Bears!

By Paul Stickland

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 26

Publisher: Ragged Bears Publishing, UK

Year: 2001

ISBN: 978 1 85714 222 8

Every once in a while, one comes across a must-have book. Well, here’s a beautiful one.

Bears is a endearing story about a happy little boy who, one night, finds himself playing host to countless warm, furry bears who are ‘happy as can be’. They've apparently come for a party and soon the house is jam-packed with bears until the little boy calls his parents to help organize the astonishing gathering.

The book captures the vivid imagination of little ones with exceptional paintings that stretch from corner to corner and glow with warmth and bliss. Hues of cozy yellows and snug purples paint a picture of unique contentment with life that mostly children seem to possess. The lyrical prose simply makes this book a winner.         

Excerpt

It started out with just a few

and then their numbers grew and grew,

until you really couldn’t hide

from bears who now were here, inside. 

Oscar's Half Birthday

Author and Illustrator: Bob Graham

For Ages: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Year: 2005

ISBN: 978-0-76362-699-0

Here’s a story of sweet, little Oscar who’s just turned 6 months old. Millie, his 4-year-old sister  and his parents are excited as they look forward to celebrating his ‘half-birthday’.

The sensitive narrative could easily be a slice of life from any of our lives. The author obviously has closely observed a baby with all the tenderness that can well up only in a parental heart. Or maybe I’m wrong. It is Bob Graham, after all, an award-winning children’s author.

Check out this passage:

In the lift, Millie (Oscar’s sister) the dinosaur presses all the buttons. Bright as a Christmas tree they shine, bright as candles on a cake, glinting in Oscar’s dark eyes …

And, this sentence:

Oscar frowns up against the light – six different expressions on his face in the time it takes a leaf to fall.

Or this one:

His (Oscar’s) shoulders are hunched, his head nods and the sun shines through his ears, lighting them up like little lanterns.

The book is a treasure, not just for its heart-warming text and gentle humor but also for its breathtakingly detailed illustrations. 

Squelch!

By Kay Woodward and Stefania Colnaghi

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Evans Brothers, London

Year: 2005

ISBN: 978-0-23752-895-9

This adorable book from the Twisters series is something that even toddlers will identify with easily. Full page illustrations peppered liberally with ‘noise’ words like ‘plop’, ‘crunch’ and ‘splash’ make this book a fond favorite with the tiny tots. 

Excerpt

There’s snow on the ground.

Crunch!

“I’m hungry. I’ll wash my hands.”

There’s pizza for tea.

S-t-r-e-t-c-h!

There’s jam for the pudding.

Plop! 

The Pink Party

Author: Maryann Macdonald

Illustrator: Judy Stead

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 36

Publisher: Scholastic, New York

Year: 2012

ISBN: 978-0-76145-814-2

Childhood is usually about strong bonds of friendship, and sometimes this magical journey gets confusing when the little green worm of envy strikes at inopportune moments like at your best friend’s birthday party or when she gets a new toy. Every parent has been acquainted with this dilemma as a child and probably relives it again through their children’s eyes. Most of us, unwisely, choose to simply brush this matter away as childishness. NOT a good idea. Which is why, I recommend this book.

Meet Rose and Valentina, best friends, lovers of pink and all it's vibrant hues. They secretly aspire to make the whole world pink, even their teeth! Throw in a pretty bag, a hand-made lunchbox, a rocking chair, a magic wand, a princess dress, a crown - all in pink building up to a theme party to honor their favorite color, you have a recipe for envy. The author deftly handles the issue without compromising on the friends’ individuality or airbrushing their emotions.  

Excerpt

She rocked in her pink rocker on her porch and tried to feel better, even though she could hear her friends having fun next door.

She rocked and rocked until all of their friends had said goodbye. Then she heard a voice from the other side of the hedge.

“The party’s over,” Valentina said.

Rose pretended she didn’t hear. 

Brown Bread and Honey

By Pamela Allan

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Puffin Books, Australia 

Year: 2001

ISBN: 978-0-14056-825-7

It’s rare to see a children’s book tackle gluttony and here’s one of those.  The story features a king who has a lot of time on his hands, and the means to live lazily. His over-riding passion is to get his chefs to cook delicacies and sample them. Until, one day, things take a turn for the worse.

In comes a stable boy, who shares his humble lunch of brown bread and honey and soon, all’s right with the king’s world.

In a world, where greed is promoted on a large scale, it might just help if parents introduce their children to this danger before they come face to face with it. This book certainly shows the way.

Excerpt

He groaned and he moaned.

‘OOOOOH! AAAAAH! OOOOOOH!’

Now that he was SO miserable and SO tired that he didn’t want to see another pie, pudding or pavlova, ever again.

He blamed the food. He blamed the cooks.

‘It’s all your fault,’ he shouted. ‘You’re sacked!’

So the sacked cooks packed their bags and went away.

My Little Pony – Pinkie Pie’s Pretty Hair Day

Text and Illustrations: Hasbro Inc.

