Simon Gregory

ABC of Kindness by Patricia Hegarty Illustrated by Summer Macon

Caterpillar Books ISBN 9781848579910 £6.99 A charming alphabet book in pastel colours, which highlights ways in which we can be kind to each other. The drawings feature animals have delightful facial expressions, and the rhyming text reads well aloud. A well designed board book with an uplifting theme. A is for all of us be everyone’s…

The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman Illustrated by Nick Schon

Little Tiger ISBN 9781788816595 £6.99 A delightful story set “when the world” was new. A monkeys admires the bright colours of the birds. All the creatures round him are “as dull as an elephant poo.” Monkey finds a paintbox, and seeks to rectify this. He creeps up on creatures while they are napping and paints…

Tim Hopgood’s ABC written and illustrated by Tim Hopgood

Oxford University Press​ ISBN 9780192772527 £6.99 Of course, alphabet board books are not new, but this is a good example of the genre. In a strong, square format, the illustrations are lush and lavish, with each letter being represented by something in nature. This provides something of a problem with those most difficult letters q,…

When I Grow up I Want to Be by Rosamund Lloyd Illustrated by Richard Merritt

Little Tiger Press ​ISBN​9781912756384 £6.99 This small board book introduces a range of individuals with different professions from firefighter to athlete. Each double page includes a new individual greeting the reader alongside an image of them in action. Lift the flaps and we find out more about what they do, their workplace and equipment. Efforts…

I Can Do It! A Book of 5 Fastenings by Patricia Hegarty. Illustrated by Hilli Kushnir

Caterpillar Books ISBN: 9781848578814 £9.99 Three to five is such a crucial time for children as they try to develop the independence required for starting school. High on the agenda is the need for them to be able to dress themselves, which is where this delightful book comes in, moving on as it does from…

There’s a LION in the Library! by Dave Skinner Illustrated by Aurélie Guillerey

Orchard Books ISBN 978140835 3523 £6.99 A humorous story based on The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Little Lucy Lupin may look like the sweetest, nicest, loveliest little girl in all the world, but she is a terrible liar. Three times she causes chaos in the library when she says a lion is on the loose.…

The Crow and the Peacock written and illustrated by Johanna Fernihough

OUP ISBN 9780192771551 £6.99 Crow thinks he is happy, until he encounters a beautiful dove with its soothing coo. The Dove says it thought it was happy until it heard the magnificent song of the Nightingale. Crow then learns that Nightingale envies Cockerel who, in turn, envies Swan, who envies Peacock. When Peacock reveals that…

I’m Sorry! by Barry Tims Illustrated by Sean Julian

Little Tiger ISBN 978`788815888 £11.99 The cover of this book is delightful – an owl and a squirrel are shown in a heartfelt embrace. Swoop and Scribble are great friends and decide to find a home they can share. They move in, and enjoy sitting on the veranda. Then they have a quarrel, and both…

The Bedtime Book by S. Marendaz Illustrated by Carly Gledhill

Little Tiger ISBN 9781788815680 £11.99 An attractive picture book. Just as Frank the sausage dog is about to fall asleep, he is visited by Mouse who cannot sleep because she cannot find her bedtime book. She and Frank set out to find it. Their investigation involves encounters with Bella the Cat, Owl and Baby Hedgehog.…