Bouncy Bouncy Bedtime

Text: David Bedford

Illustrations: Russell Julian

Year: 2011

Publisher: Egmont UK, London

Age: 2 – 5 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Bedtime

ISBN:  978 1 40525 741 1

This is a truly fanciful bedtime tale that ought to have children asking for more. There are plenty of “noisy” words to engage little ones too. The kids loved chirruping, tweeting, roaring and trumpeting various animal sounds. :-)

The illustrations are enchanting as they transition from a gentle golden sunset to mild, soothing shades of blue and purple to complete the bedtime effect. 

Truly creative. :-)

Excerpt

Look who’s first!

Waddlers!

Sliding and gliding to the big, bouncy bed in the sky.

Those early birds don’t want to be late!

Slip, slap, flippety-flap!

It’s Snowing!

By Olivier Dunrea

Year: 2010

Publisher: Square Fish, New York

Age: 6 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 31260 216 1

The first snowfall is often a magical and momentous time for most of us. This book is a tender narrative of a mother’s delight at introducing her baby to her first snowfall. The text and illustrations are enchanting.

Excerpt

“Baby, taste the snow!”

Baby opens his mouth.

“Baby, touch the snow!”

Baby flies into the air.

I Love You, Little One

By Nancy Tafuri

Year: 1998

Publisher: Scholastic Press, New York

Age: 2 – 5 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Bedtime, Picture Book

ISBN: 0 590 92159 2

Here’s a beautiful “I Love You” book.

I loved this book because it borrows profoundly from nature - coolness of a river, shelter in a pond and the snugness of earth. It also celebrates other unique attributes of our world like the strength of a mountain and constancy of stars.

It might be a mite too intense for a little child but it might just find resonance somewhere in their little hearts. :-)

Excerpt

“I love you as the stars love you,

Constant and bright above you,

Giving you joy and peace and wonder.”

Wild Things: Hippo in the house

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Byrne

Year: 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40815 680 3

I loved this wildlife series for little children. Friendly illustrations, uncluttered text in an engaging font, neat little chapters each with a quirky “You will need” section are some of the reasons why you might want this book for your little one or the school library.

Besides, this book is a fund-raising initiative from the Zoological Society of London, a charity that provides help for animals while also running the ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Other books in this series include

• Elephant in the attic    
• Emu on the loose
• Giraffe on a sleepover
• Lion who came to lunch
• Monkey in the garden    
• Penguin in the post
• Tiger at the door

Excerpt

Bath time is a big deal for pygmy hippos. They LOVE it!  

Pygmy hippos can close their ears and nostrils to hide under the water from predators.

Pygmy hippos can hold their breath for seven minutes. 

Augustus and his smile

By Catherine Rayner

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2006

ISBN: 978-1-56148-510-9

Augustus the Tiger has lost his smile! He looks everywhere – under the bushes, on the tops of the tallest trees, on snowy mountaintops, even, at the bottom of the deepest oceans. He does find his lost smile but in the unlikeliest place of all.

This book has a message for children and grown-ups. It’s easy for us look for happiness everywhere else but the right place.   

The illustrations are quite clever from a grown-ups’ perspective but I’m not so sure if children might enjoy turning the pages of a book that is rich in  browns, blacks and dark hues of the rest of the spectrum.

Excerpt

Further and further Augustus searched.

He scaled the crests of the highest mountains where the slow clouds swirled, making frost patterns in the freezing air.

He swam to the bottom of the deepest oceans and splished and splashed with shoals of tiny, shiny fish.

He pranced and paraded through the largest desert, making shadow shapes in the sun. 

Animal Neighbors - Duck

Author: Stephen Savage

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books, London

Year: 2005

ISBN: 978-1-43584-988-4

The Animal Neighbors series which includes books on bats, swallows and toads, is a good way to introduce children to the animals they see around them.

This book on ducks, specifically the prolific mallard duck, traces its journey from birth with brief snippets about food, habitat and threats.

The language is a bit grown-up so parents will need to be around for the reading when it’s for children younger than 8. The threats section has some disturbing (for very young kids) pictures that might need to be explained by parents to their younger children. (I skipped the page. I was not sure if my tiny tots (2 and 4 years old) were ready to see pictures of dead ducks.)

Excerpt

In towns and cities, mallards can be found on ponds and boating lakes. These ducks are quite happy to live close to humans, where there are fewer natural predators and more food is available, and they nest and rear their young there. 

My Wild Life: I am an owl

Author: Camilla de la Bedoyere

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 25

Publisher: Miles Kelly Publishing, UK

Year: 2012

ISBN: 978-1-84810-621-5

Most children find owls fascinating. And this book will seal that love. :-)

This fun, nature-lover’s book from Animal Planet introduces children to the world of owls with fun facts, jokes, craft ideas, puzzles, poems, quizzes and more. It comes with a poster, an owl mask and stickers.

