Send us your comments on the books on the website that you have enjoyed, send in your comments, ideas and photos about activities linked to the books.

Recommendations from Rose, a grandmother

I’d like to recommend the Little Red Train series by Benedict Blathwayt. Each page is full of realistic but also whimsical detail, humorous and informative, with townscapes, country scenes and seascapes, exploring universal themes such as the tortoise and hare type of race (between trains), generous acts, cheating, rescue etc. I’ve just bought two: Race to the Finish and To the Rescue. Two others are: Runaway Train and Busy Day.  I notice that you include one book by him in the dinosaur section.

These were suggested by the bookshop in Muswell Hill  when I mentioned that both my grandsons Leo and Luke love the detail of the Richard Scarry books, but I don’t like having to ‘translate’ from the American, both the language and cultural references.  The Scarry books are full of humorous representations of urban busyness and different forms of travel, and have lots of recurring people/animals to find on each page. I’ve given a few to both Leo and Luke  (aged 3 and 2 and a half) for example, The Busiest People Ever and Cars and Trucks and Things that Go). But at the bookshop the assistant recommended the Little Red Train books as being similar in having lots of detail and having the theme of people helping, rescuing etc. I’ve used Race to the Finish  and both really liked it – I’m saving the Busy Day for later.

Another author I like is Alex T Smith: http://www.alextsmith.com/. He’s a young author and very popular, apparently.

It would be good to include on the site a section on local recommended bookshops. Mine would be: Children’s Bookshop, Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill.

Lovemybooks
Thanks Rose for some great suggestions for books and for the website. Please write again about reading with your grandsons. We’d love to hear from you.

So many wonderful picturebooks have been published in 2022.
Here’s our selection of some of the best.

As always, we hope that these are books that you and your children will enjoy sharing again and again and which might prompt conversations, creative activities, finding out more or imaginative story play. We hope you enjoy them.

The Boy Who Sailed the World
Julia Green and Alex Latimer (illus) David Fickling Books
Age 5-7

A young boy who loved the sea and stories about the sea decides to build a boat and sail the world to have adventures of his own. He negotiates busy shipping lanes and stormy weather, sees magical sunsets and star filled skies, discovering wonderful creatures, and making new friendsBeautifully written and illustrated, this is a joyous picturebook about the excitement of adventure, the wonders of the ocean and making dreams come true.

Visit our activity page for The Boy who Sailed the World
Buy the book

Colours, Colours, Everywhere
Julia Donaldson, Sharon King-Chai (illus), Two Hoots
Age 2-5

A little girl opens her paint box and wonders what to paint today. She starts with a blue tree frog and in no time at all the two of them are off on an adventure with a hot air balloon, oceans, islands, helicopters and lots and lots of colours. This is a concept book with a difference; a story celebrating colour in the world around us. It is a  lovely book, with a rhyming story and beautiful illustrations, with flaps to lift and holes to peep through. It is likely to encourage talk about colours, colour collections of objects or cut out from magazines and of course painting too.  
Buy the book

The Comet
Joe Todd Stanton
Flying Eye Books
Age 5-7+

Nyla is a creative child who enjoys life in the countryside with her dad. They spend lots of time playing and cooking together, making up stories and watching the night sky.

Everything changes when they move to the city. Dad has no time to play, the buildings are grey, the streets are busy, her school is strange and there are very few stars in the sky. Then one night Nyla spots a comet, sparking her imagination, her memories and lots of creative activity.

This is a story about the challenges of moving house and changing your way of life. We see Nyla and her father re discovering their close bond through making a new house into a home and becoming part of the community. With minimal text and wonderful illustrations this is a beautiful picturebook full of imagination, creativity and a sprinkling of magic.

Visit our activity page for The Comet

Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles
Michael Rosen and David Melling (illus)
Harper Collins
Age 3-7

In an amusing spin on the familiar tale Goldilocks and her dog Tiddles head off to rediscover the house in the woods – you know the one with the chairs, the porridge and the bears. But the song of the sea calls them, and they find themselves in a cave at the seaside– home to three crocodiles, who just like the three bears are not happy at the intrusion. With a pleasingly familiar patterned story, a repeated refrain and clever twists this is great fun and may lead to lots of speculation (what might the crocodiles have for breakfast?) and imagination too – children could reenact this version or wonder which other animal homes Goldilocks and Tiddles could visit.

Michael Rosen introduces the story here: Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles | Michael Rosen – YouTube

Buy the book

Granny Came Here on The Empire Windrush
Patrice Lawrence and  Camilla Sucre (illus)
Nosy Crow
Age 5-9

While Granny is helping Ava decide on a historical figure and outfit for a school assembly about people we admire, Ava spots a small cardboard suitcase with some intriguing objects inside. It was the case Granny brought with her from Trinidad when she travelled to England on the Empire Windrush.  Prompted by the contents, Granny begins relating her own story.

Beautifully written with bold, colourful illustrations, this picturebook brings a sense of the experience of the Windrush generation to young readers, as well as introducing several significant black women from history. Full of the warmth of family love, this story also has the message that the people we admire most may not be those we encounter in history books but much closer to home. It may prompt conversations about the Windrush generation and also between grandparents and grandchildren about the stories behind  the objects they treasure.
Buy the book

The Greatest Show on Earth
Mini Grey
Puffin
Age 7-11

Mini Grey sets out to tell the 4.6-billion-year story of life on Earth in this exciting picturebook.

The story is presented as if it is a theatrical performance by Rod the Roach and his international troupe of insect performers in the world-famous shoe box theatre. Each double page spread represents a key moment in the evolution of life on earth and we find ourselves jumping a mere billion years or so as the pages turn.

There is lots of wry humour, for example the asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs is introduced with ‘Here’s one for all you mass extinction fans!’

Drawing on her extensive skills in picturebook creation, knowledge and fascination with the animal world and environmental awareness this book is a tour de force, introducing a complex topic in an accessible and engaging way. There is plenty of food for thought too, with the importance of looking after our fragile planet an underlying theme.

