All you need is Love by Emma Chichester Clark. No not Lennon and McCartney but a dog named Plum who loves nothing better than to chase her best friends around in the park. Plum is not so sure however when other dogs want to join in and excludes them from the game. It’s a direct translation of playground goings on …
There’s a Rang-Tan in my Bedroom by James Sellick and Frann Preston-Gannon. This story has been given an extra lease of life as a children’s picture book, having first been created as a short animation for Greenpeace about the issue of palm oil production. It’s on YouTube if you want to see it. The book is the same story about …
How to be Famous by Michal Shalev. Given the title of this book, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I opened it up. It follows a rather self obsessed pigeon in a zoo who revels in having his photo taken next to all the animals. The story packed with irony of course and a stark warning to pretentious …
Cornelia and the Jungle Machine by Nora Brech. This is the debut picture book by the Norwegian and very talented author/illustrator. Cornelia is not settling into her new house as it’s rather old and gloomy, so her parents suggest she goes to explore outside. Moving into a new house is a familiar theme for a children’s book and there is …
Don’t Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton. This is a nice parent and child story capturing the ‘little crab’s’ first tentative look at and venture into water. As you might expect some initial nervousness gives way to the joy after the initial plunge has been taken. Illustrated in the same style as the author’s other works, this appeals to the …
Red and the City by Marie Voigt Little Red Ridinghood gets an up to date makeover in this somewhat anti-capitalist take on the story. The woods are replaced by roads and big city buildings, whilst the wolf becomes all that is tempting and scary in the world of retail consumerism. It’s all too easy to find yourself gobbled up by …
The Wonderbird by David Lucas Every now and again I come across a book that owes a lot of it’s power to graphic design and the way in which it has been artistically realised. This is one such book and it is visually very striking. Inspired by flocks of birds coming together to make all sorts of wonderful shapes and …
In Blossom by Cheon Yooju This is a very simple picture book, but very charming nonetheless. Cat finds the perfect spot to eat her lunch under a cherry tree in full blossom, who is shortly joined by dog who wants to read his book. In truth there is not much of a story but that is not the point of …
Wishing for a Dragon by Becky Cameron What do children wish for? Fantasy, adventure and a special friend? Well here you get all three as we are whisked away on a hot-air balloon journey of discovery, taking in pirates, jungles and maybe even a dragon. Becky is a highly qualified illustrator and pictures she creates are very accomplished. A treat …
Tidy by Emily Gravett Is it possible to be too tidy? Are we obsessed with neatness and everything in it’s proper place? Pete the badger certainly is in this tale of order being taken a step too far. It nicely rhymes and skips along very easily. A pleasure to read out loud. The illustrations are super with fun characters and …
