Let’s go home, Little Bear!

Text: Martin Waddell

Illustrations: Barbara Firth

Year: 1991 (2005)

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 5 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84428 492 4

This delightfully, charming story of Little Bear and Big Bear walking back home through snow makes for imaginative reading.

Little Bear thinks he hears a Plodder when Big Bear explains is the sound of his feet in the snow. He then hears a Dripper which turns out to be ice dripping into the stream. They encounter many more sounds until they reach home. Big Bear tucks Little Bear into a warm blanket and weaves a story of
Plodders, Drippers and Ploppers until both are fast asleep.

Excerpt

“I thought I heard something!” Little Bear said.

“What did you hear?” said Big Bear.

“Drip, drip, drip,” said Little Bear. “I think it’s a Dripper!”

Pig’s curly wurly tail – A Goosefeather Farm Story

Text: Jillian Harker

Illustrations: Simon Abbott

Year: 2002

Publisher: Bright Sparks, UK

Age: 3 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84250 535 9

This Goosefeather Farm story is from Bright Sparks who donate one book to less fortunate children for every two sold.

This delightful tale is about self-acceptance, even if some of our attributes don’t seem to have any purpose. Like poor little Pig. He’s under the weather about his tail.

His tail doesn’t seem to be able to flick off flies like Cow’s or be of any use to him. Soon, he’s flooded with advice and help from Goose, Lamb and Horse. Eventually, they realize that Pig’s tail is unique and what's more, he has won the competition for the best tail on the farm. :-)

This friendly book, with its large print and bright, happy illustrations, belongs in your library if you have little ones. 

The Goosefeather Farm series is a colorful and cheery means to introduce children to diversity and to help them appreciate the unique differences that make each of us special. 

Excerpt

Pig stood up.

“Why?” he asked. “I can’t flick it. It doesn’t waggle. It won’t swing and it’s not sleek or straight. It’s a … useless tail! How could it possibly be the best tail on the farm?”

Other Goosefeather Farm titles are

• Cow's ding dong bell
• Frog's flicky licky tongue
• Duck's scoopy doopy beak

Daisy and the Beastie

By Jane Simmons

Year: 2000

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84362 274 1

Daisy has just heard her favorite story about a Beastie on a farm. She teams up with Pip to look for it on their farm. They look in the chicken coop, among the geese, in the barn, in the meadow, the pigsty and the orchard.

They, finally, hear strange noises from the shed and think they’ve found the Beastie …

Young children will find this book lively as they’ll get to make a whole lot of animal noises – coo, chirp, wee, buzz, beep and more! :-)

Excerpt

“The Beastie might be with the chickens,” said Daisy.

“Cheep, cheep,” chirped the chicks.

“Cheep,” said Pip.

“… or hiding with the geese.”

“Beep! Beep!” said the goslings. 

Sam’s Bush Journey

Text: Sally Morgan and Ezekiel Kwaymullina

Illustrations: Bronwyn Bancroft

Year: 2009

Publisher: Little Hare Books, Australia

Age: 5 - 9 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Traditional

ISBN:  978 1 92154 172 8

Little Sam is visiting his nanna. He loves the experience except that her house is surrounded by the (Australian) bush – he gets scratched by spiky shrubs and bitten by mosquitoes. Nanna believes that one day he will love the bush.

Sam isn’t so sure until he has a dream where he’s lost. He finds shelter, food and water in the bush and begins to appreciate the role of the bush in the circle of life.

This eye-opener features colorful Aboriginal art and celebrates the beauty and self-sufficiency of nature.  

Excerpt

But Sam didn’t know where to find the waterhole.

Then he heard the birds singing. His nanna had told him that birds gather by the water, so he followed the sound. 

Measuring Angels

Text: Lesley Ely

Illustrations: Polly Dunbar, Wikipedia

Year: 2008

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, London

Age: 5 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84780 048 0

There’s trouble brewing at school. A little girl feels left out and Miss Miles the teacher finds the solution with sunflower seeds.

Miss Miles gives the little girl a flower pot and Sophie, who’s not her friend, the sunflower seed. They are not happy about having to work together and so is the sunflower. Their plant is the weediest and smallest. 

Miss Miles suggests that they talk to the plant. They do. Soon, the plant grows beautifully and the two little girls are friends.

Excerpt

“This sunflower isn’t happy,” said Miss Miles. “Why don’t you talk to it? Talking to plants sometimes helps them grow.”

So we tried. We got close. 

Ben’s Book

Text: Nanette Newman

Illustrations: Georgie Birkett

Year: 2005

Publisher: Pavilion Children’s Books, London

Age: 2 - 4 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84365 193 2

Ben’s just received a strange gift from his granny. He looks at it for a long time.

He stands on it to reach above him but things topple all over him. He, then, sits on it to watch TV but he prefers the sofa. He tries some more uses for it but they don’t quite work out at all.

His sister Lulu comes to his aid and explains that the gift, a book, is to be read and reads to him. Ben’s thrilled with the story and later tries to follow the story with the pictures. 

Excerpt

“What have you got there?” asked his sister Lulu.

“A book,” said Ben, “but … I don’t know what to do with it.”

“Books are meant to be read,” said Lulu.

