Four Friends in the Garden

By Sue Heap

Year: 2005

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 4 – 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84428 554 5

Four friends - Florentina the bear, Rachel the rabbit, Seymour the sheep and Mary Clare are in the garden. They are ecstatic when a butterfly joins them.

This picture book celebrates the simple joys of life and childhood innocence with its unique story on friendship and camaraderie.

Excerpt

“Ooof!” says Florentina. “I am hot.”

She kicks off her slippers. A butterfly lands on her foot.

Manners at the Park

Text: Arianna Candell

Illustrations: Rosa M. Curto

Year: 2012

Publisher: Salariya Book Company, UK

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 36

Book Type: Picture Book, Educational

ISBN:  978 1 90817 710 0

It’s never too early to introduce children to rules and manners. The earlier the exposure, the sooner they’ll understand that following rules helps keep everyone safe and happy which is what this book attempts to impart to little ones.

The book takes us into Lily’s neighborhood. As each good manner is explained, we meet Lily’s friends. The book covers most manners and rules while playing at the park – taking turns, litter, involving others, new toys, holding grown-ups’ hands when crossing the road and more.

Excerpt

Rosie loves the swings so much that she could spend the whole day there! She doesn’t see the other kids waiting for a turn, so the queue is getting longer and longer. 

Topsy and Tim go to the park

By Jean and Gareth Adamson

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 30

Publisher: Ladybird Books, London

Year: 2003

ISBN: 978-1-90435-122-1

Television show: CBeebies

Topsy and Tim are a couple of lively children through whom children get to learn about school, going out, friends and a whole lot of new experiences.

This is just the right book to teach children on all that they’ll encounter and how to play safely in a park.  

Excerpt

‘Now let’s have a go on the seesaw', said Tim, when they were tired of swinging. Topsy and Kerry sat at one end of the seesaw and Tim sat at the other, but Tim got stuck up in the air.

The seesaw wouldn’t work with all three on it together, so they had to take turns. Then they all went down the slide together.

Wild Things: Monkey in the garden

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Caswell

Year: 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40817 940 6

I loved this wildlife series for little children. Friendly illustrations, uncluttered text in an engaging font, neat little chapters each with a quirky “You will need” section are some of the reasons why you might want this book for your little one or for your school library.

Besides, this book is a fund-raising initiative from the Zoological Society of London, a charity that provides help for animals while also running the ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

Other books in this series include

•     Elephant in the attic
•     Emu on the loose
•     Giraffe on a sleepover
•     Hippo in the house
•     Lion who came to lunch
•     Penguin in the post
•     Tiger at the door

Excerpt

A monkey uses its tail like an extra arm, to grip onto branches.

The end of a monkey’s tail has a tough pad of skin.

A monkey can hang from branches by its tail alone.