Category Picture Books

Robin and Pip

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Robin and Pip
Margaret Anne Suggs
Graffeg

A touching tale about a Robin that worries. To ease those worries the little bird asks his patient pal, Pip the apple tree, lots of questions; first about the blossom. Does she miss the flowers when they float away? Now as Pip, a mature tree already knows of her naturally occurring life cycle she is fully aware of the series of stages she’ll undergo each year. Through Robin’s continuing questioning and Pip’s responses, readers share these natural changes.

The little bird and young listeners learn that the tree is able to provide stability through her roots and strength and flexibility through her branches to grow and hold up the fruits until they’re ready to fall or are harvested. Finally Robin nestles into Pip’s welcoming.comforting branches and reassured, the bird’s questioning ceases.

A gentle blend of story and information, this is a book to share and talk about with early years children who will be helped to understand that it’s okay to feel worried about things, but by far the best way to cope with their worries is to find someone to talk with. The author’s pen and watercolour illustrations are a delight and really bring out the feelings of the little worrier and the reassurer, while also including some amusing details of seasonal happenings and minibeasts.

The Old Forest Path

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The Old Forest Path
Jamie Catto and Kanako Wakabayashi
Ragged Bears

This story is the first for young readers by musician Jamie Catto.

Once upon a time, deep in a magical forest lived fairies: delicate, graceful and ballerina-like is how Kanako Wakabayashi portrays them. The fairies delighted in dancing among the flowers and shrubs and were mindful of doing as their elders had taught them – to stay on the path and return home each evening. However, there was one fairy who was so captivated by the forest music that she would stray from the path, unaware of the concern of the other fairies.

One afternoon a piper arrived playing tunes so enchanting that all the fairies were completely enthralled;

but there was one fairy who was so completely transfixed by his music that she stepped forth, the two joined together in a dance that lifted them high, high above the forest canopy never to be seen again. Meanwhile the forest path disappeared completely leaving the remaining fairies free to go wherever they wished in the forest.

A demonstration of the power of music to transform, lyrically told and beautifully illustrated in delicate watercolours, this unusual book with its echoes of Arthur Rackham and Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies sent me back to my childhood days.

For older picture book lovers I suggest.

Diggers, Dozers & Dumpers

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Diggers, Dozers & Dumpers
Ole Könnecke
Gecko Press

Translated from the original German by Melody Shaw, this contains fourteen mini stories each of which features a different construction vehicle. Every story but one unfolds over one spread and all show realistic pictures of the vehicles and their amusingly portrayed animal drivers.. The vehicles include a dumper truck driven by Roberta Elephant, a telescopic crane that concert pianist Cordula Cow uses to carry her piano to give a free concert in the pasture to her ‘less successful sisters’. I think my favourite and probably that of young children, is J.J. Wolf’s mini-digger story. Having dug a small hole in the sheep paddock he’s surprised to find that the following morning some sheep have fallen in. The cunning guy invites the sheep to dinner at his house. Err …

The cement mixer story spread is a recipe for pancakes that requires more than two thousand litres of milk, s two thousand plus tons of flour and over thirty two thousand eggs and there’s a tale of grass mowing one-upmanship entitled ‘combine harvester’.

Each tale has additional information in italics about how the vehicle is used. The countless young vehicle loving children will probably most enjoy seeing the machinery whereas adult sharers will have a good giggle over the animals’ actions.

A fun amalgam of story and information; it’s great to see several of the machines have female operators.

Zeki Goes To The Market

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Zeki Goes To The Market
Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson
Alanna Max

No matter where little Zeki goes he always brings a big smile to the faces of those he encounters. He definitely does just that when he and his Mummy visit the bustling Saturday market. There he experiences a veritable symphony of sights, sounds, smells and tastes as they stop at various stalls. There’s Salvatore whose pasta shapes are fascinating to look at, Fleur who makes smoothies; Zeki tastes a very fruity one. Next stop is at Mr Adams the spice seller where Zeki smells what appear to be cinnamon sticks – mmmm – a delicious aroma (as well as a yummy taste when ground and sprinkled on porridge perhaps).

Zora offers the boy a taste of her sweet, sticky buns – maybe those have sprinkling of cinnamon in them, they’re definitely irresistible. Miss Fay suggests a dab of belly butter ‘for a better belly’; it makes Zeki’s skin extra soft and smooth.

Mum then decides it’s time for a short rest; she puts down her heavy bag and treats herself to a cup of Paloma’s delectable hot chilli chocolate (my favourite too). Feeling refreshed she moves on and buys take-home noodles from Yuto before making her final purchase at Sean’s veggie stall. Finally with a goodbye wave, Mum and Zeki set off home.

There’s SO much goodness packed into this small book. It would be really fun if adult sharers could have to hand some of the items Zeki’s Mummy bought to enable small children to share in Zeki’s sensory samplings.

Music of the Mountains

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Music of the Mountains
Sabrina Shah and Manal Mirza
Barefoot Books

This story is set in the Northwest mountainous region of Pakistan where, taught by her Neeka Baba (grandfather), young Roohi, a Pashtun girl, is learning to play the rabab, a lute-like folk instrument. Eid-ul-Adha is approaching and she yearns to become sufficiently proficient to play well in the school concert. When she tells Neeka Baba that she’ll never be as good as he is, he responds thus: “You must feel the rhythm, feel the beat of your people … “You must believe in yourself … You must play with the courage of all those who came before you.” Every day she has a lesson but one day Neeka Baba is coughing and despite his reassurance that all is well, he cannot teach her as he has to rest in bed.
So great is the pressure of letting everybody down Roohi feels she just can’t pick up her rabab. “I’ve heard you play. We are all so proud of you” reassures her Mama … “Maybe play like yourself.”

Come the day of the concert, Roohi bravely walks on the stage and begins to strum. Can she find courage within herself to continue after a fumbled first note? Can she now at this vital moment find her own rhythm?

A lovely interweaving of family bonds, music and culture. Sabrina Shah’s rhythmic text conveys so well Roohi’s feelings and with richly-hued illustrations by Manal Mirza, capture the cultural setting beautifully. I love the patterns and detail on the clothing. (Backmatter gives additional information about the rabab, the Pathan/ Pashtun people of northwest Pakistan, as well as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha,, and on Roohi’s kamees partug. There’s also a short Pashto glossary.)

I Could Be Eaten By a Shark

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I Could Be Eaten By a Shark
Marcela Ferreira and Mark Chambers
Oxford Children’s Books

One day when on the beach with his grandfather, Louie sees a shark, albeit only a small one, and refuses to go back in the water. So instead his grandpa takes him to a variety of other watery places – the lake and swimming pools but they too cause the boy to see sharks. As do even paddling pools and bubble baths, indeed anywhere where there’s water. How can this problem be sorted out?

Grandpa (‘who is very wise)’ takes Louie to the library to learn about sharks. Having discovered that shark attacks are rare and been surprised to read of a shark that’s smaller than a human hand, Louie remains cautious, refusing to go right up close to relevant book. Moreover he sees potential sharks lurking in places everywhere, even the loo.

Now, rather than telling his grandson not to worry, Grandpa says something else, for he knows how Louie feels as he too was terrified of a large creature and convinced it would eat him. Maybe through ‘time – and hard work’ Louie, like his Grandpa, could learnt to live with his fear and keep it under his control. That way he wouldn’t miss out on the wealth of opportunities life has to offer …

Cleverly interweaving basic shark facts into the narrative, Marcela Ferreira offers a story that demonstrates how one’s fears can be embraced and made manageable: in tandem with Mark Chambers’ witty scenes full of amusing details, this is a book that offers reassurance and lots of discussion possibilities, especially for anxious little ones.

The Big Day

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The Big Day
Rachel Plummer and Forrest Burdett
Little Tiger

The child narrator of this story receives a very large envelope containing an invitation to the wedding of two giants.. “ I fashioned a pen from / the trunk of a tree// and used it to / write a HUGE RSVP.” A detailed one asking about means of transport to the celebration and listing such possibilities as ‘travelling on the omnigrobbliwobblibus’ .

Come the big day, off sets the child in a smart new outfit feeling not particularly brave and keeping the destination secret from Mum. The church is full of enormous wedding guests of the fantastical kind such as witches, monsters and goblins and Giant Aunt Clara wearing her ten-ton tiara. The organ starts up and in come the two male giants (one carrying ‘fresh morning dew from the dawn’ (something new); the other holding ‘sky that bright stars wandered through.’ (something blue). They say their vows before a official,

everyone sits for the grooms’ speeches and the feasting commences.

