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Find out moreThe books in this section have been given a primary age range of 5+. At 5 many children are learning to read and this selection includes books to give children the opportunity to take off privately into worlds of their own. There are picture books and easy readers with a background of richer stories to further stimulate the imagination. All books are suitable for 5-6+. The books in this section might also be given a secondary age range. Suitable for 7+ year olds reading slightly below the average level and for 3+ ready to explore a more challenging read with the help of an adult.
December 2021 Book of the Month | Grandma is coming to visit so it’s all hands on deck! Dad posts instructions on the fridge, spelled out in those lovely bright magnetic letters: Bobby has to mop the floor, Dad is to scrub the dishes (this is a two dad family), Sarah needs to feed the fishes, and ‘I’ll bathe the cat’. It’s at this point, that the cat takes over – anything to avoid a bath – and, with a swish of its paw, rearranges the letters. As the family follow increasingly silly instructions, with very funny results, the chaotic scenes are illustrated by David Roberts in the brightest, most stylish oranges and pinks. Fortunately, by the time Grandma rings the bell, everything is somehow clean and tidy. For all the silliness, this is a joyful depiction of family life and will be an absolute delight to share with little children.
November 2021 Book of the Month | Fairies Verity and her best friend Celeste live in Fairy Tale Kingdom, where all your favourite fairytale adventures take place. In this story, Tatiana, the Queen of the Fairies, puts Verity in charge of the party the human king and queen are throwing for their new baby daughter. When Verity accidentally on purpose leaves out Nissa, the grumpy fairy places that curse on the baby. Fortunately, with Celeste’s help, Verity can put things right, not just for the royal family, but with Nissa too. As with other titles in this series, this puts a sweet new twist on a much-loved story and little children will be very taken by Verity and Celeste. With lots of illustrations and short chapters, it’s good for newly independent readers and a useful glossary will help them understand and remember new vocabulary.
The magic of the Cinderella story is timeless, but this version is particularly captivating. Lotte works in a mill all day making and drying paper, while her horrible sisters lie around, issuing orders. Her only friends are the paper puppets she snips by the light of the moon. When the invitation arrives to the palace ball, not only do her sisters leave Lotte behind, but they destroy her puppets too. It’s then that Lotte realises that if she wants her happy ending, she’s going to have to make it herself and starts snipping a dress. It all plays out the way it always does – hoorah – Lotte’s skill with her scissors entrancing the prince. Laura Barrett makes wonderful use of silhouettes in her illustrations and there’s a magical gatefold too with peep through cut-out windows. An author’s note explains that the book is inspired by the life and work of Charlotte ‘Lotte’ Reiniger, one of the world’s first film animators, and her fascination with silhouette puppetry and it’s a perfect tribute to Reiniger both in style and in its determined, creative central character.
December 2021 Debut of the Month | Anyone familiar with the works of the book’s author Nick Cave will know this question is one explored extensively in his song-writing, mostly through characters responding to some form of turmoil. In The Little Thing this is also the case as we follow a tiny being who is frustrated and even distressed by the process of trying to understand what it is. Cave’s drawings are simple and vibrant alongside dialogue from those trying to help on this journey of self-discovery. In the end what is discovered is that it’s OK to simply accept yourself for what you are, even if exactly what that is remains a mystery! What is more important is who you are, how that feels, and what a wonderful thing it is to find kindred spirits and simply be. This is a lovely and intelligent book to share with your own little things that is sure to reassure, spark discussion and encourage acceptance and inclusion, written by a man who wouldn’t know how it felt to ‘fit in’. The Little Thing will be available exclusively via Cave Things, Nick Cave’s online shop : cavethings.com/products/the-little-thing
This text has been set in Dyslexie, a typeface specially designed for people with dyslexia | An uplifting story about the power of art, finding your voice, and telling your story even when you're out of step with your peers from the #1 bestselling creators of Sofia Valdez, Future Prez and Ada Twist, Scientist! Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can't get a single word down. He is sure his dream of being a storyteller is out of reach . . . until inspiration strikes, and Aaron finds a way to spin a tale in a way that is uniquely his. Follow Iggy Peck, Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, Sofia Valdez, and Aaron Slater on all of their adventures! Add the picture books, chapter books, and activity books starring The Questioneers by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts to your family library today.
