Category Picture Books

Ebb and Flo and the New Boat / Ebb and Flo: A Blowy Day

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Ebb and Flo and the New Boat
Ebb and Flo: A Blowy Day
Kate Canning and Thomas Voigt
Graffeg

In the first story, despite it being early in the morning Bird cannot wait to tell Ebb about what she’s found so she sets off beeping enthusiastically to tell Ebb about the discovery even though Ebb dislikes being disturbed at such an hour. Bird’s excitement is on account of the new boat bedecked with greenery that has arrived at the jetty.. So, Bird sallies forth alone and when she hasn’t returned some while later Ebb starts feeling concerned.

The reason for her absence is that she’s made a new friend on board the new boat. Ebb discovers this with help from Flo who approaches the owner of the new boat asking for Bird. The conversation is confusing as the lady speaks German; however Flo, Ebb and Mum go aboard and in the cabin sure enough there is Bird and also a little canary named Zoot, so the boat owner tells the visitors.

Almost inevitably Ebb feels a tad jealous of Zoot, especially as Bird plays with this new friend all day. Ebb considers Zoot to be akin to Mum’s yellow feather duster. Even Flo’s reassurance at bedtime that it’s possible to have more than one friend doesn’t reassure the pooch. However, the following morning the visiting boat has gone and with it Bird’s new friend. Now it’s her turn to feel upset. Can Ebb and Flo find a way to help Bird return to her usual happy self?

In A Blowy Day, the strong wind causes Mum to feel concern for Granny so she, accompanied by Ebb, Flo and Bird, row across to pay her a visit. Granny is taking advantage of the strong wind and is busy hanging out her washing when they arrive. Her mention of a kite prompts Flo to ask about making a new one there and then so she and Granny set to work. Before long they’re ready to go out and test the kite but it gets caught up with the line of washing and Bird flies to the rescue. Then a sudden extra strong gust sees Granny’s clothes flying way up and out to sea. Time for operation rescue …

Both books, based on Jane Simmons’ original characters are part of an animated TV series: with their simple stories, they work well too as read alouds to share with young children (Both titles have notes for adults that include activities and discussion possibilities at the back.)

Running with Wings

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Running with Wings
Sam Squiers and Lara Porter
New Frontier Publishing

Frankie absolutely loves running; so too does Mimmi. They both seem to live, eat and dream racing and both dream of running in the most spectacular race there is – The BIG One. First though they have to compete in the school carnival on which day every class races the super sprint, 100 metres. However whenever Mimi goes to participate in a race she gets an attack of nerves.

One day while training on the track she sees Frankie running and later notices that she walks with a limp. Introducing herself, Mimmi asks how she manages to run so well.

Frankie quietly shares her secret with Mimmi, “I imagine I have wings on my trainers.” Mimmi expresses a wish for wings too and so Frankie explains what she does just before she runs. As you might expect Mimmi tries imagining wings on her own heels and it certainly speeds her up. Henceforward the two girls become almost inseparable friends training and running together at every opportunity.

Come the day of the school carnival Mimmi’s butterflies return and she needs Frankie’s reassurance to get herself to the starting line. Who crosses that finishing line first though?

After the race Mimmi learns from her buddy that there’s more than one way of winning and she cannot help but agree with Frankie.

This is an empowering tale of dreaming big and holding fast to your dreams, self-belief, resilience and over-coming challenges. With the 2024 Paralympics about to start, this is a good book to share with young children. In the author’s words, ‘With their wings they can run, / With their wings they can soar, / It’s not about the race, / But so much more.’ This is brought out beautifully in Lara Porter’s illustrations.

The Moon Seed

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The Moon Seed
Sally Anne Garland
Sunbird Books

In January 1971 an astronaut took a pouch of seeds with him on the Apollo 14 moon mission. On returning to planet Earth he planted the seeds to see whether any would germinate and thrive. Sally Anne Garland’s story tells of one of those seeds – a winged one.

Below the earth’s surface the little seed determined that it would grow so tall it would be able to reach the moon once more. Gradually a small shoot broke the soil’s surface and in the far distance was able to see the moon shining. The seedling decided to sleep during the daytime and waken only at night when the moon was visible. Weeks and months passed and the months became years until that tiny seed was a mature tree with its roots keeping it firm in the ground. After the tree flowered, winged seeds blew on the wind, a wind that caused a dozing bear to ask, “Why are you still awake, Tree?” Bear doesn’t hear the response though, it’s already slumbering once more.

Each night other animals use the tree for shelter and still the tree yearns for the moon. Then one night Squirrel asks the tree if it’s sad and tree responds thus, “I’m sad that I can’t reach the moon, where I once saw the most bright and beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Squirrel then invites the tree to stay awake during the day and together they would see something beautiful.

The following morning bees and birds greet the new day, the tree’s leaves look green against a blue sky

and henceforward the tree slept at night and stayed awake during the day to appreciate and love its earthly home.

The author/ illustrator engenders a sense of awe and wonder in her mixed media scenes of both night and day, be they of the maple tree stretching moonwards, the images of mammals and birds it sheltered, the splendour of a rosy dawn landscape, or our unforgettable blue planet viewed from space.

Don’t Disturb the Pirate!

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Don’t Disturb the Pirate!
Rhiannon Findlay and Sîan Roberts
Puffin Books


Young children will have fun joining the young protagonist in a search for his lively puppy, Patch, that has run away. There’s a need to tread carefully however and keep a watch out so as not to disturb the pirate captain and his crew. Scallywag Island offers plenty of hiding places for both pirates and the missing pup and who knows, you could stumble upon a treasure chest, a magical tree, a mermaid or even a helpful map. After looking high and low

what should our young pup hunter spy through his binoculars? Assuredly it’s something unexpected.

With its touches of magic, clues to follow, unexpected ending and fun, throwaway lines on the final page, young children will enjoy the adventure delivered through a jaunty rhyming text and Sîan Roberts’ exciting, brightly coloured scenes of the search. Make sure to peruse the map at the front of the book before you share the story. and allow time for young children to enjoy the playful details in the illustrations as you read.

Big Red Dragon: Play Rhymes Through the Year

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Big Red Dragon: Play Rhymes Through the Year
Jane Newberry and Carolina Rabei
Otter-Barry Books

From dinosaurs to diggers and rattle snakes to robins, this lively collection of fifteen playful action rhymes will soon have young children, be they at home or in an early years setting, eagerly participating in both actions and words.

The festival related rhymes are arranged through the year starting with the titular Big Red Dragon for Chinese New Year, then the Easter Bunny, Halloween Fun and Happy Diwali and Naughty Reindeer.
Each rhyme has a ‘Let’s Play’ suggestion set into the illustration giving ideas for ways little ones can join in, although some rhymes themselves will suggest movements and sounds, for instance toddlers might like to emulate the dragon’s paws and wings ‘clap clapping’, and ‘flap flapping’ with possible shouts of “Boing!’ as accompaniment.

Carolina Rabei’s playful illustrations are an ideal match for Jane Newberry’s rhymes;

her visual images are vibrantly coloured, textured, perfectly in tune with the words and sure to appeal to young children.

Definitely worth adding to foundation stage collections: I envisage it being used in lots of story time sessions when it will unobtrusively help develop children’s verbal and visual learning.

The Wild Outside

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The Wild Outside
Rachel Ip and Katie Hickey
Hodder Children’s Books

There’s nothing little Tulip likes better than to be outside exploring. She observes carefully the flora and fauna using all her senses and never stops asking questions to increase her knowledge. Then she comes upon a trail of muddy footprints on the path and a sign saying Nature Trail. Written in chalk in various places are labels naming lots of the plants, some she’s already familiar with, but lots that are new to her.

Who can possibly have made this trail, she wonders as she catches sight of somebody’s back retreating. Having filled her pockets with flowers and catkins, Tulip and her elder sibling return home and on the doorstep is a parcel with Tulip’s name on and inside is an illustrated botanical guide and a note encouraging her to keep on exploring.

On opening the book, Tulip is excited to find lots of plants and trees she recognises and is inspired to do some labelled drawings. This keeps her engaged until bedtime when she falls asleep wondering where the following day’s explorations will take her. However, come the morning it’s raining hard and so she further explores her book instead, visiting Asian mangroves and forests, the deserts and plains of Australia, African rainforests and grasslands, mountainous regions of Europe,

the North American tundra region, various South American habitats and the cold Antarctic deserts. A clever device this for introducing to readers habitats the world over.

The following day the sun returns but rain has washed away the chalk markings of the trail. However someone has created a new one: who could that be? Tulip chalks a list of plants from the trail, leaving question marks for some she can’t name. On her return walk she discovers somebody else has written the names of those plants and left a trail of footprints. Who could it be? Tulip is delighted to discover the identity of her fellow nature lover and she makes a very special floral thank you using the contents of her pockets and bag.

A smashing way of encouraging young children to emulate Tulip and become natural history enthusiasts. The vibrant illustrations show the abundance of flora Tulip encounters as she explores and the labels are accompanied by brief captions with additional information about each plant. A wonderful combination of story and non-fiction.

