Fart Zoo / Not Another Unicorn Book

August 7, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

August 5, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

August 1, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 31, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 30, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 29, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 28, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 27, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 26, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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!

July 25, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 23, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 22, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 20, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 19, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 18, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 17, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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.

July 16, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 15, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 13, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 12, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 11, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 10, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 9, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 8, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 6, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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?

July 5, 2024jillrbennett 1 Comment

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

July 4, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 3, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

July 1, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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!

June 30, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

June 29, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

June 25, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

June 24, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

June 23, 2024jillrbennett 1 Comment

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

June 21, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

June 20, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

June 19, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

June 18, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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

June 17, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

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.

Smelly Peggy

June 15, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

Smelly Peggy
Helen Stephens
Walker Books

Young Pie has a rescue dog, Peggy, and she’s full of mischief, getting up to such naughtiness as disturbing the tranquility of Pie’s parents every morning. As they lie abed the pooch even makes off with Mum’s knickers. Then on walks, having got used to sticks, she thinks nothing of sending the entire family head over heels in the sand as she cavorts around with huge lumps of wood.

Super-smelly things are one of Peggy’s predilections, the worst of all being poop.

She’s not fussy what kind; so long as it pongs she’ll roll over and over in it. PHOAH! Imagine the mess and the stench when they get back home and she has another roll about; this time on the rug and Pie’s pjs.

As you might expect, Peggy detests having to have a shower and gets her own back by giving herself a very vigorous shake to get rid of the water once her paws are back on the floor.

Despite all her flaws and mischief, Pie and her parents cannot help but love their pet but there are times when the powerfully malodorous emanations from her rear end are well nigh unbearable.

Now I’m no pooch lover, in fact I’m a cynophobe but I can quite see how beguiling Pie’s Peggy is. Helen Stephens’ portrayal of this family pet is at once funny and tender and her tale is one that will endear Peggy to readers, rescue dog owners especially.

Natterjack Toad Can’t Believe It!

June 14, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

Natterjack Toad Can’t Believe It!
Sean Taylor and Kathryn Durst
Walker Books

Most of us have a favourite snack and so it is with Natterjack Toad. As the story opens he’s languishing among the reeds in his hammock anticipating tucking into his packet of Chocolate Chunk Crunchy-Munch cookies. Mmm! they do sound delicious.

They’re mine! thinks Natterjack Toad, ‘And this hidey-hole is just the place for munching one up.’ Out comes a cookie, out comes NT’s tongue in preparation for a yummy taste but along comes a huge heron, beak at the ready. Now our Natterjack friend has no intention of becoming the heron’s next snack so back goes the cookie and off he goes at top speed.

His next stop is the meadow with its long grass and summery flowers: the perfect spot for a nibble. Out comes a cookie, open-mouthed, NT anticipates that choccy flavour but once again Natterjack Toad ‘CAN’T BELIEVE IT’. Right beside him is a whiskery weasel with mouth wide open.. Uh-oh! Back in the basket goes the cookie and away ‘quickety-whip’ goes Natterjack Toad destination the forest. Surely here in a cool hidey-hole he’ll be undisturbed. Or maybe not.

As he’s about to consume his treat, right beside him appear a mole and a vole. Will Natterjack Toad heed their words of warning regarding a huge hungry marauding animal? There comes that open mouth, that ready tongue and a mighty CRUNCH! Yikes! There before the three stands …

How will this tale end? Tasty treats for the large beastie or …

Deliciously playful, this dramatic tale is an absolute treat to read aloud. I’m not sure who will find it more tasty, the adult sharer or the young listeners who will be on the edge of their seats, joining in at every opportunity as the story unfolds. Sean’s patterned text combined with Kathryn Durst’s hilarious scenes are a confection too good to miss.

