Bouncy Bouncy Bedtime

Text: David Bedford

Illustrations: Russell Julian

Year: 2011

Publisher: Egmont UK, London

Age: 2 – 5 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Bedtime

ISBN:  978 1 40525 741 1

This is a truly fanciful bedtime tale that ought to have children asking for more. There are plenty of “noisy” words to engage little ones too. The kids loved chirruping, tweeting, roaring and trumpeting various animal sounds. :-)

The illustrations are enchanting as they transition from a gentle golden sunset to mild, soothing shades of blue and purple to complete the bedtime effect. 

Truly creative. :-)

Excerpt

Look who’s first!

Waddlers!

Sliding and gliding to the big, bouncy bed in the sky.

Those early birds don’t want to be late!

Slip, slap, flippety-flap!

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 …

Snuffle and the egg

Author: A. J. Wood

Illustrator: Jonathan Lambert

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 28

Publisher: Templar Publishing, UK

Year: 2008

ISBN: 978-1-74178-713-9

Say hello to Snuffle – as the book begins – a baby elephant as cute as a button, who chances upon an egg. Like every little one who knows that an egg must be handled carefully, if not at all, Snuffle tries his best but ends up, inadvertently, dropping the egg. That’s okay because the egg was ready to hatch anyway. The story ends delightfully.

The illustrator has captured the antics of little ones perfectly especially the part where Snuffle starts to run away when he drops the egg.

I would love to see Snuffle as a television series.

Excerpt

Snuffle picks up the egg very carefully.

He tries moving it around.

He balances it on the end of his trunk …

He blows it gently up in the air. 

Wild Things: Elephant in the attic

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Caswell

Year: 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40817 937 3

I loved this wildlife series for little children. Friendly illustrations, uncluttered text in an engaging font, neat little chapters each with a quirky "You will need” section are some of the reasons why you might want this book for your little one or for your school library.

Besides, this book is a fund-raising initiative from the Zoological Society of London, a charity that provides help for animals while also running the ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Other books in this series include

•     Emu on the loose
•     Giraffe on a sleepover
•     Hippo in the house
•     Lion who came to lunch
•     Monkey in the garden
•     Penguin in the post
•     Tiger at the door

Excerpt

Elephants love to take a shower.

They use their trunks to suck up water. Then they spray it over their bodies.

Elephants then cover themselves in dust!

Snuffle and the flower

Author:  A J Wood

Illustrator: Jonathan Lambert

Year: 2008

Publisher: Templar Publishing, UK

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 26

ISBN: 978-1-84011-142-2

The simply adorable Snuffle is back and in his search for a friend to play with, he comes across something “small and green.” As he watches over this strange thing, he finds a bee to play with and eventually, plenty of butterflies too.

I loved the subtle way in which the author manages to teach children a plant’s life-cycle and the need for sunshine and rain without looking or sounding like a textbook. 

I would, truly, love to see Snuffle in an animated television series. Hint! Hint! :-)

Excerpt

Snuffle is wondering what the seedling might grow into when a bee buzzes by.

The bee does not like the seedling.

Loop the loop!

It flies in circles – is it looking for something.