One-Button and the Sea

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One-Button and the Sea
Sara Stanley and Viviane Schwarz
Scallywag Press

‘Grandpa, tell me the story again of when we went to sea. That’s a BIG story, One-Button.
How does it begin? It begins with the uprooting . . .’ And thus, as One-Button sits with Grandpa we share in the story of what happens to a community that suddenly had to uproot and head out to sea in all manner of boats, some of which had several aboard, but Grandpa’s little boat had just the two of them. Leaving their everyday lives far behind, they sang to keep their spirits up as they encounter both calm and stormy waters. The fierce weather badly damaged some boats but this was a community and so everyone did what they could to help those affected, ensuring the safety of all.

There were happy times and sad times for everyone.

After ages on the sea, waiting, waiting, during which they found various creative ways to pass the time,

one day everything changed again. It was safe to return to their homeland, back where they truly belonged. It was time to carry on with their previous way of living, ready to start generating new stories but never forgetting their challenging experience at sea.

Yes, in her quirkily powerful scenes Viviane Schwarz has illustrated Sara’s telling with an animal community but the book would be ideal to share and then discuss, perhaps using a community of enquiry approach when children will likely link it to displaced people in various parts of the world. It’s hopeful and ultimately uplifting and definitely one to add to Foundations Stage and KS2 class collections.

You’re a Poet

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You’re a Poet
Sean Taylor, illustrated by Sam Usher
Walker Books

In a clever amalgam of story and non-fiction, author Sean Taylor has created a guide full of poetry-writing tips. There are five short stories starring Piglet, his family and friends, each of which shows children a different way to write a poem.

The first, Piglet … You’re a Poet starts with mum and Piglet in happy mood out walking along a puddly track towards a hill. Piglet, stops, picks up a large stone and drops it into a puddle causing a word-splash. ‘Sunshiny, earthy, wet, fresh, splashing puddle, ‘ says Piglet. Piglet has just created a poem, his mum tells him. This special happening reoccurs as they continue their walk, which culminates in the dizzy delights expressed as the two of them roly-poly down the hill and Mum’s confirmation that her son is a poet. Integral to Sean’s narrative is a demonstration of how to make a Puddle Poem and there are two spreads after the tale with a helpful lesson and ‘writing secrets’ aimed at children.

Of the remaining four stories, the second As Loud As Thunder Booming, introduces figurative language in the form of similes during a seaside family holiday on which Piglet’s pal Squirrel accompanies them.

The Breeze Is My Friend sees Piglet and Squirrel getting a soaking but not before the former has invented a descriptive poem about the seemingly playful breeze. The next tale has Piglet and Squirrel sharing a swing, the to-ing and fro-ing of which gives rise to Piglet’s ‘If I Was a Tree’ poem. Finally, on a day of rain showers Piglet invents an ‘I Would Give You’ poem especially for his Mum while the two paint his bedroom walls together; it’s his special way of saying thank-you to her and she in turn compliments Piglet on his ‘amazing imagination’.

With its compelling narrative, writing possibilities and Sam Usher’s playful and dramatic watercolour illustrations that instantly endear the story characters to readers/llisteners, the message ‘poetry writing is fun’ comes across loud and clear. An inspiring, must have book for foundation stage and KS1 classes.

Love in the Library

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Love in the Library
Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Yas Imamura
Walker Books


It’s possible to find love, even under the worst situations and so it was for Tama and George in this story based on the experiences of the author’s grandparents who were put in Minidoka incarceration camp during the second world war just for being Japanese Americans. (An author’s note explains the reasons for this terrible unjust treatment at the end of the book.)

This particular love blooms in a desert library in Minidoka incarceration camp where young Tama works. Every day George visits the library; he too is a lover of books, or so it seems as he always takes away a pile of them and always has a smile on his face. ‘Constant’ Tama calls George and his smile

as helped by books, she tries not to spend all her time thinking of the life before incarceration. Instead she thinks of the gift of the books she is surrounded by.

Gradually, struggling to describe her overwhelming feelings, she opens up to George. He offers her a word – human – and it helps her feel less alone; he also uses the same word to explain why he vistis the library daily and takes so many books. Hope and love blossom – a miracle for sure. Tama and George marry and their first child is born in Minidoka – another light in their lives.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s telling is beautifully crafted and together with exquisitely illustrated scenes by Yas Imamura in muted tones showing the harsh realities of the camp, highlight the injustice while at the same time celebrate the treasure of hope and love humans can find against all the odds.

A book that deserves to be widely read.

The Shy Book / One Up

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The Shy Book
Howard Pearlstein and James Munro
Graffeg

This interactive picture book is a novel way of introducing young children, particularly those about to start nursery or school, to a way of coping with their fears about meeting new people and coping with new situations. Its narrator is the titular book and it really does want to be read despite its extreme nervousness. It’s worried, sometimes to the point of dizziness, in case a reader finds it laughable, silly or much worse, boring …

‘go ahead … pick a different book’ it suggests. But what if instead a reader keeps turning the pages? Could they come upon the narrator’s suggestion and gently discover a non-threatening way to feel brave, despite feeling shy as the book does, especially at the outset?

Howard Pearlstein’s clever idea is simply presented, and brought to life by James Munro’s droll illustrations. Empowering and amusing.

One Up
Ben Sanders
Little Tiger

Blue and Green are tortoises and they’re best friends. But which is the bestest? That is a cause for competitiveness as each tortoise adds to his shell, making it bigger and bigger, until things get more than a bit out of hand, not to mention out of shell. Both Blue and green are way, way up in the sky

whereas their places of residence remain on the ground and the who is best issue is still unresolved.
For a reason unknown to both characters, Blue and Green start craving gelato. But they might have to wait a long while before that desire is satisfied. What in sky’s name can they do? And will they remain best friends?

With inventive, increasingly detailed illustrations of the competitive craziness resorted to by Green and Blue, plus the fun final twist, this is an amusing read aloud that shows the inventiveness of the characters (and the book’s author/artist). With an abundance of visual humour, both children and adult sharers will find themselves laughing as things get progressively precarious.

Paul the Peacock

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Paul the Peacock
Tilly Matthews
Happy Yak

It’s clear from the outset that Paul considers himself an entitled peacock. He has the biggest nest, the most loyal friend and his pride and joy – the most beautiful feathers in the forest. His trusty pal Noris the loris ensures that Paul receives plenty of pampering every single day until one evening a fierce storm blows up. Norris is sent out for more branches to strengthen Paul’s nest but the loris has had enough of his feathery friend’s arrogance and bossiness.

The following morning Paul wakes to discover disaster has struck: he no longer has a home, Norris and worst of all, his feathers have gone – every single one.

For the first time ever, the peacock heads out on his own to search for those missing feathers; Paul is nothing without his plumage so he’s determined to retrieve every single one. Now politeness is not a quality Paul possesses so he goes about demanding the animals he comes upon with one of those feathers to return it immediately; either that or he attempts to snatch it back.

Hmm, you’ve a lot to learn Paul and you’re going to have to do it the hard way, and eventually he does.
Could those same creatures that he’s treated so badly enable Paul to discover that there’s something even more important in life than himself and his appearance?

Tilly Matthews’ fun fable demonstrates the importance of considering the feelings of others as well as being able to show humility and value one’s friends. The illustrations are full of drama and details that will amuse both young listeners and adult sharers of the book. Lots to think about and discuss here.

Fart Zoo / Not Another Unicorn Book

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Fart Zoo
Leigh Hodgkinson
Walker Books

Have an air freshener close at hand when you share this malodorous book with youngsters for you’ll be paying a visit to an exceedingly pongy place.

At this unique zoo (make sure you read all the signs at the entrance) you will encounter more than twenty fart varieties so wearing a nose peg or a face mask might be a good idea. Read too the signs relating to the beastie(s) in each enclosure. Thanks to Leigh Hodgkinson’s narrative and madcap visual portrayals you will quickly discover they come in all shapes and sizes including those sneaky, cheeky …

shlumpy and grumpy, squeaky and freaky, even posh farts (though how that’s possible I truly wonder) and several others.

Finally, however comes an empty enclosure: seemingly a fart has done a runner but where could it possibly be? Chaos rapidly ensues. With the zoo gate wide open the escapee might be anywhere, but it’s not actually left the venue. A couple of eagle-eyed security staff eventually apprehend the whiffer (Evade Fartum), put it back on its recliner and lock the gate but how long will it remain there is anyone’s guess – check out the final scene.

Replete with silly speech bubbles, this is fetid fun for little ones and any adult with a sufficiently strong constitution to read aloud Leigh’s rhyming rendition. (Wearing my science studies hat, the final User’s Guide to Farts is not strictly correct as a classification. For instance ‘Escaping farts should be Fartum evado and ghostly farts should be Fartum umbrabilis and so on … ie only the genus name is capitalised, not the species.)

Another subject with great appeal for young children is:

Not Another Unicorn Book
Laura Baker and Chris Jevons
Scholastic

The unicorn narrator of this book is anything but pleased at the possibility of being in a unicorn book, vowing she would ‘never, ever ‘ do so but fate takes its course …


There’s nothing for it but to escape its covers as soon as possible. Try as she might with her chomping, poo-dodging and running, her search for adventure doesn’t match up to her expectations. Maybe being in a unicorn book is not actually so bad after all. Assuredly it has its compensations.

