Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
Our Dreams
‘Our Dreams’ is a stunning picture book which is perfect for sharing at bedtime. Soothing text is accompanied by dreamy watercolour artwork, featuring sleepy creatures from cuddling pandas to snuggling sloths.
Rich purples with tinges of pink evoke evening skies creating a wonderfully calm feeling on every page. Children will enjoy naming all the animals shown peacefully sleeping and are sure to notice the creeping caterpillar which makes its way across several pages unheeded by all the slumbering creatures until it creates a cocoon on a branch and later emerges. A gatefold opens to reveal all the animals as the moths fly away.
The reassuring text encourages the idea that dreams are imaginative adventures, ‘a pile of stories’, to be enjoyed whilst they last, creating a positive atmosphere for bedtimes full of possibilities. A lovely book for sharing- sure to become a bedtime favourite!
Our Dreams
Fatima Ordinola
Post Wave ISBN: 978-1836270393
You can read my review of ‘Our Love’ here.
Bedtime for Little Digger
Although it’s bedtime, Little Digger is too busy with things to do to go to sleep just yet…
The soothing rhythmic, rhyming text of ‘Bedtime for Little Digger’ is just perfect for calming little ones down and snuggling up ready to sleep. Little Digger is really excited and busy, not ready for bed, a situation many parents will be very familiar with, but the story gently, but firmly reminds him that everyone needs their sleep so that they can be ready for new adventures on the following day.
Little ones will enjoy identifying the different types of vehicles as the book progresses. The illustrations add much to story with the colours moving from bright star filled skies as the sun goes down to the rich purples and blues of night time. Although perfect as part of a soothing bedtime read, there is so much to spot and enjoy in each picture. We loved following the antics of all the little bunnies and counting the sheep as well as talking about what loads the different trucks were transporting.
An absolutely delightful book, sure to become a bedtime favourite!
Bedtime for Little Digger
Smriti Halls, illustrated by Sue Hendra
Simon and Schuster ISBN: 978-1398538863
Cat Nap
Meet a little cat who needs a nap! But there are so many things which get in the way of nap time when you are an inquisitive, busy little kitten with so much to explore!
As a lover of cats and a lover of Steve Antony’s books, I was really excited about ‘Cat Nap’- and what a joy it is. Steve has managed to capture such a toddler-like range of postures and expressions as Cat gradually gives in to nap time that any adult who has ever been part of the elaborate dance of ‘how to avoid going to sleep’ which seems to be programmed into all little ones will instantly recognise!
The book bursts with gentle humour, captured through the gorgeous illustrations and the simple text. Bedtime routine- plus detours- is established using minimal words, allowing the very youngest children to join in with telling the story - and no doubt, adding their own personal details to it. Surprisingly, it doesn’t include a bedtime story, but as the ‘voice’ is that of the adult who never appears in the illustrations, perhaps this would have been tricky!
Cat’s little face (oh, those eyes!) conveys such a wealth of emotions that the story is perfect for encouraging little ones to share how they think Cat is feeling and in turn, how they feel at these times, making it a great read not only for bedtime, but any time! I believe there are more books to come in this series which I very much look forward to seeing!
Cat Nap Steve Antony
Macmillan ISBN: 978-1035029020
Out on the 11th April!