The Truth About Yeticorns by Rachel Morrisroe & Ella Oakstad (Puffin Books) ~ July 2023
When you’re little and you do something wrong, it can be easy to tell a little lie and blame someone else so you don’t get in trouble. That’s what Bea does – but instead of blaming her sister she comes up with the most wonderful creatures who must be causing the bother. A hamstersaur smashes the dishes, stray fairy-cats leave footprints on the mat and a flying giraffe pinches the biscuits. Worst of all, a yeticorn is on the loose causing all sorts of disasters!
Eventually, Edie gets fed up of Bea’s fibs (and the yeticorn’s mess). Bea realises that not telling the truth can make people really upset. She hates that her sister is cross and decides to own up. Together, she and Edie find a way to use Bea’s imagination to spin stories that don’t upset anyone.
The Truth About Yeticorns is absolutely delightful! Bea is charming, Edie is everything a big sister should be and the imaginary creatures are so much fun. Young children will love sharing this story and discussing the importance of being truthful.
Finn’s Little Fibs by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) ~ July 2023
Tom Percival is know for his emapthy-filled picture books that challenge children to think about their emotions and how they react to all the ups and downs life throws at them.
When Finn goes to visit his grandma, he accidentally breaks her clock. He can’t bear to tell her the truth so he fibs. He blames his little sister and immediately feels terrible. After that, the fibs keep coming, each time leaving a little blob behind that follows Finn everywhere. Finally, it all becomes too much and Finn tells the truth. He never wants to tell a fib again.
Finn’s Little Fibs will pair beautifully with The Truth About Yeticorns. Children will find safety inside the stories to discuss telling the truth and how we feel when we don’t.
Don’t Disturb the Dragon! by Rhiannon Findlay & Sian Roberts (Puffin Books) ~ June 2023
The princess’s little brother has gone missing and it’s up to her to find him. She’s worried about the dragon that lives nearby and sets off on an exciting quest through the woods. Along the way, she thinks she may have spotted the dragon but it’s only cheeky unicorns, a red scaley castle and a trolls’ campfire. When she finally tracks down the dragon, the princess realises it isn’t quite how it seems.
This is a perfect book to read aloud with a group of children. The repeated refrain of “Don’t disturb the DRAGON!” will ring out with absolute joy!
Spyceratops by Alex Willmore (Farshore) ~ August 2023
The little Spyceratops is both an adorable dinosaur and a top secret spy. Equipped with every spy gadget imaginable, she just needs a chance to practise her skills. When Grandad starts acting suspicious with a box marked “Top Secret”, she knows this is her chance! Will the Spyceratops be successful in her mission and discover what Grandad is up to or will everything go wrong?
This is such an engaging story with so much to look at on every page. It’s perfect for bedtime or as an independent read. Children will love spying on Grandad right along with this super spy dino!
Pick a Story: A Superhero + Mermaid + Dragon Adventure by Sarah Coyle & Adam Walker-Parker (Farshore) ~ August 2023
The Pick a Story books are very popular in our house. My eldest daughter takes them with her when she goes babysitting. The children ask for them again and again. They love taking turns to choose where the story should go next and following a new adventure each time. With a brother/sister pair and very different interests, they can end up with quite a mixed up story! It’s “Choose Your Own Adventure” for younger readers.
In this adventure, readers have the chance to help Davy find his BEST picture EVER. Was it taken by a dragon, a mermaid or a superhero? It’s up to the reader to decide!
The Thunk by Michelle Robinson & Deborah Allwright (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) ~ July 2023
My children have always loved picture books by Michelle Robinson. The characters are delightful and the stories are full of kids who run into all sorts of unusual situations.
The Thunk is a wonderful one-of-a-kind creature with blue-ish pink fur, a strange smell and a long trunk. People say it’s extinct – or maybe never even existed in the first place. Hector Voltaire doesn’t believe them. He’s sure there’s a Thunk out there and he’s determined to find it. Ready for anything, Hector sets off on the quest of a lifetime.
He’s thrilled to discover the last Thunk alive! But wait, there isn’t just one. Maybe it’s Hector who’s the rare creature instead!
Rhinos Don’t Cry by Mark Grist & Chris Jevons (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) ~ July 2023
Milo is a rhino who loves all sorts of rhino-y things. The only problem is that when things go wrong, he thinks he shouldn’t cry. At least that’s what his hero, Spike-O Mcree the movie star, always says. When Milo’s cat Pickles goes missing, he’s very upset. He just can’t hold in his tears. He learns that expressing his emotions is important and it’s ok for rhinos to cry. In fact, sometimes, it’s the brave thing to do.
Rhinos Don’t Cry is perfect for EYFS or KS1 classrooms. It will prompt rich discussions about how we handle our emotions and why it’s important to be honest about how we feel
Rory’s Room of Rectangles by Ian Eagleton & Jessica Knight (Owlet Press) ~ May 2023
Ian Eagleton is gaining a reputation for honest, heart-warming stories that speak to children right where they are. He doesn’t shy away from challenging situations. Instead, he provides children with the tools they need to make sense of their lives.