Undoubtedly countless little human unicorn lovers will fall for the protagonist in this rainbow coloured setting with its sparkly starry sprinkles that even hover over the poo piles and delicious-looking confections shown in Chris Jevon’s dramatic scenes

The Dictionary Story

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The Dictionary Story
Sam Winston and Oliver Jeffers
Walker Books

A little dictionary’s realisation that she’s merely a list of definitions whereas the other books lined up beside her on the shelf contain stories, makes her decide that things must change: she resolves to ‘bring her words to life’. Thereupon an alligator of the hungry kind makes an appearance by opening the definitions enclosing him and proceeds to the D pages from where a delicious smell emanates in the form of a doughnut (donut is used here). The tasty confection sees him coming and rather than being consumed rolls off, accidentally right into Ghost – make that through him – and wakes the apparition. Donut continues on its way hotly pursued by Alligator, to the moon. As said moon starts interrogating the two, Ghost appears scaring the moonlight out of them all and prompting Alligator and Donut to rush off until midway through the dictionary the former catches up, only to collide with the Queen who ends up flat on her derriere.

Where will this all end, you might be wondering. Let’s just say total chaos ensues mainly due to the appearance of a tornado, spilled ink, a Viking, an umbrella and more.

In order to restore some semblance of order to the situation and the dismayed dictionary, she calls upon the help of her friend Alphabet whose song solves everything leaving all the words back in their proper places at last. PHEW!

Make sure you read all the tiny print on the dictionary pages ; those definitions are frequently hilarious and very clever, seemingly serving as a stage upon which the alphabetic characters perform. The definition of marmalade for instance is ‘A sort of jam made from citrus fruit, usually oranges. Marmalade is perhaps the main reason that the universe came into existence.’ Vacuum cleaner is defined thus, “An electrical machine that is used to clean floors by sucking up dust and dirt. It’s great at cleaning the house, but you’d best leave the dishes to something else.’

Sam Winston’s comic pacing of the tale – a meta celebration of words – is superb. Superb too are Oliver Jeffers’s naive style illustrations showing the shenanigans of the characters. Totally immersive and brilliantly created right from the real dictionary shown at the front of the book. The more you read it the more delights you will discover, it’s a veritable wordy wonder.

Bear’s Lost Glasses

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Bear’s Lost Glasses
Leo Timmers
Gecko Press

Right from the cover illustration, young children will love being in the know as to the whereabouts of Bear’s glasses but the ursine character decides that he’s left them at Giraffe’s house so off he trots. Now sans specs, as he tells us, he ‘can’t see a thing’ but nevertheless he comments on various objects he passes en route to his friend’s, misidentifying them in turn as a deer, a crocodile, an elephant, a flamingo, each of which astonishes him.

He even fails to recognise Giraffe who is taking it easy on his lounger, calling him instead a snake. Bear apologies and explains his plight; Giraffe then ‘returns’ the glasses to their owner, which allows Bear to uphold his original notion.

Bear goes on to tell his pal of the unusual sights he’s seen en route and eager to see them for himself, Giraffe accompanies the now bespectacled Bear as he makes his way back the same way he came. Of course, neither spots the flamingo nor the elephant,

the crocodile or the deer though a confused Bear blames his glasses. These he then removes and goes on to point out to Giraffe, three lions nearby.

A terrific, tongue-in-cheek comical delight that puts forward the possibility that seeing with one’s imagination is preferable to viewing reality. Little ones will relish Timmers’ tale of discovering – albeit accidentally – new ways of seeing the world and loudly correcting him with regard to the misidentifies flora and fauna.

The Little Worried Caterpillar / Dig Dig Dinosaur

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The Little Worried Caterpillar
Christine Pym
Scholastic

Little Green is on the brink of change. However she’s not aware of this when she wakes early one morning ready to play with her caterpillar pals, but she can’t find them anywhere on the ground. Then a call tells her that they have morphed into butterflies and are way up above her. “You’ll be next, there’s no doubt!” they tell her. However rather than sprouting wings, she sprouts fear, a fear of change that brings with it worries about the unknown. Her friends reassure Little Green that change is what they were born to do and it’s exciting but this makes her feel even worse.

Along comes bee with what is meant to be some helpful advice; she gets momentary relief but that’s all.

Other creatures also offer suggestions but nothing works until Rabbit appears on the scene. Rabbit listens and what her new friend tells Little Green enables her to feel ready to embrace and prepare for that transformational change

and become … Butterfly Green.

Some young children take change in their stride, others needs considerable support from empathetic friends and understanding adults. A book such as this one is particularly valuable for sharing with the second kind. Christine Pym’s illustrations capture so well Little Green’s fearfulness and eventual delight.

Dig Dig Dinosaur
Professor Anjali Goswami and Maggie Li
Nosy Crow

Three intrepid little explorers with their kit at the ready are on an expedition in the hope of finding something, something ‘REALLY big’. Dig! Dig! Dig! they go till one person discovers some remains of a sharp clawed dinosaur. These claws make the finder conclude that they belonged to a Velociraptor.

A second child’s Dig! Dig! Dig! digging unearths three large horns: young readers can perhaps guess from which dinosaur these came..

Still intent on finding something even bigger, they continue hunting till the third explorer tells of a dinosaur with a very long tail. and a tiny head supported by an extra long neck.

Little ones can have fun guessing what this might be before the big reveal fold out … They will also enjoy the peep hole pages showing the skeletal remains the young explorers find during the dig.

Worry Boots

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Worry Boots
Lisa Thompson and Aysha Awwad
Scholastic

It’s Connie’s first day at school and after putting on her shiny new boots she, her mother and younger sibling set off for the bus stop. Before long Connie stops and calls out to her mum, “There’s something in my boot!” Having wriggled her foot around, her tummy feeling like a dinosaur’s bumpy bottom, she then, declares that it’s a dinosaur and consequently she can’t go to school because everyone will stare at her.

Mum reassures her that this won’t happen and they continue on their way, Connie now not feeling the lumpy bump.

Having boarded the bus, Connie feels the thing in her boot again only now it seems hard and spiky. It must be a unicorn’s horn she decides, informing her mum of the situation and again saying she cannot go to school. Now her tummy feels hard and spiky. Mum tells her all will be well but as they approach the school gate Connie feels another visitation – sharp and pointy this time. There’s no way she’s going into school with a shark in her boot. She’ll frighten everyone out of their wits.

With a sharp pointy feeling in her tummy Connie then sees her teacher welcoming the children as they arrive in the classroom and she has a big smile on her face. Maybe it’s not a shark then, but still that boot and Connie’s tum don’t feel quite right. Before she says goodbye, quick thinking Mum suggests they remove whatever is in her daughter’s boot; she upends it and out falls … What do you think?

Feeling so much better Connie then goes to join the other children in the classroom. With so many new friends perhaps her day won’t be nearly as bad as she had been anticipating.

Acknowledging young children’s first day anxieties, this reassuring story is perfect for sharing with little ones. With her powerful imagination, Connie is a delight and Aysha Awwad’s portrayal captures her feelings beautifully.

A Mystery At The Incredible Hotel

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A Mystery At The Incredible Hotel
Kate Davies and Isabelle Follath
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

We’re back at the Incredible Hotel for a second story which begins one autumn afternoon when manager Mr Starch announces that the World Baking Contest is to be held in the hotel and the head judge will be Chef Tartine, owner of the Stupendous Restaurant. Moreover Chef Stefan has been chosen to represent the city of Delaunay in the event. Stefan works and works until he’s invented a new secret recipe but come the morning of the contest, shock horror! His recipe has disappeared.

Fortunately ace detective, aka Matilda, the hotel’s bellhop, Stephan’s best friend is at the ready to solve the case. But who can the thief possibly be? It turns out that a chef’s hat has also gone missing as well as a cushion.

As Matilda continues trying to find a thief, the police are busy interrogating various suspects. She follows footprints but suddenly is apprehended and accused by Mr Starch of being the thief herself. Just in time however, the determined Matilda discovers the whereabouts of the recipe and the other missing articles. All is forgiven by a very shame-faced manager

and she’s given a new role; but by now there are only ten minutes of the competition left. Surely Stefan can’t bake his cake in time for the judging – or can he …

Another truly tasty treat from team Davis and Follath. Children will delight in joining Matilda as she follows clues to the surprise revelation of the culprit, as well as savouring the delicious details in Isabelle Follath’s mixed media scenes of the unfolding events. Watch out for the antics of the cat and mouse as you peruse the pages.

One Day at a Time / Roots of Love

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One Day at a Time
Rachel Ip and Natalle Quek
Hodder Children’s Books

Robin and Poppy couldn’t be happier with their family life; their days are full of fun and adventuring together. And every springtime the children and their parents plant sunflower seeds together and watch them grow and bloom in the summertime. Then one summer Daddy tells the children that their parents are separating and will be living in different homes.. “We’ll always be a family, and we’ll always love you,” Dad reassures them. Poppy and Robin don’t want this to happen but despite the tears and talking, and the hugs, happen it does.

As you would expect both brother and sister are emotionally mixed up;

they also show this in different ways. Robin shares his worries with his friends at school whereas Poppy keeps everything to herself.

Both of them though ask their parents lots of questions and they all choose sunflower blooms to take to their parents’ new homes. Homes that are very different too.

