New to Freddy's bookshelf this week are three lovely picture books courtesy of Harper Collins and Pavilion Children's Books. Freddy is getting so interested in books now the 'reading penny' has finally dropped and we've been delighted to share these gorgeous books with him.
Dinosaur Beach
Frann Preston-Gannon is the author and illustrator who wrote the lovely How To Lose a Lemur, which is one of our favourite books. Her latest book, Dinosaur Beach, is the simple story of Farmer Jack's trip to the coast. He's packed a picnic and buckets and spades for a lovely day beside the seaside. The text may be simple, but the pictures accompanying it show that the trip is anything but that, because travelling with him are his four huge dinosaurs and his Dino Dog! The funny, chaotic illustrations contrast beautifully with the deadpan style of the writing. The dinosaurs are completely oblivious to the destruction that they cause, but when disaster threatens, they work together to save the day and make new friends. It's a lovely book to talk about as you read, looking at what is going on in each of the pictures.
Pavilion Children's Books PB RRP: £5.99
Love Monster and the Last Chocolate
Monsters LOVE chocolates, so when Love Monster returns home from holiday to discover a box of chocolates on his doorstep he finds himself in a conundrum. Should he eat them all himself or share with his friends? As he ponders this problem he worries that someone might eat his favourite one or that he might be left with the coffee one (heavens forbid!! Although coffee is my favourite so I'd happily eat it for him!!) He thinks he knows what to do, but when it comes to the crunch he follows his heart and finds out that some things are better than chocolate! This is a delightful story that reminds us that following our hearts and doing the right thing can bring us the biggest treats of all. The chocolatey illustrations are lush and Love Monster is an adorable character that little ones will love! This title joins the other Love Monster books from the very talented Rachel Bright.
Harper Collins PB RRP: £6.99
The Hueys in None the Number
The Hueys love numbers and counting, but they are puzzling over whether 'none' is a number. To demonstrate the concept of zero, they count things from 1 to 10 then take all those things away to get back to 'none'! They take readers on a counting adventure with quirky illustrations and humorous suggestions for each number, such as four being the amount of tantrums Kevin throws each day. The four little pictures of Kevin having tantrums over different things are wonderful! This book is by the brilliant Oliver Jeffers who has such a fantastic style and such an unconventional way at looking at things, which never patronises his young readers. At the end of the book is a small passage for the grown-ups so they can learn the history and significance of 'none' as a number and ponder the conundrum of whether nothing can be considered as a something for themselves! It's a great, thought provoking, counting book with a difference, that I enjoyed just as much as Freddy did!
Harper Collins HB RRP £12.99
