Wild Things: Giraffe on a sleepover

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Byrne

Year: 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40815 679 7

I loved this wildlife series for little children. Friendly illustrations, uncluttered text in an engaging font, neat little chapters each with a quirky “You will need” section are some of the reasons why you might want this book for your little one or for your school library.

Besides, this book is a fund-raising initiative from the Zoological Society of London, a charity that provides help for animals while also running the ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Other books in this series include

•     Elephant in the attic
•     Emu on the loose
•     Hippo in the house
•     Lion who came to lunch
•     Monkey in the garden
•     Penguin in the post
•     Tiger at the door

Excerpt

Watch out for kicking feet – they’re huge and they hurt.

A giraffe’s hoof is the size of a cereal bowl and can kill a lion with one mighty kick.

Karate classes might be a bad idea … 

Dewdrop Babies – The Big Storm

Author and Illustrator: Patricia McCarthy

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 12

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books, London

Year: 2008

ISBN: 978-0-55255-652-1

This incredibly enchanting book with sparkly glitter on every page and cherubic dewdrop babies with names like Violet, Sweetpea and Poppy is one of those books your children will want to see and read, over and over again.

Despite its cuteness, the story addresses a critical issue that young ones struggle with – the fear of thunder and lightning. The story acknowledges the fear, (calling it a fire-breathing dragon) addresses it and moves on to the splendid after-effects of a thunder shower – shiny sun and a beautiful rainbow.

Excerpt

1       Sweetpea and Rose join in the game, and soon there are petals flying all over the Great Hall, like giant multi-coloured snowflakes.

Even Violet can’t help laughing when a shower of petals lands on her head.

The Rainbow Babies dance and whirl about until they fall into a tangled sticky heap.

Dick and Jane: Something Funny (Puffin Young Readers – Level 1)

Year: 1951

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, New York

Age: 3 – 5 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Illustrated early chapter book, educational

ISBN:  978 0 44846 117 5

This is one of those truly easy-to-read books for early readers. This book also introduces simple chapters to encourage young ones.

Meet Dick, Jane and their little baby sister, Sally as they have loads of fun and adventure during their playtime.

Excerpt

Oh, Jane.

See Sally.

See little Sally.

Little, little Sally.

Hans Christian Andersen Illustrated Fairytales – The Buckwheat

Translator: Hans Breitenstein

Illustrator: Tiziana Gironi

For Ages: 8 and above

No. of Pages: 24

Publisher: Scandinavia Publishing House, Denmark

Year: 2005

This exceptionally illustrated storybook tells the humbling tale of the buckwheat – proud and arrogant until its downfall. 

I did wonder, though, if little ones would understand the story. They did, even if pride and arrogance were words or traits they did not yet comprehend.

Excerpt

Now a violent thunderstorm was coming near. All the flowers of the field folded up their crowns or bowed their fine heads while the storm raged overhead. But the buckwheat remained stiff with pride.

“Close your flowers and bow your leaves,” said the old willow tree. “Do not look towards the lightning when the heavens open. Even men dare not do so because in the lightning you can see into God’s heaven, but this sight blinds even men. What might happen to us lowly growths of the earth if we dared do that, we who are far inferior.”

“Far inferior?” said the buckwheat. “Now, that is exactly what I want, to look right into God’s heaven.”

And so it did, in arrogance and pride. It seemed as though the whole world was on fire, there were so many lightning bolts.

Wild Things: Monkey in the garden

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Caswell

Year: 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40817 940 6

I loved this wildlife series for little children. Friendly illustrations, uncluttered text in an engaging font, neat little chapters each with a quirky “You will need” section are some of the reasons why you might want this book for your little one or for your school library.

Besides, this book is a fund-raising initiative from the Zoological Society of London, a charity that provides help for animals while also running the ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Other books in this series include

•     Elephant in the attic
•     Emu on the loose
•     Giraffe on a sleepover
•     Hippo in the house
•     Lion who came to lunch
•     Penguin in the post
•     Tiger at the door

Excerpt

A monkey uses its tail like an extra arm, to grip onto branches.

The end of a monkey’s tail has a tough pad of skin.

A monkey can hang from branches by its tail alone.

Alligator Tails and Crocodile Cakes (I am Reading)

Author: Nicola Moon

Illustrator: Andy Ellis

Year: 1996

Publisher: Kingfisher Publications, London

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 46

Book Type: Chapter book for new readers, Paperback

ISBN: 978 0 75341 550 4

It was, and is probably, rare to have reptiles as the protagonists in a children’s book which is why this book piqued our interest.

Meet two friends, Crocodile and Alligator in two tales. Hide and Seek humorously shows how hard it is to hide when you have a big tail.

In the second story, the friends attempt to bake a cake while munching on the ingredients. Well, you can imagine how that turned out! :-)

The reptiles have been made as friendly as possible and the kids were just fine with it, too. In fact, our younger children lost their fear of the dreaded crocodile, which, until this book came along, has been their favorite villain.

Excerpt

“Coming, ready or not!” called Crocodile.

He looked to the left.

He looked to the right.

He looked up and he looked down.

And then …

“Found you! Found you! I can see your tail!” he sang. 

Wild Things: Elephant in the attic

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Caswell

Year: 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40817 937 3

I loved this wildlife series for little children. Friendly illustrations, uncluttered text in an engaging font, neat little chapters each with a quirky "You will need” section are some of the reasons why you might want this book for your little one or for your school library.

Besides, this book is a fund-raising initiative from the Zoological Society of London, a charity that provides help for animals while also running the ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Other books in this series include

•     Emu on the loose
•     Giraffe on a sleepover
•     Hippo in the house
•     Lion who came to lunch
•     Monkey in the garden
•     Penguin in the post
•     Tiger at the door

Excerpt

Elephants love to take a shower.

They use their trunks to suck up water. Then they spray it over their bodies.

Elephants then cover themselves in dust!

Good dog, Daisy

Author & Illustrator:  Lisa Kopper

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Puffin Books, London

Year: 2001

ISBN: 978-0-52546-661-1

This is a charming little story about a baby and her dog Daisy who has three puppies of her own. Our 2-year-old loved this book because of its illustrations – cute and simply adorable.

The letters are in big print and I think, that motivated our 4-year-old to attempt reading the book, too. 

Excerpt

Baby likes to tell Little Daisy what to do.

Baby says, “SIT!” And Little Daisy sits.

Baby says, “LIE!”

And Little Daisy lies.

Baby says, “SPEAK!”

And Little Daisy speaks. “SQUEAK!”