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Age Group: KS1

Picturebook

A brilliantly funny story of facing your fears from the picture book team behind The Case of the Missing Cake.

Terry is not an octopus. He’s just a regular guy with a few extra arms. Yes, he loves tuna and yes, he’d love to visit Super Octopus Fantasea Adventure World. But octopuses live in the sea. And Terry is afraid of water. Maybe he should learn to swim?

A very silly story about being brave, facing your fears and accepting who you really are.

Picturebook

Anthony Browne is at his most brilliant in a new edition of this profound picture book about sibling relations and one that has become a classic Y2 book to study and pore over in the classroom.

Once upon a time there lived a brother and sister who were complete opposites and constantly fought and argued. One day they discovered the tunnel. The boy goes through it at once, dismissing his sister’s fears. When he doesn’t return his sister has to pluck up the courage to go through the tunnel too. She finds her brother in a mysterious forest where he has been turned to stone…

Non-fiction

Meet the National Animals is a playful and humorous look at the animals all around the world who represent their country.

Why do they represent the particular country and what is so special or symbolic about them? Featuring over 35 amazing animals, from the mystical Scottish Unicorn to China’s much-loved Giant Panda and the wonderful, but extinct, Dodo from Mauritius.

The witty text brings each animal to life and celebrates their quirks and characteristics. Includes a playful, charming narrative along the bottom of each spread, which sees Brown Bear gradually bringing all the animals together as they travel the world, celebrating each country as they go.

Filled with fascinating facts about each animal and country, the text also touches gently on conservation issues related to each animal and their habitat. The illustrations inject warmth and humour into the narrative, making the animals the stars of their respective countries!

Poetry

A beautifully illustrated anthology of forty-four short poems by award-winning Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, designed to be shared together. Blow a kiss, catch a kiss when we are apart. Blow a kiss, catch a kiss put it in your heart. From Eye Caterpillars to The Journey Game, and from Dancing Families to Dreamtime, this collection of fun and heart-warming poems from award-winning children’s poet Joseph Coelho are perfect for sharing everyday feelings and experiences.

Chapter book

This laugh-out-loud Daisy adventure for readers of Year 2 and beyond is from bestselling author of the Oi Frog series, Kes Gray.

Here comes trouble!

Daisy is off to actual, actual London for the day.

Nanny and Grampy are taking her to see the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and lots more.

The trouble is, all Daisy really wants to see is Cooey the pigeon . . .

Picturebook

Tom and Mot are best friends. On their birthday, Tom gives Mot a feather – but could it be a feather from the most spectacular bird in the world? Mot gives Tom a marble – or is it the smallest planet in the universe?

Tom would like to give a whale, a dolphin, a sea monster, an elephant, while Mot would give rivers, mountains, forests and even the sun!

But after a joyful day playing together, what is the best present of all? This beautiful story of imagination and friendship is perfect for sharing.

Non-fiction

Did you know that the world’s biggest tongue belongs to the blue whale? Or that the snub-nosed monkey’s nostrils point upwards, and when it rains it makes them sneeze? From paws to claws, tongues, teeth, tails and more, compare the biggest and the smallest animals (and all the others in between) in this illustrated exploration of creatures and their features.

Includes stunning ‘UP CLOSE’ pages, which take a life-size look at a particular feature of two very different animals. See the mighty elephant’s trunk (it can grow as long as a bathtub!) and compare it to the sensitive snout of an elephant shrew. Study the bristly tongue of a penguin and see how different it is to the stretchy, long tongue of a salamander.

Written by science writer and children’s book author Isabel Thomas, with beautiful illustrations by Dawn Cooper, this absorbing book will delight and educate young animal lovers aged 6+.

Non-fictionPicturebook

A charming Nature Storybook all about looking after goldfish – inspired by the author’s own pet fish.

My Pet Goldfish is a delightful picture book with facts by the Greenaway Medal-winning author-illustrator Catherine Rayner. The child narrating this story has been given their first ever pet: a tiny fish with shimmering scales and bright beady eyes… Their very own goldfish! Sitting alongside the gentle narrative and dynamic illustrations, the subtext introduces facts about goldfish and their care – some gentle, some funny, some fascinating – making this a perfect choice for first-time owners.

Poetry

From the fantastic duo behind Poems Aloud and Smile Out Loud comes another compendium of 25 original confidence-building poems to read out loud which will show children that their voice has FANTASTIC power.

From multi-award winning poet and Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho comes 25 more brilliant, sparkling and truly original poems for children, specially written to help build confidence, develop speaking skills and help foster self-belief.

The collection contains mantras to be true to yourself, to help you feel brave, project happiness, conjure a smile, make you laugh or cheer others up. Some are odes, some can be said as personal mantras or just poems that instil confidence and help children realise the power of their voices.

Reading these poems aloud will teach children the power of a poem, encouraging them to explore the magic of language and foster a love of verse.

Picturebook

It is a day like any other at the roadworks when Digger decides she no longer likes digging down into mud, dark and worms – she wants to dig UP! Although up is quite tricky to get to, with some ingenuity and balloons, Digger goes off on a grand adventure. But adventures aren’t as fun without friends, so Digger must dig her way home.

With a witty text, bright colours and a finger trail to follow from the award-winning Morag Hood, young children and adults will love reading Dig, Dig, Digger! together.

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