Noddy Goes to Sea

By Enid Blyton

Year: 1959

Publisher: BBC Books, London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 60

Book Type: Chapter book

ISBN: 978 0 56336 834 2

Website: Noddy.com

Noddy’s golden heart lands him on a ship! 

Tubby Bear has run off to sea and life away from home isn't as much fun as he thought it’d be. Noddy who’s followed him on to the ship, is promptly recruited by the captain as a cabin boy and is well-liked by the sailors. He also gets to meet some merfolk too.     

Excerpt

A sailor took Noddy down into the ship, and gave him a cabin-boy’s uniform.

“I want to wear my hat with the bell,” said Noddy. “This round cap-thing doesn't fit me. It will fall off every time I nod.”

Icky Little Duckling

Author: Steve Smallman

Illustrator: Tim Warnes

Year: 2011

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 84895 133 4

Now this is a book that many parents will identify with. :-)

Meet neat and fastidious Mr. Rabbit who chances upon a perfect blue egg. He decides to take it home to add to his collection. However, much to Mr. Rabbit’s dismay, the egg hatches and an icky, little duckling emerges. It calls him ‘mama’.

Mr. Rabbit’s life is turned upside down!

This is a perfect book, a gem, if I may say so. The text is light and lively and the illustrations are 'just so' right. :-)

Excerpt

Back in his burrow, Mr. Rabbit scrubbed and polished until everything was as neat as before.

His books were just so.

His boxes were just so.

And his collection was tip-top, totally just so.

Uncle Rabbit’s Busy Visit

Text: Christa Kempter

Illustrations: Frauke Weldin

Year: 2010

Publisher: North-South Books, New York  

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 0 73582 320 4

Well, this is supposed to be a children’s book but it’s could be a good morale booster for grown-ups too!

The story is about relatives, and, sometimes, friends  who brim over with so much advice and suggestions that, unknowingly, they tend to take over our homes (and lives!) in their attempt to do good for us.

Uncle Rabbit’s visiting Wally and Mae’s home. In a couple of days, though, Wally’s wallpaper has been changed, silk curtains hung up, furniture's been moved around and soon it doesn't feel like home anymore. 

Wally knows it’s time to speak up.

This is a book about being sensitive to others' feelings and it's a picture book, too. So, yes, it’s a keeper!

Excerpt

“Wait!” stuttered Wally. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that I liked my carrot wallpaper. And the colorful cushions are lovely, but they’re too hard to wash. And silk curtains are just too fancy for my little house.”

Uncle Rabbit cleaned his spectacles thoughtfully. 

Bridget Fidget

By Joe Berger 

Year: 2008

Publisher: Puffin Books, London 

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 14150 180 2

The book's cover does call her ‘The girl in a whirl who can’t stay still!’. And, that does help explain all the zip-zap-zoom in the book.

Bridget Fidget wants a pet. So when a smaller-than-expected package arrives at home, Bridget decides to settle for a penguin instead of a unicorn. Underneath all the packaging material is a smaller box. So it’s just the right size for a mouse which she thinks ought to make a great pet. 

Her great dreams come crashing down when her dad opens the box. Or is there still hope? :-)

Excerpt

This box wouldn't open.

Bridget sniffed it. It didn't smell.

Bridget shook it. It didn't squeak.

Bridget rolled it. It didn't skitter. 

The Adventures of Pinkie: A Nickname

By Maddy Rose

Year: 2007

Publisher: Red Fox, Great Britain

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978-1-862-30159-7

Meet happy and cheerful little Maddy whose “clothes and shoes were usually second-hand” and lives in a lighthouse.  And yes, her favorite color is pink. Almost everything she possesses is in different shades of pink.

One day she falls in love with a perfect pair of ‘hot pink boots.’ So she helps around the house with the chores so her pink piggy bank will have enough to pay for her shoes. But she’s in for a surprise.

This is a story that little girls will identify with especially because it deals with wearing second-hand clothes and the desire for fancy things. It’s also a great picture book – with every bit of the page splashed in bold color.   

Excerpt

As soon as she could, Maddy rushed home to check her piggy bank.

But Pink Pig was low on funds.

What was she going to do?

Maddy’s mum and dad offered her some extra pocket money if she helped a bit more round the lighthouse. 

Milly, Molly and the Queen’s Visit

Author: Gill Pittar

Illustrator: Cris Morrell

Year: 2003

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978 1 87733 655 6

Website: Milly and Molly

The queen’s coming to town!

Milly, Molly and friends help the Mayor spruce up their town for the regal visit. They sweep leaves, trim hedges, polish the brass, pick up litter and paint doors.

When the Queen arrives, she’s very impressed with the spotless town and invites the children to have lunch too!

Like most Milly and Molly stories, this book has a message – ‘diligence, care and perseverance in carrying out a task.’

Excerpt

“Right,” said the Mayor. “We must have our town looking spotless, with not a leaf out of place.”

Harry was given a spade and a wheelbarrow. It was his job to tidy all the edges. Poppy was given a dustpan and brush. She was asked to sweep the council steps.