Come the following spring Robin finds the dried out sunflower heads in the garden shed; they are absolutely full of seeds and give them an idea. Before long they have more than enough to sow in both mum’s and dad’s gardens. Little by little both Poppy and Robin have accepted their new way of life and realise that they will be okay; They are able to laugh more, hug more and of course, there is more than enough love for everyone; after all they are still a family no matter what.
A sensitively written and illustrated story that is full of hope and love, a story that offers an optimistic view of separation. However Poppy and Robin are fortunate in the way their parents separate; not all families are so amicable; indeed some children’s parents are downright hostile toward each other and this takes its toll on their offspring.

Also about changes in family circumstances is:

Roots of Love
Sarah Asuquo and Ruthine Burton
Scholastic

Subtitled Families Change, Love Remains, this story starts with a happy little girl, Tia who has just enjoyed the best day at school ever. But that evening after dinner her mother tells her to leave her project about her family and come and join a talk with her mum and dad. She knows they have been keeping something a secret recently and realises quickly that this isn’t going to be cheerful chat. Instead she learns that her parents are going to separate and that her dad will move out. “We’re still a family, we’re just changing to something new,” her mum tells her. Devastated little Tia rushes upstairs and cries herself to sleep.

Next day at school her class are to present their projects about families; inevitably Tia is worried about how her classmates will react to what she says. However what she hears from some of her friends about the variety of families they have, surprises, reassures and empowers her, enabling her to share her project too.

Using the apt metaphor of a tree Tia explains how her family has changed.

Ultimately reassuring, Sarah Asuquo’s story with its inclusive illustrations by Ruthie Burton is one for KS1 class collections as well as for sharing with individuals.

All You Need To Know About Dogs

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All You Need To Know About Dogs
Fred Blunt
Happy Yak

Now I’m no lover of cats, far from it – they bring me out in an itchy rash, neither am I a dog lover (having been mauled by an Alsatian as a child). However I am a fan of Fred Blunt’s picture books. which is why I read this. It’s told by a matter of fact cat and indeed there are actually two versions. The first is extremely brief, blunt you might say and is over in one spread; the second is the extended one for which our narrator employs rhyme to talk about the various breeds of dog

and to inform us of the many reasons dogs are stupid. For instance despite their having an excellent sense of smell, they use it for ridiculous activities. Then there’s what they do with their poo and as for the fur … It’s hard not to agree with all that moggy has said thus far.

In contrast when you come to cats, they are just cats,

only with some felines you get rather more than you bargained for and when a scary moment arises dogs come into their own. It’s assuredly the case here for loyalty reigns and a dog might just turn out to be the best friend of all.

Both cat and dog lovers of all ages will lap this up; so too will those who enjoy wit and a good laugh.

A Boy Called Book / Reading Together

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A Boy Called Book
Vincent Ralph and Aaron Cushley
Scholastic

When a mother and father decide to call their newborn baby Book, it bothers a variety of people and puzzles the little boy he becomes. One day he asks his mum, “Why am I Book?” “Because your life is a story … You can write it however you want,” comes the reply.

First Book decides to become an adventure story, full of exciting chapters. When he turns four, Book starts school but for him, this feels like being part of a scary story. Until that is, his mum’s mention of heroes and being brave leads to Book making his very first friend.

A friend who loves to have fun and laugh a lot – a joke book.

Gradually Book learns such a lot that he aspires to become an encyclopaedia but not all his book types bring him happiness; he also faces sadness, loss (an emptiness inside) but then he receives a special something in the post that makes him forget his sad feelings for a while. So too do pictures of different kinds and gradually back come Book’s smiles. Eventually Book sees that his life is much more than a book; it’s an entire library and one that will keep on growing and growing …

Vincent Ralph’s picture book author debut is an unusual and powerful one that shows the power of story to shape us, inspire us and also to heal us. Powerful too are Aaron Cushley’s scenes of the boy’s developing competences and supportive family life.
On a similar theme is

Reading Together
Robert Broder and Melissa Larson
Blue Star Press

Having an adult or two in your life who are passionate about reading and share books with their baby from the outset, will likely set that infant on the road to becoming a reader and lover of books and stories too. So it is for the mother and father narrators of this book who read to their little one from birth. We are party to various developmental stages such as sitting up and eating solid food, alongside various kinds of books – an abc, flap books the child can manipulate independently, books of nursery rhymes. We see how stories come to life on the page with their elements seemingly becoming a part of the home environment too.

We see too the joys of visiting a bookshop and coming out with arms full of new picture books to enjoy together at every opportunity, so much so that after reading and loving them so much they needed to be mended; books such as wordless ones, rhyming ones and fairy tales. Sometimes no book at all was needed, instead a story would be co-created using family members’ imaginations.

Such was the power of all this book/story experience that eventually two readers in the family become three as the child grows up to be an independent reader herself. Job done, you might say; hopefully not, for confident solo readers too should have stories read to them and I suspect it was so in this family.

Melissa Larson’s portrayal of family life in this household certainly shows how memories are created and emphasises the importance of sharing books together right from the start. What a wealth of connections are created by so doing.

Fly Free!

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Fly Free!
Roseanne Greenfield Thong and Eujin Kim Neilan
Astra Books for Young Readers

Using a chain of simple interactions between a variety of people and the repeat refrain, “Fly free, fly free, in the sky so blue. When you do a good deed, it will come back to you!” the narrative of this story comes full circle.

Set in Vietnam, the story opens with young Mai who visits the temple early one morning. Before going inside she feeds the birds kept in a cage near the entrance. As a Buddhist, it is her hope that someone will be able to do what she cannot afford: to pay for the release of the birds. On this particular morning Mai notices another girl Thu, who removes her red slippers before going in; Mai waits and when she comes out, offers her some bird seed so she too can feed the birds. She also whispers the “Fly free …” refrain. This sets off a concatenation of good deeds and having performed a kind action each person sings the same refrain as a kind of suggestion to pay it forward when an opportunity arises.

Eventually the chain comes full circle and as Mai watches, a man pays for the birds’ release, nodding to her to open the cage.

In a final note the author explains that her story of the characters’ actions is based on the Buddhist doctrine of karma as well as the principle of the wheel of life.

Using earthy tones and subtle texturing Eujin Kim Neilan’s striking scenes show the gentle joy each character experiences as they perform a kind act.
It’s vital that all children come to understand the importance of empathy and generosity and sharing this heartwarming tale of selfless actions and having a circle time discussion is one way of demonstrating these qualities.

The Seal on the Beach

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The Seal on the Beach
Mara Bergman and Brita Granström
Walker Books

This treasure of a picture book celebrates the delights of a British seaside holiday: sand dunes, cliff walks, bracing salt water bathing, beach huts, a pier, a boat trip, ice-cream and the littoral wild life to be seen. It’s also a story of a young girl, Maggie’s anxiety; about missing her Mum, her new-born baby brother sick n hospital and the seal pup abandoned on the beach, which she finds stranded among the pebbles while out walking with her Uncle Jack and Aunt Jean.

It’s the most amazing thing she’s ever seen and she feels very protective towards it, so much so that it haunts her dreams.

Her aunt and uncle, as well as the lifeguards to whom they report their find, reassure Maggie that the seal mother will return. That doesn’t happen however and a very sickly little seal has to be rescued and cared for by the RSPCA.

There’s a happy ending though both for Maggie’s own family and the seal pup, named after her, which she sees returned to the sea.

Mara Bergman’s episodic, poetic prose is every bit as elegant as Brita Granstrom’s beautiful watercolours, which are a joy to behold. Feast your eyes on the seaweed, snail and shell strewn endpapers before reading the story with children. For adult sharers it will likely bring back memories of their own childhood summer seaside adventures.

The Boy and the Octopus

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The Boy and the Octopus
Caryl Lewis and Carmen Saldana
Puffin Books

The arresting cover image of a small child snuggled up with an octopus immediately drew me into the pages of the book.
Meet Stanley whose favourite toy is that octopus and who in his dreams sees its skin change colour according to various feelings. Particularly important is Octopus’s ability to camouflage himself and hide when something scary comes along; indeed when beset by anxiety and fear Stanley would really like to be able to disappear.too.

There’s the occasion when other children mock him as he walks in the park leaving him unable even to talk with his dad about what happened. That night though Stanley and Octopus have a dream encounter with a sea monster and when he wakes from the experience something feels different.
The following morning Stanley sets about using his creativity to convey his feelings

under the watchful eye of his supportive dad. Thereafter having made a promise to his dad, Stanley is ready to step out and face up to difficult situations with a new-found confidence, empowered by his artistry.

Being bullied is a topic that many children find hard to talk about, often thinking when it happens that it’s somehow their fault. In her text Caryl Lewis makes it clear this isn’t so.

Carmen Saldaña’s arresting underwater sleep scenes are awash with pinks and blues in contrast to the family and park pictures that have been executed with a much more varied colour palette.

As an Early Years teacher I have encountered many traumatised children from different parts of the world: they would frequently reveal their feelings through their art so this story particularly resonated with me. It’s one to share and talk about in Foundation stage settings and at home.

Aisha’s Colours

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Aisha’s Colours
Nabila Adani
Walker Books

Aisha and her parents live in Jakarta. It’s the summer holidays so they are going to spend the time at Grandma’s in a countryside village as they always do. However, Aisha’s not happy: she longs to go somewhere different like her friends.

Once in the car, Aisha talks of her friend Jennie; she’s off to a snowy place: what does snow taste like? Recounting Jennie’s description to her parents gives Mum an idea and they stop for a while and savour a special sweet crispy, crunchy treat – es campur.