Why was I invited wonders the small human narrator and groom two reveals the reason: there’s a message to go back with “love is just love, whether GIANT or small.”

A joyful, life-affirming demonstration that everyone matters and love is love delivered in Rachel Plummer’s rhyming text with lots of playful language and Forrest Burdett,’s illustrations in suitably vivid hues on pages that will excite with their flaps, die-cuts, and gate folds.

Wild

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Wild
Katya Balen and Gill Smith
Walker Books

A child with a great affinity for the countryside moves to live in the city. Replacing the wildness, especially the bird with blue wings that sings and the earth full of stories, are grey glass buildings with ‘their fish scale sides’ that cannot be climbed, pavements that cannot show their secrets and skies without any visible stars. The city is lonely, so too is the young narrator who tells readers, “I’ve lost my wild.’

Somehow though, in response to a plea for help in this grey wilderness, the bird with blue wings appears in the dark sky calling to the child. Swooping and looping, the bird leads the protagonist through the crowded city streets to a river. a river that ‘rolls and twists and shows me the secrets hidden under its tongue.’ This is a place where herons wait to catch silvery fish and there’s an abundance of other birds.

The child carries on following the lead of the blue-winged bird and they find leaves, wild flowers and insects.

In a little forest place, the child climbs a tree and can hardly believe the abundance of wild life -: ‘A burst of parakeets colour the air green’ and then as day turns to night a fox appears and stars light up the sky. Now the child realises that there is wildness everywhere’.It’s both within and all around.

Katya Balen’s poetic narrative reads aloud well and accompanied by Gill Smith’s mixed-media scenes of the contrasting grey cityscape and the vitality of the wild places will, one hopes, encourage children to look for and appreciate their own wild areas.

My Rice Is Best!

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My Rice Is Best!
Selina Brown and Maxwell A. Oginni
Puffin Books

There’s absolutely nothing in the entire world that Shane prefers to eat than his Mum’s home cooked rice and peas. She uses a recipe passed down to her through many generations. When Mum suggests he take some for his school lunch the following day, he jumps at the chance.

Next day Shane sits beside Yinka and is surprised to learn that she considers the best rice in the whole world is Jollof rice. The two children have a loud dispute which is interrupted by Chong who insists his fried rice is undoubtedly the best. Then several others join in, each claiming their version of rice is BEST. The vocal dispute degenerates into a physical one

that ends up with the contents of Shane’s lunch box scattered all over the floor.. He’s devastated, but quickly Yinka offers her tub to him and as Shane tastes her Jollof rice, he’s surprised how tasty it is. There follows a lot of sharing between the rice eaters but one child, Tim, is confused for he has rice pudding not for lunch but for breakfast, which all the other children think must be pretty scrumptious.

I must admit I have to disagree with that however: the only time I ever got a detention at school was when lukewarm, stodgy rice pudding was served for afters. I discreetly – so I thought – opened the canteen window and threw the contents of my bowl out onto the path and the teacher on duty caught me in the act.

Selina Brown’s deliciously funny story is vibrantly illustrated by Maxwell A. Oginni whose scenes of the rice face-off are wonderfully dramatic and expressive. A super story to encourage children to try new foods, especially those from cultures other than their own.

A Mouse Just Ate My House!

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A Mouse Just Ate My House!
Kes Gray and Sebastien Braun
Happy Yak

The narrator of Kes Gray’s text speaks in rhyme as he relates the disaster that has befallen him, or make that sequence of disasters. There’s a mouse in his house and she has nibbled, munched and chomped her way through pretty much everything except the resident himself. First, as you might expect she sank her teeth into the skirting board but as soon as the narrator had retired to bed, she got started on the downstairs rooms and their contents.

Traps proved totally ineffective, indeed they merely served as part of the rodent’s repast before she proceeded to the bathroom, followed by the bedroom,

where not even poor Ted escaped from a severe nibbling. Other deterrents – a cricket bat, the neighbour’s cat

and pest controller and much more failed to survive. It will come as no surprise to readers that the mouse’s belly appears to have increased in size considerably after all this but there’s no sign of her suffering from indigestion or nausea. How is that possible?

This whole sorry saga is heightened by Sebastien Braun’s dramatic, hole-strewn depictions of the trail of destruction.

With an absolutely delicious throwaway final twist this one has winner stamped all over it. Listeners and readers aloud will relish it.

So Devin Wore a Skirt

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So Devin Wore a Skirt
Shireen Lalji and Lucy Fleming
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Devin’s family are getting ready for Nanabapa’s Big Birthday party. Everybody in the household has already found their perfect outfit for the celebration: Jay’s new tie makes him look super stylish, Amaia’s wings give her a magical look, Mummy looks like ‘a soft, pink cloud’ as she wafts around in her lengha but Devin still can’t make up his mind what to wear. He tries all kinds of things such as his red trousers, his favourite jumper and several hats. He keeps the blue beret on and eventually decides to put on his sister’s blue and purple sparkly skirt. He likes what he sees in the mirror but then in bursts Amaia protesting “You can’t wear my SKIRT! What will Nanabapa say?”

Rather than taking off the skirt, Devin decides a disguise is needed so he selects a ninja suit and a wizard cape. Then with a feather in his hat as a finishing touch, he’s good to go. By this time the party is under way and he joins his mum in the dancing.

Having bopped and boogied for some time Devin is very hot and decides it’s time to shed a layer or two but he gets even hotter as he continues dancing. Eventually he removes the ninja suit revealing the sparkly skirt. As Devin stands nervously in front of his Nanabapa he’s worried about what his family will say especially Nanabapa. Not for long though as the response is unexpectedly positive. Soon everyone is dancing joyfully including Devin who feels as magical as the others but most importantly, he feels like himself.

Lucy Fleming’s textured illustrations capture so well Devin’s changing feelings as layer by layer he takes off his disguise and finally reveals his skirt to everyone in Shireen Lalji’s warm-hearted family story about being true to yourself.

This Letter Says I Love You

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This Letter Says I Love You
Lucy Rowland and Sharon Rentta
Scholastic

This book was inspired by the true story of ten year old Matilda Handy who, when thinking of ways to connect with her grandma and grandpa, had the idea to set up a memorial post box to send letters to loved ones who have died.

In the story, a little girl misses her grandmother and wants to be able to talk to her so she decides to write her a letter. Somewhat stuck for a beginning, Mum suggests she should, “Try to fill it with what’s in your heart.” And so she does, drawing things that she herself has done as well as those she and her gran shared, things such as baking cakes together, den building and games they played together.

Included too are some of the sad and angry occasions and how her Mum helped her cope with them.

When the letter’s done, the girl narrator and her Mum set off to post it, the former wondering how Gran will know what’s been said and how she’ll reply.

When they reach the white post box, the narrator feels a little better so she tells us, and her mum reminds her that “We’re always connected to those people we love.” and suggests the girl continues to share things. By the time they walk back home the stars are shining above and they seem to have a special message for the letter writer.

Lyrically told in Lucy Rowland’s rhyming narrative and beautifully illustrated by Sharon Rentta whose scenes of everyday events and fond memories exude warmth, tenderness and love.
(The postboxes like the one in the story are to be set up at 36 other sites across the country after Matilda’s moving tribute to her grandparents proved so popular.)

Pearl & The Fish

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Pearl & The Fish
Patricia MacCarthy
Patricia MacCarthy Books

Many young children fear the dark and so it was with little Pearl who imagined shadowy things hiding under her bed. That however was before she had her brainwave. At bedtime she’d bake six imaginary biscuits using her toy kitchen set and put them on an invisible plate in a particularly shadowy place. Come morning the biscuits had always disappeared and the shadowy thing that consumed them had become her friend.

Then one night a rumbling sound wakes Pearl from a dream about a goldfish and ,secure in the knowledge that whatever made the sound must be friendly, out of bed she gets and discovers a huge goldfish snoring. A gentle poke causes it to release a bubble and then many more, until her room bounces with ‘bubble popping play, jubilant jumping and glorious giggles.’ The two enjoy themselves until come the dawn the fish vanishes and Pearl gets back into her bed and sleeps till morning.

