Pooh’s Best Friend

Text: Isabel Gaines

Illustrations: Tim Jones

Year: 1998

Publisher: Disney Press, USA

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 40

Book Type: Picture Book, Reading for beginners

ISBN:  978 0 78684 265 2

This book belongs to the Winnie the Pooh First Reader series designed to encourage and engage young readers to learn to read through the adventures of beloved Pooh.

Pooh has a perplexing question on his mind: “… who was his best friend?”

He decides to ask his friends in the Hundred-Acre Wood. Each one gives him a different explanation. 

Owl thinks that a best friend is one you can talk while Rabbit believes he should be unselfish. Or someone who remembers birthdays or is patient and kind. Pooh could only think of one person who had all these virtues – Piglet!

He now has the answer and wants to be Piglet’s best friend too.

Excerpt

As Pooh turned to go, Roo squeaked, “I know what a best friend is! A best friend is someone who asks you to play!

“You’re right, Roo,” said Pooh.

“Thank you!”

Pooh’s Sled Ride

Text: Isabel Gaines

Illustrations: Studio Orlando

Year: 2000

Publisher: Random House Children's Books, USA

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 38

Book Type: Picture Book, Reading for beginners

ISBN:  978 0 73641 159 3

This book belongs to the Winnie the Pooh First Reader series designed to encourage and engage young readers to learn to read through the adventures of beloved Pooh.

It’s a beautiful winter morning. So Pooh, Christopher Robin and the rest of the friends decide to go sledding.

They have a wonderful time going down the big hill except for Piglet. He falls off. Not once but three times. They try placing him in different places but fail to keep him. Finally, Christopher asks him to sit in the middle. So they hold on tightly and he has a gleeful ride down the hill.

Excerpt

They all piled onto Christopher Robin’s sled.

Piglet hung on to Tigger’s tail at the very back.

Down, down they went.

“Wee!” They laughed and giggled.

Little Penguin Lost

Text: Tracey Corderoy

Illustrations: Gavin Scott

Year: 2011

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 244 7

Tracey Corderoy spins magic again with a beautiful tale set in the magical frozen land of the penguins.

Little Plip loves his sock toy. At the end of a very playful day, he’s devastated to discover that he’s lost his beloved Sockybug. He’s determined to find it even though his older siblings caution him against wandering away in the fading light.

Their worst fears come true when Plip bumps into Wal-the-Wump, a walrus but they’re all in for a terrific surprise that ushers in a delightful new friendship.

The illustrations are absolutely wonderful and the attention to detail is breathtaking. 

The kids loved the book.

Excerpt

Everyone searched for Plip’s little sock toy.

They checked under the water …then inside all the caves.

“Where can he be?” sighed Plip. “He’ll be wanting a cuddle.”

Milly, Molly and the Mountain

Text: Gill Pittar

Illustrations: Cris Morrell

Year: 2002

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book, Life Skills Education

ISBN:  942 1 87729 718 6

Charlie has a big, bright hot air balloon. Milly and Molly watch as he goes over the mountain in it. 

The friends are thrilled when, one day, Charlie agrees to take them and their cats for a ride. It feels magical at first but the feeling fades away, rather quickly, when they get caught in a thunderstorm. Soon, they’re eager to get back on the ground.

I liked this book for the simple but profound messages the author conveys - the world looks neat and tidy from up above and the grass is not greener on the other side of the mountain. :-)

Excerpt

The river looked long and blue and curly.

The trees were in straight rows.

The grass was so green.

And everything looked very neat and tidy.

Who’s been Eating My Porridge?

Text: M. Christina Butler

Illustrations: Daniel Howarth

Year: 2004

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 85430 976 1

This book replays a scene that occurs in almost every household – a child who’s fussy about food and parents trying different means to get him to eat.

Little Bear doesn’t like to eat his porridge.  So Mummy Bear leaves his porridge on an old tree stump for Old Scary Bear.

The next day, his parents drizzle some honey on the porridge to entice Little Bear to eat. He doesn’t budge. So his porridge is left out again. This happens a few times and each time, Little Bear observes that his bowl is left empty. He’s now a little worried about Old Scary Bear and begins to eat his porridge.

The story ends happily, though. There isn’t anything scary at the end. :-) We loved the illustrations especially the cuddly-wuddly bears.

Excerpt

That night Little Bear had a bad dream. Old Scary Bear was chasing him through the woods.

“I want your porridge,” he growled. “It makes me big and strong!”

Four Friends in the Garden

By Sue Heap

Year: 2005

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84428 554 5

Four friends - Florentina the bear, Rachel the rabbit, Seymour the sheep and Mary Clare are in the garden. They are ecstatic when a butterfly joins them.

This picture book celebrates the simple joys of life and childhood innocence with its unique story on friendship and camaraderie.

Excerpt

“Ooof!” says Florentina. “I am hot.”

She kicks off her slippers. A butterfly lands on her foot.

It’s Snowing!

