2021

It’s Only One by Tracey Corderoy. Illustrated by Tony Neal

Little Tiger Books ISBN 9781788816816 £11.99 “It’s Only One” is a child friendly, positive message about how to play your part in the local community. The story tells of a wonderful community with diversity of folk portrayed as different animals living harmoniously together. In fact, Sunnyville was so wonderful “It sparkled with Loveliness”. The inhabitants are kind, friendly, generous and complimentary and get on well until one fateful…

Tashi – 25th Anniversary Edition by Anna and Barbara Fienberg Illustrated by Kim Gamble

Allen and Unwin   ISBN 9781911631859 £9.99 Tashi is listed in 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up, and with good reason.  The creation of Australian mother and daughter combination Anna and Barbara Fienberg, Tashi came into being 25 years ago, hence the reissue of three of the stories in this edition. Tashi is a small creature from another place, the…

The Wolf’s Secret by: Myriam Dahman & Nicolas Digard Illustrated by Julia Sarda

Orchard Books ISBN 978140835-5299 £12.99 Far, far away in the North, there was a forest, deep and forgotten.  Old pines wrapped around each other, protecting its mystery.  Over the treetops loomed a mountain and from the midst of the branches came a never-ending whisper. This is the story of a wolf (the biggest ever born) and…

Bold Tales for Brave-Hearted Boys by Susannah McFarlane

Allen & Unwin ISBN 97817660524715 £12.99 As a parent who always disliked the arrogant and undisciplined Goldilocks, rudely breaking and entering with no repercussions, or even an apology to the bears, I was thrilled to read “Bold Tales for Brave-Hearted Boys” by Susannah McFarlane. McFarlane has taken four classic fairy tales and retold them with…

The Robin and the Reindeer by Carmen Saldana Illustrated by Rosa Bailey

Hachette Children’s Group ISBN: 9781444955552 £12.99 The cover of this book is especially appealing with silver foil trees and snowflakes, a dark background, and a delightful picture of a robin and a reindeer. At the start of the story the Little Reindeer is enjoying her first time in the snow. Evocative pictures and text work…

The Journey- Nature’s Greatest Adventure by Jonny Marx, Illustrated by Hanako Clulow

Caterpillar Books  ISBN 9781838910327  £10.99 This book is based on the migration of Zebras from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. This happens throughout each year as they sense the change of weather patterns and need to move to find fertile feeding grasslands further north. The text is kept to the minimum at the top…

Ernest Shackleton in the Little People, Big Dreams Series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Illustrated by Olivia Holden

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN: 9780711245709   £9.99 This is another book in the Little People, Big Dreams series which gives children the chance to discover the lives of outstanding people, who achieved incredible things. This is an excellent addition to the series. The story of Little Earnest Shackleton begins with his birth in County Kildare in…

Claude at the Palace written and illustrated by Alex T. Smith

Hachette  ISBN 9781444932003     £8.99 Much loved bestselling character. His fans will not be disappointed. In this adventure Claude and his friend Sir Bobblysock decide to have a day out. They find themselves at the Royal Palace. The royal nanny, Nanny Stern-Bloomers, “has suddenly got one of her heads, so she’s having a long lie down…

Under the Great Plum Tree by Sufiya Ahmed Illustrated by Rez’s Dalvand

Tiny Owl   ISBN: 978910328460     £12.99 Another wonderful book from independent children’s publishers Tiny Owl, this is a story of an unlikely friendship between “golden-hearted Miss Bandari and the old crocodile Mr Magarmach’. A lovely story about the true value of friendship and a perfect stimulus to look at themes of trust, loyalty and betrayal. With…