Love is all we need by Krina Patel-Sage. The everyday meaning of love is revealed through six diverse families. Simple rhyming text and lovely illustrations, this one is a book for keeps, a joyful, hopefully book, celebrating empathy and kindness. Perfect for sharing.
Published by Otter-barry in May 2024 . Find out more here - https://www.otterbarrybooks.com/books/love-is-all-we-need-
The Moomins and the Great Flood by Tove Jansson. The first ever Moomin book, originally published in Finland in 1945. It was 1939, and she wanted to write a fairy tale but without princes, princesses and small children, so a character from her original cartoons, Moomintroll, was the perfect choice. The half-written story was eventually finished, illustrated and published. Tove says, I'm her preface to this edition, that this was her very first happy ending! Moomintroll and Moominmamma are searching through forest and flood for Moominpappa, last seen wandering with the Hattifatteners. Their adventure takes them on a fabulous journey, meeting some Hemulens, the beautiful blue-haired Tulippa and eventually Moominpappa. I read all the Moomin stories when I was small, s it's nice to have finally read the original story. Published by Sortof Books in 2012. Find out more here - https://sortof.co.uk/moomins
Tribune, Spring 2024. Forty years on from the Miner's strike of 1984-5, this issue looks at the history, legacy and relevance today of the unions and the solidarity between workers from all backgrounds, places and industries. Fascinating and illuminating.
Published by Tribune Magazine Find out more here - https://tribunemag.co.uk/
The Three Dimensions of Freedom by Billy Bragg. The musician, performer, writer and activist with his manifesto for freedom, inspired by the crisis in democracy, the rise of neo-liberalism, globalisation and authoritarianism, where power is more important than human and planetary wellbeing. His three dimensions of freedom are liberty, equality and accountability. He argues with an urgent lyricism that we should embrace these freedoms to counter the populist voices that seem to be so loud. This is especially relevant at this time, here in the UK as we approach a general election, with all it's sad ugliness, and urgently need voices like this to reassure us that we are not alone, and there is actually a lot of hope. Published by Faber and Faber. Find out more here - https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571353217-the-three-dimensions-of-freedom/
Ostriches, Ten poems about my Dad by Jeanette Burton. Poet Jeanette Burton takes us on a "lively journey to meet her dad; a man whose passions range from DIY to Only Fools and Horses". For the author, in the end it all comes back to one phrase "There you go kiddo, you can't win 'em all.". The title poem, "Ostriches " is a reminiscene of driving lessons long ago, and car journeys before sat navs and mobile phones, and not missing all the amazing things that whizz past the car windows. I think my favourite is "If you have a treasured possession that's seen better days...", and imagining of sending Dad in to BBC's Repair Shop. A perfect gift for Dads. These little books come with a matching bookmark, and an envelope so they can be given instead of a card. A perfect way to celebrate any occasion, whole giving the gift of poetry. This one is a slight detour from the usual compilation of poems by various poets, and gives one poet her own book.
Part of my year of promoting the power of poetry.
Published by Candlestick Press in 2024. Find out more here - https://www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/ostriches-ten-poems-about-my-dad/
Watch them Grow! Animal Life Cycles by James Carter and James Munro. Fun, rhyming text introduces young children to some of nature's life cycles. We meet, amongst others, the Emperor Dragonfly, the Common Seahorse, frogs, a Burmese Python, a bottle nose Dolphin, and you! Loads of facts to engage young story-sharers, with masses of extra info in the back of the book to answer those curious questions, like whose baby is an elver? and which creature never really becomes an adult?
Published by Graffeg in June 2024. Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/products/watch-them-grow, and teaching resources from Graffeg here - https://graffeg.com/pages/teachers-resources
Counting in Green, 10 little ways to help our big planet by Hollis Kurma and Barroux. Mother Earth needs our help, but what can we do?
From one to ten, we're counting green
To keep our planet safe and clean
Simple text, with one concept on each double page spread, gives the opportunity to talk about what we see on the pages and what each of the ideas means. Active transport, eating less meat, recycling, reusing shopping bags and beach cleaning are all depicted. I think one of the most important things we can do is to get our little ones outside, exploring the natural world and showing them how to respect and care for it, creating connections and showing children that we are as much a part of the web of life sustaining the planet as the animals and the trees. Perfect for teaching empathy, kindness and respect for the home we share with all living things. Published by Otter-barry books in 2023. Find out more here - https://www.otterbarrybooks.com/books/counting-in-green
Shu-Lin's Grandpa by Matt Goodfellow and Yu Rong. A new girl comes to school one day, Shu-Lin. She doesn't speak much and she has a very different sort of packed lunch. But Dylan understands how she feels, remembering his first day at school too. Everything changes when Shu-Lin's Grandpa comes into class to show the children his paintings, and they get to have a go with special paper and ink and special brushes. A beautiful picture book worthy of a place on every classroom's bookshelf. Shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway medal in 2022, there's a double fold-out illustration in the middle showing us Grandpa's painting.