Read interview with Mini Grey

Buy the book

Penguin Huddle
Ross Montgomery and Sarah Warburton (illus)
Walker Books
Age 3-7

After a busy day playing at the North Pole the penguins like to form a huddle to keep warm and cosy every night. One morning however, after a freezing gale, they wake up to find themselves stuck together! This prompts a crazy adventure as they try to find a way to get unstuck seeking help from their friends then travelling across the seas to a distant city.  The story is great fun with lively illustrations full of detail from the same team who created Ten Delicious Teachers. A story which definitely needs to be followed with a big cuddle.

Buy the book

The Perfect Present
Petr Horácek
Otter Barry books
Age 3-5

Tom and Mot are best friends who share a birthday. They want to give each other a special present. Taking turns, Tom gives Mot a feather and Mot gives Tom a marble, but maybe the feather is really a spectacular colourful bird, and the marble is the smallest planet in the universe.  The friends talk about what they would love to give each other; anything and everything from an elephant to the sun. They have a magical day together, full of imaginary fun. This is a gentle and beautifully illustrated story about friendship, love and imaginary play. Families could play the perfect present game too, making exaggerated promises about what they would give each other or imagining that the most every day of objects are actually something amazing and of course talking about the importance of spending time together as the best present of all.

Buy the book

Well Done, Mummy Penguin
Chris Haughton
Walker Books
Age 0-3

Little Penguin and Daddy Penguin watch as Mummy Penguin goes out to sea to find dinner. Little Penguin is slightly anxious but very impressed with her swimming, fishing, climbing and jumping but seeks reassurance she will be back soon and worried about the scary looking seals blocking her way. With very appealing and stylish images, lots of sound effects and a repeated refrain, this is a delightful picturebook capturing the feelings of the young perfectly and celebrating the determination of mothers everywhere to look after their young.  

Read about the development of the story and watch a trailer here blog – Chris Haughton

Buy the book Well Done, Mummy Penguin a book by Chris Haughton. (bookshop.org)

Visit our activity page for Chris Haughton’s wonderful story about three baby monkeys unable to resist temptation Maybe…. now available in paperback

The Zebra’s Great Escape
Katherine Rundell illus, Sara Ogilvie
Bloomsbury
Age 5-9

When Mink is trying to avoid bedtime on her garden swing, she doesn’t expect to meet a young zebra, or that this young zebra would be in urgent need of her help and that she could understand what he is saying. This is the beginning of a magical adventure with talking animals and a dastardly villain, thwarted through our heroine’s bravery and a determined team of animal helpers.

This is an exciting story with a satisfying ending. Mink is an appealing heroine as are the animals particularly her sceptical helper Rainbow the dog.

A major theme in the story about being brave and helping others.

‘When people ask you for help, they are giving you the chance to change the world for the better.’

Author, Katherine Rundell introduces the book here Katherine Rundell on The Zebra’s Great Escape – YouTube

A first picturebook text by award winning children’s fiction writer Rundell. Her delightful text is perfectly matched by Sara Ogilvie’s lively illustrations. The book includes an A-Z of animals – children might enjoy finding out about these or creating their own animal alphabet.

Buy the book

Visit our activity page for Katherine Rundell’s wonderful book for older children The Wolf Wilder.

Sophy Henn
Puffin Books
Age 3-5

This is a delightful story about George, a rabbit who is rather sad when we first meet him. George watches his friends enjoying painting, skating, reading and dancing but doesn’t want to join in: he just doesn’t think he can. Wise Bear is watching and decides to do something about this. She makes George a ‘magic’ hat out of folded paper. George feels confident to have a go with his magic hat on and with a bit of practice finds he can try all the things his friends are doing and have fun too. Although he doesn’t  realise it, he is doing these things with and without the hat on. When the hat disappears George is worried but Bear tells him that really the magic is inside him, not the hat at all.

This is a simply lovely picture book about not being afraid to have a go at something new, persevering if new things are a bit difficult at first and having fun too.

Share the story

Read aloud

Before you start reading the story together look at the illustration on the cover and on the title page. The pictured character looks very different in both images, talk about this together.  Read the first double page spread aloud of the story aloud, pausing to talk about all the things the animals in the forest are doing. Continue reading the rest of the story aloud, pausing if your child wants to talk about the story or illustrations.

Join in
When you read the story again together encourage your child to join in, with the repeated phrases eg ‘George did nothing’ and conversations between George and his friends in the forest.

Talk about the story

• • Talk about how George is feeling at different points in the story

  • Talk about all the things George tries out with his magic hat on

  • Talk about what is happening on the page where George loses his hat.

  • Talk about the magic hat – is it really magic?

  • Talk about anything your child would like to try that they haven’t done before and things they have learnt to do that were hard at first

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Things to make and do

Make a paper hat
Make a paper hat following the instructions here

You could find a soft toy to wear it a rabbit, teddy or doll.

Act out the story with toys
Collect together some soft toys to be the characters in the story and choosing one to be Bear and one to be George, wearing a folded paper hat (see above).  Use the toys and tell the story together, it is fine if children use their own words for this.

Make a certificate for George
Use the template here to add a picture of George to make a well done certificate for him.

Try something new
Is there anything your child hasn’t tried (that they could try safely?!) For example riding a bike or scooter, or joining in with a swimming lesson or eating something new.

Read together Sophy Henn’s top tips for believing in yourself 

Find out more

Read more stories by writer illustrator Sophy Henn

Titles include:

Pom Pom is Super

Edie

Where Bear

There has been an exciting increase in the number of illustrated novels for children recently providing an additional and highly engaging dimension to the story telling and the book design. Illustrations add layers to the reading experience, providing lots to savour and talk about and inviting revisiting. Here is a selection of some of our favourites, we hope you and your children enjoy them.

