This delightful book goes beyond counting and introduces young readers to the primary colours and the art of colour mixing.
The story begins with a moThis delightful book goes beyond counting and introduces young readers to the primary colours and the art of colour mixing.
The story begins with a mother cat and her ten adorable kittens on the opening page. As the mother cat falls into a deep slumber, her mischievous little ones seize the opportunity to have some playful adventures of their own. Their misadventures commence when they stumble upon three cans of paint: one red, one yellow, and one blue.
With mischief in their hearts, they manage to pry open the lids and chaos ensues as they splatter themselves, the floor, and everything around them with red, then yellow, and finally blue splotches. Their playful escapades turn their surroundings into a vibrant playground where they experiment with mixing the three primary colours, resulting in mesmerizing shades of orange and green. In the end, the mother cat awakens from her blissful slumber only to discover the colourful mess and decides it's time for her mischievous little ones to have a thorough bath. Great fun.
Kate Greenaway's third compilation of poetry saw her bring together some well known nursery rhymes and others less so. Illustrations of rural settingsKate Greenaway's third compilation of poetry saw her bring together some well known nursery rhymes and others less so. Illustrations of rural settings were based on her visits to extended family in Nottinghamshire since Kate spent her life in London. The clothing appealed to Victorians of the time as the actions of the children which seemed innocent and well-mannered (on the whole)....more
A child and a rabbit are bonded through their friendship and care for each other in this wordless, Swedish, picturebook. A child returns from outside,A child and a rabbit are bonded through their friendship and care for each other in this wordless, Swedish, picturebook. A child returns from outside, wet and cold and the rabbit wakes up to help them get undressed and hop into the bath.
The layout of the book is simple for the most part with the action occurring on the left and the item removed displayed on the right - a lovely 'see and say' activity for that young reader. Lots of vibrant and engaging action and movement throughout. ...more
A sweet first chapter book, ideal for that child whose phonetically competent and is just beginning to take flight. Being just over 40 pages and with A sweet first chapter book, ideal for that child whose phonetically competent and is just beginning to take flight. Being just over 40 pages and with illustrations, there's enough here for a story whilst being short enough for that new reader to feel they've accomplished reading a short novel.
May loves spending her time horse-riding but when her parents lose their jobs, the funding disappears and so does her chance to ride. When she wakes up on her tenth birthday, however, she is surprised to see a pony standing at her front gate.
With lovely illustrations by Sonia Albert, Landman lends a nice pace here and a sweet story that will appeal to any reader who likes horses and happy endings. I also think that the main character is a girl and the secondary one is a pony named Merlin, there will be boys who will enjoy this story and giving all the opportunity to read will go a long way to breaking stereotypes. ...more
An absolutely beautiful introduction to the Welsh alphabet through the natural world and extremely high-quality presentation too. Letter and word on tAn absolutely beautiful introduction to the Welsh alphabet through the natural world and extremely high-quality presentation too. Letter and word on the left against a rich wash of oil spreads and on the right a range of Carle-esque cut-out illustrations. High quality. ...more
A delightful, 'bumper-size' book that is perfect for sharing from the early years of reading upwards. Pom is excited about starting school but is too A delightful, 'bumper-size' book that is perfect for sharing from the early years of reading upwards. Pom is excited about starting school but is too young. Instead, Pom decides to spend each day he can with his animal friends at their respective schools. At Little Leapers, the rabbits are learning to read, write and count, and so on.
Each huge, double-page spread is an invitation, in Richard Scarry style, to find out all the little stories that are taking place within each school environment and as an early invitation into close looking and comprehending, it's just lovely. ...more
Best friends do everything together and Lenny and Wilbur are no exception. Lenny cares deeply for his pet and Wilbur loves spending time with his littBest friends do everything together and Lenny and Wilbur are no exception. Lenny cares deeply for his pet and Wilbur loves spending time with his little friend too. Lenny mimics mummy's phrases of 'Good boy' to Wilbur and slowly takes on some of the caring duties such as feeding as brushing his dog's coat. It is clear that they both adore each other.