Was it all a dream, she wonders but the following night, the fish is back. Introducing itself as Goldie, the fish explains how it came to be and the two of them fly to the Moon, Pearl taking delight in the shooting stars around. She even catches one and takes it back to Earth.

The next morning after a cosy sleep, she is woken by her mum talking of a special surprise for Pearl. That evening she still makes her six friendship biscuits but these have for a different purpose altogether.

Magical, reassuring, and with fantastical, luminescent illustrations, Patricia’s telling reads aloud really well: I love the playful alliteration and the way Pearl takes the initiative to control her fears.

Higher Ground

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Higher Ground
Tull Suwannakit
New Frontier Publishing

In this highly visual story we follow the lives of a grandmother, a brother (the narrator) and sister and their pet rabbit who are stranded in their city apartment as a result of what Grandma calls The Great Flood. Everybody else left before the water came and so there was nobody to see their rooftop message pleading for help. Thus this space becomes their entire world but Grandma tells the children they must never lose hope.

Day by day she teaches them everything she knows: things about sowing and planting, making repairs, fishing, reusing and recycling, observing their changing surroundings and more. The children seize upon her teachings with enthusiasm, optimism and creativity. The seasons change but so too does Grandma: little by little her strength diminishes. With the waters continuing to rise, the children start building a raft and loading it with produce.

Grandma knows she has little time left so she encourages the children to sail away leaving her to protect their garden: ‘with each ending a new beginning unfolds’, she tells them giving her necklace to her granddaughter and saying that she’ll always be with them.

Weeks later, having been completely lost, battered by fierce stormy waters and on the point of despair, a seabird flying overhead reminds the siblings of Grandma and with lifted spirits they struggle on, eventually finding dry land and a new home among other people. Using their experiences they then show compassion towards other people who also find themselves lost, stranded.

Tull Suwannakit uses predominantly mixed media visual imagery to convey the story, skilfully blending wordless graphic novel sequences, some in black and white, beautiful softly hued landscapes

and double spread diagrams of instructions for such things as catching a fish. The result is a hugely moving account of how even under the very worst of circumstances, like those two protagonists, we should never give up on life.

Embracing such themes as home, belonging, loss, grief, refugees, self-sufficiency and the consequences of climate change, this is a book that deserves to be widely read at home and in classrooms.

A Good Night’s Sleep

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A Good Night’s Sleep
Emma Chichester Clark
Harper Collins Children’s Books

Young listeners will likely know what Little Red Riding Hood did when she discovered the big bad wolf in the woods. However young Maudie uses rather different tactics. Moreover she actually has several animal intruders in addition to the hungry bear she meets lurking among the trees. Having dealt with the large hungry ursine and proceeded to the woodland house, she finds a lion in the kitchen that has designs on her as part of his late-night snack. Rather than panic, clever little Maudie makes a request of the lion and then proceeds to mix up some ingredients for a chocolate cake, which she then puts into the oven, goes off upstairs

and leaves the creature drooling. But what should be waiting in the bedroom with hungry grins upon their faces but a pair of wolves. These too she cleverly outwits,

only to come upon a crocodile in the bathroom: can she get the better of him as well?

Suddenly Maudie remembers that cake in the oven. Downstairs she goes to find the lion still drooling, plus the bear. Now you’ll have to admit that this young miss is a canny character and does something nigh on genius after she’s added icing to her cake. However, to discover what, you’ll have to get your own copy of this super fun tale. Assuredly Emma’s latest offering is a book that children will relish and want further helpings soon after.

The Best Garden in the World

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The Best Garden in the World
Alice Courtley
Ivy Kids

When Steve the squirrel moves from the city to the forest. he’s intent on finding his wild side in the countryside. He has resolved to build the best garden in the whole world and is bursting with ‘big and very particular plans.’ His new forest dwelling neighbours are eager to help and Steve gives them clear instructions as they plant, prune, sow and sort all day. Everyone then agrees that Steve’s is the best garden they’ve ever set eyes on, despite it also being the only one.

Steve meanwhile settles down to enjoy some peace and quiet. Not for long though: very soon his new friends are busy doing their own things. Shock horror, they’re ruining the garden.

Time for some ground rules, a plethora of signs and … the disappearance of all this friends. It’s peaceful, yes

but Steve decides he should do some market research: what is it that makes for a perfect garden?

Steve is startled by his discoveries and so down come all the signs and up goes a completely different one. Manicured lawns and trimmed hedges are all very well but it’s time for a spot of rewilding that will attract his new friends and accommodate their particular requirements and ways of living.

A great story to demonstrate to young children that is everyone is different and so too are their needs.

The Bear-Shaped Hole

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The Bear-Shaped Hole
John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Loss , especially death is always difficult to deal with even when you know it’s coming. So it is with this companion book to the creators’ The Hare-Shaped Hole. Skilfully written in rhyme, poet John Dougherty tells the story of Gerda and Orlo. Orlo bear is gentle, caring, kind and fair – the most respected creature in the woods. Orlo is much loved by young Gerda and the two spend a great deal of time together walking, talking, playing and telling stories but one day Gerda notices a change in Orlo. He’s much slower and seems to have lost that zest for life. Orlo explains that he’s ill and will soon die. Gerda’s initial response is one of anger and she runs away roaring uncontrollably in her misery.

However as we read, ‘ … you can’t outrun sorrow. You can’t outrun pain’: Gerda returns tearfully to Orlo who welcomes her with a big bear hug and then goes on to validate her feelings, assuring his young friend that despite her hurt – that hole in her heart – she will feel happiness again and Orlo will live on in her heart and her head as she remembers the wonderful times they shared. Eventually, come the autumn after making more memories together through the summer,

Orlo dies. Eventually Gerda does find she’s ready to make new friends and have happy times with them.

A reassuring message and it’s stunningly illustrated by Thomas Docherty whose scenes are bright and over-flowing with love. A must have to share with children at home and in the classroom.

Ady and Me

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Ady and Me
Rich & Rox Pink, illustrated by Sara Rhys
Words & Pictures

“I have a secret that lives in my brain. / I call him Ady, that’s not his name … / Doctors told Dad it’s called ADHD. / But that’s way too boring for Ady and me.” So says young Sophie at the start of this story.
We follow Sophie through a day at school as she experiences good times and bad starting with being late and her teacher’s upsetting response.

More negative responses follow when she doodles on her book during history, talks during another lesson and despite her best intentions in science, is made to sit on a table labelled ‘naughty’. (The teacher part of me is horrified at this). Then in art Sophie accidentally knocks a pot of paint on Miss Brackley’s shoes. The response to this is almost unbelievable and Sophie is taken to the head’s office. However it’s not Sophie but Miss Brackley that gets the dressing down; moreover Headteacher Grant loves Sophie’s rainbow painting and has another surprise in store for her, Ady and for readers.

Told through a rhyming text written by partners Roxanne who brings her ADHD experience and Rich who brings his neurotypical perspective to the story and Sara Rhys’ eloquent scenes of a neurodivergent girl attempting to cope in a classroom where for the teacher, only neurotypical behaviour is acceptable.
This is an important picturebook that uses a metaphor one hopes will help children (and adults) see that ADHD should be accepted and understood.

Twigs and Stones

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Twigs and Stones
Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop
Gecko Press

Snake and Lizard live in a hole under a rock and like all friends they have their ups and downs with one another.

One day Lizard decides it would be good to collect twigs with which to put both their names above the entrance to their home. Off he goes to the river in search of sticks and mud. On his return he sets to work carefully arranging the sticks to form the letters; Snake is unable to assist on account of her bad eyesight. However Snake listens dozily to Lizard’s comments,

the task is completed and the names written large stand on the ledge until along come Tortoise.and Owl warning of the likely consequences of a desert wind. The wind comes, blowing down Snake’s name but then out of their hole comes Lizard to retrieve the fallen letters after which he returns to bed.

Next morning though, Snake emerges first and is furious to see that his friend has accidentally misspelt Snake.

Lizard’s way of dealing with things only makes his friend angrier and both have a most unsatisfactory day in silence.

That night it’s Snake’s turn to go out and check the names: now is her chance to teach Lizard a lesson. Fortunately though all ends well: the letters are removed and the friendship is restored.

