The Easter Chick

Text: Geraldine Elschner

Illustrations: Alexandra Junge

Year: 2003

Publisher: North-South Books, New York

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Books

ISBN:  978 0 73582 076 0

A little chick (yet to hatch!) has heard exciting things about Easter. She is determined to wait to hatch so she can be an Easter chick. It sounds like a fine idea except that no one knows when Easter is.

Max the owl comes to the rescue. The other animals at the farm learn when Easter is and how the day is decided. Of course, the farm is delighted to welcome a happy, Easter chick. 

Excerpt

The little chick counted down the days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

On Saturday night, there were three loud calls through the farmyard.

Whoooo hoooo!

Whoooo hoooo!

Whoooo hoooo!

Aliens in Underpants Save the World

Text: Claire Freedman

Illustrations: Ben Cort

Year: 2009

Publisher: Simon and Schuster, London

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84738 302 0

If you've ever been mystified by missing underpants, this book is about to provide you with the most likeliest answer to your query.

One fine day, aliens (who love pinching Earth-made underpants) spot a meteorite hurtling towards the planet. Earthlings can only watch haplessly but the aliens jump into action and save the day while also getting to save their underpants resource.

It's hilarious. The girls giggled all along as they’d never ever read about underpants in a book. I’m pretty sure, we’ll hear this book for a longtime.

Excerpt

Back home the aliens all cheered,

“Our pants plan was fantastic,

We saved the Earth and underpants,

With pingy pants elastic!”

Little Deer Lost

Text: Janet Bingham

Illustrations: Rosalind Beardshaw

Year: 2011

Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40711 0 400

Silver and Sparkle, a couple of little fawns are ecstatic at their very first snowfall. The snow turns out to be everything their mom promised it would be – cold, soft and beautiful. They play, race each other, roll and slide on the snow until they find themselves lost. Suddenly, the snow feels cold, heavy and very deep.

After a while though, their mum finds them and the magic is renewed.

Excerpt

Soon the sky was full of snowflakes. Silver chased them, and Sparkle flicked them with her tail.

As the snow settled, Silver kicked up little flurries, and Sparkle made patterns with her footprints.

After a while the snowflakes stopped falling, and Silver and Sparkle gazed around. A blanket of snow lay over everything. 

Noodle’s Knitting

Text: Sheryl Webster

Illustrations: Caroline Pedler

Year: 2010

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 093 1

This heartwarming story of friendship, love and sacrifice makes for a great reading experience.

Noodle, an industrious little mouse, longs to knit. She manages to lay her hands on a lovely ball of wool.

She knits, all day long and soon she has a scarf ready for herself and her friends to tuck into during the long, cold winter.

The illustrations are exceptionally adorable. Our baby loved this book because of the soft-to-touch velvety texture on every page.

Excerpt

Pitter patter went her paws, clickety click went her needles. On and on she danced, singing merrily,

“One plain, one purl, one twisk, one twirl!”

She was enjoying herself so much she didn't even notice her knitting catch on a prickle …

Buzz Bumble to the Rescue

Text:  Lynn E. Hazen

Illustrations:  Jill Newton

Year: 2006

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 74757 297 6

This story about bees is captured in outstanding illustrations that make each page a work of art.

Buzz Bumble is a star in his garden. All the bees admire him for his style, speed and agility. However, when sweet lil' Baby Bumble comes flying around, all the attention is turned to her.

Buzz Bumble feels miffed but he races to her rescue when she’s trapped in a Venus Flytrap.

He makes it to the cover of “The National Bee-Geographic Magazine.”

We loved this book for its message of self-acceptance and encouraging children to be comfortable with themselves. The sunny illustrations are cheery and adorable. 

Excerpt

“Look at Baby Bumble!” announced Humble.

“Our little fuzzy-buzzy is covered with pollen!”

“Adorable,” cooed Miss Bizzy.

“Where’s Ansel Antennae?” asked Senor Sting. “He must take a picture!”

Doodleday

By Ross Collins

Year: 2011

Publisher: Gullane Children’s Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages:  32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 86233 847 0

It’s Doodleday and it’s hilarious!

Despite instructions from his mom to the contrary, mischievous Harvey decides to doodle a fly which comes alive and wreaks havoc in the kitchen. He then draws a spider, to eat the fly. The spider turns on Harvey’s dad, instead.

He then draws a bird to prey on the spider and that doesn’t work either. After some more misadventures, Harvey yells for his mum who rescues the town from Harvey’s doodles. :-)

Excerpt

Harvey couldn’t see what she was drawing.

What could swat a giant fly?

Eat a gigantic spider?

Bring down a monstrous bird?

Be more ferocious than a Giant Squid?

