The River – An Epic Journey to the Sea
Publisher: Caterpillar Books (an imprint of the Little Tiger Press)
Illustrated by Hanako Clulow
Text by: Patricia Hegarty
Age: 2-5
This beautiful book follows the journey of a small fish through icy waters and beyond. With steady, yet compelling rhymes, each page turn is a pleasure. And to accompany the wonderful words are the incredible illustrations, which would appeal to a wide age-range, no doubt. The centre of the book includes a wonderful hologram of the fish which the reader can tilt and swim at a pace that suits them.
The River takes the reader through a variety of different landscapes, with at least 10 other wild creatures naturally set in the backgrounds. The creative changes in sunlight within each illustration create stunning sunsets and sunrises. It really is easy to see how this book can capture the imagination.
An Epic Journey to the Sea is a bold subtitle but I must agree. The words alone would make it a Great Journey but the art pushes it to a whole new level!
Tiny Whale – A Fishy Tale
Publisher: Top That
Text by: Joshua Goerge
Illustrated by: Puy Pinillos
Age: 2-6
Gerald (or is it Gordon? Or Gareth?) sets off on an adventure to try and set himself apart from the other gold fish. It seems ever more popular in children’s picture books to introduce mild adult humour whilst retaining the attention of the child. This book manages it in style. A particularly noteworthy part of the story is when a fish with an eye patch gives Gerald a wink but the narrator points out that it could have been a blink. It’s hard to tell.
With lots of different elements for the child to interact with – speech bubbles, big and little writing, colourful drawings etc. – your child is sure to be entertained. Definitely worth a read, role play or puppet show!
Trixie Ten
Publisher: Parragon
Text by: Sarah Massini
Illustrated by: Sarah Massini
Age: 2-6
This book covers so many opportunties for interaction and learning in an endearing, enjoyable way. It covers themes such as counting, colours, family love and, of course, noise (hence why we included it in September's package!). The character's are all made with thumb prints and so also allows for a fun opportunity for interaction with little ones.
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The story sympathasis with a character called Trixie Ten, the sister of 9 suitably named brothers and sisters, who finds herself in a household full of very annoying (and fun!) noises. Each of these noises are easily emulated by adults and children alike, thus making it one of my daughter's favourites. With so many themes, and presented so well, it's a must for any house with little ones!
Crash Bang Donkey
Publisher: Gullane Children's Books
Text by: Jill Newton
Illustrated by: Jill Newton
Age: 2-7
This is such a loud book! Donkey has lots of instruments that he wants to play but the poor old farmer can't handle it. That is, of course, until he realises that Donkey's loud noises do indeed have their uses! This book is great way to introduce children to musical instruments and will allow the actors in the household to practise their accents (Donkey is a bit of a cool dude!),
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The pictures are soft and pleasant but the words and the onomatopoeia are what makes it. Fun and interactive; two things that The Happy Book Club love!
Use Your Imagination
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Text by: Nicola O'Byrne
Illustrated by: Nicola O'Byrne
Age: 1-7
Such a wonderful, exciting book with a delightful fold-out surprise near the end. Use Your Imagination is a story about a rabbit who is a little bit bored and gets preyed upon by a big bad wolf who wants to take advantage. Cleverly, by using its imagination, rabbit reverses roles and shows the wolf who's boss! It is easy to compare this to the story of Little Red Riding Hood but Nicola O'Byrne manages to make it appeal to a much wider audience through use of her endearing illustrations and humorous prose.
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This really is a book to treasure.
The Wonder
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Text by: Faye Hanson
Illustrated by: Faye Hanson
Age: 3-5
Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful picture books on the market? Stunning, explosive, dream-like pictures do the talking and whilst the story is inspiring in itself, we think the illustrations will grab the attention of even the most cynical of young readers.
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It follows the story of a little boy who daydreams, asks questions and imagines. At first his thoughts get criticised but, eventually in art class, he can let his dreams come to life. A healthy, important message about letting children dream and be happy. The perfect accompaniment to this month's Imagination theme!
Stuck
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Text by: Oliver Jeffers
Illustrated by: Oliver Jeffers
Age: 3-5
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Oliver Jeffers is proving himself to be one of the most popular children's authors since the distinguished and ever-prominent Julia Donaldson. His construction of humourous stories will appeal to adult readers as much as his quirky drawings will appeal to little ones.
