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The Little Red Barn by Kim Crumrine

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 5 October 2026

Publisher: Gecko Press
ISBN: 9798348056247

Today’s Book of the Day selection continues our focus on good board books and shows yet again that we rate nearly everything published by Gecko Press.

It’s time for the farm animals to go to sleep in the little red barn. First a mouse, then two cats, three dogs, four chickens, five pigs . . . .

Group by group, the animals trot in, carrying toys and cuddlies and snacks. All of them disappear, bottom by bottom, through the door. But how can so many animals fit inside? Turn the last page to find out how the barn that looks so small has room for everybody!

The Little Red Barn is a goodnight book, a counting book, and a funny joke, as a succession of cheerful farm animals disappear into the very looooong little red barn.

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A post shared by Kim Crumrine (@wstreetdesign)

I’m intrigued to discover that the book was originally published in Italian as Il piccolo fienile (2024) and that its translator is Antony Shugaar.

Ten Whizzy Racers: Chaos at Crackling Creek – Ten Whizzy Racers by Timothy Knapman ill. Richard Merritt

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 31 July 2025

Waterstones
Bookshop

My wife returned from a trip to Bristol recently saying that our three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter could not get enough of this book. Wilma recommends! A new title is out in September.

A brand-new racing themed countdown picture book series from Timothy Knapman, the author of Dinosaurs in the Supermarket.

We’re ready and waiting, the countdown’s begun . . . join ten whizzy racers for super-fast fun! Zoom through Fairytale Forest with the whizzy racers as they all compete to win the Beanstalk cup!

Watch out as racers avoid the temptation of gingerbread forests, pass through the scarily named Troll booth and dodge angry fairies on their quest to be number one! Even the most reluctant readers will enjoy reading along with the bouncy rhyming text.

With vibrant illustrations from Richard Merritt, the illustrator of Dinos Don’t Give Up, this countdown racing picture book adventure will bring the fun to children who love cars and counting.

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One Goose, Two Moose by Kael Tudor ill. Nicola Slater

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 2 Feb 2024

Waterstones
Bookshop

Slated to be the first in a picture book series from Scholastic finds a debut author teaming up withe an experienced illustrator.


OK, everyone, line up!

One goose, two moose, three goose, four. Five goose, six moose, seven goose, more.

WAIT!

Welcome to the ice cream shop, where there’s a goose line, a moose line and a slightly bossy goose who wants everyone to be IN THE RIGHT LINE, PLEASE!

That sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?

This brilliantly funny picture book perfectly captures the chaos of queueing up, and involves counting in an entertaining way.

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10 Cats by Emily Gravett

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 12 Aug 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
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Ten cats discover three cans of paint and blotches, splotches and splats go everywhere!

While learning about counting and colours, very young children will delight in the adorable kittens on every spread and the simple text that is perfect for reading aloud.

Find out more about Emily Gravett in this feature:
https://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/meet-an-illustrator-6-emily-gravett/
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Never Teach a Stegosaurus to Do Sums by Rashmi Sirdeshpande ill. Diane Ewen

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Waterstones
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A love letter to learning and the power of numbers

A laugh-out-loud ‘what if . . .?’ adventure that celebrates maths being fun.

If a Stegosaurus knew how to do sums – well, what would happen? Maybe she’d learn to code, to invent, to fly to the moon!

Here’s Rashmi talking about a previous book, How To Be Extraordinary:

Follow the author on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rashmiwriting/
Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativedewen/

All Aboard The Numbers Train ill. Sean Sims

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Waterstones
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All aboard everyone! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 lift off! Shoot into space on the rocket train and learn about number recognition and counting as you zoom past planets and stars!

This beautifully illustrated and engaging story introduces key early learning concepts and is great to share with young children. With lots to learn, spot, count and talk about on every page, this brilliant train ride is worth taking again and again!