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A Wild Lullaby by Jackie Morris ill. Cathy Fisher

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 4 sep 2026

Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
ISBN: 9781915659934

See also (by the same author-illustrator team):
The Summer Puppy [ACHUKA Book of the Day 20 Jun 2025]
The Panda’s Child [ACHUKA Book of the Day 10 October 2023]

A third Book of the Day recommendation for this author-illustrator team. As this is very much a book for reading aloud, and Jackie Morris’s lullaby is loosely poetic rather than tightly rhyming and rhythmic, I would recommend the adult read it to themselves beforehand.

A mother sings to her child, describing the ways wild creatures across the world lull their babies to sleep – whales in the sea, fledgling ospreys in their nest, bear cubs in their ice den, seals on the shore, ponies on the heath, the snow leopard family in the high rocks, and tigers in the deepest jungle.

The lyrical story (“written for my grandchild, Cai, and for all young dreamers”). is enriched by Cathy Fisher’s gorgeous animal paintings, realistic yet magical, evoking a sense of tenderness and peace across our wild world.

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The Weirdest Thing of All by Michael Rosen ill. Ed Vere

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 26 Aug 2026

I hear the Town Crier a-ringing of his bell:
NEW POEMS! NEW POEMS! New poems from Michael!

It is indeed a special event. A 300pp hardback collection of new poems from Michael Rosen, illustrated by Ed Vere.

In this beautiful, funny, and moving collection of brand new poems, beloved writer and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen shares an unforgettable series of stories, experiences and memories of his own childhood.

Beautifully illustrated throughout by acclaimed artist Ed Vere, this is a book to treasure and share – a perfect introduction to poetry for readers of all ages.

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How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail and Other West African and Caribbean Myths by Jessica Wilson ill. Sophie Bass

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 12 Aug 2026

Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLC
ISBN: 9781836005551

See also by Jessica Wilson:
Sofia The Dreamer And Her Magical Afro [ACHUKA Book of the Day 6 May 2020]

It feels a while since ACHUKA has had a collection of folktales to highlight so it is good to be able to flag this fine set of illustrated West African and Caribbean stories.

Jessica Wilson gathers lyrical, interwoven folktales that have travelled across oceans and through time. From Nigeria and Ghana to Jamaica and the USA, these stories have gathered new colour and meaning along their journey. 

Each story is introduced with the country, people and traditions where the tale originates, making the collection both immersive and accessible for young readers, families and classrooms. Paired with Sophie Bass’s vibrant, symbolic illustrations, this anthology immerses readers in the colours, foods, landscapes and characters of West Africa and the Caribbean. 

Stories include: 

  • How Anansi Became King of All Stories (Ghana, Ivory Coast & Togo) 
  • How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail (Jamaica) 
  • Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky (Nigeria) 

Jessica Wilson has Jamaican heritage and illustrator Sophie Bass has Trinidadian heritage. 

Follow Sophie Bass, a London-based illustrator whose work is inspired by music, social justice, mythology and symbolism., on

 

 
 
 
 
 
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The Flying Machine of Dreams by Kate Wakeling ill. Viviane Schwarz

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 10 Aug 2026

Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
ISBN: 9781915659989

See also:
A Dinosaur At The Bus-Stop [ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Aug 2023]
Cloud Soup [shortlisted for the CLiPPA Award]
Moon Juice [CLiPPA winner]

Almost a decade after her first award-winning collection of poetry comes this glorious picture-book-sized set of new poems for the very young. Strongly recommended for nursery settings, Early Years and KS1, as well as, of course for parents. These are poems that children will enjoy reading for themselves once they have had them read aloud enough times so that they become half memorised. 

The title poem about a flying machine that “can squirt green slime” and has “a whole separate room/that is just for ice cream” is a good example of how good a feel Wakeling has the audience targeted by these new poems.

Who will win the Magnificent Race of the Animals? Frog on roller-skates or zebra on a scooter? Find a morning moon, six ways to look at a leaf, beautiful bubbles and amazing shapeshifters. Have a feast of words, make a den and then guess the names of the night animals…

Kate Wakeling’s wonderful talent for revealing the excitement that hides in everyday things, combined with her soaring imagination and special way with words, make this a poetry book that fizzes with ideas and inspiration for young children, perfectly matched by Viviane Schwarz’s exciting and inventive illustrations.

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They Sent a Cat to Saturn by Valerie Bloom ill. Ken Wilson-Max

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 9 Jul 2026

Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
ISBN: 9781915659590

See also:
The River’s A Singer [ACHUKA Book of the Day 21 Aug 2024]
Stars With Flaming Tails [ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Feb 2021]

Today I shall be travelling to London for the announcement of this year’s winner of the CLiPPA Award, the annual prize for a book of poetry for children, which Valerie Bloom won in 2022 for Stars With Flaming Tails (see above).

So it is a great delight to have a fresh new collection to recommend as today’s Book of the Day.

Bloom has such facility and flair as a poet and, as anyone who has heard her read aloud well knows, an instinctive feel for the rhythm of words.

The opening poem in the new collection is a case in point. A Poem Can… begins:

Take you where you’ve never been, 
Show you scenes you’ve never seen,
Make you laugh or make you cry,
Be plain to see or mystify.

And ends:

Be there in sickness and in health,
For days of poverty or wealth,
For times of peace, moments of strife,
For every minute of your life.