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This story is particularly quirky. It tells the story of a boy who gets his kite stuck in a tree and, in order to dislodge it, he throws up bigger and more elaborate things. Without giving away the story, let's just say a whale, some ladders and a neighbours house are involved. Definitely worth reading and treasuring.
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Tree: Seasons Come, Seasons Go
Publisher: Little Tiger Kids
Text by: Britta Teckentrup
Illustrated by: Britta Teckentrup
Age: 2-5
We have found and supplied our subscribers with another absolutely gorgeous book. Truly, there aren't enough adjectives to describe this hardback, die-cut book - certain to fascinate children and adults alike.
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Interactive books always intrigue little ones and this one is no different. With holes that keep emerging and new animals to discover amongst the trees, it does a great job at keeping little ones entertained. It's a book about seasons and although it clearly will benefit the imagination of any child, it will provide many points of discussion. So whether your child (or you, for that matter) like descriptive landscapes or bold illustrations, this book is perfect.
Sidney, Stella and the Moon
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Text by: Emma Yarlett
Illustrated by: Emma Yarlett
Age: 2-5
Emma Yarlett is one of favourite emerging authors and a glance at this book will reveal why. She encapsulates all that we look for in picture books - the pictures, story and layout are all engrossing and, with a fold-out section to add, it really is perfect.
An important story about sharing, but with other themes such as friendship, imagination and space, it would appeal to a wide variety of preferences. The illustrations are bold and beautiful and on the basis of Orion and the Dark and Poppy Pickle, Emma Yarlett is an author to keep an eye on!
The First Slodge
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Text by: Jeanne Willis
Illustrated by: Jenni Desmond
Age: 2-5
The First Slodge tells an important tale about the importance of sharing, without coming across as preachy! Instead it is bold, quirky and fun to read.
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It tells the story of a slodge who is the first slodge on a planet (or so she thinks). Initially she gets to claim everything she discovers as her own. That is until she encounters another slodge! Needless to say there's a happy ending but not without a few arguments along the way. A great story to explore funny voices and simple yet unique illustrations to engage all readers, young and old! A wonderful read.
It's Mine!
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Text by: Tracey Corderoy
Illustrated by: Caroline Pedler
Age: 0-4
You've got to love a touchy-feely book, right?! What's great about this book is that not only are there textures to explore, allowing the littlest of readers to access it, the story itself is applicable to older toddlers.
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The story is sweet and simple and the illustrations compliment it perfectly - plenty of soft drawings and bright colours. A lovely book to snuggle up with.
The Tigon and the Liger
Publisher: Lantana Publishing
Text by: Keilly Swift
Illustrated by: Cosei Kawa
Age: 0-4
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The Tigon and Liger is a beautiful book. There are many children's stories that have main characters that don't fit in and, by the end, their qualities are embraced. All too often the plot is rather familiar. Although this follows a similar path, rarely does a story embrace this theme with such uniqueness and culture. Lantana Publishing work with diverse themes, authors and illustrators and this is one of many of their richly enchanting works.
The Famous Fins of Florence Fish
Publisher: Gull and Buoy
Text by: Emma Pickles
Illustrated by: Susannah Garrod
Age: 2-5
Another amazing find! This is Emma Pickles second work - the first being Sidney Seagull Starts the Stomp - and both are excellent! The Famous Fins of Florence Fish is perhaps even more delightful than the first. The story, quality of rhythm and rhyming is second-to-none and we would recommend everyone to read it.
Little Why
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Text by: Jonny Lambert
Illustrated by: Jonny Lambert
Age: 0-4
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A lovely book to celebrate the inquisitiveness and individuality of little ones! This little elephant has lots of questions and he's very endearing. Perfect for lots of ages. Simplistic, accessible illustrations for 1 year-olds and important messages for 4 year-olds. A lovely read, all round.
Otto The Book Bear
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
Text by: Katie Cleminson
Illustrated by: Katie Cleminson
Age: 2-6
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Who wouldn't sympathise with a lonely book bear? Otto lives in a book and, one day, whilst he was off exploring his book he came back to find that all his friends had gone (nothing sinister - the owners had just moved house!). We follow Otto on his journey to find friends and to fit in this new adult-sized world only to find something even more magical than a book bear - a library! A real gem, highlighting the importance and wonder of reading.
