Rhyme
Ten Tiny Tadpoles by Debbie Tarbett
Ten Tiny Tadpoles is a rhyming counting book which also introduces babies and younger children to the concept of tadpoles turning into frogs. We read the book after a walk to the pond to look for frogspawn, it’s a great book to read in the spring.
The Night Pirates by Peter Harris & Deborah Allwright
The Night Pirates has a crew of girl pirates who ingeniously outsmart a crew of grown up pirates and steal their treasure. This swashbuckling adventure is fun to read and overturns traditionally stereotypical pirate roles. It is a celebration of girl power (with help from a little lad, Tom).
Peck, Peck, Peck by Lucy Cousins
Peck Peck Peck tells the story of a little woodpecker who is learning to peck. Lucy Cousin’s bold, colourful illustrations are full of holes by the end of the story!
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.
Aliens Love Panta Claus by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
We’re starting to think about Christmas picture books and Aliens Love Panta Claus was one of the books under our Christmas tree last year. Those of you who know the hilarious Aliens Love Underpants story will know that the aliens steal the underpants. Aliens love Panta Claus is just as funny, in this story they…
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
Giraffes Can’t Dance is a wonderfully uplifting story of friendship and learning to be yourself.
Say Goodnight to the Sleepy Animals! by Ian Whybrow & Ed Eaves
My daughter loves Say Goodnight to the Sleepy Animals! with its touch and feel animals and its simple, repetitive, rhyming text. It’s a perfect bedtime read for the littlest of people.
The Lost (and Found) Balloon by Celeste Jenkins & Maria Bogade
The Story: Molly O’Doon ties a note to her red balloon and lets it loose to see who will find it. It floats up and away and over the town until the sun goes down. It floats all night, over the water and then lands in Katie’s garden. Katie has just moved house and when…
Amazing Aeroplanes by Tony Mitton
If you are planning a holiday that combines planes and small children I recommend this colourful, non fiction picture book to introduce the experience of flying. We bought it for our daughter (who first flew at the age of four months) and its bold, bright pictures and easy to read, simple rhyming text were an…
Rachelle Meyer recommends The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear
The Story: The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea, in a beautiful pea green boat… so begins one of the most treasured classic children’s poems in the English language. Their voyage on the sea continues for a year and a day and they eventually land, marry and feast in the land where the bong tree…
