Featured children’s book – Page 12 – Bookmonitor

Alanna Books

Alanna Books is an independent publisher, founded in 2006, and has a number of titles that are beautifully delivered, with a real understanding of children and parents.

They are just the sort of publisher we love! Their latest book is Zeki Loves Baby Club, written by Anna McQuinn and illustrated by Ruth Hearson.

A story for everyone, families are the same the world over.

It’s about all the things that babies find good fun as they develop and increase understanding. The book is full of information for parents too, with rhymes and words to join in with. As well as all that…. the book is a joy to hold and explore. Inside the covers, there’s information in small sound bytes about language and communication, stories and reading. It make sit a great book for parents and for Early Years settings too.

You can find more details about the work of Anna McQuinn here on her Amazon page, including details of this great title.

Sue Martin

Pioneer in Children’s Literacy and Early Years Consultant

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Red Squirrel Picture Books

Great authors and illustrators have come together for a new picture book list with an added bonus – parents with dyslexia can read them too!

The picture books are designed to enable the print to be clear and well laid out.

Many picture books are now designed with print running through the illustrations and in changing fonts. These are especially hard for anyone with dyslexia to read.

Two great titles out now;

All I Said Was by Michael Morpurgo and Ross Collins. A story about a boy who dreams of flying and then swaps places with a bird. A real imaginative journey and who comes off the best?

Itch Scritch Scratch by Eleanor Updale and Sarah Horne. A wonderful rhyming story with great comedy and just needs to be read aloud!

Red Squirrel books are part of Barrington Stoke, books for readers of all ages who want to have access to the best stories.

Sue Martin

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Monstrous Morals

These are a great series for dealing head on with all those embarrassing things that children do (ok, adults too)!

The books which are available now at Amazon and in bookshops are Black Toothed Ruth Black and Fartin’ Martin Sidebottom and with titles like that nothing can go wrong!

They are excellently written by Peter Barron and illustrated in a light and attractive way by David Wright.

When Martin is set to appear before the Queen at a performance, only one thing was bound to happen.
Ruth had so many holes in her teeth that even the dentist was in great peril.

Good books to have in the classrooms and at home. Monstrous Morals have a great series here. You can buy through clicking the picture above..

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Tell Me a Dragon

‘My dragon is made from the sun and the stars.

Sparkled with stardust,

all night he follows the silver moon path

across the sky….’

An excerpt about the first dragon in the book, ‘Tell Me a Dragon’ by Jackie Morris, published by Frances Lincoln.

At Books Go Walkabout we held an author event in March with Jackie at William Tyndale Primary School, London, as part of their Bookweek adventures.

Jackie had the classes spellbound and intrigued as she talked about the places in West Wales where she writes and gets inspiration. The children all live in the city and a far cry from the wildness of the Welsh coast.

From a painting Jackie completed at the school, the Year 5’s began to use water colours and explore making a wash of colour.

Lots of fun and lots of learning.

Sue Martin

Books Go Walkabout Dolphin Booksellers

Twitter @booksgo

Sue, Jackie…after lunch!

The Dragonkeeper Trilogy

Dragonkeeper by Carole Wilkinson is published by black dog books, an imprint of Walker Books Australia

Dragonkeeper is the first book in The Dragonkeeper Trilogy

The stories are set in Ancient China and as the three books develop over time, the dragonkeepers are set challenges to ensure that the dragons are safe and free from harm.

In a country which has dragons at the heart of its culture there are all sorts of dangers and perils in which the dragons find themselves. They need a dragon keeper, but dragon keepers are born and have special characteristics. To be a true dragonkeeper is a destiny for only a few.

The Dragonkeeper is set in Ancient China during the Han Dynasty.

A slave girl, Ping, saves the life of an ageing dragon and escapes her brutal master. Pursued by a ruthless dragon hunter, the girl and the dragon make an epic journey across China carrying a mysterious stone that must be protected.

