The Rainbow Club (Understanding Bullying)

Text: Annette Aubrey

Illustrations:  Patrice Barton

Year: 2007

Publisher: QED Publishing, UK

Age: 5 – 10 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Life Skills, Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84835 005 2

This insightful and sensitive book on bullying attempts to explore the underlying causes of bullying and the varying responses and reactions that children commonly manifest.

This book is aimed at very young children where bullying often begins with children looking for a common ground to feel comfortable with one another. In the context of this book, it is as innocuous as the color of their attire on field trip day.

This book is a great way to help children who might turn out to be potential bullies by holding up a mirror to them as well as for those who might be bullied.

Excerpt

Chloe and Tommy were best friends.

They loved to find new things to do. 

Hungry Harry

By Joanne Partis

Year: 2000

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 85430 635 9

Little Harry, the frog, is hungry. When he asks his mum for dinner, she encourages him to find his own food.

He’s excited about it until he realizes his prey is quite clever. The dragonfly is too quick, the caterpillar too hairy and the snail lives in a hard shell.

However, his first day of finding his own food ends up to be fulfilling adventure when he finds a picnic! :-)

Excerpt

Harry Frog was feeling hungry.

“What’s for dinner?” he asked his mum.

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.

The Crunching Munching Caterpillar

Text: Sheridan Cain

Illustrations: Jack Tickle

Year: 2002

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 85430 641 3

The kids loved this book. There were lots of primary colors, an adorable smiley-faced caterpillar and plenty of “noise” words where they got to ‘buzz’ with a bumble bee and more.

It’s the quintessential tale of transformation where a caterpillar dreams of flying and is given that magical touch by nature (metamorphosis, of course!) to make his dreams come true.

By the way, the corner of the book looks like it's been chomped off... a nice touch, me thinks! :-)

Excerpt

Caterpillar was always hungry.

For weeks he crunched and munched his way through the fresh, juicy leaves of a blackberry bush.

One Sleepy Night

By Sebastien Braun 

Year: 2013

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 2 – 4 years

No. of Pages: 20

Book Type: Bedtime, Board Book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 512 7

This charming bedtime board book is beautiful. And, of course, the central character is a baby bear on his way to bed. They stop by one sleepy owl, two badgers and three fireflies before finally calling it a night.

The rhyming text is memorable too!

Excerpt

Three sleepy fireflies litter and peep.

Softly, the wind whispers, “Hush! Time for sleep!”

One little bear has a wash before bed. 

Class Pets - Missy’s Super Duper Royal Deluxe

By Susan Nees

Year: 2013

Publisher: Scholastic Inc., New York

Age: 5 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 72

Book Type: Illustrated chapter book for new readers

ISBN: 978 0 54543 852 0

Missy is excited because she’s going to bring home Eenie-Meenie, Miney and Moe, her class pets. The only problem is that bossy Tiffany also wants them.

Missy plans and plots (hilarious!) but fails to deter Tiffany.

She does bring them home, though. :-)

Excerpt

Now everything was ready. Well, not quite everything. There was just one teeny-tiny thing left to do.

Missy had to ask her mother …

Books Always Everywhere

Text: Jane Blatt

Illustrations: Sarah Massini

Year: 2013

Publisher: Nosy Crow, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 85763 090 2

This endearing picture book looks at books from a toddler’s perspective. While the text engages children with all that a book is, it also introduces us to some of its unusual functions like a hat or as a chair. Well, that’s how a toddler would see it! :-)

Excerpt

Book build

Book mat

Book chair

Book hat

Fancy Nancy at the Museum

Text: Jane O’Connor

Illustrations: Robin Preiss Glasser, Wikipedia

Year: 2008

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, USA

Age: 5 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 28

Book Type: Picture Book

Website: Fancy Nancy World, Wikipedia

ISBN:  978 0 00789 239 6

This cheery book with cheerier illustrations is a masterpiece!

Nancy is excited about her class trip to a museum to see some masterpieces. Nancy's day almost turns awful when gets sick on the way after eating two lunches but kind Ms. Glass turns it all around.

This fantastic book very cleverly introduces children to a few big art-related words and their meanings. The illustrations are more than impressive! The book certainly deserves a place in your little girl’s library. :-)

Check out Fancy Nancy's website here! 

Excerpt

Ms Glass tells us, “Today we will see masterpieces! That’s a fancy word for great paintings.”

The bus ride is very bumpy.

Bump! Bump! Bump!

