Today I have a beautifully-illustrated story which skilfully combines a hopeful Christmas message and a powerful warning about conserving our planet for future generations. Every Christmas, after all the presents have been opened, Mia and her family read a precious letter left to her by her grandfather. In it, he recalls the wonderful times they … Continue reading Christmas Advent – Day 15 ‘Grandpa Christmas,’ by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Jim Field.
Following the huge success of the BBC’s breathtaking ‘Blue Planet’ series, taking care of our oceans and the creatures who live in them has never been more topical or more important. I’ve received lots of lovely picture books for readers of all ages which would fit beautifully into an underwater theme - some fiction, some … Continue reading Blue Planet 1 (information books)
It’s important that all children find themselves and their beliefs reflected in the books they see around them. This blog post is showcasing two books based in the Muslim world. ‘Night of the Moon - a Muslim Holiday Story’ by Hena Khan, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Chronicle Books) This beautiful picture book follows the story … Continue reading Tales to Embrace Muslim Culture
Protecting our oceans in a hot topic at the moment, with campaigners and some big business working to try to reduce the amount of pollution being dumped into the sea. Plastic in particular is being highlighted as a significant danger and was, interestingly, the most-used word in Radio 2s ‘500 Word’ story-writing competition for children. … Continue reading Sailing the Seven Seas
Once upon a time, there was a BIG BUNNY. What starts off as an innocent story about a normal, if slightly large, bunny innocently eating some normally-sized carrots soon turns into a tale of a giant, truck-eating monster! But is he? Just how big will Big Bunny be? It turns out that it’s all just … Continue reading ‘Big Bunny,’ by Rowboat Watkins.
Numbers are everywhere. They’re all around us and are often a source of fascination for young children. From their birthdays to house numbers, children soon learn that numbers are important. This beautiful picture book is by best-selling author and illustrator, Taro Gomi, who currently lives in Tokyo, Japan. It shows just where numbers can be … Continue reading ‘I Know Numbers!,’ by Taro Gomi.
One of the greatest things about running a book blog is the regular deliveries of books dropping through your letter box. This is never truer than in the run-up to Christmas when little festive treats are delivered to me by the book elves. My 'to be read' pile is suddenly awash with gold, red, green … Continue reading Have a Picture (book) Perfect Christmas
My next spooky choice for little ones is the delightful 'Monster & Son' by David LaRochelle. This tale takes a look at the softer side of some of the world's most feared monsters. Have you ever wondered what a daddy Frankenstein and his son get up to when they play together? Or how Yeti and … Continue reading ‘Monster & Son,’ by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Joey Chou.
Any book which makes its reader twist, turn, jump and shout gets a huge thumbs up in our house. That's why we were so excited to receive these three titles recently... Crocodali by Lucy Volpin (Templar Publishing) Crocodali considers himself one of the world's greatest artists and YOU are privileged enough to be invited to … Continue reading Twist and shout!
This hide-and-seek dinosaur story would make a perfect Father's Day gift for all the Papasauruses out there. Babysaurus loves playing hide-and-seek with Papasaurus but one day he hides a little too well and Babysaursus can't find him, no matter how hard he tries. Starting to get a bit worried, Babysaurus asks his prehistoric friends for … Continue reading ‘Papasaurus,’ by Stephan Lomp.
In today's political climate, we are constantly being told how different we all are from each other. That's why I was delighted to be sent this clever book which not only celebrates our differences but also points out how we are all the same. This book was inspired by Matt Lamothe's own experiences as he … Continue reading ‘This Is How We Do It – one day in the lives of seven kids from around the world,’ by Matt Lamothe.
It's never too early to introduce your children to some of the classics of Western literature. This awesome series of books will let you do just that. The Cozy Classics series is the brainchild of the Wang brothers who were looking for a way to teach their young children new words. They came up with … Continue reading ‘Cozy Classics,’ by Jack and Holman Wang.
This latest book in the 'Uncommon Compendium' is crammed full of fifty of the most incredible structures ever built, including: a skateboard ramp used to jump The Great Wall of China, a giant, mechanical, fire-breathing octopus and a life-size X-Wing Starfighter built of Lego. It features a double-page spread on each of the chosen constructions, with … Continue reading ‘Curious Constructions,’ by Michael Hearst, illustrated by Matt Johnstone.
Head off on a watery adventure when you follow a boy and his Mom as they canoe across the mirror-like surface of the pond. As they row out over the water they encounter a diverse range of wildlife in the watery ecosystem. A hidden world of crayfish, turtles and bullfrogs. Whirligig beetles, caddisdly larva and … Continue reading ‘Over and Under the Pond,’ by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal.
As the season changes from Summer to Autumn, I'd like to introduce you to some brilliant books about the natural kingdom. Children always seem to fascinated by the world around them, particularly creepy-crawlies and wildlife. The books featured in this blog post will inspire children to go outside and hunt out the plants and creatures … Continue reading Natural Wonders of the Bookish World
Library Girl and Book Boy 