Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Selfish Crab

Picturebook

If you are heading to the seaside with young children this summer, The Selfish Crab is a brilliant book to pack.

The story follows Claude, a boastful hermit crab who refuses to join in when it is time to exchange shells, causing a muddle for the beach community when the other crabs try to swap shells, which – we learn – they do by lining up in size order. Claude’s choice to keep his beautiful shell for himself provides an opportunity to talk about the community impact of selfish decisions, which is handled with gentle comedy and a pleasing resolution.

The illustrative style reflects a hybrid of nature scenes and comedy perfectly; shorelines, sunsets and beach scenes are painted in shell-like hues, with the crab bodies and expressive eyes popping comically out of the artwork. Using speech bubbles to add wit, the book creates a gentle bridge towards an early graphic novel feel while still maintaining a classic picture book format.

Entertaining and informative, The Selfish Crab is an ideal summer read to inspire shell hunts, rock pool observations, and a genuine appreciation for the busy shoreline ecosystem, while also covering themes of friendship and community, making it a story to return to again and again.

The back of the book is packed with extra information too, including sections about real-life hermit crabs, conservation and the Seashore Code. Some of these facts are genuinely surprising – who knew that hermit crabs are actually more closely related to lobsters than crabs, or that they really do arrange themselves in a line to swap shells in size order? Complete with beautiful shell-themed endpapers that might inspire shell collecting, The Selfish Crab is a wonderful story that offers a glimpse into the natural world.

Croaky: Caverns of the Gemosaurus

Matty Long

Chapter book

Froggy, Fearless, and Ready for Adventure! Leap into this action-packed chapter book series from Super Happy Magic Forest creator Matty Long-perfect for readers who love funny stories!

Croaky Hopper isn’t like other little frogs. His head is filled with thoughts of wild adventures. He dreams of hopping across crocodile-infested waters, or being chased by a giant boulder, just like the famous TV explorer Tennessee Toad. But where can an energetic amphibian like Croaky find real-life adventure? When his Aunt Lilly signs him up for the Woggle Scouts, he expects to spend his time crafting with pinecones and selling cookies, but he soon discovers there’s much more in store . . .

In Caverns of the Gemosaurus, the Woggle Scouts go underground to the Crystal Caverns in search of the mythical Gemosaurus. On the expedition, they find runaway minecarts, carnivorous plants, and deadly lava flows!

For more action-packed adventures with Croaky Hopper try:
– Croaky: Search for the Sasquatch
– Croaky: Quest for the Legendary Berry
– Croaky: Escape from Crow Castle
Collect them all for even more laugh-out-loud adventures!

The Whale that Sings in the Deep

Yuval Zommer

Picturebook

There is a lovely trend for narrative non-fiction, and I think this book fits into that category perfectly. It is the story of the whale, and it is packed with facts, as well as a double page spread of facts at the end.

Yuval Zommer is an artist, each page filled with exquisite detail, designed to be gazed at and enjoyed as well as to inform. The colours are rich and alluring, and the pictures contain movement – most appropriate for a whale’s journey through the ocean. The text is simple but also informative with small repetitions throughout. In places the font moves with the pictures as if it was moving with the motion of the sea.

This book also contains themes of marine conservation, touching upon the impact of humans on the whale and the ocean in general. The depth of this text is that it can be used by a wide range of age groups as well as just being enjoyed for the wonderful illustrations.

Dress-up Jobs: Glasses

Fernando Martin

Picturebook

With a rummage through the dressing-up box and a change of glasses, Seren feels ready for anything!

This playful story follows a full week of careers, where she spends each day as someone new based on different pairs of glasses. From a scientist and a ski instructor to a rock star and a secret spy, Seren’s imagination soars.

This book will be enjoyed by children who like dressing up, and it’s also great to see glasses celebrated in a children’s book. It’s a brilliant find for a Preschool corner, especially for teaching the days of the week or starting conversations about future jobs. This is a fun, lighthearted celebration of how a bit of imagination can turn a simple accessory into a whole day of play.

Isadora Moon Has a Birthday

Harriet Muncaster

Chapter book

This is part of a highly recommended early chapter book series responsible for turning many young children into independent readers.

