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Our top 10 new picture books 2018

As usual it is hard to choose our top 10 new favourite picture books from the thousands published this year.
Here is a selection of some of our current favourites for 2018.

We hope that you and your child will find appealing characters and stories in these beautifully illustrated picture books be amused, intrigued and challenged. We hope you enjoy them.

Almost Anything
Sophy Henn
Puffin
Age 3-5

George is a young rabbit who watches his friends enjoying painting, skating, reading and dancing but doesn’t want to join in: he just doesn’t think he can. Wise Bear is watching and decides to do something about this. He makes George a ‘magic’ hat out of folded paper. George feels confident to have a go with his magic hat on and with a bit of practice finds he can try all the things his friends are doing and have fun too. When the hat disappears George is worried but Bear tells him that really the magic is inside him, not the hat at all.

This is a delightful picture book about not being afraid to have a go at something new, persevering if new things are a bit difficult at first and having fun too. It might prompt nervous children to try new things and you could have fun making your own ‘magic’ hats too. It has recently won best picturebook in the North Somerset teacher book award for 2018

Visit our activity page

Buy here

The Bear, the Piano, the Dog and the Fiddle
David Litchfield
Frances Lincoln 
Age 5-9

In this beautiful follow up to the award winning The Bear and the Piano we meet two new characters, Hector and his dog Hugo. Hector is a fiddle player nearing the end of his career. Facing competition from the now famous piano playing bear he decides to hang up his bow. While Hector rests his devoted pet Hugo practises, becoming a fiddle player himself. When Bear hears Hugo play he invites him to join his animal band. Hector is upset but Hugo decides to follow his dreams. The two friends are eventually reconciled when Bear’s Big Band comes back to town.

A warm and enjoyable story about jealousy and friendship. The illustrations are magical with lots to spot such as the posters indicating Bear’s success in the earlier spreads.

See below for a preview of the book from Coombe Mill.

Buy here


Cinderella of the Nile
Beverley Naidoo. Illus. Marjan Vafaeian

Tiny Owl

Age 7-9

In this interesting retelling of one of the earliest versions of Cinderella a young girl from Ancient Greece, Rhodopis, is kidnapped and taken as a slave to Egypt. She makes friends with the famous storyteller Aesop and his stories help her remain strong when she is sold on to another owner where she is treated kindly by her master but not by three jealous sisters who are mean to her. Echoes of the European version of Cinderella continue with invitations to a feast from the Pharaoh, a missing slipper, a search for its owner and a poor girl becoming Queen.

Children will enjoy looking closely at the intricate and detailed illustrations which complement the setting and characters beautifully and making comparisons with the more familiar European version of the tale.

Visit our activity page

Buy here

Grandma Bird
Benji Davies
Simon & Schuster
Age 3-7

Noi is off to stay with Grandma in her isolated home on a rock. He is not sure about Grandma, she is too busy to play and cooks seaweed soup for supper. Noi decides to have fun exploring on his own, but when a storm threatens danger it is Grandma who rescues him and a number of windswept birds besides. Caring for the birds Noi and his Grandma grow closer and have lots of fun together throughout the summer.

Featuring Noi and his seaside world first introduced in the wonderful picturebook The Storm Whale this is another appealing and warmly written story. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed with lots to spot, including Noi’s six cats in the first spread. There is plenty to talk about too, such as how Noi feels about staying with Grandma at the beginning and end of the story, where he will go when he creeps away and how will he get home when the storm comes.

Visit our activity page for The Storm Whale

Buy here

Hansel and Gretel
Bethan Woollvin
Two Hoots
Age 3-7

This is an amusing and brilliantly subversive version of Hansel and Gretel in which the abandoned children are shown to be lazy, greedy and very naughty. Willow a (generally!) good and very hospitable witch invites them into her home, eventually the children go too far and Willow’s temper snaps.  She turns her ungrateful guests into gingerbread biscuits. With bold illustrations and lots of humour this is an attractive book which children will enjoy reading, sharing and talking about. What do children think of Hansel and Gretel’s behaviour? What would you do if you were the witch? Third in a series of anarchic versions of fairy tales from this picture book creator.

Visit our activity page

Buy here

How to be a Lion
Ed Vere
Puffin
Age 3-7

Unlike most lions Leonard does not like scaring or chomping smaller creatures he likes sitting on his thinking hill and creating poems. The other lions tell Leonard there is only one way to be a lion – he has to be fierce. Leonard wonders if he should conform but is reassured by his friend Marianne. Together they find their own way to confront their critics.

