having dealt with the complaints of his first set of Crayons (The Day The Crayons Quit) and come to a suitable agreement, Duncan is now faced with a rescue mission, various misplaced, abandoned, chewed and neglected crayons are crying out for help. But can Duncan find a solution for them all? includes the dualling duo Yellow and Orange brought together by the not melting sun, a trembling Glow in the Dark crayon hidden in the cupboard (actually glows in the dark) and our favourite Neon Red Crayon on his way home from the Amazon Rainforest…he thinks? and there’s a little bit of an embarrasing plea from Brown Crayon…
This book is comedy gold, a book that you (hopefully) won’t tire of, especially good as you’re likely to be asked to read it again and again and again. Perfectly matched with Oliver Jeffers illustrations, bringing each crayon to life. 2nd in the series The Day the Crayons Quit is the first and there’s also a spectacular Christmas Edition
Anyone who know’s the crayons already, will love the crayons..and if you don’t know them then what better time to be introduced to them than at Christmas? Following two amazing funny books about the Crayons pursuit of domestic happiness, this seasonal offering is a bumper packed book, with pull out sections and pop up pages, every page is a treat.
“‘Tis the season for all of us to write our holiday wishlists. But everyone–even the crayons–know the best presents are the ones that you give.”
Join Duncan and his crayons as they make their festive preparations and have lots of fun along the way.
So synonymous is this story with the 1939 film version, that many people have never realised it was first a book, its based on a story that the author used to tell to his children and was first published in 1900 becoming and instant best seller!
I’m sure you know the story but here’s a short summary just in case; Dorothy thinks she’s lost forever when a terrifying tornado whisks her and her dog Toto far away from Kansas and to a magical land, the land of Oz. In order to return home Dorothy must follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and find the wonderfully mysterious Wizard of Oz. Thankfully she finds some friendly companions along the way who help her in her mission.
The book has everything that the film has and more, I have two copies of this book from when I was a kid, I read it to my daughter when she was a baby and have re-read it several times since, she and her sister also still enjoy the film, there’s nothing like a classic…and there’s no place like home.
Generations of readers have fallen in love with the four March sisters in Louisa May Alcotts most loved novel.
Based on the authors own early life, of growing up with a free thinking abolitionist father, acutely aware that her and her sisters futures were set to be governed by “womens” work.
Little Women’s famous four sisters couldn’t be more different grown up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth and precocious Amy, yet dispite their differences they are bound together by their love for one another, of their family and of adventure.
Little Women is far from being a “girl’s book” it explores timeless themes of love and death, war and peace, the conflict between personal ambition and family responsibilities. First published in 1868 it is of course of its time, but still holds relevance for todays young folk.
The Nutcracker is a Christmas staple as much as pigs in blankets or brussels sprouts, having been immortalised by Tchaikovsky’s ballet
On Christmas Eve, Fritz and Marie excitedly await the arrival of Godfather Drosselmeier and the marvellous gifts he brings for them every year. When Marie discovers a curious nutcracker doll among the presents, she suddenly finds herself caught up in an age-old battle before being transported to a magical world of sugar-frosted castles, chocolate kings, and true love.
A classic Christmas tale written in 1816, this beautiful edition features stunning illustrations by Finnish illustrator Sanna Annukka, its hardback and cloth bound with illustrations on every page, making it a book to treasure.
The Fir tree wants to grow taller and be like the other trees who are chopped down, stripped of their branches and carried off to sea, or like the smaller trees who are taken to be adorned with decorations at Christmas. Then one year the little tree is the very first to be chosen as a Christmas tree, but it turns out that leaving the forest and all his companions is not as pleasant as he imagined.
Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of a young fir tree seeking greater glory is uplifted by Sanna Annukka’s stunning illustrations, the book is hardback and cloth bound, a beautiful gift for book lovers young or old!!
Being born to wealthy parents who didn’t really want her and brought up by servants, has made 10 yr old Mary Lennox a spoiled and self centred child. When her parents die Mary’s world, as you can imagine, is turned upside down. She’s sent to live in her uncle’s isolated mansion in the Yorkshire moors, a world away from the lifestyle she had become acustomed to.
Lonely and with no one to play with, Mary dislikes her new home and everyone there. But things take a turn when she starts to soften and befriends the mansions staff, she learns about her Aunt and of the walled garden that she loved. The garden is out of bounds, having been locked up since her Aunts accidental death, assisted by a robin Mary uncovers the key to the garden, where a gust of magic leads her to a hidden door and a world that she could never have imagined.
A story about friendship and family and discovering that within your imagination may lie the power to change lives.
The Secret Garden was first published in book form in 1911, Set in England, it is one of Burnett’s most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children’s literature.
Reading age is recommended as 9+ I’ve included in the younger age category of 6-8 as a book to be read by an adult, but of course be aware of the content and that its an old book!
An excellent piece of nonsense, is how it was described by The Times when first published in 1865, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has since become one of the most popular books ever written and fully engrained in our notion of childhood, adventure and magic whether or not you’ve ever read it.
Alice is bored, her sister is reading but book she’s reading doesn’t even have any pictures in it! “and what is the use of a book,” thought Alice “without pictures or conversation?” She longs for adventure, then something captures her attention, a white rabbit, a white rabbit wearing a waste coat, a white rabbit wearing a waste coat shouting “oh dear, oh dear, I shall be late”. Well this definitely needed further investigation, which leads to the inevitable tumble down a long long rabbit hole and into a subterranean adventure….
