread: ‘… baking gold is better than taking it. And sharing it is best of all.’

A feast for the eyes assuredly and one can almost smell the wonderful aroma emanating from the latter pages of the book and hear the soft crunching as everyone in the village sinks their teeth into the loaves: a truly tasty book.

Dylan, Daisy and the Disco Ball

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Dylan, Daisy and the Disco Ball
Robert Tregoning and Laura Brenlla
Oxford Children’s Books

Dylan and Daisy are dressed and ready for their first school disco but they’re unsure what they are letting themselves in for. However, no sooner has Dylan walked through the door than he starts feeling the rhythm and lights of all colours form a rainbow all around. Then from above descends a ball of silver light inviting him, so he feels, to move to the music and “Twirl and twirl and twirl like me and sparkle from within”. Almost immediately Dylan is shimmying and shaking like a disco diva. He’s having an amazing time but then he notices that everybody has stopped dancing to look at him. Highly embarrassed, he stops his boogie bopping straight away as he feels his inner sparkle dim, watched from above by the disco ball.

She doesn’t want Dylan’s self-confidence to wane and tries glowing and sparkling very brightly.

However, it’s Daisy’s feet that start tapping and soon she’s dancing with gusto towards Dylan. After a bit of encouragement from his friend, Dylan returns to the floor and so infectious is their boogieing that before long all their friends are joining in and twirling too.

With dramatic scenes by Laura Brenlla (you can almost hear the music emanating from some of her illustrations), this empowering telling by Robert Tregoning about letting go and over-coming one’s self-consciousness, will one hopes, encourage listeners to do likewise.

The Waking Wood

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The Waking Wood
Alexi Francis
Big Picture Press

Deep in the woods one warm summer evening, as the moon begins to rise many creatures wake to wander and search for food. In that wood stands an ancient oak tree in the roots of which resides a badger family. As the wood becomes engulfed by night the badgers emerge including a young one that is far smaller than his siblings. Eager to explore, this cub wanders off and before long has been left behind as he follows a path far beyond the badgers’ sett. Attracted by its luminous light, the cub goes to investigate a glow worm and is soon surrounded by many more that glimmer like fallen stars. Then having sniffed the air of the gentle breeze, entranced by the earthy notes of its scent, on goes the little badger to see what might be beyond the glade.

At the wood’s edge he has a scary encounter with a fox

and having run to safety, now all alone in the darkness, he discovers that he’s come to a pine wood, so different from his woodlan§d home, the home he so much wants to return to. No easy task as all the paths look the same but ‘Ooooo! Kewick! Ooooo! Kewick!’ hears the lost cub. He recognises that it’s the owl’s call and recalling a lesson his elders have taught him, he is sure that sound will guide him back home.

Following the sound of the owl’s call, the cub soon starts recognising the sights, sounds and smells of his home and before too long he’s hurrying to greet his family and joining the other young cubs in a final play before bedtime. Lesson learnt, the smallest cub knows that for the near future he should concentrate on learning the ways of the woods and staying fairly close to his sett.

I love the circularity of the narrative that begins and ends with the ‘Choowa, Choowa, Choowa, Chirr, Chirr, Chirr’ sounds of the birds in the trees. There’s so much more to love too – the intricately detailed illustrations that have a textured quality, the die cut cover and intricate die cuts in the pages and Alexi Francis’s poetic telling.
A gorgeous book to keep, to read and re-read and to cherish.

Cass and the Beast

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Cass and the Beast
Claire Mabey and Jill Calder
Gecko Press

Something ‘other’ has arrived in town and the townsfolk, not knowing what it is, call it Beast. Their fear causes them to think it is likely to catch anyone who tried hunting it and munch them whole. Young Cass doesn’t believe this however; she’s seldom scared and if ever she is, it’s people who frighten her, not beasts.

One night, she watches through the window and sees the beast moving among the trees; with its rumbling belly she thinks perhaps it’s in desperate need of food. Once everybody else is in bed, she creeps out in her thin coat clutching a piece of bread and calls out “Hello. Are you hungry?” The beast turns and Cass offers the bread, which the beast takes. Suddenly she feels herself being lifted onto the beast’s back.