Isadora Moon celebrates ten years of magic in this special anniversary edition with a shiny cover and celebratory sprayed edges. In this story, everyone’s favourite half-vampire, half-fairy attempts to host a human birthday party.

This series is a perfect pick for KS1 children moving onto their first chapter books, using the iconic pink-and-black illustrations to support newly independent readers. This edition also features a bonus story told by Pink Rabbit, giving fans a rare chance to hear from Isadora’s usually silent best friend! A lovely, positive story that encourages children to be happy in who they are.

Marv and the Funfair Fright

Alex Falase-Koya & Paula Bowles

Chapter book

We highly recommend the Marv series, about an ordinary boy who finds that his superhero skills are very much in need! This is a short, illustrated chapter book with a cool, male protagonist and a spirit of action-adventure.

The story starts with Marvin as an ordinary school boy. When he finds a superhero suit in the attic, he transforms and he must put his powers to the test to stop a villain from causing chaos and destruction (via zombies and giant toy pandas) at the funfair.

This early, colour-illustrated chapter book series is suitable for first chapter books to read together or as an independent read for children in the stages of advancing onto chapter books by themselves.

Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues

Anna Simeone & Maudie Smith

Picturebook

Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues addresses the common difficulty of patiently waiting in line. The story unfolds in a fun, warm way, offering a light-hearted approach to pre-empting what might otherwise become tiresome situations for both parent and child!

The cute bear cub at the centre of the queuing woes is endearing and embodies all the typical impulses little children might be learning to fight against – running off, chasing pigeons, causing a scene and moaning. Each time, these moments are addressed with compassion, gentle humour and counter-suggestions.

The illustrations in Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues capture the bear cub’s exuberant enjoyment through bright colours, restless movements and energetic expressions, matching the pleasingly inclusive artwork and playful text perfectly.

The story encourages the value of patience and suggests fun distraction activities for queue situations, including games and make-believe to distract from boredom. These playful ideas could easily become real-life strategies for families to use.

With an all-join-in repeated refrain that makes it a fun read-it-again choice, Bear Cubs Don’t Do Queues is a thoroughly entertaining book.

Isla and the Sky

Greg Stobbs

Picturebook

A unique and interesting story about a little girl who helps the sky to reframe her discouraged feelings.

Isla loves the sky and sees its beauty no matter what. She thinks the sky is beautiful on thundery days, on rainy days and dull days, and on cloudy nights – not just on days when it is bold and bright. So Isla paints the sky and all its beauty. But Sky, who is personified in the story, can hear people complaining when she isn’t feeling bright and so she decides to try as hard as she can to smile all the time and make every day be bright, blue and brilliant (even when she is feeling stormy) because the people only seem to like her when she is happy.

However, all of Isla’s paintings start to look the same – she misses seeing all the different moods and colours of the sky. She sets about to convince Sky that it’s okay not to feel sunny all the time and that she should let all of her feelings show, whatever the weather.

This is an absolutely beautifully illustrated and captivating book, which shares the very important message about accepting and naming emotions, and helping others to navigate their own storms.

The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians

Donna David & Victoria Stebleva

Picturebook

We really enjoyed this bookish, imaginative picture book. We all know that librarians are superheroes, and so often are grandparents.

The story in The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians follows young Rida and her grandfather at Sleepy Creek Library, where they work as a team to find the right book for every visitor. Rida helps to track readers’ requests for books, while Grandad uses a secret passageway to venture into the magical Land of Books to find the living stories. The relationship between the two is tender and authentic. Grandad acts as the wise guide who will dive into oceans or climb clouds to help his readers, while Rida watches and learns from him.

When a particularly tricky book leaves Grandad stumped, the dynamic shifts and Rida steps up to the plate. Determined to help her grandfather, Rida packs her rucksack with his old gear and trusty map to brave the wild jungle on his behalf.

Victoria Stebleva’s bright and energetic illustrations capture the affection and teamwork between the pair perfectly, as well as the spirit of adventure.It is a wonderful look at family connection that shows just how much a grandchild can learn from a grandparent’s wisdom, as well as the way in which stories that grandparents introduce, read and tell can impact a child’s imaginative landscape so profoundly.

Highly recommended for EYFS and Key Stage 1 classrooms, The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians is a great choice for talking about different family setups and the various fatherly role models in children’s lives.