Fancy Nancy at the Museum

Text: Jane O’Connor

Illustrations: Robin Preiss Glasser, Wikipedia

Year: 2008

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, USA

Age: 5 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 28

Book Type: Picture Book

Website: Fancy Nancy World, Wikipedia

ISBN:  978 0 00789 239 6

This cheery book with cheerier illustrations is a masterpiece!

Nancy is excited about her class trip to a museum to see some masterpieces. Nancy's day almost turns awful when gets sick on the way after eating two lunches but kind Ms. Glass turns it all around.

This fantastic book very cleverly introduces children to a few big art-related words and their meanings. The illustrations are more than impressive! The book certainly deserves a place in your little girl’s library. :-)

Check out Fancy Nancy's website here! 

Excerpt

Ms Glass tells us, “Today we will see masterpieces! That’s a fancy word for great paintings.”

The bus ride is very bumpy.

Bump! Bump! Bump!

Makeup Mess

Text: Robert Munsch

Illustrations: Michael Martchenko

Year: 2001

Publisher: Scholastic, Canada

Age: 5 - 9 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 0 43998 896 4

Julie, an industrious (and prospective investment banker!) is excited because she has finally saved up one hundred dollars. She spends the lot on make-up!

After a few disastrous trials which result in her parents falling over in astonishment, she realizes that she doesn’t need make-up to feel or be pretty.

She sells all of her stuff to her friends and earns a windfall. Now, you know why I predicted her career. :-)

This rib-tickling book is yet another gem from the Munsch-Martchenko duo. :-) A big thumbs up!

Excerpt

So Julie took some purple stuff and stuck it on her eyes.

She took some green stuff and put it on her cheeks.

She took some black stuff and put it on her lips, and she colored her hair purple.

Mmm, Cookies!

Text: Robert Munsch

Illustrations: Michael Martchenko

Year: 2000

Publisher: Scholastic, Canada

Age: 5 - 9 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 0 59051 694 5

Christopher has a devious plan in play – he shapes yummy-looking cookies with play clay and offers it to his parents. When they fall for his trick, he decides to take it to school too. A forewarned teacher decides to play tit-for-tat with hilarious results. :-)

This rib-tickling book is yet another gem from the Munsch-Martchenko duo. :-) A big thumbs up!

Excerpt

He whapped it in his hands –

WHAP, WHAP, WHAP, WHAP, WHAP.

Made it nice and round –

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH.

Look! I can Read! (Puffin Young Readers – Level 2)

Text: Susan Hood

Illustrations: Amy Wummer

Year: 2000

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, USA

Age: 3 – 5 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Reading for beginners

ISBN:  978 0 44845 794 9

This book for new readers traces the learning-to-read journey of a little girl as she progresses from figuring out letters to everyday words like ‘Milk’ on a carton. Soon, she learns to write her own name, read picture books with her dad’s help. Before long, she’s thrilled to be able to read by herself.

This is an encouraging book for new readers. :-)

Excerpt

My dad reads to me at bedtime each night.

He shows me you read from left to the right.

Now I read words in the grocery store. 

Rainy Day Fairies

Text: Julia Rowe

Illustrations: Eric Kincaid

Year: 2000

Publisher: Brimax, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 20

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 85854 155 6

If you’ve ever wondered where fairies come from, take a closer look at the raindrops. You might just see a tiny one clinging to an “extra large, shiny raindrop.”

This series by Julia Rowe provides a refreshing look at fairies and their origins. Puddles made by dragonflies and colors lent by a kind kingfisher are just some of the intriguing details that make this book exciting for little ones. 

Excerpt

When they were ready the beautiful kingfisher flew over each of them in turn and hovered over them. 

He flapped his wings so fast that you could barely see them move.

Also in this series:

• Sunny Day Fairies
• Snowy Day Fairies
• Rainbow Fairies

Sunny Day Fairies

Text: Julia Rowe

Illustrations: Eric Kincaid

Year: 2001

Publisher: Brimax, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 20

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 85854 171 6

Bright, golden sunbeams don’t just bring light and warmth to earth, they also act as the means to convey tiny little Sunny Day Fairies. 

This series by Julia Rowe provides a refreshing look at fairies and their origins. An elegant Queen Buttercup and a pollen party are just some of the intriguing details that make this book exciting for little ones. 

Excerpt

The older fairies continued to shake the flowers, and the harder they shook, the more golden pollen came floating down onto the brown wings of the babies.

Also in this series:

• Rainy Day Fairies
• Snowy Day Fairies
• Rainbow Fairies

Arthur’s Tooth

By Marc Brown

Year: 1985

Publisher: Little Brown and Company, USA

Age: 6 to 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  0 316 11246 1

Poor Arthur has a tough time at school. He’s the only one in his class who has yet to lose a single baby tooth. His dentist reassures him that it’s normal and that everyone is different. Arthur feels reassured even when Francine is very rude and teases him because he hasn’t lost his baby teeth.

This is an encouraging story about finding inner strength and holding on to one’s identity especially in the, sometimes, mean and hostile, school hallways, cafeteria and playground.

Excerpt

“I was eight before I lost my first tooth,” said Dr. Sozio. “Everyone is different.”

“Really?” said Arthur.

Little Rabbit’s Christmas

By Harry Horse, Wikipedia

Year: 2007

Publisher: Puffin Books, UK

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 0 14056 963 6

Little Rabbit has spotted the perfect gift that he’d like for Christmas. He is ecstatic when his wish is fulfilled but finds it hard to share his gift with friends. A twist of events causes Little Rabbit to have a change of heart when his friends show him exemplary kindness. They share their precious Christmas gifts with Little Rabbit so that he can enjoy his.

This book starts out like another story about a spoiled brat and his tantrums over a Christmas gift but it ends up surprising readers and puts a smile on everyone’s faces.

Excerpt

Little Rabbit went to look under the Christmas tree to see if the sledge was there.

Then he looked up the chimney to see if it had got stuck.

Also in this series:

• Little Rabbit goes to School
• Little Rabbit Lost
• Little Rabbit’s New Baby
• Little Rabbit Runaway

Milly, Molly and Different Dads

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 719 4

Families are different. This book brings home the message in a very powerful way.

Little Sophie comes to class crying. Her dad’s packed his suitcase and gone away. So, Mrs. Blythe gets the children to talk about their dads. Sophie realizes every dad is different.

In the wise words of her teacher, “That’s just the way it is.”

Excerpt

“I’ve got two Dads,” said Elizabeth.

“I’ve only got one Dad,” said Milly.

“My Dad’s away with the Army and I only see him sometimes,” Harry added.