The Best Book in The World
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Text by: Rilla Alexander
Illustrated by: Rilla Alexander
Age: 3-7
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We're so pleased to be supplying a book from Flying Eye Books - a publisher that seemingly prioritises beautiful illustrations over anything. This book is no exception. Graphic-like, quirky and bold, the illustrations take you through everything there is to love about books. And whilst the rich contrast in colour would attract the youngest of readers, we're sure that the imaginative language will enrich the older ones.
Baxter's Book
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Text by: Hrefna Bragadottir
Illustrated by: Hrefna Bragadottir
Age: 2-5
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Baxter is such a wonderful creation. He isn't quite cute, scary or cuddly enough to have a staring role in his own book but he'll be damned if he isn't going to try first. With a title like 'Baxter's Book' you may already know the outcome but it's still definitely worth the read. With plenty of characters to create voices for and with plenty of lovely illustrations, children and adults will enjoy this book as much as each other. Nosy Crow also provide some excellent resources to go with it so you will definitely get your money's worth!
Library Lily
Publisher: Gullane Children's Books
Text by: Gillian Shields
Illustrated by: Francesca Chessa
Age: 3-7
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This story revolves around two characters who find each other, complement each other and teach each other things about the world. First we are introduced to Lily who, as you can guess, loves books (don't we all?). One day she finds another girl who doesn't like books but instead loves exploring the world. They end up becoming friends and show each other that there is happiness to be found exploring and, of course, in books. It's a sweet tale with beautiful illustrations.
Books Always Everywhere
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Text by: Jane Blatt
Illustrated by: Sarah Massini
Age: 0-3
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I cannot express how much I love this book. When we bought it for our own little one, I read it with a certain degree of cynicism. I thought, although I'm embarrassed to say this now, that the words were just too simple and, dare I say, boring. Maybe I was just sleep-deprived and grumpy. But all fool me. This was, I reckon, the first book our daughter loved! She requested it again and again when she was really little and even when her language was first starting to develop, she would love joining in. Not only is the rhythm and repetition important, the fact it's simple makes it so attractive to little ones. The basic words introduce simple opposites and adjectives, whilst the simple yet beautiful illustrations compliment them perfectly. The theme is also one that we adore and even build our business model on. Books are amazing and should be everywhere! I know that when my daughter gets older, this will be one of the books I loved reading with her the most.
The Dinner That Cooked Itself
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Text by: J.C Hysu
Illustrated by: Kenard Pak
Age: 5-7
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Flying Eye Books have so many wonderful, cultural books and this is no different. This fairytale follows a lonely batchelor whose luck changes. With plenty of references to food and even some extra pages at the back referring to Chinese culture, it's not only a beautiful story but a book provides a platform to explore more about different themes. Unique and engrossing. We loved it.
T-Veg. The Story of the Carrot-Crunching Dinosaur
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Text by: Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Illustrated by: Katherina Manolessou
Age: 2-6
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If I ever write a children's book, I want it to be like this. The rhyming is faultless, the plot is thoughtful, the references are funny and the illustrations are excellent. We learn about a T-Rex who loves fruit and veg, and when other dinosaurs make fun of him for not eating meat, he sets off to find dinos that will indeed appreciate him. Needless to say, happiness is only truly found when they're all reunited (with a fruit and veg party of course). Truly magnificent - we implore you all to read it!
Noodle Loves to Eat
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Text by: Marion Billet
Illustrated by: Marion Billet
Age: 0-2
We have been working on providing the best in board books as well as beautiful picture books and we're so happy to have sent out Noodle in some of our packages.It gives the wonderfully simple message of enjoying food but also has textures to feel and, get this, a mirror at the back! It has a great rhythm to it too (not all rhyming books flow) so it is a perfect book to read to babies or, indeed, let them play with.
Dustbin Dad
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's UK
Text by: Peter Bently
Illustrated by: Russell Ayto
Age: 1-5
This book proudly displays 'From the winners of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize' on the front and I'm glad to say that it lives up to the hype. An ingeniously unique book about a dad that turns in to a cat, essentially because he eats everything, this will surely ring true with lots of households. The illustrations are fantastic and we reckon that a wide range of ages can read this as there a lots of funny annotations for the slightly older children to study. We hope our readers enjoy it as much as we do. Actor Warwick David went on Bookaboo to read this book too so it must be good!
One Hundred Sausages
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Text by: Yuval Zommer
Illustrated by: Yuval Zommer
Age: 2-6
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What's there not to love? It's a book about a dog who loves all types of sausages and then, when lots of sausages go missing, he attempts to save the day. Lots of lovely rhyming with a sweet ending. A yummy, funny book perfect for all little ones!
