Pets on Parade (Leapfrog)

Text: Jillian Powell

Illustrations: Gwyneth Williamson

Year: 2008

Publisher: Franklin Watts, Australia

Age: 6 – 10 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 74967 960 6

A “Bring Your Pet to School” Day turns into a comical event with the dogs playing, cats chasing pet mice and a snake slithering about until Miss Brett realizes that it was perhaps not a smart idea after all, and calls for an abrupt end to the mayhem.

The illustrations are charmingly comical with lively text suited for young readers.

Excerpt

It was “Bring Your Pet to School” Day.

Most children bought a pet.

The Bobbsey Twins – Freddie and Flossie and the Train Ride

Author: Laura Lee Hope

Illustrator: Chuck Pyle

Year: 2005

Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, New York

Age: 4 and above                                                

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 41690 269 4

Website: Ready to Read

The Bobbsey Twins are back. This time they’re on a train when adventure strikes in the form of their jumpy kitty, Snoop.

Again, it’s from the Ready-to-Read Pre-Level 1 series. The sentences are small and there are plenty of repetitive words and phrases.

The illustrations liven up the text to make this book appealing to young readers. 

Excerpt

Do you want to play, Snoop?

Oops!

Come back, Snoop!

Not Norman

Text: Kelly Bennett

Illustrations: Noah Z. Jones

Year: 2005

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age:  4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 84428 288 0

A little boy has just been given a goldfish named Norman as a birthday gift. The boy is disappointed because he wanted a different kind of pet – something soft and furry, not a fish that swims round and round.

He wants to trade Norman with his friends for another pet. Every time he tries to, Norman does something outstanding that makes it harder for the boy to give it away.  Soon, the boy learns to love Norman and decides to keeps him.

Excerpt

I wanted a pet who could run and catch. Or one who could climb trees and chase a ball of string.

A soft, furry pet to sleep on my bed at night.

Not Norman. 

The Bravest Cat! (The true story of Scarlett) (Puffin Young Readers – Level 2)

Text: Laura Driscoll

Illustrations: DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan, Wikipedia

Year: 1997

Publisher: PuffinYoung Readers, New York

Age: 4 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Educational 

ISBN:  978 0 44849 482 1

Another “cat” book but with longer sentences than “That, Bad, Bad Cat”.

This is also a true story based on a cat named Scarlett who stole hearts worldwide for her bravery when she went back and forth from a blazing fire in a garage to rescue her kittens, all five of them!

Excerpt

And the poor mother cat!

Her burns are bad.

Her eyes are hurt.

She cannot even see her kittens.

That Bad, Bad Cat (Puffin Young Readers – Level 2)

Text: Claire Masurel

Illustrations: True Kelley

Year: 2002

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, New York

Age: 3 – 5 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Educational

ISBN:  978 0 44845 813 7

We love these ‘learning to read’ books on cats. It’s one of the first words children learn to read at kindergarten school.

This book has plenty of “cat” in it to encourage a tiny reader. :-)

Excerpt

He spilled milk.

He stole food.

“Bad, bad cat!” his family said. 

Dick and Jane: Jump and Run (Puffin Young Readers - Level 1)

Year: 2013 (this edition)

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, USA

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 448 45809 0

Here's another encouraging book for beginner-level readers with easy words and tiny sentences. 

The text details Dick and Jane's play time adventures with their little sister Sally and their pets, Spot and Puff.

Excerpt

Look, Dick.

See Puff jump.

Oh, look.

Look and see.

See Puff jump and play.

The very lonely firefly – Puffin Young Readers – Level 2

By Eric Carle

Year: 1995

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-448-46132-8

Any story about fireflies is guaranteed to catch the attention of any child.

This is the story of a firefly that’s just been born and is looking for other fireflies. In the course of its search, he bumps into several lights – a candle, a torch and even fireworks! He does eventually find a group of fireflies and he’s now got friends.

This book belongs to the Puffin Young Readers series for little ones.

Excerpt

But it was not another firefly.

It was a car’s headlights flooding the night.

The firefly saw many lights and flew toward them. But they were not other fireflies.

They were fireworks sparkling and glittering and shimmering in the night. 

Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Max has a Fish, Review here
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Cowboy Roy, Review here
• Level - 2: Madeline and her dog, Review here
• Level - 2: Princess Buttercup, Review here
• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters, Review here 
• Level - 2: Snug Bug, Review here
• Level - 2: Spider's Lunch, Review here
• Level - 2: The Cow in the House, Review here
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: Who stole the cookies?, Review here

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?

