What I read | November / December 2020

[ my image - Upton, River Bure, Norfolk Broads, November 2020 ]

The Bear in the Stars by Alexis Snell. A beautifully illustrated story about a polar bear who lives in the snowy kingdom of the Northern Lights. But her home is melting, the ice is disappearing, she has to move home, find food, and then a new home again, one that was cold and white. It's a difficult job for a great white bear with thick fur, to find a cold home, when it's so hot, and a little human shares his ice cream in a wonderful act of kindness. The story is sad, but moving, and foretelling of what may come if we humans do not move fast to combat rising temperatures and seas. But the small human with a hopeful heart, and all the big humans and the animals, work together to grow and sustain a peaceful world, with the bear watching on.

The illustrations are each hand-carved lino-prints, and tell a tale of kindness and respect for "the environment and for others who are a little bit different from ourselves".

Thanks to Penguin Random House Puffin Books

The Tooth Fairy and the home of the coin makers by Samuel Langley-Swain and Davide Ortu. This is the first in a new series of children's picture books from The Royal Mint and celebrating their long-standing collaboration with the Tooth Fairy! The stories are based around twins Ollie and Grace whose Grandpa, a former employee of the Royal Mint, has amazing and magical stories to tell about the tooth fairies. This first story is tells the tale of Ollie and Grace losing their first tooth, and learning about how the Chief and her fairies swap teeth for new coins, and how new coins are now made in the Welsh Valleys. The twins can't wait for their next tooth to fall out to find out more about the Royal Mint, the Dragon who lives there, and the fairies.

Thanks to Owlet Press (www.owletpress.com)
See www.royalmint.com

Dilwyn the Welsh Dragon by Samuel Langley-Swain and Jessica Rose. The gorgeous tale of a baby dragon, born one night at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, hidden deep in the Valleys of South Wales. A picture book aimed at the very young, this tells us, in minimal rhyming text, and beautiful illustrations, how coins are made. One night, a tiny multicoloured egg hatches amongst the shiny gold coins, and a tiny dragon emerges. The coin makers name him Dilwyn, meaning truth, and see him as their precious gift, and he becomes the guard of the coins, fending of the pesky burglars with his fiery breath. This is a lovely picture book, reminding me of the valleys that we haven't been able to visit since last Christmas, and would make a perfect Christmas gift.

Thanks to Owlet Press (www.owletpress.com)

See www.royalmint.com for more

The Tooth Fairy and the magical journey by Samuel Langley-Swain and Davide Ortu. The second in the Royal Mint series of picture books for young children, which teaches us about where and how coins are made, and adds the magical element of the tooth fairy. In this story twins Ollie and Grace lose a tooth, and try to stay awake to see the tooth fairy. Instead they meet Wensleydale Watch-mouse who won't call the fairies until the twins are fast asleep. Another magical tale, with an underground adventure, the Chief tooth fairy, and sparkling coins, setting us up for another instalment... Beautifully illustrated by Davide Ortu who has also illustrated picture books for Nosy Crow and Usborne.

These books are perfect for curious little ones, with diverse characters, feisty hardworking fairies, and the wonderful storytelling Grandpa.

Thanks to Owlet Press (www.owletpress.com)
See www.royalmint.com for more about the Royal Mint.

Goodnight Owl by Pat Hutchins.  An old classic.  The children joined in with the animal noises, and laughed when the owl woke them all up.  

the new baby by Lie Dirkx, an activity book for soon to be big brothers and sisters. An original, brilliant idea, in the form of a beautifully illustrated paperback picture book, containing pages for doodling, colouring, talking about the illustrations, compiling a family tree, and to encourage talking about what the prospective big sibling was like when they were a baby. This is a perfect gift for a big sister or brother, which will prompt special moments to remember for parents and children. Thanks to cicadabooks.co.uk (@cicadabooks)

The Problem with Pierre by C.K.Smouha and illustrated by Suzanna Hubbard. The story of neighbours Bertram and Alan, great friends but completely different. Something is missing from Bertram's neat and tidy house, so he acquires a cat, Pierre, who doesn't seem to like Bertram's tidy house, he prefers Alan's messy house with leftovers for dinner, an old coat for a bed and a beatup old sofa to watch telly on. But neither Bertram nor Alan feel quite right still...why? A large hammer sorts out the problem, and everyone is happy. A lovely touching tale of friendship, happiness, and sorting things out so they are just right. And perfectly illustrated to show the personalities and feelings of the characters. Thanks to cicadabooks.co.uk (@cicadabooks)

