One Dark Bird by Liz Garton Scanlon and Frann Preston-Gannon. This book is nicely different in that incorporates counting within the story. It’s cleverly done and adds an extra dimension to this atmospheric tale. The one dark bird is a starling, looking here much more glorious than his real life counterpart! Then there are two, then more, until they become …
Merrylegs by Pam Smy Merrylegs is a horse who feels rather lowly about his pony trekking role, unaware of the joy he brings to the children on his back. There are a few similarities in this with ‘Sugarlump and the Unicorn’ by Julia Donaldson, but it’s different enough and carries a stronger message to the reader about self belief. I …
Little Cloud by Anne Booth and Sarah Massini. A little cloud starts off small, fluffy and cute. All the people in the town are happy to see the little cloud, but gradually the cloud gets bigger, darker and not quite so popular! A really nice tale of acceptance that also teaches about the weather and the benefits of rain. The …
The Station Mouse by Meg McLaren. This is a nice book and full of traditional elements with trains, old style ticket booths and a lovely mouse who works there. It’s almost reminiscent of the opening of Disney’s ‘The Rescuers’. Of course the mouse must never be seen, heard or approach customers, but one day he decides to return an item …
Kites by Simon Mole and Oamul Lu. A boy has recently moved house and feels at a bit of a loss. Then he sees that the local children all have wonderful kites and sets about creating his own. It’s a nice story that could help children who have moved house find confidence in meeting new friends, whilst teaching them to …
The Pink Hat by Andrew Joyner. This is a rather different book that is not what it first appears to be. It all starts out normal enough as the titular hat is knitted by an elderly lady which then goes on a bit of a journey before ending up in the possession of a young girl. After that it gets …
By Oliver Jeffers. This is both a classic and a best-seller. A boy finds a penguin outside his door, then tries to return him to the South Pole assuming he must be lost. The themes of loneliness and friendships here are as powerful as the title promises and thank goodness it all ends well! The illustrations are Wonderful and provide …
By Tom Percival. There are few things as upsetting for a child as losing their favourite toy and this book deals with just that. Sofia’s favourite teddy gets left behind after a day at the beach. Nobody noticed except the sea who ’saw’. This clever twist is not the only one in the book as an attempt to reunite the …
By Zeb Soanes and James Mayhew. This is an interesting tale about the life of a street fox. It’s wordier than your average picture book giving it an old fashioned feel which is no bad thing. As such it’s a longer story too. There are interactions with a posh local cat and a scruffy local dog as Gaspard spends the day …
By Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. This book forms part of a trilogy along with Circle and Triangle. Circle features in this story too and she sees Square as a artist, which he feels he isn’t. Square spends the day and night sculpting a rock to try and impress Circle ‘who is perfect’. It’s possibly a slightly older theme about perception …
