I Love You as Big as the World

Text: David van Buren

Illustrations: Tim Warnes

Year: 2008

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 0 to 3 years

No. of Pages: 20

ISBN:  978 1 84895 644 5

This is a beautiful “I Love You” board book for little ones.

It uses the imagery of a bear and its cub to convey the beauty and vitality of one of the strongest bonds known to man, that of a parent and child. I found it a great bedtime read. The kids giggled and reveled in the creative expressions of love. :-)

Excerpt

I love you as strong as the wind.

I love you as soft as the dew.

I love you as far as a star. 

Anna Hibiscus’ Song

Author: Atinuke

Illustrator: Lauren Tobia

Year: 2011

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 40

ISBN: 978 1 40633 841 6

This is the first time I've read a children’s book by an author of Nigerian origin and I am enthralled by the joie de vivre that sparkles through the pages. 

Anna Hibiscus is the quintessential happy child who feels happy for no particular reason. Just like any other child.

She shares her happiness with the people of her homestead (it feels like a joint-family) and they all, in turn, try to help her find ways to let out all that happiness bursting inside her.

When Grandma is happy, she squeezes Grandpa’s hand, when her cousins are happy, they cartwheel, somersault or walk on their hands.

Anna’s mother, finally, helps her find the answer.  

I loved the amazing illustrations and the text, well, it just jumps out at you with happiness!

Excerpt

“Papa! Papa! What can I do?” laughs Anna Hibiscus.

“I am SO happy, soon I will pop like a balloon.”

“When I am happy,” Papa smiles, “I go to Mama and tell her how much I love her.”

The Little White Owl

Author:  Tracey Corderoy

Illustrator: Jane Chapman

Year: 2010

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 2 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN: 978 1 84895 085 6

We’re all familiar with that one person in our circle who’s content with life and himself. And often, we find that even though we find this person a little out-of-place initially, eventually, we secretly aspire to be like him.

The Little White Owl is the story of a contented, happy bird who’s all alone in the world and his only possessions are a teddy bear and a clock. His favorite food is toast with strawberry jam. He has a favorite branch, too.

One day he decides to explore the world a bit and finds “owls – lovely owls!” Brilliantly colored but prim and proper birds who always sit still for they do not want their feathers ruffled.

They initially attempt to chase the little white owl away because he has no colors. But the owl wins the others over with his fantastical tales of ‘castles, and knights and dragons.’

Soon, the colorful owls can’t seem to get enough of the little white owl. They even follow him to his home and discover that life can be fun if they only allow themselves to have a good time.    

I love the transition in the expressions of the colorful owls. In the first few pages, they are shown morose and burdened. Gradually, the veneer cracks in one, then two and by the last page all the owls are laughing and frolicking in the snow.

This book is just perfect in every way - a charming story and paintings that make you go back to the book, over and over again. 

Excerpt

So the little white owl closed his eyes and magical stories came pouring from his heart!

Colourful tales of castles and knights and dragons with fiery breath and blasting through moonbeams and counting bright stars and tumbling down like a snowflake!

Augustus and his smile

By Catherine Rayner

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Year: 2006

ISBN: 978-1-56148-510-9

Augustus the Tiger has lost his smile! He looks everywhere – under the bushes, on the tops of the tallest trees, on snowy mountaintops, even, at the bottom of the deepest oceans. He does find his lost smile but in the unlikeliest place of all.

This book has a message for children and grown-ups. It’s easy for us look for happiness everywhere else but the right place.   

The illustrations are quite clever from a grown-ups’ perspective but I’m not so sure if children might enjoy turning the pages of a book that is rich in  browns, blacks and dark hues of the rest of the spectrum.

Excerpt

Further and further Augustus searched.

He scaled the crests of the highest mountains where the slow clouds swirled, making frost patterns in the freezing air.

He swam to the bottom of the deepest oceans and splished and splashed with shoals of tiny, shiny fish.

He pranced and paraded through the largest desert, making shadow shapes in the sun. 

Mrs. Hippo’s Pizza Parlor (I am Reading)

Text: Vivian French, Wikipedia

Illustrations: Clive Scruton

Year: 1999

Publisher: Kingfisher Publications, London 

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 48

ISBN:  978 0 75341 037 0

William’s birthday is about to arrive but he also know his mother Pizza Parlor is going through a tough time and he might not get the gift he truly wants. William knows better than to make a fuss. Soon, his dream comes true and it’s good times for his mum’s business too!

Excerpt

“Look at all those people outside our pizza parlor!”

“Dear me,” said Mrs. Hippo.

“I think they’re waiting to come in!”

“What do they want?” asked Ellie.

“PIZZAS!” said William.