Yummy Yummy Food for my Tummy

Text: Sam Lloyd

Illustrations: Jack Tickle

Year: 2003

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 28

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN: 978 1 85430 898 6

Two islands, two chimps and plenty of sharks – that’s what this colorful book is about.

And yes, the sharks seem to have bitten a chunk off of the book, too. :-)

George and Jess are two lonely chimps on their islands. They use their ingenuity to brave the threats of hungry sharks to, finally, meet up and have a great party with music, dancing, yummy banana milkshakes and coconut cake.

This book is bound to be a winner, both with kids who are fascinated by sharks and those who see them as villains.

Excerpt

But there was a problem.

In the deep blue sea between the two islands were sharks!

“Yummy, yummy, yummy, food for my tummy,” the sharks sang when they saw the little chimps. 

Percy and the Pirates

Author: Russell Punter

Illustrator: Kate Sheppard

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, London

ISBN: 978 0 74609 160 9

Here's another gem from the Usborne Young Reading series.    

Meet Percy, an enterprising and clever boy who courageously changes his family’s misfortune after an adventure with a band of pirates led by Captain Crook. Yes, that’s his name. His crew mates are Willy Weevil, Sam Scurvy and Ronnie Rum.

I liked this story because it portrays good old values of bravery, courage and honesty. But there are man-eating sharks that make their appearance more than once. Parents might want to cushion that bit of cruelty.

The watercolor illustrations weave right into the story, seamlessly.

By the way, the ships that the pirates plunder are called Crimson Cuttlefish, Pink Prawn, Blue Blowfish and Red Herring. Notice a cute pattern there? 

Excerpt

Percy didn’t want to be a pirate. But he didn’t want to be a shark’s dinner, either.

“Tell Percy the ship’s motto, lads,” bellowed Crook, and the pirates sang.

“We steal for Crook ‘cos he’s the best,

Then put the treasure in his chest.”

The ship sailed out to sea.

“Will I ever see my family again?” thought Percy.

Little Yellow Digger

Author: Nicola Baxter

Illustrator: Toni Goffe

For Ages: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 28

Publisher: Ladybird Books, London

Year: 1997

ISBN: 978-0-72141-930-5

Our car fills up with excited squeals and shouts every time the kids spot a digger or an earthmover. Which is why I picked up this book. Needless to say, everyone was thrilled.

Meet the Little Yellow Digger, a hard working machine of steel with a gentle soul. He takes his orders from a very busy but clever Man with the Plan.

The Little Yellow Digger faithfully follows his instructions, interruptions notwithstanding from curious passers-by who want to know what the digger is up to. Of course, he doesn’t have the big picture yet but he entertains theories from others – a pond for a fierce Digger-crunching Shinkle Shark or a trap for a Many-headed Mud Monster and more!

The pictures are embellished liberally with humor and happiness which makes this book a keeper.

And no, I’m not going to play spoilsport here! :-)

Excerpt

“Just leave it to me!” said the Little Yellow Digger. “Does that mean …”

But the Man with the Plan had gone off to have a cup of tea.

So with a clank, clankety clank the Little Yellow Digger carried all the earth and all the grass over to the lorries.  

Bright Stanley

Author and Illustrator: Matt Buckingham

For Ages: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 22

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2006

ISBN: 978-1-58925-059-8

Meet Stanley who belongs to a shoal that’s the ‘brightest, sparkliest fish in the whole of the deep, dark sea.’

It shows too. Little Stanley is illustrated with shiny, golden scales that little ones will love to see and play with.

He has a little encounter with a mean ole’ shark but comes through safely.  

Our 4-year-old wanted me to read it to her everyday that we had the book. (it was borrowed from the State Library.) So a good choice for little ones, especially those who are inclined to shiny and sparkly stuff.

Excerpt

CLONK!

Stanley crashed head-first into something very hard.

“Jumping jellyfish!” he cried. It wasn’t one of his friends at all, but his own reflection in a shiny pearl!

Stanley rubbed his bumped nose, feeling a little dazed. He didn’t notice a dark shape coming up behind him.