This is a beautifully illustrated picturebook with warm colours evoking Africa. It has a very appealing main character and a strong message about the possibility of different ways of being, acceptance of individuality and challenges an overly aggressive view of what it means to be a boy or man. The questions raised within the text in particular about the central idea whether there is only one way to be a lion are likely to prompt some interesting discussions.

Buy here

If all the world were..
Joseph Coelho, illus Allison Colpoys
Frances Lincoln
Age 5-7

A little girl remembers the special times shared with her grandad. Long walks in the spring time, telling stories in the winter. Each memory is followed with the refrain ‘if all the world were ……’ wishes to capture treasured moments. But grandad’s chair is empty, they will not be sharing another year together as he has died. Helping to sort out his belongings, she finds a notebook made by her grandad and decides to fill it with her memories of the special times they spent together.

A sensitively written poetic story complemented perfectly by the delicate yet colourful illustrations which create ‘a kaleidoscope of memories.’ This is a book which addresses the difficult issue of loss gently and with understanding. It may encourage all children, including those who have lost a loved one, to collect and express treasured memories in words and pictures.

See our activity page forLuna Loves Library Day another wonderful picture book by the same author.

Buy here

If I had a Dinosaur
Alex Barrow, illus. Gabby Dawnay
Thames and Hudson
Age 0-3

This is a story about a little girl who wants a pet as big as a house! Clearly a dinosaur would be perfect. The story explores what she would do if she had a pet dinosaur, where she would take it and how her friends would react when they see it.  She considers the amount of food it would eat and the inevitable big problem its bodily functions would create!

This is a story that invites participation, with a rhyming text, pictures sometimes used to complete phrases instead of words and the concept of having a pet dinosaur to discuss. The book design and illustrations are excellent with extra detail which adds to the story telling. This is a book which children will want to revisit again and again noticing more each time and imagining what they would do with a dinosaur as a pet.

Visit our activity page
Buy here

The Last Wolf
Mini Grey
Jonathan Cape
Age 5-7

In a clever twist on the well-known fairy story Little Red sets off to catch a wolf. Her mum isn’t too worried about this plan as wolves disappeared long ago. Little Red finds hunting quite difficult but eventually meets a wolf and also a bear and a lynx. They are friendly but rather hungry with only acorns to eat because their habitat is disappearing. Little Red is determined to help them and decides more trees are what they need.

There is lots to talk about in this ecological story, both about the impact of the loss of woodland habitats on wildlife and in the detailed, often amusing and sometimes quite moving illustrations.

Visit our activity page

Buy here

You’re snug with me
Chitra Soundar, illus. Poonam Mistry
Lantana
Age 3-5

In her den in a snow drift Mama Bear gives birth to two tiny cubs. Curious about their surroundings and a little nervous the two bears ask their mother questions about the wider world. She tells them about the landscape, the ice, sea and its creatures and what will happen when they leave their cosy den.

This story reads like a lullaby with the reassuring refrain ‘You’re snug with me.’ However it also has an important message, introducing the wildlife of the polar lands and suggesting their interdependency. It highlights our responsibility to look after our precious world only taking what we need, a message reiterated in the author’s letter to the reader at the end of the book.

The illustrations are stunning. Intricately woven in silver, grey and gold they dazzle the reader revealing the beauty of the Polar Regions and its wildlife. This is a book to return to and study closely spotting for example the two cubs curled inside their mother waiting to be born, and the diversity of life under the ocean.

Another successful collaboration from the creators of You’re Safe with Me.

Buy here

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Dinosaur Farm

 

 

 Frann Preston Gannon
 Pavilion
Age 3-5

The alarm clock rings and a farmer gets up and has a hearty breakfast before leaving for a day’s work in his tractor. But this is no ordinary farm; the livestock are not cows and sheep but dinosaurs! This means lots of hard work and more than a little danger. The farmer is kept very busy all day feeding the hungry dinosaurs, cleaning and clearing up after them and looking after their newly hatched babies. He is exhausted by the end of the day and keen to get home, but did he lock the gate…..?!!

A day in the life story with a difference Dinosaur Farm is an interesting and amusing story and the humorous illustrations offer lots to discuss.