There’s a gentle humour in both Joy Cowley’s telling and Gavin Bishop’s pen and ink and watercolour illustrations . The expressions on the faces of both Snake and Lizard are splendidly done heightening the drama throughout the squabbles, making this a great read aloud story with lots of potential for class discussion. It should certainly reassure children that friendships are important and silly incidents should be forgotten quickly.

Zizzi Moonbeam

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Zizzi Moonbeam
Emily Hibbs and Natalie Smillie
Little Tiger

It’s Zizzi Moonbeam’s first day as an official party planner at Fairy HQ and she’s fizzing with excitement!. Having made her way to the Party Planners floor, she’s greeted by chief party planner Elvina Glass who hands her the day’s assignments.

Anxious to impress, Zizzi turns down the offer of help from Caspar who is seated next to her and sets to work by herself. She wizzes to the rescue to make sure every party is successful despite there being in turn, rain on the day of a garden party, a bridesmaid’s dress spattered all over with jam

and an ice-cream shop whose owner has forgotten to send out the invitations to its grand opening.

Seemingly no problem is unsolvable when it comes to Zizzi; but just before she’s due to go home she discovers another letter. How could she have overlooked it? There’s definitely not sufficient time to solve this party problem alone. Finally Zizzi realises she needs to act on Elvira’s advice and see if one of her new friends can come to her aid and save the day. Perhaps teamwork will become dreamwork of a very special kind.

Young listeners, party fans in particular, will love Emily Hibbs’ enchanting story and Natalie Smilie’s richly detailed scenes with their letters to open, books to consult, as well as the spreads showing the outcomes of Zizzi’s magical interventions.

Moon Girl

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Moon Girl
Thomas Docherty
Oxford Children’s Books

Leila loves bright colours and uses them in her painting; however she has a fear of the dark. One night as she looks out from her bedroom window at the moon in the dark sky, Leila sees what she thinks is a girl’s face peering down at her. The moon girl waves and so she waves back. Suddenly, as if by magic the bright-faced lunar girl descends earthwards landing on Leila’s windowsill. In her hand is a paintbrush. With this she starts to paint the world in a shimmering light and so begins a friendship.

Together the two friends embark on a midnight adventure as the paintbrush held by the moon girl lights up the darkness, gradually enabling Leila to let go her fears of the dark and replace them with a sense of wonder at each new thing she discovers.

Thomas Docherty’s reassuring story conveys both verbally and visually how Leila’s friendship enables her to overcome her fears and see things with a different perspective, that of awe and wonder. Young listeners will delight in the inviting, magical atmosphere created in the beautiful illustrations of a tale that is a must for those who have their own fears of the night.

These Are My Rocks

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These Are My Rocks
Bethan Woollvin
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

An inveterate collector of things offers would-be collectors ie readers, a tour of collections. First comes the instruction to turn on the light which serves to illuminate the narrator’s cleverly curated collection of ‘small things’. These include an ant, a paperclip, a button and an acorn. To most of these items, Bethan Woollvin has given eyes. The same is true of those in the other collections be they big (you’ll need to pause and assist in a spot of reorganisation to prevent them spilling right off the page), pointy, or prickly (the difference is known only by expert collectors), the most exciting (rocks). After which there come stinky items,

fan mail, bananas (have a joke at the ready to amuse them), and then it’s time to stop for some lunch. Each spread offers readers an opportunity to participate: you can blow away cobwebs from the prickly assemblage, find the stinkiest item in the relevant collection, sort particularly delicate objects – ‘Gently does it!’ Whoops! the teapot’s become a potential addition to the broken things collection, then grab a straying spider. Our narrator places this in the collection of things having ‘far too many legs’.

Eventually as the objects start nodding off, it’s time to turn out the light and bid everything goodnight. The last page suggests that young readers could themselves become collectors though having enjoyed Bethan Woollvin’s chatty conversational text and offbeat illustrations, one suspects little persuasion will be needed.

The Worry Bee

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The Worry Bee
Nicola Kinnear
Alison Green Books

Little Izzy the bee longs to fly to the flowers with the other bees in her hive but she’s beset by ‘what if?’ worries: What if her wings aren’t strong enough ? What if she fell?’ So rather than trying to get airborne, she stays behind for a while and then starts walking, This gives her the opportunity to see interesting things on her journey. But there are disadvantages too including getting tangled in spider webs and even worse, a huge river to cross. She definitely can’t walk over that. Time to try flying, thinks Izzy but soon meets with an accident that sends her crashing to the ground.

She’s on the point of walking back to her hive but there comes a strange noise nearby. A baby bird lies flat on its back at the base of a tree. When it asks Izzy to demonstrate her flying prowess, she doesn’t know what to say, but suddenly the baby bird mentions a big fluffy thing coming towards them. Izzy realises what it is and that they need to take to the air to escape it’s clutches .After a lot of flapping … they’re flying, first stop the baby bird’s nest and then Izzy flies to join the other bees in the field of flowers..

There’s gentle humour buzzing right through Nicola’s latest story both in the words and illustrations. Young listeners will love the dramatic scenes of Izzy and how she finally overcomes her fear of flying.

There’s No Such Thing As … Fairies / One Goose Two Moose Three Raccoon Four Baboon

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These are both additions to popular series: thanks to Scholastic for sending them for review.

There’s No Such Thing As … Fairies
Lucy Rowland and Katy Halford

Having explored the possibilities of there being unicorns, elves, mermaids, dragons and ghosts, team Rowland and Halford turn their attention to Fairies in their latest search and find story. The young girl narrator has been told by her daddy that fairies don’t exist and she sets out to check the veracity of his assertion the very next day. First in the meadow where the family have a picnic, then the woodland stream, followed by the park, the beauty salon, the aircraft show

and the hothouse. She even checks out the dentist, the library and the theatre, after which she’s ready to agree with her dad, “There’s no such thing as fairies,” she confidently tells him, “It’s really TRUE.” Realising his little girl is upset dad lifts her up onto his shoulders and they start walking home. Suddenly a rainbow appears and …

Katy Halford’s vibrant, playful, detailed scenes wherein fairies hide in plain sight complement Lucy Rowland’s expressive, patterned rhyming narrative with its repeat refrain, making this a book that young children will find great fun and likely want to hear several times: oh how they love being in the know with the author.

One Goose Two Moose Three Raccoon Four Baboon
Kael Tudor and Nicola Slater

Rule stickler Simon is back and once again he’s having trouble getting the animals into their proper lines. Then there’s Moose who is as eager to help as ever..
In this instance help is definitely required during an animal outing to the park for which there are three vehicles, one for the raccoons, one for the geese and the third bearing the sign Magical Moose Tours. When it’s time to reboard their respective buses is when the problem starts. There are mix-ups of raccoons and baboons, hares and bears, bees and fleas, eels and seals, a cockatoo and kangaroos; even a fox and a box – hmm!

Poor goose is going crazy with frustration and confusion. Forward steps Moose hoping to give some assistance. Can he persuade Goose that there is more than one way to do things and allow the tour to continue?

Another gigglesome delight with a wealth of possibilities for preschoolers and beyond, from author Kael and illustrator Nicola.

Puddle & Lettuce: The Treehouse

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Puddle & Lettuce: The Treehouse
Ilaria Ranauro
Happy Yak

Meet best friends Puddle, a frog and Lettuce, a snail. Puddle’s little house beside the pond is perfect for a frog and Lettuce’s warm, cosy house on her back is perfect for a snail. They share each other’s special interests: Lettuce loves to listen to Puddle play his guitar and Puddle relishes the cakes Lettuce loves to bake.

One day Lettuce pays a visit to Puddle but the latter suggests they go to Puddle’s much larger house. Suddenly they have an idea: a treehouse that is big enough to accommodate them both. However in his enthusiasm to start building Puddle dashes off to collect suitable bits of timber and doesn’t hear what his friend has said regarding the drawing of plans.

So, with the job complete Puddle excitedly calls his pal to come up and join him. The problem is the treehouse is way too far up for Lettuce to reach. A sudden realisation dawns. Can they work together and create a treehouse that is just right for them both, a place wherein they can both enjoy sharing their favourite things – pancakes especially?

With an important message about seeing things from another person’s viewpoint, this story with its endearing characters, will likely make young humans think about how they treat their own friends.

