You’re Too Small!

Text: Shen Roddie

Illustrations: Steve Lavis

Year: 2004

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 85430 965 5

Little Pip wakes up to a wonderful morning. He wants to help out his busy friends at the farm. The other animals, however, find that he’s too small – pig thinks he might get squashed under the marrows, Goat says he’ll get lost in the hay and Goose knows he’s too small to sit on her eggs.

Pip finds his niche though. When the animals are locked out of the barn, Pip squeezes in through a tiny hole and opens the door from within. The animals now realize that Pip is just the right size for himself.

Excerpt

Pip woke up all warm and tingly as a dot of sunshine touched his nose.

He peered out of the window.

The Usborne Little Book of Bedtime Stories

Written and retold by Philip Hawthorn

Illustrator: Stephen Cartwright, Wikipedia

Year: 2002

Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd., London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 96

ISBN: 978 0 74604 844 0

This book is a collection of seventeen wise old fairy tales and folk tales with a modern twist and cleverly suited-up to be read as bedtime tales. From classics like Princess and the pea to the Giving Tree, the stories in this book are a great way to end the day for little ones.

Excerpt from Button Nose

‘Why, you little beast, there’s nothing here!” said the witch.

In a flash there was nothing of her either. She vanished in a puff of smoke, and in her place sat the king and queen. The magic spell had been broken because the witch had looked at the inside of the apple, which no-one had ever seen before.

Who’s for dinner?

Author: Claire Freedman

Illustrator: Nick East

Year: 2012

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 1 84895 488 5

Simply hilarious. Must read. And see, I might add – the illustrations are uproarious too!

City Fox lands up at a friendly little farm where Hen, Duck, Lamb and Bull live ‘hap-hap-happy’ lives.  

Terrified at the prospect of ending up as the City Fox’s meal, the farm animals come together to outfox the predator. :-)

Excerpt

Fox trembled in terror.

“You? A ch-ch-chicken?” he whimpered.

“But I thought foxes were meant to EAT chickens!”

Bull snorted and pointed his huge horns right at Fox.

“If foxes EAT chickens,” he bellowed “WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?”

How to build a House

By Nick Turpin and Barbara Nascimbeni

Year: 2005

Publisher: Evans Brothers, London

Age: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978 0 23753 065 5

This story of a house that Jack, supposedly, built is a humorous look at children and the grand plans they come up with, while their parents work to make those plans a reality.

Jack wants to build a house – more like a playhouse, in his yard. All, he does is come up with a plan. He, then cleverly (rather cheekily) enlists the rest of his family to finish it!

This book belongs to the Twisters series for little ones where words are few and the illustrations speak a lot.

Excerpt

“We need more people.”

“Your sister can help us.”

“Good work, Dad!”

Peter’s Good Idea

Author: Enid Blyton

Year: 2000 (this edition)

Publisher: Grandreams Ltd., London

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 22

ISBN: 978 1 85830 524 1

This classic gem from Enid Blyton, is a story of four town children, Peter, Jane, Tom and Bessie who are at a farm.

While looking to do something useful, they find baskets of apples in the apple-shed with many of them going bad. While the others want to sneak away a few apples to eat, Peter is firmly against it. 

Instead, he has a good idea that he pitches to the grateful Farmer who, in turn, generously rewards Peter and his friends for choosing to be honest.

Excerpt

“Good boy!” said the farmer, “But, my lad, you must have a little reward for your good idea! You and your friends can help yourselves to a couple of apples each, every day. There are enough apples there to feed an army, if they are well sorted out into good and bad – so you help yourselves, and choose the juiciest you can find! Children that are honest and can be trusted deserve to have a reward!”

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!

Flea, where are you?

Author: Karen Foster

Illustrator: Jan Smith

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 10

Publisher: Marshall Direct Learning, London

A lovely lift-a-flap book featuring Hoot the resolute little owl and his friend, Flea.

After we’d finished reading through the book, we realized that each page was devoted to a color! 

This story cleverly invokes a search which requires your little one to participate in. In effect, your child becomes a part of the story. Our baby helped Hoot look for his friend under a black hat, a purple lily pad, a red flower, a yellow rock, a green tree and a blue cave.

This is one of those books your toddler will love to read every night. All the best!   

Excerpt

Flea, Flea, is that you behind the yellow rock?

“No, it’s me”, ROARED Wily.

Flea, Flea, is that you in the green tree?

“No, it’s me,” chuckled Rangatang.

Flea, Flea, is that you inside the blue cave?

“No, it’s me,” whispered Batwing. 

Wild West Willy

By Daniel Postgate 

Year: 1999

Publisher: Picture Lions, Great Britain

Age: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 00664 671 9

Book Type: Picture Book

It’s a hilarious Wild West tale all right! :-)

The simple townsfolk of a brand new town, with errr… no name yet, has been overtaken by Big Bad Bob Bear and his cronies. From then on, it’s a classic tale of David vs. Goliath with a happy, contented ending.

If your children are into cowboys and the Wild West, or not, this book makes for good reading. 

Excerpt

Next morning, Mexican Chicken rode into town.

“Okay, Big Bad Bob, it’s time to go,” ordered the Chicken.

“Mexican Chicken!” barked Big Bad Bob’s fox. “My favorite!”

And he chased that Chicken right out of town. 

Molly and the Lost Cows

By Antonio Vincenti

Year: 2003

Publisher: Pelangi Books, Malaysia

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 16

ISBN: 978-9-83000-247-0

This is a tender story of the “odd-one” in the group.

Molly is a cow made of glass. The other cows don’t want her to play with them. She’s sad but she gets to save the day for Farmer Zeno when she uses her creativity to bring home her lost friends.

The illustrations are simplistic and uncluttered yet appealing. I wish this had been an animated TV series.  

Excerpt

Zeno calls the cows in a loud voice but the cows can’t hear him.

Zeno is very worried.

Molly has an idea!

She stands under a tree that is full of nuts. When the nuts fall on Molly, it sounds like a big glass bell!

Flying Feet – A mud flat story

By James Stevenson

Year: 2004

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

ISBN: 978-0-06051-976-2

It’s a tough world out there but you don’t give up, ever. That has to be the most poignant message to come from this story. 

The residents of Mud Flats are bowled over when the dazzling team of Ted and Tonya arrive to put on a dance show. There are auditions and rehearsals with money pouring into the dancing team’s pockets.

Sadly, the animals of Mud Flat discover that Ted and Tonya were just out for their money when they sneak off into the night before the show.

The story, happily, doesn’t end there. And that, makes this a story of hope, kindness and neighborliness.

Excerpt

There was a big crowd in front of the post office.

Stan climbed on top of Neddy to get a better view.

“Oh wow!” said Stan.

Two dancers in fancy clothes were tap-dancing on the back of a van. Their feet moved so fast that Stan could hardly see them.

The crowd clapped.