 

lovemybooksactivitiesorangecentre

Share the story

Read aloud

Before looking at the cover or title, it might be fun to look together at the first few double page spreads of the farmer waking up and getting ready for work together and think about why its hard work being a farmer, what he has to do or what might happen in the story.

Then read the story aloud to your child pausing to talk about what’s happening when your child wants to.

After reading the story look back together for all the dino clues in the first few pages ( eg the famer’s bed cover) and the end papers, with dinosaur footprints.

Hear a father share the story

Listen here. Talk about the ending and how the dinosaurs got into the farmer’s house.

Join in

Show your child how to follow the writing with a finger as it curves round the images.

Children could join in with the alarm ringing or add extra sound effects as you read the story, eg for dinosaurs running or snoring at the end of the story.

Talk about the story

  • What has happened at the end of the story? Talk about what you can tell from the words and pictures and what you guess.

  • What might it be like being a farmer on a dinosaur farm? Look at the farmer’s expression for clues about what he is feeling when feeding the animals, clearing up the mess or going home after a long day.

  • Look for the dino details in the illustrations – including the end papers, and the farmer’s bedroom.

  • Was anything in the story puzzling? Eg why did the farmer have such a big egg for breakfast?! Anything unusual about the farmer’s dog

 

Things to make and do

Create a dinosaur farm

With dinosaur figures if you have them and construction material you could help your child set up their own dinosaur farm. Add a figure with a vehicle to be a tractor and a toy dog and children can act out the story or make their up their own story about a dinosaur farm.

Make a day in the life chart

Take a large piece of paper and fold it into 6 or more squares so that your child can draw different things that happen during the farmer’s day. Talk to your child about what they have drawn.

 

 

Find out more

Read another story by author illustrator Frann Preston Gannon.

Titles include The Journey Home 

Dinosaur Beach

Dave’s Cave

Sloth Sleeps On

Deep Deep Sea

 

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Our top 10 illustrated novels

There has been an exciting increase in the number of illustrated novels for children recently providing an additional and highly engaging dimension to the story telling and the book design. Illustrations add layers to the reading experience, providing lots to savour and talk about and inviting revisiting. Here is a selection of some of our favourites, we hope you and your children enjoy them.

Annie Lumsden The Girl from the Sea 
David Almond illus. Beatrice Alemagna
Walker Books
Age 7-9

Annie Lumsden is a mysterious and magical story about a girl who lives with her mother by the sea. She doesn’t quite fit in at school, struggles to read (the words ‘stuck to the page like barnacles’) and she begins to have mysterious falls. However, she has a strange affinity with the sea. Her mother is a folksinger and storyteller who one day tells Annie a story about her father, a man with a fin who appeared on the shore. Is it true? That remains the mystery of Annie Lumsden who gradually comes to terms with her identity, finding she belongs to both land and the sea. Beautiful lyrical writing with  full colour illustrations throughout which perfectly capture the dreamlike watery quality of the story.

Buy the book here Annie Lumsden, the Girl from the Sea (bookshop.org)
See our activity page for The Boy who Climbed into the Moon (David Almond and Polly Dunbar) and the Tale of Angelino Brown  (David Almond and Alex T Smith)

Boot
Shane Hegarty, illus. Ben Mantle
Hodder Children’s Books
Age 7-9

Boot is a small toy robot who is lost, with only vague memories of his past. He finds himself in a scrapyard owned by a scary man called Flint who likes to ‘krush em kwik’. Boot tries to find his former owner Beth and, on the way, meets other robot toys who can think and feel just like him. They help him to survive and search for his owner.

With themes of artificial intelligence, friendship, teamwork and memory this is a warm and engaging adventure story set in an all too feasible near future world staffed by robots. Boot is an appealing and inventive main character. The black and white illustrations emphasise the plight of the little robot but are also the underlying warmth of the story.
Buy the book BOOT small robot, BIG adventure: Book 1 (bookshop.org)
Visit our activity page

Corey’s Rock 
Sita Brahmachari, illus. Jane Ray
Otter Barry
Age 9-11

Isla and her parents have newly moved to the Orkney Islands from Edinburgh hoping a fresh start will help them cope with the recent loss of Isla’s younger brother Corey. Isla finds it hard to cope with her own grief and that of her mother who has become so distant towards her and is reluctant to be the new girl at school where everyone will know about her recent loss.

