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. 

The Quangle Wangle’s Hat

Text: Edward Lear, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Louise Voce

Year:  2006

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd., London

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40630 042 0

Kind and gentle Quangle Wangle is lonely on the top of the Crumpetty Tree. He wishes for some 

friends.

His wish comes true when Mr. and Mrs. Canary ask if they can build a nest on his lovely hat. He generously agrees and soon many other friends come his way including a Blue Baboon who plays the flute and the Fimble Fowl with a corkscrew leg.

The fanciful animals illustrated in full color and rhyming text makes for an intriguing reading session. And, oh yes, please be prepared for a lot of “what” and “why” questions. :-)

Excerpt

And at night by the light of the Mulberry moon

They danced to the Flute of the Blue Baboon

On the broad green leaves of the Crumpetty Tree.

Dear Father Christmas

Text: Jeanne Willis, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Rosie Reeve

Year: 2008

Publisher: Puffin Books

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Christmas

ISBN:  978 0 14150 209 0

This warm festive book is essentially a kind little girl’s Christmas letter to the Christmas Father. (Hmmm… The book doesn’t use the name Santa Claus, once!) Her requests are quite nice, refreshingly so.

She doesn’t ask for toys (she has enough, she says) but for genuine and heartfelt wishes. She’d like a little baby brother and for her Grandma to come and stay with her forever and so on.

There’s a little twist at the end, too. :-)

Excerpt

Dear Father Christmas,

I’ve been very, very good ….

I’m writing you this letter

Because Mummy said I should.

Not Norman

Text: Kelly Bennett

Illustrations: Noah Z. Jones

Year: 2005

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age:  4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 84428 288 0

A little boy has just been given a goldfish named Norman as a birthday gift. The boy is disappointed because he wanted a different kind of pet – something soft and furry, not a fish that swims round and round.

He wants to trade Norman with his friends for another pet. Every time he tries to, Norman does something outstanding that makes it harder for the boy to give it away.  Soon, the boy learns to love Norman and decides to keeps him.

Excerpt

I wanted a pet who could run and catch. Or one who could climb trees and chase a ball of string.

A soft, furry pet to sleep on my bed at night.

Not Norman. 

Happy Birthday Santa!

Author: Gillian Rogerson

Illustrator: Ingela Peterson

Year: 2005

Publisher: Gullane Children’s Books, Great Britain

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 26

ISBN: 978 1 86233 761 9

We’re all used to stories and movies about Santa bringing gifts for children. This book, though, is a rarity, in that somebody actually looks out for Santa and brings him gifts in the middle of the night.

Meet Sylvie, an elf and Rudolph , a reindeer who suddenly realize they don’t know when Santa’s birthday is. Strangely, neither do the Chief Elf nor Rudolph’s old Uncle Bert at The Reindeer Retirement Home. The duo has quite an adventure but their persistence finally pays off.

I liked this book because it's about giving gifts to Santa when it’s usually the other way around. The story ever so subtly hints at determination and persistence, qualities that our children are rarely exposed to in this 'instant' age. 

Excerpt

Sylvie and Rudolph found the Wise Old Owl getting ready for a night out.

“Excuse me, Owl,” said Sylvie. “Do you know when Santa’s birthday is?”

“No, my dear, I don’t,” said the owl.

Sylvie and Rudolph sighed. 

The Little White Owl

Author:  Tracey Corderoy

Illustrator: Jane Chapman

Year: 2010

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978 1 84895 085 6

We’re all familiar with that one person in our circle who’s content with life and himself. And often, we find that even though we find this person a little out-of-place initially, eventually, we secretly aspire to be like him.

The Little White Owl is the story of a contented, happy bird who’s all alone in the world and his only possessions are a teddy bear and a clock. His favorite food is toast with strawberry jam. He has a favorite branch, too.

One day he decides to explore the world a bit and finds “owls – lovely owls!” Brilliantly colored but prim and proper birds who always sit still for they do not want their feathers ruffled.

They initially attempt to chase the little white owl away because he has no colors. But the owl wins the others over with his fantastical tales of ‘castles, and knights and dragons.’

Soon, the colorful owls can’t seem to get enough of the little white owl. They even follow him to his home and discover that life can be fun if they only allow themselves to have a good time.    