Ant Party

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Ant Party
Ross Montgomery and Sarah Warburton
Walker Books

It’s Andy the ant’s birthday so he decides to throw a party – just a small affair to which only his neighbours are invited. But the neighbours haven’t any food to contribute so they invite the farmer ants. News of the party quickly spreads throughout the ant community to the worker ants, the soldier ants and the Queen. She takes it upon herself to invite residents of other ant hills nearby

and before long there are thousands of excited ants ready for a rave. Andy finishes his preparations just as there comes a knock on his door. He can’t believe what his sees right before his eyes. In they come and immediately begin partying madly but suddenly there’s a horrifying sound that makes Andy’s house shake. It’s a gatecrasher in the form of an anteater and the ants are trapped, and terrified.

All that is except Andy who is absolutely furious. At his behest, the other ants rally round, form a conga line and the anteater gets his cum uppance. This will surely get child audiences cheering.
Having bested the intruder the ants celebrate long into the night giving Andy a terrific party, the greatest ever, despite not being exactly what the birthday ant had imagined.

Ross’s telling is thoroughly engaging and young children will adore Andy (I love his leafy apron) and the other ants, each of which Sarah Warburton manages to make different with spectacles, eyebrows, moustaches etc. Every turn of the page invites readers to linger long and enjoy all that’s going on. I’m sure this is a party children will want to go to many times over.

Oh, Carrots!

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Oh, Carrots!
Mariajo Ilustrajo
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Mr Rabbit lives all alone and has grown used to so doing, occupying himself caring for his plants, keeping his place clean and reading, though at times it’s so quiet he does feel a tad lonely.

Now with the coming of spring Mr Rabbit can plant his favourite thing, carrots. It certainly keeps him busy and after 240 seeds are safely in the soil he’s more than ready for a hot drink and some relaxation. But suddenly he spots another seed in the packet. “Where were you hiding?” he asks seed 241, carefully planting it and resolving to give it a little bit of extra TLC so it doesn’t feel overlooked again. With daily watering, singing to the seeds, sunshine and loving kindness the carrots start to grow, one especially well.

One day he notices a carrot top give a wriggle. He pulls, pulls and pulls and out pops a walking, talking carrot. “Hello Mr Rabbit” it says. ”Oh, Carrots!” comes the reply and Mr Rabbit dashes off home, forgetting to close the back door.

It soon becomes evident that Carrot just wants to be Mr Rabbit’s friend but Mr Rabbit wants his visitor to leave him alone not jump on the sofa, interfere with his record collection or rummage through his books. Carrot’s lively antics irritate Mr Rabbit who is not at all used to mischief. However during the course of the day our lupine friend gradually finds that he’s enjoying himself.

So used to being a loner, he’s never considered having somebody else around. Could it he that needs a friend after all?

Mariajo’s combination of words and pictures is a winner with its striking illustrations and text both imbued with gentle humour and wisdom. A book that celebrates the joys of making new friends and a demonstration of how a close friend can help a person learn more about themselves.

The Old Watering Can

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The Old Watering Can
Louise Royston-Smith
Graffeg

Grandma has two watering cans, one she’s had a long time that is leaky, the other is new and somewhat ornate. Every spring and summer day she carries them both to her greenhouse at the end of the garden to water the plants. First though she goes to the tap to fill them but by the time she’s walked to the greenhouse, half the water from the old watering can has leaked out. The proud new one however is still full and likely to splash over the rim.

As a consequence only one and a half cans of water reach her greenhouse and this makes the old can feel the need to apologise for its leak. However Grandma is quick to point out the array of flowers growing on the old can’s side of the garden but not on that of the new can. She explains that she was aware of the leak, so had planted seeds only on the old can’s side and as they walked to the greenhouse they got watered. She tells her old can that she’s been able to share these flowers and make her friends and neighbours and of course, its owner. happy.

A story about accepting and celebrating your imperfections from a debut author/illustrator whose illustrations are infused with a playful energy and their charming details will bring a smile to the face of readers. Grandma is the only character mentioned in the words but there’s also a little girl, a lively dog and a bird that appear on many of the spreads – plenty of storying there.

The Playdate

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The Playdate
Uje Brandelius and Clara Dackenberg
Lantana

This story is narrated by a little girl who accompanies her mother to the house of Henry Henriksson. On the longish journey from their flat, the girl notices a robot in a toy shop window. It’s something she’d dearly love but keeps quiet knowing that it would be way too expensive.

Henry’s mum welcomes the two and the narrator goes off to play with Henry. They play all kinds of games until Henry’s mum announces that it’s time for lunch . She asks her visitors if they’d like to join then but the girl’s mum says they have sandwiches and so they eat in separate rooms. After lunch Henry goes off to play on his computer leaving the girl to amuse herself, which she does by playing chase with the dog.

As a result she goes into a room she’s not seen before and there on the floor is a huge bag of discarded toys. Atop the pile is a robot exactly like the one in the toyshop.

After a while Henry’s mum calls the children to eat fruit together and they watch tv.
When it’s time to leave the girl’s mum suggests that Henry might like to come and play at their home sometime. “Hmm, maybe” Henry’s mum responds.

On the journey home, the little girl tells her mum that Henry is her best friend. Suddenly she remembers that there’s something she needs to confess and tearfully she takes Henry’s robot from her backpack and explains that she stole it. Mum remains calm and merely says she’ll return it the following week.
We’re not told that the girl’s mum is the cleaner for Henry’s mum and it’s evident from the illustrations that the two families live completely different kinds of lives.

Cleverly presented with the words telling one story and the illustrations showing another, this is a comment on the class divide and on our throwaway society. I envisage KS2 children (or even older) having interesting discussions after a class sharing though I’m not sure what children around the age of those in the story will make of the multi-layered book.

Ten Whizzy Racers: Chaos at Crackling Creek

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Ten Whizzy Racers: Chaos at Crackling Creek
Timothy Knapman and Richard Merritt
Ladybird

This is the first in a new countdown series with a racing theme. The whizzy racers are Boo, Bolt, Bounce, Dash, Drift, Glint, Scoop, Speedy, Tricks and Zip. As the book begins they’ve all assembled in their vehicles at the start line in Fairytale Forest ready for the great Beanstalk Cup race to begin. The starting gun pops and off they go, but almost immediately there’s some thieving, out goes Drift and on go nine whizzy racers. Zip’s a kindly character and he pulls out of the race to pick up Red Riding Hood and deliver her safely to her Grandma’s house. And so the number of whizzers diminishes as all manner of accidents, alarming incidents

and other reasons for pulling out occur until only Bolt and Bounce remain in the running. Who will be first to cross the line and take the cup? One very happy racer. However, there’s another racer that is anything but happy and that, despite his shenanigans.

Timothy Knapman weaves a host of fairytale characters into his bouncy rhyming narrative including infuriated fairies, a terribly large troll and a mischievous unicorn. Each of these and lots more appear in Richard Merritt’s vibrant, action-packed scenes of the event. There’s so much to look at on each spread that little humans will be reluctant to whizz through the pages, rather they’ll want to take it slower and savour all the details.

Early Years Bookshelf: Little Dino Boo-Boos! / Bear

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Little Dino Boo-Boos!
Sophie Aggett , illustrated by Jannie Ho
Little Tiger

The little dinosaurs are a very lively lot and inevitably accidents happen: Triceratops gets a graze, Spinosaurus gets a soaking, followed by a cold, Velociraptor take tumble and bumps his paw and so on, so it’s important to know what to do when one gets hurt or doesn’t feel too good.

Through this delightful interactive board book, with its first aid kit containing a set of reusable stickers in the form of a fold-out inside the back cover, very young children can begin to learn about first aid and care in a playful way. On a first reading you may just want to point out each item and name it, but this is a book you can share over and over so your little one can learn more about each item as appropriate in addition to enjoying Jannie Ho’s humorous scenes.

Bear
Natalia Shaloshvili
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

A story about learning to share – maybe.
Bear is very happy with his ursine life: he loves his cookie, his book and his balloon; and he loves to sit by himself on his bench. As he sits comfortably contemplating, up comes Fox wanting to sit beside him on the bench. Wolf too wants something belonging to Bear – a delicious cookie; Rabbit wants a look at his book and Elephant asks for the balloon. Bear’s problem is that he doesn’t know how to say no to their requests

and consequently ends up with nothing. Now our ursine friend isn’t happy, he’s very, very unhappy as he sits thinking. Some while later along comes Duck with a cookie. Now we know Bear loves cookies so he requests a bite of Duck’s. I wonder how Duck will respond.

