World Of Children's Books: toddler

Showing posts with label toddler. Show all posts

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Picture Book Review - I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean - Kevin Sherry (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

I ordered this into the library on the recommendation that it was a bit 'darker' than a regular picture book. Darker as in there might be death! Well, if you're expecting Game of Thrones style darkness, then you'll be sorely mistaken. And really, really unfamiliar with what a children's picture book normally entails. If, however, you like a bit of animals getting their commupence in a darkish, very funny way, similar to Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back, then this is perfect.

Giant Squid is the biggest thing in the ocean! Or so he claims. He'd better watch his back, because whilst he's boasting about being bigger than everything else throughout the story, there might just be something sneaking up on him...

I do love a book that makes me genuinely laugh, and this is no exception. Though the biggest laugh is at the very end as Giant Squid gets his commupence, it's fun all the way through, and the illustrations add to it. There's a slightly manic look to the main character throughout, and I love the veryt cartoon-ish style to the pictures. There's a list of picture books that will make adults laugh out loud, and this is a definite addition to it.

Short and fun, this is definitely one that parents should endeavour to order in to their local library for their kids.

9/10

Friday, 23 May 2014

Picture Book Review – Beware of the Frog – William Bee (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

I’ve not come across William Bee before, but I found this on a list of ‘darker’ picture books. It’s not dark like Game of Thrones (obviously…), but I suppose for a book for young children this does have a sort of dark edge to it. Which is fine, because this is very funny indeed.

Poor Mrs Collywobbles is hiding in her kitchen, afraid of the Greedy Goblin, the Smelly Troll and the Giant Hungry Ogre that want to eat her. Luckily she has a guard frog to help protect her, one that the evil creatures had better start taking seriously…

Children will love the guard frog who turns out to be rather more capable than the creatures give him credit for. Parents will laugh along, too, as he successfully stops them from eating Mrs Collywobbles. And everyone will be in stitches with the final twist, which comes out of nowhere and is wonderfully clever.

The illustrations are nice, unique enough to make them stand them, but not outlandish or overstated. It’s a very simple story altogether, but one that works brilliantly, and that parents will love as much as their children. It’s the sort of thing that Mo Willems or Jon Klassen would write, which is ever a bonus.

Definitely one to check out!

10/10

Picture Book Review – Knight School – Jane Clarke (Author) &Jane Massey (Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

Little Knight and Little Dragon are best friends, and can’t wait to start school. But knights go to school during the day, and dragons at night, so how will the two friends make sure they have the time to play together again?

I’m sure that one of a child’s biggest fears upon starting school is whether or not they will manage to stay friends with other children that they've been able to play alongside day after day. Especially so for children who end up going to different schools. My son has friends in at least five different villages, so the chance of him going to school with all of them is minimal. Knight School is a great story for giving him the belief that he’ll stay friends with them no matter what. Despite the differences in knights and dragons (technically they’re meant to fight each other over princesses, after all…), it shows that friendship can conquer all boundaries. Who can’t love a tale like that?

The artwork is beautiful, rendered in watercolours I believe, and it fits the fantasy theme of the story really well. It’s bright, colourful and eye-catching, and is just what the story deserves.

I’ve gotten this out from the library on a couple of occasions because it’s so lovely. I might favour the picture books that make me laugh out loud overall, but this deserves a place on any child’s bookshelf.

9/10

Picture Book Review – Mack and Muck! – Sebastien Braun (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for Toddlers/Younger Readers

This is definitely one of the biggest hits with my son that I’ve brought home from the library. Well, it has tractors in it, which are second only to diggers in his mind, so any book that features two tractors at its core is going to be a winner.

Mack is the only tractor on the farm, but he’s not best pleased when little Muck arrives to help. At first he’s not impressed with Muck’s efforts, and can’t understand why everyone praises the little tractor, but with time he realises that Muck is just learning, and that sharing the workload can be fun after all.

It’s a lovely little story about learning to share things, particularly relevant for older siblings to learn about sharing with their younger ones. The illustrations are quite basic compared to some other picture books, but they’re really bright and I think they give a lovely compliment to the story.