Isla seeks refuge in her father’s Selkie stories, which merge with her memories of Corey to create dream like sequences where she meets her brother.  In time Isla makes a friend and her mother finds a new purpose in her life.

This is a moving and beautifully written story about grief and coping with change. It includes mystical references to magical creatures and reincarnation. The illustrations perfectly complement the text, evoking both the island setting and the dream like sequences beautifully.
Read a family review of Corey’s Rock
Buy the book 

Eight Princesses and a. Magic Mirror                                                    
Natasha Farant, illus. Lydia Corey
Zephyr
Age 7-11

An enchantress, godmother to a baby princess, transforms her magic mirror into a pocket-sized version sending it on a mission to find out what really makes an excellent princess. 

There follow eight stories set across the world and throughout history linked together by the mirror as it is lost or given away and awaits a new home in the next chapter.

The mirror finds remarkable princesses who challenged stereotypes: they are brave, fierce and loyal with big dreams and big hearts.

The stories are beautifully written in traditional fairy tale style with attractive colour illustrations throughout including a full-page illustration and decorative title page to introduce each new princess and their story. 

A book which would make a lovely gift, particularly for young readers keen to discover that princesses do not need to wait for princes to fight their battles or sweep them off their feet.
Buy the book

A Mummy ate my Homework   
Thiago de Moraes       
Scholastic   
Age 7-11

While Henry is tackling an extra tricky equation on his first day back at school a black tornado swallows him up and he is transported back in time to Ancient Egypt and the court of Seti 1.

Henry isn’t a natural fit with the harsh lifestyle of the Ancient Greeks, but when he and his classmates are sent for a survival test in the jungle and an emergency ensues, his creativity saves the day. But will he ever get back to the twenty first century?

This is an amusing and engaging time slip adventure story packed with information about Ancient Egypt. The back of the book includes extra information about life at the time of Pharaoh Seti First in the form of a survival guide – including how to write your name in hieroglyphics. Illustration is used to great and varied effect throughout adding to the drama and the humour.

Thiago de Moraes speaks about the book’s creation and demonstrates how to draw an Egyptian God here Draw like an Egyptian with Thiago de Moraes – YouTube

Buy the book A Mummy Ate My Homework (bookshop.org)

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Chris Riddell
Macmillan
Age 6-9

Ottoline’s spends a lot of time alone because her parents are collectors and are often away travelling. Her main companion is Mr Munro, a very hairy creature from a bog in Norway. She is curious about other residents in her apartment block and likes solving mysteries. When she discovers a spate of burglaries and missing lapdogs Ottoline is keen to investigate.

Children will enjoy solving the mystery with Ottoline. The detailed illustrations of scenes in the story and the characters together with a wonderful array of maps, plans and postcards provide lots to talk about and enjoy.

This is a story to inspire children to find a disguise, a notebook and set off solving imaginary mysteries of their own.

Visit our activity page 
Buy the book here Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (bookshop.org)

Phoenix                                                    SF Said, illus. Dave McKean
Corgi Children’s Books
Age 9-11

Wrenched from his quiet life on Phoenix Lucky finds himself aboard a strange alien spaceship in the middle of an interplanetary war between Humans and an alien race. He becomes true friends with Bixa Quicksilver, a fierce warrior and loyal companion.  Together they race across the galaxy searching for Lucky’s imprisoned father, the reason for his affinity with the stars and the meaning of the strange power growing inside him.

This is an exciting Sci Fi story, an epic space quest, complete with dramatic battle scenes. It is also a story about the futility of war and acceptance of those who are different, showing that we have much in common and there is good and bad in everyone. This is a story which may spark interest in Space and in the stories peoples throughout time have used to describe it. Stunning sophisticated illustrations add to the mystery and otherworldliness of the story.

Watch a trailer
Visit our activity page
Buy the book here Phoenix (bookshop.org)

Pugs of the Frozen North                                                        Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
OUP
Age 6-8

Shen and Sika meet in the frozen north on the first day of True Winter. Sika needs dogs to pull her sledge and help her win the race to the Snowfather’s Palace at the top of the world. Shen, a cabin boy, abandoned by his crewmates when their ship becomes stuck fast in the ice, has 66 pugs he has rescued. They soon team up, but will the small dogs be strong enough to pull Sika’s sledge?

This is a fantastical snowy adventure story about wishes, kindness, loneliness and loss, beautifully told with humour, detail, and poignant moments through a brilliant combination of words and pictures.