A Fairy Called Fred

June 13, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

A Fairy Called Fred
Robert Tregoning and Stef Murphy
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Fred is a fairy who works in the Department of Dresses in the Wish Granting Plant where the fairies respond to countless requests for ball gowns from princesses. He loves the job but he too has a wish – he longs to find a wish-mail in his tray. Joshua Reed is a little boy who longs to got to his friend Claire’s party but it has a princess theme and Joshua doesn’t have a dress. Off goes his letter to the Wish Granting Plant where top designer Bella hands Joshua’s request to Fred. Can Fred help? He’ll need to get busy right away, which of course he does.

Meanwhile Josh waits in hope and then to his joy there comes a knock on his window. The transformation begins and ‘fashionably late’ he arrives at Claire’s house. Wow! There stands a smiling boy in his awesome attire and shortly after there stands Claire with something for Josh.

For Fred though, it’s late; time for him to leave the party and return from whence he came. There waiting for him is a very special award for his very special design.

Celebrating diversity and being yourself, this magical reworking of Cinderella is a joy to read aloud and Josh in his dress with its sparkles and spangles is a joy to behold.

Betsy Buglove and the Brave Butterfly / Watch Them Grow!

June 12, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

Betsy Buglove and the Brave Butterfly
Catherine Jacob and Lucy Fleming
Scholastic

Nature lover Betsy Buglove, she who saved the bees, returns for a new adventure. It begins as she and her best friend Stan are in the garden and a bee buzzes along with an urgent message about a butterfly that needs their help. They follow the bee next door and there discover the juice cups they left on the grass earlier and inside one a butterfly is trapped in the sticky dregs.

Having successfully extricated the butterfly, its wings soon dry and off it flies.

Shortly after a cry comes from Betsy’s dad. The leaves of his vegetables and flowers have been badly nibbled. Off goes Dad to get his bug spray leaving Betsy examining a thistle plant in the grass. Thereon, with the aid of her magnifying glass, she sees lots of caterpillars munching away its leaves. Caterpillars she and Stan soon find out, belong to the butterfly they’d rescued earlier on.

Can they persuade Betsy’s dad to leave a patch of thistle and other weeds for the caterpillars? Fortunately they can; but what happens thereafter?

Will it be another case of mission accomplished for team Betsy and Stan?

With Catherine’s jaunty rhythmic text where the rhyme doesn’t falter and Lucy’s scenes containing an abundance of flora and minibeasts, this is a book that’s just right for sharing with young nature enthusiasts, as well as to encourage those less keen (happily I’ve only ever encountered a few,) to find out what they’re missing. Everyone can do their bit to help insects.
At both ends of the book are fact pages about butterflies.

Watch Them Grow!
James Carter and James Munro
Graffeg

Author James Carter and artist James Munro have joined forces to present the life cycles of nine different animals starting with the Emperor Dragonfly and concluding with a human. Before these is an introductory poem inviting readers to ‘Watch them grow!’. Following the featured animals are a spread about baby animals names – young children will be amused to learn that it’s not only cows whose babies are called calves: so too are those of six other animals. And, the term hatchling can be applied to baby crocodiles, turtles, tadpoles and newts in addition to baby birds.
Then comes some straightforward information about axolotls; (these, unlike other amphibians never become adult; instead they retain their gills and remain in the water); and a paragraph explaining that male seahorses give birth to babies (fries, hundreds of them)

as well as some facts about parenting in emperor penguins, Australian marsupials and others.
All this James Munro has captured in his playful illustrations, each of which is a combination of reality and fun.

