Category Picture Books

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.

Cloud Boy

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Cloud Boy
Greg Stobbs
Oxford Children’s Books

No matter how hard he tries, Bobby’s attention keeps wandering and he finds it hard to stay still. When he becomes distracted, he starts floating upwards and the more his imagination takes over, the higher he goes. His friends, his mum and his teacher try to help but there are so many things that draw his attention away from the everyday things – the colour of a bird’s song and the idea that the moon might get lonely – for instance. Bobby really does want to concentrate like his friends Jess and Nelson, to be organised like his Mum and focused like teacher, Mr Brian, but it only works very, very briefly and makes the boy very tired. His friends and family devise a plan.

However, this restraint makes him feel empty, devoid of imagination and so he cuts himself free. The result is immediately uplifting, leaving friends and family pondering upon how to get the boy down. Perhaps they should try looking at things from Bobby’s viewpoint …

This uplifting story shows the importance of understanding and valuing neurodivergence: it appears that Bobby has ADHD and author/illustrator Greg Stobbs, has drawn on his personal experience in creating the book. I love his use of pink neon to represent Bobby’s imagination.

An important story to share and discuss.

The Book is Full of Poop

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The Book is Full of Poop
Gareth Peter and Mike Byrne
Scholastic

Having given readers a book full of unicorns and a book full of elves, team Gareth and Nathan now offer a much more whiffy one. I suggest a clothes peg on the nose as you accompany the two child narrators on a poo hunt around town; it promises to be a ‘super-duper-poop-athon’ during which you will encounter creatures of all shapes and sizes, some imaginary, some extinct and others feathered, furry, thick and fibrous, or scaly. Of all shapes and sizes too, are the poos they deposit.

Did you know for instance that hippos poo while on the move

and sharks produce poo of a green colour?

Gareth’s rhyming narrative ends with a warning to beware of hidden poop piles and of course, whenever you conclude a walk around outside it’s wise to check the soles of your shoes.

Young humans will love the poo depositing shenanigans of the animals depicted in Mike’s amusing scenes; adult readers aloud might wish to have an air freshener close by as they share this offering with one or several children.

Let’s Play Rugby!

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Let’s Play Rugby!
Gordon D’Arcy and Paul Howard, illustrated by Ashwin Chacko
Little Island

This interactive story is published to coincide with the Six Nations rugger tournament, which this year kicks off on 31st January. The aim herein is to help your team lift the trophy and once clad in your gear, like all players the first thing to do is some warming up exercises – jogging on the spot and star jumps – before the kick off.
Now it’s time for you to kick that ball you have in your hands right up high and it’s game on!
Wow! Some of your opponents are enormous so tackling someone with the ball can send them down really hard and win your team back that ball. Yeah!
As the story proceeds we learn more about the game of rugby – the scrum,

the line out and scoring a try, while following the instructions to shout loudly, push, rotate then shake the book, weave your finger through the defenders,

find the gap and touch the book down to score a try. Now it’s up to you to kick the conversion to win that trophy. WOOOO1 Hurrah! One last thing: lift the cup high above your head to show the crowd. What a game!

Co-authored by Irish rugger Gordon D’Arcy and writer Paul Howard, and robustly and dramatically illustrated by Ashwin Chacko, this action-packed picture book captures something of the excitement of the game. One hopes it will not only inspire young children to watch the Six Nations games but also to seek out one of the many rugby clubs that cater for primary school age children with mini-rugby sessions.

Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love

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Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love
Joseph Coelho (and 21 illustrator friends)
 Walker Books

This is former children’s laureate Joseph Coelho’s second Ten-Word Tiny Tales offering, this one having a unifying theme – love – and in an introduction, Joseph tells readers how the tiny tales came about.
Each of the tales is moving in its own special way; you will find great sadness, tender parental and sibling love, spookiness, the fantastical, the humorous and more.

Coming from all over the world, each one of the talented artists has created an equally special, very different scene, thus making every turn of the page a verbal and a visual delight.

We see enigmatic and literal interpretations as well as ambiguity: there is love for such diverse things as a bike, baby birds and a brother,

but in every case the intention is to create a world – a space of awareness – that will spark the reader’s imagination.

To facilitate this, Joseph offers some story writing prompts in the final two spreads.
Altogether a treasure trove that holds within, a wealth of possibilities for creativity both in the classroom and at home.

