Wonderful Winter Reading for Children – Best of the Book Releases Reviewed
Three Little Monkeys
By Sir Quentin Blake and Emma Chichester Clark
Hardback £12.99
Harper Collins Children’s Books
Two children’s book greats have collaborated on this wonderful picture storybook. It has everything it needs to make a perfect read with young children – animal mayhem, silly antics, a moral and a twist.
Hilda Snibbs has three pet monkeys which cause chaos and confusion every time she leaves the house. Of course, one day she snaps and tells the monkeys off. But how will she feel when she returns to find them missing and the house in perfect order? We love this book and guarantee you will too. A really quality item worth the hardback price.
Dr. Seuss: A Classic Treasury
Hardback £19.99
Harper Collins Children’s Books
Released in time for your early Christmas shop, this book contains five classic Seuss tales. I’ve never for the life of me understood the appeal of Dr. Seuss stories, even as a bemused five year old. But nevertheless, these enduring tales continue to delight so many, making it an ideal bedtime companion for early readers.
More People To Love Me
by Mo O’Hara and Ada Grey
Paperback £6.99
Macmillan Children’s Books
This is a brilliant book that helps normalise blended families through the eyes of young children.
A little girl struggles to fit her entire family onto one family tree. Her parents have split up and both created new families which includes step siblings, half siblings and a whole range of new grandparents.
Her teacher helps her turn it into a family forest so everyone who loves her can be included.
More People To Love Me shows how families can be different, yet full of love and that everyone can be included on one young child’s family tree without it descending into Jeremy Kyle farce. Grown-ups will also take something away from this book too.
Motor Miles
By John Burningham
Hardback £11.99
Johnathan Cape Children’s Books
What a lovely book! One of my favourites from the last eight years of children’s picture books. The story, illustrations and general overall package is a delight. John Burningham has brought to life his own lovely dog Miles for this tale of inclusion and equity.
Miles was a difficult dog. He didn’t like going for walks, eating his food, coming when he was called or the being out in the rain. He also barked too much and definitely doesn’t like other dogs. One thing Miles does like is going out in the car. So for peace, Mr Huddy next door made Miles his own car. Miles with his new interest delighted in driving young Norman everywhere. That was until Norman grew too big for the car. Sad Miles didn’t want to drive anymore. Until Mr Huddy next door made Miles a plane!
There’s a Snake in my School
By David Walliams and Tony Ross
Hardback £12.99
Harper Collins children’s Books
This quirky tale with Tony Ross’ usual witty illustrations, blends humour, moral and darkness into the perfect magical story for younger children.
Miranda is different to the other girls. She was never going to bring in a bog standard animal on Bring a Pet to School day. No. Miranda turns up with a giant python. Whilst the children learn that actually, snakes are nothing to be scared of, the same can’t be said for the evil head teacher Miss Bloat who goes missing under sssssuspicious circumstances!
The Darkest Dark
By Astronaut Chris Hadfield and Kate Fillion
Illustrated by The Fan Brothers
Hardback £11.99
Macmillan children’s books
The Fan Brothers up the stakes in children’s illustration, with this brilliant book based on Chris Hadfield’s passion for space. A young boy who dreamed of being an astronaut was too scared of the dark to go to bed. The kind of dark that attracts the worst sort of aliens. But when an exhausted set of parents threaten Chris with missing the 1969 moon landings live the next day, he quickly falls asleep and stays in his own bed all night.
This wonderful book is inspiring in all the right ways. It acknowledges children’s fear of the dark, but reminds them that the dreams they dream could come true just like Chris’ did.
Otto the Book Bear in the Snow
By Katie Cleminson
Paperback £6.99
Jonathan Cape Children’s
This magical story is Night at the Museum for youngsters and libraries. Otto the Book Bear and his friend Ernest, are looking forward to joining in with a special winter party. That is, until his book is borrowed. At first the pair are thrilled to be read every night. But when the family pack up and go on holiday, the bears know they must take action to return the book to the library themselves.
A magical and heartwarming story that will create a feel good glow during bedtime reads this winter.
Alfie and his Very Best Friend
Shirley Hughes
Hardback £10.99
Penguin Random House Children’s
Shirley Hughes is the grandmother of children’s story books and this 14th book in the Alfie series explores friendships.
It’s lovely to see the new storybooks unsullied by modern times. Alfie and Annie Rose have not aged, his friend Bernard still clearly has ADHD and the only indication that it’s not the early 80s is a Microscooter race complete with requisite safety helmets.