The Pocket Chaotic by Ziggy Hanaor and illustrated by the award-winning Daniel Gray-Barnett. The story of Nancy the kangaroo and her joey, Alexander, who spends most of his time in his Mum's pouch, or "Alexander's pocket" as he like to think of it. The trouble is, Mum is a bit untidy. An amazing cook, pianist and skipping rope jumper, she just stuffs all sorts of STUFF in Alexander's pocket. Phone...fair enough, but loose change, a stone, a stick, smelly shorts, the school newsletter from sister Elly's school. Alexander is fed up, and even his fantastic filing system can't keep on top of all the stuff. One Wednesday it's really bad, cookbook, toothpaste, keys, felt tip pen, and HALF A BANANA!! Alexander has really had enough. The is a beautiful tale of Mums and real life, and will resonate with us all. Perfect. Thanks to cicadabooks.co.uk

Leap, Hare, Leap! by Dom Conlon and Anastasia Izlesou. This picture book has recieved nominations for both the 2021 CILIP Carnegie Medal and Kate Greenaway Medal, praising the text and the illustrations. Another book celebrating the diversity and wonder of nature, this lyrical story tells the tale of the Hare who leaps around the world meeting all the other species of hare, and back to her own world, where the fox chases her home. I can see why it is award-nominated, not only are the words mesmerising, but the illustrations draw you into the hare's world. Perfect. And there are more to come from the author / illustrator team, with books planned about sharks and stars.

Thanks to Graffeg

Raising a Forest by Thibaud Herem. A little book with a big heart. The illustrator Thibaud Herem (Thibaud Herem ) is nurturing a homegrown arboretum in his small London garden. And this little book is a documentation of this work, as well as a visual exploration of the beautiful shapes and forms found in nature. He grew up in France working on his grandparents' farm, then moved to London where, he says he "gradually grew blind to the variations of grey weather and pollution", and, like a lot of people, mostly ignored the "nagging guilt at being complicit in a system of relentless consumerism that does so much damage to the planet". So he grew, from some seeds he was given, a tiny pine tree, and felt awe, wonder and hope at the possibilities emerging from the little seed. So the book is the story of his "obsession with trees and the process of growing them". He illustrates his workbench through the seasons, as well as individual species resulting in a beautiful tribute to those wonderful slow-growing living things that have the power to save the planet if we would only stop chopping them down.  Thanks to cicadabooks.co.uk

Little Cloud by Eric Carle.  Another old classic for Autumn, this one was a big hit..  Little Cloud drifts away from the other clouds, and has fun changing into different shapes.  Even a hat... a hat?? We had to read it again and again.  We made Little Cloud stick puppets, and told the story.  We spotted clouds out and about.  And then we watched the guy from the Eric Carle museum tell the story on YouTube.  Maybe tomorrow we will lie down on the grass and look up at the sky and see what shapes we can spot in the clouds.  That's if it isn't totally grey and misty, or pouring with rain...

Do Daddies have ants in their pants? by Fransie Frandsen. Another episode in the Alexander's Questions series from writer, illustrator, graphic designer and fine artist, Fransie Fransden. This one is just as good as the first, I love the graphic design / collage style of the illustrations, reminiscent of a cross between Lauren Child and Nick Sharratt. Daddy is late for work and is running around looking for his keys. Mum asks Alexander, "Do you think Daddy has ants in his pants?" because he's always running round somewhere. Alexander spends the next few days looking everywhere for these pesky ants. But where are they? Not even in Dad's underpants (he did check them when Dad wasn't wearing them). A hilarious take on a phrase we say all the time, but don't usually take so literally! Thanks to @artfox.bookwolf (on instagram) and midaspr.co.uk

Harry the Karate Monkey by Stuart Simmonds and Bill Greenhead. This is a delightful romping adventure about Lucy and her toys, Harry the karate monkey, Ben the small gorilla and Rabbit the rabbit. Mum buys a toy monkey for Lucy at the airport on her way back from a trip, and an accident of magic (or science) brings the toys to life. Meanwhile there are some baddies who are after the top secret formula spy potion, which Agent X hid in the toy monkey that Mum bought at the airport. Add in a school trip to the zoo with the new monorail, and a deputy head with sandwiches, baddies searching for the secret potion, and a toy monkey who can do karate, and his friends, and you can see how this is an exciting adventure.

Thanks to www.harrythekaratemonkey.com, www.stuhead.co.uk, StuheadLtd @PanpathicCommunications 

Wow! said the Owl by Tim Hopgood. A modern classic. Owl wants to be awake all day so he can see what daytime is like. It's full of amazingly colourful things. The children repeat "Wow! said the Owl", and we look for things in the room that are the same colour as the things in the book that the Owl sees - A's orange socks, my green stripy top, W's pink leggings and H's grey tights, E's blue top and baby H's green trousers. And In the Autumn by Lesley Anne Ivory - collage pictures and few words to describe all the things we see outside at this time of year.

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson.  Another classic for Autumn.  The children joined in with “I want my Mummy”, said Bill.  And we made leaf angels in the fallen leaves in the old churchyard.

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