Coorie Doon: A Scottish Lullaby Story

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Coorie Doon: A Scottish Lullaby Story
Jackie Kay and Jill Calder
Walker Books

This debut picture book by renowned poet, Jackie Kay, has its roots in well-known folk songs. Subtitled ‘A Scottish Lullaby Story’, the author also uses some lyrical old Scots phraseology.
The story begins with Shona – a ‘wee bit bairn’ listening to her daddy singing Coorie Doon, till she fell asleep under ‘the huge eye o’the moon. (Corrie Doon’, the author tells us after the story means ‘snuggle in tight, tuck in.’)

This ritual happens every night and sometimes the song a parent sang would be The Tiree Love Song; other times it would be “Goodnight, Irene, … / I’ll see you in my dreams.”
As young Shona sleeps, readers too enter her dream world encountering in different places, her friends her black and white cat Flo, Marley her dog, baby Serenity and more.

Then, sixty years later it’s the turn of Shona to tuck her aged dad into bed and to sing to him, “Coorie Doon, Coorie Doon, wee Daddy” before going out the back door into the night to look at and wave to the moon.

That Shona is adopted is not referred to in the narrative but in a letter to readers at the back of the book, Jackie tells us that she imagined Shona being so, and that she too was adopted as a baby.
Gorgeously illustrated by Jill Calder, her soft, warm scenes help celebrate the small, childhood rituals and how they become embedded within us, a vital part of who we are.

Opposite the title page is a QR code so readers can watch an author video, and listen to recordings by folk singers Peggy Seeger, Claire Brown and Suzanne Bonnar. A treasure of a book.

The Greedy Wolf

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The Greedy Wolf
Timothy Knapman and Jean Jullien
Walker Books

Once there was a wolf (a greedy one as they often are in stories) and this one had a particular penchant for fresh young goats. So when walking past Mummy Goat’s house he heard her say to her seven offspring that she was going to get their favourite food for dinner, he was determined to make the kids his next meal. His first attempt to gain entrance was by pretending to be a post person delivering a parcel. Next (with a voice change) he told the kids that he was the ice-cream man, but again the kids kept the door firmly shut.

By now desperately hungry, the wolf resorted to pretending to be a talking rose bush with a flowerpot on his head, sent by Mummy Goat to babysit.

Finally the door started to open and the wolf, feeling particularly prickly, gained entrance, rushing inside with a roar.

Did this scare the little goats? Oh no it didn’t, they were busy cooking. Now the wolf was certain that he’d finally sate his appetite. This he did but who was the more satisfied when he departed from the goats’ abode?

Timothy Knapman’s funny updated telling of the Grimm Brothers, The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids with Jean Jullien’s illustrations of the mock-scary wolf are sure to make young audiences laugh (though the story will be most appreciated by those familiar with the original version). Serve it up in a KS1 class or at home and see how it goes down.

When Fish Finger Froze

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When Fish Finger Froze
Michelle Robinson and Tom Knight
Scholastic

Fish Finger has a happy family life and plenty of friends at school; but then one day there appears on his classroom wall an announcement about a school disco to be held that very night. His classmates are excited but Fish Finger starts to worry straightaway. His worries increase after Miss Bag O’Spinach tells the class that they can spend the rest of the school day working on their dance moves and everything Fish Finger attempts ends in disaster.

At home after school, his siblings, Patty and Fillet, are eagerly getting ready for the evening, rummaging in Grans trunk and doing their hair. Mum notices Fish Finger looks upset and when he tells her about his bad dancing, she encourages him with some wise words about doing his own thing. The twins too are supportive and set to work giving him some tonsorial treatment before they leave.

At school, the hall is full of lights and lively movers but Fish Finger remains frozen to the spot, his feelings all tangled in his tummy as the contest is announced. Then suddenly something amazing happens: Fish Finger thaws as he shimmers and shakes across the floor, full of zest and showing surprising confidence as he follows mum’s advice and does his own thing. He’s clearly delighted and so are his friends.
When the parents arrive, Miss Bag O’Spinach realises she’s yet to present the prizes. There are a fair few including one for ‘Best Attitude’. Can you guess who gets this award?

Hearing his name called, the winner suffers a brief re-freeze but quickly warms up, thanks to his helpful classmates and a celebratory dance concludes the proceedings. Hurrah for camaraderie, empathy and especially for the character who overcame fear and bravely did his own thing.

With Michelle Robinson’s spirited rhyming text and Tom Knight’s funny illustrations that capture so well the feelings of the protagonist, this picture book is full of heart and offers a great way to get young children talking about their own feelings and emotions.

The Found Things / Guess How Much I Love You: I See Me

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These are two Walker Books titles for very young children: thanks to the publishers for sending them for review.