As with all Wilson-Max's illustrations, rich colours sweep through double-page spreads and share that joy and pleasure both child and pet feel for each other. Lots of cuddles and giggles abound and the simple story will resonate with so many young readers too. As with all Alanna Max's books, there is a sense of play and acute observation of the antics of young children here that I think can be missing in many stories for the young - something to relate to.
My copy was in hardback and had a durable front and back with glossy thick pages in between - perfect for multiple readings with young children. ...more
What a delight. The giggles from hiding under bed covers, the patient, kind parent pretending not to notice their child's poor hiding skills and a subWhat a delight. The giggles from hiding under bed covers, the patient, kind parent pretending not to notice their child's poor hiding skills and a subtle dismantling of gendered norms that @kenwilsonmax is so good at. A lovely, early picture book with a steady, gentle refrain...more
A little tree, growing in the middle of a town square, is overjoyed to discover a beautiful set of luscious green leaves growing out of his branches. A little tree, growing in the middle of a town square, is overjoyed to discover a beautiful set of luscious green leaves growing out of his branches. Instead of sharing his space with the local birds, cats and butterflies, for fear that they will run his perfect look, he rudely spurns them away.
When autumn falls and some of birds leave for warmer climates, the tree is distraught to find that his beautiful canopy has turned brown and is falling out. It takes a patient bird, Ada, to explain how this is all natural and that his leaves will grow back brighter and stronger than ever next year. Reflecting upon the error of his selfish ways, the little tree sees in the new spring by inviting everyone to shelter on his branches from then on.
Translated from Italian, I was drawn to this book because of Costa’s beautiful art style. She works with strong geometric shapes and clear, strong colours all outlined in sharp blank lines. There is some lovely interplay between the reader and the text with one cat repeatedly informing the reader that this tree is being quite rude!
Costa has won several prestigious awards in her home country and, impressively, was first published at the age of 12. ...more
The Maisie books were huge hits with our youngest. There is something about the funny individuality of each character, the bold, bright colours and thThe Maisie books were huge hits with our youngest. There is something about the funny individuality of each character, the bold, bright colours and thick black lines that is inimitable with Cousin’s style and deeply attractive to young audiences.
With over 50 million books sold across the world, Cousins is firmly of that same famed camp as Spot and Kipper, coming out a year after the former. Cousin’s franchise though remains incredible strong and her picturebooks are possibly more versatile and explorative (Peck, Peck, Peck being a lovely example).
Moving closer perhaps to a more anthropomorphic child-like character with Maisie*, Cousins places our protagonist in many situations that her younger readers will be able to associate with. I always enjoyed this particular book as it had a male teacher, Mr Peacock, working in the nursery. Also, Maisie on the loo chatting to her girlfriends has me laughing � a subtle scenario to remind children to wash their hands!
A sweet introduction to what the early years ‘could and should� be like. All the other Maisie books are lovely as well.
*Considering Maisie goes to preschool she seems unerringly adult and self-sufficient in many of the other stories. Best not to dwell on the mechanics of what/who she is. ...more
Based on a traditional American nursery rhyme (search it out, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you find the original), the story is a simple one inBased on a traditional American nursery rhyme (search it out, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you find the original), the story is a simple one in which a family traverse over a series of landscapes and through a series of weathers to discover a bear that perhaps they thought was never there�
Rosen pitches perfectly the gradual rhythm and rhyme of the first half of the story as we tread towards the cave and then the rush of the chase to get home. Positively choc-a-bloc with onomatopoeic language , any reading encourages actions and noises and young readers delight in joining in. All joy though would not be as significant without Oxenbury’s wonderful watercolours.
