ACHUKA Children's Books UK

children's & YA recommendations on the go

You are here: Home / Archives for rhyming

When Cucumber Lost His Cool by Michelle Robinson ill. Tom Knight

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Aug 2021

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

Whenever anyone gets hot and bothered, Kevin is always there to cool them down. He even has his own super cool cucumber song: “I’m super cool Kevin and this is my song! Make like a cucumber, you can’t go wrong. You wanna be cool? Then repeat after me: I am a cucumber, cool as can be!” But when Kevin starts to feel like his friends are leaving him out, something happens that has never happened before: KEVIN. LOSES. HIS. COOL! Will Kevin’s friends be there for him when he needs them most?

Rhyming text by Michelle Robinson is full of energy and rhythm. Bright, bold illustrations by Tom Knight bring the brilliant story to life. This laugh-out-loud story is a super fun way for children to think about emotions – whether it’s their own or someone else’s.

In the same series : The Day the Banana Went Bad and When Jelly Had a Wobble.

Follow Tom Knight on Instagram:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tom Knight (@tomknightillustration)

My Dad by Susan Quinn ill. Marina Ruiz

By Leave a Comment

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

“Ruiz illustrates in semitranslucent layers of color, offering shifting, seasonally appropriate color palettes. Particularly effective are reflections of the child’s imagination, such as a spread of father and child imagining “lots of pirate ships/ sailing in the bath,” amid a fluid spread of blue-green waves and miniature boats.” Publishers Weekly

A beautifully illustrated, stereotype-busting celebration of all the everyday things one child’s dad does to make him so wonderfully, daddish-ly awesome! From baking cookies and gardening to playing make-believe and watching the sunset, a child reveals all the simple yet wonderful things he loves to do with his dad.

With lyrical rhyming text and gentle illustrations, this is a joyous celebration of fatherhood which creates a special reading experience between child and father.

Marina Ruiz is a Spanish illustrator based in Cambridge, UK. She studied Fine Arts in Madrid then moved to the UK to study at the Cambridge School of Art where she graduated with a Distinction in an MA in Children’s Book Illustration. Marina creates small narratives in her images, creating genuine warmth in the interactions between her characters across every page.
Follow Marina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandarina_ruiz/

The Pet: Cautionary Tales for Children and Grown-ups by Catherine Emmett ill. David Tazzyman

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 14 May 2021

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

Digby David slammed the door,
and dumped his bag upon the floor.
“Daddy! I DEMAND a pet,
Why have I not got one yet?”

Digby David wants a pet, but not just any pet – it has to be TWICE as big as Reuben’s guinea pig and even better than Lily Jean’s cat. Digby David’s Daddy does what he’s told, and soon Digby has a guinea pig, which he loves with all his heart… for half a day. Digby demands bigger and better, Daddy’s hair gets greyer and greyer, and when Digby’s dog gets boring too, he insists Daddy buy him… a gorilla!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by David Tazzyman (@davidtazzyman)


A hilarious tale with a ‘be careful what you wish for’ message, especially if you wish for a gorilla and don’t look after it properly.

Follow David Tazzyman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidtazzyman/

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls ill. David Litchfield

By Leave a Comment

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

“An eye-catching lullaby for tough times.” KIRKUS
“A luminous book to help children at difficult times, Rain Before Rainbows has a simple rhyming text that reminds the reader that, despite the difficulties life can bring, there is always light on the horizon and the promise of a better day.” BookTrust

A girl and her companion fox travel together from a place of loss and despair, through uncertain times, towards the hope of colour, light and life. Along the way, they find friends to guide and support them. Together, they build a glorious future and discover there is a way out of the darkness, into the light of the rainbow.
A book with immense hope at its heart, this is a positive message for anyone who’s ever gone through a tough time.

Check out David Litchfield’s Meet An Illustrator feature…

II Love Tractors! by Davina Bell ill. Jenny Lovlie

By Leave a Comment

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

When Frankie McGee insists on borrowing yet another book about tractors, his mum crumbles. She begs him to read a book about something else – cars, planes, cranes, trains – anything! Frankie launches into all of the various, glorious factors that make up the love that he has for tractors—but will he be able to bring his mum around?

