Picnic on a cloud

By Mark Icanberry

Year: 2000

Publisher: Look, Learn and Do Publications

Age: 5 – 10 years

No. of Pages: 48

Book Type: Picture Book, Learning

ISBN:  978 1 89332 702 7

David, his friend Jessica and Newton, their four-legged pal are on a flying adventure. Using the blimp as inspiration, with Professor Alexander’s guidance, they create a flying gondola with an innovative sail of 289 Helium balloons. They fly, float, cruise and finally, have a picnic on a cloud.

This book is more than just a storybook – it features the history, science and construction of air ships tracing its journey from a hot air balloon to dirigibles and finally, blimps. There is also a You Can Do It section at the end of the book to help little ones make a tiny blimp with a straw, a milk carton, thread, Scotch tape and a couple of Helium-filled balloons. :-)

Excerpt

Newton slowly opened his large, lazy eyelids.

David yawned and called from below, “Are you up yet, Newton?”

“Rup,” replied Newton.

Albie and the Space Rocket

Author: Andy Cutbill

Illustrators: Andy Cutbill and Mark Stacey

Year: 2003

Publisher: Collins Picture Books, London

Age: 7 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-00-786522-2

This is a hilarious tale that seems to engage all the imagination of a little boy. Penguins that steal a bed, moose dancing in the loo, zebras feasting on baked beans in the kitchen, elephants that have built a rocket to Jupiter. Now you know what I mean. :-)

Albie finds that his bed has been stolen from under him. That’s how the story begins. 

Albie’s sister has been accidentally rocketed off to Jupiter. That’s how the story ends. 

In between, are several animals who somehow come together to make a comical story. The illustrations are perfectly matched too! I loved the pompous expressions on the elephant scientists' faces. 

Excerpt

“That?” said another elephant.

“Oh, that’s just a super-duper, intergalactic spacerocket.”

“But it’s built from my bed!” spluttered Albie.

“And the cooker and the downstairs loo!”

“It’s state-of-the-art,” said the elephant.