We all need a little miracle now and then. Tiny Uncertain Miracles
I still shake my head in disbelief that this actually happened. The Widow of Walcha
I shake my head…society has let down so many people. I Am A Killer What Makes A Murderer
Those who have discovered or have yet to discover their passion will love this. This is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch
And one for the adults and the children to share. What to Say
What to Say When You Don’t Know What To Say
Davina Bell and Hilary Jean Tapper
Lothian Children’s Books
Hachette Australian
ISBN: 9780734421142
RRP $24.99
Description:
From the award-winning author of All the Ways to Be Smart, comes a warm and whimsical guide to negotiating new experiences and big emotions with empathy, kindness and words from the heart.
I’m not brave enough today. Maybe next time.
You’re hurting my feelings right now.
Want to join in?
A warm and whimsical guide to negotiating life’s little moments and big emotions with empathy, kindness and words from the heart.
From award-winning and much-loved author Davina Bell and exciting new illustrator, Hilary Jean Tapper.
My View:
Contemporary children’s books are delightful, whimsical and in this so helpful too. I don’t think this is a book for children. This is a book for adults and children. This is a book of prompts for when you are lost for words, when you have big feelings…when you aren’t feeling brave, or you are feeling sorry…happens to adults too…and sometimes just saying or hearing these words will help us out the next time we are in a situation when words escape us, when we don’t have previous experience to call upon.
A beautiful book. Put this one on your Christmas or any other occasion list. Actually, don’t wait for an “occasion” – gift this to yourself now. Or to your children’s classroom or library.
Macmillan Children’s Books
RRP $9.99 each
Description: Lego Building Site
The LEGO® City builders need your help! Little LEGO® fans can bring the building site to life as they push, pull and slide the tabs in this cool board book.
Make the LEGO® bricks move – tip your bricks out of the dumper trucks, lift them up and put them down with your crane and then slide the scene-changing mechanism to see what you have built – all in a day’s work!
Helps budding builders to:
– enhance motor skills
– develop hand-eye coordination
– play as they read
– be imaginative and creative
LEGO® City. Building Site is a great gift for toddlers with inquisitive fingers and minds. Add to the collection and bring more of the LEGO City to life with LEGO® City. Fire Station.
Description: Fire Station
The Fire Chief and her crew need your help! Young LEGO® fans can bring the fire station to life as they push, pull and slide the tabs in this cool board book.
Open the fire station doors, make the helicopter take off and then slide the scene-changing mechanism to drive off in the fire engine – all in a day’s work for brave little heroes!
Helps budding firefighters to:
– enhance motor skills
– develop hand-eye coordination
– play as they read
– be imaginative and creative
LEGO® City Fire Station is a great gift for toddlers with inquisitive fingers and minds. Add to the collection and bring more of the LEGO City to life with LEGO® City Building Site.
My View:
I love board books, they are great for little hands ( and mouths 🙂 ) to hold, to touch and these with the push, pull, slide features make for reads that will grow with your young child. Read to them, let them play with, let them push, pull, slide….these are a great tactile and learning experience for growing minds.
The Unwilling Twin
Freya Blackwood
Harper Collins
ISBN: 9781460757536
RRP $24.99
Description:
THE NEW PICTURE BOOK FROM SEVEN-TIME CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR WINNER FREYA BLACKWOOD
Jules and George are the same in every way.
It is quite impossible to tell them apart.
Like all twins, Jules and George do everything together. But after a long, hot day at the beach, even twins sometimes disagree …
From multi-award-winning picture book creator Freya Blackwood comes a cheeky and charming story about the ups and downs of sibling love.
My View:
This is a fun, silly and entertaining read that all pre -schoolers are bound to love. I like the sense of humour here, the simple yet elegant illustrations that capture the emotions and the day; the feel of the breeze on the twins faces, the chaos of the beach…simple yet very effective verbal and visual storytelling, this is a great read. There is plenty of good material here for “re telling” (one of the early stages of learning to read is where you first read the book to the child then the child looks for visual clues, uses memory, comprehension skills and their imagination, when they “re tell” the story back to you). This is a great read that has many opportunities for your pre -schooler develop their language and comprehension skills when they talk to you about the story.
A fun and educational read.
The Mummy Animal Book
Jennifer Cossins
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780734419897
RRP $9.99
Description:
An adorable and informative picture book about mummy animals and their babies from the author of THE BABY ANIMAL BOOK and 101 COLLECTIVE NOUNS.
Did you know that a mother peacock is called a peahen and a baby peacock is called a peachick?
THE MUMMY ANIMAL BOOK is an adorable and informative picture book about mummy animals and their babies that is perfect for Mother’s Day, from the author of the CBCA Notable THE BABY ANIMAL BOOK.
