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.

Friends in the Snow

Text: Daniel Postgate

Illustrations: Sam Childs

Year: 2012

Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN: 978 1 40711 539 9

Here’s another delightful book that celebrates a child’s unique ability to imagine much like Bruno’s Box. I liked this book also because it encourages children to explore their creative instincts and to be bold about their expressions. 

Brave little Lucy is startled by the white monster on the stark white bedroom wall. After failing to ignore the monster’s grunts and howls, she befriends him and takes him for a walk to discover new friends.

The adventure doesn't end … :-)

Excerpt

The penguin looked north, south, east and west.

He saw that Lucy was quite right, there was nothing but white.

“Then I’m King of Nothing,” said the penguin. “And Nothing will have to do.”

Miss Smith Reads Again!

By Michael Garland

Year: 2006

Publisher: Puffin Books, USA

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 0 14241 140 7

Here’s a fantasy adventure tale in the land of the dinosaurs.

Miss Smith has a magical Incredible Storybook where the story comes alive every time she reads a book.

This time they read Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World and Miss Smith is captured by a pterodactyl .

Excerpt

As Challenger and Summerlee continued their heated debate, a huge Tyrannosaurus rex stole up behind them.

Zack’s eyes stared at the jagged fangs of the T. rex, but before Miss Smith could stop him, Zack screamed, “Look out behind you!!”

Jane and the Magician

By Martin Baynton

Year: 2000

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 6- 10 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 40630 528 9

Jane is as true-blue a knight as they come. She also has a dragon instead of a steed.

They are sent on a mission to find the royal magician who has gone away in a huff after a misunderstanding at the Royal Court.

Jane finds the magician but it takes some convincing to bring him back. Of course, her brave heart shines through as she goes above and beyond her call of duty.

Jane and her dragon also feature in a children's television series. 

Excerpt

“WHY?” roared the magician. “I’ve only just begun!”

Again he clapped his hands and blue lightning sprang from his fingertips. It crackled across the sky and smacked into the dragon.

Let’s go home, Little Bear!

Text: Martin Waddell

Illustrations: Barbara Firth

Year: 1991 (2005)

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 5 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84428 492 4

This delightfully, charming story of Little Bear and Big Bear walking back home through snow makes for imaginative reading.

Little Bear thinks he hears a Plodder when Big Bear explains is the sound of his feet in the snow. He then hears a Dripper which turns out to be ice dripping into the stream. They encounter many more sounds until they reach home. Big Bear tucks Little Bear into a warm blanket and weaves a story of
Plodders, Drippers and Ploppers until both are fast asleep.

Excerpt

“I thought I heard something!” Little Bear said.

“What did you hear?” said Big Bear.

“Drip, drip, drip,” said Little Bear. “I think it’s a Dripper!”

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. 

The Shape of my Heart

Text: Mark Sperring

Illustrations: Alys Paterson

Year: 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 2 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Educational

ISBN:  978 1 40882 705 5

This brightly colored creative book introduces little ones to all the shapes, sounds and flavors a child comes across during the day.

The book is adorable for its warm and caring approach to turn the ordinary into a colorful learning experience – the hands we hold one another with. :-)

Excerpt

This is the shape of my shoes.

Aren't they nice?

And this is the shape of your feet. 

Doodleday

By Ross Collins

Year: 2011

Publisher: Gullane Children’s Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages:  32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 86233 847 0

It’s Doodleday and it’s hilarious!

Despite instructions from his mom to the contrary, mischievous Harvey decides to doodle a fly which comes alive and wreaks havoc in the kitchen. He then draws a spider, to eat the fly. The spider turns on Harvey’s dad, instead.

He then draws a bird to prey on the spider and that doesn’t work either. After some more misadventures, Harvey yells for his mum who rescues the town from Harvey’s doodles. :-)

Excerpt

Harvey couldn’t see what she was drawing.

What could swat a giant fly?

Eat a gigantic spider?

Bring down a monstrous bird?

Be more ferocious than a Giant Squid?

Aladdin and his Magical Lamp (Usborne Young Reading)

Retold by Katie Daynes

Illustrations: Paddy Mounter 

Year: 2003

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 60

Book Type: Chapter book

ISBN: 978 0 74605 770 4

Website: Usborne Young Reading

Alladin and his Magical Lamp is one among the many classics from One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Arabian stories.