Grandad

Text: Rachel Elliot

Illustrations: Katie Pamment

Year: 2005

Publisher: Meadowside Children’s Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84539 055 6

This charming story of a little girl and her granddad (obviously from the Flower Power era) who lives in her backyard in a gypsy caravan ought to put a broad smile in your day.

The granddad is bursting with joie de vivre and his little grand-daughter soaks it all in. Their day is filled with music, laughter, treats and happiness.

The illustrations are very cheery and lively. :-)

Excerpt

We watch the waves splashing and feed the seagulls.

I have two ice creams.

Grandad has three.

“Life’s for living!” says Grandad. 

Duck, Duck, Goose

By Tad Hills, Wikipedia

Year: 2007

Publisher: Boxer Books, Great Britain  

Age: 3 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 40

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 90625 032 4

Goose’s idyllic life is disrupted by the arrival of the aptly named Thistle, a boastful little duck. Goose is appalled that his best friend, Duck is in awe of his new buddy.

The duo are goaded into doing stuff they don't even like - hold their breath, stand on their heads, hop on one leg and several other maneuvers aimed at making Thistle look good. Soon, Duck and Goose have had enough.

They think up a clever ruse to keep Thistle engaged – they have a nap contest and decide that the winner is whoever falls asleep first and the longest. Of course, Thistle wins while Duck and Goose do the stuff they love most – listen to the river, feel the breeze, look for butterflies, and kick a ball around the meadows.

This is an adorable series and the illustrations are fantastic! :-)

Excerpt

Just then Goose heard twigs snap and leaves rustle. He watched his butterfly flutter away.

One of the bushes came Duck and Thistle.

“You missed it, Duck,” said Goose. “A butterfly was sitting on my head.” 

Other books in this series:

•   Duck and Goose
•   Duck and Goose: How are you feeling?
•   Duck and Goose: 1,2,3
•   Duck, Duck, Goose
•         Duck and Goose Colors
• 
  

A Christmas Wish

Text: Julia Hubery

Illustrations: Sophy Williams

Year: 2007

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Novelty Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84506 529 4  

The ethereal and warm Christmas-y illustrations centered around a happy family makes for a delightful addition to your children’s library.

Gemma and Ty are excited as they decorate the Christmas tree. As Gemma picks up her favorite ornament, a snow deer, Ty accidentally breaks it. Gemma is very upset with him and stomps away.

A little later, though, she realizes it was an accident. As she steps out of her room to make up with Ty, she finds a peace offering from him at her bedroom door.

Gemma glues the snow deer back to one piece and takes it to her little brother.

Oh yes, all those little fans of everything shiny will not be disappointed – the snow deer is all glittery and sparkly everywhere it appears, cover included.:-)

Excerpt

It was very quiet. She opened the door, and nearly fell over something. On the floor was a badly-wrapped parcel, and a little card with a big wobbly “sorry”.

It was a pot of glue. 

Caterpillar Butterfly

Text: Vivian French, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Charlotte Voake

Year: 1993

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 - 8

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Educational

ISBN:  978 0 74456 282 1

Here’s an engaging way to teach children about metamorphosis – that magical, beautiful process of nature where an ordinary caterpillar turns into a radiant butterfly.

The text introduces the discovery through the eyes of a little girl and her grandfather who patiently watch over a batch of butterfly eggs as they hatch, crawl, pupate and finally, emerge as butterflies.

Excerpt

The next day there were lots and lots of little tiny caterpillars crawling on the nettle leaves. The eggs were papery and empty.

Kipper’s Snowy Day

By Mick Inkpen, Wikipedia

Year: 1996

Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 34093 210 0

This book is about the delightfully charming duo of playful puppies, Kipper (Wikipedia) and Tiger.

It’s snowing and that makes it just the perfect day for fun and frolic. They roll down the hill and make a giant snowdog dressed up with Tiger’s clothes.

They are thrilled to discover more snow the next day and the next. And so, their work of pristine puppy art stands for almost three whole weeks.

Excerpt

Kipper charged down the hill.

‘Are you all right, Tiger?’ he panted.

Tiger pulled off his silly, woolly hat.

A big grin spread across his face.

‘Again!’ he said.

Manners at the Park

Text: Arianna Candell

Illustrations: Rosa M. Curto

Year: 2012

Publisher: Salariya Book Company, UK

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 36

Book Type: Picture Book, Educational

ISBN:  978 1 90817 710 0

It’s never too early to introduce children to rules and manners. The earlier the exposure, the sooner they’ll understand that following rules helps keep everyone safe and happy which is what this book attempts to impart to little ones.

The book takes us into Lily’s neighborhood. As each good manner is explained, we meet Lily’s friends. The book covers most manners and rules while playing at the park – taking turns, litter, involving others, new toys, holding grown-ups’ hands when crossing the road and more.

Excerpt

Rosie loves the swings so much that she could spend the whole day there! She doesn’t see the other kids waiting for a turn, so the queue is getting longer and longer. 

The Shape of my Heart

Text: Mark Sperring

Illustrations: Alys Paterson

Year: 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 2 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Educational

ISBN:  978 1 40882 705 5

This brightly colored creative book introduces little ones to all the shapes, sounds and flavors a child comes across during the day.

The book is adorable for its warm and caring approach to turn the ordinary into a colorful learning experience – the hands we hold one another with. :-)

Excerpt

This is the shape of my shoes.

Aren't they nice?

And this is the shape of your feet.