children's & YA recommendations on the go
This rhyming bedtime story follows a little girl’s flight of fancy as she imagines the advantages and disadvantages of having a kangaroo as a pet. Being an ace on the basketball court is a breeze, but hold on to your stomach during the school run – it’s pretty bumpy being bounced around in a pouch!
If I had an octopus (by the same team) was an ACHUKA Book of the Day in April 2021.
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When I was a pirate, I woke up to whale song.
A chorus of humpback, beluga and blue.
They waved with their tails, as we sailed along.
Back when I was a pirate, before I met you.
Although these days Grandpa might prefer his rocking chair to climbing the rigging or hoisting the mainsail, he was once a swashbuckling pirate! As he tells his grandchildren tales of his piratical adventures on the high seas, their imagination takes them on an unforgettable journey. Treasure maps and sailing ships come to life in this heart-warming rhyming picture book about the surprising adventures of those you love. This is not only a story about pirates, but also family bonds and building memories.
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A magical rhyming picture book for Christmas…
Deep in a snowy wood stands a little pine tree with a special destiny: when it grows up, it’s going to be the famous Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square!
Gorgeous, atmospheric illustrations whisk you from frozen forests to the sparkling city square in a beautiful, moving story of festivity and hope. This gorgeously illustrated hardback book has a gold-foiled dust jacket, making it the perfect Christmas gift for young children. Julia Donaldson’s perfect rhyme is a joy to read aloud – this is a classic to treasure for generations. Victoria Sandoy’s exquisite, atmospheric illustrations are full of gorgeous details to point out and share.
The Christmas Pine is based on a true story. It celebrates a special tradition that stretches back over seventy years. Every year, the Mayor of Oslo in Norway presents the British people with a spectacular Christmas tree. The tree is a symbol of peace and friendship, and a thank you for the UK’s support during World War II. Each year, the UK Poetry Society asks a poet to write a poem to welcome the tree. A paragraph on the final page of the book explains the true story behind the tree.
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“Bond’s trademark wide, staring eyes and bright block colours perfectly complement Bently’s bouncing text.” GUARDIAN
An exciting new collaboration between the Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning author Peter Bently and the incredibly talented illustrator John Bond!
Dogs come in all kinds of colours and sizes
But when no one’s looking they put on DISGUISES.
A joyful peek into the crazy antics of all sorts of dogs in disguise! Dressing up in clothing they find at home, these adventurous pooches blend into the crowd at all the places dogs aren’t allowed, like the store, the cinema and the swimming pool! But, not all of their disguises go quite to plan, with hilarious results . . .
From schnauzers in trousers to cosmonaut cockapoos, this jaunty rhyming text from hugely popular, award-winning author, Peter Bently, with brilliantly witty illustrations from John Bond, creator of the Mini Rabbit books, will have children howling with laughter!
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.
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“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.
https://youtu.be/pWEfB2VEnDA?t=38
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.
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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!
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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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.
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