Gloria Goes For Gold / Albert and the Flood

June 10, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

Gloria Goes For Gold
Marina Firth and Annabel Tempest
Oxford Children’s Books

Of all the unlikely animals to be called graceful it’s Gloria the hippo and her family members, a champion- winning team of synchronised swimmers that always comes away with gold at the Artistic Swimming Championships. However Gloria is not as happy as the others about this: she longs for a prize she doesn’t have to share. Then comes a letter about the upcoming Savannah Games and Gloria decides to find a sport she can win solo. Off she goes leaving the other hippos to practise their routine and before long bumps right into sprinter Cheetah going so speedily she fails to see Gloria. The hippo decides she’d like to try sprinting and Cheetah offers to coach her. Pretty soon Gloria realises that this sport isn’t for her and as she sits beneath a tree contemplating what next, down swings Monkey. He makes gymnastics appear great fun but Gloria quickly discovers that she’s not cut out for being a gymnast.

Nor does she take to distance swimming. In fact she decides that after all, she’d rather be part of the family team; but feels too ashamed to ask.

The next day sees the start of the Savanna Games and Gloria tucks herself away among those watching the artistic swimming.

While so doing she overhears something her brother says to their cousin. Is there a situation that needs saving? If so, what should she do?

Priceless pictures by Annabel Tempest are for me the real winners in this book. No matters whether one aspires to be a solo winner or part of a winning team, it’s important for children to see that it’s participation and doing one’s best that really count the most and Marina Firth’s telling shows this in a fun, non-didactic way.

Albert and the Flood
Ian Brown and Eoin Clarke
Graffeg

It’s a truly eventful day for Albert and his friends despite the sporting event Games Day being rained off. Actually that’s an understatement for it’s a thunder storm that is responsible for rescheduling of the Games, despite what the ant commander says as the rain starts. However the steady rain rapidly turns to a torrential downpour that causes severe flooding of many of the creatures’ homes. Fortunately Albert quickly starts leading a rescue mission, aided and abetted by Frog, a group of ants and some spiders.
Before long, Albert’s shell was packed with minibeasts, while others of the rescued found safety elsewhere.

Then suddenly the rain eases off and the storm clouds pass to reveal a glorious sight in the sky.
The ant commander makes an announcement that pleases most of the creatures; and then Albert too makes an announcement. Can you guess what he said: it concerned something of vital importance.

This is Albert’s seventh adventure created by team Ian and Eoin and it’s one that contains an important life lesson for young children. Eoin’s illustrations are very amusing and both adult readers aloud and their audiences will laugh at many of the scenes.

A Hat Full of Sea

June 7, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

A Hat Full of Sea
Maudie Smith and Jen Khatun
Lantana

Cora visits her Grandpa Jim during his stay in hospital; she wears the hat he’d given her every time she goes. His room there has only a small window, which Cora doesn’t feel is enough for him. She wants him to experience a variety of places and so using the hat, she sets out to help him.

First it’s the sea and with the help of her imagination, the girl catches ‘the cold-water ripples and the white foaming waves. … the softness of the sand and the seagull cries all wrapped up in the wind.’ Carefully she carries them to him and we see the water seemingly covering him like a blanket.

Next she takes him the countryside alive with flora and fauna,

then the thrills of a fairground and more including the beauties of a black velvet night sky.

Her best idea, Cora thinks, will be a journey but as she nears a train, she drops her hat. She’s heartbroken at not being able to find it , but when she visits the hospital again she can’t find her grandpa either; he’s not in the bed.

Happily though, he has recovered and is soon beside her telling Cora that it’s her, not the hat, that is special and cheered him up. Moreover he feels ready for a walk down to the sea.

I love the playfulness of Jen Khatun’s digitally created illustrations that are perfectly in keeping with Maudie Smith’s warm, equally playful text. A beautiful portrayal of inter-generational love that reminds us all how important it is to spend time with loved ones.

