Playhouse

Text: Robert Munsch

Illustrations: Michael Martchenko

Year: 2002

Publisher: Scholastic, Canada

Age:  5 - 10 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 0 43998 959 6

Rene, an ambitious little girl asks her dad to build her a playhouse. He builds her a wonderful two-storey playhouse with real windows and a slide.

After a week, though, Rene feels the playhouse would be complete if it had a play barn. Soon, chickens and a play cow are moved to the barn accompanied by her dad's tractor and the bulldozer.

After a month, Rene decides that her playhouse misses a play mommy and play daddy. And that’s when, her parents decide that Rene’s ambitions needs to be handled. :-)

This rib-tickling book is yet another gem from the Munsch-Martchenko duo. :-)

A big thumbs up!

Excerpt

One day, Rene went to her father and said, "Pleeeeeease make me a playhouse! Our farm is way out in the middle of the woods, and I have nobody to play with except my little brothers. I need a playhouse.”

Come on, Daisy

By Jane Simmons

Year: 2004

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84362 272 6

Here’s another book for stragglers. Every family has one and this might serve as a cautionary tale.

Daisy and her mum are on their way back home. Mama Duck constantly cautions Daisy to stay close but she seems distracted by the frogs, the dragonflies and is soon engrossed in bouncing across lily pads. In all that splosh and splash, Daisy doesn’t realize that her mum’s far away and she’s all by herself. The frogs and the dragonflies have vanished too...

Of course, the story ends well, but, a lesson's learned as well.   

Excerpt

“You must stay close, Daisy,” said Mamma Duck.

“I’ll try,” said Daisy.

Born Again!

By Phil A. Smouse

Year: 2004

Publisher: Barbour Publishing, USA

Age: 4 -7 years

No. of Pages: 62

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN:  978 1 59310 099 5

Born Again belongs to the I Can Read God’s Word series for young children which features stories from the Bible written to suit little ones.

I liked this book because it explains complex verses like 2 Corinthians 5:17 in elegant simplicity and vividly colored illustrations to etch the truth in a young child’s mind.

Excerpt from Peace (Philippians 4: 4-7)

At all times, in every way, in all things, rejoice!

Let your heart be filled with joy.

You do not need to worry.

God hears your prayers. 

At the end of the Rainbow

Text: A H Benjamin

Illustrations: John Bendall-Brunello

Year: 2004

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN:  978 1 84506 003 2

This heart-warming story about two friends and their search for the mystical treasure at the end of the rainbow opens up a window into the world around us and all that truly matters in life.

Badger and Fox decide to follow the rainbow for it's treasure. During their journey, they find that their friends have different perspectives on the meaning of treasure. Squirrel places most value on his store of acorns while Mother Duck thinks of her baby as her greatest treasure. They finally meet Old Hare whose memories are most precious to him.

Badger and Fox get to thinking and it dawns on both of them that their friendship is truly a treasure.

Excerpt

“Ahh,” nodded Old Hare. “I have lots of that.”

“Really? Where?” they asked.

Old Hare patted his head. “Here,” he said. “My memories are my treasure. They make me happy.”

Just Like My Dad

By David Melling

Year: 2002

Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 34094 403 5

This heartwarming and witty book is about a little cub’s aspiration to grow up to be just like his dad, a mighty lion.

The illustrations are comical and will draw laughter from young and old. :-)

Excerpt

This is my dad.

One day, I’ll have sharp teeth just like my dad.

Grow Your Own

By Esther Hall

Year: 2011

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, London

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN:  978 0 230 74794 4

This book about transition and its effect on the family is also a story of hope and optimism.

Sidney lives with his mum in the city. He eats food that comes out of boxes and his mum puts on grey clothes and works is a ‘big grey building.’

You, almost, know where this is heading...

Then, all the grays are banished by the vivid imagery of the countryside and the bright pop of home-grown vegetables and fruits. Thanks to Sidney’s grandmother whom he visits during his summer holidays. 

Sidney and his mum’s lives are turned around by this visit.

Excerpt

Sidney and his granny worked hard that summer, digging up vegetables and picking up fruit.

Every day Sidney tried something new to eat.

Milly, Molly and the Secret Scarves

Text: Gill Pittar

Illustrations: Cris Morrell

Year: 2002

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 5 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Early readers

ISBN:  978 1 87729 717 8

Milly and Molly are inseparable friends who constantly learn new things about people, places and important values.

In this heart-warming  book, Milly and Molly decide to surprise each other with a colorful scarf for Christmas. They knit and knot fervently until the scarves are done. On Christmas day, the girls are thrilled to discover how alike they are and how much they are loved.   

This book is more than just about sharing and giving gifts, it's about love and true friendship, the kind that overlooks differences, the kind that truly lasts.

Excerpt

She was still knitting on Christmas morning.

“You must love Molly very much,” her mother said.

“I do,” said Milly.

The Dark, Dark Night

Text: M. Christina Butler

Illustrations: Jane Chapman

Year: 2008

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84506 637 6

This book is an endearing comedy of errors which features five good friends – Badger, Rabbit, Hedgehog, Dormouse and Frog.