So begins a magical journey that takes her far from the town and into a meadow. There the beast sates its hunger and the two curl up and sleep till the following morning when they return from whence they came, with the townsfolk watching Cass and the beast bidding one another farewell. The townspeople give Cass a new name and the beast finds its true name, which readers/listeners will learn on the final page, though I suspect many will be ready and waiting to call it out, if the adult reader aloud pauses on the penultimate spread.

Difference and how people react to it is a key theme in Claire Mabey’s somewhat surreal, magical story of a risk-taking child; it’s complemented by Jill Calder’s powerfully atmospheric, detailed scenes of Cass’s journey with the beast. Would the young children you share this with be brave enough to undertake a similar journey?

Red Snake Blue Snake

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Red Snake Blue Snake
Olivier Tallec
Gecko Press

In this story we spend a day with Red Snake and Blue Snake: the pair have been close friends since they were small but they see things very differently. We join the friends as they’re doing their morning yoga and while doing an inversion they look skywards. Blue Snake comments thus, “See that cloud? It looks like a huge pirate hat.” “No it doesn’t. It looks like you when you’ve eaten too much,” comes the response from Red Snake, but wanting the last word, Blue Snake insists that this is nonsense.

Off they slither through the countryside through fields and sand dunes guided by the power lines above. Red Snake then remarks on the blueness of the morning sky, but Red Snake immediately naysays this maintaining that it’s grey and eventually they comprise on blue-grey, or as Blue Snake wants to put it, “ …grey-blue.” (Last word again.)

There’s more to disagree over as they continue their journey – the shape of a particular cactus, the view through a pair of binoculars lying on the ground and after a real spat, the view from atop a power pole. They disagree about the intentions of a human sitting on a rock playing a flute:

this almost ends in them being captured and after beating a hasty retreat, the puddle they quench their thirst from. Come nightfall they lie watching the clouds drifting once again: will either of them comment?

As always Tallec’s brand of comedy engages readers’ minds with its cleverness, this time as he shows how opposing viewpoints can both be equally true. Maybe it’s the lenses through which we see the world that make the difference. There’s much to enjoy and talk about with a class or group of children after sharing this tale of limbless characters slithering and observing the world around them.

Jam is for Eating

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Jam is for Eating
Jess Mountfield
Flying Eye Books

Benny is a bat and having achieved his ambition – to make the most perfect jam ever – he cannot wait to share it with his friends. He loads his cart with jars of strawberry jam and sets out to do just that, after all there’s nothing quite like the joy of sharing something homemade with others.

The first friend he meets is Filbert the Frog: Filbert loves the smell of the jam and is happy to receive a jar but Benny isn’t happy with what Filbert does with it. On he goes to find Poppy the Pig, followed by in turn, Gilbert the Goose, Beatrice the Bug, Stew the Shrew and Frankie the Fox, all of whom are pleased to receive a jar but by this time, Benny is exasperated. Every one of his friends appears to have another use for Benny’s jam; however clever these might be, not a single one has chosen to eat it.

Come the end of the day a very sulky Benny sits alone, eats a little jam and decides that his jam-making days are over, declaring this out loud. Then who should appear but Filbert wanting to know what Benny is up to.

He’s amazed at his friend’s reply, as are Benny’s other pals who suddenly appear too. Is Benny big-hearted enough to share that final jar with them all, as well as accepting that his confection could have multiple uses?

Be they divergent thinkers or just plain ignorant, Benny’s friends may just be instrumental in changing the bat’s mind about making more jam.

A sweet story with themes of friendship and acceptance illustrated for the most part in somewhat sombre hues. I love the details in every spread – the more you look the more you find – and I wonder what that worm thinks about Benny’s jam.

Let’s Be Earthlings

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Let’s Be Earthlings
Mary Murphy
Otter-Barry Books

Narrated by what starts out as a yellow blob heading towards Earth, we see this ‘thing’ using its transformer to make it into an earthling with eyes, a nose, a mouth and legs. These enable it to see,, smell, talk, hear, touch and walk. Off goes the new Earthling to explore what it means to be alive on what it calls ‘ the best planet, ever’ be that as a mango-munching bat, a nectar nuzzling bee, a snail carrying its home on its back or a panda in a bamboo forest.

