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Alex Latimer Books

the duck never blinks

The Duck Never Blinks

Picturebook

Now and then, a picture book comes along that you know you’re going to love reading aloud to children – all children, any children, any age – and this is one of them.

Meet the duck who never blinks. You could try shouting, telling it a sad story and making it laugh – but it still won’t blink! Are ducks even able to blink? Who will win the not-blinking contest? The reader or the duck?

This is a cleverly written and interactive picture book which has become one of my favourite read-aloud books. Perfect for use with a small group or a whole class and with an ending which will leave everyone laughing.

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gordon the meanest goose on earth

Gordon the Meanest Goose on Earth

Graphic novel

There are plenty of mean geese in the world. They hiss and honk and chase you down for a handful of crumbs. But Gordon is the meanest of them all. He stomps on sandcastles, knocks ice-creams out of hands, and punches sharks – he’s the worst, and he loves it. Until one day, something extraordinary happens . . . Anthony the Piglet gives him a flower. With this one act of kindness, Gordon’s world begins to crumble. Join Gordon the Goose, Anthony the Piglet, and the citizens of Grover Gardens for a laugh-out-loud journey of empathy, courage, and soggy bread.

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godfrey is a frog

Godfrey is a Frog

Picturebook
resources-available

Godfrey the Frog is a joyful story which teaches children the importance of accepting themselves and being happy with who they are.

Change happens – sometimes quickly, sometimes seemingly not at all. At the beginning of the story, Godfrey transforms from a small egg to developing ‘a pair of lovely arms’ and growing a ‘long, sticky tongue’. Finally, he transforms into a frog. He imagines how his frog-like state may change, creating many images to make a young reader giggle with glee.

Readers see the seasons change around him, but to Godfrey’s frustration, he remains a frog throughout. Godfrey begins to compare himself to the other animals around him – even the snail has a stunning shell and the deer has amazing antlers!

After wishing to be different, he slowly but surely learns that being a frog isn’t so bad after all, teaching children an important life lesson about self-acceptance.

The story concludes with a step-by-step diagram of how a tiny little egg transforms into a frog. A perfect way to teach little ones about life cycles.

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the boy who sailed the world

The Boy Who Sailed the World

&
Picturebook

Right from the start, the boy loved the sea! He ran along the sand, danced in and out of the waves, his heart full of longing and delight’

The boy has always loved the sea. So he builds a boat and sails away on a voyage of adventure…

The wonders of the world await you in this beautiful and inspiring book about following your dreams.

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ray

Ray

Picturebook

Ray is a spectacular picture book which explores a story of adventure, while addressing fears of the dark and the unknown.

Throughout the tale, Mouse takes a lovely walk outdoors when time escapes him and the sun begins to set. He quickly becomes ‘terrified’ and sobs by himself until a helpful firefly appears and asks Mouse to follow him. His reassuring words ‘I’m Ray and I’ll light your way’, are repeated throughout the story as different creatures join Mouse on a quest back home through the darkness. There are many simple, yet fun opportunities for children to retell the story. For example, a story map is used to tell the way back home: ‘My house is past the woodpile, around the cactuses, up by the pond and just beyond the rocks’.

Alex Latimer’s illustrations beautifully capture a contrast between dark and light. On each page, the animals confuse a shadow for something frightening, only for the firefly to reveal that things are not always what they seem. The silhouette of a snake turns out to be just an innocent log pile. Similarly, a frightening shadow of a bear transpires to be just a cactus- phew!

Children can both enjoy and identify with the fears cleverly alleviated through this story, with many opportunities to join in. Latimer creates the story through rhyming couplets, reminiscent of many classic children’s stories. With a clever twist at the end, this story can be enjoyed by children, teachers and parents as a bedtime story or teaching tool.

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Pip & Egg

&
Picturebook

From standout author, Alex Latimer, and bestselling illustrator, David Litchfield, comes a beautiful picture book about finding – and holding on to – friendship. One bright afternoon, Pip met Egg.

Pip is a seed from a glorious tree, and Egg is a bird’s egg from a nearby nest. When Pip and Egg first meet, they are almost the same size and shape – like two peas in a pod.

But as their friendship grows, so do they – for Pip this means growing roots, but for Egg?

Well, Egg grows wings, and she can’t wait to use them. Though Pip wishes he can follow Egg on her adventures, his roots are strong.

So he watches his friend fly away.

But true friends always find their way back to one another, and there are no truer friends than Pip and Egg.

And if there’s one thing they learn, it’s that the circle of life will always lead them back to each other.

This lyrical, reassuring story that children will love features lush illustrations filled with warmth and emotion, and teaches children about the value of friendship.

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Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

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Curriculum links (if relevant)

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