Sometimes children wish to be astronauts, artists or sports stars – and sometimes they wish to be just like their mums! This is the follow up to Just Like Daddy from Lucy Freegard and captures the parent-child relationship in a heartwarming way. The story beautifully draws out Mum’s positive qualities that the cub wishes to emulate – her ability to turn bad situations into good ones, her creativity, her kindness and her sense of humour – as well as celebrating the fun activities they enjoy together.
A captivating picture book that marries a lyrical and rhythmic story about a mother’s care with striking artwork inspired by Indian folklore. This story features a mummy polar bear with her young cubs. With each new wave of curious anxiety that the cubs raise about the world outside their den deep in the snow, Mama Bear’s response gently explains more about the rhythms of their natural habitat, coupled with her reassurance of “you’re snug with me.” A beautiful book that captures a mother’s natural instinct to protect, reassure and equip her young.
This story, which is a bit like Jack and the Beanstalk and the Gingerbread Man rolled into one, tells the story of a boy from a poor family celebrating Chinese New Year. The boy is sent to market for some food but much to his family’s disappointment he returns instead with a magic wok. When the wok runs away, little do the family know that it will soon bring back an enormous feast for their celebrations! We particularly like the beautiful and engaging illustrations brimming with detail and the repeated elements that make The Runaway Wok story easy to join in with.
This is a classic Mother’s Day choice from award-winning Anthony Browne, illustrated in his trademark style of wit and detail. The book is an ode to mums everywhere, exploring how mums can be super-strong, talented and clever and can be anything from film stars or astronauts or business bosses, but the most important thing is that mums are really nice and make you feel loved – because they are your mum.
Suitable for Foundation Stage or KS1, Lanterns and Firecrackers is a simple story with accessible language and it would serve as a brilliant introduction to Chinese New Year. If follows the story of a family celebrating Chinese New Year as they set off firecrackers, watch the dragon dancers and light beautiful lanterns.
A highly recommendable poetry collection in which every poem represents a different mum. There’s Bake-Off Mum, School-Run Mum, Keep- Fit Mum, Stunt Mother and Under-Cover Spy Mother – but the collection also celebrates mums who are often underrepresented in books too, seen in the poems Adoptive Mum, Dad-Mum, Windrush Mum, Young Mum and Two Mums. You’ll recognise plenty of the mums in this witty, wise and heart-warming collection, which is perfect for children in KS2.
A traditional Chinese tale from the popular author Julia Donaldson. The Magic Paintbrush is the story of a girl called Shen who uses her magic paintbrush to paint pots of fish and oysters to feed the hungry villagers. But when the evil emperor commands her to paint gold for him, can she keep her integrity and stick to her promise to use her paintbrush to help the poor? This exciting picture book tells a magical Chinese story that has the potential to be used across the whole primary age range.
Five More Minutes is narrated by a young fox cub who tells us all about the ways that his dad talks about time passing by. The book is beautifully illustrated and filled with warm and cosy depictions of family life, from the children jumping on dad in the morning to wake him up to him telling them stories at the end of the day. The illustrations by Marta Altés show a loving father who doesn’t always find fitting everything into the day easy but always makes time to be with his children.
If you are looking for something to engage KS2 on the theme of Ancient China, this gripping action-packed novel is for you. Haoyou feels compelled to save his mother from being forced into a new marriage after the death of his father. Can Haoyou use his powerful kite to find away of reaching his father’s spirit, who dwells with the spirits of the dead among the clouds? But when the Jade Circus arrives, Haoyou faces the question of whether the circus master can offer him the opportunity of a lifetime or whether it is going to lead him into the greatest danger yet.
We can’t get enough of Pumpkin Soup and it is a real story time favourite for Reception and KS1 children.
Cat, Duck and Squirrel are friends who live in an old white cabin, making pumpkin soup together every day. One day, the strength of their relationship is put to the test when duck decides to switch roles and what follows is a compassionate adventure about friendship and belonging.
We adore the warm, vibrant colours of the illustrations, the rich language and captivating storytelling in this autumn-time classic.
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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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