Annie Lumsden The Girl from the Sea 
David Almond illus. Beatrice Alemagna
Walker Books
Age 7-9

Annie Lumsden is a mysterious and magical story about a girl who lives with her mother by the sea. She doesn’t quite fit in at school, struggles to read (the words ‘stuck to the page like barnacles’) and she begins to have mysterious falls. However, she has a strange affinity with the sea. Her mother is a folksinger and storyteller who one day tells Annie a story about her father, a man with a fin who appeared on the shore. Is it true? That remains the mystery of Annie Lumsden who gradually comes to terms with her identity, finding she belongs to both land and the sea. Beautiful lyrical writing with  full colour illustrations throughout which perfectly capture the dreamlike watery quality of the story.

Buy the book here Annie Lumsden, the Girl from the Sea (bookshop.org)
See our activity page for The Boy who Climbed into the Moon (David Almond and Polly Dunbar) and the Tale of Angelino Brown  (David Almond and Alex T Smith)

Boot
Shane Hegarty, illus. Ben Mantle
Hodder Children’s Books
Age 7-9

Boot is a small toy robot who is lost, with only vague memories of his past. He finds himself in a scrapyard owned by a scary man called Flint who likes to ‘krush em kwik’. Boot tries to find his former owner Beth and, on the way, meets other robot toys who can think and feel just like him. They help him to survive and search for his owner.

With themes of artificial intelligence, friendship, teamwork and memory this is a warm and engaging adventure story set in an all too feasible near future world staffed by robots. Boot is an appealing and inventive main character. The black and white illustrations emphasise the plight of the little robot but are also the underlying warmth of the story.
Buy the book BOOT small robot, BIG adventure: Book 1 (bookshop.org)
Visit our activity page

Corey’s Rock 
Sita Brahmachari, illus. Jane Ray
Otter Barry
Age 9-11

Isla and her parents have newly moved to the Orkney Islands from Edinburgh hoping a fresh start will help them cope with the recent loss of Isla’s younger brother Corey. Isla finds it hard to cope with her own grief and that of her mother who has become so distant towards her and is reluctant to be the new girl at school where everyone will know about her recent loss.

Isla seeks refuge in her father’s Selkie stories, which merge with her memories of Corey to create dream like sequences where she meets her brother.  In time Isla makes a friend and her mother finds a new purpose in her life.

This is a moving and beautifully written story about grief and coping with change. It includes mystical references to magical creatures and reincarnation. The illustrations perfectly complement the text, evoking both the island setting and the dream like sequences beautifully.
Read a family review of Corey’s Rock
Buy the book 

Eight Princesses and a. Magic Mirror                                                    
Natasha Farant, illus. Lydia Corey
Zephyr
Age 7-11

An enchantress, godmother to a baby princess, transforms her magic mirror into a pocket-sized version sending it on a mission to find out what really makes an excellent princess. 

There follow eight stories set across the world and throughout history linked together by the mirror as it is lost or given away and awaits a new home in the next chapter.

The mirror finds remarkable princesses who challenged stereotypes: they are brave, fierce and loyal with big dreams and big hearts.

The stories are beautifully written in traditional fairy tale style with attractive colour illustrations throughout including a full-page illustration and decorative title page to introduce each new princess and their story. 

A book which would make a lovely gift, particularly for young readers keen to discover that princesses do not need to wait for princes to fight their battles or sweep them off their feet.
Buy the book

A Mummy ate my Homework   
Thiago de Moraes       
Scholastic   
Age 7-11

While Henry is tackling an extra tricky equation on his first day back at school a black tornado swallows him up and he is transported back in time to Ancient Egypt and the court of Seti 1.

Henry isn’t a natural fit with the harsh lifestyle of the Ancient Greeks, but when he and his classmates are sent for a survival test in the jungle and an emergency ensues, his creativity saves the day. But will he ever get back to the twenty first century?

This is an amusing and engaging time slip adventure story packed with information about Ancient Egypt. The back of the book includes extra information about life at the time of Pharaoh Seti First in the form of a survival guide – including how to write your name in hieroglyphics. Illustration is used to great and varied effect throughout adding to the drama and the humour.

Thiago de Moraes speaks about the book’s creation and demonstrates how to draw an Egyptian God here Draw like an Egyptian with Thiago de Moraes – YouTube

Buy the book A Mummy Ate My Homework (bookshop.org)

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Chris Riddell
Macmillan
Age 6-9

Ottoline’s spends a lot of time alone because her parents are collectors and are often away travelling. Her main companion is Mr Munro, a very hairy creature from a bog in Norway. She is curious about other residents in her apartment block and likes solving mysteries. When she discovers a spate of burglaries and missing lapdogs Ottoline is keen to investigate.

Children will enjoy solving the mystery with Ottoline. The detailed illustrations of scenes in the story and the characters together with a wonderful array of maps, plans and postcards provide lots to talk about and enjoy.

This is a story to inspire children to find a disguise, a notebook and set off solving imaginary mysteries of their own.

Visit our activity page 
Buy the book here Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (bookshop.org)

Phoenix                                                    SF Said, illus. Dave McKean
Corgi Children’s Books
Age 9-11

Wrenched from his quiet life on Phoenix Lucky finds himself aboard a strange alien spaceship in the middle of an interplanetary war between Humans and an alien race. He becomes true friends with Bixa Quicksilver, a fierce warrior and loyal companion.  Together they race across the galaxy searching for Lucky’s imprisoned father, the reason for his affinity with the stars and the meaning of the strange power growing inside him.

This is an exciting Sci Fi story, an epic space quest, complete with dramatic battle scenes. It is also a story about the futility of war and acceptance of those who are different, showing that we have much in common and there is good and bad in everyone. This is a story which may spark interest in Space and in the stories peoples throughout time have used to describe it. Stunning sophisticated illustrations add to the mystery and otherworldliness of the story.

