Just One More!

Text: Tracey Corderoy

Illustrations:  Alison Edgson

Year: 2012

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Bedtime Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 313 0

Little Brown Bunny is ready for bed but he can’t seem to get enough stories for the night. After a few stories, his exhausted Mummy passes the books on to Daddy. Soon, Granny and then, Grandpa read to him.

Finally, after all the stories have been read, Little Brown Bunny is still not ready to sleep. However, he has a wonderful idea on how to get a new bedtime book.

Excerpt

Teatime was over. Bath time was over.

That meant just one thing …

“Story time!” cried Little Brown Bunny.

So Mummy read him a story. Then another.

First-Grade Bunny (Robin Hill School) Ready-to-Read: Level 1

Text: Margaret McNamara

Illustrations: Mike Gordon

Year: 2005

Publisher: Aladdin Books, New York

Age: 4 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book for beginner readers

ISBN: 978 0 68986 427 2

Website: Ready to Read

Here’s another delightful tale from the Robin Hill School series.

Mrs. Connor has brought a bunny named Sparky to class and the children are to take turns to care for it.

Reza would rather not. He’s not afraid of much but bunnies aren't on his cute list either. Kind Mrs. Connor understands and does not insist. 

Excerpt

Mrs. Connor saw Reza in the corner.

“Tomorrow, you will take care of Sparky,” she said.

That night, Reza had a scary dream. 

Hoppy Ever After!

Text: Alan Durant

Illustrations: Sue Mason

Year: 2007

Publisher: Zero to Ten Ltd., London

Age: 2 to 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Books, Paperback

ISBN:  978 1 84089 579 7

This happy tale of a happy frog was first published as Froggy went a Hopping.

Meet Froggy, a deliriously happy frog who wants to share his happiness with someone. He gets shooed away by the busy bees, funny bunnies and the beautiful birds. He comes back home and finds a surprise companion to be “Hoppy ever after” with.

The little ones loved this book because of all the “tweet, tweet” and “croak, ribbit” that they got to do while reading this book.

Excerpt

The sky darkened and the stars came out.

Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle.

Froggy’s fingers itched and his webby toes twitched.

He wanted to twinkle too. 

Moon Rabbit

Author and Illustrator: Natalie Russell

For Ages: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, London

Year: 2009

ISBN: 978-0-67001-170-4

Moon Rabbit is a brief story of a chance encounter and a beautiful friendship between two rabbits – Little Rabbit, who’s lived all her life in the city and Brown Rabbit, who lives in a park.

This book isn’t glossy or filled with bright colors. Therefore, while it might not appeal to many children, it is a tender tale of caring, being thoughtful and generous.    

Excerpt

But then, one dark night, Little Rabbit saw the city lights glowing in the distance and suddenly she felt sad.

“The city is so beautiful," she sighed.

Brown Rabbit was quiet. How could anything be as beautiful as the moonlit park, he thought. 

Big Hug: The Jungle House

Author: John Grace

Illustrator: Stuart Trotter

Publisher: Ladybird Books, UK

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 26

ISBN: 978 0 72141 433 8

Big Hug is a gentle blue bear who lives on Coconut Island.

Max the Cat and Billy the Rabbit set up a jungle house which is occupied by a mean-tempered elephant. They enlist the help of many friends to get the elephant to leave the house but the angry giant is in no mood to listen. Until Big Hug gets help from a little friend. :-)

The Big Hug series from Ladybird Books is ideal for pre-readers and beginner readers. What makes the text stand-out is the presence of repetitive phrasing and the use of several easy words to encourage children to read.

Excerpt

Max and Billy went to see the tiger.

He was very brave.

They told him about the elephant with big ears.

Tiger went to the jungle house. “Roarr-r!” went the tiger. 

Other books in the Big Hug series include

• A Busy Day
• A Quiet Walk
• Hide and Seek Counting 
• Rainbow Colours

The tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse

By Beatrix Potter

Year: 1910

Publisher: Frederick Warne (Penguin Group)

Age: 7 and above

No. of Pages: 58

Website: Peterrabbit.com

ISBN: 978-0-72324-780-7

I read this book for my kids and I was reminded of those magical, good old days of reading Enid Blyton and watching Wind in the Willows on the television.

Meet Mrs. Tittlemouse, a very tidy wood mouse who takes pride in her well-kept home. Her tidy home, however, invites a lot of unwelcome attention from untidy and uninvited visitors: beetles, ladybirds, spiders. She gets rid of all of them quite unceremoniously. Until, she meets her match in Mr. Jackson, a toad who enjoys visiting Mrs. Tittlemouse, uninvited, of course. She tries her best to get rid of him without much success. That is, until she hits upon a brilliant solution.

Excerpt

The he squeezed into the larder. Miss Butterfly was tasting the sugar; but she flew away out of the window.

“Tiddly, widdly, widdly, Mrs. Tittlemouse; you seem to have plenty of visitors!”

“And without any invitation!” said Mrs. Thomasina Tittlemouse.

They went along the sandy passage – “Tiddly widdly – “Buss! Wizz! Wizz!”