Frog has just woken up from a long winter sleep and in his excitement, he sets off a series of mishaps caused by ‘shadow monsters!’

This ought to be a good book for little ones who are afraid of the dark.

Excerpt

Frog was very excited. All winter he had been asleep under a stone, and now it was spring, he was on his way back to the pond.

Mole’s Sunrise

Text: Jeanne Willis, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Sarah Fox-Davies

Year: 2011

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40633 778 5

This kind and generous story of friendship offers little children a tiny peek at the window to the world of the differently-abled.

Vole is in a hurry to catch the sunrise. He stops by Mole’s house and invites him too. Soon, they are joined by Rabbit, Squirrel and Sparrow.

Each of them sees the sunrise with a unique perspective, all of which blend together to create a beautiful image for the nearly blind Mole.

This book is about kindness, friendship, generosity and so much more. The illustrations are breathtakingly detailed.

Excerpt

Vole got up just before dawn.

Mole was having breakfast but Vole didn’t have time.

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.

Angels Watching Over Me

Adapted by Julia Durango

Illustrations: Elisa Kleven 

Year: 2007

Publisher: Simon and Schuster, New York

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32 

Book Type: Picture Book, Poetry

ISBN:  978 0 68986 252 6

This book finds inspiration from the well-loved spiritual Angels Watching Over Me. The text is essentially the song expanded with additional verses to weave a soothing blanket of comfort and reassurance for little ones.

It is a beautiful song. :-)

Excerpt

All night, all day angels watching over me.

Day begins, dawn breaks anew.

Sun wakes up, I wake up too.

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?

Katie and the Sunflowers

By James Mayhew, Wikipedia

Year: 2000

Publisher: Orchard Books, London

Age: 5 - 9 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84121 634 8

This is the first time we’ve come across a book that skillfully introduces the enchanting world of art, the masters and their timeless masterpieces to little ones.

The story weaves in Paul Gauguin’s Breton Girls Dancing and Tahitian Pastorale, Paul Cezanne’s Still Life with Apples and Oranges and Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Café Terrace at Night.

We loved it!

Excerpt

The gallery was full of warm sunny paintings. Katie liked a painting called Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh.

The sunflowers looked dry and crunchy and were full of seeds.

Hey Jack! The Crazy Cousins

Text: Sally Rippin

Illustrations: Stephanie Spartels

Year: 2012

Publisher: Griffin Press, Australia

Age: 5 - 9 years

No. of Pages: 44

Book Type: Picture Book (Black and white)

ISBN:  978 1 74297 125 4

This story is invaluable for little children.

Little Jack’s perfect day is interrupted when his dad announces that his cousins are about to arrive. Jack is horrified as he remembers all the annoyances his cousin caused during their last visit. He doesn’t want to be around them.

However, he’s in for a surprise. He realizes he’s being the worst cousin. He has a quick change of heart and soon the house is filled with the laughter of children playing together, happily!

Excerpt

Jack gets a warm honey feeling in his tummy. Now he feels bad for acting so grumpy.

He certainly hasn’t been the best cousin today.

Rose’s Garden

By Peter H. Reynolds, Wikipedia

Year: 2010

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 40

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40633 076 2

Rose, an adventurous free spirit, embarks on a long, long journey to explore the world. She gathers seeds as mementos. Soon, her quaint little teapot, which also happens to be her vessel of choice on her voyage, is filled with seeds. She finds a city to plant her unique garden and sets about working on it.

Her plans turn awry but the kindness of the people around her result in a spectacular garden that is a source of joy for everyone else in the city.

Excerpt

Rose was a dreamer.

An adventurer.

She explored the world in her fantastic teapot.

Grandpa Bear’s Fantastic Scarf

By Gillian Heal

Year: 1996

Publisher: Beyond Words Publishing, Inc., USA

Age: 6 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 88522 341 2

Little Bear is excited to learn about Grandpa Bear’s extraordinary scarf.

Grandpa Bear explains how his scarf grows as he grows. Its beautiful colors reflect his life’s journey and every bit of it is filled with warm and some not-so-warm memories. Little Bear understands and can’t wait to get started on his own.

This book certainly has some nuggets of wisdom and astute insights about life’s journeys though some may be a mite too deep for young ones to comprehend. 

Excerpt

Dreaming about colors and feeling rather hungry with all this thinking, the Little Bear said hopefully, “I like honey.”

“There!” cried Grandpa Bear. “That’s your first color. Think of the color of honey!”

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!

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.

Rainy Day Fairies

Text: Julia Rowe

Illustrations: Eric Kincaid

Year: 2000

Publisher: Brimax, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 20

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 85854 155 6

If you’ve ever wondered where fairies come from, take a closer look at the raindrops. You might just see a tiny one clinging to an “extra large, shiny raindrop.”

This series by Julia Rowe provides a refreshing look at fairies and their origins. Puddles made by dragonflies and colors lent by a kind kingfisher are just some of the intriguing details that make this book exciting for little ones. 

Excerpt

When they were ready the beautiful kingfisher flew over each of them in turn and hovered over them. 

He flapped his wings so fast that you could barely see them move.

Also in this series:

• Sunny Day Fairies
• Snowy Day Fairies
• Rainbow Fairies