Watch a trailer
Visit our activity page
Buy the book here Phoenix (bookshop.org)

Pugs of the Frozen North                                                        Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
OUP
Age 6-8

Shen and Sika meet in the frozen north on the first day of True Winter. Sika needs dogs to pull her sledge and help her win the race to the Snowfather’s Palace at the top of the world. Shen, a cabin boy, abandoned by his crewmates when their ship becomes stuck fast in the ice, has 66 pugs he has rescued. They soon team up, but will the small dogs be strong enough to pull Sika’s sledge?

This is a fantastical snowy adventure story about wishes, kindness, loneliness and loss, beautifully told with humour, detail, and poignant moments through a brilliant combination of words and pictures.

Visit our activity page 
Buy the book here Pugs of the Frozen North (bookshop.org)

Starfell, Willow Moss and the Lost day             
Dominique Valente, illus. Sarah Warburton
Harper Collins
Age 7-11

Willow Moss is a finder of lost things. Within her family, as magical powers go, hers is less than spectacular. However, when the most powerful witch in the kingdom of Starfell seeks her help, Willow discovers her powers are quite special after all.  There follows a rather unusual quest; to discover how and why the previous Tuesday has gone missing from everyone’s memory. Success requires Willow not only to show bravery when facing danger but also, to face a deeply sad lost memory of her own, concerning someone she loves.

With an intriguing opening and a lively narrative style this is a fast paced and enjoyable fantasy adventure story. The world of Starfell is peopled with appealing, quirky characters. Teamwork saves the day as Willow and her friends rescue the kingdom from an evil being seeking ultimate power.

The story explores a thought-provoking idea, ‘the incredible value and significance of one ordinary day’. The storyworld is highly detailed and the internal black and white artwork brings this to life. The paint box colours of the magical forest of Wisperia are depicted beautifully in the cover illustration.

Watch a trailer and listen to the first chapter read aloud
Starfell by Dominique Valente | #FirstChapterFridays – Bing video
Buy the book Starfell: Willow Moss and the Lost Day (bookshop.org)

Zombierella: Fairy Tales Gone Bad  Joseph Coelho and Freya Hartas
Walker Books
Age 7-9

This illustrated verse novel is the perfect story for young readers seeking gruesome tales. The grey scale illustrations have just the right balance of gore and humour.

A librarian discovers a dusty corner of the library with a selection of fairy tales which have gone ‘bad.’ When Cinderella slips and dies the shadow of death breathes life into her body.  For three nights only she becomes Zombierella and is able to attend the prince’s balls travelling in a mushroom coach pulled by her skeletal steed Lumpkin, she seeks revenge on her fake sisters and mesmerises the vampire prince with her beauty.  This is the first in a series for those hungry for more.

Buy the book Zombierella: Fairy Tales Gone Bad (bookshop.org)

Giles Andreae, Guy Parker Rees
Orchard books

Age 3-5

It is time for the annual dance and all the animals are keen to perform, all that is except Gerald who is good at lots of things but not dancing. When he takes to the floor to try he is laughed at. Gerald felt sad and useless until he met a cricket who showed Gerald that he could dance if he found the right music. A story to reassure young readers that we can all succeed if we find what we are good at with a little encouragement along the way. With a rhyming text that skips along and wonderfully bold and colourful illustrations with lots of humour and detail this is a great story to share again and again.

Watch the story

Share the story

Read aloud
Read the story aloud to your child, allowing time to talk about the story and illustrations when your child wants to.

Join in
When children are familiar with the story you could encourage them to join in, by supplying the rhyming words if you leave gaps when you read or perhaps with some of the dialogue such as where Gerald exclaims, ‘I am dancing!’

Talk about the book
Talk about any unfamiliar words and phrases such as clumsy, elegant, buckled at the knees.
Talk about Gerald’s feelings when he first takes part in the jungle dance and at the end of the story.
What would your child like to say to the other animals in the jungle about the way they treated Gerald?
Look back through the text and try to spot the cricket watching Gerald on each page and some colourful beetles as well.

Things to make and do

Make a list
What might giraffes be good at? Make a list. Choose another jungle animal and think about what they might be good at too. Talk about yourselves, what you are good at and what you find difficult.

Have your own jungle dance
Look back at the pictures of the jungle dance, choose some music and try out some of the animals’ dance moves.

Make a picture
Give your child a large piece of paper and some paints including  yellow and orange. Suggest they make a big painting of Gerald doing a jungle dance.  

Find out more

Find out more about giraffes here

Read more stories by Giles Andreae

Rumble in the Jungle

Cock-a-Doodle-Doo Farmyard Hullaballoo

Be Brave Little Penguin – see our Lovemybooks page

So many wonderful picturebooks are published every year. Here is our selection of some of the best new books. These are books we hope you and your children will enjoy sharing again and again which might prompt conversations, creative activities, finding out more or imaginative story play. We hope you enjoy them.

Arlo the Lion who Couldn’t Sleep 

Catherine Rayner
Macmillan Books

Age 3-5

Arlo the lion is exhausted, but he just can’t fall asleep. Owl sees his predicament and has the perfect solution – he sings Arlo a song about relaxing and imagining he is in a lovely place. It works – Arlo sleeps all night and feels so much better when he wakes up, he can’t wait to tell Owl. Unfortunately, now Owl is fast asleep, and Arlo wakes him up!

A beautiful picturebook, perfect for bedtime reading with a simple story and a memorable rhyme to share together. The illustrations are wonderful, textured and appealing. This is a story which might lead to discussions about animals which sleep during the day and during the night.
Buy here 

Ergo

Alexis Deacon, illus. Viviane Schwarz
Walker Books
Age 5-7*

Ergo is a chick whose life is about to begin. She is inside an egg and developing awareness of her body – her toes, her wings and her beak. This is her world – albeit a very small one. But then Ergo decides to use her toes, her wings and her beak to escape and find out if there are more like her. She discovers she is part of a much bigger world.

This is a book to prompt lots of thinking and talk about our own known worlds and how we find out more about them.