I love the transition in the expressions of the colorful owls. In the first few pages, they are shown morose and burdened. Gradually, the veneer cracks in one, then two and by the last page all the owls are laughing and frolicking in the snow.

This book is just perfect in every way - a charming story and paintings that make you go back to the book, over and over again. 

Excerpt

So the little white owl closed his eyes and magical stories came pouring from his heart!

Colourful tales of castles and knights and dragons with fiery breath and blasting through moonbeams and counting bright stars and tumbling down like a snowflake!

Shaggy Dog and the Terrible Itch

Author: David Bedford

Illustrator: Gwyneth Williamson

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 30

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2001

ISBN: 978-1-84506-313-9

Meet adorable, hairy and itchy Shaggy Dog. He tries to get his friends to help scratch his back but unfortunately, their assistance comes with conditions attached. He rounds up the sheep for Farmer Gertie, washes Merv’s pots and pans. They scratch his back but the relief is temporary until Shaggy Dog walks into Mary Lou’s Poodle Parlour.  

I thought this book was quite clever, in that, the reason for the itch is never once mentioned but the illustrations give away the culprit.

Excerpt

Shaggy Dog washed towers and towers of pots and pans. Bubbles covered his legs and got into his mouth, and when he had finished, his paws were all wrinkly.

Merv used a long fork to scratch Shaggy Dog’s back.

“Ooh, ooh!” said Shaggy Dog. “That’s much better.” 

Pig’s Eggs

Author: Elizabeth Partridge

Illustrator: Martha Weston

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 28

Publisher: Golden Books, New York

Year: 2000

ISBN: 978-0-30710-232-4

Pig and Hen are good friends and budding artists. They love painting pictures of each other. When, one day, Hen doesn't turn up for their painting session, Pig finds her sitting on eggs. Pig decides to wait with Hen until the eggs hatch.

However, when Hen is out to lunch Pig decides to do something unusual that annoys hen but eventually, results in a pleasant surprise. 

This is an engaging story of friendship with a lesson on forgiveness, a trait children ought to learn early in life.

Excerpt

Pig painted Hen in her vegetable garden.

“Beautiful,” said Hen.

They even went on vacation together so they could paint lots of pictures of each other under the bright tropical sun. 

Bears!

By Paul Stickland

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 26

Publisher: Ragged Bears Publishing, UK

Year: 2001

ISBN: 978 1 85714 222 8

Every once in a while, one comes across a must-have book. Well, here’s a beautiful one.

Bears is a endearing story about a happy little boy who, one night, finds himself playing host to countless warm, furry bears who are ‘happy as can be’. They've apparently come for a party and soon the house is jam-packed with bears until the little boy calls his parents to help organize the astonishing gathering.

The book captures the vivid imagination of little ones with exceptional paintings that stretch from corner to corner and glow with warmth and bliss. Hues of cozy yellows and snug purples paint a picture of unique contentment with life that mostly children seem to possess. The lyrical prose simply makes this book a winner.         

Excerpt

It started out with just a few

and then their numbers grew and grew,

until you really couldn’t hide

from bears who now were here, inside. 

Cowboy Roy - Puffin Young Readers - Level 2

By Cathy East Dubowski and Mark Dubowski

Year: 2000

Publisher: Penguin Group, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-44841-568-0

A child’s best friend is his imagination and Roy has plenty of it!

Meet Roy, an aspiring cowboy, Meg, his sister and her doll Dolly. Roy desperately wants to learn how to ride his steed, Silver (he thinks it’s his horse but we know it’s just a bicycle ) like the others. 

One day, when Meg is in trouble, Roy and his steed rise up to the occasion and surprise everyone else.

This book belongs to the Puffin Young Readers series. 

Excerpt

So my dad puts on some training wheels.

Meg says, “Try again, Roy. You can do it!”

I try again. I can ride with the training wheels. But do I feel like a cowboy?

No!

I feel like a cowbaby!

Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: The very lonely firefly

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?

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. 

