Pooh and the Storm that Sparkled

Text: Isabel Gaines

Illustrations: Studio Orlando

Year: 2000

Publisher: Random House, USA

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 38

Book Type: Picture Book, Reading for beginners

ISBN:  978 0 73641 147 X

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 and Piglet are intrigued by a strange kind of storm brewing behind the Great Hill. They decide to warn the others. They are worried when they hear that Tigger, Kanga, Roo and Christopher Robin are on a picnic on the Great Hill. The kind-hearted friends rush to rescue them but are in for a spectacular surprise. :-)

Excerpt

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM - BOOM!

Pooh woke up with a start.

“What was that?”

Eeyore Finds Friends

Text: Isabel Gaines

Illustrations: Josie Yee

Year: 1999

Publisher: Disney Press, USA

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 38

Book Type: Picture Book, Reading for beginners

ISBN:  978 0 78684 259 5

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

Eeyore discovers that it is ‘Twos-day’ and wanders around the Hundred-Acre Wood to find a friend to share the day with. Eeyore is perplexed as Gopher has planned to spend his day with Rabbit, Owl is having tea with Kanga and Tigger is playing with Roo in the meadows.

As expected, he finds Piglet at Pooh’s house and they’re just about to tuck into a pot of honey. Kind-hearted Pooh has forgotten that it's Twos-day and decides to call it Fun-day, instead. 

Excerpt

One lovely spring morning, Gopher popped out of a hole right beside Eeyore.

“Say, sonny,” said Gopher, “why are you alone? Don’t you know today is Twos-day?”

The Rainbow Club (Understanding Bullying)

Text: Annette Aubrey

Illustrations:  Patrice Barton

Year: 2007

Publisher: QED Publishing, UK

Age: 5 – 10 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Life Skills, Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84835 005 2

This insightful and sensitive book on bullying attempts to explore the underlying causes of bullying and the varying responses and reactions that children commonly manifest.

This book is aimed at very young children where bullying often begins with children looking for a common ground to feel comfortable with one another. In the context of this book, it is as innocuous as the color of their attire on field trip day.

This book is a great way to help children who might turn out to be potential bullies by holding up a mirror to them as well as for those who might be bullied.

Excerpt

Chloe and Tommy were best friends.

They loved to find new things to do. 

Do Your Ears Hang Low?

Illustrations: Caroline Jayne Church

Year: 2002

Publisher: The Chicken House and Scholastic Inc., USA

Age: 2 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 43951 840 7

This little book features the beloved, traditional children’s song “Do Your Ears Hang Low?” devoted to their best friends, dogs and now made famous by Barney and Friends.

While the song itself doesn't really seem to mean much, the illustrations in the book add a deeper meaning and an interesting narrative to the song. 

Excerpt

Do your ears hang low?

Do they wobble to and fro?

Can you tie them in a knot?

Can you tie them in a bow?
 

Valentine Friends

Text: April Jones Prince

Illustrations: Elizabeth Schlossberg

Year: 2007

Publisher: Scholastic Inc., USA

Age: 3- 5 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 43979 999 7

It’s Valentine’s Day. All the little friends get together to make cards and bake yummy valentines to share with one another.  

They learn the meaning of love through their giving and sharing. 

This is an easy-to-read book for beginners with short two-word descriptions for each page as you can see from the excerpt below.

Excerpt

Dog draws.

Cat cuts.

Pig pastes.

Friends in the Snow

Text: Daniel Postgate

Illustrations: Sam Childs

Year: 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN: 978 1 40711 539 9

Here’s another delightful book that celebrates a child’s unique ability to imagine much like Bruno’s Box. I liked this book also because it encourages children to explore their creative instincts and to be bold about their expressions. 

Brave little Lucy is startled by the white monster on the stark white bedroom wall. After failing to ignore the monster’s grunts and howls, she befriends him and takes him for a walk to discover new friends.

The adventure doesn't end … :-)

Excerpt

The penguin looked north, south, east and west.

He saw that Lucy was quite right, there was nothing but white.

“Then I’m King of Nothing,” said the penguin. “And Nothing will have to do.”

No Babysitters Allowed

Text: Amber Stewart

Illustrations: Laura Rankin

Year: 2008

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, New York

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Bedtime

ISBN:  978 0 74759 847 3

No Babysitters Allowed addresses the common concerns of a child who’s not happy to see his parents go out for the evening and even less happier to have a babysitter.

Ordinarily, brave and bold Hopscotch is fearless but when he realizes that his parents are going out for the evening, he “doesn’t feel brave at all.”

His babysitter, Mrs. Honeybunch, soon befriends little Hopscotch and they have a great time playing, painting and reading.

Excerpt

Hopscotch and Rabbity pressed their noses to the goodbye window, still waving long after Mummy and Daddy had turned the corner out of sight. 

Yummy Yummy Food for my Tummy

Text: Sam Lloyd

Illustrations: Jack Tickle

Year: 2003

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 28

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 85430 898 6

Two islands, two chimps and plenty of sharks – that’s what this colorful book is about.

And yes, the sharks seem to have bitten a chunk off of the book, too. :-)

George and Jess are two lonely chimps on their islands. They use their ingenuity to brave the threats of hungry sharks to, finally, meet up and have a great party with music, dancing, yummy banana milkshakes and coconut cake.