The Found Things
Petr Horáċek

One morning Rabbit wakes to find the sun shining brightly and decides to go for a walk. First though she needs to dress, but one of her socks is missing. The hunt all over her abode for its whereabouts sees Rabbit discovering various other items of clothing, each of which she dons,

but of the missing sock there is no sign. Rabbit decides she’ll sally forth without it, albeit looking somewhat strange. So strange in fact that when she encounters Squirrel and Mouse, they mistake her for a monster. However the two have a special surprise for their lapine friend. What could it be?

Young children will love Petr’s vibrant, mixed media illustrations with their cutaway parts and enjoy participating in the sock search. Adult sharers especially will endorse Rabbit’s parting joyful comment on the final spread. The book also offers a simple, interactive fun text for children just gaining confidence to try reading it themselves, once an adult has shared it with them.

Guess How Much I Love You: I See Me
Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram

It’s a lovely spring day and Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare are out together enjoying themselves. As they explore they play a game of I-spy. Between them they spot a butterfly, a baby bird in a nest and a tadpole wriggling around in the pond. While they gaze into the water Big Nutbrown Hare asks, “What else can you see in the pond?” I wonder what Little Nutbrown Hare’s response is? (The cover is a giveaway!)

A sweet story featuring team McBratney and Jeram’s two wonderful characters that celebrate their thirtieth anniversary appearance in Guess How Much I Love You, this year. (The Nutbrown Hares have also appeared in a couple of animated TV series of the same name.) Many of the adults who share this board book delight with their little ones will likely remember meeting the characters in the now classic original tale.

Ready Eddie Go! Dressing Up / Ready Eddie Go! Painting

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Ready Eddie Go! Dressing Up
Ready Eddie Go! Painting
Nikki Saunders
Jessica Kingsley Publishers

In the first book, young narrator Eddie is joined at home by his two friends, Akil and Nina as they explore the contents of the dressing up box full of ready-made costumes and the materials to invent others.
Child users of this interactive book learn of Eddie’s sensory preferences and the difficulties he has when planning what he’ll wear, as well as being reassured that choosing not to dress up at all, or removing a costume when it gets uncomfortable, are also acceptable. Interwoven into the narrative are both tips to manage any challenges that might crop up such as scratchy labels (it’s not only neurodivergent people who find this unpleasant; I always remove them from jumpers etc.) and related practical ideas including finding a range of items to feel.
Once the three friends are ready, they choose to show their costumes to friends and family

and the book ends with a recap on the whole dressing up experience.
Well presented and relatable to neurodivergent youngsters, this is a very useful book.

So too in the same series is Painting. This one has a school setting and introduces children to messy play activities. Again the possibility of having an itchy label arises when the friends put on their aprons. Coming up with ideas can also be a challenge, as can dropping paint in an unintended place,

and having messy hands.
There are helpful strategies including list making to help with planning and organising, and it’s particularly good to see making ‘mistakes’ presented as normal: for any child mistakes are a vital part of the learning process Another confidence building book.

Boing!

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Boing!
James Carter, illustrated by Neal Layton
Otter-Barry Books

James Carter has penned twenty four poems on the topic of bugs and minibeasts, each one bugtastiically and playfully illustrated by Neal Layton.
First come the bugs, or insects if you prefer to be more scientific. This larger section of the book comprises a few general, inclusive bug poems and then moves on to specific insects. On this occasion, two that particularly tickled my fancy are fANTastic wherein the titchy, tiny ants speak for themselves, asserting, ‘We’re stronger than / you humankind // and just as smart / we think you’ll find. // How can we lift / a giANT stick? // That’s because we’re // fANTastic!’

I have to admit that I’m a bee supporter and so was immediately was drawn to What Can It Be …? where we read of the insect bee-ing among other things, a ‘flower-lover’ , … ‘planet-aider, pollinator, super stinger, syrup-bringer’. (The super-stinger is only true of the female bees, so we read in the ‘fab fact time’ note beneath the poem.
There are also poems featuring a grasshopper, a flea (or several), a butterfly, a caterpillar, a moth, a wasp, a ladybird, a firefly; we share the details of a day in the life of a dung beetle, hear from a dragonfly, eavesdrop on a conversation between a spider and a fly, start itching as we read of bed bugs, followed by a mosquito. (Keep your insect repellant handy.)
The second section has six ‘minibeasts’poems: herein we encounter a silvery trail leaving, ‘sticky riddle’ writing snail, a millipede, a spider

and finally a ‘micro-tiny, / weeny small’ tardigrade.
A collection that’s full of fun poems, sprinkled with facts, exuberantly illustrated and well worth adding to a classroom collection or home bookshelves. I’m sure if you start reading one or two aloud, there’ll be requests for ‘MORE PLEASE!’