< Back Sarah Sparks The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street Becks bounces all the way to the stars and back. Becks is the bounciest monster on Mill Street. She loves to twirl and giggle, dance and giggle. She loves to have fun and never sits still. One day, Becks feels like she might explode. She bounces down Mill Street and through the playground. She bounces through the mud and splashes into the pond. She gets so excited, she bounces high into the sky, off the planet Mars, and zooms across space. She flies past the sun before crashing back down to earth with a bang. Poor little Becks is dazed and confused and has a sore noggin from all the bouncing. As she cleans up her mess, she thinks she needs to bounce a little less. She finds a new sport to work off all of her energy, and she even finds time to relax a little bit now and then. But Becks will be Becks, and she is still the bounciest monster in Mill Street. The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street is part of the Monster on Mill Street series by Sarah Sparks. This book follows the adventures of Becks, who like many children just cannot sit still. She has lots of energy and loves to bounce, but after a fun-filled day full of bouncing, Becks has a terrible headache. Becks learns that she needs to burn off a lot of energy, but she also needs to rest. Ultimately, she needs balance in life to stay happy and healthy. The book and the series teach young children important lessons in life. Beck’s story is a reminder to have fun, but to have fun safely. It is also a reminder to slow down occasionally and take those well-deserved breaks. The book is beautifully written in rhyme and has lots of alliteration that young children love. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A charming picture book about a little monster who cannot sit still. Purchase here

< Back H. R. Manske Doppy and the Runaway Balloons Will Doppy Dopperton retrieve his special balloons? Doppy Dopperton, a very happy Dop, lives in Dop Town. One day he hops to the town and buys three brightly coloured balloons, blue, yellow and red. But poor Doppy trips and falls and loses his grip on his special balloons. The balloons float up, up, up, and away, far out of reach. Doppy chases the balloons, but they are blown further away by a bird, sent down the river by a frog, and snatched by a bunny. But fear not, little Doppy, there are other interesting things to explore in the sky. Doppy and the Runaway Balloons by author H. R. Manske is a fun, entertaining and uplifting illustrated picture book about a little Doppy who has a magical, fun adventure with three balloons. But when he loses the balloons, he goes on a challenging journey to retrieve them. While he doesn’t catch his balloons, he does find something very special instead. It is a beautifully simple and inspiring picture book, that will help teach young children never to give up hope and never to dwell on things when they don’t go to plan. Written in rhyme, with lots of alliteration, this is a great read together book. Young children will love the cute little Doppy character, and the brightly coloured illustrations. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A fun, entertaining and uplifting illustrated picture book about a cute little character and his love of balloons. Purchase here

< Back MM Myers If I Were A Butterfly If I Were a Butterfly is a charming and imaginative children's story that follows a young girl named Michelle as she embarks on a magical journey of self-discovery. The story begins with Michelle's innocent question to her mother: "What if I were a butterfly?" This simple curiosity sets the stage for a vivid daydream in which Michelle is transformed into a butterfly with sparkling pink wings, allowing her to explore her backyard from a new, wondrous perspective. The story is structured in a classic adventure format, with Michelle encountering various garden creatures—such as a friendly bumblebee, industrious ants, and a kind dragonfly - each interaction gently reinforcing themes of kindness, curiosity, and the joy of discovery. The garden is depicted as a vibrant, bustling world, and the author uses descriptive language to immerse young readers in Michelle's experience. A pivotal moment occurs when Michelle becomes lost and is helped by a ladybug, introducing the idea that it's okay to ask for help and that friendship can be found in unexpected places. This encounter leads her to the Flower Queen, a regal butterfly who imparts the story's central lesson: "It’s bringing joy to the world. Every time you visit a flower, you help it grow. Every time someone sees your wings, it makes them smile. Butterflies like us make the world a more beautiful place, just by being ourselves." The conclusion of the story is both heartwarming and empowering. The book is further enriched by its interactive elements, such as coloring pages at the end, which invite children to engage creatively with the story. The dedication to the author's granddaughters and the gentle, nurturing tone throughout make it clear that this book is a labor of love, designed to inspire and comfort young readers. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A delightful and uplifting read for children, with empowering messages for little ones about kindness, self-worth, and the beauty of individuality. Purchase here