Black Rabbit
Publisher: Walker Books
Text by: Philippa Leathers
Illustrated by: Philippa Leathers
Age: 2-7
Those with little children will get the pleasure of seeing their little ones discover shadows, especially their own, and this book encourages their imagination on the subject in a playful and enjoyable way. It follows an innocent rabbit who tries to get away from his scary shadow only to befriend it when it saves it from a wolf. A great story about light, overcoming fears and friendship, and no doubt one that will provoke even the littlest of readers.
Rabbityness
Publisher: Child's Play
Text by: Jo Empson
Illustrated by: Jo Empson
Age: 2-6
A book rarely combines illustration and text so gloriously. Jo Empson has laid down her marker with this beautiful book about hope, loss and our appreciation of art. Simple in its delivery but with lots of avenues to explore and emotions to discuss, it's a bold and profound book. One to be treasured and appreciated just like the protagonist bunny who leaves his music and paintings behind. Perfect.
The Wonderful Habits of Rabbits
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Text by: Douglas Florian
Illustrated by: Sonia Sanchez
Age: 2-7
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Who would have thought that the habits of rabbits were so wonderful? Well they are. And moreso, their habits are captured by such bright, soft illustrations that will grab the attention of all readers, big and small. The text flows beautifully, with rhyming sentences that roll like waves over the page and list the endearing habits of rabbits (some that you'd expect, some you wouldn't). In short, it's sweet, endearing and well worth a snuggle up to!
Hooray for Hoppy
Publisher: Macmillan's Children's Books
Text by: Tim Hopgood
Illustrated by: Tim Hopgood
Age: 1-5
I love it when books have a few themes that can be further explored and Hooray for Hoppy does it perfectly. It's a wonderful board book, with the perfectly suited text and the inviting Hopgood illustrations that can be instantly appreciated. But this spring-time beauty also discusses the senses, and follows the rabbit's use of them all as he determines whether or not spring has sprung, without any tedious link. It reads with wonderful ease and has the breadth to appeal to a wide range of readers. Hooray, indeed, for Hoppy.
Dear Bunny
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Text by: Katie Cotton
Illustrated by: Blanca Gomez
Age: 1-6
This is such a vital book for one of the (I'm going to guess now) millions of toddlers who love bunnies. The little girl in this book goes through the things she loves to do with her bunny and concludes that, whatever it is, the best thing is the bunny itself. Although unsurprising in its ending, the list is not (she loves, for instance, that the bunny is there when she's happy AND when she's sad). Furthermore, the illustrations by Blanca Gomez are beautiful. And a special mention goes to Frances Lincoln Publishers, who went with textured paper on the cover, which makes the book feel as special as the bunny is to the little girl. In essence, it's just such a lovely book.
The Colour Thief
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Text by: Gabriel Alborozo
Illustrated by: Gabriel Alborozo
Age: 1-4
Nominated for the V&A Illustration award in 2015, this is a beautifully illustrated, wonderfully told story about the importance of colour and generosity. And, above all, it's one of our daughter's favourites, probably because, at one point, an alien 'calls out in a strange language' so it's fun to play around with silly noises. The story goes that the alien visits the colourful Earth to take all of its colour, including the orange from a boys balloon. He then finds a conscience and all is restored, with a heartwarming message in its core.
The Game of Red, Yellow and Blue
Publisher: Phaidon
Text by: Herve Tullet
Illustrated by: Herve Tullet
Age:0-4
The board books coming out of Phaidon are superb gateways for toddlers to get into art, colour and reading. This one particularly is a fantastic exploration of what happens when these colours mix but, aside from being a simple fact book, the colours are cleverly given characters and a plot, so that the book is not only educational but enjoyable!
The Crow's Tale
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Text by: Naomi Howarth
Illustrated by: Naomi Howarth
Age: 3-7
So many beautiful colours powerfully displayed using unique, glorious illustrations make this folk tale vibrant and relevant in an occasionally-desensitised world. The story examines the effect of selflessness and kindness and is a profound story, easily accessible, for toddlers and beyond. Stunning in many ways.
