Lunch on a Pirate Ship stars a young boy called Jack who, unimpressed by what his mother is serving up for lunch, boards a pirate ship in search of something more tasty. Adventure abounds in this rollicking, rhyming adventure which had us turning the pages to see what Jack and his friends would eventually eat.…
Zog is one of my daughter’s favourite Julia Donaldson stories and she was delighted to find the newly published sequel, Zog and the Flying Doctors, at The Edinburgh Book Festival. We had tickets for Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s show which included watching Axel draw pictures of Zog and his friends plus characters from the new story – a mermaid, a lion and a particularly special unicorn.…
Age Range: 4 to 8
We love Zog! He’s a dragon who wants to do well at school but has problems when he tries to learn new skills. However, his story is great for showing that with perseverance you can become successful and good at something.…
On February 14th you can give some books away
and join the celebrations for Book Giving Day.
The aim is very simple. Put books in children’s hands.
Not only in your country but in many different lands.…
Age Range: 3 to 8
Room in the Broom is one of my daughter’s favourite Julia Donaldson / Axel Scheffler stories. As well as witch, cat, dog, frog and bird crafts there are many other learning activities that can be inspired by the book.…
Age Range: 1 to 5
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? is a colourful first book for babies, a great book for a beginner reader and I have also read the English version many times to non native English speaking children.…
We’ve been reading another great picture book to prepare a child for starting school – Whiffy Wilson The Wolf who wouldn’t go to School. I love the humorous approach that Caryl Hart has added to a familiar situation and she has created a wonderfully supportive friend, Dotty, who helps to ensure that Wilson has lots of fun on his first day at school.…
Age Range: 3 to 7
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).…
Age Range: 3 to 6
The Story: Gerald the giraffe has thin legs and crooked knees. At the Annual Jungle Dance he watches the other animals dancing but when he tries to dance they laugh at him. Gerald leaves the dance and meets a friendly cricket who advises him to listen to the sounds of nature and follow his own rhythm.…
Age Range: 0 to 5
“What were the first books that your daughter enjoyed?” asked a friend of mine last week. Without doubt my daughter loved The Wheels on the Bus and Old Macdonald had a Farm, classic rhymes told in board books with holes.…