Bloom’s range cannot fail to impress, from the deeply personal and poignant This Is The Path:

This is the path we used to take
that winds downhill and round the lake
where we skipped stones, and here’s the bench
where we would sit and rest, and quench
our thirst with juice…

to toilet humour in Admonition To My Dog:

You should not drink the water
from the bowl while in the loo,
and two reasons why you shouldn’t,
are number one and number two. 

There you are — even in her light verse Bloom’s wordplay is sublime.

This new collection is a joy. 

 

Wonderland by Patience Agbabi

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 3 Jul 2026

Publisher: Firefly Press 
ISBN: 9781917718202

See also:
The Infinite [ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 Apr 2020]

“There are novels that tell you about a world, and then there are novels that put you inside one, pulsing with music, smelling of hairspray and sea air, alive with longing and belonging. Wonderland is emphatically the latter… What makes this book extraordinary is the verse. Agbabi slips between poetic styles with breathtaking ease, and the form is never decorative; it is structural. The poetry beats like the music Tamilola lives for, propelling the narrative forward while simultaneously giving it texture and depth. ” BfK 5-star review

I grew up on Colwyn Bay Pier, dancing to Northern Soul and live 2 Tone bands.

When it was demolished in 2018, I was devastated and wanted to bring it back to its heyday.

Listen to Patience Ababa being interviewed on The Island of Brilliant podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-island-of-brilliant/id1684242951?i=1000766443702

Colwyn Bay, 1980. Sixteen-year-old Tamilola has moved up from London; everything’s different, everyone belongs except her. Then she discovers an amazing Northern Soul club at the end of the pier with its athletic dancers and rare records. But conflict comes with a rival nightclub. This book’s about finding your tribe, finding a record, finding romance and finding yourself.

Ridiculous Raps and Rhymes by Michael Rosen and MC Grammar ill. Mike Byrne

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 8 May 2026

Publisher: Gallery Kids, Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781398560833

Published to coincide with Michael Rosen’s 80th birthday (7.5.26).

“The book reads almost like a rap battle between them, with lines from each of the writers weaving in and out and leading to plenty of funny or thought-provoking situations. Rosen’s signature humour complements MC Grammar’s more modern style, and they combine to make verses that just beg to be read aloud – with plenty of nods to some of Michael’s most viral moments thrown in for good measure, noice! ” BookTrust

From two master storytellers, comes a hilarious, high-energy rhyming adventure! Get ready for a rapping and rhyming quest like no other. From school to the zoo, the beach and the museum, riotously funny and wildly ridiculous poems that will take the reader on a one-of-a-kind adventure, with MC Grammar and Michael ‘the mic’ Rosen as their guide.

  • Rhymes about chocolate cake
  • Raps about a hissing snake
  • Rhymes about the school canteen
  • Raps about curry flavoured ice cream
  • Rhymes about books that are magic or scary
  • Raps about bears who are grumpy and hairy

You can follow MC Grammar, an award-winning teacher making learning fun through music and rap, on

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Follow the illustrator, Mike Byrne, there too:

Issun Boshi: The One-Inch Boy by Icinori

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 6 May 2026

Publisher: Little Gestalten
ISBN: 9783967048001

This is a revised edition of a book first published in 2014.

Icinori are Mayumi Otero and Raphaël Urwiller, an acclaimed French illustrator duo. Otero is known for her playful, ironic drawings and etchings in children’s books, while Urwiller brings his expertise as a graphic designer and illustrator for leading newspapers and magazines. Together they reimagined Issun Bôshi with intricate detail and a style inspired by Asian traditions, creating a work that bridges folklore and contemporary book art.

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Discover more about this creative duo:

Fresh by Rhiannon Oliver ill. Chris Riddell

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 23 Apr 2026

Publisher: Firefly Press Ltd
ISBN: 9781917718226

A debut collection from a poet whose name is new to ACHUKA (and should not have been). We like what we find.

Inspired by everything from cloud-gazing to cat fleas, FRESH explores starting over, nature, expressing your feelings and kindness. There  poems also touch on subjects such as shifting friendships, sadness and coping with worry.

With gorgeous illustrations from former Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell…

Rhiannon Oliver is a poet, actress, workshop facilitator, and early years story-time leader based in Cardiff. She trained as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and has worked in theatres such as The National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, and National Theatre of Wales.  

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I am Ray’s Imaginary Friend by Brian Moses ill. Bethan Welby

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Mar 2026

Publisher: Scallywag Press
ISBN: 9781836300342

See also:
On Poetry Street [ACHUKA Book of the Day 27 Jun 2024]
Selfies With Komodos [ACHUKA Book of the Day 30 Jan 2023]
The Best Ever Book of Funny Poems [ACHUKA Book of the Day 18 Mar 2021]

“Quietly brilliant, this is a book that explores coping with change and becoming mentally stronger and the powerful influence of empathy.” RedReadingHub
“Beautifully illustrated throughout with the illustrator sensitively capturing scenes from the story.” ThroughTheBookshelf

A debut verse novel from one of the UK’s most established children’s poets.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Ray loves life in his village, until one day he hears his parents talking about moving house. Horrified by the idea, Ray invents an imaginary friend to talk to and even runs away.

Eventually Ray is able to accept the move, and also the Ukrainian refugee mother and child who come to live with his family in their new home.

As Ray finds his feet again, the Imaginary Friend wonders if he is needed any more, or if he can also move on?

 

 
 
 
 
 
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