Gruff the Grump

Author: Steve Smallman

Illustrator: Cee Biscoe

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 26

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-56148-669-4

Now here’s a beautiful story with brilliant illustrations that make you want to frame up a couple of pages to hang on the wall.

This tender story about a grumpy bear discovering kindness and eventually, happiness in his lonely existence is bound to evoke feelings of empathy amongst young readers.

The story is narrated extremely well. It’s not poetry but you almost want it to be. Don’t be surprised if your children pick up a few sentences and repeat them like rhymes. But then, it isn’t a rhyme, either.

I must say, meaningful stories (for children) like this are rare and a find like this ought to be treasured.

Excerpt

Gruff was a bear.

A great big bear.

A great big, scowly, growly, grizzly grump of a bear.

He lived all alone in a musty, dusty old cave where nobody ever came to visit. The other animals hid when they saw him coming. They called him, ‘Gruff the Grump’.

“HUMPH!” went Gruff the Grump to show he didn’t care. 

Bright Stanley

Author and Illustrator: Matt Buckingham

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 22

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2006

ISBN: 978-1-58925-059-8

Meet Stanley who belongs to a shoal that’s the ‘brightest, sparkliest fish in the whole of the deep, dark sea.’

It shows too. Little Stanley is illustrated with shiny, golden scales that little ones will love to see and play with.

He has a little encounter with a mean ole’ shark but comes through safely.  

Our 4-year-old wanted me to read it to her everyday that we had the book. (it was borrowed from the State Library.) So a good choice for little ones, especially those who are inclined to shiny and sparkly stuff.

Excerpt

CLONK!

Stanley crashed head-first into something very hard.

“Jumping jellyfish!” he cried. It wasn’t one of his friends at all, but his own reflection in a shiny pearl!

Stanley rubbed his bumped nose, feeling a little dazed. He didn’t notice a dark shape coming up behind him. 

Rapunzel (Ladybird Books)

Retold by: Nicola Baxter

Illustrator: Martin Aitchison

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 24

Publisher: Ladybird Books, Leicestershire, UK

Year: 1993

ISBN: 978-0-72141-557-4

Based on the story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, this version is merely a retelling, abridged to suit young readers.

Every page has a full-color illustration, true to Ladybird Books style.

The witch looks awful, through.

Excerpt

Years passed, and Rapunzel never set eyes on another living person. Then, one day, a young prince riding through the forest heard Rapunzel’s sweet singing.

“I have never heard such a lovely voice,” he said to himself. “I shall not rest until I find out who it belongs to.”

So the Prince hid nearby and saw the witch climb the tower.

That evening, after the witch had gone, the Prince called out,

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel,

Let down your hair.”

Open Wide!

Author: Julia Moffatt

Illustrator: Anni Axworthy

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Evans Brothers, London

Year: 2004

ISBN: 978-0-23752-791-4

This is a great book to help introduce your child to dental care and dentists. It features a simple story line but it’s a practical book to help with children like Danny. He’s been scared by his big brother and does not want to visit a dentist for a check-up. He drags his feet until he realizes the dentist isn’t all that scary.

And the full-page, full color illustrations, definitely help.

Excerpt

Inside, Danny was surprised. It didn’t look like a spooky cave at all.

The dentist didn’t look like a monster, either.

“Would you like a ride on my chair?” he said.

“Wheeeeee!” said Danny.

“Open wide!” said the dentist.