There are other books in a similar vein by Sebastien Braun, and they’re all worth checking out.

My son goes back to this time and time again, just to get another glimpse of the tractors. If he picks this one out over others, there’s got to be something right about it.

8/10

Picture Book Review – Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs – Mo Willems

Suitable for Toddlers/Younger Readers

I’m having trouble thinking of how to start off this review. Perhaps the easiest way is to say I can’t imagine how anything will top this in 2014. It’s my favourite book that Mo Willems has ever written, and that’s saying something. I always laugh during his works, but this tops all of them. The randomness of half the text, the absurdity of it all, and taking a well known tale like Goldilocks and turning it on its head in such a funny way is fantastic.

‘Once upon a time, there were three Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur and some other Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.’ And so begins the unorthodox tale of how Goldilocks stumbled upon the home of some dinosaurs, not bears. I don’t think I’ll ever come across a better opening sentence. I wish I could write down all the sentences, because every single one is a joy, but that would spoil the fun of reading it.

I laughed, and I laughed, and I laughed all the way through. I’m not sure if I can actually read this at a storytime as I think I’ll be laughing too much to myself all the way through. The self-referential humour, acknowledging the dinosaurs plans whilst pretending they’re going for an innocent walk, and the way the ‘wind’ sounds eerily like dinosaurs plotting, or rock’s falling, or a squirrel…I can’t do it enough justice. It’s up there with some of the greatest comedy writing in any medium, anywhere, ever. People should be quoting this as much as they quote Anchorman.

The illustrations are as delightful as ever, with Mo Willems’ easily recognisable style complimenting the cartoon feel of the story as well as they ever do. It’s all hilarious from start to finish. I’m flicking back and forth through the pages as I’m writing this, and I’m laughing again and again. Honestly, this is better than 99% of comedy shows out there at the moment. Whoever thinks that picture books are just for children is missing out.

An easy entry into the World of Children’s Books Hall of Fame. I honestly feel that if you don’t read this, you’re missing out on one of the funniest things you could ever read in life. Make sure you do.

10/10 and an entry into the Picture Book Hall of Fame

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Picture Book - Lost and Found - Oliver Jeffers (Author & Illustrator)

Recomended for - Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

I'm trying to gather up everything I can find by Oliver Jeffers, as he's easily been one of my favourite picture book writers that I've discovered over the last year or so (and he's a fine illustrator too). I've discovered several books with a friendship between a boy and a penguin, and this is the first.

When a boy finds a penguin on his doorstep, he thinks he must be lost and tries to help him find his way home, eventually landing at the South Pole. As he leaves though, he notices that the penguin is still sad, and realises that he was just lonely. Will he make it back in time though to find the penguin and his new best friend?

I'm happy to say that, yet again, Oliver Jeffers has come up trumps. While it's not on the highest level with The Hueys in The New Jumper, Stuck or This Moose Belongs To Me, it's close, and well worth checking out. The slightly eccentric humour that Jeffers does so well is present, especially as the boy tries to ask various parties (including some random birds, which is hilarious how it happens) about where the penguin might belong. I also very nearly burst into tears in the last couple of pages (that's not unusual, but I've never done it reading a picture book before!) - there's a scene that's so touching, I wanted to force everyone else to read it straight away afterwards. There was no-one around though, so I had to read it myself again, which was absolutely fine by me.

It's almost become too easy to predict, but you have to check this out, and everything else Oliver Jeffers has done.

9/10

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Picture Book - Bear Feels Scared - Karma Wilson (Author) & Jane Chapman (Illustrator)

Recommended for Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

And so we return to Karma Wilson's Bear series. Always a pleasure to do so!

In Bear Feels Scared, our furry friend gets lost outside when a huge storm hits the Strawberry Vale. Luckily, his friends are around to help him find his way home, and look after him until he feels safe again.

Poor Bear - Karma Wilson really does put him through some peril at times! If children haven't been feeling sorry for Bear in the past, they certainly will do now. Anyone familiar with the series knows that it'll all turn out OK in the end, but your heart really does go out to him until then.

As ever, the illustrations are lovely, and the words flow together delightfully. At the time of writing, there's only two books left in the series. What shall I do without my regular fix of Bear?!

