Look What I’ve Found

By Nick Sharratt, Wikipedia

Year: 2008

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 2 - 4 years

No. of Pages: 20

Book Type: Novelty Lift-a-flap Book

ISBN:  978 1 40631 681 0

This colorful lift-a-flap book is ideal for tiny tots. The book introduces us to a little girl at the beach as she finds interesting things at the beach - shells, sand dollars and more.

The illustrations are neat and the flaps are cleverly placed.

A big thumbs up!

Excerpt

At the seaside Daddy and I went exploring.

I ran ahead and look what I’ve found!

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 …

In the Shadow of the Derricks - A Lucky Luke Adventure (5)

By Goscinny and Morris

Year: 2007 (English translation)

Publisher: Cinebook Ltd., Kent

Age: 8 – 10 years

No. of Pages: 46

Book Type: Comic Book

ISBN:  978 1 90546 017 5

Meet Lucky Luke, “the man who shoots faster than his own shadow.” Set in the Wild, Wild West, Lucky Luke, the cool-as-cucumber cowboy is sworn in as sheriff of Titusville, a town that’s just discovered oil and plenty of it.

The town, naturally, attracts con artists and men with dubious intentions. It takes all of Lucky Luke’s wits to finish his mission and get rid of the bad people.  

There’s plenty of humor, wit and hilarious situations to keep young and old engaged. Remember the magic of Asterix comics? It’s all there except set in a different time and place. :-)

Dinosaur Sleepover

Text: Pamela Duncan Edwards

Illustrations: Deborah Allwright

Year: 2010

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 - 7 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Bedtime

ISBN:  978 0 23074 052 5

This beautiful bedtime story blends thoughtfully laid out text with warm, witty illustrations to create a memorable book.

The story traces the concerns of a little boy just before his first-ever sleepover. Never mind, that he ends up pretending that it’s his dinosaur who’s worried about staying away for a night. :-)

This ought to be a classic. We loved everything about this book.

Excerpt

What would you do if it was your cousin’s birthday and he invited you and Dinosaur to a sleepover party?

What if dinosaur looked puzzled?

Makeup Mess

Text: Robert Munsch

Illustrations: Michael Martchenko

Year: 2001

Publisher: Scholastic, Canada

Age: 5 - 9 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 0 43998 896 4

Julie, an industrious (and prospective investment banker!) is excited because she has finally saved up one hundred dollars. She spends the lot on make-up!

After a few disastrous trials which result in her parents falling over in astonishment, she realizes that she doesn’t need make-up to feel or be pretty.

She sells all of her stuff to her friends and earns a windfall. Now, you know why I predicted her career. :-)

This rib-tickling book is yet another gem from the Munsch-Martchenko duo. :-) A big thumbs up!

Excerpt

So Julie took some purple stuff and stuck it on her eyes.

She took some green stuff and put it on her cheeks.

She took some black stuff and put it on her lips, and she colored her hair purple.

Mmm, Cookies!

Text: Robert Munsch

Illustrations: Michael Martchenko

Year: 2000

Publisher: Scholastic, Canada

Age: 5 - 9 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 0 59051 694 5

Christopher has a devious plan in play – he shapes yummy-looking cookies with play clay and offers it to his parents. When they fall for his trick, he decides to take it to school too. A forewarned teacher decides to play tit-for-tat with hilarious results. :-)

This rib-tickling book is yet another gem from the Munsch-Martchenko duo. :-) A big thumbs up!

Excerpt

He whapped it in his hands –

WHAP, WHAP, WHAP, WHAP, WHAP.

Made it nice and round –

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, SWISH.

Little Penguin Lost

Text: Tracey Corderoy

Illustrations: Gavin Scott

Year: 2011

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 244 7

Tracey Corderoy spins magic again with a beautiful tale set in the magical frozen land of the penguins.

Little Plip loves his sock toy. At the end of a very playful day, he’s devastated to discover that he’s lost his beloved Sockybug. He’s determined to find it even though his older siblings caution him against wandering away in the fading light.

Their worst fears come true when Plip bumps into Wal-the-Wump, a walrus but they’re all in for a terrific surprise that ushers in a delightful new friendship.

The illustrations are absolutely wonderful and the attention to detail is breathtaking. 

The kids loved the book.

Excerpt

Everyone searched for Plip’s little sock toy.

They checked under the water …then inside all the caves.

“Where can he be?” sighed Plip. “He’ll be wanting a cuddle.”

Milly, Molly and the Mountain

Text: Gill Pittar

Illustrations: Cris Morrell

Year: 2002

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book, Life Skills Education

ISBN:  942 1 87729 718 6

Charlie has a big, bright hot air balloon. Milly and Molly watch as he goes over the mountain in it. 

The friends are thrilled when, one day, Charlie agrees to take them and their cats for a ride. It feels magical at first but the feeling fades away, rather quickly, when they get caught in a thunderstorm. Soon, they’re eager to get back on the ground.

I liked this book for the simple but profound messages the author conveys - the world looks neat and tidy from up above and the grass is not greener on the other side of the mountain. :-)

Excerpt

The river looked long and blue and curly.

The trees were in straight rows.

The grass was so green.

And everything looked very neat and tidy.

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.

Ghost Town - A Lucky Luke Adventure (2)

By Goscinny and Morris

Year: 2006

Publisher: Cinebook Ltd., UK

Age: 7 - 10 years

No. of Pages: 46

Book Type: Comic Book

ISBN:  978 1 90546 012 0

Meet Lucky Luke, “the man who shoots faster than his own shadow.” Set in the Wild, Wild West, Lucky Luke, a cool-as-cucumber cowboy unravels the mystery of an isolated and inhospitable town out in the arid desert.

There’s plenty of humor, wit and hilarious situations to keep young and old engaged. Remember the magic of Asterix comics? It’s all there except set in a different time and place. :-)

Grandad

Text: Rachel Elliot

Illustrations: Katie Pamment

Year: 2005

Publisher: Meadowside Children’s Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84539 055 6

This charming story of a little girl and her granddad (obviously from the Flower Power era) who lives in her backyard in a gypsy caravan ought to put a broad smile in your day.

The granddad is bursting with joie de vivre and his little grand-daughter soaks it all in. Their day is filled with music, laughter, treats and happiness.

The illustrations are very cheery and lively. :-)

Excerpt

We watch the waves splashing and feed the seagulls.

I have two ice creams.

Grandad has three.

“Life’s for living!” says Grandad. 

Manners at the Park

Text: Arianna Candell

Illustrations: Rosa M. Curto

Year: 2012

Publisher: Salariya Book Company, UK

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 36

Book Type: Picture Book, Educational

ISBN:  978 1 90817 710 0

It’s never too early to introduce children to rules and manners. The earlier the exposure, the sooner they’ll understand that following rules helps keep everyone safe and happy which is what this book attempts to impart to little ones.

The book takes us into Lily’s neighborhood. As each good manner is explained, we meet Lily’s friends. The book covers most manners and rules while playing at the park – taking turns, litter, involving others, new toys, holding grown-ups’ hands when crossing the road and more.

Excerpt

Rosie loves the swings so much that she could spend the whole day there! She doesn’t see the other kids waiting for a turn, so the queue is getting longer and longer.