As they continue Aisha talks of the blue sky another friend sees when in his holiday home swimming pool, prompting Dad to point out the stunning blues visible through the car window.

The car engine overheats and they have to pause their journey. At her mum’s behest Aisha and Dad go and lie down in a grassy field where the little girl describes the wonderful hues of tropical fish in an aquarium, another of her friends saw on his holiday. Suddenly the sky is filled with multi-coloured kites soaring above.

When they resume their drive, Aisha contemplates the beauty of the colours she’s seen on the way until they finally reach their destination. There Grandma stands;

Aisha is so excited to see her, but she’s even more excited when Grandma serves up her favourite meal. Could its predominantly yellowy colour be Aisha’s favourite? She’s not sure but of one thing she is certain: henceforward she is going to savour the amazing colours in her own life rather than compare her experiences with those of others.

Appreciating what you have is an important theme of this book wherein Nabila Adani’s illustrations engulf readers in a kaleidoscope of colours as they join Aisha on her journey of discovery.

Olu’s Teacher

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Olu’s Teacher
Jamel C. Campbell and Lydia Mba
Walker Books

Understandably Olu is very nervous about starting nursery school. His Dad reminds him that his friends Akeem and Sarah will be there, but what about the teacher? As he contemplates this new person, imagining all kinds of scary possibilities, he suddenly says, “MACARONI!” This is the word Olu uses when he’s really nervous. His worries get the better of him several times despite the reassurances from his Dad and Mum; and they reach the nursery building all too soon for our little narrator. However, it’s a really warm, friendly face that greets him and introduces himself as ‘Jay”. When Jay smiles he shows his shiny gold tooth, which he does all the way to the classroom. Once there he invites Olu to sit with his friends and make some pictures.

Mum gives her son a goodbye hug and departs leaving him in Jay’s care.
Olu could not have had a better teacher that Jay: he plays the boy’s favourite reggae music on his guitar

and at story time, dons a special cape before sharing a book with the children. Olu is surprised at how quickly the session has gone and it’s time to leave. Before so doing, however, a realisation dawns: Jay actually looks like Olu – another reason he’s eagerly anticipating returning to nursery the next day.

A smashing, hugely reassuring book by a smashing teacher (the author is himself an Early Years educator) and as he writes after the story, he knows that starting nursery is one of the big, and most important, transitions in a child’s life and it’s vital everything possible is done to ensure that for every child, it’s a positive one. Lydia Mba’s illustrations of the diverse community Olu joins when he starts nursery certainly make it look an exciting, enabling place to be.

The Dandelion’s Tale

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The Dandelion’s Tale
Margaret Anne Suggs
Graffeg

In this allegorical tale about migration, a group of once happy dandelions is forced to move in the face of tools, machines and weed-killing chemicals.

With their spirits low, they hear the words of a calling breeze that gives them the courage to move from the persecution of their homeland field and float upwards. They drift over the walls, fields, meadows of the countryside, higher over city rooftops, up, up traversing mountains, cliffs and seemingly endless seas of blue.

Finally they find a peaceful place and with hope renewed, land in a green grassy environment to begin life anew;

a tranquil place where the bees and other minibeasts make them feel welcome and where in time, they will become a part of a thriving community of wildlife once more.

The watercolour illustrations are touched by whimsy whenever a minibeast is depicted, helping to keep the fable light in tone throughout the book. The penultimate page gives factual information about dandelion plants – their importance and various uses.

A seemingly simple story about seed dispersal that offers a good starting point for talking with very young children about humans who, in times of crisis, see no option but to flee their homes and seek sanctuary in another country.

Rabbit On the Rampage

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Rabbit On the Rampage
Lorna Watson and Rikin Parekh
Walker Books

Like many young humans, Rabbit has a favourite object that accompanies her to lots of different places and like adults, young children get very annoyed when they can’t find that special thing.
Rabbit’s favourite thing is a carrot; this she takes to swimming with her every Sunday but rather than plunge said carrot into the pool, Rabbit deposits it in her coat before entering the water. One Sunday though, shock horror! When she goes to retrieve Carrot it’s not there. A search of the pool and changing room prove carrotless and Rabbit is convinced it’s been stolen.

Following the suggestion of the swim coach, she retraces her steps; first stop Badger’s home where she’d had lunch. In storms Rabbit accusing her friend of Curly Carrot theft. Badger’s response is to remind her he doesn’t like carrots and instead offers one of his garden peas. This infuriates Rabbit and wow does she let Badger know.

Next Rabbit returns to the dance school where she’d had a lesson with Madame Mouse. Once again she makes a dramatic entry and accusation. This is met by the offer of a cauliflower from the dance teacher, which again infuriates Rabbit causing her to hurl the crunchy crucifer out the window.

A further revisit results in an awful outcome,

though now Rabbit is starting to feel just a tad bothered about the way she’s treated her pals. Off home to bed she goes and there garment by garment she removes her outdoor attire …

Time for Rabbit to make amends to her innocent friends …

Hilarious! Lorna Watson’s debut as picture book author is definitely destined to be a big hit with young children. Her rhyming text is brilliantly complemented by Rikin Parekh’s wonderfully dramatic scenes of Rabbit and her outrageous behaviour as she storms around on her search.

G.O.A.T.

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G.O.A.T.
Kate Temple, Jol Temple and Rebel Challenger
Scholastic

Goat considers himself the Greatest Of All Time: none of the other creatures comes anywhere near him when it comes to greatness. Take Duck for instance; Duck is the Deadliest Underwater Crumb King and Donkey is Devourer Of Nice Kind Easter Yams.

Donkey needs correcting on G.O.A.T. for thinking it stands for Grunts Often At Termites, something Goat denies doing, though the Termites disagree on that. And so the discussion goes on until it appears that all the animals have ways of being GOAT, well maybe make that all but one.

Totally bonkers though if you’ve met books written by Kate and Jol Temple this probably won’t surprise you. Deliciously daft too are Rebel Challenger’s colourful portrayals of the animal characters – an ideal complement for the text.

Now should you want to introduce acronyms to children, this book offers a great starting point; however first and foremost it should be shared for its hugely playful content. I imagine it going down really well in a KS1 classroom: the most important thing children will get from it is that language is fun.

The Bison and the Butterfly

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The Bison and the Butterfly
Alice Hemming and Nancy Leschnikoff
Ivy Kids

Free to roam wherever she chooses and well fed, Bison should feel happy but she doesn’t. Woodpecker suggests that she needs a friend. Woodpecker’s place is in the treetops so off sets Bison in search of that “Someone to trample through the woods with”. But why would any creature want to befriend a big hairy animal like her, she wonders. Woodpecker explains how Bison’s stripping of bark from the trees, provides access to food, a great help for a bird seeking breakfast.

As she goes about her regular daily activities, Bison encounters some of her smaller forest neighbours – Dung Beetle,

Lizard – in particular but although both say they benefit from her actions, (Dung Beetle eats her poo and Lizard enjoys sunbathing in the bare patches of earth the large animal makes as she rolls) neither is that special friend.

Suddenly Bison hears what sounds like crying; she stops and asks, “Is everything all right?” Resisting the ‘Go away” instruction because the voice sounded so sad, Bison responds thus, “It sounds like you need a friend.” .

Now despite not wanting to trample through the woods, it turns out that this lonely butterfly is the ideal companion for woodland rambles. So begins a wonderful friendship …

Produced in collaboration with Kent Wildlife Trust, the author uses a sweet tale of searching for a friend to show how an ecosystem works. Backmatter gives information about Bison’s role as a ‘keystone species’ that helps keep nature in balance enabling key plant species to flourish, which act as a food plant for heath fritillary butterflies. Following that is an outline of The Wilder Blean Project launched two years back – an exciting success story so far.

With its expressive illustrations and narrative style writing, sharing this story containing messages about the impact we have on those around us, and the importance of kindness, empathy and friendship.with young children would provide a good starting point for learning about ecosystems.

Perla The Mighty Dog

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Perla The Mighty Dog
Isabel Allende and Sandy Rodríguez
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Isabel Allende’s debut picture book is narrated by Perla, a pooch with self-attributed superpowers. The first is, ‘I can make anybody love me.’ The second is ‘I can ROAR like a lion.’ The latter is pretty astounding given Perla’s diminutive size.

When the Rico family arrives at the animal shelter looking for a guard dog, Perla employs superpower number 1, which makes young Nico Rico fall for the pooch. For him no other will do but to convince the other Ricos, Perla uses the lion-like roar and that seals the deal. Once in the Rico’s residence – a big old house that once ‘belonged to a wizard’ who still apparently visits leaving sprinklings of magic dust behind – Perla gets to know the family members better. That includes forming a pact with Lucy, the somewhat lazy moggie.

What would satisfy Perla the most though is to be able to help Nico, who unbeknown to the humans in the family, is being bullied at school.

Then one Saturday when playing ball with Nico, an incident with a squirrel results in Perla facing up to a very large, fearsome dog by roaring and charging, the result being celebrity status for Perla.

This prompts Nico to ask magnificent Perla to teach him superpower number 2, aka the mighty roar; this the obliging pooch promptly does with some slightly alarming but ultimately satisfying results for both Nico and Perla.

It’s the latter’s winsome narrative, with its vital message about finding the courage to stand up to bullies, which makes this book such an enjoyable read aloud. That and Sandy Rodríguez’s spirited, splendidly expressive ink and watercolour scenes.