Neon Leon
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Text by: Jane Clarke
Illustrated by: Britta Teckentrup
Age: 2-6
Jane Clarke and Britta Teckentrup have teamed up to make a wonderful partnership in this story about being accepted. Poor Leon is so Neon that he can't help but keep the other chameleons awake and the bold illustrations reflect this perfectly. In fact the illustrations are engaging enough - the words just happen to make the book even better. Well worth a read!
Immi
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
Text by: Karin Littlewood
Illustrated by: Karin Littlewood
Age: 2-6
I am so glad we found this book. It is a heart-warming story that opens the mind to other cultures and our proximity to them. Two characters, living in different parts of the world, discover each other and the theme of hope, discovery, friendship and curiosity permeate throughout. With beautiful illustrations to match, this is a story that will always be relevant.
Sam and Dave Dig A Hole
Publisher: Walker
Text by: Mac Barnett
Illustrated by: Jon Klassen
Age: 2-6
Another fantastic book from Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. Two boys, armed with inquisitiveness and spades go digging for something extraordinary. To the onlooking reader, it looks as if their near-misses will reap them no reward but, thankfully, they discover something rather incredible after-all. This is exactly the sort of book, children should have. It fosters the imagination and encourages them to go off and explore for themselves. Excellent.
The Something
Publisher: Macmillan
Text by: Rebecca Cobb
Illustrated by: Rebecca Cobb
Age: 1-5
The best books are the ones that really capture the imagination and this story does it exquisitely. A little boy loses a boy loses a ball down a hole that he's discovered at the bottom of his garden and we explore all the different imaginings of what might be down there. Cobb's illustrations hand themselves perfectly to the innocence and simplicity of story and capture all that is good about wonder.
The Something
Publisher: Macmillan
Text by: Rebecca Cobb
Illustrated by: Rebecca Cobb
Age: 1-5
The best books are the ones that really capture the imagination and this story does it exquisitely. A little boy loses a boy loses a ball down a hole that he's discovered at the bottom of his garden and we explore all the different imaginings of what might be down there. Cobb's illustrations hand themselves perfectly to the innocence and simplicity of story and capture all that is good about wonder.
The Bear and the Piano
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Text by: David Litchfield
Illustrated by: David Litchfield
Age: 1-5
Just a stunning book. We named this as our favourite book of 2016 and David Litchfield has already rolled out another stunner (Grandad's Secret Giant) for a possible 2017 contender! The exquisite text and simply beautiful illustrations are sublimely combined to create a touching story about the importance of home and friendship. In a world where superficial distractions are ten a penny, this book not only wonderful but timely. A perfect read for all generations.
The Something
Publisher: Macmillan
Text by: Rebecca Cobb
Illustrated by: Rebecca Cobb
Age: 1-5
The best books are the ones that really capture the imagination and this story does it exquisitely. A little boy loses a boy loses a ball down a hole that he's discovered at the bottom of his garden and we explore all the different imaginings of what might be down there. Cobb's illustrations hand themselves perfectly to the innocence and simplicity of story and capture all that is good about wonder.
The Road Home
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Text by: Katie Cotton
Illustrated by: Sarah Jacoby
Age: 3-7
If anyone out there thinks that children's books are all mass-produced, without substance, either sign up to our book club where we will effectively disprove that theory, or simply, buy this book! The time and care that has gone into producing this book are all too apparent - wonderful illustrations from Sarah Jacoby and touching words from Katie Cotton, delivered and published in a wonderful hardback by Frances Lincoln Children's Books. The perfect package with a sentimental message about journeys and home.
Dave's Cave
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Text by: Frann Preston-Gannon
Illustrated by: Frann Preston-Gannon
Age: 1-5
This book good. We like. Nosy Crow good. Dave funny. Frann pictures very good.
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A simple story, humorously and uniquely told about appreciating what you've got. Simple language for very little ones to follow but bold and funny enough for older toddlers to engage. All round, a fantastic book.
Pig and Small
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Text by: Alex Latimer
Illustrated by: Alex Latimer
Age: 2-6
This was the perfect book for this month's theme, SIZE! Many books tell stories of unlikely friendships but we thought the friendship between a pig and a little bug to be unique and comical. How can they be friends despite their size difference?
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Without giving too much away, this is wonderful story about friendship and kindness perfectly executed alongside quirky drawings. The last page is particularly funny but I won't spoil it for you. Just read it. Or subscribe to our subscription so that you don't miss out on another wonderful book!