With irresistible rhyming textDavina Bell and unforgettable illustrations by Jenny Lovlie, illustrator of award-winning The Girls and The Boys.

Check out Jenny Lovlie’s Meet An Illustrator feature…

The Whale Who Wanted More by Rachel Bright ill. Jim Field

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 4 May 2021

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

A stunning undersea tale of friendship, community and discovery from the bestselling creators of The Lion Inside. Humphrey the whale is on a quest: to find the one perfect object that will make him feel complete. He roams far and wide, gathering endless undersea treasure as he goes. Yet, no matter how many goodies he accumulates, Humphrey still doesn’t feel content. Could it be friendship, not possessions, that will really make Humphrey’s heart sing?

A sparkling rhyming tale that encourages sharing and kindness.

See our Meet An Illustrator feature with Jim Field.
Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jimfield/
Follow Rachel Bright on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrightbooks/

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rachel Bright (@rachelbrightbooks)

Farmer Llama by Donna David ill. Fred Blunt

By Leave a Comment

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

A funny, rhyming picture book with a simple phonics-based text, just right for developing early reading skills.

Alarm-a-Llama bolts awake and bashes his poor head.
Pyjama-Llama rubs his eyes and climbs out of his bed.
Banana-Llama grabs some food. He’s ready for the day!
Farmer-Llama starts his truck and heads out to collect hay.

Fred Blunt is the perfect illustrator for loveable, accident-prone Farmer Llama—and the pesky cows who just won’t get out of the way. Great fun.

The Secret Life of Bees: Meet the bees of the world, with Buzzwing the honeybee by Moira Butterfield ill. Vivian Mineker

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 22 Apr 2021

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

Welcome to my honey hive home.
It’s where I live with my family.
I’m small and fuzzy and striped black and gold.
I’m Buzzwing the hardworking honeybee!

Did you know that bees love to dance? Or that they have an amazing sense of smell to help them find the best flowers? In The Secret Life of Bees, Buzzwing shares with you all the details of her life as a bee, in and out of the hive, starting with the day she was born.

Learn the secrets of this worker bee’s tiny world, including: The bee life cycle – Bee anatomy -How bees collect nectar and make honey? What happens inside the hive? The different types of bees – Why bees are so important to humans – How bees can thrive in the city -Bee folk tales from around the world

See also The Secret Life Of Trees by the same author-illustrator team…

Follow Vivian Mineker on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivian.mineker/

If I had an octopus by Gabby Dawnay & Alex Barrow

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 15 Apr 2021

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

I really want a clever pet, a pet with many charms.
The sort of pet with talents, and a large amount of arms

Have you ever thought about what the best aquatic pet would be? It’s an octopus, of course! Playing different ball games simultaneously and staying camouflaged when it’s bedtime is eight times the fun – just watch out for the ink…

With vibrant illustrations and playful rhymes, If I Had an Octopus is a charming and imaginative tale about bedtime story that follows a little girl’s flight of fancy as she imagines the advantages and disadvantages of having an octopus for a pet.

More books in the series:
If I Had A Dinosaur
If I Had A Sleepy Sloth
If I Had A Unicorn

Follow Alex Barrow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmaglalangbarrow/

Not That Pet by Smriti Halls ill. Rosalind Beardshaw

By Leave a Comment

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

“combines a rollicking quest for the ideal animal companion with a feast of visual and verbal jokes and a delightful mixed family” GUARDIAN

Mabel and her family are getting a pet! There’s no time to lose! But which kind of animal should they choose? Not the snake – it’s too scary. The elephant’s too big. The worms are too wriggly and the hyena too giggly. Then Mabel has the perfect idea. But will her family agree? A laugh-out-loud rhyming story about finding the perfect pet – with plenty of hilarious twists along the way.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosalindbeardshaw/
Follow the author on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smriti_halls_author/