Category

Pets

Izzy Gizmo By Pip Jones & Sara Ogilvie

Izzy GizmoLittle Izabelle loves to invent things. Her house is full of things she has made – from the Beardtastic grooming machine to the Swirly Spagsonic mealtime helper – but the problem is that they’re all in states of disrepair. Izzy loves to make things but when they break down she is too frustrated to try and fix them. She just gives up and moves on to the next project.

One day an injured crow falls in to her path. The local vet tells her that he has a broken wing which can’t be fixed so Izzy takes him home to look after him. She tries lots of ways to keep him entertained on the ground but the poor little crow just wants to be airborne again.

Spotting an opportunity to invent something new, Izzy sets about making a pair of wings but they’re too heavy and don’t work. Disillusioned, she immediately wants to give up but her grandpa and the crow won’t let her! They gently encourage her to have another go so she tries again. And again. And again.

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My Colourful Chameleon By Leonie Roberts & Mike Byrne

My Colourful ChameleonThis colourful book by Leonie Roberts and Mike Byrne is about a little girl with a pet chameleon. She loves her pet but he causes lots of trouble because he’s constantly changing colour and getting lost!

The little girl tries to explain that chameleons are supposed to change colour but her mummy just doesn’t understand and threatens to take him away. After the chameleon gets lost at school and gets her in to trouble with her teachers, her mummy decides enough is enough and takes him to the vets.

Will the little girl have to say goodbye to her lovely pet or will the vet be able to help?

The tight rhyme scheme, cute story and fantastic illustrations make this a great book for toddlers – particularly if they are already a fan of lizards!

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The Princess And The Pony By Kate Beaton

The Princess And The PonyThis book has caused a lot of laughs in our house since we first bought it, mainly because it features a farting pony and what toddler wouldn’t find that funny?!

Princess Pinecone lives in a kingdom full of fierce warriors and she wants to be one to, but she has one big problem. She is tiny and adorable, which makes being a warrior a little tough!

For her birthday she requests a big, strong horse to ride in the next great battle, but her parents don’t get it quite right. They buy her a cute, round pony with flatulence issues who eats everything in sight. Dismayed, Princess Pinecone tries to train him up but the poor little pony is hopeless.

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Rhyming Stories: Pip The Dog & Freddy The Frog By Axel Scheffler

Rhyming StoriesThis brightly coloured little board book is perfect for babies and toddlers alike as it features a really strong rhyme and an array of really cute animal characters.

There are two separate short stories in this one, each one about an animal who loves being noisy.

The first is about Pip the Dog, who loves to bark all the time. He’s at his happiest when playing chase and woof-woof in the park but also enjoys scaring the local cats and even the postman with his loud bark!

The second story is about Freddy the Frog, who loves to croak all day long and catch flies with his long tongue. He likes to play bounce in the pond with his friends but he’s also partial to a little nap on a lily pad.

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Juniper Jupiter By Lizzy Stewart

Juniper JupiterJuniper Jupiter is a superhero. She’s kind, brave, smart, sneaky and speedy – she can even fly! She doesn’t think it’s a big deal though – it’s just who she is. She’s just an ordinary little superhero who lives with her family and her dog, Peanut.

Being a superhero can be fun but it can also be lonely so she decides to advertise for a sidekick so she will have someone to share her adventures with. She sets up some auditions but no one is quite right for the role.

Then just as she’s about to give up she spots the perfect candidate. Is it possible that her sidekick has been by her side all along?

We love this beautifully illustrated story about every day superheroes and the power of friendship.

Buy it now: https://amzn.to/2pE3OL7

If I Had A Dinosaur By Alex Barrow & Gabby Dawnay

If I Had A DinosaurIvy loves dinosaurs so I always get excited when I see a dino book we haven’t read yet.

This particular book was inspired by the discovery of the bones of  a massive Titanosaur in Argentina in 2014. It’s believed to be the largest dinosaur to have ever lived. What would he have been like as a pet?

The little girl in the story would really, really like a pet dinosaur. She imagines how much fun it would be to take him for a walk in the park or even take him to school!

She sensibly thinks of all the things the dinosaur will need – like food, a dino-flap to get in and out of her house and also somewhere to sleep. She decides that a dinosaur would definitely be the best pet she could ever have.

Cleverly though, the gorgeous illustrations tell a slightly different story. We see squashed cars, giant poops and it’s apparent that the dinosaur is far too large to fit anywhere comfortably!

A fantastic book for dinosaur lovers, but also a useful tool for explaining to your child why a particular pet might not be right for them.

Buy from Bookshop.org and support independent bookshops: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/155/9780500651506

Buy from Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2prLFPM

Note these are affiliate links and Ivy’s Library will receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through them.

Dogs Don’t Do Ballet by Anna Kemp & Sara Ogilvie

Dogs Don't Do BalletBiff isn’t like other dogs. He doesn’t like playing fetch and he doesn’t do dog stuff like scratch himself or drink from the loo. Instead he dreams of becoming a ballerina!

He follows his owner to her ballet classes and watches intently – but whenever he tries to dance everyone says ‘dogs don’t do ballet!’.

For her birthday, his owner receives tickets to the royal ballet but Biff isn’t allowed to go. He’s so desperate to see the show that he sneaks after her.

Disaster strikes when the prima ballerina trips and falls – who could possibly take her place and save the show?

This is a great book which shows you should always follow your dreams and be true to yourself, even when others doubt you.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2EFDG8L

Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy By Lynley Dodd

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

Mog’s Christmas By Judith Kerr

Mog's ChristmasPreparations for Christmas are underway at Mog’s house and he is not a happy cat.

Everyone is busy, there are too many people in the house and to top it all off someone has brought a tree in to the living room. A tree!

He escapes to the roof but it begins to snow and he soon gets cold.

Will Mog’s family be able to coax him down and show him just how lovely Christmas can be?

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2BTJ49D

On No, George! By Chris Haughton

Oh No, George!George the Dog is every toddler. He really, really wants to be good and he promises he will be but sometimes being good is just so hard! The loveable dog gets himself into a number of scrapes, causing the reader to shout ‘Oh No, George!’ each time.

The illustrations are gorgeous and Ivy is always reduced to fits of giggles as she yells ‘Oh No!’ at the extremely cute puppy protagonist.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2jhujWb