Book after Book

Welcome to the blog tour for Too Many Moose by Kathy Sherman & Torey Butner! More about the book… A rip-roaring moose family reunion songbook starring one extremely surprised host and exactly 256 moose (no more, no less). How many moose is too many moose? Two? Four? Eight? Sixteen? What happens when a herd of moose invites themselves over? In Too Many Moose, a herd of moose have a rip-roaring family reunion full of dancing, cartwheels, pillow fights and more! My impressions… This book is so entertaining! Told in an engaging and fun rhyme, it tells the story of a young girl who can’t believe her eyes when she sees a constantly growing family of moose take over her garden and then her house, getting up to all sorts of mischief. With the numbers getting bigger and bigger, her patience starts wearing thinner and thinner until… Mesmerised by the colourful illustrations, my children love describing what the moose are doing on ea...

Welcome to the blog tour for Whispa and the Waves  by Ffion Jones & Elena Mascolo! More about the book… Whispa and the Waves  is a a powerful and practical picture book exploring anxiety and mindfulness. Whispa the mermaid worries about everything. Until, one starry night, her worries spiral into a storm. Although the storm so big that she almost gives into it, she focusses on a happy memory from childhood, a kinder inner voice which tells her that she knows what to do to calm the storm.  Through mindful relaxation techniques, Whispa manages to calm the waves and make her way back to shore. Other storms will come, but she knows she will be able to ride the waves. Inspired by a desire to help her daughter in her struggle with anxiety,  Whispa and the Waves is a book that hopes to help children explore other ways of responding to these feelings, empowering them to overcome the waves and giving them the strength to calm the storm. My impression...

Welcome to the blog tour for Felix's Favourite Day by Fiona Lowry! More about the book… Felix’s Favourite Day is a gentle rhyming picture book encouraging positive thinking. Perfect for children ages 3-5 years Felix loves animals and dreams of being a vet when he is older. The only problem is, he doesn’t have his own pet to look after yet. After begging, badgering, and bothering his parents, Felix is finally taken to the local animal shelter for what his parents hope will be a sensibly chosen cat or dog... Felix may have other ideas! More about the author… Fiona is a Scottish children’s author based in Perthshire, where she lives with her family. Having grown up in the idyllic, peaceful, and secluded countryside, her childhood was full of freedom and adventure. Fiona shares her power of positive thinking through children’s stories of encouragement, self-growth, and belief. My impressions… What a cute and uplifting story! Felix wants to be a vet and he feels like the first step tow...

Welcome to the blog tour for The Giant at Number Two by Emily Wensley & Helen Morgan ! More about the book… Daisy-May is known to everyone as having a vivid imagination, so when she tells her family that there is a  giant living on their street, as usual nobody believes her. Nobody that is, except her Gran! Excited that there may be a giant living in the neighbourhood (especially one that wears funny masks!) they form a plan to find out all they can about him, in order to lure him into a trap. My impressions… The children and I had so much fun with this book! Could there really be a giant living at number two, or is it just a very tall person who looks like a giant to a small girl? I don’t wish to spoil your fun and give anything away, but I can tell you that Daisy-May and her Gran, who hasn’t lost the ability to use her imagination despite her age (!), are going to take you on a fun adventure. The illustrations by Helen Morgan are lively and colourful, and the r...

Welcome to the blog tour for Lively Lila: A Dance of Happy Discovery by Ben Levey! More about the book… Step into Lila’s whirlwind world in  A Dance of Happy Discovery! Embrace Lila’s unique sparkle as she twirls through life’s ups and downs with ADHD, showing us all how to love who we truly are. Young readers, prepare to be dazzled by this exciting adventure that’s bursting with boldness, bravery, and the fun of being different. Dive into Lila’s story and uncover a tale that’s all about standing strong, letting your creativity fly, and celebrating the superhero within! More about the author… Ben Levey is originally a Chartered Project Manager in the construction industry from East London, but he has tapped into his love for the creative world through his fashion brand and now, children’s books. My impressions… If you have been following me since I’ve become a mamma, you will know that I love sharing my love of books with my two little girls. I love all books under the sun but...