The Usborne Young Reading re-telling in easy-to-read text makes the story relevant to modern young children.

Aladdin finds a magic lamp which comes with a resident genie. The magical genie is obliged to fulfill the wishes of whoever possesses the lamp. The genie helps Aladdin become rich and marry the princess.

Of course, nothing worthwhile in life comes easy - Aladdin has to fight a wicked magician to keep the lamp and prove he is worthy.

Excerpt

The Sultan lived in a grand palace. 

On her first visit, the Sultan didn't even look at Aladdin's mother. But she went back, again and again until, finally, he spoke to her.   

How to Catch a Star

By Oliver Jeffers, Wikipedia

Year: 2004

Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books, London

Age: 2 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture Book, Board Book

ISBN: 978 0 00732 461 3

This is a truly delightful board book guaranteed to set afire many a toddler’s imaginations.   

The book starts with the ubiquitous “Once there was a boy” and then takes us on a fantasy adventure into a little boy’s mind who dreams of catching a star.

At last, after many creative attempts at getting a star, his wish is fulfilled. In a way. :-)

Excerpt

The boy decided he would try to catch a star. E thought that getting up early in the morning would be best, because then the star would be tired from being up in the sky all night. 

Harry and the Dinosaurs have a Happy Birthday

Text: Ian Whybrow, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Adrian Reynolds

Year: 2008

Publisher: Puffin Books, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN:  978 0 141 50051 5

Meet the delightful team of Harry and his adorable dinosaurs.

It’s birthday time.

When Nan bakes Mr. Oakley a cherry pie for is birthday, Harry decides to celebrate his dinosaurs’ birthday too as they turn a 100 million years old!

The vibrant colors and the lively text make for a memorable reading session. 

Excerpt

“Raaaah! We like eating cakes,” said Scelidosaurus.

“And we like ferns and gingko leaves!” said Tyrannosaurus. “Raaaah! They’re pre-historic!”

“I like being a decoration,” said Pterodactyl. 

Bruno’s Box

By Nicola Pontin 

Year: 2011

Publisher: Meadowside Children’s Books, London

Age: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978 1 845 39512 4

Every child has the unique ability to turn an ordinary object into something extraordinary and imbibed with super powers.

Bruno’s story reminds you of just that!

He has a little box that can be transformed (in his imagination!) into any kind of fanciful device or means of transport. And in a show of classic resilience that children exhibit so well, when his battered carton vanishes, he finds a paper that he rolls up into, yes, you guessed it – another fanciful scope.

Excerpt

It’s the best box in the world.

But now my box has gone.

And I can’t find it anywhere.

Teacup in a storm

Text: Lucy M George

Illustrations: Il Sung Na

Year: 2009

Publisher: Meadowside Children’s Books, London 

Age: 2 – 4 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book, Paperback

ISBN: 978 1 84539 363 2

Even if the intriguing title doesn’t tease your grey cells a bit, then the cheery teacup on the cover will certainly draw you into an unlikely and, sometimes, mysterious journey of adventure and discovery. The mystique is compelling but then you learn it is but a ‘teacup in a storm.’ :-)

The illustrations don’t give you a clue as to how the tale ends too… Hmmm…

Excerpt

They went on a very long voyage together.

Through the stormy seas they sailed.

On wild and foaming waves they rode.

They went practically around the world. 

I Love the Rain

Author: Margaret Park Bridges

Illustrator: Christine Davenier

Year: 2005

Publisher: Chronicle Books, USA 

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 26

ISBN: 978 1 58717 208 3

Read this book and you’ll remember everything that is beautiful and exciting about rain. :-)

I loved it for the highly imaginative narrative and the joie-de-vivre that shines through Molly and Sophie. As they get home from school on a rainy day, they imagine all sorts of happy images for all that a rain means – the drops, the wet street, the puddles.

Of course, my kids wanted to jump into the very next rain that came along. It’s the book. Its happiness is infectious.

Excerpt

“What’s that sound on the roof?” asks Sophie.

“Tap dancers!” I jump in. “A whole chorus line on stage above us.”

We tap our toes all the way to our stop.