Jungle Kids

By John Wallace

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 28

Publisher: Collins Picture Lions, London

Year: 2000

ISBN: 978 0 00198 332 8

Meet the Jungle Kids – Todd, the scientist, Jamie, the smallest and Georgina, the bossy one. They have a ‘jungle hideout’ and something’s been dipping into their stash of chocolates. They hatch an elaborate plan to find the culprit and instead, end up with a furry friend.

The narrative is endearing with several additions to the story that pop in through the illustrations. 

A corner of the page has been reserved for a delightful commentary in black-and-white. For example, when Jamie starts meandering into the story, there’s Georgina annoyed reminder – “Will you please GET ON WITH THE STORY!”

Excerpt

In the end, we decided to hide until the monster came then LEAP out and scare him…

We decided to do it THAT VERY EVENING …

First we got ready. 

My Treasury of Nursery Rhymes

Illustrations: Paige Billin-Frye, Susan DeSantis, Mernie Gallagher-Cole, Ronnie Rooney, Carol Schwartz and Liza Woodruff

Year: 2010

Publisher: Igloo Books Ltd., UK

Age: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 160

ISBN: 978 1 84817 244 9

This is a dream book! :-)

This book or as they aptly call it, treasury is the ultimate collection of rhymes for the littlest ones. Packed with 200 classic and famous nursery rhymes and embellished with adorable illustrations, this book has it all!

Flea, where are you?

Author: Karen Foster

Illustrator: Jan Smith

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 10

Publisher: Marshall Direct Learning, London

A lovely lift-a-flap book featuring Hoot the resolute little owl and his friend, Flea.

After we’d finished reading through the book, we realized that each page was devoted to a color! 

This story cleverly invokes a search which requires your little one to participate in. In effect, your child becomes a part of the story. Our baby helped Hoot look for his friend under a black hat, a purple lily pad, a red flower, a yellow rock, a green tree and a blue cave.

This is one of those books your toddler will love to read every night. All the best!   

Excerpt

Flea, Flea, is that you behind the yellow rock?

“No, it’s me”, ROARED Wily.

Flea, Flea, is that you in the green tree?

“No, it’s me,” chuckled Rangatang.

Flea, Flea, is that you inside the blue cave?

“No, it’s me,” whispered Batwing. 

I Love the Rain

Author: Margaret Park Bridges

Illustrator: Christine Davenier

Year: 2005

Publisher: Chronicle Books, USA 

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 26

ISBN: 978 1 58717 208 3

Read this book and you’ll remember everything that is beautiful and exciting about rain. :-)

I loved it for the highly imaginative narrative and the joie-de-vivre that shines through Molly and Sophie. As they get home from school on a rainy day, they imagine all sorts of happy images for all that a rain means – the drops, the wet street, the puddles.

Of course, my kids wanted to jump into the very next rain that came along. It’s the book. Its happiness is infectious.

Excerpt

“What’s that sound on the roof?” asks Sophie.

“Tap dancers!” I jump in. “A whole chorus line on stage above us.”

We tap our toes all the way to our stop.

Disney – Winnie the Pooh – Pooh’s Honey Tree

Adapted by Isabel Gaines

Illustrator: Nancy Stevenson

Year: 1998

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books,  New York

Website: Step into Reading

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978-0-73641-352-9

Website: Winnie the pooh

This book belongs to the Step into reading series – Step 2 which introduces basic vocabulary, short sentences and simple stories. 

Here’s another charming story from Disney's Winnie the Pooh based on A. A. Milne's beloved bear.

Winnie the Pooh bear is hungry and sets out on an adventure to fill his tummy with honey. He follows a bee into the Hundred-Acre Wood and finds that the honeycomb is too high. He gets Christopher Robin to help him on his quest.

Excerpt

Soon he came to a tall tree.

Pooh climbed up the tree.

CRACK!

A branch broke.

Down Pooh fell.

THUMP!

Pooh rubbed his head.

Maybe Christopher Robin could help Pooh get some honey.

Pooh set off to find his friend. 

Bridget Fidget

By Joe Berger 

Year: 2008

Publisher: Puffin Books, London 

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 14150 180 2

The book's cover does call her ‘The girl in a whirl who can’t stay still!’. And, that does help explain all the zip-zap-zoom in the book.

Bridget Fidget wants a pet. So when a smaller-than-expected package arrives at home, Bridget decides to settle for a penguin instead of a unicorn. Underneath all the packaging material is a smaller box. So it’s just the right size for a mouse which she thinks ought to make a great pet. 

Her great dreams come crashing down when her dad opens the box. Or is there still hope? :-)

Excerpt

This box wouldn't open.

Bridget sniffed it. It didn't smell.

Bridget shook it. It didn't squeak.

Bridget rolled it. It didn't skitter. 

Dear Deer - A book of homophones

By Gene Barretta

Year: 2007

Publisher: Square Fish Books, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 38

ISBN: 978-0-31262-899-4

Our kids haven’t quite had as much fun with words as with this book on homophones.

Under the guise of an exchange of letters between a “Dear Deer” and an “Aunt Ant”, this book provides wholesome reading pleasure for little ones.  It employs an exciting range of homophones, some hilarious and some quite puzzling resulting in some unusual and weird situations. Check out the excerpt! :-)

Excerpt

The WHALE was ALLOWED to WAIL ALOUD.

The BEAR had to PAUSE to BARE his PAWS.

HEY, the elephant THREW a pail THROUGH  the big bale of HAY! 

I Love You Always and Forever

Author: Jonathan Emmett

Illustrator: Daniel Howarth

Year: 2007

Publisher: Gullane Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978 1 86233 621 6

This is a tender story of a parent’s love for his little one, captured elegantly in sensitive prose and poignant illustrations.  

Granted, the protagonists here are mice but any dad would relate to this charming book.:-)

It’s a beautiful day in the woodland. Littletail and her dad, Longtail are playing all her favorite little games.  As they play, Longtail realizes that soon things will not be the same. His little one will grow up and be faster and cleverer than him. Yet, one thing will not change - his love for Littletail is forever.

Excerpt

It was getting late, but Littletail wanted to play one last game.

“Follow the leader!” she said.

Longtail was small – but Littletail was smaller. And she could squeeze through where Longtail could 

not.

“I always get through,” said Littletail proudly.

“Do you always?” laughed Longtail, “Well it won’t be forever, one day you will be just as big as me!” 

Watch me grow - Duckling

Author: Lisa Magloff

Designed by Sonia Whillock

Year: 2003

Publisher: Darling Kindersley, London

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978-1-40531-160-0

Ducks are loved universally and I'm pretty sure Disney played a part in it too. :-)

This nature book on ducklings traces the journey of a duck from an egg to when it is eight weeks old. By this time, their wings are fully grown and they are finally ready for flight.

Several close-up photographs and fun-fact boxes make this book a delightful and educational read.

Other books in this series include:

• Watch me grow - Ape
• Watch me grow - Bear
• Watch me grow - Butterfly
• Watch me grow - Elephant
• Watch me grow - Farm Animals
• Watch me grow - Frog
• Watch me grow - Kitten
• Watch me grow - Panda
• Watch me  grow - Penguin
• Watch me grow - Puppy
• Watch me grow - Rabbit
• Watch me grow - Turtle

Excerpt

After three days I make my way to the water, where I start to paddle.

My feathers are waterproof, and they keep me warm and dry.