Around the World with Friends

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Around the World with Friends
Philip Waechter
Gecko Press

When Racoon decides he’s ready for adventure he anticipates his round the world trip will be a solo one. However, having visited Badger to borrow his boat and paddle, he’s persuaded that his friend should accompany him. Before long Racoon has also collected Fox with a supply of eggs, Bear to keep jellyfish and marine monsters at bay and Crow to act as lookout. Off go the friends in upbeat mood down the river. It’s not long before they encounter what Fox decides is a poisonous water snake but is quickly put right by Racoon’s reassurance that it’s a grass snake. On they go,

only to be caught in rapids which fortunately don’t capsize the boat, eventually reaching a sandy bank where they decide to make a camp and eat. Wasps make a nuisance of themselves but Bear gets rid of them while Fox cooks a delicious meal. After this they play football and take a cooling swim.

Then down comes the rain and with night descending they realise that it’s time to head home.

Agreeing that it’s been ‘a proper adventure’ they gather up everything and agree to have another expedition in a few days time.

A perfect day, thinks Raccoon as he lies abed reading the same book that prompted him to undertake the trip in the first place.

Waechter’s illustrations created mainly with pen and crayon, be they of the animals’ homes, the locality or the areas the friends pass through on their adventure, are full of details that will cause readers to pause and spend time looking closely at each one. With its gentle humour, this is just the story to share with children on a warm, lazy summer’s day.

Torla & Smorla and the Lower Than Average Cloud

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Torla & Smorla and the Lower Than Average Cloud
Kes Grey and Chris Jevons
Happy Yak

Meet giraffe friends, Torla and Smorla with their star patterned coats. One day the two are out on a ‘longer-than-average walk’ when Smorla comments on the beautiful day. However with Torla’s head engulfed by a fluffy white ‘lower-than-average cloud’, as her friend tells her, nothing is visible but white. Her concerns about seeing where she’s going are quickly allayed when Smorla offers to take the lead, saying that sooner or later the cloud will disappear.

Now trust is crucial in such situations and Torla totally trusts her pal, following her instructions carefully. In this way (but now seeing grey) she avoids bumping into a tree (taller than average), tripping over ‘lazier-than-average lions’;

she navigates a path without getting scratched by the ‘pricklier-than-average bushes’. By now the cloud has become an even greyer grey.

They stop just before a chasm in their path where Smorla tells her friend to bend her knees and do her biggest forward jump ever. Safely across, they walk round crocodiles practising yoga and bingo-playing hippos, over an elephant enjoying the sun, across a tightrope traversing a ravine,

past dancing flamingos until finally they stop. Down comes heavy rain from the now black cloud above Torla’s head. Now can you believe it but Smorla just happens to have a pocket within which she has something else that’s bigger-than-average. Can you guess what?

Children will love the animal antics of the bit part players almost as much as the dialogue between the giraffe characters, which as one would expect of Ken Grey, is wonderfully droll.

The Boy Who Painted the World

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The Boy Who Painted the World
Tom McLaughlin
Oxford Children’s Books

When a boy steps into a book he’s under the impression it’s empty but he’s wrong. So intent is he at looking around that he upends three cans of paint sending their contents everywhere. When he apologises for the mess he’s made, he’s told by a brush that the spilt paint is not mess, rather it’s an opportunity and soon the green splurge is transformed into a ‘messy-a-saurus’. The brush then suggests the boy should try painting, something the boy says he cannot do. Nevertheless he dips the brush into the pot of blue paint and nervously makes a square shape, albeit a wobbly one.. With further encouragement from the brush he proceeds to produce all manner of things with wobbly shapes.

This so excites the brush that he tells the user that he’s made art. Further playfulness with the brush and paint in various hues results in such things as a pink lemonade ocean, llamas sporting pyjamas and a brown bear until finally they’ve got all the colours of the rainbow. After a bit of rainbow sliding, paint splashes and splurges are everywhere. As you will by now probably expect, these are rapidly transformed, becoming creatures, friendly and not so friendly, and a way more enormous mess.

By this time, the boy needs no encouragement: a realisation dawns and whoppee! There’s no stopping our young paint brush wielder.

What a wonderfully joyful, effervescent celebration of creativity unleashed and an important demonstration that if you accept your mistakes with a positive attitude you can turn them into imaginative opportunities. Young children aren’t inhibited by not being able to draw/paint, rather they just enjoy being creative. However all too soon those negative, “I can’t paint” notions take over and their confidence in themselves as artists wanes. Share this story; it could, one hopes, help keep that creative spark from being extinguished as they get older.

Godfrey is a Frog

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Godfrey is a Frog
Alex Latimer
Oxford Children’s Books

After undergoing the usual changes from tiny egg floating in a pond, Godfrey has become a frog. He sits atop a lily pad eagerly anticipating the next change but weeks pass, then months and he’s still the same two armed, two legged, long, sticky tongued frog.

As he looks around at the other creatures he decides they’re all way more exciting than he is. Then having made a final inspection in the hope he might have missed a new development. Godfrey plunges into the pond, right to the bottom, where he immerses himself in the mud. Up swims minnow, Brinley. “I wish I had legs like yours so I could hop about!” says the fish. Other pond creatures also express a wish to possess features like Godfrey’s.

The frog ponders upon their words for a while. Maybe now something else is changing – something within. Is Godfrey finally ready to accept and appreciate himself and his fabulous frogginess.

Alex Latimer’s fabulously funky portrayal of Godfrey will ensure he endears himself to young audiences who will love being in the know about a frog’s life cycle. (Just in case any have yet to learn this, there’s a pictorial spread showing how it happens after the story).

Listeners will love the alliterative phrases in the text and Alex’s playful scenes, especially those showing Godfrey’s protruding tongue and imaginings about possible changes.

Bea’s Bad Day

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Bea’s Bad Day
Tom Percival
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

This is the latest in Tom’s Big Bright Feelings series.
Bea has been counting down the days to her birthday and now with just two left to go, she’s very excited. A party is to be held and all her family members have been invited including her Grandma, Bampi and cousins.

The following day though it starts to snow and it keeps on and on until everything is white and it’s obvious the postman won’t be able to deliver any cards or presents; moreover her dad can’t go and get any party food. At least some relations are coming tomorrow, thinks Bea.

Next day Bea wakes early but after three hours nobody has come: her Mum says it’s because all the roads are blocked. Having tried hard the previous day not to show her disappointment, Bea cannot control her emotions any longer.

She’s too upset to open the present Mum gives her, and Bampi’s phone call does nothing to lift her mood. To a tearful little girl, it feels like everything is broken.

Then her elder brother, Archie suggests the two of them go out sledging. To Bea’s surprise, as the two WHOOSH down the hill in the falling snow, Bea decides that although different, this birthday is after all, great fun. Gradually those cracks disappear and by the time they return into the warm, every single crack has vanished. In comes Dad carrying a splendiferous cake but he fails to notice there’s something in his path.

Is it possible that Bea’s special day can still end with laughs? Maybe, with the help of some spoons and that yummy cake …

Another cracking – pun deliberate – story to share with children around Bea’s age. This one sensitively portraying the emotions around disappointment, helps ensure that little ones are better equipped to cope, should they find themselves in a similar situation to Bea.
Add to family bookshelves and foundation stage collections.

Cake for Everyone

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Cake for Everyone
Thé Tjong-Khing
Gecko Press

This wordless story really begins on the title page where we see a group of fourteen animal friends gathered for a picnic. Down swoops an eagle and snatches up the outspread blanket on which are the animals’ belongings – a hat, a football, a toy sword, a small soft toy, a parasol and various other bits and pieces, plus a cake. The animals give chase and suddenly a heron goes for the thief causing it to release the blanket with the result that its contents are scattered far and wide landing in various places on the cliff, in the water and up a mountain.

The ensuing rescue operation is a wonderful example of visual storytelling. I would advise concentrating on one item to follow at a time, then going back and following another as the whole picture is too huge to take in every detail at once: I started with the floppy hat and immediately noticed the gorilla sitting in a bush perhaps eager to get its paws on the thing.

On the other hand there are some helpful animals that appear on the scene and observant readers will delight in contemplating all the outcomes

as the romp of a tale twists and turns its way to a thoroughly satisfying finale. Time for a slice of cake methinks.

Who Ate Steve?

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Who Ate Steve?
Susannah Lloyd and Kate Hindley
Nosy Crow

Here’s a deliciously tongue-in-cheek tale wherein, in best teacherly voice, the narrator embarks on a lesson about size and to that end has enlisted the services of Marcel, a corvid of some sort, as an exemplar of big and earthworm Steve, to represent small, and like Marcel, sports a hat.
However Marcel’s undesirable behaviour soon annoys the teacher/narrator. The teacher part of myself was greatly amused by the words and different type used to show this: ‘I’m waiting, Marcel. We are ALL waiting. … Thank you. AND his HAT, if you please … That wasn’t so hard, was it?’

As you would expect Marcel’s natural instinct is to consume his fellow helper and his continuing efforts so to do – each of which is thwarted – increase the narrator’s frustration at being unable to deliver the lesson in its entirety as the end of the book draws nigh.

You are probably wondering if we do learn about size before the final page; the answer is in the affirmative and there’s a superbly satisfying twist on the last spread.