Cat Show (Puffin Young Readers – Level 2)

Text: Jayne Harvey

Illustrations: Tamara Petrosino

Year: 2003

Publisher: Puffin Books, New York

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book, educational

ISBN:  978 0 44846 295 0

Here’s another “cat” book for young ones with plenty of familiar “first words” like number names and colors, to encourage them to read.

The story features the attempts of a bunch of kids’ to host a ‘cat show.’ They try to group the cats in various ways – size, stripes, color of eyes and finally, fur color but nothing works. When a mouse joins the show, pandemonium breaks out!

Excerpt

There are five cats with green eyes.

There are five cats with blue eyes.

Oh no! Some of the cats with green eyes want to run around. 

Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Max has a Fish, Review here
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Cowboy Roy, Review here
• Level - 2: Madeline and her dog, Review here
• Level - 2: Princess Buttercup, Review here
• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters, Review here 
• Level - 2: Snug Bug, Review here
• Level - 2: Spider's Lunch, Review here
• Level - 2: The Cow in the House, Review here
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: Who stole the cookies?, Review here

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?

Ali Cat is a Scaredy-Cat

Author: Dandi Daley Mackall

Illustrator: Janet McDonnell

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Zonderkidz, Zondervan, Michigan

Year: 2008

ISBN: 978-0-31071-702-7

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives fear away, says the Bible in 1 John 4:18. Now, this ought to be a difficult concept for children to assimilate and yet this story explains it in a simplistic manner.

Meet Katy and her cat, Ali Cat who rushes in one day, scared. Katy wants to help her Ali Cat and so she snuggles it under her shirt. It’s the only way she knows how to show love to her cat. With this simple gesture, Katy not only helps her cat but also finds the courage to say her part at the show, without forgetting and with a smile!

This book is part of the I Can Read beginner’s series. There are several other titles in this series, including some more Ali Cat stories. 

Excerpt

Katy felt like a scaredy-cat.

But Ali Cat was purring.

Ali Cat was no scaredy-cat now.

She knew Katy loved her.

And Katy knew she was loved too.

This and That

Text: Julie Sykes

Illustrations: Tanya Linch

Year: 1996

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 85430 916 1

It’s a beautiful day at the farm and it's just right for Cat’s special surprise. 

She borrows Horse’s stable, straw from Pig, hay from Goat, wool from Sheep, a few feathers from Hen and a purple ribbon from Donkey’s hat. The animals are curious but Cat responds with a cryptic “This and that.” 

They decide to hide in the yard to find out what Cat is up to. They all get a very pleasant surprise.

Excerpt

“May I have a few of your feathers?”

Hen stopped scratching and cocked her head curiously. “You may,” she clucked.

“But whatever for?”

“This and that,” purred Cat.   

Big Hug: The Jungle House

Author: John Grace

Illustrator: Stuart Trotter

Publisher: Ladybird Books, UK

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 26

ISBN: 978 0 72141 433 8

Big Hug is a gentle blue bear who lives on Coconut Island.

Max the Cat and Billy the Rabbit set up a jungle house which is occupied by a mean-tempered elephant. They enlist the help of many friends to get the elephant to leave the house but the angry giant is in no mood to listen. Until Big Hug gets help from a little friend. :-)

The Big Hug series from Ladybird Books is ideal for pre-readers and beginner readers. What makes the text stand-out is the presence of repetitive phrasing and the use of several easy words to encourage children to read.

Excerpt

Max and Billy went to see the tiger.

He was very brave.

They told him about the elephant with big ears.

Tiger went to the jungle house. “Roarr-r!” went the tiger. 

Other books in the Big Hug series include

• A Busy Day
• A Quiet Walk
• Hide and Seek Counting 
• Rainbow Colours

Scat, Cats! (Puffin Young Readers – Level 2)

Text: Joan Holub, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Rich Davis

Year: 2001

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, New York  

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978 0 44846 124 3

Here’s another great book for beginner readers with plenty of three, four and five-letter words in small sentences to encourage little ones. And then, it also all about cats – fast cats, loud cats, bad cats, sly cats and more! :-)

Excerpt

Sly cats jump up high.

Show-off cats try to zoom.

Kersplat! Crash! Bang! Boom!

Stop cats!