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 10

Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books, New York

Year: 2004

ISBN: 978-0-68987-495-6

The delightful and charming TV series My Little Pony is now here, in a book.

The first thing that jumps out at you is Pinkie Pie’s little lock of pink hair (nylon, of course) with silvery streaks set into an indentation that runs through all the pages. And yes, you guessed it! This is a story of a pre-party crisis where Pinkie Pie simply cannot decide how to wear her hair. Each of her friends suggests a hair style (that the children can try too) – braids, fluffed, smooth and straight until Wysteria gets an idea.

Excerpt

Rainbow Dash said, “I can help you, Pinkie Pie!”

She took out the braids and fluffed Pinkie Pie’s hair.

Fluff, fluff, fluff!

Pinkie Pie’s hair was standing out and sticking up!

“It’s beautiful!” cried Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie wasn’t sure she agreed.

Alligator Tails and Crocodile Cakes (I am Reading)

Author: Nicola Moon

Illustrator: Andy Ellis

Year: 1996

Publisher: Kingfisher Publications, London

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 46

Book Type: Chapter book for new readers, Paperback

ISBN: 978 0 75341 550 4

It was, and is probably, rare to have reptiles as the protagonists in a children’s book which is why this book piqued our interest.

Meet two friends, Crocodile and Alligator in two tales. Hide and Seek humorously shows how hard it is to hide when you have a big tail.

In the second story, the friends attempt to bake a cake while munching on the ingredients. Well, you can imagine how that turned out! :-)

The reptiles have been made as friendly as possible and the kids were just fine with it, too. In fact, our younger children lost their fear of the dreaded crocodile, which, until this book came along, has been their favorite villain.

Excerpt

“Coming, ready or not!” called Crocodile.

He looked to the left.

He looked to the right.

He looked up and he looked down.

And then …

“Found you! Found you! I can see your tail!” he sang. 

Don’t Wake the Bear, Hare!

Text: Steve Smallman

Illustrator: Caroline Pedler

Year: 2010

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 28

ISBN: 978 1 84895 032 0

Here’s another adorable grumpy bear story. :-) (One of my favorites - Gruff the Grump.)

All the little animals of the forest are getting ready for Spring Party Day. They include badger, fox, hare, mice and the ants too!

They tiptoe around and organize the party very quietly so as to not disturb the hibernating bear. If he does wake up, he’s going to be very hungry and grumpy.

Best of all, this story is told in catchy, rhyming verse with illustrations that are witty and colorful. And, oh yes, there are plenty of opportunities for your little ones to engage in sounds – grr… humph… zzzzz…:-)

Excerpt

The lanterns were carefully hung in the trees.

The mice tied up ribbons that danced on the breeze.

They brought in the very last blueberry tart

And their party was now almost ready to start!

Harvey the Baker

By Lars Klinting

Year: 1996

Publisher: Kingfisher Publications, London   

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 40

ISBN: 978 0 75341 176 6

Kids tend to, naturally, chip in with baking at home. However, just in case, they haven’t yet, this book will provide the impetus. It makes baking look easy. Well, why not? Harvey uses an electric mixer!

It’s Harvey’s birthday and he has a visitor. He, then, realizes that there’s nothing to offer his friend. So, the two of them bake a birthday cake and finish just in time for a quiet dinner party with other friends.  The author wraps up the book with Harvey's cake recipe.

Excerpt

The oven has a glass window, so Harvey and Chip can watch their cake rise as it bakes. It’s almost as much fun as watching TV! Harvey sets the timer, so they will know when the cake is ready. 

Baby Bear’s Birthday Hiccups

Author: Penny Little

Illustrator: Lara Jones

Year: 2008

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-230-53176-5

Little Baby Bear’s birthday party is almost over when he’s suddenly hit with a bad case of hiccups.

There follows a series of well-intended remedies. Mummy Bear rubs his tummy, Little Leopard tickles him, Little Hippo gets him to hold his breath and more.

Finally, it’s time for bed and that's when the perfect hiccup cure arrives.

Excerpt

“What you need is to calm down,: said Nanny Giraffe softly.

“And Nanny Giraffe’s kisses are the cure for hiccups.”

She bent down low and gave Baby Bear …

One

Two

Three big kisses!

“All gone?” soothed Nanny Giraffe.

“Hic!” went Baby Bear.

Susie and Sam - Meet New Neighbours

Author: Judy Hamilton

Illustrator: Mimi Everett

Year: 2006

Publisher: Geddes and Grosset, Scotland

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 30

ISBN: 978 1 85534 860 8

Susie and Sam series of books are easy to read with titles relevant to little children. They often focus on new events and experiences that little children encounter like in this book where new neighbors have just begun moving in to the house next door.

Susie and Sam are eager to learn more about their neighbors, especially, if there are children in the family. They watch the movers bring in packages and furniture. They also notice that the movers have brought in three little beds too!

Excerpt

The next Friday, early in the morning, a great big van drew up outside the house next door. All morning, four men trudged back and forth from the van to the house, carrying furniture and boxes.

Susie and Sam watched them out of the window.