Visit our activity page 
Buy the book here Pugs of the Frozen North (bookshop.org)

 

Starfell, Willow Moss and the Lost day             
Dominique Valente, illus. Sarah Warburton
Harper Collins
Age 7-11

Willow Moss is a finder of lost things. Within her family, as magical powers go, hers is less than spectacular. However, when the most powerful witch in the kingdom of Starfell seeks her help, Willow discovers her powers are quite special after all.  There follows a rather unusual quest; to discover how and why the previous Tuesday has gone missing from everyone’s memory. Success requires Willow not only to show bravery when facing danger but also, to face a deeply sad lost memory of her own, concerning someone she loves.

With an intriguing opening and a lively narrative style this is a fast paced and enjoyable fantasy adventure story. The world of Starfell is peopled with appealing, quirky characters. Teamwork saves the day as Willow and her friends rescue the kingdom from an evil being seeking ultimate power.

The story explores a thought-provoking idea, ‘the incredible value and significance of one ordinary day’. The storyworld is highly detailed and the internal black and white artwork brings this to life. The paint box colours of the magical forest of Wisperia are depicted beautifully in the cover illustration.

Watch a trailer and listen to the first chapter read aloud
Starfell by Dominique Valente | #FirstChapterFridays – Bing video
Buy the book Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day (bookshop.org)










Zombierella: Fairy Tales Gone Bad  Joseph Coelho and Freya Hartas
Walker Books
Age 7-9


This illustrated verse novel is the perfect story for young readers seeking gruesome tales. The grey scale illustrations have just the right balance of gore and humour.


A librarian discovers a dusty corner of the library with a selection of fairy tales which have gone ‘bad.’ When Cinderella slips and dies the shadow of death breathes life into her body.  For three nights only she becomes Zombierella and is able to attend the prince’s balls travelling in a mushroom coach pulled by her skeletal steed Lumpkin, she seeks revenge on her fake sisters and mesmerises the vampire prince with her beauty.  This is the first in a series for those hungry for more.


Buy the book Zombierella: Fairy Tales Gone Bad (bookshop.org)


 


 


 


 
                                

     

   

   

        
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The Something

        

        

            
the_somethingRebecca Cobb

Macmillan

Age 3-7


A small boy loses a ball in a hole in the garden. Maybe something lives there, what could it be? A mouse, a badger, a mole, frogs or rabbits, perhaps even something really scary like a troll or a dragon? Everyone he speaks to has a different idea. Perhaps if he watches and waits he will find out…..


 


This is a beautiful picturebook with a story to stir the imagination and invite speculation about what might be in the hole. With clever illustration of what’s above and (possibly!) below ground there is wonderful detail in the inventive undergound settings. Notice the cherry tree change as seasons come and go, spot the ball in the underground settings.


 


lovemybooksactivitiesorangecentre


Share the story




Read aloud

Before reading the story look at the cover, endpapers and title page and wonder together what the story might be about. Read the first two double pages then pause for a moment to talk about what might be in the hole. Continue reading, allowing time to pause and talk about the story or pictures when your child wants to.


Join in

When you share the story again children could join in by adding imaginary conversations with parents, friends, grandparents, I think it’s a…..


Talk about the story

What do children think might be in the hole, share ideas. Could it be something scary? What would they like it to be?

Talk about parts of the story children like and anything they wonder about.

Look closely at the illustrations and talk about what’s happening in the underground settings.

Notice how the cherry tree changes, can you work out together how long this story takes to happen?


	


		

			
		


		

		
 
	
We asked Rebecca Cobb about her inspiration for The Something

‘When I was little I found a hole in the ground outside. It looked like the sort of hole that an animal had made so I was sure that it had something living in it. I waited and waited for a long time to see if anything would come out. After a while I got hungry and went to get some mini cheddars. I had decided by now that there was most likely a mouse in the hole and a mouse would probably like mini cheddars - so I posted one down there for it to eat. Almost at once the mini cheddar was pushed back out of the hole by a frog! I have never forgotten my shock and surprise and it taught me that you never know what might be living underground. Even today I am still filled with curiosity whenever I see a hole like that in the earth that might have something down it. ‘



			

	

	


	


		

			
		


		

		
 
	
Claire tells us about sharing The Something with her daughter:

The Something is a lovely book that I have enjoyed reading to my 4 year old daughter. The illustrations are beautiful and really capture my daughter's attention. The story is simple yet it inspires imaginative conversations with children. Every time we read it my daughter chooses a different option for who or what lives in the hole.