9/10

Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Picture Book - Stuck- Oliver Jeffers (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

Oh, Oliver Jeffers. You make my life so good.

This is the third book by the author that I've read, and I'm yet to find anything that isnt utterly hilarious and compelling in any of them.

Floyd has got his kite stuck in a tree. No matter what he throws at it, he can't get it to come down. A ladder, the post-man, a house, an ocean-liner...that kite is well and truly stuck.

What skill it must take to make something as ordinary as getting a kite stuck in a tree to be so utterly captivating. The absurdity of the objects thrown, and the capacity of this tree to hold them, will have parent and child in stitches throughout. It's as wonderfully illustrated as ever, and ending will bring a smile that you can't easily remove, especially for those of us blessed with less than perfect memories.

If there's any children's author fast becoming a 'must-read-before-all-else', it's Oliver Jeffers. This man is a genius.

10/10

Monday, 7 January 2013

Picture Book - I Want My Hat Back - Jon Klassen (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

Oh, this is good. This is so, so good.

A short while ago, I declared that The Princess and The Pig by Jonathan Emmett was my favourite picture book of all time. Now, I still love that book, but I'm afraid it's been usurped. I Want My Hat Back is my favourite present that my son received this Christmas, so many many thanks to my Uncle for spotting it. This book had me in stitches, and it's rare that you'll find a picture book that will genuinely be making you laugh.

There's a delightful quirkiness to the illustrations, and it's these illustrations that make the humour so complete. The way a shifty look is portrayed as one character lies about knowing nothing of bear's hat is brilliant, as is the pay off at the end when bear has had his revenge. It revisits dialogue from earlier in the book to maximum comedy effect, and even if your child enjoys it just for being a story where bear gets his hat back in the end, it's guaranteed to make you smile at the conclusion.

I almost feel like this book was written just for me, it fits my sense of humour so well. I have a feeling that this is going to become one of my son's favourites very, very quickly. As if he has a choice in the matter...

10/10

Picture Book - Yucky Mucky Manners - Sam Lloyd (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

Immature as it may sound, it's hard not to be taken by a book that features a giraffe pooping on a mouse's head.

And if that's not a sentence that'll entice you to read a book, then I don't know what will. If you want a book to make young children giggle, then look no further. Featuring an array of animals misbehaving (a gorilla picking its nose, an elephant trumping), it's classic silly humour that is guaranteed to have your little ones laughing out loud, and asking to have it read again and again.

It's also lovely to see some extra love and detail put into each double page, as you can see a little of what the animal from the previous page did next - the giraffe, for instance, gets a telling off from his mouse friend. It's an extra little chance for you to talk to your child about the book, and have fun with the tiny details.

It's written in rhyme, so great for helping kids to get into the rhythm of reading. Highly recommended for when you and your child are in a giggly mood, and you want to make storytime fun.

9/10

Friday, 28 December 2012

Picture Book - A House in the Woods - Inga Moore (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

A House in the Woods tells the story of two (that's right, TWO, not three!) little pigs, who decide to build a den and a hut in the woods to live in. Sadly, their friends Moose and Bear destroy both luxury properties accidentally. The four friends decide that should all live together in a house in the woods, so they enlist the help of the local beavers to make their dream a reality.

This is a really fun story. It's more wordy than a lot of picture books, so possibly for slightly older toddlers with slightly longer attention spans, but it's a great tale of friendship for them to hear, and it's bound to make children giggle in places. It made me smile particularly when you learn that the beavers want to be paid in peanut butter sandwiches - I wish the banks would start offering such a deal.

The illustrations reminded me of the styles I've seen in illustrations for Winnie the Pooh and Brer Rabbit, which brought a nostalgic tear to my eye. When you see the house in the woods, you'll be hard pressed not to want to go out and find the local beavers to build you one for yourself.

Well worth reading with your children.

9/10

Thursday, 27 December 2012

Picture Book - Josh and the Woo Woo - David Bedford (Author) & Daniel Howarth (Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

As with any parent, as soon as I spot a book that has my child's name in it, I'm immediately drawn to it. So it was the case that, when shelving one day, I spotted Josh and the Woo Woo. Naturally, I didn't care what it was about - the fact it had my son's name in it was enough to warrant a reading.

