The Shape of my Heart

Text: Mark Sperring

Illustrations: Alys Paterson

Year: 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 2 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book, Educational

ISBN:  978 1 40882 705 5

This brightly colored creative book introduces little ones to all the shapes, sounds and flavors a child comes across during the day.

The book is adorable for its warm and caring approach to turn the ordinary into a colorful learning experience – the hands we hold one another with. :-)

Excerpt

This is the shape of my shoes.

Aren't they nice?

And this is the shape of your feet. 

Wild Things: Hippo in the house

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Byrne

Year: 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40815 680 3

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 the 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
• Lion who came to lunch
• Monkey in the garden    
• Penguin in the post
• Tiger at the door

Excerpt

Bath time is a big deal for pygmy hippos. They LOVE it!  

Pygmy hippos can close their ears and nostrils to hide under the water from predators.

Pygmy hippos can hold their breath for seven minutes. 

Topsy and Tim go to the zoo

By Jean and Gareth Adamson

For Ages: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

Publisher: Ladybird Books, London

Year: 1960

ISBN: 978-1-40930-084-7

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.

Enjoy a trip to the zoo with Topsy and Tim as they get to meet several animals but are happy to come back hometo their loving pets.

Excerpt

‘Look!’ said Tim. ‘Horses in football jerseys.’ The zebras showed how they could kick. One kicked another with his back hooves.

‘We don’t want those zebras at home,’ said Dad. ‘They might kick us.’ 

Wild Things: Giraffe on a sleepover

Author: Lisa Regan

Illustrator: Kelly Byrne

Year: 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

ISBN:  978 1 40815 679 7

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
•     Hippo in the house
•     Lion who came to lunch
•     Monkey in the garden
•     Penguin in the post
•     Tiger at the door

Excerpt

Watch out for kicking feet – they’re huge and they hurt.

A giraffe’s hoof is the size of a cereal bowl and can kill a lion with one mighty kick.

Karate classes might be a bad idea … 

Paddington at the Zoo

Author: Michael Bond

Illustrator: R.W. Alley

For Ages: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 24

Publisher: Harper Collins, UK

Year: 1984

Some of us grew up with Paddington bear – adorable, clever and, if I may say so, pampered- in a good way. 

In this book, the little brown bear visits the zoo with a large pile of marmalade sandwiches. He's a little miffed when the gatekeeper mistakes him for a pet and refuses him entry. Of course, Judy and Jonathan convince him otherwise.

Paddington visits the birds at the aviary, the Siberian Wild Dogs, elephants and lions who all seem to like his sandwiches, much to his dismay! 

Excerpt

The elephant didn’t wait to be asked either. It simply made a loud trumpeting noise – “Whoooohoowooo!” – and reached down with its trunk.

Paddington watched as his third sandwich disappeared. He began to feel that going to the zoo was not such a good idea after all.

Milly, Molly and the Elephant

Author: Gill Pittar

Illustrator: Cris Morrell

Year: 2003

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 28

ISBN: 978 1 87733 658 0

This is a clever nature mini-book disguised as a Milly and Molly book. :-)

Gill Pittar, the author, uses the story of Milly and Molly’s visit to the zoo to teach little ones a wee bit about the wonderful world of animals and how they react to a specific problem, in this case, an annoying fly.

Milly and Molly are at the zoo to ask the elephant a question. On their way to him, they find themselves offering helpful suggestions to the other animals. Finally, they meet the elephant who answers their query. 

And yes, with a big loud sneeze, he blows the flies right out of the zoo! 

Excerpt

“Hi there, Joey.”

“You must know where to find the elephant.”

The baby kangaroo was too distracted by the fly on his nose to reply.

“Try hiding in your pouch,” suggested Molly.

And that’s just what the Joey did.