For the record, I always, always thought the eldest in the family was dad and never an older brother. I also think Oxenbury shows a very dejected bear at the end too. I’m ignoring or disagreeing with all other interpretations, televised or not. ...more
Described by Geraldine Brennan as ‘a self-assembly kit for family life� it might be that the concept of a physical catalogue is as dated now as are soDescribed by Geraldine Brennan as ‘a self-assembly kit for family life� it might be that the concept of a physical catalogue is as dated now as are some of the items in this book but it remains joyful to share. Published in 1982, it’s awash with Janet Ahlberg’s wonderful watercolours and features a diverse cast of parents and babies � all muddling through the early years of childhood. Each family carries its own story from a mum who is the main breadwinner and a child who happened to get its head stuck in a bucket…many of us have been there.
Whilst parent readers might smile knowingly at the exhausted adults on the pages, children will find themselves delightfully intrigued about the items they encounter: from a Battenburg cake to a tin spinning top. There is plenty here for the very early reader to enjoy looking at, pointing to and enquiring about. ...more
I have happy memories associated with this book both as a child and as a parent. Spot, with his round, blotchy brown markings and marvellously roundedI have happy memories associated with this book both as a child and as a parent. Spot, with his round, blotchy brown markings and marvellously rounded shape is as inquisitive as he is lovable. The first in the series of Spot stories, our puppy was originally created for Hill’s own son, Christopher, and the addition of lift-the-flaps in the book were put in their as a way of engaging and entertaining him. This approach was new to the picturebook genre and would go on to inspire a wave of lift-the-flap books for young readers forevermore.
In this story (I highly advise the larger format for sharing and playing together), Spot’s mum is going through the house looking for her youngest who is hiding. On her travels she finds a variety of Spot’s friends: from lions hiding under the stairs to bears behind doors. This book invites cross curricular engagement with literacy and maths but it is the bright characters and furniture and that joy of lifting the flaps that I will always remember. That sense of play and humour that comes with finding a blue hippo hiding in a pink grand piano for the first time will be hard to top! ...more
One I have read repeatedly now for decades but only encountered during my teacher-training years. Essential reading doesn’t even come close: one can sOne I have read repeatedly now for decades but only encountered during my teacher-training years. Essential reading doesn’t even come close: one can see how it won the Greenaway award in 1978. A find-and-seek rhyming narrative that interweaves nursery rhyme and traditional tales. Beautiful vignettes roll exquisitely across village, vale and wood through the Ahlberg’s perfect balance between image and verse.
Both Allan and Janet seem, for me, eponymously associated with a very English childhood and a sense of warmth and security that I am not sure anyone else has managed since. As with all their collaborative work, this is a book that invites repeated readings whether it’s to enjoy the rhythm of the rhyme again or to find hidden details in Janet’s pictures. ...more
Published in 1977 and created by 'Altan', this is a very simple pre-school book with bright, bold words on one side aEnglish title: 'Fly, Little Bird'
Published in 1977 and created by 'Altan', this is a very simple pre-school book with bright, bold words on one side and a simple yet deliciously colourful image on the right. It has a simplified story but the concept celebrated here lies between an early understanding of the interplay that can exist between image and word.
I adore the colours and shapes Atlan presents; you can tell that his background is in graphic design because the illustrations are as beautiful as they are clean and engaging. Fun! ...more
I suspect that most of the Western world knows the counting book tale that tells of how a little egg sat upon a single leaf eventually opens to revealI suspect that most of the Western world knows the counting book tale that tells of how a little egg sat upon a single leaf eventually opens to reveal a tiny, ravenous caterpillar that grows and grows until it eventually turns into a beautiful butterfly. Besides Peepo!, The Very Hungry Caterpillar was one of the first books I encountered as a child in which I felt I was encouraged to explore and interact with. From its little, ever-growing holes to those steadily growing page-widths, this was a picturebook that offered a very different kind of play.
Used endlessly for exploring a butterfly’s life-cycle, it is Carle oft-mimicked collagic style that we all remember. Having spent most of his childhood in Stuttgart, Carle’s illustrative career began with his work on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? at which time he was in the USA designing adverts and working on newspapers. His use of coloured and hand-painted tissue as well as a penchant for illustrating the animal world is what, I think, he is most recognised for.