By Olivier Dunrea

Year: 2010

Publisher: Square Fish, New York

Age: 6 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 31260 216 1

The first snowfall is often a magical and momentous time for most of us. This book is a tender narrative of a mother’s delight at introducing her baby to her first snowfall. The text and illustrations are enchanting.

Excerpt

“Baby, taste the snow!”

Baby opens his mouth.

“Baby, touch the snow!”

Baby flies into the air.

Miss Smith Reads Again!

By Michael Garland

Year: 2006

Publisher: Puffin Books, USA

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 14241 140 7

Here’s a fantasy adventure tale in the land of the dinosaurs.

Miss Smith has a magical Incredible Storybook where the story comes alive every time she reads a book.

This time they read Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World and Miss Smith is captured by a pterodactyl .

Excerpt

As Challenger and Summerlee continued their heated debate, a huge Tyrannosaurus rex stole up behind them.

Zack’s eyes stared at the jagged fangs of the T. rex, but before Miss Smith could stop him, Zack screamed, “Look out behind you!!”

Jane and the Magician

By Martin Baynton

Year: 2000

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 6- 10 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40630 528 9

Jane is as true-blue a knight as they come. She also has a dragon instead of a steed.

They are sent on a mission to find the royal magician who has gone away in a huff after a misunderstanding at the Royal Court.

Jane finds the magician but it takes some convincing to bring him back. Of course, her brave heart shines through as she goes above and beyond her call of duty.

Jane and her dragon also feature in a children's television series. 

Excerpt

“WHY?” roared the magician. “I’ve only just begun!”

Again he clapped his hands and blue lightning sprang from his fingertips. It crackled across the sky and smacked into the dragon.

Higglety Pigglety POP!

Illustrations: Harry Horse

Year: 1999

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Poetry

ISBN:  978 1 40632 314 6

This witty and humorous mix of poems for little ones is like a mini treasure trove of surprises. Expect to be bowled over as every page springs a different poem with its unique flavor from several poets from A A Milne to Edward Lear.

The Bobbsey Twins – Freddie and Flossie and the Train Ride

Author: Laura Lee Hope

Illustrator: Chuck Pyle

Year: 2005

Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, New York

Age: 4 and above                                                

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 41690 269 4

Website: Ready to Read

The Bobbsey Twins are back. This time they’re on a train when adventure strikes in the form of their jumpy kitty, Snoop.

Again, it’s from the Ready-to-Read Pre-Level 1 series. The sentences are small and there are plenty of repetitive words and phrases.

The illustrations liven up the text to make this book appealing to young readers. 

Excerpt

Do you want to play, Snoop?

Oops!

Come back, Snoop!

Ghost Town - A Lucky Luke Adventure (2)

By Goscinny and Morris

Year: 2006

Publisher: Cinebook Ltd., UK

Age: 7 - 10 years

No. of Pages: 46

Book Type: Comic Book

ISBN:  978 1 90546 012 0

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 unravels the mystery of an isolated and inhospitable town out in the arid desert.

There’s plenty of 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. :-)

Hector

Text: Sarah Aspinall

Illustrations: Mark Barry

Year: 2011

Publisher: Templar Publishing, UK

Age: 6 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84877 204 5

Hector is creative and a dreamer. One day, he paints a bright, red car and introduces it to his friends as the car that will take him to faraway places.

The day he plans to leave, his friends decide to leave with him. They happily land up in a place with trees, houses and a big, blue sky.

Excerpt

A little while later, Hector’s friends, Pootle and Poppet, arrived. Hector showed them his new picture.

“What’s that?” said Pootle.

“My big, bright-red car,” said Hector. “It’s going to take me to faraway places.”

Why Giraffe has a Long Neck – Tinga Tinga Tales

Text: Edward Gakuya and Claudia Lloyd

Illustrations: Noah Mukono

Year: 2011

Publisher: Puffin Books, UK

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Traditional

ISBN:  978 0 14133 505 6

According to the book, Tinga-Tinga Tales are 'inspired by traditional animal stories from Africa and the Tingatinga artwork of Tanzania. Here’s another beautiful Tinga Tinga tale of how the Giraffe came to have her long neck.

Many, many years ago, Giraffe had short legs and a stumpy neck. After a mango-eating binge, Giraffe is on the lookout for some honey to soothe her tummy. She finds a honeycomb in the hollow of a tree and sticks he head in for a long slurp. Unfortunately, her head gets stuck. The other animals, try to help by pulling her legs. The legs get stretched but Giraffe remains stuck.

The animals help again by pulling the tree off Giraffe. They only manage to stretch her neck and so they stop.

When she finally, pulls her head out by herself, three seasons have gone by and Giraffe has been transformed into the tallest animal in the land.

Excerpt

And while they were playing, Giraffe’s tree grew taller, the leaves turned brown and autumn came! The animals wondered what to do

Then Monkey had an idea.

“I know, let’s pull the tree off Giraffe!”