< Back Joanne Russo Insull Don't Follow Pino! Brothers, Dugan and Pino, escape their yard and are lost far away from home, by author Joanne Russo Insull This is a picture book for young readers about two dogs, brothers Dugan and Pino. Dugan loves to go on a walk with his mom and big brother, Pino. Every morning, they walk around their neighborhood and meet lots of new people. Dugan and Pino try to be on their best behavior when they walk on their leash, and if they are very lucky they might even receive a nice treat or two. When they are not out walking, they like to play outside in their back yard. The yard is locked and safe, and Dugan and Pino run and play with the squirrels and chipmunks. But one day, a workman who is fixing a pole behind the house, forgets to shut the gate. Pino suggests to Dugan that they go on a walk outside, without their mom. Dugan is reluctant, he knows they shouldn’t leave the yard alone, but Pino is persistent. Dugan is scared they will get lost, or get into big trouble, but he follows Pino through the gate and out into the street. He tells himself, “Don’t follow Pino!”, but he continues to follow him into a field, far away from home. As Dugan becomes more concerned, he hears his mom calling from the other side of the field. He turns around and sees her waving at the entrance, walking quickly towards them. But Pino thinks it’s a game, and he runs even further away. Suddenly, Dugan notices his mom turn around and walk slowly in the opposite direction. Dugan panics and decides to follow his mom rather than Pino. He runs as fast as he can to catch up with his mom, and Pino follows closely behind. Mom is happy to see her boys again, and quickly puts on their leashes. Dugan feels bad for scaring mom and promises never to run away again. Pino, on the other hand, has other ideas! Don't Follow Pino! by Joanne Russo Insull is a sweet picture book about a couple of mischievous dogs, who escape the safety of their back yard and become lost far away from home. Dugan is influenced by his older brother, Pino, and tags along even though he knows he shouldn’t. Mom eventually finds them, but Pino thinks it’s a game, and runs away. Mom’s quick reaction is to turn and walk in the opposite direction, to bring the boys safely home. Dugan and Pino are sweet and adorable characters, and younger children will enjoy reading about their exciting adventure. This is a fun read for the whole family, but there are some important messages for young people too, about peer pressure, following rules, personal safety. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A sweet picture book about two mischievous pups, and a fun read for the whole family. Purchase here

< Back Nicola A Lewis Tilda finds her rainbow Tilda the Tortoise loves the colour green, but she is curious to see what other colours exist outside of her garden. She sets out to explore but a little robin tells her, her journey is impossible without wings. Tilda is not deterred and sets out on her adventure. She meets a butterfly with golden yellow wings laced with red. Tilda has never seen such beautiful colours before. The butterfly has tired wings and decides to accompany Tilda on her journey. They travel to the pond and meet a fairy, with white and pink petals. The fairy has never been far from the pond, and joins the pair on their journey. They meet an old frog wearing a navy blue cap, and an orange and red snake who thinks he is too scary. They join Tilda and the others and journey into the unknown. The new friends don’t know where they are going, and the pace is slow, but they enjoy each other’s company. When they stumble upon a rainbow, they are in wonder at the beautiful colours. They soon realise they are all different, special and beautiful in their own unique way. Tilda finds her Rainbow by Nicola A Lewis is a beautiful and inspiring children’s picture book, about a tortoise and her friends as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Each friend teaches Tilda something new, not just about different colours, but about different perspectives that make the world vibrant and interesting. The friends accept and celebrate each other’s differences, and together they find a sense of peace and belonging in their new friendship group. This is a wonderful message for young readers about friendship, kindness, inclusion and diversity. The illustrations by Alice Pieroni are simply delightful, full of charm, colour and character. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A beautiful, inspiring and colourful picture book, of friendship, self-discovery and self-acceptance. Purchase here

< Back Jane Xu Can Pandas Be Koalas Too? A little panda named Pandy lives in Koalaland. Pandy has always believed she was a koala. She enjoys koala songs, games, and school, and her life seems perfectly content until one day, one of her friends questions her identity. He points out her physical differences and her preference for bamboo over eucalyptus leaves, leading Pandy to question who she is and where she truly belongs. The story takes readers on Pandy's emotional journey as she grapples with feelings of confusion and isolation. Her friends offer various perspectives, with one calling her a "Pand-ala," half panda and half koala, but Pandy feels whole, not divided. The turning point comes when she meets a wise platypus, who shares his own experience of being a creature that defies categorization. His advice—that only Pandy can decide who she is—empowers her to embrace her individuality and stop seeking validation from others. Can Pandas Be Koalas Too? by Jane Xu and illustrated by Sang Oh, is a heartwarming and beautifully illustrated children's book that explores themes of identity, belonging, and self-acceptance. The book's message is profound yet simple: identity is not defined by others, but by oneself. This theme is conveyed in a way that is accessible to younger children, encouraging them to celebrate their uniqueness. The story also subtly addresses the challenges of feeling different and the importance of self-confidence, making it a valuable read for children navigating their own identities. Sang Oh's illustrations bring the story to life with soft, watercolor-style visuals. The artwork is whimsical and tender, perfectly complementing Pandy’s emotional journey. Overall, this is a touching and thought-provoking tale that will resonate with readers of all ages. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A beautifully illustrated picture book that celebrates diversity and individuality. Purchase here

