Little Miss Bossy and the Magic Word

Concept: Roger Hargreaves

Author and Illustrator: Adam Hargreaves

For Ages: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Egmont UK Ltd., London

Year: 1998

Website: Mr. Men

Meet Miss Bossy. Like her name suggests, she is pushy and rude. It means she also uses words like nonsense and shut up. And she hasn't learned to say the magic words- ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’. By the end of the book, she does begin to use them but her bossiness – well, you’ll have to find out for yourself.

The book uses non-fussy, smiley-face illustrations to complement a simple story that conveys a clear message.

A caution here. If your children haven’t been introduced to ‘Nonsense!’ and ‘Shut up!’ then please do take the time to explain their inappropriateness.

Excerpt

It was Mr Small who decided that something had to be done.

He went to see Little Miss Magic.

And once he had explained the problem, she agreed to teach Miss Bossy a lesson.

“… and I think I know just how to do it,” she replied. 

Animal Neighbors - Duck

Author: Stephen Savage

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books, London

Year: 2005

ISBN: 978-1-43584-988-4

The Animal Neighbors series which includes books on bats, swallows and toads, is a good way to introduce children to the animals they see around them.

This book on ducks, specifically the prolific mallard duck, traces its journey from birth with brief snippets about food, habitat and threats.

The language is a bit grown-up so parents will need to be around for the reading when it’s for children younger than 8. The threats section has some disturbing (for very young kids) pictures that might need to be explained by parents to their younger children. (I skipped the page. I was not sure if my tiny tots (2 and 4 years old) were ready to see pictures of dead ducks.)

Excerpt

In towns and cities, mallards can be found on ponds and boating lakes. These ducks are quite happy to live close to humans, where there are fewer natural predators and more food is available, and they nest and rear their young there. 

Squelch!

By Kay Woodward and Stefania Colnaghi

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Evans Brothers, London

Year: 2005

ISBN: 978-0-23752-895-9

This adorable book from the Twisters series is something that even toddlers will identify with easily. Full page illustrations peppered liberally with ‘noise’ words like ‘plop’, ‘crunch’ and ‘splash’ make this book a fond favorite with the tiny tots. 

Excerpt

There’s snow on the ground.

Crunch!

“I’m hungry. I’ll wash my hands.”

There’s pizza for tea.

S-t-r-e-t-c-h!

There’s jam for the pudding.

Plop! 

Milly, Molly and W. W. Webby

Author: Gill Pittar

Illustrator: Cris Morrell

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 24

Publisher: Milly,Molly Books, New Zealand

Year: 2003

ISBN: 978-1-87729-747-2

This has to be the first children’s book I have come across that addresses bigotry and racism. It even uses the words.

Even if the children don’t quite get the essence of the story, the parents should. However, I've also learned not to underestimate the abilities of children. 

The story uses an unlikely messenger to convey the lesson – W. W. Webby, the friendliest spider in the Milly and Molly universe. They ask him to build a World Wide Web, which he does by connecting mountains to mountains around the whole world. Now Milly and Molly can make friends all over the world. 

Excerpt

“What about our shoes?” Milly and Molly asked. “We can’t find them anywhere.”

W.W. Webby thought deeply for a moment. “To walk in someone else’s shoes, is to really understand them,” he said wisely. “That way you can stomp on bigotry and racism, forever.