Month

January 2018

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

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This Is Not My HatOne of our followers pointed out to me earlier today that it is National Hat Day and we should therefore do a post about hats! Naturally this made me think of Jon Klassen’s epic hat books which always have Ivy and I in fits of giggles.

Our current favourite is ‘This is not my hat’ which tells the story of a cheeky little fish who has stolen a hat. He’s not worried because he’s pretty sure that he’ll get away with it – but the big fish he stole from definitely wants his hat back. We love the deadpan humour and the fact the text tells a very different story to the pictures.

The minimalist illustrations are fantastic and there is a great sense of tension as the story gathers pace.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2DcJrNL

Some Birds By Matt Spink

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Some BirdsWe are big fans of this lovely book about birds and how every type is different.

Tall and small, waddling and hopping, twitching and tweeting – all of the birds are beautifully drawn and the rhyming text is perfect for adding your own squawky sound effects.

Perfect for a tiny bird enthusiast!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2D3YPLJ

Norton And Alpha By Kristyna Litten

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Norton And AlphaNorton is a little robot who collects things from the industrial landscape in which he lives. He picks up cogs, wheels and springs and takes them home to use in his inventions.

He makes all sorts of useful gadgets and even manages to build himself a companion – a little robot dog he calls Alpha.

But then one day they find a flower growing all by itself and they are completed baffled. What does it do and why is it there? Norton and Alpha make it their mission to find out.

This is a beautifully illustrated book with a lovely message about finding joy in small things.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2mkFVpf

Bathroom Boogie By Clare Foges & Al Murphy

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Bathroom BoogieI have finally discovered why our bathroom is never as tidy as I’d like it to be. According to Bathroom Boogie, every time we leave the house it becomes party central!

Shampoo is on the decks, toothpaste and mouthwash break dance, the bath becomes a pool party and shower gel does a little rain dance under the shower!

This is a fantastically colourful book and Ivy loves the illustrations.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2ANyufx

The Bear Who Stared By Duncan Beedie

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The Bear Who StaredThis gorgeous book by Duncan Beedie is about a big old bear who can’t help but stare.

The animals who live near his cave all dislike him because they think he is really rude. However what they don’t realise is that poor Bear is just a little shy and socially awkward. He wants to get to know his forest friends but he clams up and doesn’t know what to say – hence the stares. A chance encounter with a little frog gives him the confidence to try something new.

Is it possible that a simple smile could help him make friends?

The illustrations in this one are gorgeous (and as a fairly socially awkward grown up I absolutely love the story and message behind it).

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2Detljk

Tidy By Emily Gravett

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TidyPete the Badger is obsessed with tidiness and likes everything to be neat and clean. He tidies flowers, grooms the local foxes, polishes the beaks of his bird chums and even vacuums the forest floor.

He enjoys his tidy little life but then one day Autumn comes and the leaves start to fall from the trees. Pete endeavours to bag them all up but then decides the empty trees look untidy so he digs them all up.

Things go from bad to worse as his attempts to tidy the forest escalate – until, surrounded by concrete, he realises that he’s destroyed his home and that of his friends. Together they work to restore the forest – but can Pete learn to live with it in its natural state?

This is a fun story which shows that sometimes you just need to know when to stop.

Ivy is a bit too young to appreciate the story but she loves the beautiful illustrations and names all of the animals as I turn the pages.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2CUsuaX

Rosie’s Hat By Julia Donaldson & Anna Currey

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Rosie's HatWe LOVE this lesser known story from Julia Donaldson.

Little Rosie is walking along a cliff top with her parents on a blustery day when suddenly a gust of wind blows away her lovely hat. It’s found by a dog who plays with it on the sea shore, then it’s swept away to sea and caught by a fisherman.

The hat goes on a big old adventure along the beach over a period of many years and all the while little Rosie is away living her life and growing up.

One day a cat gets stuck in a tree near the beach and the fire brigade is called. The rescue lady turns out to be Rosie and is that a hat she can spy hidden up in the tree next to the cat? Could it be her hat from when she was a tiny little girl?

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2mbabUc

Perfectly Norman By Tom Percival

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Perfectly NormanNorman is a normal little boy – but then one day he grows a pair of wings.

He tests them out and enjoys them enormously but as he’s never seen any other little boys with wings he is worried about what other people will think. He hides them under a big coat so that no one can see them – but constantly wearing the coat means he can’t enjoy all of the fun things he did before, like swimming and playing in the sunshine.

He grows to hate his wings but then realises that the wings aren’t the problem, the coat is. Having to pretend that he’s someone he’s not  is making him miserable. Is he brave enough to set his wings free and show his true self to his friends and family?

This is a fantastic book for any child who is worried about being a little bit different to their peers. It shows how having the courage to just be yourself can open up a whole new world .

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2m0Y4Iu

The Baby’s Catalogue By Janet and Allan Ahlberg

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The Baby's CatalogueThis is a gorgeous picture book which gives you a little window in to the lives of 5 babies and their families. From prams, swings, nappies and games to shopping, meals, pets and bedtime this lovely book shows all the things a toddler may encounter in a day.

Ivy loves pointing at the pictures and naming all the things she that she currently knows the words for.

It’s a great little conversation starter with your child and is also a nice way of showing how every family is different.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2CAi2nM

Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy By Lynley Dodd

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Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's DairyWe’ve only had this one about 6 weeks but it’s been so popular with Ivy that it’s already covered in crayon!

Hairy Maclary is a fluffy little dog from Donaldson’s Dairy. He goes out for a walk and meets up with a motley crew of friends including Bottomley Potts (who is covered in spots) and Hercules Morse (who is as big as a horse).

They proudly walk through the town with their tails in the air but then spot their archenemy Scarface Claw. Who will prove to be the toughest animal in town?

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2DRO3or