We went to the beach recently and of course, we dug a hole (as well as building lots of sand castles too). I pointed out to my daughter that it was like the hole in the book and asked her who might live down the hole. Instead of choosing one of the options from the book she suggested a crab which is obviously a more appropriate choice for the beach.


Once back at home, we have drawn pictures of a hole and I asked her to draw who lives there. I made a hole in a shoe box and suggested she used her toys to fill it with who ever lived there. She loved this idea and chose to make a house for a badger. As we don't have a toy badger, she said her prince was a badger. I love how much she loves small world play and how she used her imagination. She filled the shoe box with furniture from her dolls house and happily played for ages with her badger, feeding him soup and making him go to bed.


We've read the book many times now and she remembers all the suggestions and either agrees or tells me no to each suggestion the book offers to what might be in the hole.



			

	

	


Things to make and do


    

  • 

    Make a phone call – using a toy phone or plastic pots joined with string have imaginary conversations about the hole. Children could pretend to phone friends or grandparents and talk about the hole and what might be in it.
    

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    Make a book with flaps to show different things which could be in the hole.
    

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  • 

    Make an under the ground scene. Use a small cardboard box such as a shoe box. Turn it on its side. Make an imaginary underground scene using collage or paint to make a background, then add small toys, or playdough models for the creature who lives there. Decorate the top edge of the box to look like grass and make a hole to look through.
    

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  • 

    Dig a real hole. If you have a garden, or relations who have one, children could dig a hole in a flower bed (with permission!) be prepared for lots of worms emerging! This could be fun in a sandpit or at the seaside too.
    

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Find out more


Read another book by author illustrator Rebecca Cobb here 


Lunchtime


Aunt Amelia


Missing Mummy 


Rebecca Cobb also illustrated The Paper Dolls written by Julia Donaldson


 


Buy The Something here


 


 


 


 


 


 

                                

     

   

   

        
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Our top 10 new picture books 2017

        

        

            
It is often hard to know how to choose new picture books from the thousands published every year.

Here is a selection of some of our current favourites from 2017. You and your child will meet a range of appealing characters in these beautifully illustrated picture books and discover amusing, intriguing and thought provoking stories. We hope you enjoy them.






The Bad Bunnies’ Magic Show    Mini Grey        

Simon and Schuster

Age 5-7


The audience is waiting for the Great Hypno to perform his amazing magic show. But just before the show is about to start an announcement is made; Messrs Abra and Cadabra, two bunnies, will replace Hyno. Abra and Cadabra thrill the audience with incredible transformations and daring feats but what are they up to when they hypnotise the audience and where is The Great Hypno? A funny and intriguing book with a retro feel, the dastardly scheming rabbit duo make great villains. There is lots to spot in the fabulous illustrations and the paper engineering includes several flaps which are fun to open.


See Lovemybooks activity ideas


Buy here












The Cave  Rob Hodgson

Frances Lincoln

Age 3-5


In a cave there is a mysterious little creature apparently hiding. Outside the cave there is a wolf who is desperate for the little creature to come out and play. Or so he says, perhaps he has other plans? The rather hungry wolf hatches a series of clever plans to lure the creature out of the hole. He finally succeeds with a tempting donut with sprinkles on top. However the creature which emerges is not little at all, a lot bigger than the wolf in fact and in the end it’s the wolf who wants to hide away in case he gets eaten.


A beautifully illustrated, well-constructed story with a hint of mystery and touches of humour. A clever ending too as the wolf is thwarted in his cunning plans.


Find out more about the book here




Buy here










Diggersaurs  Michael Whaite

Penguin Random House

Age 0-5


Have you ever looked at diggers and cranes and imagined they look like dinosaurs? Well this book does just that, tapping into two popular themes with young children and blending them together to create an amazing set of creatures – DIGGERSAURS! Bold illustrations, a rhyming text and an imaginative idea make this a great story for sharing again and again.


Click here to see our activity ideas.