Our new Earthling learns that gravity enables Earthlings to stay close to the planet, going on to explore various kinds of movement including leaping, swooping and soaring; then discovers the loving care given to their young offspring be they bears, trees or humans, as well as how these young beings play together and even follow their dreams.

No matter where you open the book there will be more wonders to behold; it’s hardly surprising that the alien wants its friend, Batu to come to experience and delight in these wonders.

With Mary Murphy’s rhyming text, wordplays and energetic illustrations, this book is ideal for reading aloud to individuals, a group or Foundation Stage/ early KS1 class.

Bessie’s Bees

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Bessie’s Bees
George Kirk and Ana Gómez
Templar Books

Bessie has a head full of buzzing bees and she’s perfectly comfortable with them so long as the bees are kept busy which works well all the time she’s at home. However when her Granny takes her to nursery for the first time Bessie (who has autism and ADHD) does her upmost to act like the other children and keep her bees hidden. Unsurprisingly this strategy does not work and results in brick towers tumbling down ,

a spoiled story time and a little girl who is left alone and upset.

When Granny comes to collect Bessie at the end of the day she sees that the child is sad and fortunately she knows how to help. She explains that those bees are a part of Bessie and rather than hiding them she could try sharing them. In response to Bessie’s how do I do that, Granny says, “Now THAT is up to you,” With encouragement and support from Granny (who also has bees), can Bessie find a way for her and her bees to be themselves and for all those at nursery to enjoy themselves together?
Definitely written from the heart by George Kirk who uses the bee metaphor with great effect, to deliver a vital message, not only to young neurodivergent children but to everyone; and with Ana Gómez’s illustrations complementing the text perfectly, this is an empowering book to share at home or in an education setting.

Scaredy Cat

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Scaredy Cat
Alex Falase-Koya and Ken Wilson-Max
Oxford Children’s Books

Gabe is extremely shy, especially at school where he frequently struggles to speak up, so imagine how he feels when his teachers says that the following week will be his turn to talk to the class about a book he has enjoyed.
Then his parents adopt a rescue cat from the animal shelter that is very timid and wants to hide itself away. Art hides in such places as a cardboard box and the clothes basket, inside a lampshade and even under Dad’s hat. Gabe understands just how Art feels so without telling his parents he decides on a plan.

He sits quietly in the living room reading his favourite comic book and little by little, day by day Art emerges from his hiding places, each time coming closer to Gabe and by the end of the week, he hops on the sofa and sits on Gabe’s knee.

Gradually a bond forms between them and on the following Monday, so involved with the cat has Gabe been that he’s forgotten about his book report until his mum says something. In the classroom Gabe still feels like hiding but he thinks how Art faced his fears and recalls some words of Captain Whisperfoot: ‘It’s okay to be scared. Bravery is doing things even though you’re scared.’ And so he speaks, gradually gaining confidence until he hears a round of applause at the end.

This is such a thoughtful, gentle, reassuring story showing how everybody gains self confidence in their own time. Ken Wilson-Max’s illustrations exude warmth and despite being allergic to cats I was able to feel the empathy between Gabe and Art. A reassuring book to share with Foundation Stage and KS1 children at home or in the classroom.

Pog and Pickle’s Great Escape

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Pog and Pickle’s Great Escape
Ross Montgomery and Sarah Warburton
Walker Books

Guinea pig couple Pog and Pickle reside in a humans’ home with several other pets and the two are absolutely devoted to one another. There’s a big difference between them though: Pog ‘wanted more than to live in a hutch. There’s a massive world out there – I haven’t seen much,” she says to Pickle. However Pickle is scared of adventures such as the one Pog wants to undertake – to go and visit Peru and see the guinea pigs living there.

That night however, the family pack to go exploring Peru for a fortnight and unsurprisingly Pog decides to go too. Out of the hutch she squeezes and into a zipper bag where she hides in the socks. Off go the family with a stowaway guinea pig.
The following morning when Pickle finds the note Pog has left he’s devastated. Suppose she never returns? “I’ll have to go with her … I can’t be alone!” he groans. Off he sets to to the airport to find the plane to Peru but just misses it. Fortunately though there’s another flight almost immediately and he stows away on board.

