In comes the tide

By Colin King and Valerie King

Publisher: Ladybird Books, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 28

ISBN: 978-0-721-41916-9

This book belongs to the Ladybird Picture Book series. It features a humorous story in rhyme bolstered by very clever illustrations that make you want to visit the pages over and over again.

There are a few big words that will need some explaining but it’s a cheery book for your children's bookshelf. 

Excerpt

In comes the tide, splashing pirates of old,

Out goes the tide, leaving cargoes of gold.

In comes the tide, with sea horses prancing.

Out goes the tide, crusty lobsters are dancing. 

The Cow in the House – Puffin Young Readers – Level 2

Retold by Harriet Ziefert

Illustrator: Emily Bolam

Year: 1997

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages:

ISBN: 978 0 44846 298 1

This is one of those books that make you laugh aloud. :-)

It starts with the ubiquitous ‘once upon a time’ and ends with the harried man finding peace and quiet but in an unexpected manner.

A man lives in a noisy house and seeks the help of a wise man. The wise man suggests a series of measures that begin with getting a cow and then some more animals into the house until it’s a menagerie. Or, perhaps a cacophony? :-)

Excerpt

The sheep said, Baa, baa!

The donkey said, Hee-haw!

The cow said, Moo, moo!

The bed creaked.

The chair squeaked.

The roof leaked.

“I can’t live in my house!” said the man.

Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Max has a Fish, Review here
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Cowboy Roy, Review here
• Level - 2: Madeline and her dog, Review here
• Level - 2: Princess Buttercup, Review here
• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters, Review here 
• Level - 2: Snug Bug, Review here
• Level - 2: Spider's Lunch, Review here
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: The very lonely firefly, Review here
• Level - 2: Who stole the cookies?, Review here

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?

Who Stole the Cookies? Puffin Young Readers Level - 2

By Judith Moffatt

Year: 1996

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, New York

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-448-45795-6

This book belongs to the Puffin Young Readers series for little readers.

This book seems almost entirely based on that childhood rhyme “Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?”

With clean, non-fussy illustrations that convey the point just perfectly, this book makes for a good starter book for beginners.

Excerpt

I think Squirrel stole the cookies from the cookie jar.

Who, me, did you say?

Not me. No way!

I think Turtle stole the cookies from the cookie jar.

Oh no! Not true!

But here is a clue.

Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Max has a Fish
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Cowboy Roy
• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: The very lonely firefly

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?

The Bobbsey Twins: Freddie and Flossie

Author: Laura Lee Hope

Illustrator: Chuck Pyle

Year: 2005

Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, New York

Age: 4 and above                                                

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 41690 270 8

Website: Ready to Read

I guess, this is the introductory book to the Bobbsey twins. The book employs a witty tone and friendly words to describe the twins and their fun times.  

Again, it’s from the Ready-to-Read Pre-Level 1 series. The sentences are small and there are plenty of repetitive words and phrases.

The illustrations liven up the text to make this book appealing to young readers. 

Excerpt

Freddie is loud.

Flossie is not.

Freddie plays firefighter.

CLANG! CLANG! 

The Adventures of Pinkie: A Nickname

By Maddy Rose

Year: 2007

Publisher: Red Fox, Great Britain

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978-1-862-30159-7

Meet happy and cheerful little Maddy whose “clothes and shoes were usually second-hand” and lives in a lighthouse.  And yes, her favorite color is pink. Almost everything she possesses is in different shades of pink.

One day she falls in love with a perfect pair of ‘hot pink boots.’ So she helps around the house with the chores so her pink piggy bank will have enough to pay for her shoes. But she’s in for a surprise.

This is a story that little girls will identify with especially because it deals with wearing second-hand clothes and the desire for fancy things. It’s also a great picture book – with every bit of the page splashed in bold color.   

Excerpt

As soon as she could, Maddy rushed home to check her piggy bank.

But Pink Pig was low on funds.

What was she going to do?

Maddy’s mum and dad offered her some extra pocket money if she helped a bit more round the lighthouse. 

Milly, Molly and the Queen’s Visit

Author: Gill Pittar

Illustrator: Cris Morrell

Year: 2003

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978 1 87733 655 6

Website: Milly and Molly

The queen’s coming to town!

Milly, Molly and friends help the Mayor spruce up their town for the regal visit. They sweep leaves, trim hedges, polish the brass, pick up litter and paint doors.

When the Queen arrives, she’s very impressed with the spotless town and invites the children to have lunch too!

Like most Milly and Molly stories, this book has a message – ‘diligence, care and perseverance in carrying out a task.’

Excerpt

“Right,” said the Mayor. “We must have our town looking spotless, with not a leaf out of place.”

Harry was given a spade and a wheelbarrow. It was his job to tidy all the edges. Poppy was given a dustpan and brush. She was asked to sweep the council steps. 

Albie and the Space Rocket

Author: Andy Cutbill

Illustrators: Andy Cutbill and Mark Stacey

Year: 2003

Publisher: Collins Picture Books, London

Age: 7 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-00-786522-2

This is a hilarious tale that seems to engage all the imagination of a little boy. Penguins that steal a bed, moose dancing in the loo, zebras feasting on baked beans in the kitchen, elephants that have built a rocket to Jupiter. Now you know what I mean. :-)

Albie finds that his bed has been stolen from under him. That’s how the story begins. 

Albie’s sister has been accidentally rocketed off to Jupiter. That’s how the story ends. 

In between, are several animals who somehow come together to make a comical story. The illustrations are perfectly matched too! I loved the pompous expressions on the elephant scientists' faces. 

Excerpt

“That?” said another elephant.

“Oh, that’s just a super-duper, intergalactic spacerocket.”

“But it’s built from my bed!” spluttered Albie.

“And the cooker and the downstairs loo!”

“It’s state-of-the-art,” said the elephant. 

I am Reading: Small Bad Wolf

Author: Sean Taylor

Illustrator: Jan Lewis

Year: 2005

Publisher: Kingfisher Publications, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 50

ISBN: 978 0 75341 144 5

Now here’s a tale of the Big Bad Wolf and errr… the Small Bad Wolf, his son. Obviously, life isn't all hunky-dory for them. It sure is hard to be the bad one in a story. :-)

The Big Bad Wolf is under pressure from his son to take him on “nippy, zippy adventures like it is in the stories.” Mother Wolf wants “something decent for Sunday lunch.”

The poor wolf sets out with his old brown sack and his son to find adventure and food.

Things don’t go as planned. They get hit on the head with a frying pan, chased out and finally, the Big Bad Wolf is knocked out by little kids, no less.

This funny story from the I am Reading series, features neat illustrations and text that is neatly aggregated into five chapters to motivate young readers.

Excerpt

The Small Bad Wolf thought it looked great fun.

It was the nippiest, zippiest game he’d ever seen.

All that pouncing and chasing made him feel bubbly inside. He wasn't so happy when he’d got his disguise on, though.