Buy here


 


Grandad’s Secret Giant  David Litchfield

Frances Lincoln

Age 5-7


Grandad is always telling Billy about the secret giant that only he sees. A giant that keeps watch to make sure everyone is safe and helps out when they are in trouble. He keeps out of sight as he expects people to be scared when they see him. Billy doesn’t believe Grandad. But then one day when he needs someone very tall to help him out he finds out that grandad was telling the truth. Will Billy just run away or will he be brave and thank Grandad’s Secret Giant?  A beautifully illustrated story about the importance of friendship and not being scared about people who are different


Buy here


 






The Grotlyn  Benji Davies

Age 5-7


Since hearing an organ tune Rubi has a strange rhyme in her head about a Grotlyn visiting houses at night. Soon she and others in the town report hearing strange noises, sightings, objects disappearing. Rumours about a Grotlyn are spreading. But in the words of the story ‘Don’t be afraid to sleep – to dream! For things are not quite what they seem.’ A mysterious rhyming picture book to cuddle up and share, with just the right amount of spookiness, wonderfully rich illustrations and a surprise ending.


Watch a trailer here 


See our activities here 


Buy here 










Grumpy frog  Ed Vere

Puffin

Age 3-5+


In this striking picturebook we meet a very grumpy frog with so many issues – he only likes green things, won’t go swimming because the water is blue or bouncing because the trampoline is yellow and he absolutely hates pink. He does enjoy hopping and racing, just as long as he wins of course. However when he ends up with no friends, grumpy frog feels pretty sorry for himself. How will he react when pink rabbit offers to play with him?


A funny story about feeling grumpy, compromising and making friends.


Its creator, Ed Vere speaks about the story and reads it aloud here




Click here to see our activity ideas


Buy here


 


 




I am Actually a Penguin  Sean Taylor, illus Kasia Matyjaszek

Templar Publishing

Age 3-7


This is a story about a little girl who loves dressing up. She is delighted to receive a penguin suit from her uncle and wants to wear it all the time. Not only that, she tries to BECOME a penguin as much as she can from how she gets downstairs (not recommended) to what she eats; though trying to catch fish fingers in her mouth proves a bit of a challenge. She is allowed to wear her penguin suit to her auntie’s wedding,  but when it comes to going to school her parents put their foot down, no penguin suit, anyway it needs washing, so she takes it off and decides to become…. an alligator instead!


An amusing story about the fun of dressing up and getting really engrossed in imaginative play.



Buy here


 


My name is not refugee                                                                                             

Kate Milner

Age 5-7+


A mother and her son are leaving their home in search of a safe place to live. Through the mother’s words we find out how she prepares her child for the journey they are about to make.  Through the illustrations we see some of the young boy’s experiences during the long journey, from deciding what to pack to eventually starting to settle into a new home. We see that at times the journey might be exciting, at others strange and worrying, and it will certainly be long and tiring, and even quite boring with endless walking, walking, walking.


This attractive picturebook tries to explain the refugee experience (unfortunately a very real situation for many children in the world today) in a way that is accessible to young children.  It is a book which gives lots to talk and think about. There are discussion points on every page to help with this, encouraging children to imagine what it might be like, for example ‘What would you take (with you)?’ ‘How far can you walk?’


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Play Jez Alborough

Walker

Age 0-3


Bobo the chimp is enjoying playing with his friends, tortoise and giraffe. He doesn’t listen to mummy when she says it is time to stay at home and go to bed and carries on playing with tortoise. When it starts to get dark tortoise want to sleep too, there is no one to play with and Bobo is feeling worried. Luckily pelican rescues him and takes him safely home.


A simply gorgeous bedtime story for the very young. Bobo is irresistible. Lovely art work, the illustrations tell the story with just a handful of words.




Jez Alborough talks about creating the book here  


If you and your child fall in love with this one there are more Bobo stories to enjoy Hug, Tall and Yes


For more bedtime story ideas see our suggestions here 


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Superbat  Matt Carr

Scholastic

Age 5-7


Pat dreamt of being a bat with amazing powers, just like the superheroes in his favourite comics. He made himself a special outfit, now all he needed to do was convince everyone he was.. SUPERBAT! The trouble was the superpowers he claimed to have (super hearing, flying, finding his way in the dark) all the other bats had too. His eyes didn’t shoot laser beams and he wasn’t extra strong like the superheroes in his favourite comics. Maybe he wasn’t destined to be a ‘superbat’, maybe he just looked… silly. Then one day something happened, help was needed and Pat didn’t hesitate, he was a true SUPERBAT and bravery was his superpower.


An appealing, attractively illustrated story with interesting facts about bats to discover along the way.


See our activity ideas here


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