Having arrived, the visitors have a long drive to the jungle and Pickle follows clinging tight to a lorry, eventually reaching a tropical paradise. But of Pog there is no sign. Suddenly he hears a familiar voice and can hardly believe it. There is Pog waiting and eager to introduce some of her new friends.
Thereafter the two visitors spend a summer full of fun

and Pickle reveals that she now understands Pog’s adventurous spirit and the allure of being brave and stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

When the family return home a surprise awaits …
Ross Montgomery’s rhyming narrative is a joy to read aloud and complemented by Sarah Warburton’s alluring, brightly coloured, detailed digital illustrations, brilliantly captures the adventure especially the initiative shown by Pog and Pickle to be together.

Neighbour’s Cat

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Neighbour’s Cat
Michael Rosen and Alex Willmore
Walker Books

This hilarious picture book is narrated by a small child whose home a feline intruder frequents.

The moggy named Neighbour’s Cat is an entitled creature complaining about such things as the lack of a blanket on a chair and the loudness of the TV. He’s also demanding and insists on using the narrator’s bed for a sleep. It’s a long sleep and during his slumber time, the narrator starts imaging what the moggy might be getting up to: maybe he’s constructing a huge marble run;

maybe he’s enjoying a bath or trying on Mum’s clothes. Could he perhaps be in the attic planning a trip into space aided and abetted by a horde of robot cats. Alex Willmore’s dramatic illustrations are as imaginative as the child narrator’s notions concerning the moggy’s shenanigans.

It turns out however that the mention of food is sufficient to entice the visitor to return to his house, albeit with a parting request to the child narrator who is left with rather a lot of work to do.

A great read aloud that will delight not only moggy lovers of all ages but anyone who likes to see children giving full rein to their imagination.

Bridget’s Bright / Slippery Cyril

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These are two new Tiny Tree books – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Bridget’s Bright
Shelley Corcoran and Sam McGarry

Unlike many young children, it’s not the dark that Bridget is frightened of, it’s the light or as she calls it, the bright. The dark is her comfort time, and she spends a lot of it under her bedclothes and keeps the curtains closed at all times. In school she protects herself from the bright by means of a blanket atop an umbrella. Despite being fond of art when her imagination can run wild, she never gets to see the paintings of her classmates. She also lets her imagination run wild while playing in her wigwam in the garden, dreaming of dresses fashioned from fireflies or daisies. but all her clothes are bought by her mum in bright shops that she refuses to venture into. Moreover she misses out on watching the monkeys when on a trip to the zoo and on visits to the swimming pool she remains sitting on the water’s edge dipping her feet in.

Then one day on her walk to school Bridget trips and her brolly and blanket fall off so she can see the brilliant blue sky causing her to surprise herself by saying ‘Oh how beautiful!’ Back home later on she has a talk with her mum about why she might be afraid of the bright and the following day at the park, Bridget tries something different … Has she finally overcome her fear?
An empowering story to share and talk about with young children.

Also for young listeners is

Slippery Cyril
Jax King and Samantha LeDuc

Cyril the accident prone bear returns in a new story which begins with him setting out to find something to sate his appetite. Grabbing his rod and fishing line he walks through the pines till he reaches a suitable ledge near the water’s edge. Reluctant to go lower, he stops and stares at the water rushing by, but while so doing he slips and slides all the way down and is forced to take an accidental dip. This, he is convinced, will make him shrink.

Fortunately that’s not what happens; instead some friends come together and rescue Cyril. This adventure changes the way in which Cyril finds his tea in the future.

A tale of teamwork and friendship, and taking special care near water.

Barney the Barnacle

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Barney the Barnacle
Christian Foley and André Carrilho
Flying Eye Books

Living on a rock in the middle of the ocean is Barney, a barnacle; he’s totally unbothered and seemingly unmovable. To look at he’s merely a pair of googly eyes with red feathery protuberances coming through the hole in his shell. He ignores the invitations from birds and fish to leave his rock and explore; indeed he refuses to budge.

One day a fierce storm blows up and despite Barney’s rock getting bumped it stays firm, as does Barney. Suddenly however, a ship carrying a group of musicians is shattered and the musicians plus their instruments are shipwrecked on Barney’s rock.