Discover the sorcery of The Magic Flute in this musical retelling of the opera - push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing, and singers singing, from Mozart's score. This tale of a prince, a princess and a magic flute begins in a mountain ridge between two magical lands. Prince Tamino enters, chased by a dragon, but three brave mountain rangers gallop past on horseback to rescue him. His cowardly friend Papageno comes out from his hiding place and they revive the prince. The rangers ask for one favour in return. Their boss, the Queen of the Night, asks Prince Tamino to rescue her daughter, Princess Pamina, from the evil Sun King. She gives Tamino a magic flute and Papageno some magic bells to help them. The story follows Prince Tamino as he breaks into the Sun King's palace, charms the court with his magic flute, and gets caught by the guards. Will the prince escape with the princess? As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the opera's music. At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Mozart, with details about his composition of The Magic Flute. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Toys’ Christmas is the kind of book that chilly days or evenings were made for, a heart-warming story of toys undertaking a journey through the snow for the love of their child owners. It’s Christmas Eve and little Noah should be going to sleep, but where’s Fanfan, his beloved toy elephant? Over the page, readers see Fanfan walking through the snow, heading to a very important meeting. Along with other favourite toys, he’s on his way to see – who else? – Santa Claus. It’s the toys’ job to tell him what their children really want for Christmas. Not every request is in Santa’s power to give – the child who desperately wants a little brother for example – but everyone gets gifts that will make them happy. It’s a lovely, cosy story, perfectly matched by soft pastel and coloured-pencil illustrations, toys and Noah too exceedingly huggable.
If you’re seeking a seasonal read to snuggle up with that gets to the heart of the Christmas spirit (caring, sharing and making people feel magical), look no further than The Christmas Department Store. Maudie Powell-Tuck’s story is told with tremendous heart, and brought to life in glowing style by Hoang Giang’s characterful illustrations. Benji is feeling rather gloomy - “This Christmas needed some magic. There wasn’t enough money for a tree or even a turkey, and everyone felt a little sad”. He wants to buy his family spectacular presents “that might make them smile again”, but he doesn’t have enough money. Then, as he and his gran turn to go home, they meet a talking polar bear who leads them to discover a magical department store, where Benji pays for a trumpet for his sister by singing a song, and where gifts are conjured from the imagination. The big day is a big success when Benji presents his family with “the best presents money can’t buy”, and a whole lot of joy.
This beautiful first reader is perfect for reading together at bedtime, with Matilda Woods’s atmospheric story evoking an endearing cast of characters, and a lovely sense of working together. Penny Neville-Lee’s full-colour illustrations are a boon too - perfect for encouraging newly-independent readers to enjoy their first chapter book. The Night Train is a wonderful thing - it delivers its passengers to children’s dreams, among them a hairy white yeti, a footballer turned ballerina, Princess May, and a big friendly monster. When a fallen tree stops the train in its tracks and it looks like the children of Sleepy Town will miss out on being visited by their favourite dream characters, the passengers use their varied talents to work together so the Night Train reaches its destination in time. With plenty to talk about - and be enchanted by - throughout the journey, this sweet story is sure to leave little ones ready for sweet-dream-filled slumber.
Yuval Zommer’s enchanting picture book conjuration of the majesty of the northern lights and Arctic landscape is a seasonal delight that little ones will want to return to time and time again. Both the poetic text and magically stylised illustrations are mesmerising. This is a beautiful book to read aloud to share the wonders of the northern lights, and also a book children will adore poring over in their own time, delighting in the illustrative details while reciting the beguiling text. Much like the lights it describes, Zommer’s language dances - it skips off the page and over the tongue. The story is also suffused in a sense of light-through-darkness hope and togetherness. With subtle sparkles on its cover providing additional seasonal appeal, this is an utter joy.
