Age 8
The unbelievable top secret diary of Pig by Emer Stamp
The unbelievable top secret diary of Pig has a cast of crazy farmyard characters including Pig, Duck, a herd of sheep and Evil Chickens. It is a hilarious adventure which I read in one sitting. When I read it to my daughter she asked me to keep reading, she wanted to find out what was…
The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Despite the fact that more people are sending virtual Christmas cards and messages I still like to send real Christmas cards. The Jolly Christmas Postman also has lots to deliver on his snowy Christmas Eve round, the characters in the story are preparing for Christmas and some are already celebrating with sherry and mince pies.
Dixie O’Day In the Fast Lane by Shirley Hughes & Clara Vulliamy
Dixie O’Day In the Fast Lane is a perfect book for children who are moving from picture books to chapter books. The seven short chapters are designed to be read one a day but it is such an action packed story that we can’t resist reading it in one sitting. It’s a real page turner…
Press Here by Hervé Tullet
Press Here is very original, very unique and like no other book that we have on our bookshelf. It’s not a storybook, more an interactive game book which is best read aloud especially when you read it to a group of children. It isn’t the easiest book to describe but here goes….!
Mouseton Abbey – The Missing Diamond by Nick Page & Tim Hutchinson
Mouseton Abbey is the mouse version of Downton Abbey. Roquefort, Earl of Mouseton (Lord Mouseton) leads a cast of cute, knitted mice (all with cheesy names) as they try and locate the missing Great Big Cheesy Diamond in time for the annual Cheesemas banquet.
Following My Paint Brush by Gita Wolf
Following My Paint Brush is a fascinating account of how an Indian artist, Dulari Devi, learnt to paint. Her story is accompanied by her wonderful illustrations and it has given us an insight into life in a different culture.
Mrs Pepperpot Learns to Swim by Alf Prøysen & Hilda Owen
I loved reading the Mrs Pepperpot stories as a child and they have lost none of their magic now that I am an adult. Mrs Pepperpot has a very peculiar characteristic, she shrinks (without warning) to the size of a pepperpot (hence the name!). I was very excited when I discovered picture book versions of…
The Jolly Postman (or Other People’s Letters) – Janet & Allan Ahlberg
Last week in an interview that I did for Readitdaddy’s blog one of the questions was “If you had to name one booky person as your complete and utter book idol (Writer, Illustrator, Publisher etc.) who would it be and why?”. I chose Janet and Allan Ahlberg as they have written several of my favourite picture…
Tamara Small and the Monsters’ Ball by Giles Paley-Phillips & Gabriele Antonini
The Story: Tamara Small is lying in bed listening to the wind howling when a monster comes into her room and whisks her off to the Annual Monsters’ Ball in the village hall. After her initial shock Tamara has a great night dancing with all of the monsters. They dance until sunrise and then surprise…
The Princess and the Peas by Caryl Hart & Sarah Warburton
A book that encourages a child to start eating vegetables is definitely a winner! I am guilty of trying to disguise vegetables in food (courgette and cocoa muffins actually taste really good!) but The Princess and the Peas encouraged my daughter to eat peas after a long time refusing to, now she’s also asking me to…