Albert and Sarah Jane

Author: Malachy Doyle

Illustrator: Jo Parry

Year: 2007

Publisher: QED Publishing, UK

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 22

ISBN: 978 1 84538 895 9

Before you arrive at any conclusions about the names in the title of this book, I’d like to inform you that they belong to a dog and a cat, respectively. Actually, they're pets in the same household.

Albert likes his food.  And Sarah Jane’s fishy nibbles too. One day, he gets carried away with eating and ends up polishing off the cat’s food too.

Sarah Jane is very upset and takes matter into her own hands. 

It’s a fun story in a cheeky-sort of way and the illustrations complete the package.

Excerpt

Albert spotted Sarah Jane through the upstairs window.

He smiled at her, in a doggy sort of way, but Sarah Jane ignored him.

So, Albert slipped out of the house, went round to next door’s doorstep, sat himself down by the cat’s flap, and howled.

“Come home, Sarah Jane!” he cried. 

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!’

Milly and Molly’s Monday

Author: Gill Pittar

Illustrator: Cris Morrell

Year: 2001

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978-0-95822-088-3

Website: Milly Molly.com

It’s the first day of school for Milly and Molly. They are apprehensive about leaving their beloved cats behind but are assured by the grown-ups: “It’s surprising how a cat can fill its day.”

Sure enough, when they get back from school, their cats have not missed them at all. And there’s a surprise waiting for them, too!

Excerpt

Milli and Molly sit at the back of the school bus. Marmalade and Tom Cat can hardly bear to look.

“Don’t worry about Marmalade and Tom Cat,” says the kind bus driver.

“It’s surprising how a cat can fill its day.”

When Mama Can’t Sleep

Author: Christa Kempter

Illustrator: Natascha Rosenberg

Year: 2011

Publisher: North-South Books Inc., New York

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 20

ISBN: 978-0-73584-015-7

This is a little bedtime book about a household that is woken up one by one because 'mama can't sleep'. Finally, they crawl into bed, all together, dog and teddy included and sleep blissfully.

I did find the mention of a ghost quite odd. Shown as a smiley-face, nevertheless, it seemed more than a little out-of-place, even though I grew up reading Casper comics.

Excerpt

Then Sam can’t sleep because the beds are creaking and feet are padding around, so he gets up.

Now everyone is up.

What are they going to do? 

Baa! Moo! What will we do?

Author: A H Benjamin

Illustrator: Jane Chapman

Year: 1996

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 85430 894 7

The animals on the Buttercup Farm are in a tizzy! They’re about to have a new addition from Australia and are worried if they might be replaced.

The Rooster wonders if she can crow and the cow is concerned if she can give milk. The sheepdog, horse and the rest are worried too. 

And then, she appears ‘leaping and bounding.’ :-) Yes, you must have guessed the mystery animal by now. 

Excerpt

“What if she can catch mice?” said Cat.

“What if she catches all the mice in the barn and a few rats too? Maybe even the spiders would be scared to live there. Then the farmer would get rid of me, and I would become a stray, foraging for food in dustbins.

Miaow!

I’d miss my milk and sardines!

Tiger Tom

Author:  Mary Green

Illustrator: Stephen Gulbis

Year: 2004

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-1-84362-562-8

I’m a little partial to books that are lyrical especially if they have pages that look like they jumped out of an art gallery.

Tiger Tom is a perfect example as are some others like Said Mouse to Mole, Gruff the Grump and One Winter’s Night.    

A little girl looks out her window and sees a tiger basking in the moonlight. She silently watches him as he dances and sings, arches and leaps across her garden.

The next morning, she sees the tiger for who he truly is. And that’s where I stop. :-)

Excerpt

His mouth was as big as a treasure chest,

His pearly teeth stuck out.

His amber eyes shone like fireflies,

As his tail swished about.

He clambered along the jungle wall,

The light on his slinky back…

A Head Full of Stories

Author: Su Swallow

Illustrator: Tim Archbold

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Evans Brothers, London

Year: 2005

ISBN: 0-237-53069-4

Little Jack’s head is full of stories. When his mum starts to read a bedtime story to him, he decides he can’t take another story. So she asks him to tell her a story. He does so and, one by one, all the members of his family, his cat included, get to hear a story each. Finally, when his head is empty and he’s ready for his mum to read to him, he finds that everyone’s asleep.

Excerpt

“You tell me a story then.”

So Jack told mom about Cinderella.

He told Dad a story too.

And Grandma …

And Grandad …

And his brother …