Another philosophical book for children from the team that created the highly successful I am Henry Finch

Fabulous illustrations and striking layout emphasise the confusion of the little chick and her happiness when she discovers she is not alone, and the world is very exciting indeed.

Buy the book

The Fire Fox

Alexandra Page, illus. Stef Murphy
Two Hoots
Age 5-7+

A beautiful written and sensitive story about a young girl, Freya and her mother who go to stay in a remote cabin set in a snowy landscape. A sense of sadness lingers in the first few pages sensitively suggesting the loss of Freya’s father. Exploring her new environment Freya discovers a magical white fox and they play together. The fox seems to be creating wonderful colours as he speeds through the snowy landscape with Freya. When he disappears, colours fill the sky around her as if a gift left behind for her.

This story is inspired by legends of the Saami people of Northern Scandinavia about a white fox who scatters sparks which form the Northern Lights. It might inspire children to find out more about the Northern Lights, create artwork in response to the ideas or illustrations or prompt conversations about loss, grief and sharing good memories of loved ones.

Buy the book

Gloria’s Porridge

Elizabeth Laird, illus. Toby Newsome
Tiny Owl
Age 3-5

When Gloria makes a bowl of porridge her cat wants some, but Gloria doesn’t want to share. This leads to a chain of events upsetting not only the cat, but also a donkey, a hive of bees, a hen and finally Gloria herself. Fox hears the rumpus and helps them sort out the problem.

An engaging picturebook telling a simple and satisfying story of consequences highlighting the importance of thoughtfulness. It is based on a traditional Ethiopian folk tale.

Visit our activity page

Buy here

Watch a trailer

Once Upon a Tune    

James Mayhew
Otter Barry Books
Age 7-9+

This is a stunning book containing six carefully selected stories which have inspired great pieces of music including The Sorceror’s Apprentice and In the Hall of the Mountain King. We meet an array of characters including sorcerers, trolls and sea monsters. Scherherazade introduces the brave girl who persuades a bitter sultan into saving her life by bewitching him with stories.

The text is very well written, stories skillfully unfold with some lovely descriptive passages. The illustrations are wonderful with collaged images depicting the story worlds. The back of the book provides information about the composers and the writers whose stories inspired them. There is also a suggested playlist so that families can explore the music inspired by the stories.

A wonderful blend of music, art and storytelling, this is a perfect gift book likely to be treasured and pored over by adults and children alike. It may ignite interest in the music which inspired the story and also encourage children to have a go at storytelling or at creating their own collaged pictures of story settings.
Buy the book

See this video for an insight into the music which inspired the book

Saving Mr Hoot 

Helen Stephens
Alison Green Books
Age 3-7

When he says Mr Hoot stole his mitten, they think it is just his imagination. All winter long Ben and Mr Hoot call to each other. In springtime a lady with a chainsaw arrives to cut the tree down, but Ben is determined to stop her.

A story about the frustration of making yourself heard when you are very small. There is a strong environmental theme and sharing this story is likely to lead to talk about animal habitats and the impact of cutting down trees. It may lead to greater awareness as children look at the trees in their local environments.

This is a beautifully illustrated story by the creator of the highly popular How to Hide your Lion series.

Buy the book

Shu Lin’s Grandpa                                   

Matt Goodfellow, illus. Yu Rong
Otter Barry Books
Age 3-7

A young narrator remembers when Shu Lin first joined his school and wasn’t able to speak English well. She didn’t seem to fit in with playground games and had strange things in her packed lunch box. One day Shu Lin’s Grandpa visits and shows the class his beautiful artwork. He has created fabulous worlds with mountains and dragons. Afterwards the children have a go at painting their own magical landscapes. Shu Lin becomes the teacher sharing her brushwork skills, her classmates are very impressed.

This is a story about understanding what it is like to be a new arrival and the importance of acceptance and inclusion. It is likely to prompt discussions about the main character’s feelings.

The book includes a wonderful fold out landscape complete with dragon perfect for storytelling. After this insight into traditional Chinese artwork be ready to get out brushes and paints and a long strip of paper for children to create their own masterpieces.

Buy the book

SuperJoe Does NOT do Cuddles                                        

Michael Catchpool, illus. Emma Proctor
Lantana  
Age 5-7

SuperJoe has a busy day ahead of him, there is a tiger on the loose!  Before he sets off on his mission, mum wants a cuddle, but SuperJoe has no time for that, and anyway superheroes do NOT do cuddles.  SuperJoe is successful in his mission and two more daring rescues swiftly follow, involving a runaway train and a collapsing bridge, thwarting an arch enemy in the process. After a busy day it turns out the one thing a superhero really needs is a cuddle after all.

A lovely picturebook packed with imagination and adventure likely to inspire storyplay. The illustrations are very attractive and include lots of extra detail to spot, adding to the storytelling. The vocabulary is ambitious giving plenty to discuss.

Visit our activity page

Buy the book

Ten Delicious Teachers

Ross Montgomery, illus. Sarah Warburton
Walker Books
Age 3-7

Ten teachers miss the school bus and decide to take a short cut through a forest. They don’t spot the hungry monsters waiting to pounce. One by one the monsters pick off the teachers on their way through the forest until only Miss Hunter, the nursery teacher remains. However, she is more than a match for monsters and in no time at all takes them in hand teaching them some manners and how to count to ten!

This is a very silly rhyming counting story with humorous text well matched by the illustrations – the monsters are fantastic and might encourage young readers to design their own.

Buy the book

See the author Ross Montgomery reads from the book in this trailer

We’re Going to Find the Monster                                               

Malorie Blackman, illus. Dapo Adeola
Puffin
Age 0-5

Charlie and Eddie set off to find the monster. They go over a shimmering ocean and up a huge high mountain encountering a tiger, a hungry wolf and even a whale along the way. They eventually find the monster – their older brother – under his bedclothes ready to pounce and tickle them both.