Young chefs get an excellent introduction to culinary skills with Annabel Karmel's Fun, Fast & Easy Cookbook. The recipes have been designed for children and grown-ups to cook together and are divided into Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks & Treats, with easy-to-follow steps, tempting photos and cooking tips. The recipes are a lovely mix of both healthy dishes, with fresh fruit and vegetables added in creative and appealing ways, and twists on old favourites such as sunshine paella, vroom vroom bolognese and pesto pizzas. Amongst the recipes there are informative double-spreads on essential food groups and nutrition plus useful rules to keep kids safe in the kitchen. There are also ideas for cooking for those with food allergies and dietary requirements, with suggestions of simple ingredient-swaps to turn the recipe into a vegetarian or vegan meal. This sturdy, colourful hardback makes a great gift, giving hours of entertainment and teaching an essential skill in a fun way.
From an original story by Hans Christian Andersen | Deep in the forest, a beautiful little fir tree is unhappy with his lot. He wants to be big and tall like the other trees, and then to become a sturdy cabin or a ship sailing across the sea. So busy is he wishing his life away that he doesn’t notice all he has – the precious moments in the beautiful forest with his friends, the birds, flowers and butterflies. When at last he is tall and beautiful, he is cut down and taken to be a Christmas tree in a family home. It doesn’t end there however, and there are more twists in the story, more sorrow for the little tree which prompts him to reconsider what’s really important. Christopher Corr allows the little tree a happy ending and there’s much in his version of the classic story for children to think about. The illustrations are bright and bold, full of vibrant colours, their folk-art style perfect for this story which is both simple and reflective.
When the dashing Christmas Wrapper appears in a FLASH of smoke, it seems that YOUR CHILD has found the perfect answer for all their Christmas wrapping problems! But this ambitious rapping reindeer has bigger plans on his mind… Can YOUR CHILD stop him and save the world in time for Christmas??! This 32 page, high quality children’s book is a quirky and unique Christmas story. Featured on ITV’s This Morning’s ‘Best Personalised Gift Feature’ in Nov 2020, they said: “That’s the kind of story you can bring out every Christmas, it’s really special and something that you remember forever.” The Christmas Wrapper’s personalisations include the child's name on the cover, spine and throughout the story and features 4 family members/friends and a pet/favourite toy. You can also add your own dedication for an extra personal gift. “The Christmas Wrapper” is priced at £19.95 for a Softcover and £24.95 for a Hardcover and is available on Tickled Moon’s website. There you can preview the whole book with your personalisations and listen to the story read by the author, Alison Reddihough.
What happens when a SPOTTY, HAIRY MONSTER shows up instead of Father Christmas on Christmas Eve? It’s certainly not what YOUR CHILD expected in their Christmas stocking!! But when they find out that Father Christmas is in trouble, well...thank goodness they’ve got the...BOO!!! A fun, rhyming, personalised Christmas adventure that is a wonderful companion to our birthday book – “The Birthday BOO!” Personalise “The Christmas BOO!” with the child’s name on the cover, spine and throughout the story AND with their most wanted Christmas gift. Remember to add your own dedication – a personal message that will be printed in the front of book – for a festive gift that they’ll treasure forever. “The Christmas BOO!” is priced at £19.95 for a Softcover and £24.95 for a Hardcover and is available on Tickled Moon’s website. There you can preview the whole book with your personalisations and listen to the story read by the author, Alison Reddihough.
Tickled Moon sure know how to create quality personalised picture books, with the customised elements seamlessly woven into the stories, illustrations and design. Given that you can also include a dedication, all the books in this range make perfect presents to be enjoyed together and cherished for years to come, with What’s That??!! being especially great for a pretty broad age range. One-year-olds will be captivated and set off giggling by Alison Reddihough’s lively, rhyming exclamatory text and Jodie Wonford’s bold illustrations, while readers up to five will adore the utter silliness, and perhaps even feel inspired to think up their own suggestions for silly things that would NEVER happen! From a boot in the fruit, to a sliver of moon on a spoon, to a shark in the dark, the book is a bedazzlement of absurdity. What’s more, with the facility to personalise it with up to four names, What’s That??!! is a sure-fire winner of a gift.
December 2021 Non-fiction Book of the Month | ‘What is the most important animal of all?’, asks a teacher of a young class after they’ve spent a term learning about animals big and small. They all have different suggestions. George thinks it’s elephants, Nimmie puts forward bees, Seb votes for sharks and Kai nominates beavers. Others namr bats, tigers and even krill. As they make the case for their chosen animals, the children explain just why they’re so important, describing the effect they have on the environment and fellow creatures. Illustrations are perfectly combined with photos, fact boxes and text to demonstrate just how interconnected is our world and its ecosystems. The book provides a wealth of information presented clearly and in a way that will inspire young readers. The final spreads explain ‘keystone species’ and provide a glossary and ‘Find our more’ section. A very impressive and well-thought-out information book.
