Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Isobel Lundie Books

Actually, the Alligator…

Picturebook

Every so often a picture book comes along that captures a childhood trait with beautiful aplomb. This vibrant, wittily illustrated and written story tells of Mabel, a small child who does ‘things’ and every time blames the ‘alligator’.

Interpreting whether the alligator is Mabel’s imaginary naughty friend or actually an alligator causing chaos is a dilemma for the reader, and is eventually cleared up, along with some surprises along the way.

This is a fantastic book, illustrations and text meeting wittily and pithily so that one really won’t suffice without the other. Mabel and her parents’ body language is astute and accessible, the grandmother is drawn as young (a rarity), and the creators have made excellent use of the page. An outstanding picture book about acting out and telling the truth – all with a lot of fun.

Midnight Adventures in Primrose Park

Helen Peters & Isobel Lundie

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

When wild animals stray into the park and get into difficulties, Hassan and his mum are there to help in two heartwarming tales from animal-story maestro Helen Peters.

Dapple the fawn gets carried away exploring the park near the woods where he lives with his mother, Fern. But when Fern comes to find him, she gets tangled in a wire. Can Dapple find someone to help set her free?

Olive the otter loves playing in the river near her home. But when she disobeys her mother and strays out after a rainstorm, Olive gets washed far downstream and lands on the bank in a city park. How will she ever find her way home?

Luckily for Dapple and Olive, Hassan and his mum, a wildlife ranger, live close to the park and can help both little animals back to safety.

Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age of 7.

A Midsummer Night’s Drama: A book at bedtime for little bards!

Isobel Lundie & Louie Stowell

Picturebook

Bill the Bear lives with his friends in the woods and writes brilliant plays for The Glade Theatre. His latest play is a huge success, but then the problems start . . .

Parents everywhere will recognise the drama of getting an over-excited little bear off to dreamland.

A bedtime book for little bards!

Habitats

Hannah Pang & Isobel Lundie

Non-fiction, Picturebook

‘Habitats’ by Hannah Pang and gloriously illustrated by Isobel Lundie is a beautifully illustrated, informative book. Taking you through different habitats of our planet, each page is packed with fascinating facts. Carefully designed pages reveal facts behind each flap. There is so much to see and learn on every page. The illustrations feel life like with intricate layers of texture created through the drawings. T

here are so many animals to learn about and explore. This book would be perfect to use within the classroom setting during a science lesson to add more depth to a lesson about habitats. The book could be used to share a fact with the class or using it as a resource for children who love learning about animals. This book is a perfect gift for nature lovers and one I will be using again and again in my classroom.