Little Miss Scatterbrain sets off for the sun

Concept: Roger Hargreaves

Author and Illustrator: Adam Hargreaves

For Ages: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Egmont UK Ltd., London

Year: 1998

ISBN: 978-0-74983-314-5

Website: Mr. Men

Meet Miss Scatterbrain, a simple soul who’s very, very scatterbrained and gets everything mixed up. So when she decides to go on a holiday she enlists the help of her friends to ensure a smooth trip. But then, yes, you guessed that right, poor Miss Scatterbrain has another misadventure!

This book is from the 1990s. So I had to explain what a radio was to my children.

Excerpt

This story is about the time that she went on her summer holiday.

Little Miss Scatterbrain, as you can imagine, is not very good at organizing holidays.

The year before last she went skiing, but ended up on the beach. 

I am too absolutely small for school

Author and Illustrator: Lauren Child

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 30

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Year: 2003

ISBN: 978-0-76362-887-1

Now here’s a book that tackles the apprehensions of a reluctant pre-schooler.

Meet Charlie and his little sister, Lola who thinks she’s “still really quite small” and therefore, not ready to go to school. Older, wiser Charlie assuages her fears and counters every reason Lola can come up with. Until Lola, does go to school and brings home a friend!

The narrative captures the imagination and conversational skills of young children, like a photograph. :-) It’s just the way they talk.

And, of course, there is an imaginary friend in the mix – Soren Lorensen whose presence Charlie deftly grasps to convince Lola about school.

The illustrations are a mix of collages, simple sketches and everyday objects, photographed and placed just so as to complete the effect.   

Excerpt

“But I absolutely will NOT ever wear a schooliform. I do not like wearing the same as other people.”

I say, “But Lola, you do not have to wear a school uniform. At our school you can wear whatever you like.”

“Oh,” says Lola.

You wait there. I know exactly what I can wear…”

Clever Little Fairy

Author: Nicola Baxter

Illustrator: David Pace

For Ages: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 28

Publisher: Ladybird Books, London

Year: 1998

ISBN: 978-0-72141-991-6

We have all been astonished, at times, when we find answers to problems in unexpected ways and places. 

Bella Mirella, is almost ready for fairy school but she needs to learn a few spells before she joins. A doubling spell is supposed to be simple, at least, according to her mother but Bella has a tough time with it.

After a series of misadventures, including turning her little sister, Tina Marina, into a frog, she realizes that it’s easy when you are just yourself. In her case, she just had to be a fairy to do all that a fairy ought to be able to do.

Excerpt

Bella Mirella was so shocked that she had to sit down. What had she done? And how?

“Oh no, this will mean double trouble,” thought Bella Mirella.

And just as the words slipped through her mind…

PING!

There were two frogs!

Whistle a Happy Tune and other stories

Author: C. Schmid

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 16

Publisher: Sterling Publishers, India

Year: 2006

Lately, I've been hearing this phrase quite often - ‘intentional parenting’ which means just what it says. Sometimes, we get so overwhelmed by our everyday lives that we rarely have any quality time left to give our children much less to pass on essential life lessons to them.

This gem of a book might help with that. The book isn’t great to look at nor do the illustrations grab our attention but this book is a true treasure trove of wisdom.

There are seven short stories, each of which conveys an essential lesson that, if imbibed by our children, will set them on the path of true success.

Here are the stories:

• Whistle a happy tune: On patience
• Kindness always pays
• The Sun and the Rain: On appreciating good times and bad
• The Three Lovely Flowers: Lily for innocence, Violet for modesty and the rose as a symbol of charity
• The Rain Was a Blessing: On not grumbling and complaining
• The Miracle Field: On the merits of hard work
• The Echo of Love: On being kind, caring and helpful to others

Topsy and Tim go to the zoo

By Jean and Gareth Adamson

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Ladybird Books, London

Year: 1960

ISBN: 978-1-40930-084-7

Television show: CBeebies

Topsy and Tim are a couple of lively children through whom children get to learn about school, going out, friends and a whole lot of new experiences.

Enjoy a trip to the zoo with Topsy and Tim as they get to meet several animals but are happy to come back hometo their loving pets.

Excerpt

‘Look!’ said Tim. ‘Horses in football jerseys.’ The zebras showed how they could kick. One kicked another with his back hooves.

‘We don’t want those zebras at home,’ said Dad. ‘They might kick us.’ 

