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.
These books are real gems for children who are ready for a short chapter book but may still feel overwhelmed by too much text on a page. Centred around an unlikely friendship between two animals, the stories are laugh-out-loud adventures with appealing illustrations that perfectly break up the text to suit the reading stamina of this age range. This latest adventure continues to focus on small-scale conflict resolution with the perfect dose of silliness (and toilet humour) to keep young readers entertained throughout.
Both of these author-illustrators have separately created some joyous picture books for children and in this collaboration it sees the two create a humorous rhyming picture book with a canine theme.
The premise requires the reader to enjoy the notion that dogs really like dressing up in clothes and do this so they can ‘blend in’ with everyday human life. The idea of dogs in high heels “to make them look big” certainly can’t help but raise a smile! Dogs can sneak into all sorts of places when disguised, whether it’s a fancy café, a gym or a swimming pool. The rhyming is masterful and it would be great to see if dog-loving children can spot which dog must be dressed in the disguise based on the rhyme. It could, after all, only be a Shih-tzu that does jujitsu, and schnauzers that wear trousers!
I love the idea that dogs train their puppies to sit at tables and to walk on two legs to ensure they make the most of a disguise. Dogs are also shown in other types of disguises: dressed as a tree for example. Of course, this comes with its own disadvantage, shown rather amusingly, with a range of undisguised dogs relieving themselves against the disgruntled looking dog who is disguised as the tree! The illustrations deserve to be pored over with so many dogs in unusual outfits doing everyday jobs – I particularly like the dog disguised as a bouncer outside a club.
This is a fun book that will raise a smile on the faces of dog-lovers and non-dog-lovers alike!
You’re not going to find a more heartwarming and dynamic duo than Pig and Mouse! Join Pig as he learns how to turn his “what if” worries from anxiety to optimism, all with the help of his loving friend Mouse.
Mouse has never had a friend quite like Pig. Pig is so incredibly kind, endlessly thoughtful and fabulously fun, but he also has a big secret… he’s a tremendous worrier!
When Pig gets the brilliant idea to throw a party for Mouse and their friends, he can’t help but think of everything that could possibly go wrong. After all, what if a lion eats all the invitations? What if nobody comes? Or worse, what if everyone comes and has an awful time?
In this adorable story, Linzie Hunter’s charming, bright illustrations pair perfectly with her sweet and funny story about friendship and the endless wonder of “what if” that readers of all ages can relate to. This picture book is a great conversation starter in the home or classroom and a great way to talk to your children about worries or anxieties. Perfect for boys, girls, families and anyone who has ever had a worry or a wobble!
Splash Day is part of Barrington Stoke’s highly recommendable ‘Little Gems’ series, which brings together popular children’s authors and illustrators to produce stories with clever design features and super-readable layout that make them appealing and accessible to newly independent readers who may not be quite ready for full chapter books. It has the feel of a first chapter book, but has a reduced amount of text on each page and is perfect for Year 1 children still gaining confidence with phonics.
The simple rhyming story, about a class that has been awarded a day of water fights and paddling pools as a reward for working so hard, was inspired by a real visit to a school that holds a ‘splash day’ treat annually. The children in the class are equipped with goggles, wellies and inflatables, ready for a day of watery fun and even the teachers are ready to join in. There is plenty of rhyme and alliteration in the text, and a funny twist waiting at the end. Coupled with Nick Sharratt’s signature-style bold and colourful illustrations, the book is a joy to read.
We also enjoyed the jokes and puzzles inside the jacket.
Captain Firebeard has been destroying beautiful Monkey Skull Island and its inhabitants in his search for lost treasure. Molly Rogers – daughter of the famously fearsome pirate Barbarous Bertha – is not going to stand for Firebeard’s antics any longer and soon embarks upon a pirate rescue mission of her own. A fun, swashbuckling adventure with vibrant illustrations.
This is part of an early chapter book series responsible for turning many young children into independent readers.
Isadora Moon is half fairy, half-vampire and each book in the series follows her adventures with friends and family. In this book, Isadora has reached school age and has an important decision to make. Her mum wants her to attend fairy school, and her dad wants to send her to vampire school. Isadora tries out each school, with their very different priorities and curricula, and in the process answers some important questions about her own heritage and identity.
This is a humorous chapter book, with attractive black-and-pink illustrations and a high appeal to modern young readers.
A new collection of illustrated verses from a range of contemporary children’s poets, performers and hip-hop artists. This is the poetry collection that EYFS and KS1 classrooms have been waiting for! The poems have been selected for their suitability to read aloud and cover topics like minibeasts, pirates, animals and night time. Highly recommended.
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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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