‘Click!’ Carrot poses for the Camera

Text: Arleen

Illustrations: Lilli Messina, Wikipedia

Year: 2008

Publisher: Pelangi Books, Malaysia

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 9 83002 999 3

Carrie’s just received a Polaroid camera as a gift. She wants to click photographs of her mother but she’s busy with cooking. Dad has some work to do too!

Carrie then finds the perfect model with her dog, Carrot.

Other titles in this series include:

• Carrot Loves Carrots
• Carrot Goes to School
• Carrot Gets Lost
• ‘Hicks!’ Carrot has a Hiccup

Excerpt

‘Click! Click! Click!’

After a few more snapshots, Carrot refuses to pose.

She is tired of getting dizzy every time Carrie takes a photo. 

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.” 

Five-Minute Puppy Tales

Text: Gaby Goldsack

Illustrations: Daniel Howarth

Year: 2003

Publisher: Parragon Books, UK

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 44

Book Type: Chapter book, hardback

ISBN:  978 0 75257 000 5

This little gem from Parragon ought to be a collector’s item. :-)

The book offers gentle stories of friendship, love and understanding among the much-loved furry little ones.  As much as these tales are devoted to puppies, all of them are related to their human friends and therefore, one gets to read well-rounded stories that convey the power of love and friendship and caution against greed and disobedience.  

Excerpt from A Perfect Puppy

“That one’s too big,” said Polly, pointing to a Great Dane.

“And that one’s too small.” She pointed to a Chihuahua.

“How about this one?” Said Mummy, stroking an Afghan Hound.

“Too hairy.”

The Bobbsey Twins: Freddie and Flossie at the Beach

Author: Laura Lee Hope

Illustrator: Chuck Pyle

Year: 2005

Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978-1-41690-268-6

Website: Ready to Read

This is a Ready-to-read series Pre-Level  1 book. It’s a fantastic book for new readers and encourages little ones to pursue reading thanks to the use of familiar words and phrases that are repeated several times through the book. The sentences are very simple too!

Freddie and Flossie are at the beach with Snap their energetic dog. They splash about in the waves, play tag, build sand castles until it’s time to go.

By the way, the illustrations explain what the text of the story skips out.

Excerpt

They build a sand castle.

Snap helps.

Oh no! 

They play tag.

Snap plays too.

Oh,no!