This story is a celebration of the power of imagination and family fun. The cumulative text is a joy to read aloud, and children will enjoy hearing it again and again. The illustrations are warm and colourful adding to the storytelling. We find out the whale is really a goldfish and the tiger a stripey cat. One of the main characters has vitiligo and there is a link to find out more information about this condition on the inside cover.

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Ross Montgomery and Sarah Warburton (illus)
Walker Books
Age 3-7

After a busy day playing, the penguins form a huddle to keep warm and cosy every night. One morning, after a freezing gale, they wake up to find themselves stuck together! This prompts a crazy adventure across the ocean to a distant city as they try to find a way to get unstuck.  

With lots of humour and lively illustrations, this is a story which definitely needs to be followed with a great big cuddle!

Watch a trailer

Share the story

Read aloud
Read the story aloud to your child taking time to look at the illustrations as well as the text. Follow the penguins’ route on the map.

Talk about the story
◼︎Choose one of the illustrations and talk about what you both see happening, for example in the city scenes.
◼︎Find the rhyming words eg ‘huddle muddle cuddle ..’
◼︎Talk about Pipsqueak and how he feels at the end of the story
◼︎Look at the end papers and title page and talk about all the things the penguins are doing.

Joan and her grandaughter read and play with Penguin Huddle

I looked at this book with my granddaughter Nancy, aged 4 years. She was familiar with the book and said her daddy had read it to her. I asked her what happened in the story and she became quite animated and told me that the penguins had got all stuck together when they cuddled because they became frozen. Nancy explained that where penguins lived it was very cold. She asked me if they lived in the Arctic or the South Pole? I said I didn’t know but maybe it told us in the book. We had a look in the book and it said penguins lived in the South Pole, so we found out where that was on her globe. She turned each page of the book explaining what was happening. We looked at the map page and Nancy asked me to read the words and she traced the trail of the penguins with her finger. Nancy told me that the penguins didn’t know how to unfreeze themselves, so they went to see Doctopus. He told them they were already unstuck because the ice had melted. The only problem was they missed their big cuddle said Nancy. We looked at the last page and Nancy remembered the words. She told me that all the animals had a great big cuddle, so of course we did too!

I showed Nancy the plastic toy penguins that I had put into water and frozen in thefreezer. We got a deep tray and put in the ice block with penguins in it. ‘How can we get them free?’ I asked. Nancy said we could stand them on the radiator, but she didn’t want them to defrost just yet. We made fake snow and Nancy added water to the powder. She asked for warm water so that she could thaw the penguins gradually. Nancy had great fun hiding polar bears and other snow animals in the snow. She made up stories of the polar bears trying to find food to eat. We added more ice to make ice bergs. Nancy’s little sister Flora was fascinated and wanted to join in too! Nancy said the polar bears can’t eat the penguins because they are all huddled together.

 

We talked about how animals often stayed in packs or groups as protection from predators. Nancy spent a long time making up stories about the penguins and other animals. We then made a cityscape with wooden bricks in another tray and Nancy took the frozen penguins there. When the ice eventually melted, Nancy was able to free the penguins. ‘Now they miss their big cuddle' said Nancy.

 

We decided to make a big map of the penguins adventures. Nancy helped me roll out a long strip of parcel paper. Using felt pens we drew the different places the penguins visited. I asked Nancy what she wanted me to draw, so I then drew the sea and mountains and Nancy drew the icebergs and the city. There was lots of discussion as we completed the map, and every so often we referred back to the book to check something or to see what something looked like.

Nancy thoroughly enjoyed reading this story again, and making up her own stories about the penguins adventures. We spent a long time looking at the illustrations this time and Nancy enjoyed telling me what each penguin was doing.

 

And best of all we were able to finish with a great big cuddle of our own!

Things to make and do

Make a huddle of penguins
Use some small cardboard tubes and decorate with paint, pens felt or paper to make a set of penguins. Stick them together to make a huddle. Make one a bit smaller to represent Pipsqueak. If you use coils of sticky tape for this, you could separate them too.

Play the story
Set up a snowy ‘small world’ in a large tray. Use cotton wool for snow, or perhaps fake snow. Add small figures to represent the creatures in the story and encourage your child to retell the beginning of the story with you. They could play imaginatively with the figures… take them skiing down the mountains, hunt for fish or play in the snow.

Make a town scape using building blocks, duplo or cardboard boxes. Add figures to represent the penguins, other creatures and traffic. Retell the rest of the story playing imaginatively in the city scape.

Experiment with ice
You could add ice cubes stacked on top of each other to make mountains for your Antarctic world; or place them in a circle to create a pool as they melt. Watch and talk about what happens to the ice as it melts. (See ‘Find out more’ for other ice experiments).

Draw a map
Draw a map of the penguins’ journey on a large piece of paper, such as wallpaper lining paper. Look back at the book for inspiration.

Make a book
Talk with your child about what they know about penguins and what they would like to find out. Use information books and internet searches to find answers to their questions. Make your child a small book from a few sheets of A4 paper folded in half to write the information they have found out and draw pictures or stick pictures in.

Find out more

Find out more about penguins including how they huddle to keep warm:

Find out more about author Ross Montgomery
Read another story by this author/illustrator collaboration Ten Delicious Teachers

Here are two other picture book stories by Ross Montgomery illustrated by David Litchfield:
Space Tortoise  and The Building Boy.

Read more stories about penguins:
◼︎Be Brave Little Penguin
◼︎Done Mummy Penguin by Chris Haughton
◼︎The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins

Find out more about ice
Make ice cubes with your child.
◼︎Try putting water into different shaped plastic containers or even a balloon.
◼︎Put them in the freezer. Look back a few hours later to see if they have frozen and watch what happens when you take them out of the freezer.
◼︎Place a plastic animal in a container of water You could even try freezing a huddle of plastic figures together perhaps holding them together with an elastic band before putting them in a freezer.
◼︎See how long your huddle of penguins takes to become unstuck or how long the ice takes to melt. Talk about what might make the ice melt more quickly, or more slowly. For example, placing the ice block near a radiator, near a window, inside a box, wrapped in a warm scarf etc.