Father’s Day is coming up and Rory isn’t sure what to do. His mum and dad are no longer together and mum has a new boyfriend – Tony. With two special men in his life, Rory doesn’t know who he should make a Father’s Day card for. He worries about his dad and what he does when he isn’t with him. Is he lonely? Does he miss Rory? Rory feels guilty about enjoying time with Tony.
Through the power of art and expression, Tony helps Rory realise that he doesn’t have to feel torn between him and his dad. They both love him and will always be there for him. Maybe Father’s Day isn’t so bad after all.
You Can Do Anything, Tyrone! by Lenny Henry & Salomey Doku (Macmillan) ~ July 2023
Tyrone has big plans but soon discovers that making them come true is a bit harder than he first thought. Not to worry – Grandad is here to help. Tyrone’s grandad is a wonderful role model of determination, resilience and self-belief. He tells Tyrone of their ancestors who struggled to create a new life for themselves after travelling on the HMT Empire Windrush and succeeding even when people told them they couldn’t. With a big dose of imagination, this wonderful pair has a fantastic adventure and proves that they really can do anything.
Shine: Everyone is Different, Everyone is Special by Sarah Asuquo & Nadia Fisher (Scholastic) ~ August 2023
Kai wishes he could be the same as everyone else. If he wasn’t too tall or didn’t have a scar under his eye, maybe kids wouldn’t laugh at him. With the help of his loving parents, he learns that everyone has a special light and we all need to find a way to let ours shine through. Kai shares this message with other children at school, helping them to let their lights shine too. Before long, Kai is surrounded by friends who like him for who he is.
This is a beautiful story of acceptance and celebration. Through diverse characters, Sarah Asuquo and Nadia Fisher encourage children to be true to themselves and build-up those around them.
BIG by Vashti Harrison (Puffin Books) ~ May 2023
BIG is a powerful story of body image, self-acceptance and learning to love ourselves. It challenges readers to think carefully about how they treat others and the importance of not making judgements based on appearance.
When children are young, being big is wonderful. We say, “Look how big you’ve gotten!” and “Aren’t you a big girl!” Growing up is celebrated. But what about when being big isn’t such a good thing? In this story, a young girl starts to feel uncomfortable in her own skin. She no longer fits on the swing, she’s the largest in her dance class and everyone seems to be saying “You’re just too big.” Those words hurt and she starts to believe them. How can she shake off the feeling of not fitting in?
This is a book to be shared with children throughout primary. There is so much scope for discussion and prompting children to reflect on their thoughts about themselves and others. With careful planning and thoughtful reaction to children’s comments, this book has the potential to have an incredible impact on the level of care and self-confidence in a classroom or school.
This Girl Can Be a Bit Shy by Stephanie Stansbie & Hazel Quintanilla (Little Tiger) ~ May 2023
Ruby is a wonderful little girl who is learning to make sense of her feelings. Some days she is confident and loud. Others she feels quiet and just wants to be left alone. Both feelings are ok. Ruby realises that all of these feelings are a part of her.
The This Girl… series by Stephanie Stansbie and Hazel Quintanilla is so charming. Little ones will love getting to know Ruby and seeing that she is just like them – sometimes brave, sometimes shy, sometimes ready for adventure and always ready for a cuddle with her mum and dad.
Pea Pod Lullaby by Glenda Millard & Stephen Michael King (Old Barn Books) ~ June 2023
Pea Pod Lullaby is a beautiful depiction of the love between a parent and child as they set off on a journey towards safety. Told through the metaphors of the song, it shows the depth of this very special relationship and their hope for the future as they search for a place to call home.
“I am the falling star. You are the wishful hands. Catch me.”
“I am the windblown husk. You are the jewelled rain. Quench me.”
Read as a bedtime story, a class book exploring displacement and finding a new home or as inspiration for children’s own writing, there is so much to gain from this gorgeous book. It is not surprising it was nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration (Greenaway Award).
Deep: A story of love through the generations by Stephen Hogtun (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) ~ August 2023
Deep is a stunning celebration of the beauty of nature and the power of family. Told from the point of view of a mother whale and her calf, it shows readers that families come in all shapes and sizes but love is universal. Life brings ups and downs but together we can overcome any challenge. This mother’s love will always be with her baby – even when that baby has grown. Her love is deeper than any ocean.
This is a book to be savoured – each page a breathtaking piece of art. Readers of all ages will return to it again and again.
Within My Branches by Nicolas Michel & translated by Sarah Ardizzone (Pushkin Children’s) ~ September 2023
Originally written in French, Within My Branches tells the story of a tree from a young sapling until it grows so tall it can tickle the clouds. This mighty tree doesn’t expect to be cut down but then its life continues as a ship carrying adventurers towards their dreams.
Within My Branches shows readers everything that happens to a tree. From the life it cradles to the storms it faces and every story it witnesses. There is so much food for thought with in the simple text.
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