Not Norman

Text: Kelly Bennett

Illustrations: Noah Z. Jones

Year: 2005

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age:  4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 84428 288 0

A little boy has just been given a goldfish named Norman as a birthday gift. The boy is disappointed because he wanted a different kind of pet – something soft and furry, not a fish that swims round and round.

He wants to trade Norman with his friends for another pet. Every time he tries to, Norman does something outstanding that makes it harder for the boy to give it away.  Soon, the boy learns to love Norman and decides to keeps him.

Excerpt

I wanted a pet who could run and catch. Or one who could climb trees and chase a ball of string.

A soft, furry pet to sleep on my bed at night.

Not Norman. 

Goose on the Loose

Text: Claire Freedman

Illustrations: Vanessa Cabban

Year: 2003

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 85430 893 9

Little Gooseberry is learning to fly. Despite a few bumps along the road, he persists, bolstered by the autumn winds and his friends’ encouragement.

He also notices that while he’s practicing great loops in the air, his friends - Beaver, Red Squirrel, Mouse and Hare are scampering around to prepare for the impending winter. He feels he needs to get ready too.

His parents remind him that geese fly to warmer lands during winter. He’s been preparing for winter, after all! 

Excerpt

Suddenly, a little chilly breeze ruffled Gooseberry’s feathers. He began to fee a teeny bit worried. 

Winter was coming!

Everyone was preparing for it – except him.

Perhaps he had better hurry up and do something – before it was too late. 

Santasaurus

By Niamh Sharkey

Year: 2004

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84428 523 5

It’s a dinosaur universe. Predictably, there’s a Santasaurus and dinodeer during Christmas.

Ollie wishes for a dinobot, Molly asks for a dinocycle but Milo wishes to meet Santasaurus and fly in his sleigh.

All their wishes are fulfilled and Milo gets a memorable trip around the world. 

Excerpt

In the blink of a magic eye, Milo and Santasaurus shot up the chimney to the sleigh on the roof.

They flew up from the roof and over Dinosaur Town.

Humphrey’s Corner

By Sally Hunter

Year: 1999

Publisher: Puffin Books

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 14056 585 0

An adorable baby elephant is about to start his day. He gathers his Mooey (blanket), a little stool and his beloved Mop, a bunny rabbit. He puts them into a box and looks around for a cozy corner to play in.

Humphrey's Corner is saturated with innocence. The text and story is endearing. The illustrations are suffused with the tender glow of morning sunlight. The font is perfect – handwritten in neat , loving pencil strokes.

A fabulous package. :-)

Excerpt

So Humphrey put his Mooey, the little stool, the bottle with the pretty colours and Mummy’s sparkly necklace into the box with Mop on top …

The Wagon Train - A Lucky Luke Adventure (9)

By Goscinny and Morris

Year: 2007 (English translation)

Publisher: Cinebook Ltd., Kent

Age: 8 – 10 years

No. of Pages: 46

Book Type: Comic Book

ISBN:  978 1 90546 040 3

Meet Lucky Luke, “the man who shoots faster than his own shadow.” Set in the Wild, Wild West, Lucky Luke, a cool-as-cucumber cowboy escorts a wagon train across hostile terrain and through inhospitable towns.

There’s plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor, wit and hilarious situations to keep young and old engaged. Remember the magic of Asterix comics? It’s all there except set in a different time and place. :-)

Laura’s Star

By Klaus Baumgart, Wikipedia

Year: 1996

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Novelty Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 85430 696 0

Sometimes, we find the gift of friendship in the most unexpected places.

Lonely little Laura wishes for a friend. Her wish is granted in the most extraordinary manner – a star comes whirling down from the sky! 

She brings it home and tends to it as a point has broken off.

Laura has a wonderful time with the star but its glitter begins to fade. She knows a star is happiest up in the sky and sets it free.

Oh yes, the star is all silvery, shiny and smooth to touch. Little ones will love it. :-)

The book is perfect in every way especially because of the almost magical quality of the illustrations.

Excerpt

Outside on the pavement lay a little star, fizzing sparks and colours like a giant sparkler.

“You’re beautiful,” Laura whispered, as she tiptoed towards it. 

When the snow comes

By Jonathan Allen

Year:  2010

Publisher: Boxer Books, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 90796 713 9

This enchanting story of the first snowfall of the season is also our very first book on yaks. :-) They look adorable in this book.

As Little Yak prepares for his very first winter, we get a glimpse into all the different ways in which his friends prepare for the cold. The Pika stores up grass, Bear hibernates and Blue Thrush flies away to his warm winter home.

Little Yak is grateful that he can withstand the icy winter, thanks to his shaggy coat, and enjoy the snowfall surrounded by his mother's warmth.

Excerpt

“Well, what do yaks do when the snow comes?” asked Little Yak.

“We stay right where we are,” said Mum. “our thick shaggy coats keep us warm.. And little yaks snuggle up close to their mums.”