The Pink Party

Author: Maryann Macdonald

Illustrator: Judy Stead

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 36

Publisher: Scholastic, New York

Year: 2012

ISBN: 978-0-76145-814-2

Childhood is usually about strong bonds of friendship, and sometimes this magical journey gets confusing when the little green worm of envy strikes at inopportune moments like at your best friend’s birthday party or when she gets a new toy. Every parent has been acquainted with this dilemma as a child and probably relives it again through their children’s eyes. Most of us, unwisely, choose to simply brush this matter away as childishness. NOT a good idea. Which is why, I recommend this book.

Meet Rose and Valentina, best friends, lovers of pink and all it's vibrant hues. They secretly aspire to make the whole world pink, even their teeth! Throw in a pretty bag, a hand-made lunchbox, a rocking chair, a magic wand, a princess dress, a crown - all in pink building up to a theme party to honor their favorite color, you have a recipe for envy. The author deftly handles the issue without compromising on the friends’ individuality or airbrushing their emotions.  

Excerpt

She rocked in her pink rocker on her porch and tried to feel better, even though she could hear her friends having fun next door.

She rocked and rocked until all of their friends had said goodbye. Then she heard a voice from the other side of the hedge.

“The party’s over,” Valentina said.

Rose pretended she didn’t hear. 

Brown Bread and Honey

By Pamela Allan

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Puffin Books, Australia 

Year: 2001

ISBN: 978-0-14056-825-7

It’s rare to see a children’s book tackle gluttony and here’s one of those.  The story features a king who has a lot of time on his hands, and the means to live lazily. His over-riding passion is to get his chefs to cook delicacies and sample them. Until, one day, things take a turn for the worse.

In comes a stable boy, who shares his humble lunch of brown bread and honey and soon, all’s right with the king’s world.

In a world, where greed is promoted on a large scale, it might just help if parents introduce their children to this danger before they come face to face with it. This book certainly shows the way.

Excerpt

He groaned and he moaned.

‘OOOOOH! AAAAAH! OOOOOOH!’

Now that he was SO miserable and SO tired that he didn’t want to see another pie, pudding or pavlova, ever again.

He blamed the food. He blamed the cooks.

‘It’s all your fault,’ he shouted. ‘You’re sacked!’

So the sacked cooks packed their bags and went away.

Ali Cat is a Scaredy-Cat

Author: Dandi Daley Mackall

Illustrator: Janet McDonnell

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Zonderkidz, Zondervan, Michigan

Year: 2008

ISBN: 978-0-31071-702-7

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives fear away, says the Bible in 1 John 4:18. Now, this ought to be a difficult concept for children to assimilate and yet this story explains it in a simplistic manner.

Meet Katy and her cat, Ali Cat who rushes in one day, scared. Katy wants to help her Ali Cat and so she snuggles it under her shirt. It’s the only way she knows how to show love to her cat. With this simple gesture, Katy not only helps her cat but also finds the courage to say her part at the show, without forgetting and with a smile!

This book is part of the I Can Read beginner’s series. There are several other titles in this series, including some more Ali Cat stories. 

Excerpt

Katy felt like a scaredy-cat.

But Ali Cat was purring.

Ali Cat was no scaredy-cat now.

She knew Katy loved her.

And Katy knew she was loved too.

My Little Pony – Pinkie Pie’s Pretty Hair Day

Text and Illustrations: Hasbro Inc.

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 10

Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books, New York

Year: 2004

ISBN: 978-0-68987-495-6

The delightful and charming TV series My Little Pony is now here, in a book.

The first thing that jumps out at you is Pinkie Pie’s little lock of pink hair (nylon, of course) with silvery streaks set into an indentation that runs through all the pages. And yes, you guessed it! This is a story of a pre-party crisis where Pinkie Pie simply cannot decide how to wear her hair. Each of her friends suggests a hair style (that the children can try too) – braids, fluffed, smooth and straight until Wysteria gets an idea.

Excerpt

Rainbow Dash said, “I can help you, Pinkie Pie!”

She took out the braids and fluffed Pinkie Pie’s hair.

Fluff, fluff, fluff!

Pinkie Pie’s hair was standing out and sticking up!

“It’s beautiful!” cried Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie wasn’t sure she agreed.