This book simply makes learning fun.

Excerpt

How fast do you fly?

I fly more slowly than other hunting birds.

I spread my wings wide, and lean forwards. The wind catches my wings, and I soar through the sky.

Water World – Pop-up fun

By Christian Riese Lassen

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 12

Publisher: The Book Company, Australia

Year: 2002

ISBN: 978-1-74047-180-0

This brilliantly illustrated and arranged book by the famed Christian Riese Lassen is a collectible. Nevertheless, it is a pop-up book for little ones, so how long the book lasts is anybody’s guess.

The words are lively and get the children excited. The book features a pod of dolphins and then a pod of killer whales and several brightly, colored coral fish.

This has to be classified as a ‘happy’ book for it is guaranteed to transform your emotions, no matter what your age.

Excerpt

A mighty whale bursts from the water shooting into the air with a KERPOW!

KERSPLASH!

What a show-off!

Two whale babies stay close to their mother, rolling and spinning in a BUBBLING FIZZ.

Disney’s Brother Bear

Year: 2003

Publisher: Chuang Yi Publishing Pte.  Ltd., Singapore

Age: 6 – 10 years

No. of Pages: 46

Book Type: Graphic Novel

ISBN:  978 9 81241 669 8

This brilliant graphic novel based on Disney’s blockbuster animated movie, Brother Bear will cheer any comic book lover.    

Brother Bear is heartwarming tale set in ancient times and celebrates the special bond between man and animals.

A young impetuous boy is turned into a bear and he must journey through treacherous terrain to see himself change back into a human being again. This journey also transforms his perspective on life, brotherhood and kinship with nature.

This is a great way to introduce young ones to the colorful world of comics.

Wild Things! Emu on the loose

Author:  Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Byrne

Year: 2010

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age:  2 and above

No. of Pages: 24

I simply loved this wildlife book for little children. Friendly illustrations, uncluttered text in an engaging font, neat little chapters each with a whacky “You will need” section are some of the reasons why you might want this book for your little one.

And besides, this book is a fund-raising initiative from the Zoological Society of London, a charity that provides help for animals while also running the ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Other books in this series include

•          Tiger at the door
•         Elephant in the attic
•          Giraffe on a sleepover
•         Hippo in the house
•          Lion who came to lunch
•          Monkey in the garden
•          Penguin in the post

Excerpt

Keep your sparkly things locked away.

An emu just can’t resist collecting them – or eating them. Bling!

You will need a padlock and a key.

Wild Things: Giraffe on a sleepover

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Byrne

Year: 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40815 679 7

I loved this wildlife series for little children. Friendly illustrations, uncluttered text in an engaging font, neat little chapters each with a quirky “You will need” section are some of the reasons why you might want this book for your little one or for your school library.

Besides, this book is a fund-raising initiative from the Zoological Society of London, a charity that provides help for animals while also running the ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Other books in this series include

•     Elephant in the attic
•     Emu on the loose
•     Hippo in the house
•     Lion who came to lunch
•     Monkey in the garden
•     Penguin in the post
•     Tiger at the door

Excerpt

Watch out for kicking feet – they’re huge and they hurt.

A giraffe’s hoof is the size of a cereal bowl and can kill a lion with one mighty kick.

Karate classes might be a bad idea … 

Bug Books - Ladybird

Authors: Karen Hartley and Chris Macro

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Heinemann Library, Oxford

Year: 1999

ISBN: 978-0-43101-833-1

Are ladybirds beetles? Why do gardeners like ladybirds? These are just some of the few curiosities addressed in photo-packed book on the colorful ladybirds. Even the page numbers use a ladybird icon! The book also addresses why people like ladybirds. (Because they are cute!) Of course, yes.

This book makes an excellent choice if you want to introduce your children to bugs and the world of insects. Heinemann Library has published several titles in this series including Ants, Snails, Head Louse and Cockroach to mention a few. The content is balanced well. It stays factual without appearing dreary.    

Excerpt

Ladybirds eat garden pests that harm plants and flowers. People who have gardens like ladybirds because they help their plants.

Sometimes farmers bring ladybirds to their farms and orchards. The ladybirds eat aphids and other insects that kill the farmers’ plants. 

Gruff the Grump

Author: Steve Smallman

Illustrator: Cee Biscoe

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 26

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-56148-669-4

Now here’s a beautiful story with brilliant illustrations that make you want to frame up a couple of pages to hang on the wall.

This tender story about a grumpy bear discovering kindness and eventually, happiness in his lonely existence is bound to evoke feelings of empathy amongst young readers.

The story is narrated extremely well. It’s not poetry but you almost want it to be. Don’t be surprised if your children pick up a few sentences and repeat them like rhymes. But then, it isn’t a rhyme, either.

I must say, meaningful stories (for children) like this are rare and a find like this ought to be treasured.

