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Macmillan Children’s Books

The Gruffalo By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

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The GruffaloToday’s book needs no introduction as it’s a modern classic. I’m sure most of you already have this in your child’s library but a collection of children’s book reviews doesn’t seem complete without it!

An enterprising young mouse is taking a little walk through the wood when he encounters a number of creatures who are keen to make him their dinner. Thinking on his feet he explains to each of them that he can’t stop because he is off to meet a Gruffalo. What’s a Gruffalo? the fox, the owl and the snake each ask in turn.

As he describes this imaginary, terrifying creature the details become more and absurd. He has terrible teeth, a poisonous wart on his nose, orange eyes and purple prickles all over his back! Scared of the mouses terrifying friend, the animals decide to let him go on his merry way.

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With My Mummy By James Brown & Cally Johnson-Isaacs

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With My MummyThis is a really cute book which captures the essence of the mother-child relationship really well. It takes you through a regular day from the point of view of the child and shows all the ways in which mummy makes their day special – whether it’s carrying them home from the shops because their legs are tired, fixing a favourite toy or splashing in the bath.

Each page features a different animal family and the beautiful illustrations really draw you in and help create a lovely warm setting for the story. Our favourites are the foxes in the park and the grumpy little elephant waiting for his dinner.

Lots of the activities are ones which many mums may not look forward to doing with their child in tow, for example doing the supermarket shop, but the child’s narrative is a nice way of reminding us of something important. No matter how badly we may sometimes think we’re doing at this difficult job called parenting, our children always think we’re the best! 

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Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

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Charlie Cook's Favourite BookOur choice for World Book Day is Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book by Julia Donaldson. Why? Because it’s not just a book – it’s a book in a book in a book in a book!

This really clever story takes you on a little adventure through a whole host of different stories and styles in just a few short pages.

Charlie Cook is sitting in an armchair reading his favourite book, which is about a pirate. In the story he’s reading, the pirate finds a copy of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and reads it. In the Goldilocks book one of the bears talks about his favourite story which is about a knight. And the knight is reading a book about a frog … And so on and so forth until we come right round to a headless ghost who is reading a book about Charlie Cook!

It may sound a little confusing but it’s a simple story and the rhyme is really catchy.

We also love the way that each page looks completely different as technically they’re each from a different book!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2F4oq4Q

Fox’s Socks By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

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Fox's SocksThis is another lovely lift-the-flap book from Julia Donaldson’s Acorn Wood series.

Poor fox wakes up in the morning and discovers he’s lost his socks. He searches all over the house and it’s your job to help him by lifting the flaps to open, trunks and doors and cupboards.

He finds an assortment of different clothes in strange locations, but where on earth are his socks?

The combination of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is always magical and this one is no exception!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2CnUBhR

Animal Music by Julia Donaldson & Nick Sharratt

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Animal MusicIvy is partial to a boogie so we are big fans of this musical number by Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt.

The raucous rhyme runs through a whole orchestra of animals, each playing a different musical instrument. It’s really fun to read and has also been a great way for Ivy to learn the names of animals that don’t often show up in kids books.

She particularly likes the crooning crayfish and the bison who plays the cello!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2DXbPE0

The Flying Bath By Julia Donaldson & David Roberts

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The Flying BathThe Flying Bath by Julia Donaldson has an extremely random story but the rhyme and illustrations never fail to make Ivy giggle.

3 little bath toys (a duck, a frog and a turtle) operate their own little emergency service for animals in urgent need of water. When they receive a call they jump in their magic flying bath and set off to the rescue.

On their adventures they help a thirsty kangaroo, a bee with droopy flowers, a pig who needs a wash and many more. But will they make it home for bathtime?

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2mWKoQn

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

Dear Santa By Rod Campbell

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Dear SantaDear Santa is a little classic for smaller toddlers. Following in the tradition of Dear Zoo there is a little present hidden under a flap on each page – however this time it’s Santa trying to choose the perfect gift.

Will he send a toy car? No – too small! 
Will he send a kite? No – too big!

What will end up being the perfect present?

Ivy loves the excitement of revealing what’s behind the flaps – and the gift on the final page might just be a tiny bit fluffy!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2yu2WKr

Whatever Next! By Jill Murphy

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Whatever Next!It’s early evening and Baby Bear asks his Mummy if he can go to the moon. The answer is a resounding NO as it’s bath time and, as she points out, he’d need a rocket anyway.

Not to be deterred, Baby Bear finds himself a box under the stairs which becomes a rocket, puts a colander on his head as a space helmet, packs his teddy and zooms off to space.

Who will he meet on his travels? And will he make it back in time for his bath?

This is a really cute little story that shows children there are no limits to their imagination.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2k1bDul

The Something By Rebecca Cobb

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The SomethingAnyone who has been following us for a while will know that Ivy and I are big fans of Rebecca Cobb and this beautiful book is no exception.

A little boy finds a hole underneath the cherry tree in his garden and begins to wonder what could be down there. He shows the hole to his parents, his sister, his friends and his grandparents and ask them what they think.

Could there be a family of frogs down there? Or bunnies? Or even a troll or a dragon? Only time will tell!

This is a delightful little book about the power of a child’s imagination and the illustrations are gorgeous. We particularly like the little blue troll.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2i30Zmn