My View:
This is another delightful book from one of my favourite children’s authors and illustrators. Jennifer Cossins once again delivers a children book that is engaging, beautifully illustrated and educational. You are sure to enjoy the time you sit with your pre schooler sharing this beautiful book.
PS Anyone looking for a gift for the many kindy parties your child will be attending, this book is perfect. Be assured that you will be giving a gift of learning and joy; encouraging reading is such valuable habit to inspire and it is a bargain too.
Poppy and the Orchestra
Waler Foster Jnr, Illustrated by Magali Le Huche
Allen & Unwin Australia
Quarto Group USA
ISBN: 9781633224018
Description:
Go on a musical adventure to the symphony with the adorable dog, Poppy, and see as she meets new friends who introduce her to the sounds of musical instruments.
With 16 buttons to push and hear, kids will love listening to the sounds of the different instruments as they follow along with the story. With colorful illustrations and a new sound to discover on each page, both kids and parents will be entertained and engaged for hours.
Poppy and the Orchestra offers an opportunity to teach kids about classical music and the instruments of the orchestra. Now that is truly unique!
Poppy and the Brass Band
Waler Foster Jnr, Illustrated by Magali Le Huche
Allen & Unwin Australia
Quarto Group USA
ISBN: 9781633224025
Description:
There really is no better way to introduce young children to the full-bodied sound of a brass band than with the story of an excited puppy and 16 sound effects. Poppy and the Brass Band has it all.
Go on a musical adventure to the circus with an adorable pup named Poppy. Poppy and the Brass Band takes kids on an adventure with Poppy she meets new friends who introduce her to the sounds of the musical instruments of a brass band. With 16 buttons to push and hear, children will be whisked to a different world while listening to the sounds of the different instruments and follow along with the story.
With colorful illustrations and a new sound to discover on each page, both kids and parents will be entertained and engaged from cover to cover. Poppy and the Brass Band offers an opportunity to teach kids about classical music and the instruments in a brass band.
My View:
These books have been a lifesaver! This week our grandson has been sick with a virus, he has not been his usual happy self and it has taken a lot of effort to keep him entertained – then these two books arrived in the mail! Allen & Unwin Australia you could not have known how perfectly timed their arrival was. Our grandson is intrigued with these books; he sat quietly and focused on the sounds and the “pushing” to control the “sounds” himself, he listened, he giggled and jiggled to the music as he sat on our laps, or next to us as we read him the story and played the tunes. He has enjoyed this book, over and over and overJ These are unique musical books that entertain and educate.
Little Mouse has lots to do … and quite a lot of things he’d rather not do!
Little Mouse
Riikka Jantti
ISBN:9781925321478
Description:
Little Mouse has lots to do … and quite a lot of things he’d rather not do!
A day in the life of a toddler is a busy one — as all parents know — and Little Mouse’s day is no exception. Between getting dressed, going to daycare, eating dinner, and making time for splashing in puddles, Little Mouse has a lot to do … and a lot to say ‘no’ to!
This warm and humorous picture book from well-loved Finnish author/illustrator Riikka Jäntti introduces Little Mouse — a small kid with a big personality — who parents and childen will relate to instantly. In Little Mouse, everyday life combines with the wonder of early childhood to produce a captivating story that’s sure to become a read-aloud favourite.
***Book Giveaway – simply name one of the activities this busy mouse squeezes into his day in the comments section of this post and I will randomly select two winners on Friday the 20th August to receive a copy direct from the publisher. ***This opportunity is for Australian residents only.
Thanks to Scribe/Scribble Australia.
Dot Town: Where Are You Blue?
Sonali Fry illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
Little Simon
Simon & Schuster Australia
ISBN: 9781481435895
When Blue Dot is running late, his whereabouts get caught up in a hilarious chain of miscommunication.
“Okay! Blue Dot is on his way.”
“What? Blue Dot has joined the ballet?”
“Wait no—he said he’d be here soon.”
“Why did Blue Dot go to the moon?”
Blue Dot is late for dinner, and one misheard statement leads to a string of rumors about where he could be. Did he move out of town? Has he become a circus clown? Why is he delayed? Did he join a parade? It’s a classic game of telephone gone awry.
Readers young and old will love sharing this sturdy board book filled with rhyming text and dots who are as vibrant in color as they are in character.
Fun, cute, lovely rhyming silly prose that kids are bound to love.
Great to read out loud with you little one embellishing the silliness as you go 🙂
My grandson loves this -this is a durable cardboard book that he will get enjoyment for for a long time as his development continues to grows and his appreciation of books grows too…a book to enjoy the pretty bright pictures for the 4-6 month old and later to be to read to on grandmamma’s knee…
Reading, Writing and Riesling 