Welcome to the blog tour for Captain Vlad and the Mary Rose by Kate and Sam Cunningham! More about the book… King Henry VIll's favourite ship, the Mary Rose, is sailing to Portsmouth to stop a French invasion. This should be the easy part of the journey, but for Captain Vlad flea and his crew of rats, the humans and their pets create dangers on every deck. More about the author and illustrator… Author: Kate Cunningham Kate was a primary teacher, and Sam is the eldest of her three boys. She is married to historian, Sean and is author of the Flea in History series. Illustrator: Sam Cunningham As well as the Vlad flea books, Sam has worked on graphic novels with The National Archives and created the murals in the Florence Nightingale Museum family corner My impressions… This is my first book in the Flea in History series, and most certainly not the last one. Following Captain Vlad – the flea in question - and his crew on an adventure above and below deck, we learn both how ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Anna’s Garden by Sarah Hewitt! Anna is a little girl who is aware of what she can and can’t do. Playing with a ball or running down a hill is not for her, but she shows her care for her friends in other ways. We are all different, but our differences don’t have to separate us. With a delicate colour palette and beautiful illustrations, Anna’s Garden is a very special book, which conveys a powerful message of kindness and acceptance. More about the book… Anna knows what she likes and what she is good at. Even though catching a ball is not her favourite game and loud noises make her ears hurt, there are lots of other things that Anna can do. Although she likes to spend time on her own, she is also very kind and loves sharing with others. 'Anna’s Garden' is a classic rhyming picture book with a charming art style. With a memorable cast and unique handling of its themes, this story will help young readers embrace their true selves. Here’s what the auth...

Welcome to the blog tour for A Swift Return  by Fiona Barker! More about the book… Aria has her head in the clouds. Yusuf keeps his feet on the ground. But when they work together to save a bird who has lost her way, something magical happens. When  Swift loses her way on her epic migration. Aria and Yusuf come to her rescue and are inspired to think big about looking after the sky above their city. Inspired by Fiona and Howard's love for wildlife of all kinds and is the follow-up to Setsuko and the Song of the Sea . Howard's beautiful illustrations evoke a strong sense of place, strengthened by the beautiful Arabic text distilled by Maysoon AbuBlan. More about the author… Fiona is a middle-aged, married mum of one. She is positively potty about picture books; reading them and writing them. When writing, she longs for alliterative loveliness but is reluctant to rhyme. When reading, she looks for a marriage of words and artwork and loves anything that is fun to r...

Animals Brag About Their Bottoms by Maki Saito If you have or know children, by gifting them this book you will make their day, month or, possibly, year! My children were all over it as soon as they laid eyes on it. A book about bottoms? Wonderful! The fascination is constant, and giggles are guaranteed, regardless of how many times you have already inspected these animals’ derrieres! With elegant illustrations and a simple text, translated from the Japanese by Brian Bergstrom, this is a great tool for parents to teach their children that we are all equal and beautiful, each in our own individual way. The little ones think we’re just having fun, while, in reality, we’re imparting an important lesson. Sneaky. I love it! More about the book…  All bottoms are wonderful! Don’t you agree? Each animal in this adorable book has a different reason for loving their behind—from cute and round to fashionable and striped. Maki Saito makes readers laugh out loud with playful illustrations of th...

Welcome to the blog tour for Peas on Earth  by Huw Lewis Jones, illustrated by Ben Sanders! More about the book… In this festive edition, Bad Apple faces his greatest challenge yet: it’s Christmas day and everyone is just so ... jolly. Granny Smith’s carol singing and Pineapple’s incessant dancing are grating  to say  the least, but it’s  the cheery arrival  of  Pea and his extended family that pushes Bad Apple over  the edge. It’s beginning  to feel a lot like Christmas ... but how long can  the  Peas last? More about the author and illustrator… Huw Lewis Jones is a polar-exploring author and historian who lives  in Cornwall, UK. His books include Explorers’ Sketchbooks,  The Writer’s Map and Archipelago (all Thames & Hudson). Ben Sanders is an award-winning illustrator and graphic designer based  in Ballarat, Australia. He is  the author and i...