Big and Small
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Text by: Britta Teckentrup
Illustrated by: Britta Teckentrup
Age: 0-1
What a lovely, simple book by one of the most prolific illustrations to date. The contains wonderful comparisons between small and big things in nature, introducing the idea of relative size. The bright colours with bold contrast, in a hardback book, make it the perfect book for little hands!
Ernest - The Moose Who Doesn't Fit
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Text by: Catherine Rayner
Illustrated by: Catherine Rayner
Age: 1-5
Award-winning Catherine Rayner produces one of our favourite books with superb illustrations that support a great, unique idea. Ernest is a moose who wants to fit in a book but can only manage it with some help and a creative solution. With a fold out page, the book captures the imagination of a wide range of ages and will no doubt have your little ones wanting more!
The Tiny King
Publisher: Walker
Text by: Taro Miura
Illustrated by: Taro Miura
Age: 1-5
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Such unique, bold illustrations make this book a real treat. Taro Miura uses collages of graphics or real objects to set engaging scenes and little ones can have fun finding all the little objects, especially on the king's huge dinner table.
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The story itself narrates the life of a tiny king who only finds happiness once he finds a big princess. Only once he finds love and has a family can he make the most of his big horse, bath and castle!
Near, Far
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Text by: Silvia Borando
Illustrated by: Silvia Borando
Age: 0-2
A very intriguing, puzzling, quirky book. The book zooms in and then out of objects, allowing for lots of possibilities for questioning. Bold illustrations and thoughtful examples make this a nice book to introduce size and curiosity for little ones.
Mr Tiger Goes Wild
Publisher: Two Hoots
Text by: Peter Brown
Illustrated by: Peter Brown
Age: 1-4
This book celebrates being true to oneself and wonderfully presents this message in a quirky and funny way. Peter Brown gives all the animals in this book a great personality but none moreso than the rather wild Mr Tiger who just wants to be himself. The townsfolk don't like this as it involves Mr Tiger losing his clothes (fair enough?) but peace is eventually restored when they start to embrace him for his uniqueness. Better still, they start to become a little more adventurous themselves!
I love picture books that include extra annotations or speech bubbles in the illustrations as it gives the reader and listener a little more fun to be had and this book does it brilliantly.
Bold, relevant and funny. We're so happy to be including this in our packages this month.
I Don't Want to Go To Bed!
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Text by: Julie Sykes
Illustrated by: Tim Warnes
Age: 1-4
Parents of toddlers will no doubt have heard this exact phrase and although there many bedtime books with this message, this one is full and absorbing enough to be unique, enjoyable and helpful! It follows the story a tiger who doesn't want to go to bed but finds that all of his friends are. Well worth snuggling up to!
There's A Tiger In The Garden
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Text by: Lizzy Stewart
Illustrated by: Lizzy Stewart
Age: 2-6
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This is such a wonderful picturebook both for the beautiful, innocent story and the gorgeous, provocative drawings. Similar to The Tiger Who Came to Tea, this book would really capture the imaginations of little ones. It tells the story of a grandmother informing her granddaughter of a tiger in the garden, amongst other fascintating things. It's a book that incorporates ideas of family, imagintation and exploration. A real treat.
The Secret Life of A Tiger
Publisher: Words and Pictures
Text by: Emilia Dziubak
Illustrated by: Przemyslaw Wechterowicz
Age: 2-6
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Some books deserve pride and place on a bookshelf and this is one of them. The illustrations are so special - each rich in colour - and the words suit them perfectly.
Who knows what tigers get up to? Yes, sometimes they might eat the occasional explorer, but it turns out they lead incredible lives. Follow this quirky character who guides us through some of his hobbies (building statues for ants, or giving jungle animals haircuts to name a couple). Bold and brilliant. Great for so many ages.
One Happy Tiger
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Text by: Catherine Rayner
Illustrated by: Catherine Rayner
Age: 0-2
We love board books with the very little ones in mind. Considering the number of babies, there just aren't a proportional number of beautiful board books! Well this is one that bucks the trend. The character is the same, inquisitive tiger from Augustus and his Smile and we're lead through a discovery of numbers through Catherine Rayner's relentlessly wonderful illustrations. If ever there was a sweet counting book, this is it.
The Lumberjack's Beard
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Text by: Duncan Beedie
Illustrated by: Duncan Beedie
Age: 2-5
We think this is a joyous way of introducing the concept of deforestation! The lumberjack clearly has a kind heart after he lets the now-homeless woodland animals live in his massive beard. Still though, that has it's own problems. It becomes clear that trees are probably the best home for them and he sets out to amend his errors. Cute, funny pictures, unique, relevant story, beautifully produced. Will surely be one of the standout books this year.