Can You Share Little Whale? / Zeki Eats Out

June 5, 2024jillrbennett 1 Comment

Can You Share, Little Whale?
Jonny Lambert
Little Tiger

Little Whale doesn’t want to share: her place at the front of the pod has been taken despite Mum saying she can be the leader; then it seems that noisy gannets are taking all the silvery fish and leaving none for her to feed on. “It’s not fair!” complains Little Whale but then up swims her friend Blue offering to share a snack with her. This pleases her and she decides to search for something delicious to share with Blue. Down she swims towards to coral reef but is concerned in case she isn’t able to find a special something: suppose there isn’t sufficient, she worries. Happily though, Turtle helps her discover a reef burgeoning with treats aplenty,

more than enough for everyone and thanks to the reef’s inhabitants Little Whale is able to return to her pod with a juicy treat to share with Blue.

Again, however, Little Whale is upset for she finds Blue swimming alongside HER mum! “That’s my mum!” says Little Whale pushing her friend away. Mum scolds her, and reminds her offspring that “it’s always good to share.” Little Whale turns to Blue, confirming that there’s enough room for them both and together, they swim forward as friends.

It’s great to see Mum whale using gentle guidance rather than chastisement to help her little one learn the vital lesson about sharing. Jonny’s beautiful, detailed scenes of the coral reef are a particular delight and he captures so well the movement and textures of the whales and other marine fauna.
The life lesson Little Whale learns is an essential one for little humans to learn too: this story is an enjoyable way to make sure they realise that sharing is both important and brings mutual pleasure to those involved.

For slightly younger children:

Zeki Eats Out
Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson
Alanna Max

The adorable Zeki, is going out to have lunch at a restaurant with Daddy and Nana-G. Accompanying them is Zeki’s Mr Seahorse so the little boy gives him some tips on appropriate restaurant behaviour before they set out.
Having greeted Nana-G outside the venue, in they all go and Bruno their waiter is there to serve them. The three consult the menu and make their choices of what to eat and then Dad and Zeki head to the washroom to wash their hands before the food arrives. Clearly an enjoyable time is had by all.

Equally an enjoyable time will be had by adults and the little ones with whom they share this latest episode in the life of my favourite story book toddler. It’s simply told in Anna’s straightforward prose which leaves Ruth’s spreads to portray the warmth of the love between Zeki and his family members.

Waiting for the Stars

June 4, 2024jillrbennett 1 Comment

Waiting for the Stars
Jonny Lambert
Little Tiger

Mouse is super excited: she’s staying up late to see the stars for the very first time. Fortunately, for the wait feels very long, her friends Owl, Firefly, and Squirrel are there too. To help pass the time Owl offers to tell them a story but she nods off leaving her exceedingly lengthy tale unfinished. No matter, Mouse has spotted a star, or rather, she hasn’t but the excitement has made her need a wee

and soon after, very sleepy, until hurrah! At last! There are the stars filling the sky with sparkles; but only briefly.

Along come thick clouds causing tears to start falling from Mouse’s eyes.
Happily however Firefly knows a way to fill the sky with magical sparkles once more …

Young listeners will surely recognise that eager anticipation felt by Mouse during the story, a story from which friendship shines forth throughout.

As always Jonny Lambert’s scenes provide visual delight at every turn of the page. The rich colours of the creatures and the surrounding vegetation really stand out against the night sky. A charming tale to share with young children at bedtime but also one to read aloud and talk about in a foundation stage setting.

The Great Henna Party

June 3, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

The Great Henna Party
Humera Malik and Sonali Zohra
Lantana

It’s the eve of Noor’s cousin’s wedding and the women of the family have gathered to sing traditional songs and have henna (also called Mehndi in Urdu and Hindi) designs applied to their hands for the big day. Meanwhile Noor’s Baba (Dad) has been busy decorating the garden with lights and string of flowers. They shimmer like treasure, Noor thinks.

At the henna party Mama tells Noor about the ‘henna name game’ in which the henna artist hides the groom’s name in the intricate patterns she applies to the bride’s hand and the groom has to try and find it. Noor likes the idea of this henna game and asks her mother if she can hide someone’s name on her hands too. Mama agrees but her daughter can’t decide which of her treasured family members to pick. As the party proceeds Noor wonders if it should be one of her parents, her Nana or Dada (grandfather)

or perhaps her big sister. As the party draws towards its close, Noor suddenly has an innovative idea and when she sees the result of her choice, the girl declares. “It’s perfect!”