It’s important to know when to say no to others and this seemingly simple story with its wonderfully expressive, smudgy illustrations created with watercolour crayons and acrylic paints offers a good starting point for discussion with little humans.

The Only Monster

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The Only Monster
Matt Coyne and Brendan Kearney
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

This is a story with a message about being an only child in a family and not comparing one’s family with other families.

Residing happily with her parents on Grönklebad Street, in the monster town of Bonglibod is a little monster. Then at monster school it’s the day class photos are taken. Little monsters wear their ‘bestest monster clothes’, mess their hair, leave teeth unbrushed and have bogies in their noses. The teacher calls her students in turn, instructing them to say ‘stinky cheeeese’ as they sit in front of the camera for their photo. This little monster does with a big smile.

However when the teacher announces brother and sister photos, little monster begins to feel sad

and this feeling of sadness continues right through until she’s walking home with her dad. He notices her demeanour and asks what’s wrong. She explains that everyone else – the Jooberwibblies, the Bogeynoodles, the Humplebutts, the WindyFlips and the Parps, the Dombledoofs,.the Humplejoys, the Marmaflippydoofs and all the rest have siblings, lots often. Dad acknowledges that this is so but goes on to reassures her that families should be measured by love, not numbers. Moreover, the little monster has all of those friends plus their brothers and sisters, and that is marvellous.

By the time the two reach home little monster is feeling cheerful enough to sing with her dad. However, she still has one more thing to say …

Little humans will love the final twist and all the fun vocabulary, especially the crazy monster names. They’ll love too Brendan Kearney’s superbly imagined, highly detailed illustrations.

The Tortosaurus

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The Tortosaurus
Katie Cottle
Little Tiger

It’s Dot’s first day at her new school; she wants to fit in and make friends; but maybe she’ll start joining in tomorrow, she decides. Dot as you’ve likely realised already, is a person who likes taking things slowly, something her pet tortoise Monty truly understands.

In class during a discussion about pets, Jude tells everyone that he has a tortoise and Dot is on the point of saying something when Jess makes the disparaging comment that tortoises are old and slow. As a result Dot puts her hand down but is spotted by her teacher and so she announces that she has a Tortosaurus and will bring it for show and tell.

Fortunately Dot is a creative child and so she sets to work on Monty transforming him into an amazing creature that awes her classmates. Very quickly Monty becomes something of a ‘shell-ebrity’ which is not at all what he wants. Indeed he finds being in the limelight is really hard but he doesn’t want to let Dot down. After a while Monty is awarded a certificate of reptilian excellence and the stage lights make him feel all hot and bothered so he wriggles around until he’s removed every bit of his costume.

Initially Dot is angry; she grabs Monty and makes a dash for home but once there she calms down and on realising she’s forced the creature to be something he’s not, she apologises profusely.

Thereafter Dot decides it’s time to start being true to herself; gradually she comes out of her shell and makes friends with fellow tortoise owner, Jude.

This is a celebration of being one’s true self, allowing others to do likewise: and valuing them for what they are: that way real friendships based on honesty are formed and sustained. Katie Cottle’s illustrations speak volumes as we see Dot’s changing emotions throughout the story. Read at home and read in the classroom. I can imagine a lively circle time discussion resulting from a sharing with KS1 children.

A Card For My Mum

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A Card For My Mum
Bashabi Fraser and Maanvi Kapur
Lantana Publishing

It’s the day before Mother’s Day and the shops are busy with people looking for the perfect present to bring a smile to their mum’s face. However the little girl narrator can afford only a card for her mum and although she searches high and low she cannot find a single one that has a picture that looks anything like her own mum. She who loves to wear dangly gold earrings and bangles that jangle as she mixes the dough for naan and rotis; a dark-haired mum who goes to the vegetable market clad in her silk kameez and flowing chunnie. A mum who loves bhangra dancing.

Suddenly her mum’s smiling face is there before her for real and the little girl decides that there’s only one way she can give her mum a card that is just right … Time to get creative.

It’s very important that all young readers/listeners see themselves represented both in books and also on cards. The former has improved thanks to publishers like Lantana but it’s not so where cards are concerned and this story makes youngsters stand behind the head of someone who cannot find themselves and in this instance their mum, represented. A thought-provoking book to share as widely as possible and not just around Mother’s Day.

Mr Norton’s New Hat

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Mr Norton’s New Hat
Huw Lewis Jones and Corey Egbert
Little Tiger

Horace Norton is a kind character so when he discovers one Monday morning that a mouse has taken up residence in his hat, he leaves it there and cycles off to work. On Tuesday he notices some birds have made a nest in his bicycle basket but he pedals off obligingly with both lots of tenants.. Come Wednesday there’s a squirrel asleep in one of his shoes. What does he do? The same as on the previous two days. Subsequently he decides to leave undisturbed the stoats in his satchel, and the cats curled up in his coat. By the weekend it’s evident that Horace needs some time to relax. It’s not to be, for the animals are clearly taking advantage of his good nature. Having realised a wash is out of the question, he decides to return to his bed but …

Mr Norton’s increasing frustration with his ever growing menagerie builds to a response which surprises the man himself: “Enough is Enough!’ he shouts causing the animals to scamper away. Is this the response he longed for though? Not so, for he realises how very lonely an empty silence in one’s home can be.

When the next Monday comes around, Horace finds a surprise parcel at his front door; it’s a gift from the animals and one that results in a welcome solution to his solitude.

Young listeners will love Huw Lewis Jones’ zany cumulative tale with its wealth of alliteration, as well as lots of repetition to join in with. They’ll love too Corey Egbert’s scenes of the mischief-making animals and the growing mayhem they cause for their host. A smashing amalgam of words and pictures; it’s sure to be a story time winner.

Will We See A Mermaid?

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Will We See A Mermaid?
Rosalind Spark and Kate Anfilova
Oxford Children’s Books

Little Evie is at the beach with her parents and best friend, Dr Dino. Last on her list of things to do that day is to find a mermaid. Dad thinks she has a great imagination whereas Mum tells her she’ll need to look very carefully. So begins Evie’s ocean adventure with Dr Dino. They pack the necessary gear, then before diving deep, the two go and check the rock pools. They’re certainly full of interesting marine creatures but no mermaids.

The two build an Ocean Explorer Submarine, launch their craft into the waves and head out to sea. Dr Dino talks about the dolphins they see; then deep underwater they dive and Dr Dino informs Evie and readers about the behaviour of the anchovies and whales they spy. Unfortunately among the marine fauna are some plastic bags and the explorers are determined to prevent a turtle from eating them in mistake for jellyfish. Their bag chase sees them visiting a kelp forest

and a coral reef and diving way way down into the darkest depths until … at last, it’s mission accomplished. But have they seen any mermaids:? Maybe. …

Back on the beach, Mum and Dad help the adventurers collect rubbish left by thoughtless people and Evie offers her definition of mermaids.

This book is full of interesting information, including a gate-fold spread about marine life that will fascinate KS1 children. However, it would also work well as a straightforward story for preschoolers if the reader aloud shares only the main narrative.

The Bookshop Dog

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The Bookshop Dog
Harriet Evans and Claire Shorrock
Little Tiger

Scamper absolutely loves his home with Paige at The Happy Tails Bookshop and can’t imagine a better place to live in the whole world. Everybody in the neighbourhood has made him feel welcome and he loves them all, Paige especially. To show his appreciation, the pooch decides to follow her example and he selects some books he thinks his friends might enjoy reading. This proves very successful: Scamper has helped all his friends

but is there a book that can put a smile on the face of the person who seems to have read every one already? His search of his friends’ abodes yields nothing suitable and it’s a down-hearted Scamper that returns to the bookshop but joy of joys …

What a delightful character is Scamper, especially in the way his observations enable him to find the right book for each person, even though it’s unlikely to be what they themselves would have chosen.
I love that reading and books are celebrated both verbally and visually at every turn of the page: listeners and readers aloud will love the wordplay and clever book titles – Mansfield Bark and Doggy Deeds of Derring Do – for instance. Claire Shorrock’s illustrations have lots of details that offer starting points for discussion and I absolutely love the exchange between Paige and Scamper near the end: “Reading takes us all on incredible journeys.” (Paige) and ‘reading is a way of coming home.’ (Scamper). So true, both.