Published by Otter-barry in 2022 Find out more here - https://www.otterbarrybooks.com/books/shu-lin's-grandpa
I really, really don't like parties by Angie Morgan. Parties are too loud and too busy for Dora (I know how she feels), so when she gets a party invite, she has to get inventive, coming up with all sorts of funny reasons why she really can't go to the party. Sore knee, sore throat, gorilla stole the party dress, giant frog ate shoe...and so on. She does go, in the end, and she's not he only one who likes a bit of peace and quiet. Hilarious fun, but with an important message. It's ok to be different, it's ok not to like parties, and there's always someone else at a party who doesn't want to be loud and busy. And that's ok. Published by Otter-barry in April 2024 Find out more here - https://www.otterbarrybooks.com/books/i-really%2C-really-don't-like-parties
Aqua Boy by Ken Wilson-Max. An ocean conservation story about Island boy Aaron, whose mum and dad are ocean guardians, caring for the beach and the sea near their home. Aaron loves the sea but is a bit scared of going underwater, desperately wanting to be brave enough. When the ocean throws rubbish from all over he world onto their beach, Aaron and his sister are determined to clean up the ocean for good. Mum (like me) says we need to stop people throwing so much stuff away... When Aaron accidentally gets confident enough to look under water, he's so happy, and spends time looking after the ocean and looking out for his friend the octopus who gave him the confidence to face his fears. From the Zimbabwean author of Astro Girl and Eco Girl, another empowering story for young children. Published by Otter-barry in April 2024 Find out more here - https://www.otterbarrybooks.com/books/aqua-boy
The Sea book by Charlotte Milner. Following on from the success of The Bee Book, comes another beautifully designed offering this time all about the oceans, what lives there, and how important the seas are to all of life on land too. Did you know there are more volcanoes under water than there are on the land? What strange creatures live in the abyss at the bottom of the ocean? And what can we do about overfishing, warming seas, and the plastic problem? These are all considered and presented for a young audience and there are practical ideas to help.
"It's time to protect these waters that we cannot live without"
Published by DK Books in 2019 Find out more here - https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241355374-the-sea-book/
These are brilliant books for young children with lots of questions that need answering.
Published by DK Books in 2021 Find out more here - https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241395776-the-rainforest-book/
Three new poetry and prose pamphlets for the summer from Candlestick Press.
The Summer Meadow, Forty Acres of Shared Earth by Miriam Darlington. Here, the naturalist shares her exquisite prose essay, and we are treated to two further summer meadow poems. She gives us a beautifully evocative description of the rewilding and regeneration of a Devon meadow, as it fills with wild flowers, grasses, insects and amphibians, mammals and birds. It's very easy reading this on a cloudy and windy June day, to be transported to the meadow with its warmth and perfume of wild flowers.
These little books come with a matching bookmark, and an envelope so they can be given instead of a card. A perfect way to celebrate any occasion, whole giving the gift of poetry.
Part of my year of promoting the power of poetry.
Published by Candlestick Press Find out more here - https://www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/the-summer-meadow-forty-acres-of-shared-earth/
Wish you were here, fourteen poems about holidays. This lovely collection celebrates all sorts of holidays, and I was completely engrossed after the first offering - a little poem about the moment when we are travelling to the seaside, and first glimpse the sea through the car or train window, and that made me think, "that really is a thing, I do that", is it that we are amazed it is still there? Or is it childhood memories of going to the beach all surfacing at once? Whatever it is, it's always lovely to get out of the city for a couple of hours and enjoy the sea and the sand, whatever the weather. A hotel in Florida, the Parthenon, the sands at Merthyr Mawr and Morecambe Bay all make a guest appearance at this motel of poems.
Published by Candlestick Press Find out more here - https://www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/wish-you-were-here-fourteen-poems-about-holidays/
Ten Poems about Cows, selected and introduced by Hilary Menos, who used to run a herd of 40 cows. This little book gives us poems about cows grazing, being born, being milked, being drawn by a child, as well as Robert Louis Stevenson's recognisable poem for children about the friendly cow. I really like the way that reading poetry makes me reflect, think and make connections between the poems and life's experiences. My grandad had cows, and he could always be found in a field keeping an eye on them. And whenever we are out walking in the countryside we always have to go up to the gates and say hello to the munching, warm-breathing, soft-nosed cows. A Setswana riddle teases us in the middle of this selection - who is that wet-nosed god, whose dung is used for both shelter and fire? Published by Candlestick Press Find out more here - https://www.candlestickpress.co.uk/pamphlet/ten-poems-about-cows/ A donation is given to Compassion in World Farming with every sale of this one.
The House without Windows by Barbara Newhall Follett and Jackie Morris. The author published this book, aged only 12, in 1927, and after publishing another book based on her experience as a ship's "cabin boy", she disappeared in 1937 amd was never seen again. This is the story of Eepersip, a little girl who doesn't want to live in a house with doors, windows and roof, so she runs away, discovering the Meadow, the Sea and the Mountain, even her heartbroken parents unable to tempt her home. A fantastical fable which captures the true essence of awe, wonder and curiosity, as the mystical fairy-like Eepersip becomes one with the natural world. This edition is introduced and illustrated by Jackie Morris, who became fascinated by Barbara's story.
Published by Hamish Hamilton and imprint of Pengin Books. Find out more here - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/14/house-without-windows-barbara-newhall-follett-jackie-morris
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