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Age Group: KS1

the hot cross bunny

The Hot Cross Bunny

Picturebook

Meet Steve, a rather – hot – cross bunny and his more positive pal, Nugget, a cute chick. Steve has failed to make any chocolate eggs for the Easter egg hunt. What is he going to do?

Egged on by Nugget he decides to make an egg his own way. Not only is Steve’s attempt egg-normous but it hatches a… dragon! Chaos and drama unfold as the baby dragon rampages though town, gobbling up Easter eggs as it goes with unegg-spected results!

Fun, rhyming text makes this is a wonderful Easter story with a twist, packed with laughter and super silly escapades.

Who needs cute bunnies when you have hot-cross Steve and a dragon baby who poos chocolate… but can they save Easter?

pick a perfect egg

Pick a Perfect Egg

Picturebook

Pick a perfect egg with care – choose a white one nestled there. Lay in cartons, row by row. Pay the farmer. Off you go!

There’s excitement in the air as a little girl and her mother carefully collect speckled eggs at the farm. These are no ordinary eggs – they will be dyed, decorated, bejeweled and nestled in a basket. And then, when Sunday morning arrives, the little girl will wear her best bunny ears and head out to meet friends and neighbours. It’s time to search for eggs of a different kind, filled with chocolate, toys and sweeties… It’s time for a spectacular, springtime egg hunt!

This happy and gloriously illustrated Easter read-aloud captures all the excitement of the season, and is from the creators of the perennially popular Pick a Pine Tree and Pick a Pumpkin.

faruq and the wiri wiri

Faruq and the Wiri Wiri

Picturebook

A Caribbean celebration of family and food – with a spicy twist!

There is not a better smell in the world than Ajee’s Cook-up rice. The kitchen fills with the smell of coconut, garlic and spices. Faruq loves his grandmother Ajee, and he loves her cooking. In fact, Faruq would like to cook too – he wants to be a chef, but Ajee says he has to be a doctor like his father.

But one day when Ajee is too ill to make the family feast, with the help of his neighbour Mrs Joseph, Faruq picks some hot wiri wiri chilli peppers and cooks up a banquet. Preparing food for his family fills Faruq’s heart with love – and sets a different course for his future.

This sumptuous story celebrates Caribbean culture and food through Sophia Payne’s distinct voice that is reflective of her Indo-Guyanese heritage and is brought to life by Sandhya Prabhat’s beautiful artwork. It also includes a recipe for Guyanese Lime cookies for you to try at home!

the time machine next door scientists and stripy socks

The Time Machine Next Door: Scientists and Stripy Socks

Chapter book

A page-turning, laugh-out-loud historical adventure by comedian and podcaster Iszi Lawrence, perfect for fans of Horrible Histories.

Time flies when you’re having fun. But what does it do when you’re not?

Sunil and his extraordinary Auntie Alex are back for another hilarious adventure as they whizz through time. But Auntie Alex’s time machine has started behaving strangely and using it has become even more unpredictable and dangerous than ever. From the dark and gloomy heights of the Tower of London to the tropical Galápagos islands, will Sunil and Alex be able to get home? And can they avoid the sinister Mr Shaykes and his pet kiwi?!

The Time Machine Next Door is an exciting new series of quirky historical chapter books for readers aged 7-9. Written by comedian, podcaster and children’s author Iszi Lawrence, these books bring lesser-known parts of history to life with hilarious plots, real-life characters, fascinating facts and fantastic illustrations.

the girl who loves bugs

The Girl Who LOVES Bugs

Picturebook

The Girl Who Loves Bugs is a hilarious and heart-warming story empowering young girls to always be curious, from superstar writer Lily Murray and Waterstones Prize-winning illustrator, Jenny Løvlie.