This is a truly delightful celebration of family and of culture that thanks to the details – verbal and visual – both author Humera Malik and illustrator Sonali Zohra have included, will be accessible to all children, not just those who are familiar with South Asian cultural traditions. I love the warm colour palette and richly patterned illustrations Sonali has used. (A final author’s note giving more information about henna is included.)

A lovely book to share with KS1 children. It’s sure to result in much discussion both about this story and perhaps weddings more generally.

The Invisible Story

June 2, 2024June 2, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

The Invisible Story
Jaime Gamboa and Wen Hsu Chen
Lantana

On a shelf, hidden away in a corner of a large library is a book that’s unlike all the rest. They would sometimes spend time arguing about which is most read, or best loved; but the ‘Invisible Story’ listening from the shadows has never been read. It longs to be colourful and popular like the others. “I’m just a ghost, nobody can see me.” it chants over and over.

Then, one day a young girl visits the library; she runs her fingertips over the spine of the ‘ghost’ book, discovers tiny raised dots. and announces … “I’m going to read.” The alarmed book begs her not to, saying that its pages are blank. However the girl’s gentle voice calms the book and it goes on to discover that it is in fact a very wonderful story indeed, a story written in braille, “the language you read with your fingertips’.

The invisible story now realises that no one story is better than any other, they are just different.
Translated from the original Spanish by Daniel Hahn, Jaime Gamboa’s inclusive tale is a reminder that not every book is intended to be read with the eyes. It also contains an important message about the power of a great story – the best books can be read over and over; they never really end.

Wen Hsu Chen’s watercolour and cut paper illustrations work in harmony with the text and are really effective, be they wholly white, predominately white with small splashes of colour or where the colour predominates.

For those readers who are blind, partially sighted (or dyslexic) the publishers have collaborated with the Royal National Institute for the Blind and accessible formats are available from RNIB Bookshare.

My Momo-la is a Museum

May 31, 2024jillrbennett Leave a comment

My Momo-la is a Museum
Mamta Nainy and Violet Kim
Lantana

When Momo-la comes to visit every summer, she shares her precious mementoes and her life stories, one every night, with her granddaughter, the narrator of the book. When she asks Momo-la where all her stories come from, she responds, “Stories are everywhere,” and offers to show her granddaughter.

The following morning they head out into the city noticing such things as wildflowers and wormholes, things the child mostly misses. They visit first the Museum of Ancient History, which is full of artefacts, followed by the Museum of Art. There the girl points out that a painting depicts a woman wearing a jacket with a design like the one on Momo-la’s chuba (a traditional Tibetan apron).

In fact wherever they visit, the girl sees something that reminds her of Momo-la, who has a special story from her own experiences to tell about each one.

After a tiring but wonderful day the two return to the child’s home, where she stands her grandmother before a mirror and makes an announcement: the most important museum of all is there right before her eyes. …”A museum that will always feel like home.” And what a wonderful storyteller she is.

A memorable, heartwarming story of intergenerational love, family, culture, memories, treasures and most importantly, stories. It’s a powerful reminder that grandparents, parents and other family members are treasure chests of stories, stories that they love to share if we give them time to do so.
Indeed each of our lives is a story, or perhaps stories within a story. At the back of the book, the author, Mamta Nainy, has written a letter telling how her grandmother had a wooden box full of special objects that went everywhere with her; objects that told stories about her family and their migration to India after partition. She also talks of ways Tibetan refugees in a settlement in New Delhi try to keep stories of their home alive.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Violet Kim who brings the story of the girl and her Momo-la to life in densely coloured, detailed scenes. If you share this with a primary class, perhaps some of the children might ask their own grandparents in to share objects and associated stories from their lives.

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