I admit i hadn’t ever read this book until my first daughter was born, I knew the story of course and had seen the film, but have never read the book. As a way of getting her to sleep we would often read to her as a baby, she took a long time to get to sleep so we started reading longer and longer books and eventually took up reading chapter books, that is the first time I read it and have since read it many times over. I especially love this edition with Tove Jansson’s illustrations, the creator of the Moomins seems to me to be the perfect match for Lewis Carrolls surreal world.
“The Moomins, in case you didn’t know, are kind, philosophical creatures with velvety fur and smooth round snouts, who live in a tall blue house in a beautiful woodland valley beside the sea”
It is an understatement to say that I have a soft spot for the Moomins, I feel that every household should have at least 1 Moomin book and if you were going to pick just one (which is difficult) then this would be a good option, particularly for Christmas!
Tales from Moominvalley collects together nine Moomin short stories, including The Spring Tune in which Snufkin returns to Moominvalley, The Last Dragon in the World revealing the true essence of friendship and The Fir Tree the Moomins funny take on Christmas. Many of these story’s have been retold in the recent animated Moomin TV series and so may be familiar already.
Tales from Moominvalley, the sixth novel in the Moomin series, was published in 1962. It has remained in print for over fifty years, appearing in more than fifty languages. This edition has been lovingly restored to its original design by Sort of Books.
These books are recommended for a reading age of 7+ I think they could be read to a 5+ (or for your own entertainment to a newborn!) and confident readers age 8+ to read to themselves.
The East Wind is blowing, which can only mean one thing…Mary Poppins is needed and she’s arrived just in time to save the Bank’s.
Most of us will be familiar with Mary Poppins through the 1964 film version, it was certainly a staple of our Christmas TV calendar. The book however was first published 30 years earlier in 1934 and dispite its age is still an easy read although less fantastical in nature to the film, it has all the charm and magic.
This edition has been reimagined by Lauren Child one of today most instantly recognisable illustrators and creator of the Charlie & Lola series, bringing the magic of Mary Poppins into the hearts and imagination of readers and fans new and old.
Reading age for this I would suggest is 5+ to read to and 8-11 to read to themselves, but would make a great addition for a baby book bundle as one for the library.
The world is HUGE and its easy to get lost, especially when you’ve only just arrived, Oliver Jeffers has very kindly put this guide book together to help you out. Exploring the planet and how we live on it, from land to see, to people and time, Oliver Jeffers note’s offer a guide to all the small people out there embarking on their big journey.
Written for his own child as an introduction to the world this is a heartfelt exploration of what it means to belong to this world, the importance of kindness and how even though things can be very complicated, they can also be quite simple too.
“An optimistic snapshot of contemporary life, this heartfelt hug of a book ought to become a classic” The Guardian
This book and CD edition comes with award-winning audio, read by the internationally best-selling creator himself, Oliver Jeffers.
A giant metal man has landed in England, no one knows where he came from, but everyone is scared of him, all except for a young boy named Hogarth.
Part modern fairy tale, part science-fiction myth, The Iron Man describes the unexpected arrival in England of a mysterious giant “metal man” who wreaks havoc on the countryside by attacking the neighbouring farms and eating all their machinery. A young boy called Hogarth befriends him, and Hogarth and the extraordinary being end up defending and saving the earth when it is attacked by a fearsome “space-bat-angel-dragon” from outer space.
This beautiful special edition was created in celebration of The Iron Man’s 50th year, it features wonderful illustrations by Laura Carlin matched brilliantly with this classic and enduring tale with its message of peace and hope.
Is it stealing if what you steal, has already been stolen from you? Vita doesn’t think so, her grandfather has been cheated out of his home by a con-man and she’s determined to get it back, with the help of a pickpocket, an acrobat and a horse-whisperer.
Set in 1920’s New York this is a fast paced, thrilling adventure about the love and loyalty between a granddad and his granddaughter.
Wonderfully writen by award winning Katherine Rundell, this is a perfect one for reading to age’s 7+ or for 9-11 year olds to read to themselves.
Set in the snowbound woods of Russia The Wolf Wilder follows Feodora as she embarks on a treacherous adventure to rescue her mother from the Russian Army. Feodora is a wolf wilder in training, trained by her mother to teach tamed animals to fend for themselves, to fight and run, and to be wary of humans.
Forced to go on the run when her mother is captured by the Russian Army, Feodora has to stand up for the things she loves and learn to fight back.
“The Wolf Wilder has everything: it’s a truly compelling read; it’s beautifully written; it’s totally original and yet has the familiar feel of an established classic” – Jacqueline Wilson
Theo is at home with the babysitter on Christmas Eve, longing for some friends to keep him company. After noticing an odd looking star in the night sky he decides to make a wish, a wish that is granted to him in the form of four new friends, four decorations that disentagle themselves from the tree they were hanging on, ready to make mischief!
Who wouldn’t want to be reading this on Christmas Eve? a glorious Christmas tale with just the right mix of charm and humour all wrapped up with Emily Suttons beautiful illustrations, has the exact ingredients to become a future Christmas classic!!
‘A writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination’ – Philip Pullman
“Meet The Little Leaders. They’re Brave. They’re Bold. They Changed The World.”
A collection of true stories featuring pioneering black men throughout history. This is the third book in the hugely popular Little Leaders series by Vashti Harrison that introduces young folk (and their parents / carers) to inspirational figures past and present. This edition focus’s on some of the world’s most inspirational and innovative men including Jazz musician Louis Armstrong, writer James Baldwin, pop artist Prince and rapper Chuck D.
35 men have a page dedicated to them, with a further 18 featuring at the back of the book with smaller descriptions, a great resource for kids to be introduced to the lives of these amazing men.