Clutching their instruments they call out for help but are ignored by the Sea and the Sky. Barney hears their conversations and following this their music. Both Sky and Sea are soothed by the smooth music and it causes them to follow the beat of the tune together. Barney meanwhile feels something wake up in his heart as the music washes over him. Now at last, Barney the Barnacle is moved by the sounds of his ‘first rock concert’. – love that! – and up he gets to dance.

Finally rescue arrives both from the air and the ocean but as for the fate of Barney, that is left to the reader to decide.

This story celebrating the power of music, is rhythmically told by Christian Foley and with André Carrilho’s vibrant scenes awash with shades of blue, immerses readers and listeners within its swirls. You can almost hear the beat of the bongos and the booming of the double bass emanating from the pages of the book.

Pincho Nothing IS Possible

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Pincho Nothing IS Possible
Ben Sanders
Little Tiger

Pincho is a capybara (in case you’ve never met one, they look very similar to over-sized guinea pigs and come from South America). These creatures spend most of their time doing absolutely nothing and they are always happy.

This story, so we’re told by the bird narrator, is about ‘the chill-est, happiest capybara ever and his name is Pincho. However, the bird believes that to be happy Pincho’s never worries, never hurries lifestyle needs changing; he should be busy from first thing in the morning and to that end has made him a list of things to do.

Today though is destined to be a seize the day kind of day full of exciting action such as kicking goals of the winning sort, climbing the highest heights and swallowing his fear.

What about escaping from the jaws of danger though – possible or not? I wonder.

Make sure you read the title of this book carefully; it’s key to the crucial lesson that Pincho is about to teach not only the yellow bird, but all of us, that rest and relaxation need to be vital elements in everyone’s life, ie Nothing IS possible.

Ben Sanders’ modern parable is splendidly illustrated and told in a wonderfully droll, slightly tongue-in-cheek style. A book to share, talk about and act upon (or not) with KS1 children.


The Line

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The Line
Swapna Haddow and Farah Shah
Scholastic

The Partition of India that was drawn up by the British almost eighty years ago remains a contentious issue. Yes the country became free from imperialism but political tension and rivalry continues between India and Pakistan to this day. The battle for the disputed Kashmir, the violent formation of Bangladesh and Islamic radicalism’s roots are indicative that the 1947 legacy is not truly over.

Sadly, as a frequent visitor to India I see first hand that the lines that divide still exist. I have Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Jain friends but almost everywhere different communities live separately – a legacy of the British divide and rule policy. Would that a child such as the girl protagonist in Swapna’s story – The Line – been in charge rather than a politician. This girl was familiar with various kinds of lines from early in her life but then one day on her return from school she found that a new line had appeared, one that cut her father’s farm in half, tore her village in two and took her friends from her. Seemingly unnecessary fighting and having to join this new line meant that she and her family had to walk for many days, becoming progressively hungry, exhausted and afraid.

As she walked so the narrator tells us, she imagined what she would do, had she been in charge of a line with so much power. Any line of hers would be full of beauty and gentleness, drawing people together, feeling safe

and wanting to learn more about one another. her line was all embracing and made everyone friends.

Farah Shah’s vibrant colours immediately catch the eye and draw you in to the wealth of details in her illustrations of this powerful and ultimately hopeful story about Partition that everybody – young and not so young – should read and discuss.

When You Meet My Friend

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When You Meet My Friend
Mark Sperring and Marisa Morea
Little Tiger

This is a story about being a new member of a school community and a kind narrator who does their utmost to ensure the newcomer feels at home.

First off that newcomer needs to know where to hang their coat and having done that, find a place to sit with the other children for a carpet time learning session. Come snack time it could feel uncomfortable to sit with strangers: a friend is what’s needed – somebody to encourage that new special friend to feel part of things such as art, music, the lunch session and the playground games that follow. Maybe by the afternoon that new friend is ready to demonstrate their prowess at some PE skills.

They are sure to appreciate the budding friendship you are nurturing and after enjoying story-time just prior to going home, your brand-new pal would like to hear how much they will be missed as they run through the school gates to meet the waiting parent who is accompanied by a four-legged friend.

With its amusing final twist, Mark Sperring’s text reads aloud well and together with Marisa Morea’s playful scenes showing the ripple effect of friendship on that first day, this book is sure to make young children in a similar situation feel reassured about what’s to come.