Welcome to the blog tour for Do Penguins Like The Cold? by Huw Lewis Jones and Sam Caldwell! More about the book… In this entertaining and highly informative book, polar-explorer Huw Lewis Jones and nature illustrator Sam Caldwell take readers on an intrepid field trip to Antarctica and beyond to discover the secret life of penguins. Journeying throughout the Southern Hemisphere to incredible locations including Argentina, Australia, Chile, the Galápagos Islands, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru and South Africa, Do Penguins Like the Cold? introduces readers to the 18 species of penguin and the conservation work underway to protect them and their habitats. More about the author and illustrator… Huw Lewis Jones is a polar-exploring author and naturalist who is lucky to have met many animals in  the wild. He is Associate Professor at Falmouth University, teaching natural history, and has written history books abo...

Welcome to the blog tour for If I Had A Polar Bear  by Gabby Dawnay! More about the book… What would it be like to have a polar bear as a pet? It might be an unconventional choice, but it would be sure to give the best bear hugs... Polar bears are cuddly but they're also very strong. As marine mammals, they can swim for days at a time – that's serious perseverance! So if Santa ever needed help delivering his presents, guess who he would call? Join our funny female protagonist as she wonders 'what would life be like... if I had a polar bear?' More about the author… Gabby Dawnay is a writer and poet. She is a regular contributor to OKIDO magazine and a script-writer for children’s television. Alex Barrow, a London-based illustrator, is the art director for and a regular contributor to OKIDO magazine. Alex and Gabby are the duo behind children’s picture books If I had a dinosaur, A House for Mouse and A Song for  Bear , all ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Your Rainbow  by Lynn How! More about the book… Join Erin and Rowan as their bedtime is transformed into a multicoloured rhyming journey, where they are magically transported to each colour of the  rainbow in turn. In this colourful adventure, Erin and Rowan are provided with the wisdom and unconditional love they need to face any of life's challenges. This inspirational bedtime tale both nurtures and grows the strong bond between parents and children. With mesmerising pictures and a powerful message, it is sure to become a firm favourite for this and the next generation of your family. More about the author… Lynn How loved to write poems from a young age and was encouraged by both her parents and teachers. After fostering a love of literacy, Lynn became a primary school teacher and stayed in the profession for twenty years. Within this time, she taught across the primary age range and gained her Masters degree, SENCO and headteachers' qu...

Welcome to the blog tour for David’s Bathtime Adventure by Sue Wickstead! This is not the first book by Sue Wickstead that I read with my little ones and, hopefully, not the last. David’s Bin Day is still a firm favourite in this household (as is bin day itself!) and I’m hoping that David’s Bathtime Adventure – which elicited a lot of giggles and ‘That’s silly, mamma!’ – is going to turn the bedtime ritual into something that is embraced with a little more joy! As usual, the entertaining story is accompanied by the beautiful illustrations that have made us fond of the author’s books. More about the book… David loves his bath time! As Mum fills the bath with water, David get himself ready for a swimming adventure. With toys and his fishing gear, he certainly enjoys splashing around in the water. (And making a mess!) Where will his imagination take him? In the words of the author… I am a supply teacher working across Sussex and Surrey. For over 20 years, alongside my teaching career, ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Dreams in a Jar by Kate Staves! What if you could keep a little piece of your dreams to hold on to forever? ​Put on your very best pyjamas and get ready for a magical journey through the land of dreams, collecting trinkets and souvenirs as we go! ​The beautiful – and appropriately dreamy – illustrations by Karen Bunting and the fun, rhyming text by Kate Staves seamlessly combine to create another gorgeous book to be enjoyed by children and adults alike… although the adults might have to pretend that they’re reading it to their little humans! Dreams in a Jar makes for a great bedtime story and we even used it as inspiration for our own collection of bits and bobs in a jar! More about the book… In this story, a flower isn’t just a flower…it’s a pixie hat! A rusty old bolt isn’t just a rusty old bolt…it’s a piece of a rocket ship that blasted past a star! Let’s collect up all of these precious treasures together and keep them somewhere safe…I know, how about ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Now That You’re Here by Kate Staves! Now that you’re here, You’re where you belong. We’re so pleased to meet you, We’ve waited so long! Honestly, this book should come with a ‘cuteness overload’ warning! From an AWWW every time I turned the page to a few tears at the end, both my wife and I were hit in the feels and I dare any new (or not so new) parent not to get all sentimental! As far as my children are concerned, both my baby and my toddler loved this book! My baby was in awe of the beautiful illustrations and gifted us with gorgeous smiles when we read the rhyming text to her. I didn’t expect my toddler to be enamoured with this ode to her little sister but I shouldn’t have worried. Like every toddler, she thinks everything is about her, and she lapped up all the love that pours out of this book. All in all, this is the perfect present for the whole family as it has something for everyone! More about the book… Join giraffes, hedgehogs, penguins and ma...