Evie loves bugs. And she’s fed up of having to keep up with her mums and brother on walks when she’d rather be peering under logs and examining snails. So, one day, she decides to bring the bugs inside, so she can be with them all the time. The problem is, the family is coming to stay, even fearsome Great Gran, who doesn’t stand for any nonsense. And on the day of their arrival, Evie wakes up to find her bugs have escaped . . . all over the house! What is Great Gran going to say?

A beautiful, bug-filled story about following your dreams, and the unconditional love of family. With ideas and tips at the back for looking after some of your own bugs (outside!).

how many mice make an elephant and other big questions about size and distance

How Many Mice Make An Elephant? And Other Big Questions about Size and Distance

Non-fiction

How Many Mice Make an Elephant? And Other Big Questions about Size and Distance introduces children to this tricky maths concept in a fun, relatable way.

Fantastically written by Tracey Turner, questions such as ‘How many high jumps to the moon?’ and ‘How many ice cubes make an iceberg?’ get children to think about just how high, how big and how far things are, as well as teaching them the maths to work it out! The logic behind each comparison is explained in clear, simple steps for children to follow along, helping them to reach the answer. Beautiful illustrations by Aaron Cushley couldn’t be further from a maths text book, making learning maths a truly fun experience.

This wonderfully illustrated take on maths-by-stealth includes an introduction by Kjartan Poskitt, author of the bestselling Murderous Maths series.

counting in green ten little ways to save our big planet

Counting in Green: Ten Little Ways to Save our Big Planet

Picturebook

What can we do
when Mother Earth needs our help?
From one to ten we’re counting green
to keep our planet safe and clean.

From one new tree and two breezy bicycle wheels to seven beach pick-ups, nine wild flowers and ten friendly neighbours, follow a group of children as they discover how every small action can make a big difference and help to save our Earth.

Illustrated with the simplicity, warmth and charm which Barroux is famous for, Counting in Green is an inspirational picture book, encouraging young children and their families to push for change and keep our planet safe and secure for all living things.

the great barrier reef

The Great Barrier Reef

Non-fiction

A captivating illustrated introduction to The Great Barrier Reef, written by renowned Oceanographer and author, Helen Scales. Illustrated by up and comer Lisk Feng, this is perfect for intrepid young snorkelers or children curious about the world under the sea.

With nearly 400,000 square kilometres of dazzling colour, intricate ecosystems and unique creatures large and small, The Great Barrier Reef is one of the great natural wonders of our world. Vibrant, dynamic illustrations illuminate this enchanting place, its animal inhabitants, and the people who have embraced it as a centrepiece of their cultures. Learn all about how the reef came to be, its place in the world, and perhaps most importantly, what we can all do to help ensure that The Great Barrier Reef will be around for countless future generations to discover!

when im gone a picture book about grief

When I’m Gone: A Picture Book About Grief

Picturebook

When someone you love has died there will be sad days and angry days but also happy days and fun days.

Nobody lives forever … and some wish they could have stayed for longer …

This sensitively-written and deeply-moving picture book will help children grieve, celebrate and learn how to live and love life when a parent is gone.

With expert advice from the charity, Child Bereavement UK.

tilda tries again a big bright feelings book

Tilda Tries Again

Picturebook

Tilda’s world is just as she likes it – until, one day, it turns completely upside down! From the bestselling Big Bright Feelings series by Tom Percival Be open, be honest, be you! Big Bright Feelings for little people.

Tilda’s world is just as she likes it . . . until one day, it turns completely UPSIDE DOWN. All of a sudden, everything is topsy-turvy, and nothing feels right. Things that were once easy now seem incredibly challenging. Can Tilda discover a new way to approach her problems and believe in herself?

Bold, bright and empowering, this is an inspiring story about coping with difficult situations. It’s the ideal book for helping children to build resilience and embrace a ‘can do’ approach to life.

Tom Percival’s Big Bright Feelings series is the perfect springboard for conversations about mental and emotional health, positive self-image, building self-confidence and managing feelings. Every child’s bookshelf should contain his books.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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