Excerpt

Gruff was a bear.

A great big bear.

A great big, scowly, growly, grizzly grump of a bear.

He lived all alone in a musty, dusty old cave where nobody ever came to visit. The other animals hid when they saw him coming. They called him, ‘Gruff the Grump’.

“HUMPH!” went Gruff the Grump to show he didn’t care. 

One Winter’s Night

Author: Claire Freedman

Illustrator: Simon Mendez

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 26

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-84506-971-1

This book truly comes across as a gem amongst children’s books not just for the splendid illustrations but also for the poignant story that evoke tender thoughts in the readers.

A mysterious badger with warm, kindly eyes appears out of nowhere, hungry and cold. Fox, Mouse and Hare scamper to help him in their own tiny ways.

Each page is a marvelous expression in beauty. From snow-swept landscapes, to dark woods to glorious sunrise, Simon Mendez has captured details in stark clarity.

This beauty, definitely, belongs in your child’s bedtime library.      

Excerpt

Then together they curled up cosy and warm in their snowy den.

The wind howled and snow fell thickly, but they had never slept so well.

The next morning Badger had gone!

I like Monkeys because …

Author: Peter Hansard

Illustrator: Pat Casey

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 38

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Year: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-56402-196-0

Amongst the many friendly books that are available to introduce children to the animal world, I liked this one a lot. The friendly water-color illustrations make the books friendly for even the little ones.

The text is very child friendly and jargon-free despite offering a wealth of information on the world of monkeys.

Definitely, one for your nature library. 

Excerpt

I like monkeys because …

I like the funny way they play. Young ones tease and trick, then scamper off as fast as they can go.

I like monkeys because …

I like the way they jump from branch to branch, from tree to tree. 

Super Pants!

Author: Steve Smallman

Illustrator: Cee Biscoe

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2012

ISBN: 978-1-84895-493-9

Little Lola, a feisty little polar bear, gets a perfect Christmas gift – a superhero costume. Her dad gets one too and off they go looking for adventure.

After several hilarious incidents including an attempt to rescue penguins from a block of ice, Lola is finally contented and ready to call it a day.

I loved the cheery illustrations in full-page splendor. Definitely, a keeper. 

Excerpt

They shot off the cliff with a WHOOSH, and flew straight towards the penguins.

“Super Lola to the rescue!” she yelled.

CRASH!

Daddy and Lola landed on the ice and eight grumpy penguins sploshed into the water!

“Oops! Sorry!” said Daddy.          

The Terrible Greedy Fossifoo

Author and Illustrator: Charles Fuge

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 30

Publisher: Simon and Schuster, London

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-41691-037-4

Meet the brightly colored and contented creatures of the Great Green Forest who lived happily until “the terrible greedy Fossifoo arrived!”

This story about greed, repentance and propitiation ought to go well with children besides introducing them to the concept of sharing and caring for the world around them.   

I loved how Fuge uses colors to demonstrate the ravages of greed as the palette gently but inexorably moves from lush, vibrant greens to bare, lifeless browns.

Though, I must say, the name Fossifoo reminds me a lot of ‘fossil fuels’.

Excerpt

“What have I done?” whispered the Fossifoo, and he started to cry.

He cried and cried and cried until he had no tears left to cry. If only he had taken care of the beautiful forest.

Then he noticed it – beneath his feet, watered by all the tears, a tiny seed had sprouted.  

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!”

What does Daddy do?

By Rachel Bright

Year: 2009

Publisher: Puffin Books, UK

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 14150 264 9

Daisy, a precocious little kindergartner is quite stumped when she realizes she doesn't quite know what her dad does for a living. Dexter’s dad is a fireman, Evie's a doctor and the others also seem to know their dads’ professions.

Daisy, then industriously puts together all the snippets of information that she has about her dad and it is soon concluded that he is an “Explorersuperknight”!

This is a heart-warming perspective into a kindergartner’s way of thinking and analyzing facts. The illustrations are hilarious, too. 

Simply adorable! :-)

Excerpt

And then Bob said, “Well, my daddy is a teacher! He makes children very clever and he knows everything about everything, especially volcanoes.”  

Dear Deer - A book of homophones

By Gene Barretta

Year: 2007

Publisher: Square Fish Books, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 38

ISBN: 978-0-31262-899-4

Our kids haven’t quite had as much fun with words as with this book on homophones.

Under the guise of an exchange of letters between a “Dear Deer” and an “Aunt Ant”, this book provides wholesome reading pleasure for little ones.  It employs an exciting range of homophones, some hilarious and some quite puzzling resulting in some unusual and weird situations. Check out the excerpt! :-)

Excerpt

The WHALE was ALLOWED to WAIL ALOUD.

The BEAR had to PAUSE to BARE his PAWS.

HEY, the elephant THREW a pail THROUGH  the big bale of HAY!