This book is bound to be a winner, both with kids who are fascinated by sharks and those who see them as villains.

Excerpt

But there was a problem.

In the deep blue sea between the two islands were sharks!

“Yummy, yummy, yummy, food for my tummy,” the sharks sang when they saw the little chimps. 

At the end of the Rainbow

Text: A H Benjamin

Illustrations: John Bendall-Brunello

Year: 2004

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN:  978 1 84506 003 2

This heart-warming story about two friends and their search for the mystical treasure at the end of the rainbow opens up a window into the world around us and all that truly matters in life.

Badger and Fox decide to follow the rainbow for it's treasure. During their journey, they find that their friends have different perspectives on the meaning of treasure. Squirrel places most value on his store of acorns while Mother Duck thinks of her baby as her greatest treasure. They finally meet Old Hare whose memories are most precious to him.

Badger and Fox get to thinking and it dawns on both of them that their friendship is truly a treasure.

Excerpt

“Ahh,” nodded Old Hare. “I have lots of that.”

“Really? Where?” they asked.

Old Hare patted his head. “Here,” he said. “My memories are my treasure. They make me happy.”

Milly, Molly and the Secret Scarves

Text: Gill Pittar

Illustrations: Cris Morrell

Year: 2002

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 5 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Early readers

ISBN:  978 1 87729 717 8

Milly and Molly are inseparable friends who constantly learn new things about people, places and important values.

In this heart-warming  book, Milly and Molly decide to surprise each other with a colorful scarf for Christmas. They knit and knot fervently until the scarves are done. On Christmas day, the girls are thrilled to discover how alike they are and how much they are loved.   

This book is more than just about sharing and giving gifts, it's about love and true friendship, the kind that overlooks differences, the kind that truly lasts.

Excerpt

She was still knitting on Christmas morning.

“You must love Molly very much,” her mother said.

“I do,” said Milly.

Picnic on a cloud

By Mark Icanberry

Year: 2000

Publisher: Look, Learn and Do Publications

Age: 5 – 10 years

No. of Pages: 48

Book Type: Picture Book, Learning

ISBN:  978 1 89332 702 7

David, his friend Jessica and Newton, their four-legged pal are on a flying adventure. Using the blimp as inspiration, with Professor Alexander’s guidance, they create a flying gondola with an innovative sail of 289 Helium balloons. They fly, float, cruise and finally, have a picnic on a cloud.

This book is more than just a storybook – it features the history, science and construction of air ships tracing its journey from a hot air balloon to dirigibles and finally, blimps. There is also a You Can Do It section at the end of the book to help little ones make a tiny blimp with a straw, a milk carton, thread, Scotch tape and a couple of Helium-filled balloons. :-)

Excerpt

Newton slowly opened his large, lazy eyelids.

David yawned and called from below, “Are you up yet, Newton?”

“Rup,” replied Newton.

The Dark, Dark Night

Text: M. Christina Butler

Illustrations: Jane Chapman

Year: 2008

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84506 637 6

This book is an endearing comedy of errors which features five good friends – Badger, Rabbit, Hedgehog, Dormouse and Frog.

Frog has just woken up from a long winter sleep and in his excitement, he sets off a series of mishaps caused by ‘shadow monsters!’

This ought to be a good book for little ones who are afraid of the dark.

Excerpt

Frog was very excited. All winter he had been asleep under a stone, and now it was spring, he was on his way back to the pond.

Mole’s Sunrise

Text: Jeanne Willis, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Sarah Fox-Davies

Year: 2011

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40633 778 5

This kind and generous story of friendship offers little children a tiny peek at the window to the world of the differently-abled.

Vole is in a hurry to catch the sunrise. He stops by Mole’s house and invites him too. Soon, they are joined by Rabbit, Squirrel and Sparrow.

Each of them sees the sunrise with a unique perspective, all of which blend together to create a beautiful image for the nearly blind Mole.

This book is about kindness, friendship, generosity and so much more. The illustrations are breathtakingly detailed.

Excerpt

Vole got up just before dawn.

Mole was having breakfast but Vole didn’t have time.

Books Always Everywhere

Text: Jane Blatt

Illustrations: Sarah Massini

Year: 2013

Publisher: Nosy Crow, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 85763 090 2

This endearing picture book looks at books from a toddler’s perspective. While the text engages children with all that a book is, it also introduces us to some of its unusual functions like a hat or as a chair. Well, that’s how a toddler would see it! :-)

Excerpt

Book build

Book mat

Book chair

Book hat

Dinosaur Sleepover

Text: Pamela Duncan Edwards

Illustrations: Deborah Allwright

Year: 2010

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 - 7 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Bedtime

ISBN:  978 0 23074 052 5

This beautiful bedtime story blends thoughtfully laid out text with warm, witty illustrations to create a memorable book.

The story traces the concerns of a little boy just before his first-ever sleepover. Never mind, that he ends up pretending that it’s his dinosaur who’s worried about staying away for a night. :-)

This ought to be a classic. We loved everything about this book.

Excerpt

What would you do if it was your cousin’s birthday and he invited you and Dinosaur to a sleepover party?

What if dinosaur looked puzzled?

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.

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!”