It is the story of a young slave girl who believes she is not worthy of a name but finds within herself the strength and courage to make this perilous journey — and do what must be done.

As a story of adventure and courage, this book has it all!
For all those setting out on an adventure in life, from childhood to adulthood, this gives some real insights into challenges, friendships and journeys.

At Books Go Walkabout we are pleased to be bringing this book to the year 5 students at Kellett School in Hong Kong, as part of their studies and literacy programme. We are even more delighted to be bringing Carole Wilkinson direct into their school by live video links to have a conversation and to talk with the children.
We’ll keep you posted and this is just the start of our adventure in Hong Kong.

Sue Martin
Books Go Walkabout

The Strongest Boy in the World by Jessica Souhami

Kaito is stronger that all the other boys in his village. Because no-one can beat him at wrestling, he sets off to the city to compete in the world famous Sumo wrestling tournament. But on his way he meets a girl called Hana, who is even stronger. Hana offers to train Kaito – with amazing results.

A great story, which challenges stereo typing and has some excellent illustrations which capture the actions of the words.

It’s based on a famous Japanese tale from the 13th Century.

Jessica Souhami grew up in East London and her parents were descended from Russian Jewish immigrants, one of her characters in The Little, Little House includes a ‘wise woman’ which is based on her great, great aunt..She is also a great puppeteer and made shadow puppets with her company, Mme Souhami and Co, telling stories from centuries long gone.

The Strongest Boy is a great book to buy and is available on line and published by Frances Lincoln.

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Counting Sheep by Kathryn Cave

A bedtime adventure!! by Kathyrn Cave.

When Tom can’t sleep, he tries counting sheep. But that’s just the start of his adventures, as he goes on to count pirates and pythons, goats and ghosts.

The illustrations by Chris Riddell and packed with figures and detail, and some of the pictures are pretty scary for a bedtime story. So this is for the brave and those who need more than just a few sheep, endless hillsides and clouds to get them to sleep.

Published by Frances Lincoln this is a great buy for the half term hols.

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It’s Not Fairy

You know the favourite children’s saying, “It’s not fair!”

Well Ros Asquith has changed it into a It’s Not Fairy. She flaps around all night, she’s a fairy on a mission and you don’t want to mess with this fairy.

A picture book for all the family and across the world, there are children everywhere declaring how unfair things are.But the fairy can get tired of complaints.

‘I’m sick of your squawking,

Now give me a break.

Or I’ll bake you all

In a Fairy cake.”

Published by Frances Lincoln this is a good book to buy for the half term hols. Buy through Dolphin Booksellers to get the best price from Amazon.

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Who Ate Auntie Iris?

Time to Read series

A brand new Early Reader series from Frances Lincoln Children’s Books. The layout and size of the books is great and the balance between pictures and word will encourage reading from picture books into chapter books. Even the font style makes it easy to read and the ‘a’s are the right shape!

‘Who Ate Auntie Iris’ is one of the first four books, written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Hannah Shaw. There are some great character pictures and Auntie Iris lives a the top of the tall block of flats with some very interesting neighbours (all with sharp teeth!).

For a set of books for ages 5/6 ‘ish these are a good buy for parents and for schools alike.

You can buy direct from Amazon by clicking on the picture. All books bought through us support our work in Nepal with Kalpana.

Sue Martin

Dolphin Booksellers – the best in children’s books always on line

What are you playing at? Alanna Books

What are you playing at?

A great book challenging stereotypes and play activities.

It’s produced by Marie-Sabine Roger and Anne Sol,published by Alanna Books.The format of the pages is designed so there is a hidden extra page which shows the other side to the statement.

Check out an example on www.Alannabooks.com.

The photographs are brilliant, with real live examples of boys who really do dance, of girls who really do play football and other things too!

How great to have a book that is clear and non patronising. The images around ‘ Boys don’t cry’ are fantastic, the hidden page shows a famous footballer at the end of a match, crying with emotion so raw that you all know just how he feels.

A good book from a good independent publisher.

Sue Martin

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