Come to the Park

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Come To The Park
Margaret Bateson-Hill and Suhayla Ibrahim
Alanna Max

This is essentially an ode to a park, a wonderful place to spend the day. A place that is absolutely bursting with things to do and things too see. Visitors might decide to spend some time on wheels be they cycle wheels, scooter wheels skateboard wheels, roller skaters, or in a wheeled buggy.

The park makes a great outdoor gym, a place to have fun and games with bats and balls or flying a kite. There’s the playground equipment for swinging, climbing and sliding.
It matters not the kind of weather, so long as you’re dressed appropriately. Said park is a dog walkers’ haven, a place to picnic, or to relax and meet friends, a place to watch wildlife and just resting a while. It offers sensory delights for eyes, ears and noses and yes. there’s always a time to bid farewell to friends you’ve met safe in the knowledge that tomorrow your favourite park will be there to offer fresh opportunities for fun and games.

Margaret Bateson-Hill’s upbeat rhyming text together with Suhayla Ibrahim’s inclusive scenes of park visitors of all ages enjoying themselves make for a book that cries out to be shared with young children at home in a playschool, nursery or any EYFS setting.


Squabble and Squeak

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Squabble and Squeak
Raahat Kaduji
Alison Green Books

Rana the red panda is annoyed. A noisy parakeet has moved into her tree and woken her up with his ‘squawks and chirp-chirp SCREECH!’ sounds. Before long the noises have caused Rana to spill her tea and spoil her painting. Parakeet tries explaining in his own way but Rana can’t understand. She decides to retaliate and sets off into the forest to collect as many noisy objects as she can. She discovers some scratchy, scratchy pine cones, then some bamboo sticks that make a tappety, tappety, TAP! sound;

neither is sufficiently noisy so she moves on to the river. There, are lots of clackety, clackety CLACKing pebbles that are just right. She gathers all her sound makers in her paws and sets off home to her tree.

Unbeknown however, there’s a very large, very quiet and very fierce looking tiger close behind. In her excitement, Rana fails to notice the pursuer, but on reaching her tree Parakeet starts screeching louder than ever. Slightly scoffing at the sound, Rana announces that she’s going to make way more noise. Suddenly however, she stops: something sounds strange. What is Parakeet trying to tell her. It’s the furry tiger and Rana offers it some bamboo; but bamboo is not what the tiger desires. Up her tree scrambles the little panda and now for the very first time Rana understands what Paraket is saying. They both make loud sounds and before long a host of very noisy parakeets fly into view. Now it’s the tiger’s turn to complain about the terrible noise. Off he flees into the forest leaving an elated Rana and parakeets.

Down flies Parakeet eager to learn why Rana has collected so much stuff. she tells him and goes on to suggest they work together to make a tiger scarer. Before long they’ve created a wonderful wind chime and hung it on their tree. But which is noisier, Parakeet or the wind chime? I wonder …

A warm-hearted story about finding a way to understand one another and becoming friends. With playful scenes executed in beautiful colours and so many noises for young listeners to join in with, this is a fun read aloud.

uni @scholasticuk

Pyramid Boy

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Pyramid Boy
Satoshi Kitamura
Walker Books

This book takes us back in time to ancient Egypt and is narrated by a boy, Thomas, who time travels when he attempts to catch hold of a cat when in a museum he’s visiting with his parents. The next thing he knows is that he’s plunging down a long zigzag of stairs to a busy market in a strange hot place. In this market swapping replaces money and as he wanders around a young man calls to him, fascinated by Thomas’s glasses, which he mistakes for large eyes. The young man introduces himself as Pepi and offers to show him around.

They visit a papyrus factory, see scribes at work, go to a bakery and then deliver some papyrus bundles to Pepi’s friend. Later, walking along on the river bank Pepi takes his new friend to see how a mummy is made.

After an overnight stay with Pepi they join a long line of young people on their way to where the pyramids are being built and help with the work.
Eventually a man comes to find Thomas and the boy discovers that what seems like days has only been a few hours since he followed that cat.

A captivating combination of adventure and history, vibrantly illustrated with amazing detail and with additional information pages after the story and a smashing way to introduce Ancient Egypt to children, particularly those in KS2 who are studying the topic as an option in the history curriculum.