Professor David Olugosa has created this very accessible Illustrated History based on his previously published, bestselling adult versions of Black and British (adult), as well as the Short Essential History (aimed at teens). It is the book he wished he had when he was at Primary school. This version shows us key events in British history that have involved Black Britons – starting with the Romans and working through all the periods of history since. It explores the fact that Black peoples have been integral to the history of this country, as well as the more shameful impacts of the trades in enslaved peoples and the slow progress of the Abolition movement. Olugosa fascinatingly points out that it wasn’t until around 1661 when a Barbados Slave Code was introduced that the distinction between enslaved peoples and the white people became a social issue – to quote “It was around this time that some English people started to think of themselves as part of a group called ‘white’.” The Stuarts have a lot to answer for! The book follows history through to the modern day with illustrations of famous contemporary Black Britons. Each period has several double page spreads as appropriate to the activity of the time. The pages are well illustrated with historical documents, key dates and artefacts as well as depictions of the people discussed. Information highlights and maps are used throughout the book to aid understanding and accessibility to the reader. There is a very useful glossary of some of the less usual terms used to help readers understand what they are reading. This is a wonderful package, well laid out, full of fascinating illustrations and will be a vital book in classrooms and libraries.
Love fairy tales? Love animals? Love laugh-out-loud storytelling? Look no further! Cindergorilla loves to dance. She longs to go to the Saturday Night Disco Ball, where the other gorillas strut their stuff, but her horrid aunt and cousins, Gertrude and Grace always say no. Instead Cindergorilla must stay home and do the housework! But all that changes when Cinder gets a visit from her Hairy Godmother . . . The second hilarious title in a fun-filled fairytale series with empowering messages for young readers!
What a delight! This book is appealing on so many levels. There's the rhyming storyline which is always nice to read to young listeners. The drawings that can be coloured in. The educational aspect of the life cycle of the bees - who knew there were so many species - which is interesting for all ages and a future reference point. Also, the idea of making a wild flower garden to put all that is in the book into practice. This is a wonderful book for youngsters to engage with nature and understand the importance of bees in our world. Definitely recommended. Maureen Gourlay, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
This wonderful picture book explores themes of empathy, mindfulness and personal growth through the eyes of a child. Beautifully written and illustrated by the aw ard-winning artist Emma Carlisle, What Do You See When You Look At a Tree? urges readers to reconnect with nature by asking questions that encourage critical thinking and reflection on their own development, as well as helping to establish a deeper appreciation for the environment and their place within it. Stunning watercolour and hand-finished artw ork draws parallels to the bestselling The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, and evokes the classic nostalgia of E. H. Shephard's much-loved Winnie-the-Pooh.
From the fantastic duo behind Poems Aloud comes another compendium of poetry to read out loud and make you smile! Twenty original poems from award winning poet Joseph Coelho designed to be read aloud to project happiness, conjure happiness, make you laugh or cheer others up. Some are odes, some can be said as personal mantras or just poems full of words that you can't help but smile when you hear them. This is a book for any child who wants to build confidence reading aloud, or wants a way to channel their speech and drama confidence. It is a book to foster a love of words and the power that comes with the spoken word. It will show children how speaking a poem aloud has a certain magic, almost like reading a spell. Poems can be read aloud to an audience, muttered quietly to oneself or whispered in the ear of someone who needs to hear some cheerful words.
In a gilded kennel lives a famous movie star named Mazy. While other dogs chase sticks at the park, Mazy chases her acting dreams. But then one morning Mazy's agent delivers bad news. They are only giving acting jobs to pedigrees now. Can Mazy embrace what it is that makes her special and find her perfect role?
