Category

Being True To Yourself

The Bear And The Piano By David Litchfield

The Bear And The PianoThere is something hauntingly beautiful about The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield – and this is another one where Ivy feels compelled to stroke the pages when I’m reading it to her.

The story is about a little bear cub who finds an old piano in the woods. Fascinated by the sounds it makes, he visits every day until he is an accomplished pianist, but he still doesn’t really understand what the piano is.

His playing begins to draw a crowd and eventually Broadway comes calling. He would really, really like to play his piano for audiences around the world but he’s scared of leaving his home and family behind.

What will happen if he takes a leap of faith? And will his friends forget all about him once he’s gone?

This is a really powerful book about how following your dreams doesn’t have to mean losing your roots.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2ip1J1O

The Lion Inside By Rachel Bright & Jim Field

The Lion InsideAs a shy person with more than a pinch of anxiety, this is the book I wish I had read as a child and I hope it inspires Ivy in the future.

The story is about a tiny little mouse who is often overlooked because of his quiet little voice. He looks up to the mighty lion who lives nearby and wishes he could be big and brave like him.

One day he realises that in order to be who he wants to be he needs to find his courage, so he sets off to find the lion so he can ask him to teach him to roar.

But the meeting doesn’t quite go to plan. Could it be possible that the mighty lion is scared of mice?

We adore this one, and I’m not ashamed to say that the first time I read it to Ivy I cried at the end. Beautiful!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2zwAZUk

Sugarlump And The Unicorn By Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks

Sugarlump And The UnicornWe love Sugarlump and the Unicorn by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.

Sugarlump is a rocking horse who becomes discontented with his life when the children who own him grow up and go to school. Enter a magical unicorn who grants his wishes and lets him be who he wants to be. But after stints on a farm, at a race course and in a circus he’s still not happy and he misses the children.

Will he ever fulfil his potential and become the horse he was meant to be?

The illustrations in this one are fab and there are raised glittery sections on every page for your little one to find and touch.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2j5Ao86

It’s OK To Be Different By Todd Parr

It's Okay To Be DifferentIvy loves the illustrations in this colourful book which celebrates everyone’s differences.

Have big ears? That’s fine. Got an invisible friend? No problem. Come from a different place to your friends? That’s okay. Like to eat macaroni cheese in the bath? Cool!

It’s a really positive and happy book and you can’t help but smile when reading it. Nice work Todd Parr!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2zV6tDp

I Love You, Stinky Face By Lisa McCourt & Cyd Moore

I Love You, Stinky Face!This book is special to us as it’s the first one I ever read to Ivy when she was teeny tiny.

In the story a mother tells her little boy how much she loves him which triggers lots and lots of questions.

Would she still love him if he was a big scary ape? 
Would she still love him if he were a super smelly skunk?
Would she still love him if he was a swamp monster?

The answer to each question is of course YES and the mother explains what she would do in each scenario to show him how much she loves him.

In those hyper-hormonal first few months this book regularly reduced me to tears and it can still occasionally cause a little wobble.

Beautiful – and the illustrations are gorgeous too.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2gwOyyf

I Like Bees, I Don’t Like Honey By Sam Bishop & Fiona Lumbers

I Like Bees, I Don't Like HoneyThis beautifully illustrated book teaches children that we’re all different and that’s what makes us special.

Each page shows a like or dislike from a different child – and they’re all from real kids who are thanked at the beginning of the book.

At the moment Ivy just likes the pictures and the rhymes but I can see how it would be great to encourage conversation with slightly older children.

As an added bonus, all royalties go to the NSPCC.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2gRXQ4K