Brown Bear Goes to London & Brown Bear Goes to the Museum by Jane Foster More about the books… There’s so much to discover! Follow Brown Bear and his friends as they explore the big city - from Tower Bridge to Buckingham Palace - in Brown Bear Goes to London . Follow Brown Bear and his friends as they explore all of the different rooms - from the transport section to the art gallery - in Brown Bear Goes to the Museum . With vibrant artwork and charming animal characters, this new picture book series from Jane Foster introduces little ones to everyday adventures and the spirit of friendship. More about the author and illustrator… Jane Foster is a designer and illustrator whose work in screen printing has gained her wide acclaim. Her style is heavily influenced by Scandinavian trends with a nod to the 1950s and 60s. Appealing to adults and children alike, her work is bold, colourful and happy in its execution. Templar have sold over 300,000 copies of Jane's books worldwide. Jan...

A Shelter for Sadness by Anne Booth and David Litchfield More about the book… A poignant and heart-warming picture book exploring the nature of sadness, beautifully illustrated by David Litchfield. Sadness has come to live with me and I am building it a shelter. I am building a shelter for my sadness and welcoming it inside. A small boy creates a shelter for his sadness, a safe space where Sadness is welcome, where it can curl up small, or be as big as it can be, where it can be noisy or quiet, or anything in between. The boy can visit the shelter whenever he needs to, every day, sometimes every hour, and the two of them will cry and talk or just sit, saying nothing. And the boy knows that one day Sadness may come out of the shelter, and together they will look out at the world, and see how beautiful it is. A poignant and heart-warming picture book exploring the importance of making space and time for our own griefs, small or large, sensitively visualized with David Litchfield’s stunn...

Welcome to the blog tour for David’s Bin Day by Sue Wickstead! What happens on a Wednesday morning? As the bin lorry clatters down the street a little boy is watching with interest. Just like them David is wearing his brightly coloured bobble hat. He is ready to play. But where does everything disappear to? And what happened to Daddy's important letter? Honestly, when I first saw this book I though: PERFECT! My little girl LOVES recycling and rubbish collection days. She hears the sound of the lorry and she literally drags one of the adults towards the door or window so that she can wave at the bin men, who now make a stop outside our door and enjoy being treated like royalty!  But enough about my girl… this book is heart-warming, funny and beautifully illustrated. It is aimed at children between the ages of 4 and 8, but my daughter is just over 2 years old and she can easily follow the story. She even tells it back to us on the days she’s feeling too independent to be read to! Tr...

Winner of the 2020 CBHL Annual Literature Award of Excellence in Children and Young Adult Literature An exquisitely illustrated non-fiction picture book about a desert flower that blooms for just one night a year. More about the book… As the summer sun sets over the Arizona desert, wildlife gather to witness a very special annual event. The night flower is beginning to bloom... This celebration transforms the quiet desert, for just a short few hours, into a riot of colour and sounds as mammals and insects congregate from miles away to take part in this miracle of nature. From pollinating fruit bats to burrowing owls, howling mice and reptilian monsters, join these animals on their journey to visit the flower in this beautiful nature-inspired story. Based on the Saguaro cactus in the Sonoran desert, Arizona, this is a magical real-life tale from the natural world. The gentle lyrical text coupled with Lara Hawthorne’s illustrations is perfect for young readers. More about the author… Fre...