Hide & Seek

By Il Sung Na

Year: 2011

Publisher: Meadowside Children’s Books, London

Age: 4 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84539 545 2

It’s time to play in the forest. The animals decide to play hide-and-seek. Of course, it was the chameleon’s idea, who is after all, an expert at hiding in plain sight.

The Elephant counts from 1 to 10. He finds all the animals except Chameleon.

We loved this book because we got to look for Chameleon, who was cleverly concealed by the author, on every page! :-)

Excerpt

At the edge of the vast rain forest, where sunlight shines through the leaves, the animals gather together.

Something is about to happen!

Dream Animals – A Bedtime Journey

By Emily Winfield Martin

Year: 2013

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books, New York

Age: 5 - 9

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Bedtime, Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 44981 080 4

This enchanting bedtime book about children’s journeys to Dreamland employs lyrical text to weave a web of dreams and twilight magic.

The illustrations are a combination of pencil sketches and elaborate finely detailed paintings that seem to be infused with life.  

Simply beautiful! :-)

Excerpt

There are animals from long ago

And twice as far away.

Their maps are made of starlight

And can’t be seen by day.

Patrick Paints a Picture

Text: Saviour Pirotta, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Linzi West

Year: 2007

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Educational, Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84507 719 8

Little Patrick and his aunt are painting a golden yellow cornfield when a red squirrel brightens the landscape. The squirrel is soon accompanied by a bluebird, a butterfly, a green frog, a lamb and more.

This exciting book on colors engages the imagination of little children to make for a wholesome reading and learning experience.

A big thumbs up! :-)

Excerpt

Patrick and Aunt Emily were sitting in the shade of a tree.

“Let’s paint a picture of that cornfield,” said Aunt Emily.

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!

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

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. 

Duck says Don’t!

Text: Alison Ritchie

Illustrations: Hannah George

Year:  2012

Publisher:  Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 316 1

Here’s a gem from the Little Tiger Press.

Goose’s Pond is a haven of fun, frolicking and friendship. However, Goose has to go away on a holiday and leaves the duck in charge, who errrmm…takes his charge a bit too seriously.

Soon, the Pond is smothered by several “Don’t” signs put up by an overly-conscientious duck. He soon sees the error of his ways.

The illustrations are simply delightful and the story, hilarious. Though there is an important message hidden in there ... 

Excerpt

Duck was having a little nap when the frogs dived into the water, SPLASH!

“Frogs!”Duck yelled. “What do you think you’re doing? Diving is forbidden!”

“Forbidden?” said the frogs angrily. “Says who?”

Baby Tawnies

By Judy Paulson

Year: 2012

Publisher: Random House, Australia  

Age: 3 – 5 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN:  978 1 72475 577 9

The book features a family of Tawny Frogmouths, (a native Australian bird that looks like it belongs to the owl family but does not).

Reggie and Lyla, decide to get adventurous when their parents go out at night to hunt for them. Before long, they've learnt not only to sit on a branch just like their parents but also to flutter their wings and fly!

The book uses clever photography with Tawny Frogmouth dolls as illustrations.

Excerpt

The next night, Lyla and Reggie bounce out onto the branch.

‘Come on, Reggie, let’s fly,’ says Lyla as she flutters her wings and sails into the air.

Reggie lifts his wings up and down, up and down, faster and faster, faster and faster…

Hoppy Ever After!

Text: Alan Durant

Illustrations: Sue Mason

Year: 2007

Publisher: Zero to Ten Ltd., London

Age: 2 to 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Books, Paperback

ISBN:  978 1 84089 579 7

This happy tale of a happy frog was first published as Froggy went a Hopping.

Meet Froggy, a deliriously happy frog who wants to share his happiness with someone. He gets shooed away by the busy bees, funny bunnies and the beautiful birds. He comes back home and finds a surprise companion to be “Hoppy ever after” with.

The little ones loved this book because of all the “tweet, tweet” and “croak, ribbit” that they got to do while reading this book.

Excerpt

The sky darkened and the stars came out.

Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle.

Froggy’s fingers itched and his webby toes twitched.

He wanted to twinkle too. 

Rumble in the Jungle

Text: Giles Andreae, Wikipedia

Illustrator: David Wojtowycz

Year: 1996

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 86039 660 7

This book is just right for all those little ones who dream about adventures in the jungles. Rumble in the Jungle is essentially a collection of witty poems, each focused on a specific animal - crocodiles, lions, elephants and the rest!

The illustrations burst with color and vitality boosted by the use of plentiful primary colors to engage babies too!  :-)

This book is a keeper. :-)

Excerpt

The night has started falling

But the jungle never sleeps,

The vultures circle slowly

While the leopard softly creeps.

