This will be the last Picture Book Perfect for the summer as I take a much needed break to see family. Rest assured these will be back in late August when I am sure there will be a stunning stack of books to share! Happy summer reading all!
Achoo! By Simon Philip and Nathan Reed, Published by Bloomsbury
This is a brilliantly bonkers book and would make for the best read aloud, though it may spark an array of fake sneezing! Sid can feel a twitch and an itch which leads to a giant sneeze and absolute absurdity! There is so much scope for reading this aloud with a variety of voices, sneezes and actions. Sid sneezes out an elephant on a canoe and they take a jolly paddle into a tropical scene (created by another sneeze) and it carries on and on until the plethora of people, items and chaos stop and politely ask Sid to cover his nose! Riotous illustrations and a rollicking rhyme will have readers giggling, sneezing and imagining their own sneezing chaos as they enjoy the tale of adventure courtesy of Sid’s nose. Bright, colourful and totally fun!
Martha Maps it Out by Leigh Hodgkinson, Published by Oxford Children’s
I am always on the hunt for books that would make the first week of school a fun and enlightening experience for all ages. Often classes spend that first week getting to know each other and sharing fun facts about themselves. This book would allow children the chance to create a “map of me” in a similar style to Martha. Beginning with the universe and narrowing down to her own room, body and dreams, Martha maps out each double page spread with awesome amounts of details, colour and notes. Leigh Hodgkinson has a wonderful talent for this style of book, with quirky lettering, humorous labels and bold colours. A great story to read but also a great introduction to maps, locations and details.
The Elephant Detectives by Ged Adamson, Published by Nosy Crow
This book has two stories carrying on simultaneously, one where Alan and Edie are hunting for Alan’s elephant and the other where readers can spot the elephant in each background, never far from Alan and Edie. It all begins when Alan loses his balloon in a tree and is not quite tall enough to rescue it. He climbs down the tree to find his elephant missing. Edie, dressed in Sherlock style deerstalker hat offers to help find him. Edie has an answer for everything and a plan firmly in place to find Alan’s elephant, until they exhaust all the plans. Alan feels frustrated and Edie makes a surprise revelation. Wonderfully illustrated, readers will delight in hunting each page for the second story.
Which Bum’s Mum’s? By Jonny Leighton and Mike Byrne, Published by Buster Books
A delightfully funny books of bums! We all know children can’t resist a book featuring bums and so this tale of a “homeward-bound bum quest” will have readers chuckling away as they encounter plenty of safari animals’ bottoms! When hungry zebra Ziggy accidentally causes a stampede he is separated from his herd. Luckily, he knows just what his mum’s bum looks like with its zigzag stripes. However, in his quest, he encounters plenty of other and slightly more dangerous bottoms. Fun rhymes and wonderfully detailed illustrations will have readers cheekily searching amongst the bottoms for just the right one! (pun intended!)
Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam Pirates Ahoy by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton, Published by Nosy Crow
I am the self proclaimed biggest fan of Shifty and Sam, so I am very pleased to add another adventure to my collection. This duo of robber turned baker are brilliantly fun and perfectly rhymed to roll off the tongue. Shifty and Sam are headed to sea to bake cakes for pirates so what could go wrong? Well, these robbers turned bakers are quite the clever duo and always manage to save the day with their baking skills. When a treasure gets stolen by a cat pirate crew, Shifty and Sam know just what to do! Familiar characters and the wonderfully familiar style of Corderoy and Lenton make this a sure fire read aloud hit. Also back is the spider to spot on every page amongst the brilliant details and colour.
My Granny is a Queen by Madeleine Cook and Rebecca Ashdown, Published by Oxford Children’s
This enchanting and heartwarming book reads like an ode to Grannies, Abeulas and Oma’s, not to mention Nanny’s, Nonna’s and Nai Nai’s. Each page introduces the matriarch of the family performing some royal duties like waving, speeches and sitting in thrones. All of the love shared in this book is between the grandmother and her grandchildren, all of various ages, cultures and traditions. Their sense of awe and understanding of their grandmother being a queen is so respectful and lovely. There is also a true sense of community as characters appear from page to page, whether peeking over the top of a fence or appearing in shop windows. A perfect gift for a grandmother, or just a wonderful story to share with readers.
SuperMouse and the Volcano of Doom by M.N. Tahl and Mark Chambers, Published by Little Tiger
This is an extraordinarily fun book with plenty of peep-through pages and lift the flaps, making it ideal for little hands, and big ones too. This is a superhero story with daring deeds, risky rescues and precarious pitfalls! SuperMouse is always on hand to save the day but he is busier than ever and needs assistance. Forming the League of Remarkable Rodents, SuperMouse holds auditions but still feels worried especially with the volcano of doom about to erupt. At first, it seems as though SuperMouse can save the town but a sticky situation ensues and who will save the superhero? Well, you will have to read to find out. This book is so engaging and fun to read, full of superb language and awesome illustrations.
I am a primary school teacher, turned librarian. Now I have the title Reading Advocate for ASSET Education Trust, based in Suffolk.
I read constantly and have more books than bookshelves, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I celebrate reading every day at work and at home with my two children, aged 11 and 9.
I sit on the National Executive Committee for the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and run an OU/UKLA Teachers as Readers group!
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My Shelves Are Full 
Brilliant selection of picture books.
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