With the combination of that memorable voice created by Susannah Lloyd and Kate Hindley’s brilliant comical illustrations, in particular those showing Marcel’s facial expressions, this has to be the funniest picture book I’ve read for many months. Share it wherever and whenever you can.

Billie’s Buzz

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Billie’s Buzz
Alison Brown
Farshore

If it didn’t sound so ridiculous to call a bee adorable I would do so with regard to Billie. When she drops into a little boy’s life she’s searching for a someone who wants a pet: Billie has decided to enter the pet show in the town’s Festival of Talents. As luck would have it, the boy has been looking for a pet though he warns the bee that to enter will mean hard work. Nonetheless the two start getting ready for the events. .

When the big day arrives the boy warns Billie to keep her wings tucked in and make sure she doesn’t buzz. What incredible entries there are for some of the events but then comes the much anticipated pet show. Billie is entered as a ‘miniature, long-eared, yellow-striped fluff-bean.’

With two rounds under her fluff Billie faces the agility round. Her boy issues a reminder to Billie before she sets off and things are going well until the final obstacle – a high wall. After one failure Billie prepares for her second chance and uh-oh! You can guess what she does; and what happens next.

Up steps Billie’s boy; he speaks out for his ‘pet’ and decides to leave. As you might expect, Billie is disqualified but that’s not quite the end of the story.

Following Billie’s adventure is a factual page giving some of the reasons why bees are such an important part of the natural world.

A fun book a-buzz with an abundance of humorous detail on every spread and vital messages about being true to yourself and the importance of friendship.

Kodi & the Mystery of Komodo Island

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Kodi & the Mystery of Komodo Island
Paul Deslandes and Rose Gerrard
New Frontier Publishing

Young Kodi is a Komodo dragon living on the island of Komodo, a place with an ancient mystery about a gigantic lizard-eating beast. Kodo has many skills: he can crack codes like no other but what he wants to do most is to discover the truth about the legendary beast without becoming its latest feast. Determined to prove his mother wrong when she insists the creature is mere myth, he decides to call the deadly dragon with a song , “Oh, Dragon, Oh Dragon, wherever you may be. I’m juicy and delicious so come and munch on me!” No sooner are the words out of his mouth than Kodi hears an enormous swoosh above his head and feels the shaking of the ground beneath his feet.

Safely back home he reports to his Mum but she still insists he’s making up stories. However the following night Kodi sallies forth again. He immerses himself in the waters around the island and sings his song for a second time.

Back home safely his Mum dismisses what her son says about his encounter, but this serves to fuel Kodi’s determination to meet the dragon face to face. And so he does. Now though, there is nowhere for Kodi to hide.

There he stands: will he be Dragon’s next treat or will the resourceful detective Kodi live to see another day? …

A funny read aloud told in rhyme, with suitably dramatic scenes of the cast of characters, especially the young protagonist whose expressions and body language are really well done.

Dive, Dive into the Night Sea

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Dive, Dive into the Night Sea
Thea Lu
Walker Studio

This book has such an alluring cover illustration that you immediately feel you want to join the diver/narrator and plunge into the depths of the night sea. If you choose to do so, you will be rewarded by a fascinating and awe-inspiring undersea journey. Each spread (they open horizontally) reveals something different: the first being the coral reef where small fish including triggerfish and batfish are able to find safety in its cracks and crevices. The narrator likens the reef to an underwater hotel where such fish can hide from potential nocturnal predators.

The beam of the narrator’s torch attracts a wealth of creatures from plankton, the tiniest organisms in the sea, to some gigantic ones such as the scary-looking but harmless Manta rays. However, turning off the torch enables the diver and readers to see the bioluminescent plankton, described as ‘a constellation of stars’.


A return to the reef brings another surprise in the form of fluorescent corals; these are revealed only when the diver’s special blue/ultraviolet torch light is shone on the reef after dark.

Clever use of scale allows us to appreciate the size of the creatures in relation to the diver and the use of flaps allows for two levels of text: a larger font offers a text that will is essentially an interesting story to share with young children, whilst hidden beneath the flaps presented in a smaller font is more detailed information about the fascinating night sea. Did you know that sperm whales usually keep half of their brain awake when they sleep; this is termed unihemispheric sleep? This helps them to control their breathing,

Inspiring awe and wonder aplenty, this is a smashing, cleverly designed book to have in a Foundation Stage/Key Stage 1 classroom.

This Is Happy!

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This Is Happy!
Anna Ross and Debi Gliori
Otter-Barry Books

Happiness can be found in the very smallest of things, but we need to slow right down and look carefully. Only then will we truly appreciate what a wonderful world surrounds us. The adult carers in this book are aware of this and do all they can to ensure that the children have as many opportunities as possible tto discover it too. The children experiment with paints, plant seeds and watch them grow,

get right up close to damp earth after a rain shower They frolic on the seashore, lie flat in the grass on their tummies and investigate using all their senses. There are birthdays to celebrate with energetic dancing and delicious food, muddy streams to splash in, opportunities to let their imaginations take flight in a variety of ways – inventing new stories ,

entering those in books and perhaps even visiting distant galaxies as they stand beneath a starry sky.
Maybe the very best of all though is to be found when snuggled up with family members …

Lyrically and engagingly written by Anna Ross with Debi Gliori capturing the rapturous moments the diverse cast of five families enjoy.

Slow down and share this delightful book with the little ones in your life; it’s never too soon to introduce young children to mindfulness.

Monsters At School

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Monsters At School
Laura Baker and Nina Dzyvulska
Happy Yak

My goodness! How glad am I that I’ve never had to teach a class anything like the one in this third book featuring the monsters created by Laura Baker and Nina Dzyvulska.

Now the monsters are having their first day at school and as it begins we see them setting off and approaching the entrance. Once inside they start getting up to all kinds of ridiculousness but that’s in-keeping with the “Yes, it’s free-play time!’ line in the rhyming text.

Lunch time, as you might expect, is a very messy affair, after which, out go the monsters to expend some of their energy in the yard, swinging, sliding, skipping and more. Back indoors an art session gets under way with the Dog Monster noisily making its presence felt as it sets all the other monsters off on a chase. Near chaos ensues but eventually everyone settles down again until it’s time to go home. PHEW!

The vibrant, action-packed illustrations are hilarious especially those of monster mayhem, which at one point author Laura Bakesr describes as ‘Catching, snatching, steering, clearing! Climbing up the walls.’
Young children will delight in this madcap romp and have great fun looking for Monster Dog hiding (often in plain sight) on every spread.

Whisper to the Rescue

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Whisper to the Rescue
Rose Robbins
Scallywag Press

Meet Whisper; he’s the smallest, quietest dragon on the mountainside. He’s also the most observant, and extremely considerate; but his family members appear not to notice him. What they do spend much of their time doing is building huge bonfires and to that end, they damage the environment by tearing down trees and burning their branches. Now as you would expect Whisper has noticed the effects, not only on the trees, but on the birds and other creatures.

How though can he make the other dragons pay attention to the consequences of what they’re doing, especially when they pay no heed to his efforts?

Fortunately Whisper has two good friends, Bear and Owl. So he pays them a visit. Owl in her wisdom explains that there are times when showing, not telling is what is needed and together the friends devise a plan. Then, thanks to some help from one bird in particular, using perfectly timed creativity

Whisper finally succeeds in getting his vital message across to the rest of his family. Their reaction and future actions demonstrate their contrition and the mountain home of the animals becomes a safe place at last.

Rose Robbins portrays Whisper and his pals as such appealing campaigning characters, so one hopes they will succeed in galvanising young children into using their own voices – vocally and visually – to stand up for environmental and other important issues they believe in.

The Wild Beastie

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The Wild Beastie
Helen Kellock
Walker Books

On the secret Isle of Begg live Bumple and her Mama. Now Mama is aware of its shores alive with wild and wonderful creatures, but Bumple isn’t at all interested; indeed she is scared of what she calls the “wild beasties”.

One morning she heads off to her favourite safe place beside the stream, a place where no beastie could find her – ever. How wrong could she be for suddenly, splash! Right in the water where Bumple is sailing her boat lands a little creature. Taken aback, Bumple asks who the creature is and what he wants. “I’m Little Mop” comes the reply “… I want to play!” Somewhat reluctantly Bumple agrees and the two start sailing her toy Peedie in a tiny boat but Little Mop gives the boat an over-enthusiastic push and the two playmates have to chase it a long way downstream

till they’re far, far from Bumple’s safe place, at the sea. There, as you might expect, Little Mop is eager to play but Bumple is equally eager to return home so off they set, with the former in the lead. Before long Bumple realises Little Mop is still messing about and the two fall out. Only briefly however and fuelled by Little Mop’s secret stashes, the friends make their way towards Bumple’s cottage until they’re almost there. But first they need to cross a gorge.

Can Bumple take a brave leap she’d never even have contemplated at the start of the day?

A lovely, magical tale showing how stepping out of your comfort zone and discovering that letting yourself go and trying a bit of wildness can be a whole lot of fun. From endpaper to endpaper, the watercolour illustrations are a marvellous mix of playfulness and beauty. Share this with young children: I’m sure they’ll love visiting the wondrous Isle of Begg.

Moon Bear

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Moon Bear
Clare Helen Welsh and Carolina T. Godina
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Ettie is afraid of the dark, even keeping a torch under the bedclothes at bedtime. One night though, there’s no need for her torch; instead a surprise cascade of shimmering light enters her room through the gap between the curtains.

