Thunderbelle’s Party

Author: Karen Wallace

Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 30

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Year: 2007

ISBN: 978-1-84362-627-5

If your children are monster-averse, then this book might help them see the beasties in a friendlier light. The book features several pages exploding with color and lively illustrations and there is nothing strictly ‘monstrous’ about this story or book.

This story is about Thunderbelle who wants to host a fancy-dress party. The rest of the story deals with all that goes into making a party fun, in a light-hearted way, of course.

A word of caution, though. Nearly, four pages of the book are devoted to Thunderbelle eating and drinking to cheer herself up. In my opinion, that’s not a great message to send across to children. If parents can couch this the right way, then this book should be just fine for an afternoon read.

Excerpt

A fairy costume was inside! Thunderbelle put it on. She looked fantastic! (It was only a little bit tight!)

Soon all the other monsters arrived. Everyone wanted to help.

Clodbuster made a special dance floor.

Mudmighty brought a basket of fruit and vegetables.

Roxorus set up his Monster Music Machine.

And Pipsquawk thought up some new tunes to play.

There was only one thing missing. “Where is Thunderbelle?” roared Roxorus. 

Ballet Kitty

Text: Bernette Ford

Illustrator: Sam Williams

Year: 2007

Publisher: Boxer Books, Great Britain 

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages:  32

ISBN: 978 1 90541 771 1

This book ought to satisfy any little girl with its ballet and ballerina themed tale. :-)

Meet Kitty, a happy little, well, kitten, whose best friend Pussycat is coming to play. She puts on her ballet outfit except for her ballet slippers. They’re nowhere to be found! Kitty begins to feel a little grumpy. A tear drop rolls down her face too. She does pull on her trainers, though and has a fantastic day with her friend.

At the end of the day, when she’s beaming with happiness, she finds her ballet slippers, just where she’d put them away, the night before. Ooops!

I read this book more than a couple of times for my kids so they’d get the message. Hint! Hint! :-)

Excerpt

Then Ballet Kitty kicked off her trainers. She showed Princess Pussycat her best pirouettes, her perfect plies and her cutest curtsies.

Princess Pussycat tried a pirouette too. It wasn’t as pretty as Ballet Kitty’s. But that didn’t matter. 

Princess Polly and the Pony – Usborne First Reading

Author: Susanna Davidson

Illustrator: Dave Hill

Year: 2007

Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd., London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

ISBN: 978 0 74609 171 5

The kids always enjoy a humorous princess story and this book fit the bill, perfectly.

Princess Polly loves horse riding and of course, the King and Queen are aghast that she’s not interested in practicing her princess wave or trying on tiaras.

She’s annoyed with her parents’ restrictions until she sees a poster for Pony Games where the first prize is a Royal Wish. Naturally, Princess Polly gets what she wants.

Excerpt

“If I’m in costume, no one will know it’s me!”

Princess Polly spent the next hour looking at her father’s crowns. The King talked and talked and talked.

Polly didn’t hear him. She was thinking about her costume.