Reviewed by Jennifer, Minnie (2) and Bebe (1)
This is a fantastic book! I love it, the kids haven't a clue what to make of it and I won't let them ruin it with their random scribbles. It claims to be a highly original collection of nature based activities to inspire a love of the outdoors. Well, job well done, it's gorgeous and jam packed with fun and games. There is also a big fold-out poster with lots of pictures of wild life and animals on it It's making me want to move to the countryside. If your wee one loves nature or you just want to introduce them to it and you don't know where to start, this book would be a good buy. Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Nicola and Francis (7)
Beastly Best Bits is a celebration of 20 years of Horrible Histories. I really liked the section on Ruthless Rulers because it tells you how they killed people at different times. For example, Alexander Severus of Rome (ruled AD 222-135). Alexander's friends killed off assassins. They held them down and pulled out their guts, livers, lungs and hearts! Gory! Martin Brown does the drawings in all the Horrible History books. They are very funny. My favourite is in the 'Wicked Warriors' section. It shows a shield with an axe and a sword crossing it. Two crows are sitting on it. One crow's feathers are falling off and the other says, 'Been in the wars?'. I would recommend this book to people who like learning new things and having fun at the same time. Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Damyanti and Bryn (5)
A funny story of friendship puzzling on why Mabel and Me are 'bestest bestest friends'. There is much to find funny in this book. Me, the mouse, bristles at perceived insults to Mabel. However, it isn't Mabel that the famous photographer is referring to as a "strange little creature thing". Bryn worked out the case of mistaken identity early & enjoyed being in on the joke throughout the story. I loved the rhythm & word play in the book with lovely phrases like 'a stroll down a strolly street' & malapropisms such as 'mind your mannerisms' The illustrations & typography also carried the wonderful humour of the story. This is a beautifully crafted book where both the language and illustrations conspire to present a fantastically funny story. Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Kirsten, Isaac and Hazel (3 year-old twins)
Mister Whistler wakes up with a song in his head and wants to dance but has to go clean windows for his Auntie. He dances his way into his clothes and to the station, then loses his train ticket and has to dance his way out of his clothes again to find it. Three-year-old Isaac and Hazel join in patting down imaginary pockets to find it and Hazel shouts "It's in his mouth!". This is a fun story, with vivid and unusual pictures and an engaging character. We love it! Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Karyn and Hugh
Hugh adores both his grandpas, so reading out the title was enough to grab his attention! It’s a sweet story about a little bear and his grandpa, spending the day exploring and playing. I don’t know a child who wouldn’t love reading it. But there’s unexpected poignancy beneath the surface: though little bear can see that his grandpa is getting old, Marta Altés’s simple but emotive illustrations show Grandpa’s confusion in a way that will bring tears to the eyes of grown-ups. I defy parents not to get a lump in their throat while reading, ‘Occasionally he doesn’t recognise me... but my hugs can solve it.’ It's a story that will make little ones think happily about their grandparents and the rest of us cherish our parents while they’re still around. Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Repa, Amirah and Ibrahim
This was a lovely lift the flap book that Amirah enjoyed reading. As she's a bit older it was nice to sit and read it with her with her without her wanting to rip the flaps out! However my son Ibrahim whose 11 months old had other plans!! There are lots of flaps on each page with activities for her to do. The illustrations are very bright, colourful and very eye catching and there is so much happening on each page it was good to help her eye co-ordination skills as I was getting her to look for certain things. A very good and enjoyable book to read. Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Christine, Mike, Ava, Leon, Isobel and Theo
Gorgeous, joyful and happy are words that come to mind, when we read this book for the first time. A flap-book playing the old favourite game of hide and seek, Plum makes the classic mistake of all small children and reveals his hiding place far too soon. Counting to 10 and then we all follow Plum through all the flaps to find his friend Littlebob . This book can really become the catalyst to actually playing the fun game of hide and seek, suits 1 and 2 year olds best. It is a book that reinforces the talents of its illustrator/ author Guy Parker- Rees, well known for ”Giraffes can’t dance”. Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Mariana, Hafsa (5) and Fatema (2)
HRH Primrose is a bored little Princess with very dull and proper parents who are always telling her the "proper" way to do things. Her parents eventually tire of her ways and call her Grandmama to sort her out! However, when Grandmama turns up it’s not Primrose that needs sorting out, it’s her parents. We love Primrose and her little Pug's naughty little antics & we most definitely enjoyed when Grandmama put the King and Queen in their place, which turns out to be jumping up and down in a monkey suit. Fatema was very frightened of Grandmama when she first arrived with a menacing smile, under a dark cloud with a prim and proper cat, we did eventually warm to her especially when she leaves in an unqueen-like way! This is a lovely book with beautiful illustrations enjoyed by all of us. Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Corinne and Millie
This book has an interesting title and cover and promises "an amazing adventure" but Millie and I both found it rather disappointing. The idea of a very prim and proper little man in his buttoned up brown suit taking his large piratical mother off to the sea in a wheel barrow is amusing but as Millie said "nothing happens." It's all about the journey. The descriptions of the sea are poetic and there are interesting illustrations, but not enough story to engage a six-year-old girl. Photograph: PR
Reviewed by Jennifer, Minnie (2) and Bebe (1)
We have another book illustrated by Russell Ayto (Are The Dinosaurs Dead Dad? ) so I always think a little recognition goes a long way with toddlers! This is a story about a boy called Tim, his fearless bear Ted and some nasty pirates, written in rhyme its a wonderfully quick paced story that the toddler seemed to enjoy. I found the drawing style rather sharp and very dark; some of the pictures where quite scary; but this didn't seem to bother Minnie, so it's probably just me! Photograph: PR