Rising from her bed, Ettie starts to interact with the lights, using them to paint patterns on the walls and dancing with them. She does so until the bedroom is a wondrous sight to behold. She then draws the curtains right back, smiles at the moon and begins to connect up the dots made by the glowing stars until she has created a bear. A bear that comes into her room in a burst of brightness. Together the pair spend the night playing

and having a wonderful time. Come the morning the bear has disappeared and so too have Ettie’s fears about the dark. Throughout the day the girl eagerly anticipates the return of her ursine friend and can hardly wait for her bedtime routine to be over . Will she have another visit?

Told almost without words, the delightful fantasy unfolds in different sized panels containing gouache and coloured pencil scenes, comic book style. Sparkling with gentle magic, this tale of a girl who doesn’t like the dark and a bear that doesn’t like bright light, leaves young children free to let their imaginations take flight in similar manner to the girl protagonist.

Mabel and the Big Wide World

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Mabel and the Big Wide World
Paul Stewart and Jane Porter
Otter-Barry Books

Mabel mouse lives happily in a barn with her five siblings, Martin, Marjorie, Marcel, Max and Millicent and is perfectly content in this enclosed world. She has no intention of venturing into the big wide world when her brothers and sisters invite her to accompany them. She does though on occasion watch them frolicking with one another outside but despite it appearing fun, she stays put. The seasons come and go; the other mice tell her she’s missing so much but she’s put off by the possibilities of great big hairy things and teeny-weeny scary things.

One day however the sky is full of colour: a beautiful rainbow has appeared and having seen it,

Mabel slowly, slowly creeps outside to get a better view. WOW! An arc of colours stretches right across from hilltop to sea as the rain continues falling gently. This is a day Mabel doesn’t want to end as she frolics in the wet with her siblings enjoying every moment.

Then back in the barn, which now feels very small, Mabel creates an inside rainbow to remind her of the wonders beyond its confines. Seasons come and go but now Mabel makes the most of the great outdoors, taking in her stride whatever happens.

One night there’s a thunderstorm. It frightens all the other mice but not so Mabel: “It’s just the weather showing off,” she reassures them. Autumn brings fallen leaves to romp in and winter ’s snowfall provides plenty of snow from which to make a snowmouse.


Meanwhile in the barn exciting things have happened too: Mabel is no longer the smallest mouse: she has lots of new brothers and sisters including Marco. He might just need a bit of encouragement to go outside like his big sister did.

Young humans will immediately recognise those feelings of uncertainty and fear that Mabel experiences, feelings that little by little change into a self-confidence, which enables them to take delight in the freedom and opportunities the outdoors brings. Jane Porter’s distinctive richly coloured, collage style illustrations together with Paul Stewart’s storytelling written from Mabel’s viewpoint make for a reassuring book to share with young children at home and in an educational setting.

Little Lion Girl

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Little Lion Girl
Olivia Hope and Fiona Woodcock
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Leonie and her mother are city bound when they board the train for a day’s adventure. As Leonie looks around her everyone she sees is somewhat extraordinary. This prompts her to become a brave little lion girl and swinging her tail, she roars, determined to make the most of all the sights and sounds the city has to offer.

“I’m a lion girl and I’m totally amazing!” she says as she views the exhibits in the museum gallery.

What wonders she sees all around and after some refreshments in a cafe, off dashes Leonie across the square and climbs right up to the very top of a fountain where she proclaims herself king of the city.
But when she sees a butterfly while her mum is chatting to a friend, Leonie forgets mum’s warning to take care and dashes off in pursuit.

Suddenly her surroundings seem to engulf her and that little lion girl discovers her roar has disappeared along with her pride. Huddling in the shadows she hears a very loud “Leonie!” Her fears begin to dissipate and as her mother embraces Leonie her roar starts to grow within once more. “I’m lion girl and I love you” she says giving her mum a tight hug.

This is such a lovely story of the power of the imagination and coming to understand the vital importance of having a loving someone to look out for us and help us become whatever we want. Told through Olivia Hope’s lyrical text and Fiona Woodcock’s vibrant, wonderfully expressive illustrations working in perfect harmony creating a roarsome story to share and discuss with young children at home or in an educational setting.

The Night Whale

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The Night Whale
Bryner Mackenzie and Gillian Eilidh O’Mara
Walker Books

A grandmother and granddaughter sit beneath the stars looking skywards at the patterns and hoping to see the Night Whale, a truly magical creature of the night that Nana hasn’t seen since she was a child.
Then lo and behold, swimming majestically amongst the stars she comes, greeting Nana like a long lost friend. Woman on the cliff and majestic whale in the sky dance, connected, despite it being winter, by a warming breeze.

With the Night Whale’s consent, the two mount on her back and with a whistle, whoosh! They ascend, travelling over seas and forest trees, towns and cities all a-twinkle, as far as the Northern Lights

keeping one another company all the while, until Nana whispers that it’s time to go home. Knowing that their stargazing and night sky painting adventure together is coming to an end, Nana and the child embrace as they look towards the beautiful hues above.

With Nana and the Night Whale’s reassurance that “Anything is possible” this tender, lyrically told tale with Gillian Elide O’Mara’s awesome illustrations offers readers much to ponder upon concerning the enormity of the universe, intergenerational relationships and farewells.

Luigi the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten

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Luigi the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten
Michelle Knudsen and Kevin Hawkes
Walker Books

If you think spiders can’t be cute you might find yourself changing your mind having read this story.
A big hairy spider on the lookout for a new home comes upon an old house that he’s sure will provide plenty of dark nooks and crannies. He weaves himself a splendid web in the dark space beneath an old sofa and falls fast asleep. The following morning Betty, the owner of the house discovers the arachnid, calls him a very unusual-looking kitten and names him Luigi.

Now this spider is sure he’s not called Luigi and even more sure he’s not a kitten. Nevertheless he accepts the woman’s offer of breakfast and finds the contents of the bowl placed before him perfectly acceptable. So too is the game they play together with a toy bug on a string for the remainder of the morning. Then replete with excitement Luigi retreats to his dark spot and goes to sleep.

Next day he’s up before the woman and so begins web spinning, all the while wondering where she is till he decides to take a walk and finds her in the kitchen offering to play again.

Not only does Luigi fancy playing, but he also wants some more of the same breakfast as the previous day. Why not go along with the kitten pretence, he decides and so he does. The woman even goes so far as to provide a cosy bed for him: who knew that kittens led ‘such magical lives’? Certainly not Luigi.

Come Friday, the woman announces that her friends will be coming later on for a games night. Suppose one of the friends reveals his true identity: time to disappear under the sofa, thinks Luigi but the inevitable happens. Out comes the woman’s hand, out comes Luigi and introduction is made

Eventually the pretence is over: he couldn’t fool those visitors but what about Betty?
Luigi beats a hasty retreat but next morning he receives a surprise declaration from her and an invitation that lifts his spirits.

Kevin Hawkes’ acrylic and pencil illustrations, be they large or small, portray Luigi’s kitten-ness with panache making him a delightful and endearing character and Michelle Knudsen’s longish text offers a sympathetic story of being yourself, trying out a new persona and companionship that works well as a read aloud or for confident solo readers to enjoy for themselves.

Pavlo Gets the Grumps / Two Birthdays

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Pavlo Gets the Grumps
Natalia Shaloshvili
Walker Books

There are days when we wake up and everything seems out of kilter: Pavlo is having one of those. Nothing his Mama suggests be it a visit to the park, a swim or a cinema outing, appeals to Pavlo. Why is that?

Mama suggests it’s an attack of the grumps and that he best treatment is to go out anyway, so they do, Pavlo somewhat reluctantly. However before long there’s a shout of ‘Pavlo! … Are you OK?” It’s his best friend, Mila who understands just how to respond to his “I’ve got the grumps”. Happily she also knows how to get get rid of grumps and off they all go for a good mood restoring whizzy slide followed by a tasty treat. I wonder what they’ll do next?

A comforting hug of a picture book that shows little ones (and reminds bigger ones) that sad feelings don’t last forever and friends are often the best remedy.
Both sad and funny at once, Natalia Shaloshvili’s soft focus smudgy illustrations are a wonderful reassurance that no matter what kind of day we’re having, even a grumpy one, there are family and friends who love and nurture us, and happier times are coming.

Two Birthdays
Tim Hopgood
Walker Books

Cedric the crocodile and Boo the elephant are the very best of friends. When Boo’s birthday comes, so do lots of cards, a very special extra long scarf specially knitted by Cedric and the two celebrate with enormous ice creams for tea. Boo declares it’s his best ever birthday.

Cedric’s birthday is a few weeks later; he too receives lots of cards and presents. However there’s nothing from Boo. He waits and waits and eventually calls his best pal but it’s clear to him that Boo has completely forgotten his birthday.

The following day the two meet in the park, Cedric riding his new birthday scooter.

Boo notices and asks about it and quickly realises he’s missed Cedric’s birthday. Is it too late or can he put things right and make his best pal feel happy again.

A simple story showing that true friendships can transcend accidental errors. As always Tim Hopgood’s bright, collage style illustrations are a visual delight, even the sad ones.
Share with preschoolers and I suspect they will have lots to say about this.