The Lorax
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books
Text by: Dr. Seuss
Illustrated by: Dr. Seuss
Age: 4-7
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“But now," says the Once-ler, "now that you're here, the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”
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No one creates rhyming couplets quite like Dr. Seuss. A profound yet accessible tale about looking after the world you live in. Sublime.
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Varmints
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Text by: Helen Ward
Illustrated by: Marc Craste
Age: 4-7
I have rarely read a book so visually stunning. The language and illustrations are so evocative and, unlike lots of picture books, has a lasting impact. The poetry and poignancy have the potential readers young and old and is well worth immersing yourself into. Just great.
All the Wild Wonders
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
Text by: Various. Edited by Wendy Cooling
Illustrated by: Piet Gobler
Age: 2-7
This is another proud addition to our environment theme this month - this time a book of poetry. A delightful, profound variety of poems - short, long, deep or quick - it has it all. Wonderfully edited with beautiful pictures, this collection has the ability to encapsulate the importance of looking after the environment whilst providing plenty of opportunities for pleasurable family reading. Deserves a place on every child's bookshelf.
Bee and Me
Publisher: Old Barn Books
Text by: Wordless
Illustrated by: Alison Jay
Age: 0-4
Wordless picture books are such an important part of a child's library yet there are not a proportionate amount out there. This however really helps the wordless book enthusiasts make their voices heard. Alison Jay is such a wonderful illustrator (popping more and more we're pleased to see) with her soft, appealing palates and sensual backgrounds that this can't be ignored. The story (or the one it is guiding you towards) follows the journey of a bee through a heavily misused planet and will no doubt appeal to and provoke even the youngest of readers. If you're going to 'read' a wordless picture book, you'd do well to make it this one!
Moon
Publisher: Little Tiger Kids
Text by: Patricia Hegarty
Illustrated by: Britta Teckentrup
Age: 0-8
This is now our third Britta Teckentrup book that we’ve sent out since starting The Happy Book Club 15 months ago. Her illustrations are consistently beautiful and these series of die-cut books with Patricia Hegarty are particularly stunning, having already produced the similar Bee and Tree books recently. With peep-through holes, encouraging even more imagination, we reckon this glorious hardback is suitable for the very young up to around 8 years old.
Man on the Moon
Publisher: Templar
Text by: Simon Bartram
Illustrated by: Simon Bartram
Age: 3-6
This is a great book for the aspiring astronaut. Clever, humorous prose with rich, bold illustrations will give this book a lot of mileage! After winning the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award now 15 years ago, it still continues to be relevant and accessible for families and little ones and I’m sure it will continue to do so over the next 15 years.
The Mouse Who Ate the Moon
Publisher: Walker
Text by: Petr Horacek
Illustrated by: APetr Horacek
Age: 1-4
Petr Horacek is firmly placing himself as a regular producer of fantastic picture books having illustrated and written lots of lovely books for Walker Books. His unique, fuzzy pencil-work is light and appealing and this story has particular appeal because of its peep-through holes. The story is about a little mouse who thinks he’s eaten the moon and is sweet and thoughtful like all good picture-books are.
The Darkest Dark
Publisher: Macmillan
Text by: Chris Hadfield
Illustrated by:The Fan Brothers
Age: 2-6
I was a huge Chris Hadfield fan anyway – a 3-times-astronaut who really brought space to the masses with his photography, his book and his ability to play David Bowie in the International Space Station. But now he’s written a children’s book and his talent seems to have no limit. The Fan Brothers have really captured the beauty of his words with their glowing white colours amongst seas of black and the story itself is an inspiring account of how a child may one day overcome their fears to make bold adventures of their own. Just a really, really great book.
Max at Night
Publisher: Puffin
Text by: Ed Vere
Illustrated by: Ed Vere
Age: 2-6
This is the perfect bedtime book and has even been known to feature in our bedtime special packages for good reason. The story follows Max as he sets off to find the moon, venturing higher and higher until he eventually reaches the highest of the high hills where the wind blows the clouds away to reveal the moon in all its bright bold glory. This is such a sweet book with an endearing main character that I’m sure little readers will relate to. Sometimes they just want to say goodnight to everyone too!