Thank you to Joan Thurgar for her contributions to these activity ideas.

Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler (illus)
Macmillan    
Age 3-7

A brave mouse risks his life in the deep dark wood and gets the better of  creatures who  want to eat him for their tea by telling them he is off to visit his friend, the very scary Gruffalo. When this invented creature actually appears our hero has to find a way to avoid becoming a tasty mouse snack.The Gruffalo is an award winning picture book by former children’s laureate Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. The story reads like a song making it a delight to read and re read. The bold and beautiful illustrations provide lots to talk about.

Share the story

Read aloud
Before reading the story talk about the cover illustration and then look closely at the first double page with the illustration of the wood. What can children see? Have they been anywhere like this? Read the book aloud, continuing to pause to talk about the illustrations as you do and encourage children to predict what might happen next.

Join in
As you re read the story children will become familiar with the words and enjoy joining in with the repeated phrases such as ‘A Gruffalo? What’s a Gruffalo?’ ‘Why didn’t you know?’ etc. They will enjoy pretending to be a Gruffalo showing their ‘terrible teeth’ and ‘terrible claws’ as you read.

Talk about the story
After children have heard the whole story share the bits you both liked, children’s favourite picture and how they think the mouse tricked so many animals and even the Gruffalo.

Tell the story
Using the pictures in the book or puppets encourage children to tell the story of the Gruffalo.  You may find they start to use phrases from the story as they tell it.

Watch the story
Watch a reading of the Gruffalo story here from Daniel Bekele.

Things to make and do

Make finger puppets
Make finger puppets for the animal characters in the story, either using the templates on the Gruffalo website or by making simpler puppets out of felt or paper stuck or sewn together and decorated with felt pens, wool. Use the puppets to tell the story together.

Make a mask
Make a gruffalo mask. There is a template on the Gruffalo website here.
Or you could make a simpler mask using a paper plate and a stick, using crayons and coloured paper to add detail. Children can wear the mask to be scary with their terrible teeth, tusks and claws.

Make a story world

Use construction materials, small toys and found objects like this created by @Mat_at Brookes* to make a Gruffalo themed storyworld. Children can help create the storyworld and can enjoy replaying part of the story using small figures to represent the characters.

* Matt was inspired by ideas he found on Pinterest. 

Draw a story map
Print the template sheet with the path through the forest; children can draw trees, the mouse and all the animals the mouse meets on his way.

Make a picture
Give children paints, felt pens or crayons and a large sheet of paper to make their own picture of a Gruffalo. Look back at the description in the story together to help children remember some of the details.

Go for a walk in the woods
If you live near a wood, forest or park with wooded areas go for a tramp through it like the mouse and the Gruffalo. Talk about what you hear and see. Take some photos and print and stick them into a scrap book when you are back home. Talk about your photos together.

Find out more

Visit the Gruffalo website here
This website includes an interactive exploration of the deep dark wood, things to make and do (including templates for masks and puppets), songs and recipes.

Find and enjoy other picture books by Julia Donaldson working with illustrator Alex Scheffler

Titles include:

Titles include:

The Gruffalo’s Child

A Squash and a Squeeze

* Room on the Broo

* Tyrannosaurus Drip

* The Snail and the Whale

Monkey Puzzle

Tiddler

The Stickman

Zog

*  See more lovemybooks ideas

Step into an imaginary world Fantasy novels for children 7+
Ever increasing numbers of children’s novels are taking children into imaginary worlds where alongside the daring young protagonists they will experience vicariously adventure, danger and challenge.

You and your child may be very familiar with well-known classics such as the Chronicles of Narnia and the more recent His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman, but where should you start with the plethora of new titles?

Here are a few to look out for:

Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone is set in the frozen world of Elkenwald  where two children are on a quest to save the kingdom from the evil ice queen. Spellstone by Ross Montgomery is a story full of magic, danger and humour. Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell in which the barrier between our world and the Archipelago, home to an amazing menagerie of magical creatures is under threat.  For younger readers see The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell. Visit our Lovemybooks activity page https://www.lovemybooks.co.uk/the-dragon-in-the-library.

And there are many more to choose from. We asked a group of Lovemybooks supporters and patrons for their suggestions:

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmad Pathak is recommended by Imogen Russell Williams, children’s literature critic and broadcaster and Lovemybooks patron,

Set in an alternate India – and England – of the 1850s, this is a magical fantasy of the most thrilling and thought-provoking kind, interweaving colonial history with a desperate and far-ranging quest. 

Luka and the Fire of Life  and Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie are recommended by Chitra Soundar author, storyteller and Lovemybooks patron

These two books are magical, funny and in the vein of The Phantom Tollbooth or Narnia – adventure filled stories, deeply rooted in South Asian culture without being specific about it. They are about stories, storytelling and the power of imagination. 

Chitra comments ‘I think all readers need a balanced mix of fantasy and contemporary stories. When they don’t get a rich mix of everything, then reading gets one-dimensional. And it’s important to read books from everywhere and writers of all backgrounds – because the fountain of imagination feeds off different sources and lived experiences.’ https://linktr.ee/csoundar

Zo and the Forest of Secrets by Alake Pilgrim is recommended by Jon Biddle Teacher and English lead:
A thrilling children’s sci-fi fantasy where the energy almost bursts from the page. Zo travels through what she thought was a familiar landscape but encounters a series of terrifying creatures and an extremely different version of the island she grew up on. Alake’s children’s debut is genuinely gripping as Zo battles for survival on her journey through the forest.
@jonnybid
https://childrenreadingforpleasure.blogspot.com/
https://padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/reading-for-pleasure-woam2an149vg

Glassborn by Peter Bunzl is recommended by Anne Thompson Librarian, book reviewer and blogger
Glassborn, the standalone sequel to Magicborn, is a treat of a read. A story in the best tradition of children’s literature, a magical, historical fantasy tale of riddles and curses, secrets, spells and excitement set in an icy world ruled by a wicked Fairy Queen and featuring four brave children. Glassborn is a captivating story with literary connections to Narnia and Bronte and containing much hope in its pages.