Do Not Say These Words

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Do Not Say These Words
Frances Tosdevin and Rhian Wright
UCLAN Publishing

Words are powerful, that is something children learn very early in their lives and once they start speaking that opens up a whole new wealth of possibilities, one of which is humour. It’s humour that author Frances Tosdevin and illustrator Rhian Wright very clearly have had great fun exploring in this splendidly silly book.

We’re in the hands of expert scientist and inventor, The Professor. She, by means of a series of words that young children already think of as a tad naughty, explains that the hilarity induced by the utterance of these words causes giggle-gas and the effect of too much of this in the air is detrimental to the environment. Indeed the world will end up zig zagging around the solar system and we humans will all fall off. The sure way to prevent such a catastrophe is by banning these words and she, aided and abetted by her trusty froggy assistants, have invented a machine that turns these world-wobbling words into harmless, unfunny ones.

The first word for the Prof’s zapping treatment is ‘BOTTOM’ and its safe replacement is in her words, the unfunny ‘FLOPPY PEACH-CHEEKS.’ – make sure you keep a straight face when you read that. next is ‘FART’.

I love the way the alternatives generated by the machine are generated through Rhian Wright’s dramatic illustrations bursting with small details. These provide a great complement to Frances Tosdevin’s terrific text, which offers opportunities for audience participation.

Share this in a classroom – it will appeal across a wide age range – and you’ll likely have the listeners going almost as berserk as the Prof’s machine as the story nears its dramatic conclusion. My partner was spluttering with laughter as we shared it..

Little Rhino Lost

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Little Rhino Lost
Candy Gourlay and Jamie Bauza
Otter-Barry Books

As she wanders in the huge grey urban jungle that is her home city, Maya comes upon a lost baby rhinoceros. She wants to help the creature but needs to know what his home looks like. The baby rhinoceros describes a place full of green plants and trees but as they wander, nowhere looks anything like that,

so May takes the rhinoceros back home with her. She feeds him and with the help of her kind neighbours, does her best to make him feel at home.

The following morning there’s no sign of baby rhino but instead a note to her from the mother rhino thanking her for her care. Despite knowing that her little friend is safely back home she misses him and wonders if he might come a visit. To that end she sets about turning her garden into a wonderful green space and her neighbours do likewise so that the city gradually becomes somewhere a little rhino could call home.

This charming story about determination, kindness, community and environmentalism, is set in the Philippines, the author Candy Gourlay’s home country. Would that urban dwellers be they in Manila, (the city depicted in some of Jamie Bauza’s scenes) or elsewhere in the world, come together in a similar way to help make all our cities greener.

The Endless Sea

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The Endless Sea
Chi Thai and Linh Dao
Walker Studio

This is a heartrending story of having to leave your home and go in search of a new, safe place to live, told through the eyes of a young girl. She, her parents and sister lived in a Vietnamese village which they were forced to leave on account to being on the losing side of a war.

After a long and arduous journey walking under cover of darkness, the family eventually reached a wooden boat that was to carry them, crammed tight for four days, down a river. Then on the fifth day a fierce storm arose, the boat’s pump gave up working and the boat began sinking.

Eventually a ship reached the now rapidly sinking boat, a pallet was lowered and the family lifted to safety. The rescuing ship carried them to a refugee camp where they waited until they were flown to a new country and given a new home. Despite recalling the traumas they’ve been through, the young narrator considers how lucky her family has been

especially when a year on, they are able to celebrate New Year together, hungry no longer but hopeful and able to look forward to many more days together.

Author Chi Thai’s note at the end of the book makes it even more poignant as she writes of how she aged three and her family came to the UK as refugees, for which she is enormously grateful. She goes on to talk of the 36 million refugees there now are and reminds readers how crucial it is that they are treated with compassion. Linh Dao’s illustrations are appropriately sombre during the traumatic escape contrasting with the uplifting scenes of the family established in their new home.

A book to share widely in primary classrooms to help foster that vital compassion and understanding the author speaks of.

My Mum / Come What May

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My Mum
Susan Quinn and Sarah Mathew
Words & Pictures

Mums do so many things for their little ones and this book is a warmly appreciative and loving way to celebrate the day to day adventures they have big and small, told from the viewpoint the little girl narrator. To a mother fixing a child’s broken toy or running through a wildflower meadow and then making a daisy chain may not seem particularly significant but to her offspring, they mean the world. So too of course, do those days at the seaside, building sandcastles, searching for shells, wave jumping and making seaweed crowns. It’s evident that the mum featured loves to encourage and participate in imaginative play; and no matter the weather,

day or night, she’s close by to make things turn out right.

Sarah Mathew’s vibrant mixed-media illustrations are a delight, full of small details for mums and small children to explore and enjoy together. With Mother’s Day approaching, perhaps after several readings, a child could be encouraged to make up their own pictorial celebration of ‘My Mum.

Come What May
Debi Gliori
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

As this story opens Large and Small are doing some baking but it’s not going well for Small AT All. Things are getting dropped, spilled, broken and everywhere is splashed with cake ingredients.
Both cooks want to scream and shout but Large declares love for Small “come what may”. The best way to defuse the situation is to get outside into the fresh air, have a walk and maybe a little picnic in the countryside.

This gives Small an opportunity to indulge in some what ifs, imagining being in turn a roaring dinosaur,

a tiger, a buzzing stinging insect; but for each comes the response ‘I’ll love you come what may’ from Large. Bad mood or good, Large’s love is unconditional, so too is that of Small.

Some of the adults who share this with their little ones are likely to be those who enjoyed the delights of Debi’s No Matter What first published twenty five years ago.

Frank and Burt: The One Where Bert Plays Football

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Frank and Burt: The One Where Bert Plays Football
Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Nosy Crow

In this 4th tale telling of the ups and downs of the friendship between Frank (fox, who narrates) and Bert (bear) we’re treated to a soccer saga set in the park. Both characters are lovers of the game and Frank has taken it upon himself to teach his pal how to play – sometimes with disastrous results.such as the cake squishing and prickly spikes episode. However, today Bert has a new football and is anticipating scoring lots of goals. He starts with a complete miss, not only of the goal but the ball itself and lands flat on his belly.

Then just before going to assist Bert, Frank spies ace soccer player, Barbara, and the two of them have a kick about. Barbara’s showing off sends Bert’s ball high up into a tree but does she stay and assist in its recovery. No she doesn’t; that’s left to Frank. He however, having scrambled up to within a paw’s distance, gets an attack of vertigo

and also does some some quick self reflection.

Suddenly the branch bearing Frank snaps pitching him earthward, but he’s fortunate in having a best friend ready and willing to come to his rescue by providing a soft landing surface to cushion the blow. Trust Bert to save the day.

Chris’s superb colour pencil scenes exude energy, humour and pathos, perfectly capturing the changing emotions of his larger than life characters. With vital messages about friendship and decision making, this is another gem of a story featuring the utterly endearing friends.

Off they Go!

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Off they Go!
James Carter and James Munro
Graffeg

Poet / writer James Carter and illustrator James Munro have again joined forces on a natural history book, this time on the topic of animal migrations.

Through the former’s rhyming narrative and the latter’s bold, bright illustrations readers are introduced to nine migrating species. First though, there is an introduction to the concept that all creatures may undertake migration.

Whether they travel over land, through water or the sky, the selected animals undertake long, often difficult journeys. From Barn Swallows

to Monarch Butterflies, salmon to humpback whales or Christmas Island Red Crabs to humans, we learn more about the different animals and the reasons for their migrating.

Did you know that the globe skimmer dragonfly can journey up to 6,000 kilometres, travelling from India to Africa, island hopping en route to lay eggs and their offspring making the return journey? Some feat.

Included in the final narrative section, is information about animal navigations and unusual migrations making this an ideal introduction to the whole topic.

My Path

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My Path
Jana Curll
Nosy Crow

We join a little snail as it follows its path (leaving a slivery trail across the pages,) from sunrise right through to nightfall. Sometimes the little mollusc is alone, sometimes with the company of others and there are obstacles to negotiate, sometimes by going over, sometimes around or even round and round.

The journey may be smooth or rough and when it comes to a very sudden, unexpected end, if it feels like the right path, it’s the way to go. If met by another that challenges a decision, after due consideration, the snail’s decision belongs to the snail, not the challenger. However, when faced with enormous challenges, it’s okay to ask for help. Even with determination and conviction there may be what feel like dead ends but what’s important is to keep going.