Higglety Pigglety POP!

Illustrations: Harry Horse

Year: 1999

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Poetry

ISBN:  978 1 40632 314 6

This witty and humorous mix of poems for little ones is like a mini treasure trove of surprises. Expect to be bowled over as every page springs a different poem with its unique flavor from several poets from A A Milne to Edward Lear.

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!

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. 

Ben’s Book

Text: Nanette Newman

Illustrations: Georgie Birkett

Year: 2005

Publisher: Pavilion Children’s Books, London

Age: 2 - 4 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84365 193 2

Ben’s just received a strange gift from his granny. He looks at it for a long time.

He stands on it to reach above him but things topple all over him. He, then, sits on it to watch TV but he prefers the sofa. He tries some more uses for it but they don’t quite work out at all.

His sister Lulu comes to his aid and explains that the gift, a book, is to be read and reads to him. Ben’s thrilled with the story and later tries to follow the story with the pictures. 

Excerpt

“What have you got there?” asked his sister Lulu.

“A book,” said Ben, “but … I don’t know what to do with it.”

“Books are meant to be read,” said Lulu.

Caterpillar Butterfly

Text: Vivian French, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Charlotte Voake

Year: 1993

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 - 8

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Educational

ISBN:  978 0 74456 282 1

Here’s an engaging way to teach children about metamorphosis – that magical, beautiful process of nature where an ordinary caterpillar turns into a radiant butterfly.

The text introduces the discovery through the eyes of a little girl and her grandfather who patiently watch over a batch of butterfly eggs as they hatch, crawl, pupate and finally, emerge as butterflies.

Excerpt

The next day there were lots and lots of little tiny caterpillars crawling on the nettle leaves. The eggs were papery and empty.

Goose on the Loose

Text: Claire Freedman

Illustrations: Vanessa Cabban

Year: 2003

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 85430 893 9

Little Gooseberry is learning to fly. Despite a few bumps along the road, he persists, bolstered by the autumn winds and his friends’ encouragement.

He also notices that while he’s practicing great loops in the air, his friends - Beaver, Red Squirrel, Mouse and Hare are scampering around to prepare for the impending winter. He feels he needs to get ready too.

His parents remind him that geese fly to warmer lands during winter. He’s been preparing for winter, after all! 

Excerpt

Suddenly, a little chilly breeze ruffled Gooseberry’s feathers. He began to fee a teeny bit worried. 

Winter was coming!

Everyone was preparing for it – except him.

Perhaps he had better hurry up and do something – before it was too late. 

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. 

Mr. Brown can Moo! Can You?

By Dr. Seuss, Wikipedia

Year: 1961

Publisher:  Harper Collins Children’s Books, UK

Age:  2 and above

No. of Pages: 30

ISBN:  978 0 00786 518 5

Book Type: Picture book, Poetry

It was the kids’ first encounter with Dr. Seuss and they loved it!

The younger kids chuckled with delight as they tried out different sounds like goldfish kissing and hippopotamus chewing gum among many other adventures in noise-making. :-)

If you have a toddler, this book is a sheer delight. 

A big thumbs up!

Excerpt

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Mr. Brown is a wonder!

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Mr. Brown makes thunder!

He makes lightning!

SPLATT SPLATT SPLATT

It was a Cold, Dark Night

By Tim Hopgood

Year: 2010

Publisher: Collins Big Cat, London

Age:  4 - 6 years       

No. of Pages: 16

ISBN:  978 0 00732 922 9

Book Type: Picture book, Nature

This guided reading book from Collins Big Cat is a short, warm story of Ned, a hedgehog, who is in need of a home to snooze in during winter.

The leaves are falling fast, the wind is blowing colder and most homes have been taken. Ned finds the perfect place, finally, with some help from the bats.

Excerpt

It was a cold, dark night and the wind was blowing.

The hedgehog looked up at the old barn.

The bats said, “This is our home. But look down, Ned!”

Dinosaurs Galore!

Text: Giles Andreae, Wikipedia

Illustrations: David Wojtowycz

Year: 2004

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Age: 2 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, poems

ISBN: 978 1 84362 609 8

This book could easily be the signature book of dinosaurs for little ones. With enchanting rhymes devoted to famous dinosaur species, this book is, truly, a gem from the creators of Rumble in the Jungle. :-)

This book will add loads of color to your child’s library.

Excerpt

So now you've met the dinosaurs,

What a fierce bunch!

Some of them would really like

To eat you for their lunch!

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…