Anne also recommends The Griffin Gate by Vashti Hardy illustrated by Natalie Smillie and published by Barrington Stoke.  The steampunk fantasy style that this award-winning author has become known for is presented here in a shorter but equally exciting version. This will introduce even the most reluctant of readers to a whole new world of adventures with further stories to follow in the series.
Twitter @alibrarylady https://alibrarylady.blog/ 

Dr Mary Roche Author, Educator and co founder of the Network for Educational Action Research Ireland (NEARI) recommended several books, she writes:
‘I am a huge fan of Kieran Larwood’s work.The Legend of Podkin One-Ear (the first book in the series) won the Blue Peter Book Award in 2017. Larwood has created a wonderful series of adventures featuring a rabbit called Podkin One-Ear, his sister Paz and their baby brother, Pook. With superb illustrations by David Wyatt, this series will enchant children of 8 or older. See: https://kmlarwood.com/the-five-realms/

The Monsters of Rookhaven (Macmillan, 2021) won the 2021 KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Honour Award for Fiction.  A family of monsters lives in Rookhaven. The local villagers tolerate them, and they don’t intrude upon the villagers – usually. Padraig Kenny’s world building is amazing and Edward Bettison’s eerie illustrations are a perfect fit. (age 9+)

Toby Alone is the first of a 2-book series by Timothee de Fombelle and illustrated by François Place. Originally published in 2006, it was translated from French by Sarah Ardizzone. As a fan of Mary Norton’s ‘The Borrowers’ this book immediately appealed to me because the protagonist Toby Lolness is tiny. Like all the inhabitants of his world he is less than 2 millimetres tall. This book is a complete page turner, full of plot, politics, intrigue and suspense.

S.F Said created the highly unique character of a Mesopotamian Blue Kitten called Varjak Paw in 2003. When Varjak’s owner dies, a strange gentleman and his two black cats come to the high old house on the hill and begin to take over. Varjak is immediately on alert. Having inherited a martial arts skill called ‘The Way’ from his grandfather, he now uses it to survive. The sequel – The Outlaw Varjak Paw (published 2005) – continues the adventures. Illustrated sublimely by David McKean, the books are a delicious blend of spine-tingling suspense wrapped in gorgeous prose. Winners of many awards, the books are perfect for the 8-11 age group. See http://www.sfsaid.com/

SF’s books are firm favourites with the Lovemybooks team too and huge hits with young audiences.

Visit our activity pages for:
Varjak Paw https://www.lovemybooks.co.uk/varjak-paw
The Outlaw Varjak Paw https://www.lovemybooks.co.uk/outlaw-varjak-paw
Phoenix An exciting Sci Fi adventure  https://www.lovemybooks.co.uk/phoenix
Tyger   A mysterious mythical animal is discovered in an alternative London in which the Empire and slavery still exists. https://www.lovemybooks.co.uk/tyger

See also our Dragon Mountain activity page by Katie and Kevin Tsang An exciting fantasy adventure sprinkled with elements from Chinese folklore with themes of loyalty, bravery strength and teamwork. First in the Dragon Realm stories.
See our activity page

Emily Joof, illus. Asa Gilland
Floris Books
Age 5-7 years

Halima and her friends have been invited to a superhero and princess party. What will Halima go as? When her friends tell her she can’t dress up as Elsa from Frozen because she doesn’t look like her or have the right hair, she feels very despondent. Fortunately, her mum reassures her on all counts – her hair is amazing, she can be whoever she wants to be, and there are lots of brave and cool women of colour to choose from. Really excited, Halima spends the week dressing up as several inspiring role models, including Mae Jamieson space explorer and Misty Copeland ballerina. In the end, Halima creates her own outfit, and she becomes a unique superhero princess ready to amaze the guests at her friend’s party.

A reassuring, affirming story with a delightful heroine and similarities to Mary Hoffman’s Amazing Grace.

The back of the book includes an alphabetic gallery of the women Halima’s mum mentions.

Listen to author Emily Joof speak about the book here:

Share the story

Read aloud
Read the story aloud to your child allowing time to look at the detailed illustrations.

Join in
Once your child becomes familiar with the story they might enjoy joining in for example with the conversations between Halima and her friends or with her mum. It doesn’t matter if they change the words slightly for this – they will be deepening their understanding of the meaning of the story.

Talk about the story
◼︎Things you and your child might talk about include:
◼︎Is there anything that puzzles you about the story?
◼︎How Halima feels at different points in the story.
◼︎What you would tell her if you met her?
◼︎What would you tell her friends?
◼︎Talk about what you like to do with your own friends, what do you like doing together.
◼︎Talk about the famous women mentioned in the story and choose some to find more about.

Things to make and do

Design a hairstyle for Halima
Your child might like to design different hair styles for Halima perhaps some for themselves too.

Create a superhero princess party outfit
Give your child paper and pens to draw a design for a new party outfit. Then make a list of everything needed, collect clothes and accessories together, and your child will be ready to try out their new outfit. Don’t forget to take aphoto!

Make a party invitation
Give your child a postcard size piece of card or paper. Suggest they write an invitation for an imaginary party – this could be to a friend, family member or a character from the story. Remind them to include date, time, place and whether the party has a theme – perhaps a superhero theme or something else?

Make a mini book
Find out about some of the famous role models at the back of the book. Make a mini book about one of them.

Find out more

Read another book by Emily Joof ‘I will swim next time’

Find out more about illustrator Asa Gilland

Read another story with a similar theme Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman and Caroline Binch.

Explore more books in our heroes and villains section