Important life lessons are embedded in this story told as a recitation along with expressive illustrations that show so well the snail’s changing emotions as it responds to the variety of experiences encountered on its journey.

This is a book offering much to think about and discuss in a class circle time session with KS1 children, not least that every person’s path is special, a unique learning journey.

Little Gwen, Rescue Hen

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Little Gwen, Rescue Hen
Carol Thompson
Otter-Barry Books

Life is very unpleasant for the hens at the chicken farm. They’re packed tightly in cages, each day feels the same and as she’s constantly pecked by other hens, one little hen loses lots of feathers. Eventually she feels too tired to lay a single egg; but then one day, things change. She’s gently lifted, placed in a dark container and a voice tells her not to be frightened. Then she’s on the move inside the box, heading for an unknown destination.
After some time, the box is carefully put down and opened. The little hen emerges into the brightness of the outside world beyond the confines of her previous existence. There are so many new things to discover and new friends too. But one thing the little hen misses is her feathers that would have protected her from chilly winds, very hot sunshine and incessant rain.

Fortunately the providers of her new home decide to make her a warm vest to wear until her feathers grow back and they decide to call the hen little Gwen. Gwen feels nice and cosy in her new garment until she gets tangled in some twigs that unravel the stitching.

However, with her feathers gradually growing back Gwen no longer needs it. Then one day before sunrise little Gwen goes a-wandering and what an exciting day she has before snuggling down to sleep in her warm safe little chicken house. It’s there that one morning, one of her kind human rescuers discovers a special surprise in the straw. Now what could that be?

This story is a great way to introduce quite young children to animal rights issues and will stimulate lively discussion in a KS1 classroom. Carol Thompson’s illustrations speak volumes as we follow Gwen’s move from terrible conditions to those where she’s treated well and thrives.

Just One More Story

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Just One More Story
Perry Emerson and Sean Julian
Little Tiger

Pip and Bun are bunnies with very different predilections. Pip loves to read; Bun considers books boring and enjoys lively play. So when Pip invites Bun to read with her, he flatly refuses causing Pip to close her book with the comment, “You wouldn’t like this book anyway. It’s not for little bunnies.” Cross at being called ‘little’, Bun decides to read Pip’s book for himself so he takes it from the shelf and looks inside.

He’s astonished to discover the main character is a penguin that rides a motorbike. “Penelope Penguin, super spy!” Pip informs him. With Bun’s interest sparked, Pip starts reading more with the listener very actively engaged. After the story, Bun selects a book about a pirate princess and with Pip reading the words, Bun becomes a swashbuckling freebooter.

They spend the entire day reading stories together until there are no more books on the shelf. Pip suggests they make up their own story; this leads to a squabble with Pip remarking angrily, “Books aren’t for little bunnies.” Bun is left alone feeling very, very small, but Pip too feels. Soon they realise there’s only one way to get themselves out of this impasse: reading books together the way they were, is too good to stop because of a silly squabble.

The characters are endearingly portrayed in Sean Julian’s scenes of the furry, floral frolics. It’s good to see an acknowledgement that there are different ways to enjoy sharing a book, some of which involve being physically actively: so it was for the young bunnies, so it is for their human counterparts.

The Full Stop That Got Away

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The Full Stop That Got Away
Laura Baker and Nathan Reed
Scholastic

Meet Frank, he’s a full stop who loves to make up stories. One day he decides to make up a ‘nice, short, sensible’ one about a dragon. Here’s how it goes: ‘Once upon a time there was a dragon called Dee.’ End of story, so Frank tells us.

However the dragon thinks otherwise and decides to take over the story telling. Dee’s story is a about a tea party to which he invites his dragon pals. A veritable feast it proves to be with goodies galore, a never ending supply of them and that is because Frank has decided to quit.

When fire breaks out you can guess who the dragons call for to come and help. Having been sidelined, the small round entity steps up and cleverly produces some fire-extinguishing precipitation. Finally Frank has proved his point and Dee cannot help but agree.

Our external narrator makes an important comment concerning fun and sometimes allowing it to carry you away just before the book concludes.

With one larger than life main character and another of the fire-breathing kind that he brings into being, this is a very funny rhyming tale about imagination unbounded and knowing when to rein it in. Nathan Reed’s illustrations make this introduction to punctuation into deliciously dramatic dottiness.

Wrong Time Rooster

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Wrong Time Rooster
Michael Parkin
Flying Eye Books

There’s excitement down on the farm when a large crate is delivered. With the animals gathered around, Farmer Tony opens the lid to reveal a rooster. Said bird wastes no time in introducing himself as Ronnie. “No more sleeping in late,” the farmer tells them but at dinnertime that evening there comes a resounding ‘COCK-A-DOOODLE-DOOO’; but Ronnie fails to crow the following morning. As a result, the animals remain fast asleep.

After a whole week of wrongly timed crowing, much to the delight of the farmyard entourage, Farmer Tony decides that he needs to have a talk with Ronnie about his efforts.

Apologetically, the rooster explains that he’s been sacked from every job he’s ever had on account of his badly timed crowing. “But nobody ever taught me how to tell the time!” he reveals. Farmer Tony’s parting comment leaves Ronnie convinced that he’ll be re-crated and moved on yet again.

However, the silent farmyard no longer feels right to the animals, nor indeed to the farmer. Rather than sending Ronnie packing, they collaborate on something much better for them all: teamwork rules and that team includes rooster, Ronnie. No more crowing at the wrong time on the farm – or make that almost never …

With rumbustious illustrations, a main character that will endear himself to listeners, its playful narrative that reads aloud well and lots of opportunities for audience participation in the COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOs and WRONG TIME ROOSTER refrains, this is a story that young children will enjoying giggling over, time and again.

Sniff! Sniff! What’s That Whiff?

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Sniff! Sniff! What’s That Whiff?
:Lucy Rowland and Gareth Conway
Scholastic

This story is told in rhyme by a dinosaur that has feasted on a large portion of berries for lunch and soon detects a terrible whiff in the air around. Determined to discover the perpetrator of the bottom-burp aroma , off it goes inviting young humans to join in the search. The first to be interrogated is Pterodactyl. She proffers proof that her toot is not the horrid one that offended our dino. narrator. Nor are those made by Dippy diplodocus, Ankylosaurus,

Triceratops, the Megalodon Shark (his is exceedingly fishy) and Steggy Stegosaurus. Then comes a very strong, meaty smell: Yikes! It’s T-Rex. T-Rex gives chase but unexpectedly stops, apparently feeling exceedingly poorly on account of the stench. Our narrator empathises but a realisation suddenly dawns. That rear end purple parp cloud eruption is coming from our very own narrator’s bum and has been responsible for saving the others from becoming T-Rex’s supper.

Time for a party when feeling de-stressed, the other dinosaurs dance, stomp and relax their bum muscles releasing …


I suspect that along with unicorns and dinosaurs, poohs and pongs are young children’s favourite topic for picture books so this one of Lucy’s and Gareth’s will be a winner on two counts.

How To Walk A Whale

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How To Walk A Whale
Sam Wilde and Sarah Horne
Oxford Children’s Books

This fourth title in the Peculiar Pets series is narrated by a girl who takes her grandmother’s advice, thinks big and advertises for a whale to come and share her abode. Sure enough, what should appear outside the front door but a blue whale. It’s as well that Granny has a book on whale care to make matters easier. Providing a ‘happy’ environment means that the creature cannot spend more than a couple of hours on land. Then there’s the issue of diet: an abundance of krill is what’s needed and lots of exercise is vital;

but when it comes to accompanying your whale as it swims thousands of miles to find a mate and give birth; and communicating your love often, it becomes evident that as strong as that love is, what is even more important for the pet whale is to rejoin its family in the vast ocean. Of course there’s always the hope that he’ll come back to visit his human friends before too long.

As well as being vibrantly and humorously illustrated by Sarah Horne,, author Sam Wilde has included lots of facts about blue whales in the text. Did you know for example that they filter the krill through big bristles in their mouths. There’s also a final double page spread giving the ‘Top (10) blue whale facts.’
Yes, the book is humorous but it also contains an important message about the responsibilities one takes on when having a pet animal of any kind.