Josh and the Woo Woo is about a rabbit who has five brothers and six sisters, and hates noise. Naturally, his siblings love to be noisy, and the story is about how Josh never wants to join in with any of their noisy games, until one day he finds something that has noises they all hate and he loves.

While Josh is admittedly a bit of a wimp (unlike my son, of course - his fearlessness makes me hope he'll be a champion snowboarder by the time he's 11), there's something irresistibly cute about the poor rabbit who likes the quiet. Sure, it's a bit of an illogical leap at the end to suggest that a his siblings would be scared of the noise a train makes after they embraced the sound of a helicopter, and that Josh would have the reverse effect, but it's a book for young children so I'll let that slide. Overall, it's a pleasant little story about a little boy who has learnt that he can have fun with other children, which is really what we're all hoping for with our own kids.

7/10

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Picture Book - Dear Zoo - Rod Campbell (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

I'm sure Dear Zoo needs no introduction, but what children's book blog would be complete without it?

For the three of you in the country who aren't familiar with it, Dear Zoo is all about a child writing to the zoo, asking to be sent a pet. Each pet that is sent isn't quite right (He was too scary/tall/grumpy etc.), so the zoo keeps trying until finally one is found that is just right.

It's so simple, but there are hundreds of ways you can make the story all the more fun. You can make noises for each animal as you go along, sing songs about each animal or have them all included in 'Old MacDonald (had a zoo...)', get children to draw each animal as they go along, give them all names with the same letter etc. The repeated 'So i sent him back!' line that goes with each animal is an easy one for children to do, and everytime we read this at Storytime in the library the children know what to do. I think the 'lift the flap' edition comes as standard, but you can also get editions with noises to play for each animal, with a CD of the story, and my favourite oversized editions, which come in at well over a metre high so all the children can see them easily.

It really isn't a collection of children's books unless you have this included.

10/10

Thursday, 15 November 2012

Picture Book: The Hueys in The New Jumper – Oliver Jeffers (Author & Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

It’s such a wonderful feeling when new books come into the library: that new book smell, the excitement of what might be inside, new ideas for displays and what to recommend to readers. It’s especially great when, having spotted a cover that catches your eye, you discover upon reading it that it’s everything you hoped it would be.

The Hueys in The New Jumper stuck out immediately with its orange and white design, and its intriguing depiction of ‘The Hueys’, who appear to be a distant cousin of the humble egg. They are all virtually identical, which is where the story gets its humour from. One Huey decides to knit himself an orange jumper, so that he can be different. Soon, all the other Hueys decide they want to be different by having a jumper, until all of them have one. It’s an excellent and humorous take on people trying to be individual but instead setting a trend, brought to life in a children’s story. The illustrations look like little sketches rather than the grand pictures you’ll be used to in most picture books, but I think it works really well, making the Hueys’ similarities all the more obvious.

If Oliver Jeffers has plans for more stories involving The Hueys, I can’t wait to read them.

10/10

Picture Book: The Princess and the Pig – Jonathan Emmett (Author) & Poly Bernatene (Illustrator)

Recommended for: Babies/Toddlers/Younger Readers

It seems that every time you pick up a children’s picture book, your six month old boy tries to eat it. Sometimes you raise your eyebrows and ask him to let you finish it. Sometimes you let him carry on because it’s boring. But sometimes it’s so good you want to eat it too.

In The Princess and the Pig, a baby princess and piglet accidentally swap places, with the princess being raise by a lowly farmer and his wife, and the piglet growing up with the King and Queen as a princess. It’s a wonderful tale, full of humour that will make both children and adults smile, and has some great repeating lines. The illustrations are lovely, and do a great job of adding to the humour. You’ll laugh particularly at the sight of the pig dressed up as a princess, thrust into positions that the princess should be holding, and the reactions of others around it. For once, I was happy to immediately read it again to my son. As he’s six months old, this was at my own request, rather than his.

Without doubt, this is one of my favourite picture books that I have ever read, and a perfect way to start off this blog. I can't recommend it highly enough.

10/10