If I was going to gift a very young child any version of this book these days, it'd definitely be the board book version which can easily withstand those wriggling, inquisitive fingers. ...more
Meg and Mog have brought a lot of happiness to my family and me over the years. There is something so loveable about Meg’s constant spell-casting hiccMeg and Mog have brought a lot of happiness to my family and me over the years. There is something so loveable about Meg’s constant spell-casting hiccups and Mog’s slightly erratic patience. This one, the first in the series, sees Meg preparing for a Halloween party. When she has gathered all her resources, she and Mog ascend through her gently curving chimney and sweep through the skies until they meet Meg's fellow witches. When Meg's catastrophic spell-casting ends up turning all her friends into mice; much to Mog the cat’s delight, she must make a choice about when to change them back...
In all honesty, I enjoyed the narrative more as I shared it with my own children. As a child, it was undoubtedly Pienkowski’s incredible artwork that hooked me in. With a limited colour palette that was as bright as it was bold, Pienkowski’s illustrations were super simplified yet almost felt iconic in form. I remember these stories as both oddly alluring and mischievously fun. ...more
A book that I doubt will ever loose its sense of originality and delight. It is, for me, the perfect picturebook and one that set a precedent for all A book that I doubt will ever loose its sense of originality and delight. It is, for me, the perfect picturebook and one that set a precedent for all that followed. It's amazing to think it's over 50 years old.
Simple enough to the early reader, we watch as Rosie takes a stroll through the yard. As she does, she is pursued by a broad-eared fox who fails each time we turn the page to capture her. Does Rosie know what's happening or is she oblivious to the fox's constant attempts to eat her? Well, that's up to the reader and that's half the joy in the book itself.
A form of joyous play between word and picture and between text and reader, it may only contain 31 words but it is a model of perfection and the delight that comes with reading. ...more
A wonderful, interactive unfold-the-flap picture book that introduces us to a colour animal cast from around the world.
In this beautifully presented aA wonderful, interactive unfold-the-flap picture book that introduces us to a colour animal cast from around the world.
In this beautifully presented and imagined picturebook, we are invited to search for baby elephant and see if she is safe with her mother. After being presented with a cast list of all the creatures in the book we turn the page to discover a lion gazing at us with his two cubs. He doesn't know where the baby elephant is but in turning over the flap we suddenly find that our two-panelled lion has transformed into a three-panelled family of hedgehogs. Turn the flap once more and we meet an organutan with her infant, high in the treetops.
These deeply satisfying and imaginative unfold-the-flap encounters occur three more times throughout the book with a new animal family revealed with each turn of the flap, concertina-style. I loved the big full-bleed spreads of Khodai’s watercolours and the short but inviting phrases from each animal - an approach that makes the reader feel part of the adventure. Thick card pages mean that the book has plenty of durability from little, inquisitive fingers.
Where's Baby Elephant is a lovely way to introduce children to a range of animals and the words associated with their young but also an invitation to the joy and discovery that comes with turning the page....more
One of the 'wordless picture book' series from Tiny Owl, Caged sees Annand tell a story of man's greed and desire to capitalise on the freedom of otheOne of the 'wordless picture book' series from Tiny Owl, Caged sees Annand tell a story of man's greed and desire to capitalise on the freedom of others. Told from behind the winged shoulder of a little blue-bird, we watch as two Abe Lincoln-type men burn down the forest and begin to capture and caged the beautiful parrots that once nested there.
Perhaps our little blue bird isn't big, bright or vibrant enough for them to trap but whatever the case we watch from its vantage point as the men gradually create a great domed building from the cages of a score or more of birds. Together they bend the natural world to their will and fortune.
With the dome finally complete and aspirations of financial success with their avian establishment, the two men celebrate. But all is not lost. Our inquisitive little blue bird chooses that moment to fly over and rest upon the building's pinnacle. Her weight may be negligible yet it is enough to send the whole structure crashing down and, in turn, freeing the caged birds.
As with other wordless texts in this series, the interpretations are many but one can see themes of hope, power, control, nature and conservation all coming through. Finally, it tells us that no matter how small we are, we each have the power within us to topple great empires and make a change that could free those who have little control. ...more
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