< Back Neera Badhwar Kali the Elephant Learns from Socrates the Philosopher Kali the Elephant by Neera K. Badhwar is a delightful and heartwarming children’s picture book that tackles the universal theme of self-acceptance and turning perceived flaws into strengths. The book follows the journey of Kali, a young elephant who is teased by her classmates about her appearance. Through her creative attempts to change her looks, Kali learns an invaluable lesson about embracing her unique traits. Kali tries to shrink her ears and trunk using water and sunlight, only to discover that these methods don’t work. Feeling disheartened, she stumbles upon a comic book about Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, who was also teased about his appearance. Inspired by Socrates’ witty response to his friends, Kali learns to see her features as strengths rather than flaws. She uses her big ears, long trunk, and large eyes to help her classmates, teaching them the importance of appreciating their own unique qualities. The book is illustrated by Ady Branzei, and the colorful artwork beautifully captures the emotions and humor of the story. Badhwar’s background in philosophy shines through as she introduces children to Socrates’ wisdom in an accessible and entertaining way. The story is not only enjoyable but educational too, subtly teaching children about genetics and the importance of self-confidence. Young readers will laugh, learn, and be inspired by Kali’s journey to self-acceptance. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A delightful picture book that encourages empathy and resilience, and celebrates individuality. A valuable addition to any child’s bookshelf. Purchase here

< Back Once Upon a Dance Franie's Wish: A Wander in the Wonder Another fabulous adventure in the Once Upon a Dance series Frankie’s Wish: A Wander in the Wonder, tells the story of Frankie, who lives on the magical island of Anorac. There is a legend on the island, that a magic blue feather would grant a birthday wish to the lucky person who finds it. On the day of Frankie’s special birthday, Frankie sets out on a quest to find the magic feather. Frankie’s wish is to become a famous dancer, and hopes to find the feather to make the wish come true. Frankie catches a ferry and arrives at a mysterious forest. With a little help from a number of forest friends, an eagle, a T-Rex, and a gorilla, Frankie must solve the clues hidden throughout the forest to find the magic blue feather. The final task is to ‘dance your journey’ and Frankie decides to dance the day from the beginning, from entering the forest, to meeting the forest creatures. Frankie reflects on the forest journey and realises that what is most important in life is friendship, family, and adventure. Will Frankie find the magic blue feather? And what will he wish for? Frankie's Wish: A Wander in the Wonder is a children’s picture book in the Once Upon a Dance series. Once Upon a Dance, is a unique and creative concept with Ballerina Konora narrating the story through movement and dance. Frankie is a gender neutral and relatable character, who will appeal to young children who love adventure and fantasy stories. Frankie learns important life lessons throughout the journey, which will encourage self-belief and confidence in young children. The digital illustrations are bold, bright, and engaging. Konora provides prompts and ideas for readers to act out the story, and encourages readers to use their own imagination and experiment with new movements. With photographs to accompany each movement, the book encourages active participation in the story through movement and creativity. This book is a great resource for children, parents and carers, and teachers, and will encourage readers to experiment with movement and dance. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A fabulous interactive picture book, which will inspire movement and creativity in young children. Purchase here

< Back Charissa Bates The Traveling Book A unique and imaginative picture book by author Charissa Bates If a book could talk, what would it say? How would the book describe its world and the people it meets every day? Well, the book in The Travelling Book, can do just that! In this delightful picture book, by author Charissa Bates, we meet a little blue, travelling book, who just wants to be picked up and read by children. Shortly after the book is printed, it is shipped off to a bookstore, where it meets the friendly cashier, a cute kitten, and all the customers who browse through its pages. The book is bought and packaged, and then whisked off on an adventure to meet a new friend. The book is happy in its new home, where it is read every day, and even gets to go to school to share all of its colorful pictures with the school children. But soon, the book is left abandoned and unread, before it is boxed up and discarded with other unused books. But this is just the start of an adventure for the little blue travelling book, as it finds a new home in a Little Free Library. The book is borrowed, read and swapped many times, and travels across the world, where it finds new libraries and meets lots of new friends. Where will the book travel to next? And which lucky reader will find the book amongst all the other books that reside in free libraries? This is a unique and imaginative picture book by author Charissa Bates, which celebrates little free libraries, and highlights the different types of libraries that exist across the world. The book will encourage young children to visit free libraries, and to share and recycle their books. The book is both entertaining and educational, and will help to support a lifelong love of reading, and sustainable reading practices. With some fun and interactive features, and beautiful, whimsical illustrations by Nadja Bullis, this book would make a wonderful addition to any home or free library. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An entertaining and educational picture book, which will help to support a lifelong love of reading, and sustainable reading practices. Purchase here