I-Spy: Wide Eye Reading

Text: Karen Foster

Illustrations: Jan Smith

Publisher: Children First Ltd., UK

Age: 0 to 4 years

Book Type: Board book

No. of Pages: 12

Here’s another delightful bedtime book featuring Hoot, the sweet little owl. The book encourages your little ones to search for and 'spy' through peepholes on every other page. It’s a board book too so you can introduce it safely to your baby.

The book uses the much-loved I Spy theme to introduce the inhabitants of a great, big tree as ‘spied’ by a bat, Batwing.

The sleepy owls ought to bring plenty of bedtime calm to little ones.

Excerpt

Batwing says, ‘I spy two, big bright eyes.’

It’s Wide Eye keeping watch.

Goodnight Wide Eye!

Bird Talk – What Birds are Saying and Why

By Lita Judge

Year: 2012

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, New York

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 52

ISBN: 978 1 59643 646 6

This beautifully-done book presents a wide repertoire of bird noises and the reasons for their songs.

Chirp, warble, quack, coo, rattle, screech!

This is a must-have book if your child shows an inclination towards feathered friends. Or not. After all, who doesn't like birds? 

Excerpt

African Grey Parrots are excellent mimics. Many learn to repeat people’s voices, but one named Alex learned to use words with human meaning. With his vocabulary of about 150 words, he could name objects, count to six, ask and answer questions, and request rewards. “Wanna nut!”

Dear Deer - A book of homophones

By Gene Barretta

Year: 2007

Publisher: Square Fish Books, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 38

ISBN: 978-0-31262-899-4

Our kids haven’t quite had as much fun with words as with this book on homophones.

Under the guise of an exchange of letters between a “Dear Deer” and an “Aunt Ant”, this book provides wholesome reading pleasure for little ones.  It employs an exciting range of homophones, some hilarious and some quite puzzling resulting in some unusual and weird situations. Check out the excerpt! :-)

Excerpt

The WHALE was ALLOWED to WAIL ALOUD.

The BEAR had to PAUSE to BARE his PAWS.

HEY, the elephant THREW a pail THROUGH  the big bale of HAY! 

Lucy’s Cat and the Rainbow Birds

Author: Anthony Hill

Illustrator: Jane Tanner

Year: 2007

Publisher: Puffin Books

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-14350-160-2

Cats will never befriend birds even if they are colored in all the brilliant hues of a rainbow.

Lucy’s cat “Artemis – the Hunter” chases the birds that come to feed in the garden. After the near capture of a bird, Lucy ties a bell around the cat’s neck.

Artemis masters the art of stealth even with a bell around his neck. Lucy ties another bell. Artemis seems more determined than ever until Lucy straddles him with another bell. And another.

She doesn't give up until peace reigns in the garden.   

Excerpt

And, next morning, when Lucy went into her garden to feed the rainbow birds, Artemis crept behind her.

Softly,

Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!

Stealthily,

Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!

But not at all silently.

HA! HA! HA! Shrieked the rainbow birds, safe on the topmost branch.

‘You can’t catch us. Ridiculous!’

Santa’s Littlest Helper Travels the World

Author: Anu Stohner

Illustrator: Henricke Wilson

Year: 2006

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 74759 358 4

Santa and his Helpers are hard at work “in a little village far far to the north.”  Like very year, Santa’s Littlest Helper is the first to finish his work and has time to even make a snowman.

However, Christmas Pox plays spoilsport and it just looks like children around the world may not get presents this year. That’s when, the Littlest Helper comes up with a plan. A good one too! :-)

This is a Christmas picture book.

Excerpt

But one of Santa’s Helpers had started preparing long before the others. He had finished packing his sleigh and even had enough time to build a lovely snowman. He was, of course, Santa’s Littlest Helper!

The other Helpers moaned because they still had so much to do. 

Little Friend

Author: Katie Cook

Illustrator: Colleen McKeown

Year: 2010

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 84506 849 3

Quite often, children make the best friends for animals in need. Little Friend captures this fact through the sensitive story of a little girl and her duckling.

One chilly evening, Laura chances upon the hurt, little duckling. She befriends him and takes him home.

Laura gently nurses him to good health and soon, they are the best of friends. However, the call of the wild ducks tugs at the little duckling, who’s not so little anymore.

Laura knows she must prepare herself and her friend for a goodbye.

The book is beautifully illustrated with landscape images of windy grasslands and breezy glades. This is a wonderful book to encourage your child to explore the wonders of the living world.

Excerpt

All evening she hugged him tight, as the wild ducks called.

“You want to be with them, don’t you, Little Friend?” Laura whispered.

“I think I’ll have to teach you how to fly…