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The Wonder

Chapter book

This is a sweet story about finding wonder all around. It follows Daniel on a grey, rainy day where everything feels flat and dull, until he starts noticing the flashes of joy, beauty and wonder in the world around him.

The use of colour is what makes this story special. The illustrations start in muted greys to mirror Daniel’s mood, and, beautifully, as he shifts his perspective, brilliant bursts of colour begin to drop onto the page.

This is a moving and powerful story with lots to notice and discuss, and a reminder to seek out the magic in the everyday.

Time to Explore Big Machines

Andrea Mills & Diego Vaisberg

Non-fiction

Time to Explore Big Machines follows the journey of a new apartment block being built. It starts with demolishing an old building all the way to the new families moving into the newly built apartment block. Each page introduces a new machine and explains some facts about it and also the important job that it does.

The illustrations are bright and colourful and have some much detail in them. The text is split into little chunks which make it easier to read. There are so many interactive aspects of the book which make it a great read. At the end of the book there is a big double page pullout which shows all of the big machines that you have met during the book.

This book is a great example of a factual book being suitable for the Early Years. A great book for any vehicle loving child!

Tiny Jenny: Little Fairy, Big Trouble

Briony May Smith

Picturebook

What a stunningly illustrated and beautiful story by Bryony May Smith!

Meet Tiny Jenny – a small, wingless fairy born into Mr & Mrs Wrens nest and brought up as one of their own. All is good until Tiny Jenny starts to question who she is and where she came from. So she sets out in search of those missing fairy wings and her true home.

Tiny Jenny is a strong, bold and feisty female heroine (not the fairy stereotype), who won’t take no for an answer. Mr and Mrs Wren are just as surprised when a tiny, wingless fairy hatches from one of their eggs. But they lovingly name her Tiny Jenny and raise her as their own. She digs up the squirrels’ nuts and blocks up mole hills. Her rebellious nature upsets the forest creatures and she begins to question her roots. But leaving her loving home doesn’t make it right. Only Tiny Jenny can make the changes and begin to realise the error of her ways.

Written with powerful twists and beautiful illustrations of magical woodland scenes, this will be a great classroom addition to share about knowing who you are and what is important to you.

Wild Footprints

Judy Wise & Kevin Howdeshell & Kristen Howdeshell

Non-fiction, Picturebook

Judy Wise’s debut non-fiction picture book is a beautifully crafted celebration of the natural world, combining engaging storytelling with important environmental themes. Through lyrical, rhyming text, young readers are invited to follow the footprints of a variety of fascinating creatures, from majestic animals to tiny minibeasts, discovering the unique stories they leave behind.

As the journey unfolds, the book gently introduces children to concepts of conservation, ecology and environmental responsibility. Wise highlights the contrast between the footprints left by wildlife and the larger impact humans have had on the planet.

The uplifting conclusion delivers a hopeful message, inspiring children to take small but significant steps to help protect the Earth and its inhabitants. Adding further value, the book incorporates factual snippets about the featured creatures and interactive elements, including a search-and-find activity and practical tips for helping the planet.

Wild Magic: Escape of the Sea Turtles

Abiola Bello & Emma McCann

Chapter book

Wild Magic: Escape of the Sea Turtles, returns readers to the magical world of twins Misha and Ziggy in their third adventure of the Wild Magic book series.

This time, the story takes them to Mexico, where they work together to help sea turtles. The story will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about animals, magic and adventure. The choice of language used throughout make it accessible to all and easy to follow. A wonderful story which is sure to encourage readers to want to read the other books in the series.

One of the strongest parts of the story is the way it highlights the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans and the real-life impact this is having on animals; readers will be inspired by the twins’ determination to help the turtles. Their courage and kindness make them easy characters to care about, and their mission gives the story a clear sense of purpose. The magical abilities of the twins add extra excitement also. Misha can talk to animals, while Ziggy can shape-shift into them, which makes the adventure even more imaginative and fun to read, as well as likely making the reader wish for their own magical animal power too!

There are interesting facts at the end of the book all about sea turtles and Mexico that add educational value. Some of these facts are trickled into the actual story itself. These extra details will interest readers who enjoy learning about different animals and geography.

This was a great read that would perfect as a class read or beginning chapter book for an independent reader.

You are Younger than a Star

Katherine Halligan & Sophia O’Connor

Non-fiction, Picturebook

This is a beautiful and gently empowering book for young children. Then book combines impressive facts about nature while positioning impressive facts about humans right in the centre. Without overcomplicating anything, it tells children, for example, facts about an ocean scene where a huge blue whale leaves a trail of tiny bubbles behind, and let’s readers wonder at the fact that they are bigger than a bubble and smaller than a whale – but just as awe-inducing as both.

The illustrations bring each page to life and the additional facts are subtle on the page and give extra information about the mentioned items. The book shows how comparisons can be a good thing and how truly unique we are.

Wonder World: Water

Ben Lerwill & Xuan Le

Non-fiction

Aimed at young children, this book would be a perfect way to introduce the basics of water, including oceans, habitats, the water cycle and weather. We love this series, which also includes Wonder World: Earth.

This science and geography encompassing book is written with younger readers in mind, providing a great foray into non-fiction for early years children. The illustrations are bright and bold (who wouldn’t want to dive into that cover?!) and the technical vocabulary is reinforced at an age appropriate level. I can see lots of opportunities for reading across the curriculum, as well as learning opportunities that could be inspired by this text.

Nora Nightsky

Becka Moor & Rebecca Lewis-Oakes

Chapter book

A funny, beautifully illustrated young fiction series about a star come to earth to cause trouble! Ideal for readers aged 6-9, the perfect next step for Isadora Moon fans or readers of Sibéal Pounder and Laura Ellen Anderson.

Nora Nightsky is a star – literally.

Her glamorous mum is the North Star, and their dazzling family works hard, bringing to life the Little Bear constellation and sprinkling magic down to earth to grant human wishes.

But Nora is nowhere near as shiny as her perfect brother and sister.

Then one day, a girl wishes on Nora for the first time, asking for a pet.

Rebelling against the rules, Nora sneaks down to Earth with her best friend Leap, a cute hare constellation, to give the girl a piece of her mind!

A charming new young fiction character for readers moving up from Isadora Moon, brilliantly illustrated throughout in black and white by Becka Moor.

Lots of humour, mischief and antics with a beautiful friendship at the heart.

A Surprise for Snail

Petr Horacek

Picturebook

If you ever have read the toddler board book ‘The Great Big Monkey Story Book’, you will be reminded of one animal’s search for something special, in this warm and welcoming new book by Petr Horacek.

A Surprise for Snail mixes bright collage style illustrations, similar to Eric Carle’s, with the repetitive style of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Snail sets off on his birthday with a special goal in mind – to see the sea! Along the way he meets one animal after another, all offering a ride to Snail to help him on his way. However each ride turns out to be a little too adventurous for Snail and finally, worn out from his efforts, he climbs up onto a rock and falls asleep. The rock turn out to be Tortoise who, while Snail dreams, gently carries him on the last leg of his journey. When Snail opens his eyes a spectacular sunset greets him, sparkling over the ocean, and Snail feels grateful for the friendship and support from the creatures all around him.

This is a delightful, gently paced book that will be enjoyed by young children and is bound to turn into a firm favourite at bedtime too!

Actually, the Alligator…

Isobel Lundie & Kael Tudor

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.

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