< Back Tina Neely Bacon's Very Important Christmas Job! Bacon Bits (Bacon for short) wants to help his family get ready for Christmas. Everyone has a job to make Santa’s work easier, and Bacon would like his own job too. He attempts to help his forever daddy build special toys for children, but he ends up making a big mess. He tries to help his forever mom spread the joy of Christmas by singing Christmas carols, but poor Bacon does not have the best singing voice. He even tries to help mawmaw by sealing Christmas card envelopes with his nose, but he makes all the cards go soggy. But just when Bacon has given up all hope of helping Santa, Santa recognizes Bacon’s unique talent and finds the perfect job for a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. Tina Neely’s Bacon’s Very Important Christmas Job! is a delightful and heartwarming children’s book that captures the magic of Christmas through the eyes of Bacon Bit, a lovable Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. The story follows Bacon’s journey as he tries to help Santa in numerous ways, but nothing seems to go according to plan. Every time things go wrong, his family tells him he is loved. A wonderful way to remind young readers that everyone is loved and has something special to contribute. This is a funny and charming story for young readers, with valuable lessons about love, acceptance, belonging, and finding one’s special role in the world. The book’s vibrant and quirky illustrations complement the story perfectly. The inclusion of over five hundred hidden hearts adds an interactive element, making it a fun and engaging read for children. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A festive, heartwarming tale that will leave readers smiling and inspired. Pig-tastic! Purchase here

< Back FA Khan My Superhero Mom Will Soha win her school writing competition? It is a big day for Soha at school as the teacher announces a new writing competition. Soha is excited to enter the competition and hopes she will win first prize. When her teacher explains that the competition is to write a story about ‘My Superhero Mom’, Soha is stumped. All of her friends’ moms have important jobs, like a doctor or a teacher. Soha thinks her mom doesn’t have a job or do important things. She looks different to the other moms and doesn’t speak very good English either. Soha is sad because she doesn’t think she will win the competition. But, when Soha helps her mom volunteer at the food bank and the soup kitchen, she notices how friendly and kind her mom is towards other people, how people like her mom, and how much she enjoys volunteering. Then, as her mom hands out toys to poorly children at the paediatricians office and organises a bake sale to raise money for the school library, Soha soon realises her mom does many important jobs in their community. She thinks about all the important jobs she does at home too, like creating a nice home and helping to look after the family. As Soha starts to write her story for the competition, she realises her mom is a superhero after all! My Superhero Mom by FA Khan is a wonderful, heartwarming illustrated picture book about a little girl who doesn’t realise just how amazing her mom is. She compares her mom to her friends’ moms and thinks she is not as important. But, as she understands more about what her mom does every day in the community and at home, she learns that she has superhero qualities too. This book shows gratitude and appreciation to all the moms who strive every day to create safe and loving homes for their children. It is a delightful reminder that not all superheroes wear capes, and not all superheroes have a fancy job. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A wonderful, heartwarming illustrated picture book and a fabulous celebration of moms everywhere. Purchase here

< Back Cheryl Johnson Backyard Critters and Creatures Readers discover a variety of critters and creatures in their own backyard. Backyard Critters & Creatures is an informative and engaging book for young readers about the many creatures that hide out of sight in the backyard or park. With a location map and information about when and where to find each creature, and other key facts about each creature, such as their size and favourite foods, young readers will be able to start their own backyard adventure. Featuring the tiniest critters and creatures, amphibians, birds and mammals, the book highlights the variety of life that exists right outside the backdoor. On double page spreads, there is a spotlight on a different creature, with a wonderful full color photograph, nature notes, fun facts, explorer tips and recommended activities. The book equips readers with all the information and resources they need to become a junior backyard biologist and at the end of the book, they receive a certificate of achievement. Backyard Critters & Creatures is another great addition to the nature book series, by author and photographer Cheryl Johnson. The book shows that wherever you live, in the city or the countryside, you don’t have to travel far to find amazing creatures and animals. With some simple tools, such as a notepad and pen, and binoculars, there is lots to explore right outside the backdoor. The book and the series will spark children’s curiosity and encourage a deeper interest in the natural environment. It will hopefully inspire readers of all ages to go outside and explore. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A delightful exploration of the amazing wildlife that exists right outside the back door. Purchase here