Flooded is the funny and beautifully illustrated tale of animals who live in a city that is ever so slowly flooding. The flood comes gradually at first. All the animals ignore the obvious and go about their busy lives, disjointed from one another and preoccupied by their own problems. Eventually, the flood water reaches a height that they can no longer ignore and they have to work together to save their city. All the animals join together in a line and pull out the plug that is drowning the city. This is an exceptionally illustrated story that teaches a message not to let problems fester and with a little team work and community spirit, no problem is insurmountable.
The boys had been friends for as long as they could remember and a little while before that. They were like brothers. Follow the adventures of Tam, Rey, Nattie and Bobby - four boys who share a friendship that will last a lifetime. From playing on the beach as babies to navigating the journey from childhood to adulthood, this beautifully illustrated picture book explores the importance of male friendships. Emotive storytelling by Lauren Ace gently presents themes of individuality, grief, togetherness and feelings, while Jennie Lovlie's stylish artwork delicately presents the difficulties and triumphs of growing up. This is the perfect book for young readers who are facing big changes, and opens up discussions about school-life and the future. From the creators of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize winner, The Girls.
A Robot Squashed My Teacher is the brilliantly illustrated, laugh-out-loud, wacky adventure by Pooja Puri, the sequel to the Marcus Rashford Bookclub Selected book A Dinosaur Ate My Sister.
Rigatoni is a pasta cat. He loves pasta, any kind of pasta: spaghetti, penne, fusilli, with pesto, in soup, in lasagne, any whichever way his owners, Ruth and Tina, will serve it. Then one day Ruth and Tina go away and leave George in charge. And the pasta is replaced with yucky cat food. Can Rigatoni find someone who understands what he really wants to eat?
The first story in an illustrated magical adventure series from the bestselling author of the Unicorn Academy, brimming with drama and an environmental theme. The Keepers are a secretive tribe of little people who live in the middle of Whispering Woods, coming out at night to care for the countryside and rewild it when humans (or Ruffins as they know them) are careless with it. Young Keepers Cora and Jax have just finished school and are embarking on a trial, with several friends, to become fully-fledged Keepers. But their first venture out on their own ends in disaster when they become distracted with playing in the Ruffin children's playground instead of concentrating on the task they've been given. Can they ever be trusted to be Keepers in their own right? A brilliant new magical series perfect for 6-8 year olds combining animal rescue, nature conservation and adventure.
A bookish family shipwrecked on a treasure island faces off against a fearsome pirate crew. The keen-reading Robinsons set out to sea, their boat barely afloat with all their books, until a storm strikes dow n their holiday plans. Shipwrecked on a mysterious island, they gather their soggy books up and research how to survive - completely missing the treasure littered all around them! But the Bloodbucket pirates remember it all too well, and when they find the Robinsons have taken their turf, it's time to walk the plank. With only Silly Monkey Goes to the Toilet left to hand, can the Robinsons read themselves free from a watery doom?
Meet Rita. She’s a little girl with very big ideas. When she doesn’t feel like getting dressed in the morning, she dreams up a Fairy Godmother to help her out. Rita’s Fairy Godmother would only have to twirl her wand -swoosh! - and things would happen. But who knows what things...
A fearless, fun-filled fairytale - perfect for any little reader who loves a twist in the tale! * With a fabulously foiled cover! * Kingsley is the finest cat in the kingdom. How does he know? His crystal ball tells him so! But one day, the crystal ball has a different story to tell. A new cat by the name of Snowy White has arrived in the kingdom. She's beautiful . . . she's kind . . . and Kingsley is determined to get rid of her. Luckily, though, Snowy gets a helping hand - or seven - from some very special new friends! The third hilarious title in a fun-filled fairytale series with empowering messages for young readers!
Children are experiencing sadness to a far greater degree than is usual but how can they best manage that and how can they describe it? Anne Booth’s gentle text explores how a little boy creates a shelter for his sadness giving it a place where it can take on the many different shapes and moods it may arrive in. Having a safe place where he can engage with the sadness helps the boy to deal with the wide range of moods it may release in him. It also helps him to prepare for a time when he and the sadness may no longer need a shelter but can step out together into a better world. Inspired by the words of Holocaust survivor Etty Hillesum, A Shelter for Sadness is rich in emotion all of which is beautifully realised in David Litchfield’s illustrations. We have more books on this theme in our collection, Books to Explain Death to Children & Help them Grieve.
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