Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Duncan Beedie Books

Hank Goes Honk

Picturebook

Hank the Goose is a character with whom many of us will be familiar; he can upset others and struggles to deal with his impulsivity. Finding himself lonely, we see him try to manage his big emotions and start afresh, but that isn’t always easy for our goose. Thanks to the kindness and tolerance of others, Hank learns to reflect on his behaviour and make positive changes.

This book carefully delivers powerful messages to its readers in a fun and amusing way. Children will laugh out loud with Hank while learning about tolerance and respect for others, building those core values, as well as the importance of being kind.

With wonderful illustrations and a story that interweaves simplicity with adventurous language, you cannot help but love Hank – flaws and all!

Agent Llama

Angela Woolfe & Duncan Beedie

Picturebook

Move over, Bond! There’s a new hero in town – Charlie Palmer: super spy and fluffy llama!

Charlie Palmer is a hotshot secret agent. Saving the world, fighting goons and looking cool while she does it is no big deal for her. Right now, she’s on a top-secret mission to rescue a pair of . . . UNDERPANTS! Gadgets ready? Sunglasses on? Watch out, baddies! No villain is a match for this AWESOME llama!

A hilarious and super stylish adventure from the incredible Angela Woolfe and Duncan Beedie. Perfect for fans of action-packed adventures like Supertato, Secret Agent Elephant and There’s a Superhero in your Book.

I Really, Really Love You So

Duncan Beedie & Karl Newson

Picturebook

A sweet and charming story about the different ways to say I love You. Bush baby wants to find a special way to show somebody special his love for them. Should he sail to sea or climb the highest mountain? Should he buy flowers or make a special card? Or perhaps he can simply find a way to explain the special sparkly feeling that his unconditional love gives him. This is a wonderful book for Valentines Day, with a story that tries to encapsulate the puzzle of expressing one of the biggest feelings of all.

I Really Really Need a Wee

Duncan Beedie & Karl Newson

Picturebook

Bush Baby is in a fix. She didn’t need a wee before she left home – now she needs one right away! Uh-oh! But what will she do if there’s just nowhere to go? A pant-wettingly funny tale of determination and self-awareness – packed with toilet humour!
A funny tale of determination – packed with toilet humour! Perfect for teaching children the importance of that last-chance bathroom trip!

The Bear Who Stared

Duncan Beedie

Picturebook

A funny and charming picture book with heart from rising star Duncan Beedie – now shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2017.

There once was a bear who liked to stare… and stare… and STARE.

Bear doesn’t mean to be rude, he’s just curious but too shy to say anything. But nobody likes being stared at and it soon gets Bear into trouble. Luckily a goggly-eyed frog helps Bear realise that sometimes a smile is all you need to turn a stare into a friendly hello.

The Last Chip

Duncan Beedie

Picturebook

We love this story about Percy, a hungry pigeon who is desperately looking for a scrap of food, but is foiled at every turn. On his last legs, help comes from the most unlikely of heroes. This is a genuinely moving and uplifting story about the kindness of strangers, generosity, and caring for others. With artwork as beautiful as the story, a percentage of sales also go to charity.

Bella Loves Bugs

Duncan Beedie & Jess French

Picturebook

Bella Loves Bugs tells the story of a day in the life of a girl who is passionate about bugs, as she goes off to Forest School where she always has many creepy crawlie adventures with her fellow nature hero friends!

The book is packed with facts about bugs , some of which Bella regularly spots, but also includes the bugs she dreams about seeing one day – different insects from all over the world.

Bella makes a magical moth trap, spies a butterfly laying an egg and shows her friends how to hop like a grasshopper! Follow Bella as she shares her love of bugs – discover how many bugs might be lurking in a pond, see how awesome ants are, and be amazed by mighty stag beetles.

With an engaging and lively narrative from Jess French and fun, and warm illustrations from Duncan Beedie this book will help ignite a love and appreciation for nature, right on our doorsteps.

Rex the Rhinoceros Beetle

Duncan Beedie & M.G. Leonard

Picturebook

From MG Leonard, the award-winning author of Beetle Boy comes a picture book about a little beetle with a big heart! Deep in the rainforest, rhinoceros beetles Buster and Rex are sharing stories. Buster has so many heroic tales – he’s SO strong and daring! Every story leaves Rex in awe – he’s never met such an amazing beetle! But with danger just around the corner, will Buster live up to his reputation, or will it be up to Rex to save the day? After all, bravery comes in all shapes and sizes!

The Lumberjack’s Beard

Duncan Beedie

Picturebook

Jim Hickory lived in a little log cabin by a forest. Every day started the same – limbering up, hearty breakfast and then chop-choppety-chop! TIMBER! Then he headed back to his cabin. As Jim chopped down more and more trees, more and more animals came to live in his beard. The bird was soon joined by a porcupine and a beaver. After a particularly bad night’s sleep, Jim comes up with a plan which would make everyone happy. A fun picture book with an important environmental message about living sustainably and personal accountability. Jam-packed full of fantastic vocabulary, giggles and big bristly beards! Highly recommended.

Stefano the Squid: Hero of the Deep

Duncan Beedie & Wendy Meddour

Picturebook

It’s lights, camera, ACTION under the sea, but Stefano the Squid is having a wobble. All the other creatures seem far more amazing – no wonder the Deep Sea TV team don’t notice him.

But when disaster strikes, Stefano steps up! Can one ordinary squid save the day?

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